This is an article version of the CBS Sports HQ AM newsletter, the ultimate everyday guide in sport. You can register to get it in your reception box every morning on weekdays here.
🏀 Hello everyone, but above all to …
University basketball fans
Three words: Mars university basketball. It’s not better than that. The last weekend before the selection on Sunday is on our doorstep, and there are excellent games, crucial bubble battles and NCAA tournament offers on the calendar.
Three games classified VV. wait tomorrow, titled by N ° 7 Alabama at n ° 1 Auburn. Both, strangely, have defeats and would like to get back on the right track before which will surely be an exhausting and exciting dry tournament.
The loss of Auburn was the gain of Duke, because the Blue Devils – currently classified n ° 2 in the top 25 of the AP – took care of first place Kyle Boone’s power classification.
- Boone: “Auburn always has the best curriculum vitae by far in the general classification of university basketball and seems to be a quasi-weight to be the seeded n ° 1 Sunday. Clemson To win seven matches in a row by an average margin of 31.6 points (!!!) leading to the final of the regular season on Saturday. “”
Duke’s opponent in the regular season final is none other than his Rival Arch: North Carolina. The Tar Heels are currently in the “First Four Out” by Jerry Palm, but as David Cobb notes, they are Trend in the right direction.
- COBB: “The North Carolina had no choice after falling at 14-11 (7-6 ACC) with a defeat of 85-65 in Clemson on February 10; Tar heels had to win their next six games to recover the realistic hopes of the mission. Confidence again.”
Five automatic offers will be distributed this weekend, and you can follow our Tracker of the conference tournament.
👍 Honorable mentions
🏈 And not so good morning for …
Getty images
Trey Hendrickson and the Bengals of Cincinnati
THE Bengals‘March of Discontress continued on Thursday, with Cincinnati Don Trey Hendrickson Authorization to request a business entering the last year of his agreement. Bengals are trying to extend the two Tee Higgins (they The franchise tagged himbut Teams call for its availability) And Ja’arrr Chase (Both sides stay away).
In January, Bengals GM Duke Tobin said it would be Difficult to extend the two wide receiversNot to mention these two And Hendrickson, and now it seems that Hendrickson is the strange man.
- Hendrickson, 30, comes out of 17.5 bags at a top of the NFL. It was a first All Pro team and finished second in the voting of the defensive player of the year.
- In 2023, Hendrickson obtained an extension of one year of $ 21 million to cover 2025. This would classify 11th in average annual value among EDGE players.
- Micah Parsons And Myles Garrett could obtain large extensions this off -season, and Maxx Crosby I just received a Extension of $ 106.5 million over three yearsMaking him the best paid non-quarter each year in the history of the NFL.
It’s frustrating … but not surprising. In early February, after Tobin’s comments, Joe Burrow said He wanted everyone to come back And properly noted that the Bengals had the margin of CAP. Joel Corry noted the high price that cincinnati could pay If he did not access, and in mid-February, the Bengals would have been Try to extend Chase, Higgins and Hendrickson.
But now we are here, a story too familiar: Bengals will not spend their money like other teams. They essentially never give money guaranteed during the second year of veterans contracts. Their methods are conservative and, frankly, damaged in their chances of winning big.
Consider this: Cincinnati has three players who should win $ 20 million or more in 2025. This includes Higgins and Hendrickson. THE Eagleswho have a Extremely aggressive front officehave six.
Bengal owner Mike Brown Ranked 29th in commitment to constitute a competitive team in the Redapal NFLPA team.
Making it even more frustrating is that cincinnati should Be aggressive since he has a quarter-Arrière superstar. Hendrickson is a leading player in a leading position: the last bag leader to play for another team the following year is Jared Allenwho went from Chiefs At Vikings in 2008.
If it will happen again, Cody Benjamin ranked Landing For Hendrickson.
👎 Not so honorable mentions
🏀 Lakers beat knicks in the thriller in overtime; JALEN BRUSON (ankle)
Getty images
Make it eight consecutive victories for the Lakers After surviving the Knicks113-109, in overtime. Los Angeles spent six days in 10th place in December, and they were in second place for a whole day in March. It’s time to say: These Lakers are suitors.
- Luka Donic Had 32 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds. I still cannot believe that he is on the Lakers. It’s hilarious. LeBron James Has 31 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.
- The sequence of eight consecutive victories has been the longest team since their 2019-2020 championship season.
- A month after the trade deadline, the Lakers prove to be the The largest winner of the deadlineWrites Sam Quinn: “Each player on the Lakers list benefits from Dončić’s presence.” Isn’t it pleasant to have a player among the first five like that?
- The Lakers were sixth in Colin Ward-Henninger’s Power Rankings … and it was Before Thursday evening.
This is not such good news for Knicks: Jalen Brunson (39 points, 10 assists) left after an unsightly ankle injury in overtime. He headed for the locker room with a breathtaking drink after hitting a pair of free throws.
With the playoffs a little over a month, New York is certainly the best.
🏈 NFL Mock Draft, Top 100 recovery prospects, Roundup of News
Getty images
I would not say that the last days of the NFL were silent, but in relation to what happens, it is calm. THE The negotiation period of free agents begins on MondayThis means that after this weekend, the project will fall a little in the background.
So, before it happens, let’s give it a little love with the last with Josh Edwards simulated draft. THE Titans would like to exchangeSo in this false project, here are the best five choices:
- Giants (via titans): Cam Ward, QB, Miami
- Browns: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
- Titans (via giants): Travis Hunter, Ath, Colorado
- Patriots: Armand Membou, Ot, Missouri
- Jaguars: Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
But my favorite choice in this simulation is …
- Edwards: “”21. Rams (via Steelers): Tyler Warren, Te, Penn State – Los Angeles was interested in exchanging last year BROCK BOWERSBut could not make it a reality. A year later, RAMs are now responsible for replacing Cooper. The tight wing, Tyler Warren, fell into the offensive. “”
Warren is hard, talented and super versatile. Sean Mcvay would find creative means to use it.
You can dive deeper with Mike Renner Top 100 Big Board.
Here is more:
- Aaron Rodgers At Looters? It could happen … in this condition.
- Or could Joey Bosa land?
- After planning to release it, the Jaguars negotiated Christian Kirk At Texans.
- THE Commanders resigned Bobby Wagner. Also, Deebo Samuel sounds very excited To play for them.
- THE Brown restructured Deshaun WatsonThe agreement (again).
- THE 49ers are release Javon Hargrave.
📺 What we look at this weekend
Friday
🏀 N ° 14 North Carolina against n ° 22 Florida State (W)11 a.m. on ESPN2
🏀 Indiana against USC n ° 2 (W)noon is btn
🏀 Vanderbilt vs n ° 5 South Carolina (W)noon is espn
🏀 N ° 20 Kansas State vs n ° 16 Virginie-Western (W)noon is espn
🏀 No. 1087 and vision hand huh vs: no. 12 Kentucky (W)2:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Ole Miss vs. n ° 1 Texas (W)6 p.m. on the dry network
🏀 Unrivaled7:15 p.m. on TNT
🏀 Grizzlies at Mavericks7:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 N ° 18 Purdue à l’Illinois (m)8 p.m. on Fox
🏀 Suns à Nuggets10 p.m. on ESPN
SATURDAY
🏀 N ° 6 St. John’s at n ° 20 Marquette (m)noon on the fox
🏀 N ° 19 Kentucky at n ° 15 Missouri (m)noon is espn
🏀 N ° 25 Mississippi State in Arkansas (M)noon on the dry network
🏒 Kraken at Flyers12:30 p.m. on ABC
🏀 N ° 7 Alabama at n ° 1 Auburn (m)2:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏒 Lightning Bruins3 p.m. on ABC
🏀 Ole Miss at n ° 5 Florida (m)6 p.m. on the dry network
🏀 Unrivaled6 p.m. on trutv
🏀 N ° 2 DUKE EN NORTH CAROLINE (M)6.30 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Lakers at Celtics8:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 N ° 3 Houston in Baylor (M)10 p.m. on ESPN
Sunday
🏀 N ° 17 Michigan at n ° 8 Michigan State (M)Midi on CBS
🏀 Nuggets in Thunder1 p.m. on ABC
🏀 Final of the ACC (W) tournament1 p.m. on ESPN
🏒 Devils at Flyers1 p.m. on TNT / TRUTV
🏀 Final of the MVC tournament (M)2:10 p.m. on CBS
🏀 Dry tournament final (W)3 p.m. on espn
🏀 Suns in Mavericks3.30 p.m. on ABC
🏒 Penguins in Wild3.30 p.m. on TNT / TRUTV
🏀 Big Ten (W) tournament final4:30 p.m. on CBS / Paramount +
🏀 Big 12 (W) championship final5 p.m. on espn
🏀 Cavaliers in Bucks8 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Summit league final (M)9 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
