This is the first April edition of The Lineup, a newsletter recapping many of the most important developments in the world of sports. This edition features the MLB, Men’s and Women’s March Madness, including Final Four previews, top performers, and men’s coaching changes.
Leading Off: MLB Opening Week
Yankees Red-Hot Start, by Jonny Martirano
The New York Yankees opened their season with a three-game sweep against the Milwaukee Brewers in an offensive onslaught. The Yankees scored 36 runs, along with 15 home runs. The 36 runs are a franchise record for an opening series, and the 15 home runs tied the MLB record for an opening series.
Reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge smahed four home runs and 11 RBIs in the series, including a three-homer day in game two, becoming the first Yankee to hit four homers in the first three games of a season.
On opening day, the Yankees had a quick start as catcher Austin Wells ripped a historic leadoff home run, becoming the first catcher since 1900 to do so and the first Yankee to hit an opening day leadoff home run. Shortstop Anthony Volpe added a homer in the second inning.
In game two, the Bronx Bombers hit nine home runs for another franchise record, one shy of the MLB record of 10 for a 20-9 win. They blasted four homers in the first, as Paul Goldschmidt, Bellinger and Judge went back-to-back-to-back on the first three pitches of the game from Nestor Cortes in his return to the Bronx, who was traded for Williams, and Wells added the fourth. Judge belted two more, including a grand slam in the third, and finished with eight RBIs.
In the final game, the Bronx Bombers continued their strong start, as Judge homered again. Jazz Chisholm Jr. blasted two homers with his new “torpedo” bat to power and Yankees 12-3 win.
Mets Slow out of the Gate, by Tommy Jacobellis
Mets bats go quiet in the opening series against the Houston Astros. Starting the season with a three-game set in Houston, the Mets mustered just five runs.
Going into the season, the big question mark for this Mets team was the pitching. In this series, though, it was the complete opposite, as the Mets’ pitching only gave up six runs. In game one, newly acquired pitcher Clay Holmes allowed five hits and two unearned runs in his first major league start since 2018. The Mets dropped this game 3-1.
In game two, Tylor McGill pitched brilliantly, giving up just one run in five innings. Newly acquired star Juan Soto carried the offense, connecting on a long home run off the facing of the right field second deck. The Mets won the game with a 3-1 final score, setting up a rubber match on Saturday night.
In game three, Griffin Canning pitched well, giving up just four hits and two runs, keeping the Mets in the game. Juan Soto had the Mets’ lone hit of this game in the first inning as he doubled off the Crawford boxes in left field. Later on, José Siri drew a walk, stole a base, advanced on a sac fly, and then raced home on a comebacker to the pitcher. That was all, though, as the Mets offense did not produce enough in a 2-1 loss.
Cleanup Spot: Men’s March Madness Update
Final Four Preview, by Nate Babcock
March Madness is notoriously filled with upsets, legendary performances, and exciting Cinderella runs. However, this year, the NCAA Tournament has resulted in all four No. 1 seeds making the Final Four for the first time since 2008 and for the second time in tournament history.
As the South and West regions of the bracket face off, two SEC-powerhouses clash. In the South, Auburn (32-5) advanced over Michigan State to go up against the new SEC champs Florida (34-4) after they toppled Texas Tech.
All eyes are on SEC Player of the Year Johni Broome (17.2 PPG, 13.2 RPG over the last 4 games) as Auburn has reached its second final four in the last six years. Freshman Tahaad Pettiford and senior Denver Jones have provided timely offensive support. This Auburn team remained motivated with 10 seniors on their roster and was widely touted as the best team in the country for much of the 2024-25 campaign. On the other end of the court is Todd Golden’s offensive powerhouse led by former MAAC-player of the year Walter Clayton.
What makes Florida the favorite in this matchup is how their versatility wears down opponents. Big-men Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh, and Rueben Chinyelu hound the boards and offer a valuable presence, as that core consistently provides stops for a dangerous offense that gets out in transition ranking sixth in the tournament in pace.
On the other end of the bracket, Duke (35-3) stifled a blistering offense, holding Alabama to 65 points to win the East Region. The Blue Devils now play Houston (34-4) after they took out Tennessee (30-8) on their way to winning the Midwest Region.
Houston hoists the top defense in college basketball, holding their opponents to an NCAA-best 58.3 PPG. LJ Cryer and Milos Uzan have led the Cougars’ offense, providing a reliable safety net and shotmaking. Kelvin Sampson reaches his second final four since 2021 and remains two wins away from the program’s first national title.
Sampson’s top-ranked defense will have to find a way to defend Duke’s top-ranked offense as the Blue Devils look to build off their production from their young stars. The potential No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg, looks to be the most NBA-ready prospect in years. Freshman Kon Knueppel has also shown a composure and level-headedness that isn’t often seen in college freshmen.
Pairing these young stars alongside experienced upperclassmen such as Sion James and Tyrese Proctor, Jon Scheyer has built a strong lineup with few weaknesses. Throughout the tournament, Duke has averaged 91.7 PPG with an NCAA-best 130.1 adjusted points per 100 possessions while holding their opponents to just 68.2 PPG, highlighting their ridiculous versatility on both sides of the ball.
Top Performers in March, by Marley Pope
Before the Final Four begins on Saturday, there have been several players putting it all on the line in the big dance. Let’s review some of the top performers.
Cooper Flagg – Duke
The superstar freshman badly injured his ankle in the ACC tournament and was a question mark for Duke heading into the NCAA tournament. He answered that, returning for the Blue Devils first game, and has scorched his opponents in Duke’s run to San Antonio. Over four games, he’s averaged 19.5 points, eight rebounds and five assists per game. Flagg displayed his playmaking on both ends and has dominated in stretches. Duke feels like the favorite, given their dominant play, and seemingly has no weaknesses for opponents to attack. They are one of the tallest lineups in the country and create serious matchup issues.
Walter Clayton Jr – Florida
Walter Clayton Jr is a bad man. The Florida point guard has risen to the occasion so far, knocking down clutch shots to move the Gators to the Final Four. Whether he nailed two late 3-pointers versus UConn or two more to complete the late comeback against Texas Tech, Clayton Jr has the IT factor. He’s shooting 45% from deep in his last four games, unafraid of the big moment.
Johnell Davis – Arkansas
The veteran guard Davis helped catapult the Razorbacks to the Sweet 16 with clutch shotmaking. He averaged 20 points across three games, including a season-high 30 points in the loss to Texas Tech. Arkansas is the only team to make the Sweet 16 as a double-digit seed and Davis had a lot to do with it. The Razorbacks had a rough regular season but put together a great postseason run in John Calipari’s first season.
Tahaad Pettiford – Auburn
The freshman guard from New Jersey upped his game as the lights got brighter, sparking offense off the bench for No. 1 overall seed Auburn. Pettiford’s dropped two 20-point games for the Tigers and has played fearless basketball en route to Auburn’s Final Four appearance. The crafty lefty can get to the rim or knock down tough jumpers. Out of the quartet of elite guards on this roster, Pettiford has played the best in the tournament.
Auburn is one of the most dangerous teams given its ability to create “kill-shots”: a 10-0 or larger run in a game. They are never out of it and like their game against Michigan, Auburn entered another gear that blew the Wolverines away.
Coaching Carousel Update, by Justin Schwartz
As March Madness comes to an end, the coaching carousel keeps spinning. Many teams have made notable coaching changes, gearing up for the 2025-26 season.
One of the many notable coaching changes comes with Sean Miller moving to Texas after firing Rodney Terry. This comes after Miller and his Xavier Musketeers eliminated the Longhorns in the First Four of the Midwest Region. If you can’t beat ‘em, hire ‘em.
Another notable coaching change comes from Coral Gables after longtime Miami head coach Jim Larranga retired after almost 40 years of coaching, 14 with the Hurricanes. Duke assistant coach Jai Lucas takes over the program. Miami aims to bounce back from one of their worst seasons in program history and hopes Lucas will take the program back to the tournament after two straight seasons of sub-.500 records.
Shifting over to the Big East, Villanova has hired former Maryland coach Kevin Willard. Willard accepted this position after taking the Terrapins to the Sweet Sixteen of this year’s tournament amid controversy, as the Wildcats haven’t been to the second weekend since Jay Wright’s retirement.
The Big East gets another Pitino, as well. After Miller’s departure, Xavier brought in New Mexico’s Richard Pitino, son of current St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino. Pitino, like his dad, brought his Lobos to the Round of 32 this season. Pitino was linked to Villanova, but they never made the offer, holding out for Willard, making for an interesting storyline next season.
The Closer: Women’s March Madness Update
Women Dominate All-Time Career Points in March Madness History, by Karlie Genevieve
It is only fitting to recognize the individual(s) who have accrued the most career points in March Madness history.
It is frequently depicted that men’s college basketball is more appealing than women’s basketball solely based on talent, skill, and achievement. Nevertheless, the fact that the women have accumulated a significantly greater number of career points than the men in March Madness history is often overlooked.
Caitlin Clark holds the record for the most career points in March Madness Tournament history, with 492 points. Clark obtained this remarkable achievement by participating in 17 NCAA tournament games.
With just 17 games played, Clark outscored former Tennessee Lady Volunteers forward Chamique Holdsclaw, who secured 479 points and was named an All-American. Throughout her career, Holdsclaw participated in 22 NCAA tournament games, five more than Clark. Additionally, from 1996 to 1998, Holdsclaw assisted the Lady Vols in winning three straight national championships. Clark led her team to the national title game twice but fell short of the win both times.
The Top 5 All-Time Scorers in March Madness History:
Caitlin Clark – 492 points (University of Iowa 2021-2024)
Chamique Holdsclaw – 479 points (University of Tennessee 1996-1999)
Maya Moore – 476 points ( UConn 2008-2011)
Breanna Stewart – 446 points (UConn 2013-2016)
Nneka Ogwumike – 444 points (Stanford University 2009-2011)
Not only did Clark secure the most points in March Madness history, but she also became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I, surpassing both men’s and women’s records. While leading in scoring for the women’s Division I is an impressive achievement, the fact that she also holds the record for the men’s Division I is incredible.
Only one male scorer made the list of the top ten scorers, Christian Laettener of Duke. All of the first seven scorers are female, while Christian Laettner, with 407 points, was the first male to enter the ranking.
Final Four Preview, by Sierra Fisher
As the women’s Final Four approaches, there have yet to be any surprises as three out of four remaining teams are a No. 1 seed, and UConn the only No. 2 seed. The anticipated “madness” that’s typically seen in March was underwhelming with the results of the tournament games.
On Friday, April 4th, the No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks face the No. 1 Texas Longhorns for the fourth time this season. The Gamecocks have won two of the three previous matchups, including a 64-45 win to clinch the SEC title. While the Gamecocks are the favorite heading into this game, the Longhorns cannot be overlooked with their performances so far in the tournament, and most of their young players are making veteran plays.
Madison Booker, freshman forward for the Longhorns, has been the team’s leading scorer this season, averaging 16.5 points per game, and has made her presence known throughout the tournament. Can Booker and Texas knock off the star-studded Gamecocks, who are trying to win back-to-back national championships?
No. 1 UCLA takes on No. 2 UConn in the second game of the evening. The Huskies the current favorite to advance, with Paige Bueckers leading the way after dropping 40 in the Sweet 16 and another 31 points in the Elite 8.
While a vital member of the Huskies, freshman Sarah Strong has put herself in a position that cannot be overlooked. As the second freshman in UConn women’s basketball history to surpass 600 points, she has become a staple in the starting five during the tournament. Her versatility and grit, averaging 16.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, make her performance in the Final Four important to the team’s success.
As Bueckers has declared she will not be returning to UCONN next season, winning an NCAA Championship to cap off her collegiate career would be the perfect way to go out. Can the Bruins, who have reached the Final Four for the first time, prevail and continue to rewrite their program’s history books, or will the Huskies continue their tournament domination and head to the championship?
Juju Watkins Injury, by Nate Shoemaker
During the Round of 32 in USC’s tournament game against Mississippi State last Monday night, women’s college basketball star Juju Watkins suffered a significant knee injury.
Watkins tried to split a double team, but as she lunged forward, her knee appeared to give out. She fell to the ground and was in significant pain, with tears in her eyes. The arena went silent, and fans held their breath for Watkins.
Watkins was carried off the court by training staff. Later that night, news broke out that Watkins tore her ACL, and her season ended in the biggest moment.
Despite the early injury, the Trojans defeated the Bulldogs 96-59 behind 36 points from senior forward Kiki Iriafen. The Trojans then won their next game against Kansas State but fell to the Uconn Huskies in the elite eight.
The national player of the year averaged 23.9 ppg and just under seven rebounds. Watkins will try to recover from her devastating injury and get back to her regular form by next year. Watkins got a lot of support from current and future WNBA players like Catlin Clark and Page Bueckers.
While Watkins recovers from injury, she will have to decie whether she wants to stay at USC or pursue the WNBA draft.
Top Performers in March, by Aidan Lavin
As alluded to, the women’s tournament continues showcasing the sport’s top talent, with multiple players standing out among their competitors. It also allowed players like Alabama’s Sarah Ashlee Barker, who scored the fourth-most points at 45 in a double-overtime loss, to create a name for themselves. Below is a list of the biggest names who performed at their best in this year’s tournament.
UConn senior guard Paige Bueckers
The most notable name on this list is undeniably Bueckers, who is lighting up the scoreboard and cementing herself as one of the all-time great college players to come through the prestigious program.
Some were surprised that UConn did not receive the final No. 1 seed, but Bueckers and head coach Gene Auriemma took their seeding in stride and led their team to a Final Four appearance against UCLA. After a blowout win in the first round against Arkansas State, Bueckers is averaging 35 points on an incredible 59/62/82 shooting splits.
Bueckers looks to continue her lights-out play on Friday at 9 p.m. and take a step closer to the only thing missing on her collegiate resume– a national championship.
UCLA junior center Lauren Betts
The top-seeded UCLA team is anchored by junior center Lauren Betts, who stuffs the stat sheet on both ends of the floor. At 6-foot-7, Betts’ impressive campaign made her a Wooden Award candidate while leading the Bruins to their best season in program history.
During the tournament, Betts averaged 23 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists through four games and shot 75 percent from the field. Her efficiency in the paint on offense is matched by her defensive prowess, blocking at least two shots per game. Betts blocked six shots in her previous game against LSU in the Elite Eight. Betts and UCLA face Bueckers and UConn in a must-watch matchup on Friday at 9 p.m.
Texas sophomore forward Madison Booker
Texas, another No. 1 seed, is in the Final Four in large part due to Booker’s play. Booker is providing a steady presence for the Longhorns, leading the team in scoring in each of the four games played.
Booker is averaging 18.8 points per game, eight rebounds and 1.5 steals in the tournament. Texas will need Booker to continue her solid play, and even improve it, to beat the defending champions in the University of South Carolina on Friday at 7 p.m.
TCU senior guard Hailey Van Lith
While TCU fell to Texas 58-47 in the Elite Eight, Van Lith emerged from an up-and-down collegiate career. Van Lith played in a women’s NCAA D1 record 172 career games during her five-year career.
The guard came out on top and showed why she has been such a highly coveted transfer following her time at Louisville. Many expected Van Lith to take LSU to another level when she transferred in following the Tigers’ National Championship with Angel Reese.
She never found her footing and entered the portal again, joining the Horned Frogs in 2024. The move paid off as Van Lith became the program’s first consensus All-American and the Horned Frogs’ offensive catalyst throughout the season. During their Elite Eight run, Van Lith upped her game, making big shots and playmaking for her teammates. She averaged 18 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists.
LSU senior forward Aneesah Morrow
Morrow and her teammate, Flau’Jae Johnson, were spotted in walking boots during the selection show before the tournament, which created questions about their readiness. Morrow put those questions to bed, averaging 20.8 points and 12.3 rebounds. The Tigers lost to UCLA in the Elite Eight, 72-65, ending Morrow’s college career.
Edited by Aidan Lavin and Marley Pope
Graphic by Cara Lacey
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