March Madness tips off with First Four in Dayton

March Madness tips off with First Four in Dayton
Alabama State Hornets forward Jasteven Walker dunks during the First Four practice at UD Arena Monday. (Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images)
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Updated 18 March 2025
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March Madness tips off with First Four in Dayton

March Madness tips off with First Four in Dayton
  • The Tar Heels (22-13) seemed a long shot to make the tournament with a 1-12 record in Quadrant 1 games, but were chosen Sunday
  • The No. 11 seed is the lowest ever for North Carolina, who are making their 54th NCAA Tournament appearance, second-most to Kentucky’s 62

DAYTON, Ohio: North Carolina was a controversial selection for the NCAA Tournament, but the Tar Heels can silence some skeptics with a win over San Diego State on Tuesday night at the First Four.

The winner will face No. 6 seed Mississippi on Friday in Milwaukee.

The Tar Heels (22-13) seemed a long shot to make the tournament with a 1-12 record in Quadrant 1 games, but were chosen Sunday thanks to a strong nonconference schedule and other metrics.

“I didn’t listen to bracketology,” North Carolina coach Hubert Davis said Monday. “I didn’t listen after our name was selected on CBS. I didn’t listen to the telecasts. I haven’t listened to anybody’s comments in regards to selections, seedings. I know that we’re really excited to be a part of this, and we’re looking forward to tomorrow night.”

UNC’s inclusion fueled some conspiracy theories, with athletic director Bubba Cunningham being chair of the selection committee.

Rules state that Cunningham could not participate in the debate about his team, so the vice chair, Sun Belt Conference commissioner Keith Gill, presided over discussions about the Tar Heels.

The knock against North Carolina was a lack of Quad 1 wins. But the Tar Heels played the nation’s fifth-toughest nonconference schedule, which included games against No. 1 NCAA Tournament seeds Auburn and Florida, No. 2 seeds Alabama and Michigan State, and a trip to Kansas, which earned a No. 7 seed.

And the Tar Heels had higher rankings in the NET (36th), KenPom (33rd) and BPI (25th) than West Virginia, Indiana, Ohio State and Boise State, the first four teams left out of the field.

Additionally, they finished slightly ahead of the Mountaineers for best among that group in Wins Above Bubble (WAB), a metric added this year looking at how many more or fewer wins a team has against its schedule compared to what a bubble team would expect.

Regardless, San Diego State (21-9) isn’t going to make things easy for the Tar Heels.

The Aztecs lead the nation in field goal percentage defense (.378) and rank 13th in defensive efficiency.

“I think our identity is in our defense and our effort,” forward Jared Coleman-Jones said. “I think that if we play really good defense and we play with effort and we play with swagger, I think everything else is going to handle itself.”

RJ Davis carries the load for the Tar Heels, averaging 17 points and 3.7 assists per game.

The No. 11 seed is the lowest ever for North Carolina, who are making their 54th NCAA Tournament appearance, second-most to Kentucky’s 62.

Despite the questions about their resume, the Tar Heels practiced on Sunday and prepared to play.

“I think we’ve all kind of felt the hate, the disagreement, all that,” guard Seth Trimble said. “We’re just running with it. We definitely feel like we’ve got something to prove.”

Familiar foes

When No. 11 seeds Texas and Xavier play on Wednesday night in Dayton, it will mark the fourth time since 1990 the teams have met in the NCAA Tournament.

The Longhorns (19-15) beat the Musketeers 83-71 in the 2023 Sweet 16. In 2004, Xavier beat Texas 79-71 to reach the Elite Eight before losing to top-seeded Duke 66-63.

Zach Freemantle returned from injury and averaged 19.8 points during a seven-game winning streak to close the regular season, helping the Musketeers (21-11) return to the tournament after missing out last year.

The First Four extends the standout freshman season for Longhorns guard Tre Johnson, who led the SEC in scoring with 19.8 points per game.

The Longhorns and Musketeers were firmly on the bubble entering Selection Sunday. The winner will face No. 6 seed Illinois on Friday night in Milwaukee.

“It’s so difficult to make the tournament,” Xavier coach Sean Miller said. “There’s so much invested. We played our best basketball as we entered March.”

Unlikely dancers

Saint Francis (PA) made an unlikely return to the University of Dayton Arena after becoming the 19th team to reach the NCAA Tournament with a losing record.

The Red Flashes (16-17) lost their season opener 87-57 to the Dayton Flyers on Nov. 4, and few would have predicted they’d return to the same building in March.

“We’re obviously very excited we’ve already played here before,” Saint Francis guard Riley Parker said. “The first game we played here didn’t turn out our way, so we’re just trying to come back here and make it right.”

Saint Francis are making theirvsecond NCAA Tournament appearance, first since 1991.

The Red Flashes face Alabama State (19-15) in a matchup of No. 16 seeds on Tuesday night. The Hornets’ last tournament appearance was in 2011. The winner will face No. 1 overall seed Auburn on Thursday in Lexington, Kentucky.

Teams with losing records entering the NCAA Tournament have gone 0-18.

Deep threat

No. 16 seeds American (22-12) and Mount St. Mary’s (22-12) meet in Dayton on Wednesday night, with the winner earning a date with No. 1 seed Duke in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Friday.

The player to watch for American is 6-foot-9 Matt Rogers, who leads the team with 59 3-pointers. His 1.7 made 3s per game ranked 12th in the Patriot League.

Dola Adebayo leads Mount St. Mary’s with 13.2 points per game. The Mountaineers averaged more than 70 points per game and shot 34 percent from 3-point range this season.

The two Washington D.C. area programs have a long history. This will be the 71st meeting between the schools. American leads the series 37-33, including four straight wins entering Wednesday.


Man United stun Lyon in nine-goal Europa League classic to reach semis

Man United stun Lyon in nine-goal Europa League classic to reach semis
Updated 21 sec ago
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Man United stun Lyon in nine-goal Europa League classic to reach semis

Man United stun Lyon in nine-goal Europa League classic to reach semis

MANCHESTER: Manchester United came from 4-2 down in extra-time to beat Lyon 5-4 in a remarkable Europa League quarter-final to progress 7-6 on aggregate on Thursday.
United’s season looked over when Lyon came from 2-0 down to lead by two goals with just six minutes remaining at Old Trafford despite having captain Corentin Tolisso sent-off.
However, a Bruno Fernandes’ penalty, Kobbie Mainoo’s strike and Harry Maguire’s header capped a stunning finale to set up a semifinal meeting with Athletic Bilbao.
The Red Devils sit 14th in the English top flight and defeat would have almost certainly meant missing out on European football entirely next season.
Instead they are just three games away from a European trophy and the lifeline of direct access to the riches of the Champions League next season.
First-half goals from Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot had put United in a commanding position.
But the defensive deficiencies and mental fragility of Ruben Amorim’s side were exposed in a collapse that threatened to cap a miserable campaign.
Two goals in seven minutes from Corentin Tolisso and Nicolas Tagliafico brought Lyon level.
Tolisso was then sent-off for two yellow cards in the 89th minute.
The 10 men still looked set to prevail in the extra 30 minutes thanks to a brilliant strike from Rayan Cherki and Alexandre Lacazette’s penalty.
United’s history is build on dramatic late fightbacks but few have been more remarkable than this to leave Lyon shellshocked.
The home side got off to a flying start thanks to a fine team goal as Fernandes released Alejandro Garnacho down the right and his cross picked out Ugarte to slot in just his second goal since joining the English giants form Paris Saint-Germain.
Amorim’s decision to restore Andre Onana in goal was under scrutiny.
The Cameroonian had been dropped for Sunday’s 4-1 thrashing at Newcastle after two costly errors that led to both Lyon’s goals in last week’s 2-2 first leg draw.
Those mistakes came after a war of words with former United midfielder Nemanja Matic, who labelled him “one of the worst goalkeepers in United’s history.”
The 29-year-old rewarded his manager’s faith with a couple of important stops to prevent Lyon levelling through Paul Akouokou and Cherki.
At the other end, a United side that have often looked labored and lacking in ideas all season, suddenly clicked into gear in the first 45 minutes.
United doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time when Maguire’s long ball was expertly controlled by Dalot, who then fired in off the inside of the post.
Garnacho should have killed the tie off within minutes of the restart for the second half when he shot straight at Lucas Perri with Fernandes begging for a pass for a tap in.
That was to prove a turning point as United crumbled in stunning fashion.
Lyon boss Paulo Fonseca was able to prowl the touchline unlike in Ligue 1 where he is serving a nine-month touchline ban.
The Portuguese introduced captain Lacazette off the bench in a bid to turn the tide.
And the former Arsenal striker played a central role in the fightback.
Lacazette flicked on Moussa Niakhate’s header and Tolisso swooped to head in and give the visitors a lifeline.
Tagliafico then prodded in at the back post despite Onana’s attempt to scoop it off the line.
Just as Lyon were in the ascendency Tolisso gave them a mountain to climb again with a soft second yellow for a trip on Casemiro.
Yet, it did not initially matter as Cherki confirmed his status as one of Europe’s rising stars with a powerful drive that left Onana motionless.
Lyon’s other prized asset Malick Fofana was then chopped down by Luke Shaw inside the area and Lacazette confidently dispatched the resulting spot-kick.
Another penalty at the other end, though, kickstarted the fightback as Fernandes fired home.
Substitute Mainoo showed why he had been thrust in an unfamiliar forward role with a composed finish to level on 120 minutes.
Barely 60 seconds later Maguire completed the comeback with a towering header at the back post.


Jacks helps Mumbai beat Hyderabad in IPL

Jacks helps Mumbai beat Hyderabad in IPL
Updated 17 April 2025
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Jacks helps Mumbai beat Hyderabad in IPL

Jacks helps Mumbai beat Hyderabad in IPL
  • England all-rounder Will Jacks shone with both bat and ball, picking up two wickets to help restrict Hyderabad to 162 for five
  • Suryakumar Yadav hit 26 and the final touches were added by Pandya and Tilak Varma, who hit an unbeaten 21, as Mumbai won with 11 balls to spare

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Indians batters and bowlers starred in a comfortable four-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League on Thursday.
England all-rounder Will Jacks shone with both bat and ball, picking up two wickets to help restrict Hyderabad to 162 for five and then hitting a 26-ball 36 to help bolster his team’s chase.
Five-time champions Mumbai won the toss and bowled on a sluggish pitch at Wankhede Stadium.
Decent knocks from openers Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickleton helped set up the chase, while skipper Hardik Pandya smacked a quick 21 runs off nine balls toward the end to seal the game.
The match helps restore a bit of Mumbai’s mojo, pushing them into a crowded mid table. They have three victories in seven matches.
Pandya said the way his team bowled was “very smart and spot on.”
“We stuck to simple, basic plans,” the Mumbai skipper said, adding that once the pressure to get boundaries eased in the second innings, they “pushed the pedal at the end.”
Hyderabad openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head kicked off the first innings with a 59-run partnership before Sharma, who hit 40 runs off 28 balls, departed in the eighth over.
The team then struggled for momentum with Kishan (2) and Head (28) falling to leave Hyderabad at 83-3 at the end of the 12th over.
Disciplined bowling from Jasprit Bumrah and Jacks continued to restrict Hyderabad’s batsmen but a valiant late-innings knock from Heinrich Klaasen (37) infused a glimmer of hope.
Young Aniket Verma then smacked a quick 18 runs off eight balls.
In reply, Mumbai’s openers made a solid start as Sharma hit 26 and Rickleton 31. They were 70-2 at the end of the 10th over.
Jacks helped anchor the chase with his 26-ball 36 before departing in the 15th over. Suryakumar Yadav hit 26 and the final touches were added by Pandya and Tilak Varma, who hit an unbeaten 21, as Mumbai won with 11 balls to spare.
Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins admitted that it was not the “easiest” wicket.
“Got to play well away from home to make the finals, unfortunately not clicked yet.”


Young Saudi artist designs Fernando Alonso’s helmet for Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Young Saudi artist designs Fernando Alonso’s helmet for Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Updated 17 April 2025
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Young Saudi artist designs Fernando Alonso’s helmet for Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Young Saudi artist designs Fernando Alonso’s helmet for Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
  • Alonso “loved the design’s Saudi Arabian desert landscapes, which reminded him of his time competing in the Dakar Rally”

JEDDAH: Spanish driver Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin’s two-time Formula 1 world champion, will wear a special Saudi-inspired helmet for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit this weekend.

The design was created by Sarah Turkestani, a young Saudi artist, whose work was selected by Alonso through a nationwide competition organized as part of Aramco’s Generation 3 initiative.

The Saudi company is the main sponsor of the Aston Martin F1 team.

According to the team, Alonso “loved the design’s Saudi Arabian desert landscapes, which reminded him of his time competing in the Dakar Rally.”

Turkestani said the competition gave her the opportunity to channel her passion for art and design, while celebrating Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural heritage.

“The desert theme represents resilience and history, combined with a modern style to represent F1,” she said. “I am grateful for the chance to share my design, and I am so proud to see it on Fernando Alonso’s helmet. It’s such an honor to know he will wear it for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.”

As part of the competition, Aramco invited Saudi designers, artists, and motorsport fans to create a unique helmet design inspired by Saudi culture and national identity.

The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, now a key fixture on the F1 calendar, takes place on the streets of Jeddah’s Corniche Circuit, one of the fastest and longest tracks in the championship. First held in 2021, the race has quickly become a standout event for drivers and fans alike.


Verstappen ‘very relaxed’ about his F1 future

Verstappen ‘very relaxed’ about his F1 future
Updated 17 April 2025
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Verstappen ‘very relaxed’ about his F1 future

Verstappen ‘very relaxed’ about his F1 future
  • “I don’t know,” Verstappen said when asked by an Italian reporter ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix why Ferrari were not being mentioned as a possible destination
  • “I mean, honestly, a lot of people are talking about it, except me”

JEDDAH: Max Verstappen played it cool as speculation swirled around his Formula One future on Thursday, with Red Bull’s four-times world champion saying it was not on his mind and he was ‘very relaxed’.
Red Bull’s motorsport consultant Helmut Marko said after last Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix that the team were concerned the Dutch driver might leave at the end of the season.
Verstappen finished only sixth, a week after he won in Japan, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri winning from pole with fastest lap.
“I don’t know,” Verstappen said when asked by an Italian reporter ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix why Ferrari were not being mentioned as a possible destination as well as Mercedes and Aston Martin.


“I mean, honestly, a lot of people are talking about it, except me.
“I just want to focus on my car, work with the people in the team. That’s the only thing that I’m thinking about in Formula One at the moment. I’m very relaxed.”
Verstappen, who has a contract to 2028 with exit clauses, had led the championship for more than two years, since May 2022, until McLaren’s Lando Norris won the season-opener in Australia.
The Red Bull driver is still only eight points adrift of Norris, and third overall in the standings, but McLaren have won three of four races.
“I just keep working, keep trying to improve the car. Naturally, Bahrain wasn’t a great weekend for us. I think we were all pretty disappointed with that,” said Verstappen.
“We just keep on trying to improve the car, come up with new ideas to try on the car. The competition is tough. That’s how I go about my weeks, just trying to improve the situation.”
The Dutch driver was also asked about his manager Raymond Vermeulen reportedly shouting at Marko after the Sakhir race.
“They were having just a conversation about everything, which I think is allowed,” said the champion.
“People can always see it in their own way, how people are discussing things. But I think we were all left frustrated with the result and, of course, the things that went wrong in the race.
“I think that’s where my manager Raymond and Helmut spoke about it, and even (team boss) Christian (Horner) came along as well. So they all had a conversation. I think that should be allowed. We all care at the end of the day.
“We care about the team, we care about the people, we care about results. I think that’s quite normal.”


Saudi Arabia down Korea to move into Asia U17 final

Saudi Arabia down Korea to move into Asia U17 final
Updated 17 April 2025
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Saudi Arabia down Korea to move into Asia U17 final

Saudi Arabia down Korea to move into Asia U17 final
  • Saudi goalkeeper saved two spot kicks to give the young Green Falcons a 3-1 shootout victory
  • There were opportunities on either side but the Green Falcons’ best chance of the first half came seven minutes before it was over

TAIF: Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi was the hero once more on Thursday as Saudi Arabia beat South Korea on penalties to move into the final of the U17 Asian Cup.
After 90 minutes of tense final semifinal action ended 1-1, the goalkeeper saved two spot kicks to give the young Green Falcons a 3-1 shootout victory.
Roared on by thousands of fans at the Okadh Stadium in the western city of Taif, the hosts, who last won the title way back in 1988, found it difficult however to get past the South Koreans who were looking for a third title in total.
Both had squeezed through their respective quarter-finals via a penalty shootout, Saudi Arabia defeating Japan while Korea got past Tajikistan, and it was not a surprise that the opening exchange were relatively quiet.

There were opportunities on either side but the Green Falcons’ best chance of the first half came seven minutes before it was over. Abdulrahman Sufyani was in a good position and had time to guide his header into the top corner, but his effort went just wide.
The Koreans broke the deadlock just before the break. A free kick from midway inside the home half caused problems. The ball fell to Oh Ha-ram. And while his first-time fierce shot was blocked by the goalkeeper, he was on hand to fire home the rebound.
Saudi Arabia pushed forward from the start of the second half in search of the equalizer. Incredibly, it came with the last action of the game.
The Korean goalkeeper, Park Do-hun, desperate to clear, brought down Abdulaziz Al-Fawaz, and after a lengthy and tense VAR intervention, the penalty was given and then Abubaker Saeed smashed home with 99 minutes on the clock.
That meant a penalty shootout. Al-Otaibi saved from Jeong Hyeon-ung and Kim Do-yeon to win the game for his team.
The victors will now go on to a final against either Uzbekistan or North Korea on Sunday.
The journey is not over, however, as the focus will be on preparing for the 2025 World Cup, which will be held in Qatar in November.