Okay, this is probably one of the biggest game-changing weekends we’ve seen. There wasn’t much news that we missed from the NFL besides a few more free agency moves and then two big career-defining decisions.
Of course, there is the madness that was more of a surprise than a Cinderella story. Let’s take a moment and look at the remaining bracket, do you have a top team eliminated yet? All the No. 1’s, 2’s, and 3’s are still in the tournament, but who’s left with them? Let’s get use to all the basketball news that we missed this weekend cause we are likely to miss plenty more throughout the next month.
Don’t forget about the NBA and the teams that are clinching playoffs. But, the will not be any Soccer or Cricket news this week.
“Gronk” by Brook Ward is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
NFL
3-Time Super Bowl Champion announces Retire.
New England Patriots’ tight end Robert Gronkowski has announced his retirement from the NFL on Sunday via Instagram. You can read what he has to say here! Gronkowski was one of the most colorful tight ends in NFL history with all his off the field activities that involve him and his brothers. But he was also one of the best tight ends in the NFL and Patriots QB Tom Brady thanks Gronkowski for the past nine years together in which they won three Super Bowl together. Brady’s response to Gronkowski’s announce ended with a “Love you pal!” and we could see why throughout their career together.
Gronkowski will finish his NFL career with 79 touchdown receptions and 10 or more touchdown receptions in five seasons. That is the most by any tight end in NFL history. He played in 16 playoff games and caught 81 receptions for 1,163 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Those 12 TD’s ties him for second in NFL history among all players. He is also tied with the most 100-yard receiving games in the playoffs with four. Will Gronkowski be a first ballot Hall of Famer?
Former Eagles and Chiefs wide receiver announces retirement:
Gronkowski wasn’t the only offensive weapon that announces his retirement this weekend. Former Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs WR Jeremy Maclin announced his retirement from the NFL. Maclin’s career wasn’t as historic as Gronkowski’s was, but he did have a nine-year career as well. Maclin was a big threat to the Chip Kelly led Eagles before joining former Eagles coach Andy Reid in Kansas City.
Maclin was drafted in 2009 by the Eagles and Andy Reid. Maclin will finish his NFL career with 514 receptions for 6,835 yards and 49 touchdowns in eight seasons.
Free Agent Moves this weekend:
- Lions sign CB Rashaan Melvin
- Raiders sign QB Mike Glennon
- Texans sign OL Matt Kalil
- Saints near deal with TE Jared Cook
- Colts sign LB Justin Houston
- Ravens resign RGIII and release Michael Crabtree
NBA
Hield sets franchise season record for 3s
Sacramento Kings SG Buddy Hield has quickly became one of the top 3-point shooters in the NBA. He has also placed himself in the Kings’ record book.
In the Kings 112-103 win over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night, Hield had 25 points and set the franchise season record for 3-pointers. He went 7-14 from three point land and ade a total of 245 on the season. He surpassed former player, now assistant general manager Peja Stojakovic (240) from 15 years ago. What else will Hield and the Kings do in the future, maybe a playofff soon?
Young hero in Atlanta’s win
The rookie of the year is clearly a two person race, but Atlanta Hawks PG Trae Young is trying seperate himself form the rest of the rookies.
In the Hawks long struggling season, Young and these young players of the team are trying to make the best out of their opportunities. Young scored 32 points in the Hawks 129-127 win over the Philadelphia 76ers which included the game-winning floater. Has Young done enough to win Rookie of the year?
LeBron and Lakers officially miss playoffs
In a loss Friday night, the Los Angeles Lakers have officially been eliminated from the playoffs. This will be the sixth straight season that the Lakers will miss the playoffs and it hasn’t been pretty.
The Lakers had high expectations entering the season with LeBron James. Unfortunately, injuries have effected the team and James will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2004-2005 season. The question still remains whether or not James has given it his all this season.
Harden ties career-best 61
This could be the best season of James Harden’s career as he recorded the second largest streak with 30 + points (32). He has also recorded a season high 61 points that would match his career high.
In a 111-105 win over the San Antonio Spurs, Harden led the Rockets to a 13-2 run while hiding three 3’s and two tough jumpers. He topped the 50-point mark for the eighth time this season. It’s only happened 10 times all season from the rest of the league.
This 61 point game was the second of the season after he set earlier this season against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. It was also the most ever scored individually against a Popovich-coached team. Has Harden won the MVP again?
Hornets keep playoff hopes alive:
As the season gets closer to the end, teams chances of missing the playoffs are closer. The Hornets are currently sitting 10th behind the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat. They are only two games out of the playoff picture and that is in huge part to the biggest play of March Madness.
In Sunday’s 115-114 win over the Raptors, Jeremy Lamb banked home a half-court shot at the buzzer. It looked good from the start and Lamb felt it when he let it go. That was the Hornets third straight win as they make a final push for playoffs.
The half-court shot was the second-longest game-winning buzzer-beater in the past 20 seasons. (2010 – Tyreke Evans, Memphis). They were making threes all night as they set a franchise record by making 10 of 15 from long range in the third. Can Hornets finish strong and make the playoffs?
College Basketball
Duke and Williamson’s survive
Duke almost gave everybody a scary and broke all brackets when they barely edged Central Florida in the round of 32. It was a game for the ages as we saw 7’6 Tacko Fall versus 6’7 Zion Williamson battle all throughout the night.
UCF’s Aubrey Dawkins played great basketball with 32 points and a missed alley oop attempt that could have sealed the game. But it was Williamson’s 31 point, 11 rebound performance that helped push Duke back into the lead late. Williamson along with fellow freshman’s Trae Jones, R.J. Barrett, and Cam Reddish combined for 72 of the team’s 77 points in the win. Williamson became the first freshman since Carmelo Anthony in 2003 to have a 30 pts, 10 rebounds game in the tournament. That year, Anthony led his Syracuse time to a National Championship, could it be the same faith for Williamson and the Duke Blue Devils?
Two of NCAA’s best teams go down
The reigning National Champions loss a big one to Purdue on Saturday night to be eliminated from the tournament. That means we won’t see Villanova in the final four, so sorry all the Philadelphia fans hoping for a repeat.
The Kansas Jay Hawks also got a pretty bad beating by Auburn. And don’t let the score of 89-75 fool you, Auburn took Kansas by surprise and hopefully they can do the same to North Carolina.
Auburn’s coach Bruce Pearl has been here before and there’s no better way to get respect back than by winning. Kansas was one of my favorites to make it to the final four because I picked Auburn to lose in the first round, but how far can both Auburn and Purdue go?
Wofford’s Magee rollercoaster tournament
In the first round of the tournament, Wofford pulled away from Seton Hall to pick up a big win. In the process, Wofford’s Fletcher Magee broke the NCAA D-1 career 3-point record (509). It was one of the most memorable moments of the young man’s life as he averaged 20.6 points while attempting 10.7 threes and scoring 43.3 percent from behind the arc.
In Wofford’s second game against Kentucky, Magee went 0-for-12 and barely lost the game. Magee said “I let everyone down’ with 0-for-12 day.” Had he had made the 3’s maybe the results would’ve been different and they could’ve upset Kentucky.
Murray State’s Morant may land him in the top five if the NBA draft.
After leading Murray State to a Ohio Valley Conference championships, Ja Morant led them to a big win over 5th seeded Marquette. He led the team with a triple double, first since 2012.
Morant also led his team to a good performance in their loss against Florida State as he scored more points by himself than the rest of the team did together. Will his performance this year land him a spot in the top five of the NBA draft?
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