The Lakers are down after the regular season-ending injuries to star guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

But they’re not out. 

Already having clinched a playoff spot before Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) and Reaves (Grade 2 left oblique strain) suffered their regular season-ending injuries during last Thursday’s blowout road loss to the Thunder, the Lakers are guaranteed to play beyond Sunday’s regular season finale against the Jazz.

How much further they’ll play beyond the first four games of their first-round playoff series, and whether they’ll extend the season to give Doncic and Reaves enough time to return to the floor in the postseason, will depend on several factors.

The main one being whether they can find the right formulas and game plans to win during life without their star guards.

“We have to be diligent on the offensive end with our screening and still want to just have a paint-touch mentality,” coach JJ Redick said ahead of Sunday’s loss to the Mavericks. “Got to put guys in a position to do that, but our screening’s going to be a big part of that, our effort offense as well. We’ll play lineups that haven’t played together probably all season. Got to crash, got to run.”

The loss to the Mavericks, in which they scored 128 points but allowed the Mavericks to score 134 points in their first home win in over two months, showed there’s progress for the Lakers to make.

And with LeBron James missing Tuesday’s home game against the Thunder because of left foot injury management, in addition to Marcus Smart sitting out of the matchup for his eighth consecutive missed game because of a right ankle contusion, significant progress won’t be able to be made until Thursday’s road game against the Warriors at the earliest. 

Here are the factors the Lakers need to hone in on to maximize the team without Doncic and Reaves

The possession battle

Doncic and Reaves combined to average 56.8 points, 13.8 assists and 6.3 made 3-pointers per game for the Lakers during the regular season.

There isn’t a player, or even a collection of a few players, who can replicate or replace the statistical production the team’s star duo produced on a nightly basis.

But what the Lakers can do is improve even more on the margins. 

The Lakers have been one of the league’s better teams this season at winning the possession battle, but they can be even better. 

Already one of the league’s best teams at getting to the free throw line, a strength of Doncic’s and Reaves’, and not allowing many offensive rebounds or opponent free throws, the biggest way they can give themselves more bites at apple is from better offensive rebounding.

This can be achieved by playing bigger lineups more often, which they did against the Mavericks when they used Maxi Kleber as the 4 alongside either Deandre Ayton or Jaxson Hayes.

They have an above-average offensive rebounding rate when Kleber and Hayes share the floor, and become an elite offensive rebounding team when Kleber and Ayton are on the court together.

Transition defense

Getting stops has been an up-and-down challenge for the Lakers.

And a depleted offense won’t make things easier defensively.

But the Lakers can help themselves by consistently getting back on defense with more urgency compared to how they did against the Mavericks.

Their 12 turnovers, a very low mark, weren’t the problem. But the 21 points they allowed off turnovers made it a game of catch up.

Slow down

The Lakers are going to need all of the easy points they can get. 

But they also need to be strategic with how often they push the ball up the floor in transition offensively.

James is a one-man fastbreak, third in the league in transition points per game. 

And they have multiple players besides James, including Hayes, Ayton, Jake LaRavia and Rui Hachimura, who thrive offensively when getting up and down the floor.

But without the proper ball-handlers to feed them, the Lakers need to be careful with how often they push.

Mistakes in transition not only would prevent them from having offensive rebounding opportunities, but will spread their defense thin.

Green Shirt Day is back, and Canadians are being encouraged once more to register as organ donors.

The day is a national campaign rooted in the legacy of an Alberta-born junior hockey player killed eight years ago in the Humboldt Broncos crash in Saskatchewan.

2:04
Organ and tissue donation campaign kicks off leading up to Green Shirt Day

Twenty-one-year-old defenceman Logan Boulet died from his injuries on April 7, 2018, and his parents said it had been his wish to donate.

Green Shirt Day organizers have said that decision helped save six lives.

In the weeks that followed, about 150,000 people registered to become organ donors, launching what became known as the “Logan Boulet Effect” and Green Shirt Day.

The crash killed 15 others and injured 13, after a truck driver went through a stop sign at a remote intersection in Saskatchewan and into the path of the team’s bus.

The Saskatchewan government has said that the province continues to see organ transplant donation registration rates go up.

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The registry, which started in September 2020, has seen more than 30,000 residents register their intent to donate organs and/or tissues.

“On Green Shirt Day, we honour Logan Boulet and the powerful legacy of organ and tissue donation,” Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said Tuesday on social media.

“Across Saskatchewan, families are choosing to give the gift of life and are bringing hope to others.”

Nicole de Guia, manager of organ donation and transplantation with the Canadian Institute for Health Information, said data from 2024 shows that 3,203 transplants were performed in Canada. Data from 2025 is not yet available.

“We still have quite a bit of demand for these vital surgeries, and there’s still much more of an unmet need,” de Guia said in an interview.

There were 4,044 Canadians on a waiting list for an organ as of Dec. 31, 2024, while 691 people died or were withdrawn from the list.

She said, nationally, there has been an increase in transplant surgeries in the last 10 years.

But data from 2024 shows the first decrease in deceased donors in five years — about six per cent compared to the year before. Living donations saw a smaller decrease in 2024 with 1.7 per cent.

“For the most part, a living donor can only provide a kidney or a part of a liver, so we really rely on deceased donors to be able to supply these vital life-saving surgeries,” she said.

De Guia added that it’s still too soon to tell if the decrease is a trend that will continue or just a fluctuation.

The institute — an independent not-for-profit organization that collects, analyzes and shares data on Canada’s health systems — started a project in 2023 funded by Health Canada for a new data system called CanODT. It’s aimed to modernize organ donation and transplantation reporting across Canada.

De Guia said there’s still a lot of manual data entry in the transplant process and the new system is designed to better support interprovincial organ transfers.

“This is a precious resource and it needs to be very timely to share data about organs that are available and to match them up with those who need them the most,” she said.

The institute does not have data specifically about Green Shirt Day, but de Guia said these kinds of campaigns are important for starting conversations within families about donation.

“It really starts with an individual and their family’s consent to be able to donate an organ,” she said.

“So with campaigns such as Green Shirt Day and others, no doubt it’s making a difference in a number of people’s lives.”

2:04
Logan Boulet effect remains strong after 7 years

&copy 2026 The Canadian Press

UConn coach Geno Auriemma confronted South Carolina’s Dawn Staley in the moments after the Huskies’ upset loss in last week’s Final Four.

Despite Auriemma’s apology, which did not name Staley, chatter about the heated exchange carried into this past Sunday’s national championship game between UCLA and South Carolina.

After the Bruins’ dominant title-game win over the Gamecocks, Staley praised UCLA coach Cori Close as a “really quality” person, a remark that contrasted sharply with her initial response to Auriemma following their on-court dispute.

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South Carolina’s Dawn Staley and UConn’s Geno Auriemma argue after a women’s NCAA Tournament semifinal game in Phoenix on April 3, 2026. (Rick Scuteri/AP)

Staley moved to defuse the situation Tuesday, saying she had spoken with Auriemma and praising his legacy in women’s basketball.

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“I spoke with Geno, and I want to be clear — I have a great deal of respect for him and what he’s meant to this game. One moment doesn’t define a career, and it doesn’t change the impact he’s had on growing women’s basketball. The standard at UConn is what it is because of him, and that’s something this game has benefited from.”

Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks watches during the championship game against the UCLA Bruins at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 5, 2026. (Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos)

Staley also called for a shift in focus, encouraging fans and the broader basketball community to move forward.

“So, I’m asking everyone to turn the page. Let’s refocus on what matters most — continuing to elevate our game, creating opportunities and pushing it forward.

“That’s always been my mission, and it’s not changing.”

South Carolina beat UConn 62-48 in last Friday’s national semifinal. Auriemma approached Staley for a routine handshake after the game — but the moment escalated, and the two had to be separated.

Auriemma initially struck a defiant tone when asked about the exchange, though he later said his behavior was inexcusable.

UConn head coach Geno Auriemma reacts to a play during a Sweet 16 game against North Carolina in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 27, 2026. (Julio Cortez/AP Photo)

“There’s no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina. It’s unlike what I do and what our standard is here at Connecticut,” the Hall of Fame coach said in a statement. “I want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don’t want my actions to detract from that. I’ve had a great relationship with their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them.”

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Staley previously said she had not spoken with Auriemma after Sunday’s women’s national championship game. She led South Carolina to the national title in 2024 before falling to Auriemma in last year’s championship.

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Gracie Hunt, the daughter of Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, announced her engagement earlier this week.

Hunt posted a photo collage of her engagement to Derek Green, the son of former Chiefs quarterback Trent Green.

“It was always you,” the couple wrote in a collaboration Instagram post with emojis of a ring, red heart, and infinity sign. “‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.’ Romans 8:28.”

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Gracie Hunt on the sidelines before an NFL game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 14, 2025 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire)

The couple posted 14 photos, including one with Green on a knee in front of a crying Hunt, a close-up of the ring, a photo of Green and Clark Hunt shaking hands, and both mothers taking photos of the occasion.

Hunt also posted a video that her mother took of her just before she got engaged, captioning it “POV: walking towards your forever.”

Hunt took a golf cart to a boardwalk that she walked down to meet Green, who was decked out in a white suit himself.

The couple also posted on Easter Sunday.

“Thank You, Jesus — for salvation, for love, and for this beautiful chapter You’ve written for us. You painted the purest picture of love the world has ever seen, and today we celebrate that gift,” they wrote. “As we step into this new season of life together, our prayer is simple — to love each other the way You loved the church. Selflessly. Faithfully. Completely. Happy Easter from our hearts to yours.”

Kansas City Chiefs ownership family member Gracie Hunt prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Jan. 26, 2025. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)

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While Green did not find the same success as his father, he still played four seasons at SMU and one more at Long Island University.

Hunt was previously in a relationship with Cody Keith, an ex-quarterback for East Carolina University who got a shot in multiple NFL training camps before seeing some interest in the Canadian Football League who had once befriended Patrick Mahomes.

Rumors of their breakup swirled earlier last year, and then Hunt confirmed she was in another relationship this time last year.

Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt (center) with his wife Tavia Hunt (left) and daughter Gracie Hunt appear on the red carpet prior to the NFL Honors awards presentation at YouTube Theater. (Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)

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Hunt is a staple at Chiefs games every season, usually being spotted on the sidelines before games and commenting on what went down on the gridiron after the final whistle via social media.

Fox News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report.

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Free agency could reshape the WNBA this month, with more than 100 players seeking new deals.

The Liberty will have somewhat of a new look and feel from a year ago, especially after replacing head coach Sandy Brondello with former Warriors assistant Chris DeMarco. But the pillars remain the same.

Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart reiterated their plans last week to re-sign with the Liberty once free agency opens. As previously reported, Jonquel Jones also intends to return to New York for her fourth season.

Leonie Fiebich remains under contract, and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton is expected to return after missing last season to rehab left knee surgery.

Pro Football Hall of Famer and Super Bowl champion Steve McMichael, who died last year at 67 after a five-year fight with ALS, has been posthumously diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, better known as CTE.

The Concussion & CTE Foundation announced that McMichael was diagnosed with stage 3 CTE. CTE can only be diagnosed after death.

McMichael revealed he had ALS in 2021, and pledged his brain to be studied upon his death, according to Chris Nowinski, co-founder and CEO of the Concussion & CTE Foundation.

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Steve McMichael of the Chicago Bears runs a play during a game against the Dallas Cowboys in Chicago, Illinois, on Dec. 29, 1991. The Cowboys beat the Bears 17-13. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

“Too many NFL players are developing ALS during life and diagnosed with CTE after death,” his wife, Misty McMichael, said in a statement released by the foundation. “I donated Steve’s brain to inspire new research into the link between them.”

CTE is a degenerative brain disease that has been found in athletes in contact sports, combat veterans, and others exposed to repetitive head trauma. It has been known to cause violent mood swings, impulsive behavior, and depression.

ALS affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control.

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Misty McMichael, wife of 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Steve McMichael, poses with his bust during the enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 3, 2024. Steve McMichael was unable to attend due to illness. (Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports)

According to a 2021 study by the Harvard Medical School and the Boston University CTE Center, NFL players are more than four times more likely to develop ALS than other men. Dr. Ann McKee, director of the Boston University CTE Center, said about 6% of individuals with CTE in the brain bank also have ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

“There is strong evidence linking repetitive brain trauma and ALS,” McKee said.

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Steve McMichael smiles during the Chicago Bears training camp in Lake Forest, Illinois, on Aug. 28, 1990. (Charles Cherney/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service)

McMichael, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024, was a key member of the Chicago Bears’ Super Bowl winning season in 1985. McMichael spent 13 seasons of his career with the Bears, racking up 847 combined tackles and 91 sacks in 191 games with Chicago.

McMichael played in the NFL for 15 seasons, spending his rookie season with the New England Patriots, his next 13 with the Bears, and his final one with the Green Bay Packers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The WrestleMania 42 card was announced on Tuesday with only a few days left before the two-night spectacle takes place in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium.

Three major matches have already stood out to WWE fans as the buildup for them has taken weeks. Cody Rhodes will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Elimination Chamber winner Randy Orton, CM Punk will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Royal Rumble winner Roman Reigns and two behemoths – Brock Lesnar and Oba Femi – will collide in what is expected to be an epic bout between two titans.

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CM Punk speaks during Monday Night RAW at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, on April 6, 2026. (Craig Ambrosio/WWE)

There will also be some celebrity involvement. Pat McAfee, to the consternation of fans, aligned himself with Orton and will likely be featured in the title match in some way. Popular stream IShowSpeed is also involved in a six-man tag team match with Logan Paul and Austin Theory as they take on Jey and Jimmy Uso and LA Knight.

WWE broadcaster Joe Tessitore announced the full card on “Get Up.”

Night 1

• LA Knight, Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso vs. Logan Paul, Austin Theory and IShowSpeed in a six-man tag team match
• Jacob Fatu vs. Drew McIntyre in an unsanctioned match
• Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Liv Morgan in a singles match for the Women’s World Championship
• AJ Lee (c) vs. Becky Lynch in a singles match for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship
• Seth Rollins vs. Gunther in a singles match
• Nia Jax and Lash Legend (c) vs. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria vs. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. Nikki Bella and Brie Bella in a fatal four way tag team match for the Women’s Tag Team Championship
• Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Randy Orton in a singles match for the Undisputed WWE Championship

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Stephanie Vaquer makes her entrance during Monday Night RAW at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on March 16, 2026. (Rich Wade/WWE)

Logan Paul, IShowSpeed and Austin Theory during Monday Night RAW at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, on April 6, 2026. (Rich Wade/WWE)

Night 2

• Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar in a singles match
• Penta (c) vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Rusev vs. Je’Von Evans vs. JD McDonagh vs. Dragon Lee in a ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship
• Jade Cargill (c) vs. Rhea Ripley for the WWE Women’s Championship
• Sami Zayn (c) vs. Trick Williams for the Intercontinental Championship
• Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio in a singles match
• CM Punk (c) vs. Roman Reigns in a singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship

The card could always change with potential injuries or other stories occurring between now and the start of the shows.

WrestleMania has been a two-night event since 2020 – in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton wrestle during SmackDown at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo., on April 3, 2026. (Georgiana Dallas/WWE)

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Both nights are set to begin at 6 p.m. ET and can be seen on ESPN programming.

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ESPN pundit Michael Wilbon teed off on UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma on Monday, following the coach’s outburst toward South Carolina’s Dawn Staley on Friday night.

Auriemma was seemingly frustrated with Staley’s lack of a traditional handshake before UConn and South Carolina played their Final Four game. South Carolina would eventually win the matchup, but Auriemma and Staley had a heated exchange at the end of the game as they went up to greet each other.

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South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley and UConn head coach Geno Auriemma argue after a women’s NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four in Phoenix on April 3, 2026. (Rick Scuteri/AP)

The UConn coach also complained at halftime that Sarah Strong didn’t get a foul call despite her jersey getting ripped. Strong later said she accidentally ripped her own jersey.

Wilbon didn’t mince words in his criticism of Auriemma on ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption.”

“I’m going to take the rest of the time to deal with Geno, who was guilty of not just the handshake, but the bogus apology and the fictional lies he had a ripped jersey, saying the other team behaved like thugs when his own player ripped her own jersey. It’s the disgraceful behavior of a massively insecure bully,” he said, via Awful Announcing. “It was petulant, it was classless.”

“The fictional visualization of the ripped jersey is unbelievable. The apology didn’t even address the person he offended. We’re all taught to shake hands at the end of a game, no matter what happens. Maybe before a game. He couldn’t even do that. He wandered away, and then he lied on national television, round after round of interviews, and accused South Carolina’s players of doing something his own players did, as if we don’t all have television. And the apology, aftermath, all of it was disgraceful.”

Auriemma released a statement on the issue, apologizing for his own behavior.

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley and UConn head coach Geno Auriemma argue after a women’s NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four in Phoenix on April 3, 2026. (Rick Scuteri/AP)

BASKETBALL LEGEND CANDACE PARKER TAKES AIM AT GENO AURIEMMA AFTER DAWN STALEY CONFRONTATION

“There’s no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina,” Auriemma said in a statement posted to social media. “It’s unlike what I do and what our standard is here at Connecticut.

“I want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don’t want my actions to detract from that. I’ve had a great relationship with their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them.”

Staley took the high road when asked about the incident after the team lost to the UCLA Bruins in the national championship.

“I don’t want – this is UCLA’s day, right? Let’s keep it UCLA, them winning the national championship,” Staley told reporters, via The Athletic. “… We’re not going to damper UCLA’s day with it.”

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley speaks during a news conference at the NCAA college basketball tournament Final Four in Phoenix on April 4, 2026. (John Locher/AP)

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Staley has yet to fully address the incident and what she yelled back at Auriemma during their exchange.

Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.

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The Michigan Wolverines are finally national champions once more in men’s basketball, taking down the UConn Huskies, 69-63, to finish a thrilling NCAA Tournament in style at Lucas Oil Stadium on Monday night.

This is the first time Michigan has won since 1989, and just the second time in program history they’ve called themselves champions.

Meanwhile, the Huskies were looking to win their third title in the last four tournaments, but their shooting failed them in the end.  

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Elliot Cadeau celebrates during the first half of the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball national championship game against UConn at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, on April 6, 2026. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

While both team’s offenses came into this game working like a machine, it was a low-scoring affair to kick off this game. Michigan only owned a 33-29 first-half lead by the buzzer, but it wasn’t Yaxel Lendeborg leading the way in the points department for the Wolverines.

The Michigan star, who is playing on a sprained left MCL and left ankle, which came during the win over Arizona in the Final Four, was just 1-of-5 shooting for four points in the first half. It was Morez Johnson Jr. (10 points) and Elliot Cadeau (seven points) finding some rhythm for the Wolverines.

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But it didn’t help that Michigan was scoreless from beyond the arc and shooting just 37% from the field. Meanwhile, UConn wasn’t doing themselves any favors either.

The Huskies shot just 33% in the first half, with Alex Karaban hitting two of his five three-point attempts. Solo Ball, who was spotted in a walking boot entering the game with “some type of foot sprain,” according to head coach Dan Hurley, had eight points on 3-of-4 from the field.

While they were down, UConn was certainly playing the type of game they wanted against Michigan – a rugged battle, especially on the glass. Michigan has shown its prowess of taking momentum and sprinting with it offensively, dominating opponents all year long, including this NCAA Tournament.

Yaxel Lendeborg of the Michigan Wolverines dribbles during the first half against the UConn Huskies in the National Championship of the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., on April 6, 2026. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

However, the Huskies know their scratching and clawing abilities for 40 minutes allows them to never let an opponent feel comfortable. Just ask the Duke Blue Devils what happened in the Final Four.

The Huskies had that same demeanor in the second half, though it didn’t help they took a page out of the Wolverines’ first-half playbook – they couldn’t find the stroke from range. UConn was desperate to hit a three-pointer, but despite open looks, they couldn’t get one to fall as the Michigan lead eventually got to 11 points after Cadeau finally broke the seal for his squad on the opposite end, burying a three-pointer to get to a double-digit lead.

But Hurley was firing up the crowd as the Huskies never quit, cutting the lead to five with less than nine minutes to play in the game. Lendeborg, though, after shaking his head on the bench as he wasn’t having the game he hoped in the national championship, stepped up when he checked back in.

Lendeborg saw a sweet pass from Cadeau in transition and got the lead back to 11 with a tough layup, making it 56-45 with less than six minutes to play. He would also come in clutch with another two points following a Braylon Mullins three-pointer.

Once again, the Huskies wouldn’t quit, as Mullins finally found his shot beyond the arc, knocking that Michigan lead back to single digits with a follow-up three-pointer again to Lendeborg’s layups. But, just as gritty as the Huskies played, the Wolverines seemed to always have the answer in this hard-fought contest.

Head coach Dan Hurley of the UConn Huskies reacts during the first half of the NCAA men’s basketball national championship game against the Michigan Wolverines at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., on April 6, 2026. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

A key example of that was, after Karaban buried a three-pointer to cut the Michigan lead to six, Trey McKenney stepped back and drilled a 26-footer with 1:49 left in the game to get the lead back to nine points. The Wolverines faithful in the crowd went ballistic, knowing how much that basket meant considering what UConn has been able to do in this tournament.

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With 37 seconds left in the game, Ball got some help from the backboard, making a three-pointer to cut the lead to 67-63 for the Wolverines. Roddy Gayle Jr. made things more interesting in this game, as he couldn’t knock down his two free throw attempts for Michigan. But Karaban didn’t have another clutch three-pointer in him, coming up short with 13 seconds left.

That was it for UConn’s desperation attempt, and Michigan celebrated their win.

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The UNC Tar Heels are dipping into the NBA pool for its next men’s basketball coach.

After Hubert Davis was fired following a shocking loss to VCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament earlier this month, the Tar Heels are set to hire Michael Malone, according to ESPN.

North Carolina was previously linked to top college coaches, including Michigan’s Dusty May, who will be competing for an NCAA title on Monday night against UConn. But May took his name out of any running across college, while Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd and Iowa State’s T.J. Otzelberger were also rumored to be in the Tar Heels’ favor.

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Head Coach Michael Malone claps on the sidelines during the third quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on April 6, 2025. (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

But Malone, who the past 10 seasons leading the Denver Nuggets, is the man they’re settling on to lead the Tar Heels back to greatness.

Malone is the winningest coach in Nuggets history, tallying 471 career wins across his career there, while also winning an NBA title in 2023.

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However, Malone, despite what he means to the franchise record books, was fired by the Nuggets in April 2025. He quickly entered the sports media space, joining ESPN in May 2025, but he’s back in the saddle now in a whole new collegiate world compared to the pros.

Perhaps North Carolina wouldn’t have been searching for another head coach if Davis and the Tar Heels didn’t collapse against No. 10 VCU in the first round, as the Rams mounted the biggest first-round comeback in tournament history to ultimately defeat No. 6 UNC in overtime, 82-78.

“We appreciate all that Hubert has done for Carolina as a player, assistant coach, head coach and community leader – he has helped make special memories we will never forget,” athletic director Bubba Cunningham said in a statement. “This was not an easy decision because of Hubert’s tremendous character and all he has given to the program, but we must move forward in a way that allows our team to compete more consistently at an elite level.”

Davis, who made four NCAA Tournaments, including the last three seasons, over his five campaigns with the Tar Heels, released his own statement on the matter. 

Head coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets watches the game against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on April 4, 2025. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

“Tonight, I was let go by the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill,” he wrote. “My desire was to continue to coach here. This opportunity has truly been such a blessing. I thank Jesus literally every day for giving me the opportunity, relationships and experiences with the kids and my staff. I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish together.”

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Davis added that he hopes to be coaching “in the very near future.”

Davis, who played for UNC from 1988-92 before being a first-round pick by the New York Knicks in 1992, left the program with about $5.3 million still guaranteed from his contract, per ESPN.

Davis went 125-54 during his 179-game tenure with his alma mater, which included a first-year Final Four appearance during the 2021-22 campaign. The Tar Heels reached the national championship game, falling to the Kansas Jayhawks, who also overcame a double-digit deficit to be crowned champions.

Head coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets looks on during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on April 4, 2025. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

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 After missing March Madness in 2023, the Tar Heels earned themselves a No. 1 seed in 2024, but they were taken down by No. 4 Alabama in the Sweet 16, cutting their national title hopes short. Still, Davis earned himself the ACC Coach of the Year Award that year. 

The Tar Heels want to get back to the Roy Williams days, as the legendary UNC head coach led his squad to six NCAA titles during his tenure, the most recent coming in 2017.