Flint’s focus | Sports Daily Newsletter

Ever since he graduated from St. Joseph’s in 1987, Division I basketball is all James “Bruiser” Flint has known. Well, except for one season.

After getting fired by Drexel following the 2015-16 season, Flint took some time to figure out his next move. He tried TV but ultimately returned to coaching.

After a stint at Indiana, he teamed up with old pal John Calipari at Kentucky and now is its associate head coach.

It’s a pretty sweet gig. But Flint misses “being the person who’s in charge, coaching the game.”

So as his Wildcats, who, by the way, have plenty of Philly-area ties, gear up for another NCAA Tournament run, Flint is hoping for another chance, too.

— Maria McIlwain, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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❓ Who’s your pick to win the NCAA Tournament and why? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Roster meetings were in session Tuesday at the Phillies’ spring-training home in Clearwater, Fla. Opening day is a week from today, and while there aren’t that many questions on a roster for a team with World Series aspirations, there are a few intriguing ones. Scott Lauber tried to answer them with his opening-day roster projection.

Here’s why David Murphy named Ranger Suárez the “Most Interesting Player” of spring training.

Elsewhere on the pitching staff, starter Taijuan Walker struggled in 2⅔-innings of work, allowing seven runs in the Phillies’ 13-4 loss to the Orioles.

Meet the man who was responsible for imploding the Vet — and helping to build Citizens Bank Park.

Next: The Phillies play the Rays on Thursday in Clearwater (1:05 p.m., NBCSP+)

After the Eagles lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild-card round, The Inquirer’s Marcus Hayes and linebacker Haason Reddick discussed whether the Camden native and former Temple standout would be back with his hometown team next season. Reddick seemed pessimistic about the chances of getting the contract extension he’d desired.

To date, the process is still playing out as he seeks a raise from his hometown team, and, perhaps, a trade. Hayes offers his insights from that January conversation.

The Eagles did add depth at defensive back on Wednesday with former free agent Tyler Hall, who played for the Las Vegas Raiders last season.

Matt Brase was back home Wednesday night when the 76ers faced the Phoenix Suns. The Sixers assistant coach called it a business trip as his team struggles to adjust to life without star center Joel Embiid. But Brase, the grandson of legendary University of Arizona coach Lute Olsen, will make an exception for a family dinner. He dove into his plans in the desert, the Sixers’ season, his relationship with Nick Nurse, and much more in an expansive Q&A with The Inquirer’s Gina Mizell.

The Sixers couldn’t keep up with Kevin Durant and the Suns in a 115-102 loss on Wednesday night to begin their West Coast road trip.

Next: The Sixers continue their slog through the West Coast on Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers (10:30 p.m., NBA TV).

The Flyers’ win on Tuesday was exactly what the doctor ordered for a team that had lost three of four and is clinging to the final playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division. Jackie Spiegel breaks down the three key figures from the Flyers’ biggest win of the season.

Speaking of the playoff race, it’s scoreboard-watching season in the NHL. Here’s where the Flyers stand with 13 games remaining.

Next: The Flyers continue their gauntlet against playoff teams Thursday in Carolina against the Hurricanes (7 p.m., NBCSP).

The Inquirer is looking for the best amateur mascot in the region — and awarding that school with a $1,000 donation. From the hundreds of schools in the area, we’ve narrowed the list down to 16 finalists.

It’s the ultimate school spirit showdown! Fill out your mascot bracket and help pick Philly’s favorite. The top school wins bragging rights, a banner for its gym — and a $1,000 donation!

We asked you: Who would you like to see as the Phillies’ opening-day starting outfielders? Why? Among your responses:

Marsh and Castellanos for sure. I’m rooting for Rojas as well, I really like him. Afraid maybe the hitting is getting in his head. Hopefully he will turn that around and get that third spot. — Kathy T.

The starting outfield should be Marsh, Pache, and Nick. Merrifield is an excellent option to give someone a rest. Let’s not Kingery Rojas at this stage of his career. He hasn’t played a game in triple A. Let the kid work on his game and get some confidence at the plate. Chances are someone will get dinged during the season for him to come up if he figures it out. — Bob H.

My choice for starting outfield is Marsh, Pache, and Castellanos. Like so many Philly fans I would love to see Rojas out there, but so far I can’t see him hitting well enough to be there. Even with those three I chose, it is a light-hitting outfield compared to most contenders. — Everett S.

Who would I LIKE to see as their outfield? Stan Musial, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron in their primes!

Who do I EXPECT to see? Well, it sounds to me from the latest of various beat writers’ write-ups, especially the stuff about their rebuilding Mr. Rojas’ swing “from the ground up” which I doubt very much can be done in just a couple weeks (though Mr. Long IS pretty magical it seems!), that Mr. Rojas will start the season as an IronPig. That leaves them with two obvious in-house CF options, Messrs. Marsh and Pache. Of those two I think I’d prefer Mr. Pache since it keeps Mr. Marsh in LF, where they want him in order to protect his recent arthroscopic work and because his best defense is in LF.

But, here’s another thought. I’ve always been a Scott Kingery fan and suspect the prior Phils’ regime mishandled him enough to damage him almost beyond repair. But this spring he’s looking like, at (soon to be) 30 years young, he’s now repaired; 131 wRC+ and .858 OPS, though he’s slumped a bit his last couple games. I wouldn’t have any heartburn if they went north with him replacing Mr. Rojas, not as a permanent fix, but as a showcase to eventually send him to a “change of scenery” somewhere, benefiting both him and the Phils.

Lastly: TBH, I do not see Mr. Castellanos as EVER being a good enough batsman to make up for his extreme defensive liability in RF. He looks to be the only “bad” high-profile pickup Mr. Dombrowski has made in his Philadelphia tenure (hey, no one’s perfect!). They would improve the team simply by putting any of Messrs. Pache (given his hitting this spring), Marsh, or Merrifield in RF and adjusting the rest of the outfield accordingly, leaving Mr. Castellanos on the bench or finding a trading partner for him.

LF — Marsh; CF — Pache; RF — Merrifield — Marty M.

Marsh and Castellanos are a lock. High energy, solid defense, good bats. Center is a little difficult. Rojas has an A++ glove but a D- bat. Pache is good but still questionable. Merrifield is a good, solid player for left. — Nick S.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff Neiburg, Scott Lauber, David Murphy, Gina Mizell, Jackie Spiegel, Mia Messina, Jonathan Tannenwald, Marcus Hayes, EJ Smith, Rymir Vaughn, and Josh Tolentino.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thanks for reading along! Jim will be back tomorrow with the week’s final Sports Daily. — Maria