🏀 Embrace the Madness | Sports Daily Newsletter
Penn exits, but NCAA tourney is just getting started.
The NCAA Tournament offers plenty of drama, especially in the opening round when upsets can spice things up. (How about Phil Martelli Jr.’s VCU knocking off North Carolina?) It can be a thrill a minute. So let’s get right to The Inquirer’s coverage of March Madness in rapid-fire fashion:
An ailing TJ Power tried to play for Penn, but little went right for the Quakers in a 105-70 loss to Illinois.
The Villanova Wildcats return to the tournament today against Utah State (4:10 p.m., TNT). Jeff Neiburg is in San Diego to cover the game, and he previews the matchup with the 28-6 Aggies.
It has been quite a turnaround season for Wildcats guard Tyler Perkins, a holdover from last year’s ’Nova team.
The tournament comes to Xfinity Mobile Arena today, with Virginia facing Wright State, Tennessee tackling Miami (Ohio), UCLA facing Central Florida, and UConn looming against Furman.
The 32-1 RedHawks of Miami showed they were for real by beating SMU in the first four, so they are not intimidated by Tennessee.
Central Florida’s coach will enjoy a homecoming in Philly. It’s Johnny Dawkins, who played for the Sixers from 1989-94.
Philadelphia has hosted several iconic NCAA games through the years, with the likes of Bob Knight, Isiah Thomas, and Christian Laettner making a splash. We rank the top 10 games of all time played here.
— Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.
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On the women’s side, Villanova will open the NCAA Tournament against Texas Tech tonight at 8:30 in Baton Rouge, La. (ESPNU). Denise Dillon’s Wildcats are 25-7; Texas Tech has the same record.
Maggie Grant and Annie Welde bring valuable experience to the Wildcats as the last holdovers from Villanova’s Sweet 16 team in 2023.
All Stacy Durbin wanted was a plate of hot chicken.
What she got was a home run ball in the face.
Durbin, of Clearwater Beach, Fla., was walking on the exposed concourse beyond the left-field fence Thursday afternoon at BayCare Ballpark in the top of the fifth inning of the Phillies-Rays spring training game, in search of Abe’s Place. Suddenly, like a bolt out of the blue, a baseball plummeted from the sky and nailed her directly on her right eye socket.
Durbin said she was there to watch her spring-training neighbor, Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto.
Their acquaintanceship was confirmed when, after the game, Realmuto was shown a photo of Durbin.
“That’s Stacy!” Realmuto said. “I go fishing with her husband!”
With opening day a week away, the battle for the Phillies’ final two bullpen spots is coming down to the wire. Several of the contenders got another chance to state their case on Thursday.
Next: The Phillies host the Tigers at 1:05 p.m. today (NBCSP+). Cristopher Sánchez is scheduled to start against Detroit lefty Tarik Skubal.
Among the things that convinced Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to sign with the Eagles: a chance to play with Jalen Hurts.
“Man, I’ve been watching Jalen play for a while,” the veteran receiver said at his introductory news conference. “Even previous teammates, everyone talked highly about him. And for me, watching the film on him, seeing how he’s able to make stuff happen, how composed he is, his deep ball, and just how he’s able to lead, was all attractive to me.”
Punter Braden Mann will return to the Eagles after a career year, while kicker Jake Elliott had his contract restructured coming off a shaky season.
The Flyers entered last night’s game against the Kings in Los Angeles with seven wins in their last 10 games. Three players in particular have helped the team surge: goalie Dan Vladař and forwards Nikita Grebenkin and Owen Tippett. Jackie Spiegel has the details.
Without Sean Couturier, Denver Barkey, and Luke Glendening in the lineup, the Flyers muscled out a 4-3 shootout win over the Kings in Los Angeles.
In the next step of the NFL draft process, top college prospects showcase their talents for the scouts at pro days on campus.
At Penn State, Drew Allar showed off his arm and offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane continued to impress.
At Temple, linebacker Cam’Ron Stewart was among those trying to wow the scouts.
Sports snapshot
World Cup experience: The FIFA Fan Festival will run in Philadelphia from June 11 to July 19.
Career nights: VJ Edgecombe and Justin Edwards lit up the scoreboard in the Sixers’ 139-118 blowout win over the Kings.
Winless Union: The team searches for answers after exiting the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Hawks stay alive: Next up for St. Joseph’s men in the NIT: No. 2 seed California.
Our best sports 📸 of the week
Each Friday, Inquirer photo editors will pick our best shots from the last seven days and share them with you, our readers. This week, photos include the Phillies in spring training, the Flyers and Sixers in action, and more.
Marcus Hayes reports from the PGA’s Valspar Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla:
For the second year in a row, the Valspar will feature 18 of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking, an impressive pull for a full-field tournament held on a devilish course at the end of a grueling series. …
“The lead-up to the Masters is important to us,” said Keegan Bradley, who is playing in his ninth Valspar Championship. “This would be the best preparation for that.” More from Marcus Hayes.
Who said it?
Who said this about Bryce Harper’s game-tying home run in the eighth inning of World Baseball Classic final? Think you know? Check your answer here.
What you’re saying about Andy Dalton
We asked: What do you think of the Eagles signing 38-year-old quarterback Andy Dalton? Among your responses:
Andy Dalton brings stability to the Eagles #2 quarterback position. I believe that the move aligns with the new offense the Eagles expect to employ this year. Last year’s “three yards and a cloud of dust” offense got them nowhere. Dalton exudes knowledge and confidence if he is called upon to run the offense. Tanner McKee was a sometimes very effective substitute but often didn’t display the consistency the position demands. — Milton T.
Why? — Tony R, Richard V.
Why? That is the question. Maybe they want someone in the room who can be a sounding board for Hurts and help McKee’s development. It sure does not look like they have a lot of faith in either McKee’s ability or their ability to keep him after the season. The cost is pretty much a nothing and it gives the living room GMs something to ponder while we wait for the season. — Bill H.
Only if it is a precursor to trading McKee for good draft picks, although I like McKee. — William S.
Andy Dalton’s signing didn’t mean anything to me at first. … But I guess that with Tanner McKee on the last season of his contract Howie just wants to be prepared. — Everett S.
I do think that Dalton can be an acceptable backup, considering that McKee should be traded. The smart move now is getting something of value for McKee, who has developed well and could compete for a starting job at a lesser NFL team. Roseman should get valuable draft picks for him. — John W.
A great move, the QB position now has an experienced backup as well as a mentor to Jalen Hurts. Andy Dalton was commended for bonding with a young Bryce Young, who excelled the second half of last season. Echoes of 2017? — Bob C.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff Neiburg, David Murphy, Olivia Reiner, Jonathan Tannenwald, Lochlahn March, Marcus Hayes, Scott Lauber, Jackie Spiegel, Gabriela Carroll, Kerith Gabriel, Henry Savage, Greg Finberg, Ryan Mack, Katie Lewis, and Inquirer staff photographers.
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.
Have a great weekend. Thanks for reading, as always. I’ll see you in Monday’s newsletter. — Jim