Thanks to a 2-1 overtime win over the Bruins Sunday, the Flyers are currently sitting in playoff position for the first time in nearly three months. That might not be the case if not for a decision Porter Martone made years ago in the back seat of his parents’ car.
Sure, it feels like a bit much to place that much on the shoulders of a kid who just made his NHL debut last week. He arrived in the midst of a hot streak for the Orange and Black, and that momentum has continued as the team moved into sole possession of a postseason spot, something they hadn’t been able to say since Jan. 12.
And the rookie has made his presence known. He recorded his first NHL points in just his second game, an assist in his home debut against the Detroit Red Wings. He added another assist in the first period Sunday, but Martone’s biggest impact yet came in overtime, when he found the back of the net for the first time in his young NHL career and helped lift the Flyers to victory.
Oh, and that all-important decision we alluded to at the top? That was Martone’s decision to attend Michigan State, where he recently wrapped up his college career. Ahead of his impactful first week in the NHL, Jackie Spiegel caught up with Martone, his family, and his former coaches to discuss how picking the Spartans helped put the young forward on the path to success.
— Matt Mullin, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.
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March Madness officially comes to a close on Monday night when Michigan and UConn face off for the national title. First, on Sunday, it was the women’s turn as UCLA dominated South Carolina for its first title since the sport’s AIAW era in 1978.
But the biggest story of the weekend in women’s college basketball was the postgame confrontation between UConn coach Geno Auriemma and South Carolina’s Dawn Staley after the Gamecocks’ Final Four win on Friday night. Auriemma apologized before the final — even if some, like Marcus Hayes, believe he could have done more and that he’s already tarnished his legacy.
On the men’s side, it’s Michigan against UConn, and once again there will be a local connection. The Wolverines Yaxel Lendeborg, a Pennsauken native who didn’t start playing basketball until he was 15, was injured in his team’s Final Four win over Arizona, but is expected to return to action tonight and get a chance to cap off an improbable career.
Since his arrival, much has been made about whether Brandon Marsh will develop into an everyday player capable of reliably hitting left-handed pitching. But so far this season, the Phillies outfielder has picked up where he left off last year. Following a poor start to 2025, Marsh went on to have a standout season at the plate. Entering Sunday, his .303 batting average since last May ranks fifth among players with at least 400 plate appearances. How has he done it?
“I think he’s sort of taken the [Kyle] Schwarber approach,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “When Schwarb is going good. Thinking left-center a little bit more, keeps him on the ball, gets the ball up in the air a little bit more.”
Marsh, who has a homer and three doubles this season, has at least one hit in the eight games he has started, including Sunday’s series finale against the Colorado Rockies when he laced a double into left-center field in his first plate appearance. Can he keep it up?
Next: Mickey Moniak homered twice as the Phillies dropped their series finale to the Rockies. The team now heads to San Francisco with its first game against the Giants set Monday night (9:45 p.m., NBCSP).
What we’re …
📚 Studying: How NBA teams are adapting to the league’s rule that requires players to participate in at least 65 games in order to be eligible for postseason awards.
💭 Wondering: Will the Union ever win an MLS game?
📺 Watching: Highlights of Gov. Josh Shapiro back when he was a high school basketball player known as “The General.”
From April 6-17, The Inquirer’s Eagles reporting team will be breaking down each position on the roster ahead of the 2026 NFL draft, looking at the depth chart and long-term personnel picture, as well as some names that could emerge as Eagles targets in the April 23-25 event. First up, the defensive line.
From the current state of the roster to some names to watch out in Pittsburgh at the draft, Olivia Reiner and Devin Jackson have you covered.
On April 6, 1016, Sam Hinkie stepped down as general manager of the Sixers with a now-infamous 13-page public resignation letter. But perhaps the strangest — or most unique part — was how it began, with a reference to a Boston surgeon that not only had Hinkie never met, but who didn’t even know Hinkie’s name.
A decade later, Alex Coffey caught up with Dr. Atul Gawande, who saw intellectual curiosity and humility in Hinkie’s manifesto.
“It certainly seemed to have a theme,” he said. “Many of the people he was citing were people who have found ways to get outsized results doing things that are sometimes seem counterintuitive.”
Check out what else Gawande had to say about his surprise inclusion in the letter.
Speaking of anniversaries, this weekend marked 10 years since Villanova won its second national championship — and its first of two in three years under Jay Wright. On Saturday, we took a look back at Kris Jenkins’ epic buzzer-beater. Now, ahead of tonight’s men’s national championship game, Isabella DiAmore takes a look at what the members of that team are up to.
Meanwhile, some soon-to-be former Wildcats are on the move. On Sunday, starting guards Acaden Lewis and Bryce Lindsay announced they plan to enter the transfer portal, with Lewis also saying that he’ll go through the NBA draft process. It might just be the start of a busy offseason for Kevin Willard and Villanova.
Stat that matters
0 … That’s how many MLS games the Union have won this season. With six losses to open their 2016 campaign following Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Charlotte, they’ve set a record for the most consecutive defeats to start the season for a defending Supporters Shield winner.
Thanks for reading and sticking with me while I pinch-hit for Jim. Until next time. — Matt
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jonathan Tannenwald, Luke DeCock, Jackie Spiegel, Lochlahn March, Gina Mizell, Kerith Gabriel, Matt Breen, Olivia Reiner, Devin Jackson, Alex Coffey, Isabella DiAmore, Jeff Neiburg, and David Murphy.
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