🏀 Basketball Jones | Sports Daily Newsletter

Because I’m sentimental, I really enjoyed the latest column from David Murphy that examined the good ol’ days of college basketball when March Madness felt like more than just watching high-priced amateur athletes take to the floor.

Not that there’s any problem for me personally, when it comes to name, image, and likeness and spreading the wealth a bit, but there’s something nostalgic about the names and moments of yesteryear being tied to school pride, rather than to cash and incentives.

But that’s not what today’s leadoff is about. Because we recognize that it is the new ethos of college athletics, we also know that at the end of most seasons (and sometimes during), there’s a mass exodus of student-athletes who make that annual pilgrimage to the NCAA’s transfer portal.

To keep track, we’ve created a pair of local college hoops trackers that track movement in and out of the Big 5 and from beyond. Here’s a look at where it all stands at the moment, on both the men’s side and the women’s.

We won’t break out of the 50s across the region again today, though it’ll be a bit warmer than yesterday, which is nice. Make sure you get outside if you can.

— Kerith Gabriel, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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❓What’s your best March Madness memory? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

After winning the series opener against the Giants on Monday, the Phillies offense failed to score a run for 20 consecutive innings. And after Wednesday’s 5-0 loss to San Francisco — their second straight shutout — the Phillies’ first series win in the Bay Area since 2013 remains elusive.

“That’s wild,” Bryce Harper said. “It really is. … I guess it just happens sometimes. Obviously we want to be able to turn that page and win here, especially if we play in the postseason.”

On Wednesday, the Phillies’ downfall was 10 rollover groundouts. They managed four hits, all singles, and none harder than 91.8 mph off the bat.

Inside the clubhouse, there’s still a sense that things will turn around eventually.

J.T. Realmuto was out of the lineup after taking a foul tip off his right foot Tuesday, and his status for the opener of the Phillies’ series against the Diamondbacks on Friday is uncertain.

Davey Lopes, whose speed in 1977 helped turn a memorable afternoon at Veterans Stadium into a painful collapse only to later make good years later by teaching the 2008 champion Phillies to run like him, has died at 80.

Next: After today’s off day, Jesús Luzardo (1-1, 4.97 ERA) will start Friday’s series opener against Arizona.

⛹🏾‍♂️ Sharing: A projection of the best-case scenarios when it comes to teams the Sixers could face in the playoffs based on their regular-season finish.

🏈 Congratulating: Coatesville’s Maxwell Hiller, who is bound for Florida after being the top-ranked interior offensive lineman in the class of 2027.

🤔 Wondering: If the Eagles will select a cornerback in the NFL draft after adding Tariq Woolen this offseason?

⚽ Reading: The details of Union defender Nathan Harriel’s new contract, one that has him remaining along the Chester waterfront until the 2028-29 MLS season.

The Flyers are among the hottest teams in hockey, having won 11 of their last 15 games, and are closing in on an unlikely first playoff appearance since 2020. In other words, it’s time to catch Stanley Cup fever.

Whether you jumped in after the Eagles were eliminated, are riding the momentum of Team USA’s triumphs at the Olympics, or just started paying attention after Sunday’s dramatic win over Boston, there’s plenty of room aboard the Orange and Black bandwagon. For those scurrying to catch up on what they missed, don’t fret, we’ve got you covered.

The Flyers may not officially be playoff-bound just yet, but Jackie Speigel identified four reasons from Tuesday’s 5-1 win in New Jersey that fans can feel optimistic about them finishing the job.

Quentin Grimes is back in Houston. The 76ers guard is a native of The Woodlands, Texas, and attended the University of Houston. And in his last game in his hometown, Grimes scored a career-high 46 points on March 17, 2025, against the Rockets. Now on a 2025-26 team with different circumstances, Grimes is hoping to get back in “attack mode.” The Sixers play the Rockets tonight at 8 (NBCSP).

This season has been inconsistent at times for Grimes, who most recently went scoreless and scored only five points in a pair of losses to the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs, respectively. But with unrestricted free agency on the horizon, Grimes has every incentive to make the most of the Sixers’ playoff push and postseason.

April 9, 2014: Joel Embiid announced his plans to declare for the NBA draft after his freshman season at Kansas. The rest, as they say, is …

KENISM SLEMIALI

This longtime Philly sports radio personality is in hot water after getting arrested during an apparent domestic dispute. Hint: If you’re a sports talk radio aficionado, then the name might surprise you. Take a guess and then click here to see if you’re correct.

We asked: Which team do you think has a better chance of making a postseason run, Flyers or Sixers?

I wish for the Sixers but the Flyers have the hot goalie chance. The Sixers have the broken Embiid chance. Advantage Flyers. — Paul N.

The Flyers are hot right now, but have no recent playoff experience. The Sixers are built to win now. Will Embiid’s load management enable him to excel in the playoffs? Will Paul George live up to his pedigree? Will Maxey and Edgecomb provide the spark and quickness of youth? It should be a fun run! — Bob C.

The Flyers have a better chance of making a playoff run. Tocchet has them playing the right way, the infusion of young players has sparked the team and Vladar’s stellar play in goal ensures that they’re in every game. The Flyers are going to be the team no one wants to face come playoff time! — Joe B.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Gina Mizell, Jeff Neiburg, Gustav Elvin, Isabella DiAmore, David Murphy, Devin Jackson, Jackie Spiegel, Matt Breen, Gabriela Carroll, Ximena Conde, Vinny Vella, and Lochlahn March.

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 your time, Philly. Now go forth and put all of this sports knowledge to good use. — Kerith