🏀 Comeback story | Sports Daily Newsletter

Selection Sunday will be upon us this weekend. It will be time once again for that exercise in futility (for me at least): the filling out of the NCAA Tournament pool.

The teams will slug it out to reach the Final Four in Indianapolis, but no matter what happens, there has been one big winner on the Big 5 scene this season.

Steve Donahue was on the scrap heap of coaching after Penn dismissed him last season, but he has landed on his feet, to say the least. He took an assistant’s job at St. Joseph’s and found himself thrust back into a head coaching role when Billy Lange abruptly left for the Knicks in September.

These days? Donahue is the Atlantic 10 coach of the year and the Hawks are 21-10 as they begin play in the conference tournament tonight (7:30, CNBC). St. Joe’s has won 13 of 16 games, and if the Hawks can win the A-10 title and an NCAA bid, that would be March Madness indeed for their rejuvenated coach. Jeff Neiburg has the story.

— Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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Why would Aaron Nola, baseball’s most durable starter for years, ever change how he trains?

But Nola is 32 now and coming off an injury-interrupted season of less than 100 innings and a career-worst 6.01 ERA. So, he modified his training routine by reinstating a more rigorous long-toss program.

And he signed up to pitch in the World Baseball Classic.

Phillies pitching coach Caleb Cotham said Nola wanted a more accurate reading of his offseason training. He delivered a “master-class” performance for Italy in a victory over Mexico on Wednesday. Will it lead to a bounceback season?

On another pitching front: Fresh off signing his contract extension, Jesús Luzardo got to work on fine-tuning his pitches.

Chase Utley will return to Citizens Bank Park this summer as the Phillies induct the second baseman into the team’s Wall of Fame.

Next: The Phillies host the Orioles today with Andrew Painter scheduled to start (1:05 p.m., NBCSP+).

Riq Woolen is joining the Eagles on a one-year, prove-it deal, and the cornerback is excited to line up alongside two All-Pros in the secondary, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.

“It’s awesome because it’s like, dang,” Woolen said. “Where can you throw the ball to?” Olivia Reiner writes about the sometimes brash Woolen’s introduction to Philadelphia.

The Eagles will be equally stacked at defensive tackle, of course, with Jordan Davis earning a $78 million extension and Jalen Carter set to cash in at some point, too. Jeff McLane writes about their connection.

The team will be keeping punter Braden Mann around as well after signing him to a four-year extension.

The Eagles also added veteran defensive back Jonathan Jones and outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie on one-year deals Thursday. Jones spent most of his career with the Patriots and played for Commanders last season. Ebiketie spent his first four seasons in Atlanta.

The Flyers are hoping to end their playoff drought, but the organization remains focused on building for the future. There are more than a few bright spots, too: Six of the Flyers’ top 10 prospects have a reasonable chance of playing NHL games by the end of the season, while the team has four first-round picks over the next three years. Jackie Spiegel sizes up their top prospects.

The Flyers hung tough with the Minnesota Wild and picked up a 3-2 shootout win to put them within five games of the Boston Bruins for Eastern Conference’s final wildcard spot.

So which is more legit? Bam Adebayo’s 83 points? Or Kobe Bryant’s 81? The debate has raged since the Miami Heat star’s Tuesday night outburst against the Washington Wizards. And, of course, those two performances trail only Overbrook High School legend Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point performance for the Philadelphia Warriors.

The Inquirer considered all three feats, finding that Adebayo’s effort was far more free-throw heavy than those of Bryant and Chamberlain, whose performances included more field goals. That said, Bryant’s teammates forgot about offense and funneled the ball his way. So did Adebayo or Bryant produce a truly pure performance? Here’s a closer look.

Down four starters, the Sixers could not keep pace with the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons in a 131-109 loss. Rookie VJ Edgecombe had to carry the scoring and ball-handling duties ad struggled.

We asked: What do you think is an underrated position in sports and why? Among your responses:

I think center is one of the most underrated or under regarded positions in football. Philly has been blessed with two who became household names with Chuck Bednarik and then arguably the most publicized center ever in our Jason Kelce. Chuck got most of his fame though as a ferocious linebacker. You have to be among the greatest of Eagle fans to be able to go back without looking anything up and name 5 or 6 former centers, whereas most can easily name a dozen quarterbacks, or running backs, and great defenders etc. — Everett S.

The most underrated position in the sports world in my opinion is us, the sports fan. No one appreciates us. We spend all our money on tickets, buying overpriced beers and food, aggravate everyone when we lose and generally live for our teams. My wife Mary included. — Ronald R.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff Neiburg, Jeff McLane, Olivia Reiner, Gabriela Carroll, Jackie Spiegel, Scott Lauber, Lochlahn March, Alex Coffey, Isabella DiAmore, Ariel Simpson, Kerith Gabriel, and Owen Hewitt.

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. I’ll see you in Monday’s Sports Daily. — Jim