Missing the Madness | Sports Daily Newsletter

Villanova is headed to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022, but the moment will be bittersweet for one of the Wildcats’ best players. Matt Hodge averaged 9.2 points at power forward for the ‘Cats, but his season ended Feb. 28 when he suffered a torn ACL in a game against St. John’s.

Hodge is optimistic about his recovery from surgery, but in truth his family must feel a bit cursed: His brother Jayden, a high school star, suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in January.

Without Hodge, Villanova’s depth has taken a hit, especially in a frontcourt where only two players, centers Duke Brennan and Braden Pierce, are taller than Hodge, who is 6-foot-8. Hodge is keeping his chin up, saying the pain is “more mentally than anything physically.” Jeff Neiburg has his story.

Xfinity Mobile Arena will host four first-round games on Friday and two second-round games on Sunday from the East and Midwest Regionals as the NCAA tourney returns to Philadelphia for the first time since 2022. Here’s the info on who’s playing, tickets, and more.

On the women’s side, Villanova is preparing to face Texas Tech in the opening of the NCAA Tournament. The four top seeds in the bracket — Connecticut, UCLA, South Carolina, and Texas — are so far ahead of the field that they’ll all be clear favorites to reach the Final Four, Jonathan Tannenwald writes.

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

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

❓What do you think of the World Baseball Classic? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

During his yearlong recruitment of players to form an American baseball dream team, Mark DeRosa didn’t seek a full-time designated hitter.

But he couldn’t quit Kyle Schwarber.

“When you’re building out a roster like this, having just a cemented DH is probably not the way to go with just the construction and trying to make every piece fit,” DeRosa said Monday. “But he’s just so special to the group that he trumps all that.”

And not only because Schwarber will be Team USA’s cleanup hitter tonight in Miami for all the World Baseball Classic marbles. It won’t surprise anyone within the sport, least of all Phillies fans, that his gravitational pull as a leader exists even on a team packed with superstars.

Aaron Nola left no doubt in his final WBC appearance for Italy after allowing one run across four innings during a 4-2 loss to Venezuela in their semifinal matchup. Nola will return to the Phillies with a fastball that has more life and a curveball with more bite.

Otto Kemp, who was banged up last season, knew there would be an “adjustment period” this spring. He’s healthy, and the results are starting to follow, as he showed on Monday.

MLB announced that Johan Rojas has been suspended 80 games. Here’s how the Phillies reacted and when they can expect him back.

Next: The Phillies return to Clearwater today to face the Twins at 1:05 p.m. (NBCSP+). Jesús Luzardo is scheduled to start.

The 76ers are down four starters, which means shifting roles and responsibilities for players at all levels of the roster. That extends to rookie VJ Edgecombe, who has been thrust into life as the first option on offense and a trusted closer on defense. Edgecombe lived up to those expectations on Sunday night, knocking down clutch shots to help the Sixers defeat the Portland Trail Blazers and posting his fourth double-double with 18 points and a career-high 12 rebounds.

“I’ve got to just go out there and just try to will my team,” Edgecombe says. “Just bring energy. Create energy. Instill confidence in my teammates.”

The Flyers haven’t had a good power play since before the COVID-19 pandemic, as it has finished in the bottom four of the NHL in each of the last four seasons, including in the basement in three of those years.

This year was supposed to be different, as new coach Rick Tocchet arrived with a reputation for overseeing successful power plays, while Trevor Zegras, one of the most skilled offensive players in the league, figured to provide a jolt of his own. But 66 games in, the Flyers at 15.2% sit in an all-too-familiar place with the man advantage: dead last.

What can they do to fix their longstanding Achilles’ heel? Our Jackie Spiegel has some ideas.

Speaking of the power play, team president Keith Jones addressed the team’s struggles in that area, as well as some other key questions, during a local radio appearance on Monday.

Arnold Ebiketie remembers his time at Temple, joining the celebration after the Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2018. “If I recall, that’s exactly when I became an Eagles fan, partially,” says the edge rusher, who’ll be more than just a fan next season after signing a one-year contract with the Birds.

Ebiketie’s journey to the Eagles included one season at Penn State and four with the Atlanta Falcons.

How many times has Kyle Schwarber led the National League in home runs? First with the correct answer here will be featured in the newsletter.

A) One

B) Two

C) Three

D) Four

We asked: What’s your greatest college basketball memory? Among your responses:

My greatest college basketball memory was easily Kris Jenkins shot with no time on the clock to win the national championship for Villanova in 2016. Nothing comes close to that one! — Tom E.

When Jenkins hit the 3-pointer, after a pass from Archie, and Villanova wins the NCAA championship. — Tom G.

April 1985 — Villanova beats Georgetown in NCAA final. — Lyn S.

Villanova beating Georgetown in ’85 was a solid performance, there was no quit in the Wildcats that night. There have been others since then but for some reason the first is always the sweetest. — Bill B.

How can any NCAA basketball moment top the upset by Villanova of Georgetown for the 1985 NCAA tournament championship? Villanova incredibly upset Georgetown in the final game on April Fools’ Day, 1985 with a 66-64 victory. As an 8th seed, Villanova executed a perfect game plan, shooting a record 78.6% from the field to defeat the heavily favored Patrick Ewing-led Hoyas who were seeded #1. My memory includes Harold Jensen coming off the bench to drill 5 of 5 outside jumpers. — John W.

December 2012, we traveled to Madison Square Garden to see Temple-Syracuse (ranked #3) in the Gotham Classic. The Owls rallied from 10 down late to upset the Orangemen. Khalif Wyatt scores 33 points to lead the Owls’ comeback. — Bob C.

Talking to my father, a Villanova alum, on the phone, after Villanova won it’s first national championship. I know he had a drink in his hand and tears in his eyes. — Brad L.

Of course Villanova winning in 2016 and 2018, but the best moment was North Carolina State winning in 1983 with Jim Valvano running around the court looking for somebody to hug. — Bill M.

My first outstanding college basketball memory was Tom Gola and the La Salle Explorers beating Bradley in 1954 to win the first national championship for a Big Five team. And the 2nd was Rollie Massimino’s Villanova Wildcats stunning highly favored Georgetown on April 1, 1985, my 47th birthday. Probably the most tense game I ever watched. — Everett S.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff Neiburg, Jonathan Tannenwald, Owen Hewitt, Olivia Reiner, Scott Lauber, Lochlahn March, Gustav Elvin, Jackie Spiegel, and Gina Mizell.

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.

Thank you for reading. Bella will be back to bring you the newsletter on Wednesday. — Jim