After five years, 114 games, and countless unforgettable moments, Paige Bueckers has the ultimate stamp on her college career: a ring. 💍

Today’s Lineup

🎉 Happy birthday to Enjoyers Ryan, Kaden, Carles, and Josh! 🎉

Weekend Wrap-Up

UConn drubs South Carolina 82-59 for 12th college national title

There was a time in women’s college basketball when seeing UConn win the championship was like seeing the sun come up. But before this season, it had been nine long years since the Huskies’ last title.

That was, until Sunday.

In a matchup between heavyweights of the sport, UConn downed South Carolina to the tune of a 20+ point blowout for their 12th title as a program. After a 34-point victory over UCLA in the semis, the Huskies again rolled to a win over the Gamecocks, with Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd each scoring 24 PTS and Paige Bueckers ending her storied college career with a 17-point performance.

The Huskies entered this year’s tournament as a two-seed but established themselves as the nation’s best team throughout their dominant run. The win also marked coach Geno Auriemma’s 12th championship, further cementing him as one of the GOATs of coaching in any sport. Congrats to the net-cutters! ✂️

Giannis drops second-straight 35+ point game, Bucks clinch playoffs in 121-115 win over Miami

We know Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t exactly known for being a “normal guy”, but his play as of late has been especially freak-ish. After recording the NBA’s first-ever 35-point, 20-assist, 15-rebound game on Thursday, Giannis followed up the effort with a 36-point, 15-rebound, 10-assist gem in a six-point OT win over the Heat. Silly stuff.

With a few other Eastern Conference games swinging Milwaukee’s way this weekend, the Bucks became the sixth team to clinch a playoff berth in the East, leaving the rest of the conference down in Play-In territory. Though they’re just 10 games above .500, Milwaukee has all the talent necessary to make a deep playoff run. And if Giannis keeps playing like this… fear the Deer.

Elsewhere around the NBA…

• The Grizzlies have been in flux recently since firing HC Taylor Jenkins, but Desmond Bane is out to right the ship. In a 109-103 victory over Detroit, Bane scored 38 PTS for the Grizz while Jaren Jackson Jr. added 27 of his own. Keep grinding!

• The Luka Lakers hype has subsided just a bit, but don’t forget what kind of player Doncic is. In a dominant 126-99 win over the league-leading Thunder, Luka dropped 30 PTS, 7 REB, and 6 AST for a sound overall performance that gave L.A. a 1.5-game lead on Denver for the third seed out West.

• Jalen Brunson is back on the court, and the Knicks are back to the 50-win mark. After a 15-game absence, the N.Y. star returned to MSG on Sunday and quickly did what he does best, connecting on a tough three in the clutch to help seal the 112-98 win for the Knicks over Phoenix. It also marks New York’s second-straight 50-win season after not recording one for over 10 years prior. The Mecca is back!

Title Tilt

After an unforgettable Final Four (and a heartbreaking one for the Duke fan writing this newsletter), Florida and Houston will face off tonight with a championship on the line. Let’s preview the factors that could sway the matchup:

Clayton vs. Everyone

Walter Clayton Jr. has been borderline unstoppable during this year’s tournament, averaging 24.6 PPG and leading the Gators all the way to the chip game. But what’s been more impressive is his play in the clutch—Clayton has come up big for Florida late time and time again, most recently scoring 12 PTS in the final five minutes of the Gators’ win over Auburn as part of a 34-point night. Houston’s defense is relentless, particularly on the perimeter, so seeing how the Cougars contain Clayton will be key to tonight’s outcome.

Houston… we have a green light

The Cougars are known across the nation for their tenacious defense, but perhaps the most pivotal part of this year’s run has been their success from beyond the arc. Houston has shot 35% or better from three in every game of this year’s tournament, including a 45.5% clip against Duke. It was also the Cougs’ three-point shooting that allowed them to hold off Tennessee’s comeback bid in the Elite Eight. This team is ready to grind you out, but don’t be surprised when they rain threes on your head either.

Coaching Clash

The title game will be a matchup of old school vs. new school, with Houston’s Kelvin Sampson (799 career wins) facing off against Florida’s Todd Golden (132 career wins). Both teams utilize variations of a five-out offense, and both rank top-three in the nation in KenPom (with Florida ranking second in offensive rating and Houston ranking first in defensive rating). Will Sampson reach win #800, or will Golden establish himself as the sport’s rising star? Tonight holds the answer…

Three in the Key

Signing Off

And we out! This week, don’t be afraid to take a chance and go after something you want. The best things in life begin with a bet on yourself. See you soon!

Walker Carnathan