David White

Articles in
March 2025

Tide/Tigers continue their pursuit of the Final Four today and Sunday

March 29, 2025

Bruce goes for his second Final Four at Auburn after leading his team there in 2019 only to lose a heartbreaker to Virginia where a missed double dribble call kept the Tigers from playing in the National Championship Game. (Photo courtesy of WSFA-Montgomery).

Alabama and Auburn continued their stellar play Thursday and Friday Night respectively as both teams inched closer to the Alamodome and San Antonio for the Final Four, which would be the second Final Four for both teams and both coaches as Bruce Pearl took his team there in 2019 and barely missed out on a shot at the national championship due to a missed double dribble call on Virginia’s Ty Jerome with seconds winding down in regulation in the semifinals. After Jerome double dribbled with 7 seconds left, he took dribbled down the floor and tossed it to Kyle Guy in the left corner and Guy shot a potential game tying three which he missed. However the Tigers were called for a foul on Guy’s shot, which was also controversial. Guy sank all three free throws and Virginia won the game in overtime and went on to capture the national championship the following Monday over Texas Tech. Tough one for Bruce and the 2019 Tigers. However, they have another shot in 2025. Nate Oats’ Crimson Tide made it to the Final Four last year only to fall to unstoppable UConn in the semis. UConn went on to win it all and win back to back national titles in 2023 and 2024.

Now both Alabama and Auburn face major tests as they home in on advancing to the arena all 352 schools in Division I aspired to be at in November; the Alamodome in San Antonio sire of the 2025 Final Four, which commences next Saturday, April, 5th on CBS with game times to be determined. Most likely a 5:09 P.M. CT tip and a 7:49 P.M. CT tip.

Here are previews and predictions for the Elite Eight games today and Sunday.

White’s World’s 2024 Sweet 16 through Championship Records

SU: 11-4; ATS: 11-4

This Postseason, 2025: Sweet 16 record:

SU: 7-1; ATS: 5-3; O/U: 6-2

Overall 2025 record including the SEC Tournament

SU: 15-7; ATS: 12-9; O/U: 9-7

Today’s Games

West Regional Final

No.3 seed Texas Tech (28-8) vs. No. 1 Florida (33-4)

Chase Center, SF, CA. 18,064

5:09 P.M. Central Time

TBS/truTV

Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Stan Van Gundy, Lauren Shehadi, Gene Steratore-Rules

Gators by 6 1/2, O/U, 157 1/2

I like the Gators to show the country once again what a prolific team they have led by their stellar guards, Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard, and big men Alex Condon, Reuben Chinyelu and Thomas Hough.

Florida 83, Texas Tech 75

East Regional Final

No. 2 Alabama (28-8) vs. No.1 Duke (34-3)

Prudential Center, Newark, 16,755

7:49 P.M. CT

TBS/truTV

Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce, Gene (rules analyst throughout).

Duke by 7 1/2; O/U 174 1/2

Nate Oats had a premonition for his backcourt on Thursday at the Prudential Center in Newark telling Mark Sears, Labaron Philon, Chris Youngblood and Aiden Holloway before the game that, “We’re going to rain threes.” Coach Oats was a prophet. The Tide drained trifectas to the tune of 25-of-51, 49%, the most made threes in NCAA Tournament history surpassing Loyola Marymount’s 21 in 1990 against Michigan. Mark and Aiden were knocking down threes from Yankee Stadium; Mark to the tune of 34 points on 10-of-16 from triple, and Aiden to the tune of 23 on 6-of-13 from deep downtown. Youngblood added 19 on 5-of-11 from three. Mercy, what a performance by those guys. Now the Tide faces the vaunted Blue Devils and player of the year candidate, along with Auburn’s Johni Broome, and soon to be first overall pick in the NBA draft (most likely) Cooper Flagg. Can the 2025 version of the Crimson Tide repeat and make it back to the Final Four? I like them to do that.

Alabama 94, Duke 92

Mark and the Crimson Tide pull off the upset in Newark and head to San Antonio. (Photo courtesy of AL.com).

Sunday’s Games

Midwest Regional Final

No.2 Tennessee (30-7) vs. No.1 Houston (33-4)

Lucas Oil Stadium, Indy, 35,000

1:20 P.M. CT

CBS

Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Evan Washburn, Gene

Houston by 3 1/2; O/U: 124 1/2

Looking for a hard fought, hard-nosed game, with stellar point guard Zakai Zeigler and the Vols outlasting the Cougars.

Tennessee 62, Houston 61

South Region

No.1 Auburn (31-5) vs. No.2 Michigan State (30-6)

State Farm Arena, ATL, 17,044

4:09 P.M. CT

CBS

Ian, Bill, Grant, Trace, Gene

Auburn by 4 1/2; O/U: 147 1/2

The Tigers had a sluggish start in the first half last night versus Michigan, but rallied in the second half with a 20-2 run to defeat the Wolverines, 78-65. Johni Broome finished with 22 points and 16 boards, a huge night. Tahaad Pettiford and Denver Jones added 20. Jones was 4-of-7 from triple, while Pettiford was 2-of-7. Auburn was 8-of-28 from three on the night. But they out-rebounded the Wolverines 48-33, held the Wolverines to 21-of-59 from the field, 36%, and 5-of-17 from trifecta, 29%. The Tigers were also 14 of 18 from the stripe, 78%. They really amped it up in the second half. In Michigan State, Auburn plays a similar hard hat, lunch pale team that plays terrific defense, hits the boards and can be prolific from three when they’re on. But I’ll take Johni and the Tigers to punch their ticket to San Antonio.

Auburn 75, Michigan State 72

Johni and Auburn want to keep on playing. I like them to do just that with a victory over Michigan State. (Photo courtesy of WHNT-Huntsville).

Sweet 16 Predictions

March 26, 2025

Miles Kelly will try to shoot the Auburn Tigers to the Elite 8. (Photo courtesy of Auburn University).

The Sweet 16 commences Thursday featuring 7 SEC teams that are competing, including the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers, which is tremendous for both the conference and the state. The 2nd seeded Crimson Tide (East Region) kicks off the spectacle Thursday as they square off with the 6th seeded BYU Cougars. The South Region’s No.1 seed, the Auburn Tigers, face the 5th seeded Michigan Wolverines on Friday. Brownie and EHS ’80 will have later nights watching their team. I’ll be joining them in that pursuit. I’m not an Auburn fan per se, but very interested in the Tigers and Tide always. Pretty excellent teams to be interested in.

Here’s a breakdown of the games along with White’s World’s Sports Confidential’s predictions on which teams will emerge from this round and matriculate to the coveted Elite 8, and move one step closer to the Alamodome in San Antonio for the Final Four Saturday, April 5th.

Record so far

SEC Tournament: SU-8-6, ATS: 2-6, O/U: 3-5.

Picked Florida to win it all, which they did, and Walter Clayton Jr. to win the MVP of the tournament, which he did. Used numbers for the games I had teams competing in. Bracket struggling so far, but there’s still hope.

Thursday’s games

East Region

No.2 Alabama (27-8) vs. No.6 BYU (26-9)

Prudential Center, Newark, NJ., 16,755

6:09 PM CT

CBS

Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce

Bama by 5 1/2, Over/Under 175 1/2

I like Mark Sears, Grant Nelson, Mouhamed Dioubate, Chris Youngblood and the emerged rim protector and

offensive weapon 6’11”, 250 center Clifford Omoruyi to lead the Tide to victory and enable them to advance to

Saturday and the Elite 8.

Alabama 92, BYU 86

West Region

No.4 Maryland (27-8) vs. No.1 Florida (32-4)

Chase Center, San Francisco, 18,064

6:39 PM CT

TBS/truTV

Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Stan Van Gundy, Lauren Shehadi

Gators by 6 1/2, O/U, 156 1/2

It’s too bad the Crimson Tide and the Gators are on at roughly the same time. You either can jump, unless

you’re exclusively a Bama fan or Gators fan, or get Youtube TV on your computer and watch Florida or

Alabama that way when they run over each other on their respective broadcasts.

Gators 82, Terps 75

East Region


No.4 Arizona (24-12) vs. No.1 Duke (33-3)

Prudential Center, Newark

8:39 PM CT

CBS

Same announcers as above in East.

Duke by 9 1/2, O/U, 153 1/2

Duke is a juggernaut right now and looks unstoppable. They can be stopped, but it’ll take a heroic effort.

Cooper Flagg, Kon Kneuppel and company are going to be tough to knock off. It can be done with a physical,

hard-working effort, but it’ll be a major task.

Duke 80, ‘Zona 70

West

No.10 Arkansas (22-13) vs. No.3 Texas Tech (27-8)


Chase Center, SF

9:09 PM CT

TBS/truTV

Texas Tech by 5 1/2, O/U 148 1/2


Give me Cal and the Hogs in the upset.

Hogs 72, Red Raiders 70

Friday

South Region

No. 6 Ole Miss (24-11) vs. No.2 Michigan State (29-6)


State Farm Arena, Atlanta, 16,888

6:09 PM CT

CBS

Ian, Bill, Grant, Trace

Mich. State by 3 1/2, O/U, 143 1/2

This is a tough one because I think the Rebels have a real shot here. However, I’ve got Tom Izzo and his

Spartans advancing to the Elite 8, so I’ll take them in a slugfest.

Michigan State 70, Ole Miss 68

Midwest

No.3 Kentucky (24-11) vs. No.2 Tennessee (29-7)

Lucas Oil Stadium, Indy, 67,000, maybe not that many allowed in game.

6:39 PM CT

TBS/truTV

Tennessee by 4 1/2, O/U, 144 1/2

The Vols lost not once, but twice to the Wildcats, 78-73 at home, and 75-64 on the road. They’re a better

team now. It’s hard to beat a team three times as the old basketball adage goes, so I like the Vols to move on

to the Elite 8. The Vols’ defense, which is prolific, should be the difference.

Tennessee 73, Kentucky 70

South

No.6 Michigan (27-9) vs. No.1 Auburn (30-5)

State Farm Arena

8:39 PM CT

CBS

Tigers by 8 1/2, O/U, 154 1/2

I like Johni Broome, Miles Kelly, Denver Jones, Chad Baker-Mazzara and the star studded company to get the

job done for the Auburn Tigers. Willie and Hamilton will be chanting, “It’s Great to Be..” loudly Friday

Night/Saturday morning? at Otey’s.

Auburn 78, Michigan 75

Midwest

No. 4 Purdue (24-11) vs. No.1 Houston (32-4)

Lucas Oil

9:09 PM CT

TBS/truTV

Houston by 7 1/2, O/U, 132 1/2

The Cougars are one team that can definitely hang with Duke. There are some others, but Houston really

sticks out to me as one of those teams. They are highly athletic, they can score and are elite defenders and

rebounders.

Houston 67, Purdue 59

Saturday, Elite 8 Predictions





















Bracketology 2025

March 17, 2025

Will Grant Nelson be healthy enough to suit up for the Crimson Tide on Friday. (Photo courtesy of On3.com).

The Alabama Crimson Tide, the No.2 seed in the East Regional, the Auburn Tigers, the No.1 overall seed and in the South Region, the Florida Gators, the SEC Tournament Champion and the No.1 seed in the West Region, and 11 other SEC teams for a total of 14 compete in the NCAA Tournament starting Tuesday Night with the First Four.

The Crimson Tide faces No.15 seed Robert Morris Friday in Cleveland at 11:40 A.M. CT on truTV, while the Tigers square off with the winner of the Alabama State/Saint Francis winner Thursday in Lexington at 1:50 P.M. CT on CBS. The Gators face No.16 Norfolk State Friday, at 5:50 P.M. CT in Raleigh on TNT.

After months of hikes and fishing in Oak Mountain State Park while contemplating my future
bracket, hours of transcendental meditation with a sports psychologist, acupuncture to relieve the stress of trying to figure this out, White’s World has come up with a bracket for 2025. Should be another epic tournament as it always is. What a time of the year for sports. Here’s my 2025 bracket.

2025 White’s World Bracket

Winner at the 51st Players Championship

March 12, 2025

Russell Henley was iron at the Arnie Invitational last weekend. (Photo courtesy of Athlon Sports).

Russell Henley chipped in for eagle from 54 feet on 16 at Bay Hill to overtake Collin Morikawa and capture the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the $4 Million check that went along with it. White’s World correctly predicted that, so pumped about that. Henley’s putting was through the roof great. By the way, congratulations to Bama Golf and Charles B. Perkins on their Wofford Terriers playing stellar bball and capturing the Southern Conference Tournament Championship. Bama and Charles B. have a shot at making some noise. Very strong team.

This is the week of the “5th Major,” The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra at the PGA headquarters site. Scottie Scheffler is gunning for a three-peat. It’s a stellar field. Here are the key odds.

Scheffler, 3/1

Rory, 8/1

Morikawa, 16/1

Xander Schauffele, 16/1; Ludvig Aberg (Walt’s guy), 20/1; Justin Thomas, 20/1; Hideki Matsuyama, 30/1; Patrick Cantlay, 35/1; Tommy Fleetwood, 35/1; Shane Lowry, 40/1; Russell Henley (what a putter), 45/1; Sungjae Im, 55/1; Sepp Straka, 55/1; Keegan Bradley (the Ryder Cup captain is playing stellar golf), 55/1; Sam Burns, 60/1; Wyndham Clark, 60/1; Corey Conners, 65/1; Jason Day (having a resurgence), 65/1; Maverick McNealy, 65/1; Tony Finau, 70/1; Vik Hovland, 70/1; Si Woo Kim, 70/1; Daniel “Whata” Berger, 70/1; Min Woo Lee, 75/1; Bob McIntyre, 75/1; Jordan Spieth, 80/1; Tom Kim, 80/1; Will Zalatoris, 80/1; Brian Harmon (Open Champion from 2023, awesome putter, like Henley, and also a former Georgia Bulldog) 90/1; Adam Scott, 90/1.

Weather

Thursday, 76, Sunny, wind SSW 9 MPH.

Friday, 74, mainly Sunny, wind ENE 10.

Saturday, Partly cloudy, 77, windy, wind SSW 20-30, could gust even higher. Seventeen will be a beast!

Sunday, 78, T-storms developing in afternoon, 88% chance of T-storms. Wind S 15-25 with higher gusts possible. Will be an interesting Saturday/Sunday.

TV

Thursday-Friday, 12-6 P.M. CT, Golf Channel.

Saturday, 1-6 P.M. CT, NBC/Peacock.

Sunday, 12-6 P.M. CT, NBC/Peacock.

ESPN+

Thursday-Friday, 10 A.M.-12 P.M. CT; Saturday, 11 A.M.-1 P.M.; Sunday, 10 A. M.-12 P.M.

Winner

I’ll take the 35 year old Bulldog from Macon, Georgia once again. I was thinking Hideko also, but I’ll take this young stallion once again. Love his composure on the course and his prolific short game, especially his putting. TPC Sawgrass is a good layout for him because he’s so accurate off the tee, and gets it up and down and up and in. Give me:

Russell Henley

The S-E-C Men’s Basketball Tournament, Previews/Predictions

March 11, 2025

Grant Nelson, after scoring 23, pulling down 8 boards and sinking three trifectas versus Auburn in a Crimson Tide 93-91 victory at Neville Arena in Auburn, leads his team into Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Friday. (Photo courtesy of FOX Sports).

The 65th edition of the SEC Basketball Tournament tips off at 12 P.M. Central Wednesday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. This will be the 12th time the event has been held at Bridgestone, and the competition will be prolific as the heavyweights in the conference battle for the championship and the coveted high seeding in the NCAA Tournament that goes with it while the underdogs try to shock the conference.

The No.1 seed and third-ranked Auburn Tigers are the favorite, at 2/1. No.2 seed and fourth-ranked Florida is 3/1. The No.3 seed and 5th-ranked Crimson Tide, fresh off a tremendous victory at the Jungle last Saturday, is 4/1. Fourth seeded and 8th ranked Tennessee is 6/1. No.15 Kentucky is 22/1, No.14 A&M is 25/1, as is No.21 Missouri.

Can Auburn capture both the regular season and conference championship or can Alabama, Florida, Tennessee or a Cinderella crash the Tigers’ party? Should be fun to witness.

ESPN’s Joe “Brackets” Lunardi, in his pretty darn accurate Bracketology he puts out every Tuesday and Friday mornings, has the Tigers as the No.1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and playing in the South region. Barring an upset in the quarters or semis, which would go along with No.1 ranked and the No.2 overall seed in the NCAA’s Duke capturing the ACC Tournament Championship, Auburn should maintain its spot as the No.1 overall seed. But this tournament, the SEC, is unpredictable, so the Tigers will need to be locked and loaded in order to be successful on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Florida is the No.2 seed and is playing elite basketball right now. Lunardi has them as a No.1 seed in the West Regional. It has defeated both the Tigers and the Crimson Tide on the road. The Crimson Tide is presently a 2 seed in the Midwest, where Lunardi has Houston as the No.1 seed. The Tide is gunning for a possible run all the way to a championship and making the selection committee think really hard about them as a No.1 seed. It’s not extremely likely, but could be a possible scenario if the Tide can win out in Nashville and get help in the Big 12 Tournament with Houston not winning it, or in the ACC Tournament with Duke not winning that. The Crimson Tide did defeat Houston, 85-80, on Tuesday, Nov. 26th at Las Vegas in the Players Era Festival Tournament, so that’s something for the committee to definitely contemplate if the Tide wins it all in Nashvegas.

Lunardi has the SEC with 13 teams in the NCAA Tournament, but it’s fluid as always and can also depend on these conference tournament’ outcomes. These Cinderella teams in the smaller conferences can steal a bid from an SEC team by winning their respective conference tournament championships, if these lower seeded SEC teams lose early in the SEC Tournament. Auburn and Florida are 1 seeds according to Lunardi. The Crimson Tide and Tennessee are 2 seeds-Tennessee in the East region. Kentucky is a 3 seed. A&M is a 3 seed. Mizzou is a 7 seed. Ole Miss is a 7 seed. Mississippi State is an 8 seed. Georgia has vaulted to a 9 seed with their good play lately. And Vanderbilt, Arkansas and Oklahoma are each 11 seeds. OU is considered one of the ‘Last 4 in” teams according to Lunardi, so there situation is tenuous, and they’ll most likely need a victory in the first round to solidify their NCAA Tournament participation. Texas is on the third line of the “First Four Out” in Lunardi’s bracket, so they’ve got to win one if not two games in this tournament.

So, there are some really interesting scenarios set to transpire in Nashville. Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas have work to do. Georgia may be safer, according to Lunardi, but they want to win at least one game to ensure their entry into the NCAA’s.

This is all Lunardi, and he’s not 100 percent accurate, but the guy is highly knowledgeable and is pretty close to accurate on what the committee will decide on Selection Sunday. So, I like his stuff. A lot of people do.

It’ll be electric action in Nashville with major repercussions on the line for several teams.

Here are predictions for the games and which team White’s World likes to cut down the nets on Sunday around 2:30-45 P.M. Central.

****All times Central.**** All numbers in front of the teams are SEC Tournament seeds

Wednesday

No. 16 South Carolina (2-16 SEC,12-19) vs. No.9 Arkansas (8-10, 20-11)

12 P.M.

SEC Network

Arkansas by 3 1/2, O/U: 138 1/2

I like Arkansas to move on and further solidify their spot in the NCAA Tournament. It’ll be defensive game, and a little ugly.

Arkansas 61, South Carolina 53

No.13 Texas (6-12, 17-14) vs. No. 12 Vanderbilt (8-10, 20-11)

25 minutes after Game 1, 2:30-45 ish, maybe later if there is OT in first game

SEC Network

Vandy by 2 1/2, O/U 148 1/2

I like the Dores to solidify their NCAA Tournament aspirations.

Vanderbilt 77, Texas 74

No.15 LSU (3-15, 14-17) vs. No.10 Mississippi State (8-10, 20-11)

6 P.M.

SEC Network

State by 8 1/2, O/U 147 1/2

Liking State to get it done, but closer than anticipated.

Miss. State 75, LSU 70

No. 14 Oklahoma (6-12, 19-12) vs. No.11 Georgia (8-10, 20-11)

8:30-9 approximately

SEC Network

UGA by 2 1/2, O/U 148 1/2

I like the Dawgs to enhance their resume and make them a very marketable team to the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee.

Georgia 74, Oklahoma 70

Thursday, Day 2

Arkansas vs. No.8 Ole Miss (10-8, 21-10)

12 P.M.

SEC Network

I like the Hogs to pull off what might be considered a slight upset, but not really.

Arkansas 67, Ole Miss 65

Vanderbilt vs. No.5 Texas A&M (11-7, 22-9)

25 minutes after first game

SEC Network

Give me the Dores to clinch their spot in the NCAA’s.

Vandy 78, A&M 77

Mississippi State vs. No.7 Missouri (10-8,21-10)

6 P.M.

SEC Network

I’ll take the Bullies to pull off an upset and advance to the quarters.

State 80, Missouri 78

Georgia vs. No. 6 Kentucky (10-8, 21-10)

25 minutes after State/Mizzou concludes

SEC Network

I’ll go with the Wildcats to move on in front a mass of Big Blue nation as their fans take over an SEC Tournament venue once again.

Kentucky 69, Georgia 67

Friday, Quarterfinals

Arkansas vs. No.1 Auburn (15-3, 27-4)

12 P.M.

ESPN

Arkansas will have secured their spot in the NCAA’s, but they aren’t beating Auburn, however.

Auburn 78, Arkansas 68

Vanderbilt vs. No.4 Tennessee (12-6, 25-6)

25 minutes after Game 1

ESPN

I’ll take the Commodores in an upset city victory.

Vandy 71, Tennessee 70

Mississippi State vs. No.2 Florida (14-4, 27-4)

6 PM

SEC Network

I like the Gators to keep their momentum rolling on.

Florida 78, State 70

Kentucky vs. No.3 Alabama (13-6, 24-7)

25 minutes after FL. vs. State

SEC Network

I’ll take the red hot Mark Sears and Grant Nelson and a star-studded Crimson Tide team.

Alabama 91, Kentucky 89

Saturday, semifinals

Auburn vs. Vanderbilt

12 P.M.

ESPN

The Commodores legs are going to be really tired by this point, and Johni Broome, the SEC player of the Year and possibly National Player of the year if he can beat out Duke’s Cooper Flagg, will have his way with the much smaller Commodores.

Auburn 85, Vanderbilt 73

Alabama vs, Florida

25 minutes after first game.

ESPN

Florida is just so hot right now. I like sharpshooter Walter Clayton Jr. and the Gators to advance in a

barnburner.

Florida 102, Alabama 98 OT

Championship Sunday

Auburn vs. Florida

12 P.M.

ESPN

I’m bullish on the Gators. The Tigers and Tide keep their seeds, and this should be a classic, but give me the

Gators.

Florida 92, Auburn 90 OT

Tournament MVP: Walter Clayton Jr.

Clayton Jr. and the Gators capture the SEC Tournament Championship. (Photo courtesy of AP News).

Three Amigas lead Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball to victory; Men in action Saturday

March 6, 2025

Iyana Moore led her team to a major victory over Tennessee earlier today in the SEC Tournament. (Photo courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics).

Our trio of superb players, senior guard Iyana Moore, sophomore center Khamil Pierre, and SEC Freshman of the Year Mikayla Blakes, combined for 63 points in leading our Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball team to an 84-76 victory over the Tennessee Volunteers at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., earlier today.

With the victory, the Commodores  moved to 23-9 on the season, while the Volunteers dropped to 22-10.

We now move into the quarterfinals  Friday to face the No.5 ranked South Carolina Gamecocks (27-3, 15-1 SEC) at 11 AM CT on E-S-P-N.

Our awesome senior, Iyana, led us throughout the first half and finished the game with 23 points on 8-for-11 from the field, and 4-for-4 from trifecta. Coach Shea Ralph said in her postgame press conference on SEC Network Live that Iyana is someone who stuck with her program when Coach Ralph came in four years ago, and her dedication to the program has paid off beautifully.

Iyana is also a terrific student and leader on this talented, hard working team.

Our great guard Mikayla Blakes finished with 24, including 7-of-8 from the free throw line. It wasn’t Mikayla’s best shooting game percentage- wise, but she found acrobatic ways to score at the rim. She is a phenom.

Our center, sophomore Khamil Pierre, finished with 16 points and 15 boards! It was Khamil’s 17th double-double of the season, which hasn’t happened in 25 years.

We out-rebounded them 42-34 with Khamil being the major reason for that discrepancy.

Graduate forward Jane Nwab sank a couple of nice buckets and finished with 7 points, while graduate guard Leilani Kapinus finished with 6 and secured a key steal with 18 seconds left to lock down the game. Leilani was fouled after her steal and sank both free throws.

Just a terrific effort from the Women. This is a highly entertaining team to watch. They get after it on the defensive end as well.

 Coach Ralph is doing a phenomenal job. We are still an 8 seed in the Spokane Regional, according to ESPN Bracketologist Charle Creme, playing No.9 seed South Dakota State. 

Creme’s new bracketology will come out Friday morning, so I’ll let you know where we stand.

Everybody knows South Carolina is tough and decorated as a multiple national champion, but I’ll take each of our players in a 40 minute game and take my chances.

We Definitely have a shot. Should be fun. Coach Ralph said in the postgame that we’re not here to just win one game, we’re here to win the whole thing, and take it deeper than any Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball team has ever taken it in March. Love Coach Ralph’s philosophy.

Will keep you posted. Anchor Down.

Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball

We had a tough one Tuesday with a ridiculously late 9 PM start, losing to Arkansas, 90-77. Arkansas is desperate to make the NCAA Tournament as they are squarely on the bubble and we just didn’t play our best.

We’ve got another test Saturday to close out the regular season @ Georgia with an 11 AM tip on ESPNU.

It’s an important game because it’s the next and final game of the season, and we need the momentum for the SEC Tournament, which starts next  Wednesday, 3/12, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. 

We also want to secure a first round bye and not have to play on Wednesday. We’re 20-10 overall and 8-9 in the SEC and Georgia is 19-11 and 7-10, so we need the victory to clinch the bye and play Thursday.

So, tremendously important game for the team. Need A.J. Hoggard, Devin McGlockton, Chris Manon, Jason Edwards, Tyler Nickel, Tyler Tanner and MJ Collins and company to really ramp it up on Saturday. I expect them to.

Joe “Brackets” Lunardi has us as a 9 seed in the East Regional in his ESPN Bracketology.

Joe has us playing No.8 seed Connecticut in Raleigh.

Joe will come out with his updated bracketology Friday morning, so will let you know  where we stand when the bracket is released.

Thanks a ton, and Go Commodores. Our Men and Women always compete hard. Fun groups to watch.

The Arnie Invitational; Who will win this Classic

March 5, 2025
Can this become the Scottie Scheffler Invitational like several other tourneys are? (Photo courtesy of GOLF).

This is the 60th edition of the revered Arnold Palmer Invitational played at Bay Hill Club

and Lodge in Orlando on a 7,466, Par 72 layout. It will be a test of a champion this week,

and the winner will have to earn it. Bay Hill was the toughest non-major course in 2022 and

2020, and was 6th most difficult last year and 5th in 2021. In 2024, Scottie Scheffler kind of

brought the course to its knees as he shot 15 under to win by 5 shots over Wyndham Clark

and capture the $4 million winner’s check. Scheffler is back to defend, of course. He also

won at Bay Hill in 2022. He’s the two time defending champion at the Players Championship

which will commence next week at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra with the largest purse in

golf at $25 million with $4.5 M going to the winner. The Arnie Invitational is the fourth

signature (elevated) event this year following the Sentry, won by Hideki ($3.6M), the AT&T

Pebble Beach (Rory, $3.6 M), and the Genesis Invitational (at Torrey Pines this

year, due to the L.A. fires, Ludvig Aberg, $4M). The Player sponsored signature events,

the Arnie, the Genesis (Tiger) and the Memorial (Jack) pay out 20 percent to the winner

($4M) as opposed to 18% in the other signature events, or $3.6 M. Either way, you ain’t

hurtin’ winning these events, or finishing in the top 25 for that matter. The other signature

events on the schedule are the RBC Heritage (April 17th-20th), the Truist Championship

(May 8th-11th in Philly), the Memorial Tournament (May 29th-June 1st), and the Travelers

Championship (June 19th-22nd). There are eight total signature events. It makes the tour

more exciting to watch.

There are 72 players in this week’s field at the Arnie. Scheffler will defend.

It’s an outstanding test of golf, particularly if the wind is swirling, which it will be on a couple

of the days; Thursday and Sunday.

Odds for The Arnie

Scheffler, 3/1, Rory, 8/1, Xander Schauffele, 16/1, Aberg, 16/1, Hideki, 25/1, Justin Thomas,

28/1, Patrick Cantlay, 30/1, Tommy Fleetwood, 35/1, Sungjae Im, 45/1, Will Zalatoris, 50/1,

Keegan Bradley (who says the U.S. is going to kick some tail at the Ryder Cup-we’ll see),

55/1, Matt Fitzpatrick, 55/1, Viktor Hovland, 55/1, Maverick McNealy, 55/1, Wyndham Clark,

60/1, Bob McIntyre, 60/1, Tony Finau, 60/1, Russell Henley, 65/1, Shane Lowry, 65/1, Daniel

Berger, 65/1, Sepp Straka, 70/1.

Weather

Thursday, 68, sunny. Wind 17 MPH, gusting to 25. That’ll be a test of their fortitude.

Friday, 76, sunny, wind 7.

Saturday, 83, sunny, wind 9.

Sunday, 63, 74% chance of t storms in the late afternoon, winds 10-15, gusting to 25-30.

I like to see these guys challenged to the max. They’re a pretty entitled group of athletes

right now, so I think a lot of us want to see them struggle a little; see what they’re made of.

For, as Brother Blutarsky said, “When the going gets tough… the tough gets

going!”

TV

Thursday-Friday: 1-5 PM CT, Golf Channel

Saturday-Sunday: 11:30 AM-1:30 PM CT (GC, NBC Sports App). 1:30-5 PM CT, NBC.

The rough is 4 inches high and could be as high as 4 1/2 by this weekend.

The greens will be stamping at 13.

The cut is top 50 and ties up to 10 strokes off the lead. Everybody gets a trophy.

Winner

I’m going to take the 35 year old Macon, Georgia Bulldog. He’s won 4 times on tour and I

like his mental makeup for this course. He finished tied for 5th at the AT&T Pebble Beach,

tied for 6th last week at the Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach (won by Joe

Highsmith?). And he finished tied for 4th at the Arnie last year. I’m taking:

Russell Henley

Give me Henley at the Arnie Invite (Photo courtesy of GOLF).

Sleeper

I don’t have a great idea on this, but I’ll take this 28 year old from Chapel Hill and UNC.

Ben Griffin

Will take this haymaker pick. (Photo courtesy of PGA Tour).

Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball: We just want more

March 4, 2025

The awesome A. J. Hoggard was spectacular on Saturday. (Photo courtesy of On3.com).

When my father’s best friend, who was like a second father to me after my dad passed away in 1977, was eulogized at First Presbyterian Church in Nashville, the minister said, “We know he’s in a better place, but we just wanted more.”

That’s the way I feel about our Vanderbilt Mens’ Basketball team. We all just want more of them, and we want watch these guys all the way till the night of Monday, April 7th in the Alamodome in San Antonio at the National Championship Game. This group of players are 100 percent class in everything they do. Their heart, their dedication, their competitiveness, and their personal integrity shines brightly out on the floor. And that has been enhanced even more the past three games we’ve been victorious in against then-No.23 Ole Miss on Saturday, February 22nd; then @ No.12 Texas A&M last Wednesday Night, February 26th, and, most recently, in a spellbinding victory at Memorial on Saturday, a 97-93 overtime victory over No.19 Missouri.

March is here and our team is locked, loaded and homed in on winning every basketball

game that is in front of them starting tonight with a 9 o’clock tip against Arkansas on the

SEC Network. But let’s look back at Saturday versus Mizzou for a minute. It was epic.

Jason Edwards sank a critical trifecta with 12 seconds left to keep us in the game, cutting

the deficit to 79-78, Tigers. After Caleb Grill, a terrific shooter for Missouri

who poured in 28 points, sank both free throws to put the Tigers up 81-78, Memorial Magic

struck again in the person of Tyler Nickel, our great small forward, who drained a three with

four seconds left to tie the game at 81, unbelievingly. The clock ran out, we went into

overtime and won it from there, a 97-93 final. There were several heroic performances. Our

awesome undersized, but does it matter? (That’s a flat out NO), power forward Chris Manon

scored 23 and pulled down 11 boards. Chris has been terrific lately. Our phenomenal point

guard, A.J. Hoggard finished with 21 and 6 dimes. A.J. is always an awesome distributor of

the basketball and if he can shoot like that, we’re a very dangerous team. A.J. is a leader

and a difference maker. Edwards finished with 17 points and four assists and sank two huge

free throws. A.J. was 8-of-8 from the line. We were 21 of 24 from the stripe, 88%, which

was major because Mizzou was 28-of-35, 80%, and shot 11 more free throws than we did.

So every point from the stripe mattered. Nickel finished with 12 points, sank 3 triples and

was 3-of 4 from the line. Manon was 7-of-8 from the line in his spectacular performance.

Jaylen Carey and Devin McGlockton only finished with 7 points each, but Carey finished

with 10 boards and Devin added 8. We out-rebounded them, 39-28, always a major stat.

Tyler Tanner only had four points, but they were both critical floaters that were clutch plays

during the game. MJ Collins finished with 7, but connected on a critical 3 in the second half

towards the latter part of the game.

So, a total team effort by a team that exemplifies just that,. It’s a team game and our player understand that. Just spectacular.

But we want to keep the winning going. Lunardi has us as a 9 seed in the East playing the

No.8 seeded UConn Huskies in Raleigh. But the goal right now is to defeat Arkansas

tonight at 9. It’s been a thrilling year with this team, and it’s hopefully going to keep getting

better. Gotta take care of business tonight. Then it’s @ Georgia Saturday at 11 AM CT on the

SEC Network.

From there it’s the SEC Tournament in Nashville at Bridgestone Arena, Wednesday, March

12th through Sunday, 16th.

We are now 20-9 overall and 8-8 in the SEC, tied for 8th in the

conference. There’s more work to be done and I can’t wait to see these guys

do more work. I know we all are.

Women’s Basketball homes in on the Postseason

Khamil Pierre is a major part of our team’s success (Photo courtesy of Instagram).

Our Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball season finished off the regular season with a

resounding 100-59 victory over Missouri at Columbia.

We now head into the SEC Tournament as the No. 8 seed. The tournament starts

Wednesday at Secours Wellness Arena ihn Greenville, S.C. We’ll play Thursday at 10 AM CT

versus the winner of No.16 Texas A&M and No.9 seed Tennessee. The game will be

broadcast by the SEC Network. The Championship Game is Sunday, March 9th, at 2 PM CT

on ESPN.

We compiled a regular season record of 21-9 overall and 8-8 in the SEC, good for

a tie for 8th in the conference. We finished tied with Tennessee in the standings, but

prevailed in a tiebreaker by virtue of our 71-70 victory over the Vols on Sunday, January

19th at Memorial.

In our Missouri victory, our tremendous freshman Mikayla Blakes poured in 29 points on 11-

of-17 from the field and 6-of-10 from trifecta. Senior guard Iyana Moore added 18 and 7

assists and sophomore forward Khamil Pierre added 16 points and 10 boards. So, awesome

effort from the team.

According to ESPN Bracketologist Charlie Creme, we are an 8 seed in the Spokane Regional

and would face 9 seed South Dakota State in the first round. That’s fluid, of course.

Got a lot of work left and I know our women are excited about it. Coach Shea Ralph is

building a powerhouse program on the West End, just like Coach Mark Byington is, and the

next step is going deep this March; both in the SEC and NCAA Tournaments.

As Coach Corbin says, we just want to have a good practice today and be successful on

Thursday. I’ll be in touch soon.

Latest & Greatest

Fresh Tweets:

Vanderbilt women’s tennis player Astra Sharma 1 on 1. https://t.co/D0WS0rVnqG @VandyMeg @mmhamlett @Vandywtennis @ManOfVandy @SkipPrince
May 18, 2017, 2:34 PM

Vanderbilt women’s tennis Astra Sharma 1 on 1. https://t.co/D0WS0rVnqG @astrasharma @markNwhitebluff @vandy_62 @warehouse1987 @dbc5361
May 18, 2017, 2:33 PM

Previewing 2017 Clemson Tigers football team. https://t.co/1JH1cPGQkp @markNwhitebluff @vandy_62 @clayphillips27 @warehouse1987 @dbc5361
May 15, 2017, 2:13 PM

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