NIAGARA FALLS, NY – Happy Monday everyone. It is the last Monday of the month, with tomorrow being April Fool’s Day. It’s kind of fitting that Ben Whitney will be writing then. But enough of me giving Ben grief, let’s get to this week’s menu: March Madness, the New York Knicks, and the New York Rangers.
March Madness
March Madness is winding down, and while the men’s tournament decided to go full *chalk mode* (all No. 1 seeds in the Final Four? *Yawn*), the women’s bracket is out here reminding us why we love sports—because *anything* can happen.
Let’s start with the men’s side, where Duke once again proved they’re the kings of breaking hearts. You know the drill: hype up the freshman class, watch ’em dominate for six months, then cry into your jersey when they either (A) lose in the Elite Eight or (B) go pro and immediately get buried on an NBA bench. Wash, rinse, repeat. This year’s squad? Same story. But hey, at least Coach K isn’t around to glare at us anymore.
The women’s game has everything the men’s lacks – unpredictability, star power, and actual compelling basketball. If you’re not watching, you’re missing out. No Caitlin Clark but UConn has Paige Bueckers, USC has JuJu [Editor’s Note: No they don’t. She’s injured.] and Notre Dame has Hildago and South Carolina is still out there with UCLA looking to say something. It is a great time to be alive.
New York Knicks
The Knicks’ second-half surge against the Trailblazers the other night was fueled by… *checks notes*… DeLeon Wright?! The guy they scooped up from the Bucks for a bag of basketballs (and probably a coupon to Midtown’s worst deli) is suddenly their emergency floor general. With Brunson sidelined, McBride and Payne day to day, Wright stepped up with 7 points, 2 assists, and the energy of a guy who knows this might be his only shot.
Oh, and Landry Shamet decided to wake up off the bench and drop 17. This is good unplanned playoff prep, and yes it’s is weird, y’all. The Knicks are clinging to that 3rd seed like it’s the last slice of pizza at 2 a.m.—can they hold it? More importantly, can Thibs *not* burn out the entire roster before the playoffs start? Stay tuned.
New York Rangers
The Broadway Blues are barely holding on (But Hey, Playoffs Are Playoffs).
The Blueshirts are dangling precariously in the East’s second wild-card spot, tied with the Habs but winning the tiebreaker (thank you, hockey gods, for small mercies). The season wraps on April 17th, so if they can avoid their signature unable to win three games in a row, they might just sneak in.
Defense? Still sketchy. Goaltending? A rollercoaster. But hey, they grinded this far — why not dream big? If the offense shows up *and* the defense remembers they’re allowed to defend, maybe—*maybe*—they’ll make some noise. Or at least avoid getting swept in the first round.
Please comment below. Catch you next week—same time, same questionable sports takes. Ben Whitney is up tomorrow and since he is a Yankees and Giants fan, April Fools Day will be fitting.
