This is For The Win’s day-to-day newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a pal advise or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Have feedback? Leave your concerns, remarks and issues through this short reader study! Now, here’s Mike Sykes.
Good earlymorning, Winners! Welcome back to the Morning Win! Happy Friday! We’ve made it through the week, folks. Happy Easter if you’re commemorating this weekend.
Alabama-UNC was whatever that we love about March Madness. It had a David vs. Goliath ambiance to it, you understand?
On one side, you had a college basketball blue blood in UNC. On the other hand, you had Alabama, who was thoughtabout the underdog coming into this videogame. That was the unusual part about this thing. I’m not rather sure that Bama oughtto’ve been the underdog that it was.
Most individuals anticipated UNC to pull this one out, which is affordable thinkingabout how excellent that group hasactually been all season long. But Alabama doing this shouldn’t be stunning. This program hasactually been quite great under Nate Oats.
In the last 5 years, Bama has:
— Made it to the Elite 8 for the veryfirst time in 20 years.
— Made it to the Sweet 16 3 times (2021, 2023, 2024).
— Been called a No. 1 seed (2023) and a No. 2 seed (2021) in the competition.
That all appears basketball-school-ish to me.
But that’s the thing, ideal? This is the incorrect sport. When we talk about this school, it’s typically because of something Nick Saban hasactually done. That’s why Charles Barkley called the group frail (and why Nate Oats can have his stylish resurgence now). We’re not utilized to seeing Alabama basketball do this.
But we’d muchbetter get utilized to it — at least as long as Oats is there. I wear’t understand if he’ll be poached by one of college basketball’s more conventional schools. I puton’t even understand if Alabama enabled that to occur.
But, upuntil that day comes, put some regard on Alabama Basketball’s name.
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Leaving it on the flooring
Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Sometimes, winning looks unsightly. It did for Dejounte Murray and the Hawks on Thursday when they beat the Celtics.
Murray dragged the Hawks to a win. He took 44 shots (!!!!!) to rating 44 points, which sounds dreadful. But, guy. Honestly? The Hawks required every single shot to win that videogame.
The last one was the most important — Murray hit a game-winner over Jrue Holiday for the win.
DEJOUNTE MURRAY IS HIM AGAIN pic.twitter.com/Ghq5ar4kHO
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) March 29, 2024
This was one for the history books, folks. Murray is the 3rd gamer in the last 20 years to take at least 44 shots in a videogame. per Stat Muse. You can mostlikely guess the other 2: Russell Westbrook and Kobe Bryant.
“I wear’t desire to take that numerous shots. But I understand Kobe would be happy of me,” Murray stated after the videogame. Yeah, I concur.
A amazing begin
(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
The Juan Soto age is off to an remarkable start in New York. He conserved opening day for the Yankees with an unbelievable toss home from the outfield.
Here’s Blake Schuster with more.
“The newest superstar to wear the pinstripes got to play hero on Opening Day, assisting the Yankees come back from a 4-0 deficit after the 2nd inning by going 1-for-3 at the plate with 2 strolls and an RBI. But it was what he did at the end of the videogame that made his launching actually stand out.
As the Yankees sticks to a