With the 2018 tournament upon us, we look at the legacy of college hockey’s top programs — some involved in this year’s bracket, some in a down cycle — and rank the ultimate lineups for them, based on the players’ success at the NHL level.
AUSTIN, Texas — A quick look at each of the 16 groups that will be in action for the first three days this week at the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play, along with the tournament records for each of the 64 players in the field. In addition, seven members of the PGATOUR.COM team have predicted their group winners. The seven experts making predictions are staff writers Ben Everill, Sean Martin, Mike McAllister and Cameron Morfit; fantasy writers Rob Bolton and Mike Glasscott; and equipment writer Jonathan Wall. Those 16 players who advance out of the group stage will play in single-elimination action this weekend, with the champion decided on Sunday afternoon. Players are listed by their seed, with WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play record in parentheses. SCHEDULE | PRINTABLE BRACKET | PLAY OUR BRACKET CHALLENGE Group 1 1. Dustin Johnson, USA (14-9-0) 32. Kevin Kisner, USA (3-3-0) 38. Adam Hadwin, Canada (First appearance) 52. Bernd Wiesberger, Austria (3-6-1) ANALYSIS The move to Austin Country Club has been huge for defending champ Johnson; he’s 10-2 in the two years here after a middling record of 4-7 in his seven previous appearances on other courses. He never trailed at any point last year and in fact led after 94 percent of the holes he played. Kisner and Hadwin have Presidents Cup experience but it’ll be a big surprise if DJ doesn’t emerge from this group. PREDICTION 7 votes for Johnson (Bolton, Everill, Glasscott, Martin, McAllister, Morfit, Wall) Group 2 2. Justin Thomas, USA (1-5-0) 21. Francesco Molinari, Italy (2-10-0) 48. Patton Kizzire, USA (1-1-2) 60. Luke List, USA (First appearance) ANALYSIS Thomas’ lone win in six matches in Austin came last year against Chris Wood. Of course, he’s never been in the kind of form he’s displayed since then and already has two wins this season, as well as a playoff loss to Phil Mickelson at the World Golf Championships event in Mexico. Kizzire also has won twice this season, and Thomas and Kizzire rank 1 and 2, respectively, in the FedExCup standings. PREDICTIONS 5 votes for Thomas (Bolton, Everill, Glasscott, Martin, McAllister) 1 vote for Molinari (Wall) 1 vote for List (Morfit) Group 3 3. Jon Rahm, Spain (6-1-0) 28. Kiradech Alphibarnrat, Thailand (2-2) 43. Chez Reavie, USA (First appearance) 63. Keegan Bradley, USA (1-6) ANALYSIS Rahm reached the finals in his first appearance last year before losing to Johnson 1-up after a tremendous rally. He obviously has good vibes around this place, and has three group members with little success in this event. Incidentally, Rahm needed just 90 holes to win his first six matches last year, and his 7-and-5 win over Soren Kjeldsen was the biggest margin of victory in any match a year ago. PREDICTIONS 7 votes for Rahm (Bolton, Everill, Glasscott, Martin, McAllister, Morfit, Wall) Group 4 4. Jordan Spieth, USA (9-4-1) 19. Patrick Reed, USA (6-5-1) 34. Haotong Li, China (First appearance) 49. Charl Schwartzel, South Africa (13-9-0) ANALYSIS Will the showdown between Team USA teammates Spieth and Reed on Friday – perhaps the most anticipated group match after Monday’s random draw – actually mean something? Both will need to avoid stumbles in their first two matches. Schwartzel, however, has never made much noise in his nine Match Play appearances, and Li is making his debut in this event. PREDICTIONS 5 votes for Reed (Bolton, Glasscott, McAllister, Morfit, Wall) 2 votes for Spieth (Everill, Martin) Group 5 5. Hideki Matsuyama, Japan (6-5-1) 30. Patrick Cantlay, USA (First appearance) 46. Cameron Smith, Australia (First appearance) 53. Yusaku Miyazato, Japan (First appearance) ANALYSIS Matsuyama has failed to get out of group play in his two starts in Austin and has never made much noise in his first Match Play appearances. He has three Match Play rookies in his group, but Cantlay and Smith already have had success on TOUR. PREDICTIONS 5 votes for Cantlay (Glasscott, Martin, McAllister, Morfit, Wall) 2 votes for Smith (Bolton, Everill) Group 6 6. Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland (22-8-1) 18. Brian Harman, USA (First appearance) 44. Jhonattan Vegas, Venezuela (2-1-0) 57. Peter Uilhein, USA (First appearance) ANALYSIS McIlroy is usually a force in this event (he won in 2015, was runner-up in 2012, and reached the semifinals in 2016) and obviously comes in with momentum from his win at Bay Hill. Harman and Uilhein had match play success during their amateur days, and perhaps can draw on that this week to knock off one of the heavy favorites. PREDICTIONS 7 votes for McIlroy (Bolton, Everill, Glasscott, Martin, McAllister, Morfit, Wall) Group 7 7. Sergio Garcia, Spain (19-17-1) 20. Xander Schauffele, USA (First appearance) 41. Dylan Frittelli, South Africa (First appearance) 62. Shubhankar Sharma, India (First appearance) ANALYSIS In his 15 previous Match Play appearances, Garcia has made a deep run just one time (2010 when he reached the consolation finals). He’s failed to get out of group play since the format change in 2015, but now he has local ties, is a major champion – and has three players in his group who have never played this event. He has to be the favorite on paper, but it may not be that easy against three young players all eager to take down the Masters champ. PREDICTIONS 4 votes for Garcia (Martin, McAllister, Morfit, Wall) 2 votes for Schauffele (Bolton, Everill) 1 vote for Sharma (Glasscott) Group 8 8. Jason Day, Australia (21-9-0) 25. Louis Oosthuizen, South Africa (17-8-0) 42. Jason Dufner, USA (4-9-1) 56. James Hahn, USA (First appearance) ANALYSIS Day and Oosthuizen battled in the 2016 championship match when Austin Country Club hosted the event for the first time. Day won 5 and 4, and it won’t be a surprise to see those two battle for the group title on Friday. Day won all seven matches during his romp to the title two years ago, and only played six holes in his first match last year before withdrawing to deal with family issues. PREDICTIONS 7 votes for Day (Bolton, Everill, Glasscott, Martin, McAllister, Morfit, Wall) Group 9 9. Tommy Fleetwood, England (4-4-0) 26. Daniel Berger, USA (1-5-0) 33. Kevin Chappell, USA (1-2-0) 58. Ian Poulter, England (23-14-0) ANALYSIS Poulter is the lowest seeded player in the group but he has the most skins on the wall, having won the Match Play in 2010 and reached the consolation final in 2013. This will be his first appearance in Austin, though. This group could be the most intriguing of all, given Fleetwood’s form and President Cuppers Berger and Chappell. “It’s a brilliant group,” said Paul Casey. PREDICTIONS 4 votes for Fleetwood (Glasscott, McAllister, Morfit, Wall) 2 votes for Chappell (Bolton, Martin) 1 vote for Berger (Everill) Group 10 10. Paul Casey, England (20-12-1) 31. Matthew Fitzpatrick, England (3-3-0) 45. Kyle Stanley, USA (1-1-0) 51. Russell Henley, USA (2-3-0) ANALYSIS Casey certainly goes in as the favorite in this group due to his track record in this event (two championship appearances, albeit on a different course) and his form (recent win at Valspar Championship). Casey won all three matches in group stage last year in Austin, so he seems to be warming to the course. “I’ve avoided sort of a monster group,” Casey acknowledged. Stanley is making his first start here in six years. PREDICTIONS 7 votes for Casey (Bolton, Everill, Glasscott, Martin, McAllister, Morfit, Wall) Group 11 11. Marc Leishman, Australia (5-6-1) 23. Branden Grace, South Africa (5-7-0) 35. Bubba Watson, USA (14-8-2) 64. Julian Suri, USA (First appearance) ANALYSIS Leishman and Grace have both shown their mettle at the Presidents Cup, but that success hasn’t translated to this event. Watson reached the consolation finals in his first appearance in 2011 but hasn’t done much in his six appearances since then, although he did win his group last year. Suri is the last player in the field, a late entry after Joost Luiten withdrew. PREDICTIONS 3 votes for Leishman (Everill, Martin, Morfit) 3 votes for Grace (Bolton, McAllister, Wall) 1 vote for Watson (Glasscott) Group 12 12. Tyrrell Hatton, England (2-1-0) 22. Charley Hoffman, USA (3-4-0) 36. Brendan Steele, USA (1-1-1) 55. Alexander Levy, France (0-3-0) ANALYSIS A wide-open group on paper, although Hatton certainly comes off a strong performance in Mexico with a T-3 finish. But none of the four have substantial success or experience in this event. This will be Hoffman’s first match play tournament since appearing in the Presidents Cup last year, so it will be interesting to see if that experience will help him this week. PREDICTIONS 3 votes for Hoffman (Bolton, Glasscott, Martin) 2 votes for Hatton (Everill, Wall) 2 votes for Steele (McAllister, Morfit) Group 13 13. Alex Noren, Sweden (5-3-0) 29. Tony Finau, USA (First appearance) 39. Thomas Pieters, Belgium (2-2-2) 61. Kevin Na, USA (3-4-1) ANALYSIS Noren reached the quarterfinals last year before losing to eventual champion Johnson, and Na also won his group a year ago. In the last two years in Austin, Na has beaten Justin Thomas and halved with Rory McIlroy, so that could give him confidence. Finau and Pieters are big hitters, and seeing Johnson win last year may provide a gameplan for navigating Austin Country Club. PREDICTIONS 3 votes for Pieters (Everill, Morfit, Wall) 2 votes for Noren (Bolton, Glasscott) 2 votes for Finau (Martin, McAllister) Group 14 14. Phil Mickelson, USA (22-13-0) 17. Rafa Cabrera Bello, Spain (8-4-1) 40. Satoshi Kodaira, Japan (First appearance) 59. Charles Howell III, USA (7-10-0) ANALYSIS Mickelson won the most recent World Golf Championships event in Mexico to end his five-year drought, and he reached the quarterfinals last year after four dominant wins. Howell won his group last year, beating Cabrera Bello 1 up along the way, so the Spaniard gets a chance to avenge that loss on Thursday. Cabrera Bello reached the semifinals in 2016 before losing to Louis Oosthuizen. PREDICTIONS 6 votes for Cabrera Bello (Bolton, Everill, Glasscott, Martin, McAllister, Wall) 1 vote for Mickelson (Morfit) Group 15 15. Pat Perez, USA (3-3-0) 24. Gary Woodland, USA (7-5-0) 37. Webb Simpson, USA (7-7-0) 50. Si Woo Kim, Korea (1-1-1) ANALYSIS Perez’s 2017 appearance was his first in this event in eight years, and he failed to advance out of group play. Simpson has failed to get out of group play in two appearances since the format change. Woodland reached the championship final in 2015, losing to Rory McIlroy, but did not get out of group play last year. Kim, the reigning PLAYERS champ, has not been in contention in his first five WGC appearances. PREDICTIONS 4 votes for Woodland (Everill, McAllister, Morfit, Wall) 3 votes for Simpson (Bolton, Glasscott, Martin) Group 16 16. Matt Kuchar, USA (21-8-2) 27. Ross Fisher, England (8-6-0) 47. Yuta Ikeda, Japan (0-4-1) 54. Zach Johnson, USA (14-14-0) ANALYSIS Kuchar won this event in 2013 when it was held in Arizona, but hasn’t made a deep run since. Fisher reached the consolation match in his first appearance in 2009, and he made some noise last year before losing to the quarterfinals, so he has a tendency to make noise in this event. Johnson has won his group in each of the previous two years in Austin, so he’ll look to extend that streak. PREDICTIONS 3 votes for Johnson (Bolton, Glasscott, Martin) 2 votes for Kuchar (Morfit, Wall) 2 votes for Fisher (Everill, McAllister)
Kevin Love returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night, making his first appearance in the lineup since breaking a bone in his left hand on Jan. 30. He wasted little time making his presence felt, scoring 18 points, grabbing seven rebounds, dishing
Dodgers All-Star third baseman Justin Turner, who sustained a small non-displaced fracture of his left wrist on Monday night when hit by a Kendall Graveman pitch, revealed “good news” on Tuesday, telling reporters he will not need to undergo surgery. Turner’s wrist will be in a brace for a few days, after which he will begin range-of-motion exercises, Turner said.
Blake Griffin said it wasn’t until he joined the Pistons that he saw “what a franchise looks like.” Griffin was traded from the Clippers to the Pistons in a huge deal in January after spending more than eight seasons in Los Angeles. He hasn’t tried to over-analyze why he was traded 
The Warriors haven’t had Steph Curry for the last six games. They could get him back Friday. But during his absence, they gained some valuable information.
Dustin Johnson is the defending champion, but a pair of other past winners battle for the top spot in our performance ranking.
Marc J. Spears The Milwaukee Bucks plan to sign point guard Brandon Jennings to a second 10-day contract, a source told ESPN’s The Undefeated. Jennings is averaging 6.0 points and 5.5 assists for the Bucks on his first 10-day deal. The eight-year NBA veteran played for the Bucks’ G-League affiliate
The race for the FedExCup this week takes us to Austin Country Club in Texas, and the race for the Walter Hagen Cup. World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play takes center stage for golf’s version of March Madness.  Dustin Johnson won last year after an epic final against Jon Rahm, and Jason Day won it all the year before that, also in Austin. Rory McIlroy prevailed in 2015 at TPC Harding Park, the last iteration of the event before it moved to Texas. “You need a ruthless streak,â€� McIlroy told PGATOUR.COM last year, when asked what makes a good match play golfer. “And selfishness, in a way. And pride. I’m too proud to be beaten. I won’t let anyone get up on me.â€� McIlroy is coming off a win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, and in addition to winning in ’15, he was a runner-up in 2012. He was also a semifinalist, losing an epic tilt to eventual champion Day, in 2016. Day will be another popular pick to win it all. He’s going for his third WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play title in the last five years.  Five former champs are in the field, including Dustin Johnson, McIlroy, Day, Matt Kuchar, and Ian Poulter. Adam Hadwin, who missed last year because of his wedding, is one of 14 players making his Dell Technologies Match Play debut in Austin this week as 59 of the top 64 in the world prepare for the season’s third WGC. World rankings determine the top 16 seeds, with a blind draw filling out each pod or pool of four players. Round-robin play will determine who gets to advance, and matches can be halved. Players who wind up tied atop the points table will go into a playoff, and pool winners will then advance to the knockout rounds. Scenic Austin Country Club, nestled next to Lake Austin, is a 7,108-yard, par-71 with two distinctly different nines. The front is on higher ground and more typical of Texas Hill Country, while the back is a lowlands nine alongside the lake. PGA TOUR LIVE on Wednesday/Thursday/Friday is scheduled to air from 10:15 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET (Featured Groups). We will move to Featured Holes coverage at 4 p.m. ET. Featured Holes are the 13th (Par-4) and 17th (Par-3).  RADIO on Wednesday-Friday can be heard from 2 to 8 p.m. ET; Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on Sirius XM and PGATOUR.COM) More: Tee times (Note: All times Eastern; FedExCup ranking in parentheses.) WEDNESDAY Broadcast time: 10:15 a.m. – 8 p.m. Twitter Window: 10:15 a.m. – approx. 11:25 a.m. Justin Thomas (1) vs. Luke List (17) A rematch of the playoff that decided The Honda Classic, this one features two long hitters; one of them, Thomas, is among the hottest players in the game and the other, List, is still seeking his first PGA TOUR victory. Although Thomas is coming off a win and a playoff loss (WGC-Mexico Championship) in his last two starts, he has racked up an uncharacteristically poor 1-5-0 record at Austin C.C.  Tee time: 10:52 a.m. off the 1st Francesco Molinari (140) vs. Patton Kizzire (2) Kizzire is already a two-time winner this season, with victories at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba and the Sony Open in Hawaii. He’s a relatively new arrival amongst the game’s elite and will be making his first start in this event. Meanwhile, the veteran Molinari of Italy has struggled so far in 2018, with his best result a T25 at the WGC-Mexico Championship. Tee time: 11:03 a.m. off the 1st Jordan Spieth (66) vs. Charl Schwartzel (163) Neither player is on form, with 11-time PGA TOUR winner Spieth languishing at a surprising 169th in strokes gained: putting (-.349). He’s also coming off a missed cut at the Valspar Championship, where he won in 2015. At least the former University of Texas golfer will be in his element, geographically speaking. The South African Schwartzel also comes to the Lone Star State on the heels of a missed cut, at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. His best result this year is a T28 at THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES. Tee time: 12:20 p.m. off the 1st THURSDAY Broadcast time: 10:15 a.m. – 8 p.m. Twitter Window: 10:15 a.m. – approx. 11:15 a.m. Jordan Spieth (66) vs. Haotong Li (NR) Spieth would win if this were merely a battle of name recognition, but keep in mind he’s not off to the best start this season, nor did he advance out of pool play last year. Li, meanwhile, is sixth on the European Tour’s money list after winning the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, pipping Rory McIlroy by a shot, in late January.  Tee time: 10:52 a.m. off the 1st Jason Day (8) vs. Jason Dufner (103) They share a first name and a common set of initials, but only the J.D. from Australia is a two-time champion of this event. Although there’s truth to the old saw that anyone can beat anyone on any given day, eighth-seeded Day already has one win this season, at the Farmers Insurance Open, while 32-seed Dufner’s best is a T11 at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. Tee time: 11:36 a.m. off the 1st FRIDAY Broadcast time: 10:15 a.m. – 8 p.m. Twitter Window: 10:15 a.m. – approx. 11:15 a.m. Featured matches TBD based on competition
With Opening Day nearing, some of baseball’s top prospects are still in big league camp fighting for roster spots, while others have been reassigned to Minor League camp. Here’s a complete breakdown of MLB’s Top 100 prospects.
