A GRIP ON SPORTS • The excitement is palpable with six basketball games lined up over four days, culminating in the allocation of two national titles this Final Four weekend. Trophies will be awarded in both Tampa and San Antonio for men’s and women’s NCAA Division I basketball. Welcome to April.
• A Roundup of the Weekend’s Sports This upcoming weekend is stacked with basketball, followed by The Masters, Easter, and the NFL draft. It’s a solid lineup of events for the month, rivaling the legendary Dodgers or the USA men’s Olympic basketball squad from 1992. Not to mention, we haven’t even touched upon the return of baseball.
Before the sports frenzy kicks off, let’s strategize your weekend—especially with sunny weather predicted. It’s essential to figure out how to carve out time to catch the Gonzaga and UCLA games.
Tonight, the NCAA Women’s Semifinals feature UCLA and UConn squaring off in Tampa around 6 p.m. on ESPN. The victor will move on to play the winner of Texas vs. South Carolina, set for Sunday at noon on ABC.
It’s remarkable to think Connecticut played in Spokane just days prior, arriving with limited time to prepare for top-seeded UCLA. Coach Geno Auriemma has every right to voice his frustration about the tight scheduling, raising the question of why women’s semifinals aren’t scheduled for Sunday, avoiding a rushed timeframe.
• More Sports on TV The men’s games follow suit, with their semifinals involving Florida vs. Auburn (scheduled at 3:09 p.m. on CBS) and Duke vs. Houston (5:49 p.m., also on CBS) on Saturday. This Final Four promises elite performances from both seasoned and new coaches, as well as stars and outstanding players across various styles. Expect thrilling, closely contested matchups—although it wouldn’t be surprising if they result in unexpected blowouts instead.
Additionally, the Mariners are ready for a series in San Francisco starting this Friday (1:35 p.m. on Root) amid rotation changes due to George Kirby’s absence. So if basketball isn’t on your agenda, you might consider yard work or spending time with family during game intermissions. For those craving football, the UFL has several games lined up this weekend, but honestly, interest may wane as we venture into April.
