The Throne National Championship teams, schedule, TV times — and more

The Throne national basketball tournament is set for its fourth annual games. From March 19 to March 21, the premier postseason event will take place in East Rutherford, New Jersey, pitting 16 of the top high school basketball teams in a single-elimination tournament.

Eight boys teams and eight girls teams will play for their respective crowns in March Madness-style brackets at American Dream Mall, put on by the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) and Gold Level Sports and Entertainment (GLSE). The teams will play under a club program name rather than the high school name itself, but all students on each team attend the stated high school, the Throne's press release said.

Games will be aired on NBA TV and the NBA App.

The NBPA Foundation will donate $25,000 to the athletic program of both championship-winning teams.

Here are the teams, tournament club names, seedings and schedule, with USA TODAY Sports Super 25 national rankings listed, where applicable (rankings as of March 2).

The Throne Rosters

Boys high school basketball teams

1. Calvary Christian (Fort Lauderdale, FL) — Eagles (No. 4 in Super 25)
2. Sunnyslope (Phoenix) — Vikings (No. 5)
3. Rainier Beach (Seattle) — Beach (No. 21)
4. Wheeler (Marietta, GA) — Wildcats
5. Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, NY) — LuHi
6. Bergen Catholic (Oradell, NJ) — BC Crusaders
7. Columbus (Miami, FL) — Los Explorers
8. Heritage (Frisco, Texas) — Coyotes

Girls high school basketball teams

1. Etiwanda (CA) — Eagles
2. Princess Anne (Virginia Beach, VA) — Cavaliers
3. Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, NY) — LuHi
4. St. John Vianney (Holmdel, NJ) — Lancers
5. Tualatin (OR) — Timberwolves
6. St John’s College (Washington, D.C) — Cadets
7. Friends Central (Wynnewood, PA) — Phoenix
8. St Frances Academy (Baltimore, MD) — Panthers

The Throne Schedule

Girls: March 19

• Game 1 (10:00 a.m.): (2) Cavaliers vs. (7) Phoenix
• Game 2 (11:40 a.m.): (3) LuHi vs. (6) Cadets
• Game 3 (1:20 p.m.): (1) Eagles vs. (8) Panthers
• Game 4 (3:00 p.m.): (4) Lancers vs. (5) Timberwolves

Boys: March 19

• Game 5 (4:40 p.m.): (1) Eagles vs. (8) Coyotes
• Game 6 (6:20 p.m.): (4) Wildcats vs. (5) LuHi
• Game 7 (8:00 p.m.): (3) Beach vs. (6) BC Crusaders
• Game 8: (9:40 p.m.): (2) Vikings vs. (7) Los Explorers

Girls bracket: March 20

• Game 9 (3:00 p.m.): Winner Game 1 vs. Game 2
• Game 10 (5:00 p.m.): Winner Game 3 vs. Game 4

Boys bracket: March 20

• Game 11: (7:00 p.m.): Winner Game 7 vs. Game 8
• Game 12 (9:00 p.m.): Winner Game 5 vs. Game 6

Girls Championship: March 21

• Game 13 (1:00 p.m.)

Boys Championship: March 21

• Game 14 (3:00 p.m.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: See the full schedule for The Throne National Championship

Mike and Dan are relaxed and excited as the Islanders win three in a row and put themselves in good position for both the playoffs and the NHL Trade Deadline.

We were worried that going into two places they never win in – Montreal and Columbus – and coming back to face the rabid Panthers at home could be a significant hill for the Islanders to climb immediately after the Olympic break. But behind the Disney Dads, Anders Lee and J-G Pageau, and the literally unbelievable Matthew Schaefer, they won all three in uncharacteristically exciting fashion and have us thinking that something special is going on here. Going down 0-2 in each of them isn’t ideal, but coming back to get points and create separation between them and the teams chasing them means everything right now as teams enter their final 24 game stretch.

The wins also mean that the games this week in California against the Ducks, Kings and Sharks have just a little less weight on them. If they can keep the streak going, they have a real chance to lock things up long before the season’s final week, which is huge departure from the last few seasons.

Later, we look ahead to Friday’s NHL Trade Deadline and how the Islanders have positioned themselves to do something big. Adding around the edges might be okay in most seasons, but if they can find some bigger fish to relieve the pressure on their current leaders, they might really scare the rest of the field.

Finally, we pay our respects to two great NHL voices that we have lost recently.

REFERENCES

• The Islanders already made a huge trade (for Bridgeport). Goodbye, Julien Gauthier.
• RIP Jim Robson, who’s call of Bob Nystrom’s goal in 1980 will remain in Islanders and NHL lore forever.
• RIP Boomer Gordon, a great radio host, good person and a friend who will be missed.
• This picture really is incredible:
  

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The Las Vegas Raiders enjoyed a productive week at the NFL Combine. John Spytek and Klint Kubiak return from Indianapolis with better clarity regarding their approach in the 2026 NFL draft. With the combine now officially in our rearview mirror, we've conducted a brand-new three-round Raiders mock draft that addresses their needs.

Round 1 (No. 1 overall): Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

The Raiders had a formal interview with Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza at the NFL Combine. It was essentially a checklist item as they prepare to select him with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Mendoza claimed the meeting went "great," and we have no reason to doubt the Raiders' infatuation with him.

Round 2 (No. 36 overall): Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri

Exiting the 2026 NFL draft with a starting-caliber EDGE is a must. Trade rumors continue to surround Maxx Crosby's name. Missouri's Zion Young is a well-developed pass rusher who threatens quarterbacks with a red-hot motor. Young is also a quality early-down run defender, allowing him to get on the field quickly.

Round 3 (No. 67 overall): Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

The Raiders desperately need a tackling machine in the middle of their defense at linebacker. Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez enjoyed back-to-back seasons with 120-plus tackles. Rodriguez was also excellent at the NFL Combine, leaping a 38.5 inch vertical and 10-foot-1 broad jump before running a 6.90 three-cone and 4.57 40. Those are outstanding testing results.

This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Raiders 3-round 2026 NFL mock draft: Post NFL Combine edition

The day has finally arrived – one that will decide Barcelona’s fate in the Copa del Reyif it has not already been decided.

Hansi Flick’s side faced hell at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano not too long ago, and the result on the night saw them eat four goals in a game that was marred by controversy.

Regardless of the refereeing situation and everything made of it in that game, the fact remains that Barcelona were outclassed and that the 4-0 loss was a kind result for them.

Tomorrow, they take to the field at the Spotify Camp Nou, striving to do the unthinkable – overturn that deficit. It will not be easy, nor is it widely considered possible. Making the impossible possible and the improbable probable, however, is what makes sport great.

Barça Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid.

1% chance, 99% faith

At 4-0 down, not many will back Hansi Flick’s Barcelona to come back against Atletico Madrid, irrespective of the attacking firepower they have in their ranks, simply because it is a task too difficult to accomplish.

Heading into 90 minutes, four goals down and needing at least five to take a clean win is easier said than done, especially when the opposition knows that all they have to do is sit tight and defend deep.

Barcelona are no strangers to scoring four goals in a game, and their average number of goals per game last season was close to that number. However, doing so on demand is very different from pulling it off organically.

Despite knowing well how there is a very low chance of a comeback, however, the team have made it clear that they retain complete faith in their abilities. Remontada’s cannot be forced, but if any team can do it, it is Barcelona.

The clash against Atletico Madrid tomorrow is perhaps the single-most demanding game that Barcelona have played under Flick, and the team are capable of creating more than enough chances to win.

Everything that it will boil down to, however, is their efficiency in front of goal and their defensive solidity at the back. Improbable, but not impossible.

Need for a surprise element

Aiming to mastermind a historic comeback. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Having a clear-cut lead ahead of the second leg, it is likely that Atletico Madrid will not come to attack but to defend their advantage and get through the storm at the Spotify Camp Nou tomorrow.

Los Rojiblancos, thus, may well line up in a hyper-defensive setup to block Barcelona’s passing channels, crowd the area, and lower the chances of the Catalans getting shots away at goal.

Considering the situation, it is essential that Hansi Flick comes up with a novelty up his sleeve to force open channels in attack and catch the visitors off guard. After all, they will arrive having studied the team’s dynamics in recent games.

There are several variations Flick can opt for to catch Simeone by surprise, especially in attack, and how well that dynamic works out will account for the result massively.

Shifting Lamine Yamal to a central role and deploying Roony Bardgji for width on the right flank is one approach that could yield positive results. Raphinha and Ferran Torres will continue to start in attack alongside them in such an approach.

Another manoeuvre is starting Marcus Rashford on the left and shifting Raphinha to a central role – an idea that has worked on occasion this season but has also failed equally on other days.

A third interesting idea would be to start Dani Olmo as a false nine in place of Ferran Torres with Lamine and Raphinha flanking him. Fermin Lopez would start as the attacking midfielder in such a setup, with Pedri and Marc Bernal taking the reins in midfield.

No room for defensive lapses

As important as it is for Barcelona to score goals at the Spotify Camp Nou, keeping a clean sheet at the other end counts for as much. And while scoring four goals may not be impossible, not conceding seems to be a far bigger challenge.

If Barcelona are to complete the dreamy Remontada, the defence will have to play the game of their lives, and Flick will have to line up a setup that does not hand Atletico Madrid as much space as they did in the first leg.

The defence will have to play deeper, likely with an aerially dominating presence in Ronald Araujo. With Eric Garcia ruled out of the game through suspension, the captain has good chances of starting alongside Cubarsi and will be critical on the night.

Jules Kounde will have to replicate the good showing from the weekend and must be defensively solid down the right. 

Given how Atletico Madrid capitalised on the left flank in the first leg, it will be interesting to see if Flick opts for Joao Cancelo or Alejandro Balde at left-back.

Every goal that Diego Simeone’s side scores will demand an additional goal from the hosts, and chasing four goals already, there is no scope to be chasing any more. All eyes, needless to say, will be on Flick’s defensive plan.