The Key for the week of April 6, 2026
Money changes everything…
On Monday, Michigan defeated Connecticut 69–63 to capture the program’s first national championship since 1989. It’s also the Big Ten’s first men’s basketball title since 2000 when Michigan State defeated Florida. The win came a day after UCLA blew out South Carolina 79–51 to secure its first women’s basketball championship, giving the Big Ten Conference a title in both men’s and women’s basketball, as well as football with IU’s CFP win. With member schools getting a cut of the tournament winnings, the Michigan run (and Illinois’ Final Four appearance) likely will push the Big Ten closer to $1 billion in revenue. Front Office Sports says the Big Ten reported $928 million in revenue for the 2023–24 academic year, according to tax documents. That beat rival SEC by about $90 million, and the Big Ten’s per-school distributions topped those of the SEC by about $10 million. Move over, SEC, the Big Ten owns the golden rule now—those who have the gold, make the rules.
A tradition unlike any other
The Masters tournament kicks off this week, and Rory McIlroy is already there enjoying the benefits of his Green Jacket. He pulled into Augusta National in time to see the Women’s Amateur finale on Saturday and the Drive, Chip and Putt national finals on Sunday before the rest of the field arrived for practice. As for the field, it looks a little different this year as Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed will make their first appearance since defecting for the LIV tour. One name that won’t be there is three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson, missing Augusta for just the third time in the last 32 years for what he called health matters in his family.
Don’t look now..
But the Reds may have found their ace-in-waiting while Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo remain on the shelf. Chase Burns has a 0.82 ERA over his first two starts, which includes his five scoreless innings for his first Major League win last Monday vs. the Pirates. He went into the 7th inning during the Rangers’ series and while he gave up a home run in the 7th, the Reds came back to sweep the series. Burns was a starter for much of his time at Tennessee before he transferred to Wake Forest for his final year, where he recorded a 10-1 record. At a time when healthy arms are at a premium for the Reds, Burns is turning in ace-like numbers early in the season.
Ben’s Best Bet
The azaleas! The pimiento cheese sandwiches! The patrons! Nothing is quite like the Masters, and the first major of the season seldom disappoints. Scottie Scheffler is making his seventh Masters start this week--he won the Masters in 2022 and 2024 and has never finished outside the top 20 at Augusta National. Earlier this year, he won in La Quinta and finished inside the top four in Phoenix and Pebble Beach. BetMGM says the world #1 golfer is a solid favorite to grab another green jacket, with Bryson DeChambeau second favorite, and Jon Rahm and McIlroy tied for third favorite. DeChambeau is making his 10th Masters start and finished inside the top six in each of the last two years at Augusta, but Ben says Scheffler, despite his hot and cold rounds so far this season, loves Augusta and Augusta loves him. They already have his jacket, so it’ll be easy for Scottie to slip on another one come Sunday evening.