Suggestion for April 21 … Germany 1923: Hyperinflation, Hitler’s Putsch, and Democracy in Crisis (2023) by Volker Ullrich.

Greetings from Homewood on just about a perfect spring afternoon in Charm City.

A very happy second birthday to little Eudora, who undoubtedly has a busy day of sleeping, lounging, eating, zooming, stretching and basking planned for her big day.

Tony Vitello vs. The Grind: How Giants' rookie manager brings fresh eyes to MLB slog Tony Vitello would be deep into a Tennessee baseball season by now. Giants' 162-game grind has barely begun

"Thank God for 162 games."
As #SFGiants manager Tony Vitello makes an unprecedented leap, he's growing to appreciate the biggest task at hand going from Rocky Top to China Basin: Tony V vs. The Grind.
www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

Will be Anderson's fourth national title game (2018, 2022, 2024) and the first for both Breeding and Kissinger.

FINAL: (2) Connecticut 73, (1) Duke 72.

Huskies (33-5) come from down 19 points to stun the Blue Devils (35-3). Braylon Mullins' 3 with 0.4 seconds to go (upon review from the officials) lifts UConn into its third Final Four in four years.

Good heavens, Braylon Mullins.

The Connecticut freshman drills a 3 after a Duke turnover in the backcourt, and the Huskies lead 73-72 with 0.3 seconds to go.

First UConn lead since it was 2-0.

Alex Karaban *finally* connects from 3, and not a moment too soon for Connecticut.

Cam Boozer gets an interior bucket on Duke's trip.

Blue Devils 72-69, 26.9 seconds to go. UConn timeout, with possession at midcourt. Shot clock is off.

Duke timeout, up 70-66 with 1:20 to go.

Both teams have split foul shots on their most recent possessions. Don't think there's much incentive for Connecticut to try to foul and extend the game just yet. Duke has 18 on the timer.

Under-4 in the District. Duke 67-64, and Connecticut's Solo Ball heads to the line for one after the timeout.

Hasn't been this close since it was 7-4.

And Silas Demary Jr. hits 3s on back-to-back trips to end the perimeter shooting drought.

(Less helpful for Connecticut: Khamenia made a 3 in between).

Huskies timeout, down 65-58 with 6:06 left.

Under-8. Duke 62-51.

Connecticut now 1/18 from 3. Huskies are 34.9 percent from 3 coming in and have made at least three in every game this season.

Two of the times it made only three were in losses to Marquette and St. John's this month.

Under-12. Duke 58-49.

Blue Devils went right to Cam Boozer out of the timeout, and he delivered a bucket to break up an 8-1 run.

He's got a 21/6/3 line, and Duke has another 9:58 between it and a Final Four trip to Indianapolis.

Connecticut has this down to 56-49, forcing Jon Scheyer into a timeout with 10:59 to go. Under-12 is still to come.

The Huskies' Alex Karaban just got his first points of the game a couple possessions back. Tarris Reed Jr. leads all scorers with 23.

Per @stathead.com, the worst 3-point shooting games in a Elite Eight since 1987:

.000: 1999 UConn (0/9)
.050: 2022 Houston (1/20)
.083: 1997 Minnesota (1/12)
.091: 1990 Arkansas (1/11)
.095: 2011 Kansas (2/21)

UConn, Houston and Arkansas all won.

UConn currently at .067 (1/15).

Duke 44-29 at the break.

UConn is 1/11 from 3. Its Nos. 2-5 scorers for the season have a combined 10 points on 3/17 shooting. It has fewer defensive rebounds (six) than Duke has offensive rebounds (eight).

A lot of carnage in that box score for the Huskies.

Boozer Twins 27, UConn 25. 1:33 left in the half. Oh, and the other Duke guys have 17 points.

Duke chewing up and spitting out the Connecticut defense to the tune of 1.63 points per trip at the under-4 of the first half.

Blue Devils 44-25, to the delight of the crowd in D.C. Quite apparent Duke is playing far closer to the geographic center of its fanbase than it does when it plays at home.

Sunday's D.C./Maryland/Virginia D-I men's basketball schedule ...

NCAA regional final: Duke vs. Connecticut in Washington, 5:05 (CBS)

All-time Duke-Connecticut meetings in the NCAA tournament:

1964 regional final: Duke 101-54
1990 regional final: Duke 79-78 (OT)
1991 regional semi: Duke 81-67
1999 title game: UConn 77-74
2004 national semifinal: UConn 79-78
2026 regional final: TBD

FINAL: (2) Connecticut 67, (3) Michigan State 63.

Tarris Reed Jr. had 20 points for the Huskies (32-5), who move on to a regional final against Duke.

Carson Cooper had 14 to lead the Spartans (27-8).

Cooper missed the second.

Reed made two foul shots at the other end.

Connecticut 67-63 with four seconds left.

Cooper makes the first, Connecticut calls timeout before he can take the second.

Huskies 65-63, 4.6 seconds left. One more Michigan State foul shot to come.

Karaban with two free throws.

Michigan State spends a lot of time on the next possessions, eventually hoists a 3, draws an over-the-back on the rebound.

Cooper to the line for two, 4.6 seconds left,

Two free throws for Jeremy Fears Jr. and Michigan State is back within a point. Spartans timeout.

63-62, 32.3 seconds to go. Gotta think Michigan State tries to get a turnover in the backcourt, then fouls to extend the game if that doesn't work.

Tarris Reed Jr. rattles in two free throws, and Connecticut's up 63-60.

Michigan State timeout upon crossing midcourt, 41.5 seconds to go. Spartans have made their last four field goals

A Carson Cooper dunk gets Michigan State within 58-57. He has 11 of his 13 points in the second half.

Connecticut timeout, 1:50 to go. Huskies have one left, Michigan State has two.

Under-4 in the District. Connecticut 58-55.

A game in the 60s always sounded about right with these two teams. Probably going to get it if this thing ends in regulation.

To be clear, I'm not the one complaining.

"I wish the refs would stay out of this game."