Derik Queen's game-winner just cemented his NBA Draft status

USA Today

24-03-2025

Derik Queen's game-winner just cemented his NBA Draft status
This is For The Win's daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Have feedback? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey! Now, here's Mike Sykes.
Good morning, Winners! Welcome back to the Morning Win. So, uh, Derik Queen, guys? What a shot, man.
For those of you who may have missed it, Maryland's Queen probably hit the shot of the tournament so far against Colorado State.
Maryland was down 71-70 after CSU just hit what looked like it'd be a dagger 3-point shot to move on to the Sweet 16. Then Queen pulled a "not so fast" and made this.
Guys. That's a center taking the ball from the top of the key, going left and making a bank shot across his body to win the game and send Maryland to its first Sweet 16 for the first time in almost a decade. Did he get away with a travel? Maybe. But whatever. That's still a tough shot with the defense draped all over you. The most impressive part — outside of the actual shot, of course — is that he demanded to take it. He wanted the ball. That's that Baltimore in him, I guess.
That's an impressive moment for an extremely impressive player. It's one that will have him climbing up plenty of NBA draft boards in about a month or two.
Queen went from being off big boards completely to being projected as a top 20 pick to, now, seemingly being a lottery-level talent for the NBA draft. After this shot, though? There's a legitimate case to make for Queen as one of the best three prospects in the upcoming draft class behind Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper.
MEET DYLAN HARPER: The best non-Cooper Flagg prospect in the NCAA this year
In For The Win's latest mock draft, our Bryan Kalbrosky had Queen going as high as No. 6. That was back in January. Since then, Maryland has earned a No. 4 seed with Queen as its best player, he's finished off a solid regular season and is now going to the Sweet 16. He's had a better tournament run than VJ Edgecombe and Kasparas Jakucionis.
I'm not saying Queen is a lock for top 3 at this point. But I'm not not saying it, either. This kid is so good. We'll reconvene on this when Maryland's tournament run is over.
Warren Buffett finally did it
Warren Buffett finally found a way to give away $1 million for March Madness. It looks like lowering the standard helped.
Buffett has been trying to give away $1 million for a perfect bracket for decades now. The problem is perfect brackets don't exist, unfortunately. He knows that. We all do. That's why the whole thing has always felt like a sham in the first place.
But Buffett lowered the standard to give Berkshire Hathaway employees a better shot at getting the money. I guess it worked out this time. For multiple people, too.
Here's more from Front Office Sports:
According to the daily updates sent to all Berkshire pool participants from 'Chester Q. Brackington,' obtained by Front Office Sports, after Michigan State beat Bryant late Friday night, this year's contest had 'multiple brackets that have one wrong—meaning 30 correct, so we will have The Prize awarded.' After Oregon beat Liberty in the final game of the first round, Brackington wrote, 'We have our first ever confirmed award of The Prize.'
Color me surprised, folks. I didn't think this would work out, but I guess here we are. It's kind of wack that they're splitting the $1 million prize, but still. At least someone won it. I won't complain too much.
This shot is somehow real
Steph Curry is a marvel. He never ceases to amaze us. Even when he's not playing in games, he finds ways to do the impossible.
Because, guys, how on Earth is this shot real?
Maybe Steph should travel with the Globetrotters when he retires. I'd pay money to see it.
Quick hits: Second chance bracket predictions ... Jayden and Juju .... and more
— Prince Grimes set up some new bracket predictions now that we're in the Sweet 16. He's also got a new Final Four locked in.
— They're just homies, folks! Jayden Daniels and Juju Watkins kicking it together at March Madness sparked a firestorm on the internet. Charles Curtis explains it here.
— Andrew Joseph ranked all 30 MLB stadiums ahead of the start of the MLB season. Tap in.
— Georgia Amoore's attitude about her missed game-winner is so perfect. Meghan Hall has more.
— Dan Hurley can be annoying, but this moment he had talking about his players is so touching. Robert Zeglinksi has more.
— Kim Mulkey's fit here is pretty good! I'm not gonna lie. Meg Hall has more again on this.
That's a wrap, folks. Thanks so much for rocking with us today. Peace.
-Sykes ✌️