Gotta get down on Pi Day

The GIST: The NCAA men’s basketball conference tournaments are officially heating up with automatic berths to the national tourney on the line. Even a college women’s hoops icon is locked in.

• It’ll be a few more days before our Selection Sunday Scroll lands in your inbox ahead of Sunday’s big decision shows, but trust us — the madness is already here. Here’s what’s happening and what to watch this weekend.

🩼 Freshman phenom Cooper Flagg injured: The No. 1 Duke superstar is all but guaranteed to be the No. 1 overall pick at this summer’s NBA Draft…as long as the ankle injury he sustained during yesterday’s ACC Tournament quarter-final matchup isn’t serious.

• Flagg is the centerpiece of the Blue Devils’ game plan — without him, they needed a big comeback to avoid an upset loss to Georgia Tech. No word on when he’ll be back, but it’s safe to say Duke’s shot at the ’ship takes a major hit if he’s on the sidelines.

💦 Splashy finishes across conferences: Want a sneak peek of March’s trademark buzzer-beaters and instant classics? These tourneys have ’em. Last night alone, we saw jaw-dropping game winners by Ole Miss and Louisville, Texas’ double-overtime upset of No. 14 Texas A&M, and a record 28 three-pointers in No. 17 BYU’s win over No. 12 Iowa State. Sheesh.

⏭️ Postseason push continues this weekend: As the clock ticks down to Sunday’s 6 p.m. ET selection show, bubble teams have a lot to prove if they want to lock in a bid to the Big Dance — especially blue-blooded UNC, who has a prime opportunity against potentially Flagg-less Duke in the conference semis tonight at 7 p.m. ET. No pressure.

The GIST: Start your engines because Formula 1 (F1) is officially back with the first of this season’s 24 Grands Prix (GP) hitting the track from Australia Sunday at 12 a.m. ET. The single point awarded for fastest lap might be gone, but the drama is just as spicy.

• New to the sport? Check out this F1 refresher before racing through today’s season preview.

Expect chaos with half the grid in new cars: Of the 20 total F1 drivers, six will be competing in their first full season while four will race with new teams. The rookies will have to adjust to much faster cars, while drivers swapping squads will be tasked with learning an entirely new system given every F1 car is unique. And milliseconds can make all the difference.

• Of the rooks, Haas’ Oliver Bearman and Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli are already turning heads. Fans received an early look at Bearman last season when he subbed for then-Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, and Antonelli’s been billed as a racing prodigy.

• But nothing rocked the racing world quite like Lewis Hamilton’s move from Mercedes to Ferrari. A record-breaking eighth World Drivers’ Championship (WDC) is on the line as Hamilton aims to end Ferrari’s nearly two-decade title drought. Built different, indeed.

Five drivers expected to vie for WDC: Unlike last year, when Red Bull’s Max Verstappen dominated the first half of the season en route to his fourth straight WDC, this year’s title fight should be absolute cinema. Verstappen, the McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, and Ferrari’s Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are all in the mix to top the podium. Buckle up.

⛳ PGA: The PLAYERS Championship — Today through Sunday — Golf Channel

• A trio of golfers lead the field at TPC Sawgrass, but it’s No. 65 Jordan Spieth dominating the headlines. The three-time major winner is tied for 31st after a chaotic start post-wrist surgery, posting an opening round that included two eagles and a double bogey.

🥌 World Women’s Curling Championship — Tomorrow through March 23rd — TSN

• Rachel Homan’s No. 1 ranked squad is fighting to defend their title in South Korea, beginning their quest for gold with tomorrow’s 1 a.m. ET opening game against tourney debutant Lithuania. Glide to it.

🏒 PWHL: Boston Fleet vs. Ottawa Charge — Tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET — CBC

• Expect sparks to fly when Boston forward Hilary Knight (the second-highest goal scorer in the league) squares up against Ottawa’s brick wall goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer.

🏀 Unrivaled: No. 3 seed Laces vs. No. 2 seed Rose BC — Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET — TSN+

• Two-thirds of Unrivaled’s inaugural first team — Laces’ Kayla McBride and Rose’s Chelsea Gray — meet in the first of two Sunday semis, with the second showdown between No. 4 seed Vinyl and No. 1 seed Lunar Owls tipping off an hour later.

• On the line? A chance to play in Monday’s championship, of course. It’s almost payday.

Looking for some friendly competition? Look no further than The GIST’s very own women’s and men’s college basketball bracket challenges, brought to you by FanDuel. March just got a whole lot more interesting.

• No bracket experience? No problem. Entering is free, easy, and low-pressure. Winners will score some sweet prizes, a shoutout from The GIST, and the ultimate bragging rights over thousands of other GISTers.

Brackets go live Sunday night, so start brushing up on your bracketology now.