A Preseason March Madness Bracket For A Most Unusual College Basketball Season

There is no elasticity left. Hyperbole exists. The Nuggets stand with their toes dangling over the edge of the cliff, a view never required during last year’s championship run. They have reached Game 7 in the Western Conference semifinals. Let’s call this series what it is with no historical perspective required: a clumsy mess of brilliance and blowouts. Everything screams that the Nuggets should be concerned.

MINNEAPOLIS — After an exchange of blowouts that has lasted six games, there’s no telling what could happen in the seventh. Jamal Murray’s shooting efficiency reverted to Game 2 form, Michael Porter Jr. was held to single-digit scoring for a third consecutive game and the Nuggets were crushed, 115-70, by the Timberwolves in a potential close-out Game 6 on Thursday night.

Initial thoughts from the Nuggets’ embarrassing Game 6 loss to the Timberwolves in the Western Conference semifinals: Murray struggles: Nuggets star Jamal Murray was no longer the enemy. And he needed the energy from the boos. The Nuggets missed more open shots than T. J. Hooker. Murray symbolized the struggles as the fans ignored him.

LAKEWOOD — The fans at Jeffco Stadium didn’t have to wait long for an eye-popping performance on the opening day of the 2024 CHSAA state track and field championships. On Thursday morning, Overland junior Jarrius Ward broke the Class 5A state meet record in the discus with a launch of 203 feet, 4 inches.

LAKEWOOD — When Broomfield senior Lilly Nichols first cleared the 13 foot, 7 inch pole vault bar at the state track and field championships on Thursday afternoon, she had already won her third Class 5A crown and set a personal record. Then she kept going. Nichols decided to go for the all-Colorado girls record of 13-9, which Andrea Willis set in 2016.

LAKEWOOD — Lochlan Walker was still winded and hunched over from his 100-meter dash when his mom, Paige, mobbed him with the news of his personal record time of 12.48 seconds. They smiled simultaneously and shared a moment they won’t soon forget as Walker, a Fairview High School senior, notched the fastest time for a Special Olympic/Paralympic athlete on Thursday afternoon at the 2024 CHSAA state track and field meet at Jeffco Stadium. About an hour later, Walker also recorded the best Special Olympic/Paralympic time in the 200 meters, at 25.92.