NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament » Thursday & Friday, noon, CBS

March Madness is here. For those at work, go to either CBSSports.com or NCAA.com to follow all the action via broadband. Radio-wise, you can follow them on ESPN980 AM or Sirius-XM Radio.

» Georgetown can be heard on ESPN 980 AM and Maryland games air on 106.7 FM.

NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament » Saturday, noon, ESPN2

Things get underway on the women’s side with action all weekend on the entire ESPN family of networks. — Jim Williams

BOLD PREDICTIONS

1. The Redskins will trade name veterans » Washington has been quiet in free agency, signing bit parts and lesser-known guys who may or may not become starters. The Redskins have done this before so it’s not as unusual as everyone makes it out to be. However, if you’re going to build a different way other than free agency, you’d best have draft picks. And Washington only has five. But the Redskins also have players who could be desirable in a trade, such as defensive end Andre Carter, who would not be a good fit at linebacker in a 3-4 set but whose value may never be higher at end. Or they could sign and trade players such as corner Carlos Rogers and quarterback Jason Campbell. Rocky McIntosh is another possibility if they sign another linebacker. Regardless, with only five picks the Redskins must figure out a way to add more. And the roster makeover will continue. — John Keim

2. Couples will set Champions Tour record » At age 50, Fred Couples is still competitive on the PGA Tour, but it is on the Champions Tour where he’s needed. Popular beyond his accomplishments (one major championship) Couples has the charisma to draw fans to the sagging senior tour where personality-challenged grinders such as Hale Irwin, Bernhard Langer, Tom Kite, Loren Roberts and Scott Hoch have ruled. Couples still has the game to dominate the senior circuit. He has won two of three events this season and ranks No. 1 or No. 2 in every statistical category except for driving accuracy (No. 51). Couples scoring average is 65.4 and he is even excelling in an area he has long struggled — putting (27.4 putts per round). Couples will still play some PGA events, but if his troublesome back remains strong and he makes at least 18 starts on the Champions Tour, he will break the season record for victories (nine) set by Bobby Thomson (1985) and Irwin (1997). — Kevin Dunleavy

3. Major League Soccer won’t lose any games to a players strike » Even before the collective bargain process between Major League Soccer and the MLS Players Union began, one thing was clear: the Union’s distaste for the league and its preparedness to go all-in on behalf of its membership. It reiterated as much when reports surfaced Thursday that a players vote approved what everyone expected all along, that they will indeed strike if a new CBA isn’t reached before the season gets underway. But the Union and the league both realize that few are watching MLS now, and even fewer will come back if games — such as the season opener between expansion Philadelphia and league attendance standard-bearer Seattle — are cancelled, even in a World Cup year. With a federal mediator put in place last week, a last-minute compromise will happen before March 25. — Craig Stouffer

PLAYER TO WATCH

Rick VandenHurk, SP, Florida Marlins
A 3-2 record, 4.30 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 58.2 innings in 2009 doesn’t tend to impress upon a casual observer as a No. 3 guy in your rotation. The fact that that pitcher was born in the Netherlands and has only pitched 154.1 innings over three seasons doesn’t add any points either. But VandenHurk has been strong this spring and is making a push to be No. 3 in the rotation behind Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco. VandenHurk has tossed five scoreless innings thus far, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out four. He’s added a cut fastball to his arsenal and is showing good command. From a local standpoint, his new pitching coach is the Nationals’ old one, Randy St. Claire. For as much as the Nats have appeared to improve this year, be on the lookout for their division peers to have followed suit. — Leon Saffelle

FIVE UP & FIVE DOWN


UP

1. Stephen Strasburg » A good first impression for the Nationals’ top prospect in his first spring training start: Two scoreless innings.

2. Brooklyn » Nets finally broke ground on the new arena in downtown Brooklyn. No team is more in need of a fresh start.

3. Steven Stamkos » At just 20 years old, the Tampa Bay Lightning star pushing Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby for the NHL goals title.

4. St. Mary’s » Crushed rival Gonzaga in the WCC tournament final, winning just its second league title to earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

5. Jason Heyward » Braves star outfield prospect is getting almost as much hype as Strasburg. He’s on track to start Opening Day.


DOWN
1. Big East double byes » Lots of whining after three of the four top seeds went out early. They need to be ready from the start.

2. Matt Cooke » Penguins agitator knocked Bruins’ star forward Marc Savard out for the season with a — apparently legal — blindside hit.

3. Jose Reyes » Mets SS out anywhere from two to eight weeks with a thyroid condition. Is it 2009 all over?

4. Jim Calhoun » Signed on for four more years at UConn. But can recruits trust a 68-year-old with health issues?

5. Gilbert Arenas » Likely needs more than a new number to change his negative perception among Wizards fans.

— Brian McNally