TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The entire gym froze at the whistle.

"Listen!" screamed Alabama head coach Nate Oats, as he catapulted onto the court from the sideline, refusing to take his foot off the gas at a recent practice. "There should not be any 3-pointers against this defense! None!"

Three hours southeast, Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl was in a similar state.

"This doesn't work!" he yelled at his players during a mid-February session, his hands thrown up in the air. "This doesn't work unless our big men step up! Do it again!"

Every time the Tigers and the Crimson Tide meet in a rivalry that dates back to 1893, there are fireworks. Throughout its history, the pinnacle of this in-state conflict has taken place on the football field, in the Iron Bowl. But Saturday's marquee matchup between No. 1 Auburn and No. 2 Alabama in Tuscaloosa (4 p.m. ET, ESPN) will place basketball center stage in the first 1 vs. 2 meeting in the history of the SEC -- not just these two teams.

The stakes have elevated the contest to another threshold.

"That's definitely a big game," said Grant Nelson, the Alabama forward who is averaging 12.7 points per game. "That's what everyone talks about. That's what all of my friends want to come out and watch because they want to catch that game."

Saturday's matchup will be the first between the top two teams in college basketball since Gonzaga and UCLA met in Las Vegas during the 2021-22 season, and the first in-conference meeting involving the No. 1 and No. 2 teams since Kansas and Oklahoma battled in a triple-overtime affair in 2016, according to ESPN Research.

The rise of these two teams also represents a shifting hierarchy in college basketball that is challenging the traditional definition of a "blue blood." Pearl and Oats, respectively, have led Auburn (2019) and Alabama (2024) to the first Final Four appearances in each program's history. Despite being known as football schools, Alabama and Auburn enter Saturday as two anchors of an SEC primed to break the men's NCAA tournament record for most conference bids by securing more than a dozen on Selection Sunday.

The programs have reached this moment with distinct approaches.

Mark Sears (17.8 PPG, 4.9 APG) leads the Tide, who play at the fastest pace in America. Under Oats, they launch 3-pointers almost half the time they have the ball -- and they score in barrages (they've reached 100 points in seven games this season).

At Auburn, Johni Broome, a top candidate for national player of the year, is the dominant force guiding a Tigers squad that turns every game into a heavyweight bout. It's the most balanced team in America, ranking No. 1 in adjusted offensive efficiency and inside the top 20 in adjusted defensive efficiency on KenPom. The Tigers are also one of the nation's most experienced crews (nine seniors) and, arguably, the deepest (10 players average at least 10 minutes per game).

Fans who have lived through past chapters of the Alabama-Auburn rivalry expect an intense battle, but they also caution rankings alone don't mean everything in this matchup.

Backers of the Tide and Tigers tussle over, well, anything -- and, at any time.

"I wish they'd just leave us alone," Michael Floyd, self-proclaimed Auburn superfan and former vice president of The Jungle, the Tigers' basketball student section, told ESPN. "Let us have something for once. We get good [at] basketball and now they want to finally invest in it? Come on.

"I don't want to say this, but you have to give credit where credit is due: What they're doing over there is crazy as well, which makes what we're doing here even more special. Because we want to win it when our rival is good. No one wants to see what we saw last weekend when Duke just blew the brakes off North Carolina. We want to see a good, old-fashioned, neck-and-neck rivalry."

This rivalry featured a version of that kind of energy on the hardwood as early as 2011 -- before either team was this good -- and it nearly caused a fight.

As Cam Newton -- with the Heisman Trophy he had just won in hand -- and his teammates gathered near the court at then-Auburn Arena for their official Iron Bowl victory celebration and pregame reception, then-Alabama point guard Trevor Releford braced for trouble.

The Auburn football players crowded the Alabama men's basketball team at the arena entrance just before the Tide ran onto the floor ahead of tipoff. Releford, an All-SEC first-team guard during his time at Alabama, wouldn't name names. But he also wasn't surprised. That's just the fiery nature of the Alabama-Auburn rivalry, he said.

"Those guys on the football team -- they had a little entryway for us into the gym -- they let us feel that physicality a little bit," Releford said about the game Alabama won 68-58 before later sweeping that season's series when Auburn visited Tuscaloosa. "It's Alabama. It's Auburn. They gave us a little banter. They didn't rough us up because we're [tough]. But it was good to spice that game up."

Recent matchups haven't required any extra hype.

The success of both teams has pushed the "Iron Bowl of basketball" -- a phrase frowned upon by the two schools -- into a different dimension. Yes, bragging rights are always the main prize in this rivalry. But this Saturday's outcome could impact the national profiles of both schools, with the winner primed to earn an easier path to San Antonio and the national championship.

"There are no pro sports in the state of Alabama," Pearl said. "We are it. There was a time when, if you were from this part of the country -- Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi -- you had to go to Kansas or Kentucky or North Carolina or Duke because you couldn't come to these schools, win championships, become a pro and stay home. Now, you can."

That shift in status has coincided with an upgrade in the SEC's overall coaching pedigree. Both Oats and Pearl have turned their programs into appealing hubs for transfers and elite recruits. They have combined to produce nine first-round picks in the NBA draft since 2018; four for Auburn and five for Alabama. They have established themselves as perennial NCAA tournament teams -- and, now, national title contenders.

Since Pearl arrived at Auburn in 2014 and Oats joined Alabama in 2019, they have altered expectations at their schools and kept up with the country's best teams at a transformative stage for the sport. Now, they'll meet to determine the best team in America.

"The good thing is we get to play against the best team in the country, twice here in the last month of the season," Oats said. "So, we'll get to test ourselves."

And it will be a test, for both teams.

Alabama and Auburn will play the most pivotal game in the history of their rivalry -- perhaps in any sport, football included -- in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, then they'll do it again on March 8 in Auburn.

Fans who have been raised in this rivalry know that 24 hours after Valentine's Day, one of these teams will have its heart broken.

"I do know we got up a little more for that game," Releford said. "It's Alabama, Auburn. You don't want to be on the losing side. I don't care if it's football, gymnastics, whatever. It's a pride throughout the university that we want to go and get them. You want to get a win, no matter what it is. It could be a canned goods competition. We want to win. We want to have the most."

PHOENIX -- Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff said he exceeded his expectations Friday when he faced hitters for the first time since late in the 2023 season.

The two-time All-Star, who injured his shoulder Sept. 23, 2023 against the Miami Marlins, threw 20 pitches of batting practice.

"Obviously, I was nervous and jittery," Woodruff said. "It's the first time in a year and a half, but I felt good. I think it went a lot better than I expected it to. I needed this. I needed to face hitters."

Woodruff said his immediate focus was to build on this process, and he didn't know when he might face batters in spring training games.

"Or if I will," Woodruff said. "But it's a good sign I made it through today and it felt good, and that's what's important. I'll take tomorrow for what it is, and we'll build out something. It'll be a little bit slower, but I'm happy with where I'm at right now."

Woodruff was 5-1 with a 2.28 ERA at the time of the injury.

Whether the 32-year-old will be ready by the March 27 opener at the New York Yankees is unclear.

"I miss it," Woodruff said. "I've still got a long ways to go. Today was another hurdle to get over in this process. I think I've done a good job on the front end of taking my time to get to this spot. It's a good day."

Iga Swiatek suffered her worst defeat in two years as Jelena Ostapenko breezed past the world number two in straight sets to reach the Qatar Open final.

Ostapenko needed just and hour and eight minutes to wrap up a 6-3 6-1 victory over the five-time Grand Slam champion in Doha.

The last time Swiatek was on the wrong end of such a one-sided match was a 6-2 6-2 loss to Elena Rybakina at Indian Wells in March 2023.

The 23-year-old Pole was on a 15-match winning streak at the Qatar Open and chasing a fourth successive title.

Ostapenko, ranked 37th in the world, has now won all five of her meetings with Swiatek.

"I feel like this court has a special energy," said the Latvian, 27.

"I was pretty confident that I would beat her because we've played a lot of matches and I kind of know how to play against her.

"I'm really happy with the way I'm handling my emotions this week. I'm just so happy to be in the final."

Ostapenko will play Amanda Anisimova in Saturday's final after the American beat Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3 6-3.

Emma Raducanu has taken a wildcard into the Dubai Tennis Championships main draw, where she will seek to end the worst losing run of her career.

The 22-year-old Briton lost a fourth consecutive match for the first time when she was beaten in straight sets by Ekaterina Alexandrova at the Qatar Open last week.

The 2021 US Open champion will be joined by mentor Jane O'Donoghue and fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura, as she was for that WTA 1000 event in Doha.

Raducanu accepted wildcard entries into the main draw of the Abu Dhabi Open and Qatar Open in February but lost in the first round on both occasions.

Defeat by Alexandrova followed a straight-set loss to former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in Abu Dhabi.

The world number 60 lost to Spain's Cristina Bucsa in the opening round of the Singapore Open in January, after winning just one game in her Australian Open defeat by Iga Swiatek that marked the start of her winless streak.

As the Dubai tournament is a WTA 1000 event, Raducanu faces the prospect of another tough draw with the world's top 10 players all scheduled to play.

The draw takes place on Saturday, before the main draw begins on Sunday.

Munster: Ben O'Connor; Shane Daly, Tom Farrell, Rory Scannell, Diarmuid Kilgallen; Billy Burns, Ethan Coughlan; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron, Oli Jager, Tom Ahern, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O'Donoghue (capt), Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Kieran Ryan, John Ryan, Brian Gleeson, John Hodnett, Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler, Shay McCarthy.

Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Ellis Mee, Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Steff Evans; Ioan Lloyd, Gareth Davies (capt); Kemsley Mathias, Marnus van der Merwe, Archer Holz, Max Douglas, Sam Lousi, Taine Plumtree, Dan Davis, Vaea Fifita.

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Alec Hepburn, Sam Wainwright, Alec Craig, Jarrod Taylor, Archie Hughes, Charlie Titcombe, Macs Page.

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR)

Assistant referees: Robbie Jenkinson & Paul Haycock (IRFU)

TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)

Tierney has said there are "systemic problems" facing Welsh rugby which "are really hard to change quickly" and that some changes have already been made.

Despite being a director at one of the regions, Jones says there is no option but to cut at least one teams.

"We are not a big enough nation now to have the commercial clout to [have four regions]," he said.

"We probably no longer have the player pipeline that can sustain four clubs. I don't think the union is gong to be able to deliver longer-term the increase in their own revenue if they are going to support the game at club level and regional level."

Regional rugby was established in 2003, initially with five teams before a reduction to four.

"With sadness, we have to come down to three or two regions to reflect the financial realities of Welsh rugby," added Jones.

"Over the years, there's been a fear inside the union of criticism and so difficult decisions get deferred.

"We've seen that with Gatland's dismissal. I think we're going to be seeing it as well with the decision to stay with four regions when, in their gut, they must know that it isn't the right way forward to present a good future for Welsh rugby."

The WRU has said the deal with the regions will "increase finances and other supporting factors to levels which will enable continued success and sustainability long into the future and by 2029".

"This decision to sustain four regional clubs and not reduce in number divides opinion in Wales," said the WRU.

"Many... are supportive and are excited to see what the increased collaboration and investment will bring for Welsh rugby.

"There are equally those who say that either, objectively, the right decision has not been made or that we have lacked decisiveness in general."

England full-back Max Malins will rejoin Saracens from Bristol Bears at the end of the 2024-25 season.

Malins made 36 appearances for the Bears over two spells with the club, scoring 22 tries.

The 28-year-old signed for the club permanently in 2023, having initially joined on loan for the 2020-21 campaign.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my two stints at Bristol this place has become a home away from home for me," Malins said.

Malins is currently recovering from a ruptured Achilles, meaning he has already played his final Bristol match, and admitted that has hampered his time with the Bears.

"It's sad that injury has prevented me from contributing more and knowing I have played my last game in a Bristol shirt. I would have loved to run out with my mates and say goodbye to the fans from the pitch one last time," he added.

"Nevertheless, I look forward to seeing you all down at Ashton Gate for the remaining games and watching what the team can produce for the run-in to the end of the season."

Malins began his career with Saracens, helping them win the Premiership title in his final season before switching to Bristol.

Perhaps most importantly, there is a huge cultural weight placed on rugby.

St Joseph's first team are presented with their festival shirts at a special assembly before singing, some in tears, to the rest of the school.

"It really is as close as you can get to a professional experience or lifestyle, without actually being paid for it," says Wenham.

The RFU has a network of rugby managers to try to embed the game in state schools.

Sixteen of the best compete in the ACE (Academy, Colleges and Education) League. England internationals George Martin, Joe Heyes and Harry Randall all rose up through that route.

But, those institutions are thinly spread and tight on resources.

Private schools, where fees can exceed 50,000 a year, will always have more to invest.

They are not entirely closed shops, however. You can attend, even if you can't pay.

Because top rugby-playing private schools don't just spend on facilities, they also invest in talent, offering highly sought-after scholarships and bursaries which can dramatically reduce fees.

So, while England captain Maro Itoje finished his education at Harrow, bumping up the team's percentage of private-school attendees, he arrived there at 16 on a scholarship from St Georges, a state school in Hertfordshire.

Ollie Lawrence and Tom and Ben Curry similarly finished their education in the private sector, after being awarded scholarships.

St Joseph's recent success story is Emmanuel Iyogun, who now plays for Northampton and has represented England A. He arrived on a scholarship from Woodlands School, a state school in Essex.

England international Anthony Watson and his former club and country team-mate Beno Obano, who went to Dulwich College on a scholarship at 16, valued such schemes so highly they set up their own, funding Harlan Hines' switch from a state school in south-east London to Marlborough College in 2022.

A large proportion of England's elite players may emerge out of private schools, but their talent wasn't necessarily born in them.

There may be fewer scholarships on offer in the future though.

Since January, VAT has been payable on school fees.

The move, which the government predicts will raise billions for state schools, has put pressure on private schools' registers and balance sheets alike.

Various figures in the industry have predicted that scholarships may have to be squeezed.

As headmaster of Mount Kelly School, a private school in Devon, Guy Ayling is already making difficult decisions around awards for pupils.

"Bursaries and scholarships have a cost attached," he says. "That is the bottom line. They are costs like food, utilities and teacher salaries, and it is therefore something we have to consider.

"It is the way of the world moving forward - there is potentially going to be less money in the system and when there is less money in the system, you don't spend as much, including on helping families with financial assistance."

Fewer scholarships would mean more kids in George Paul's position.

The 23-year-old grew up in Peterborough. He played at Wisbech rugby club, but as he and his ambitions grew in the game, he wanted more rugby than his school would provide.

He had a scholarship offer at Wisbech Grammar, a nearby independent school, but with family finances and siblings to consider he didn't take it up.

Instead, aged 15 and finding his club side weakened as other talented kids switched into the private school system, he chased competitive rugby through a different route.