Now that March Madness has concluded and teams have exited the Indianapolis and San Antonio bubbles, a question to consider: Did their play impact their school's reputation?

"Athletics are the front porch of the university. It's not the most important room in the house, but it is the most visible."

The backdrop: It's no secret that athletic success on the national stage can lead to more college applications. This phenomenon is called the "Flutie Effect," named for former Boston College QB Doug Flutie.

• "As the story goes, Flutie's Hail Mary to upset Miami back in the 1980s led to a burst in attention for Boston College, attention that led to increases in applications and alumni engagement," writes Matt Brown in his newsletter, Extra Points (subscription).

By the numbers: Schools that make championship games in men's and women's basketball tend to see spikes in applications, though it's not consistent, according to 16 years of data compiled by WashPost.

• To use a football example, when Clemson asked admitted students in 2017 if the previous year's national championship was influential in their decision to apply, 55% said it was.

Between the lines: As one might expect, smaller schools that make surprise March Madness runs (aka "Cinderellas") see the biggest spikes.

• Loyola Chicago saw a surge in applications and alumni engagement following their Final Four run in 2018, per the Chicago Tribune.
• UMBC saw a noticeable increase in the number of students touring campus and there was a "different energy and buzz" following their historic upset over No. 1 seed Virginia in 2018, per WashPost.
• Florida Gulf Coast (aka "Dunk City") saw a 27% increase in applications following their run to the Sweet 16 as a No. 15 seed in 2016.
• George Mason saw freshman applications climb 22% after their miraculous run to the Final Four in 2006.

This year's candidates: Cinderellas like Oral Roberts (men) and Wright State (women) could see similar results, as could more well-known schools like Baylor, Gonzaga, Stanford and Arizona.

• Of note: A university like Loyola Chicago could see sustained interest from applicants rather than just a spike, as another deep run by Sister Jean and the Ramblers has given the school a more national profile.

The bottom line: Students often choose a college based on limited information, and athletics is one of the few tools a school can use to directly affect its prominence.

Two of the 22 women who have filed lawsuits against Deshaun Watson alleging sexual assault and lewd behavior came forward publicly during a news conference Tuesday.

Ashley Solis, the first massage therapist to file a lawsuit on March 16, said the alleged interaction with Watson has left her battling depression. Her hands shake during massages, forcing her to cut appointments short.

"This incident has impacted me in many ways. ... I feel a range of emotions — guilt, embarrassment, shame, courage, anger, sadness and numbness. Some days I feel like a hero. Other days I feel like a failure."

"I got into massage therapy to help people, to heal their minds and bodies, to bring peace to their souls. Deshaun Watson has robbed me of that. ... I hope he knows how much pain he has inflicted on me."

Lauren Baxley wasn't present at the news conference, but she wrote a letter to Watson, which was read by her attorney.

"I have been angry at you for so many reasons since that day in June. I am furious that the talented and hard-working young Black man that gave so many children inspiration is nothing more than a predator with power."

"I am heartbroken for your family, for your loved ones, for those coming to terms with the fact that your charitable work and good-guy persona are nothing more than a meticulously designed facade to keep your victims silent, and second guessing themselves."

Where it stands: While the lawsuits were all filed in less than a month, the legal proceedings are still in the very early stages, notes NYT.

• The cases have been assigned to several judges for review and could ultimately be consolidated to streamline steps that might lead to trial.
• There are also ongoing investigations by the Houston Police Department and the NFL.

The 85th Masters tees off tomorrow at Augusta, and if you've got a phone or computer — which, if you're reading this, feels like a safe bet — you can play along with the pros, Axios' Jeff Tracy writes.

How it works: Masters Fantasy, a new game created in conjunction with IBM Watson, lets you draft a squad and compete for prizes.

• Pick four golfers, one from each of four different categories: (1) Masters first-timers, (2) Masters champions, (3) U.S.-born players and (4) international players.
• Earn points for each double eagle (8), eagle (5) and birdie (2), but lose points for bogeys (-1) or anything worse (-3). Five bonus points are awarded if your team includes the Low Amateur or the champion.

The field: 87 golfers will wake up tomorrow with a chance to take home the green jacket on Sunday.

• The favorites: Dustin Johnson (+950) is the reigning champ and remains No. 1 in the world. Jordan Spieth (+1150), fresh off his first win since 2017 and with an excellent Masters track record, poses a threat.
• The challengers: Cam Smith (+3500), Sungjae Im (+4150) and Abraham Ancer (+8000) entered the final round last year tied for second behind DJ.
• The newcomers: Six golfers will make their Masters debut, including three amateurs. The favorite among the six is American Will Zalatoris (+7500), who finished sixth at the 2020 U.S. Open.

Picking teams: We made our Masters Fantasy picks below. Join our league and build your own team.

• Jeff: Joe Long (first-timer), Jordan Spieth (past winner), Justin Thomas (U.S.), Sungjae Im (international).
• Kendall: Tyler Strafaci (first-timer), Dustin Johnson (past winner), Bryson DeChambeau (U.S.), Rory McIlroy (international).

The NBA Draft will take place on July 29, with the lottery (June 22) and combine (June 21-27) held one month prior, Jeff writes.

The state of play: Players must apply for the draft's early-entry list by May 30. But unlike most years, seniors also have a decision to make.

• The NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to anyone who wants it, so seniors — normally given automatic draft eligibility — must actively put their name into the draft pool.

The big picture: This could be the last year of the one-and-done era, so big boards like ours above — with 16 freshmen in the top 30 — may soon become relics of the past.

• Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga, two potential top-five picks, would have been freshmen Nos. 17 and 18, but skipped college to play (and get paid) in the G League.

Go deeper: Risers and fallers after March Madness (SB Nation)

The WNBA Draft is exactly one week away (April 15), though the start date for the league's 25th season has yet to be announced, Jeff writes.

Notes:

• The Dallas Wings are the first team in WNBA history with the first two overall picks, and they also have the fifth, seventh and 13th.
• Evina Westbrook, UConn's star guard who was a projected top-five pick, opted to return to Storrs for her redshirt senior season.
• Awak Kuier, a 19-year-old Finnish power forward currently playing in Italy's Serie A1, is raw but possesses tantalizing upside as a stretch four.

What they're saying: The WNBA requires prospects to be 22 years old by the end of the draft's calendar year. Otherwise, freshmen phenoms Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark would likely be the top two picks this year.

• "Everyone would pick [Bueckers] No. 1 right now. And Caitlin would be No. 2, hands down," said Diana Taurasi.
• Clark just wishes she had the option: "Boys have it, so why can't the women's game have it as well?"

Go deeper: Biggest needs, best fits for every team (CBS Sports)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Nationals finally got to play baseball on Tuesday, and it ended with a Juan Soto walk-off single to beat the Braves.

"It feels amazing. It's crazy how good it feels. ... The ninth inning, with the roar of the crowd, makes my heart go quicker. It's just a great feeling."

DETROIT — The "Tension Grid System" (wire mesh walking surface) above the rink at Little Caesars Arena looks like something straight out of "Star Wars."

• Fun fact: Apparently, it's the largest such skywalk in the world, covering over 43,000 square feet and requiring 81 miles of aircraft cable to create. Couldn't pay me to go up there, absolutely not...

MADRID, Spain — Real Madrid beat Liverpool, 3-1, behind two goals from Vinícius Júnior (above) in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal match. ... Manchester City beat Borussia Dortmund, 2-1.

• Today, 3pm ET: Bayern vs. PSG; Porto vs. Chelsea

HANDA, Japan — On Day 14 of 121, the Tokyo Olympics Torch Relay arrived in the city of Handa, where the torch bearer participated in their annual festival to celebrate the coming of spring.

• Follow the journey.

🎓 Bye, Barry: Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez announced Tuesday that he will retire this summer. Since last June, five of the 10 longest-tenured Power 5 ADs have left their posts or announced their intention to do so.

🏀 11-for-11: The Hawks set a new NBA record for threes made in a quarter without a miss, going 11-for-11 in the third quarter of their 123-107 win over the Pelicans.

⚾️ Baddoo!! Tigers rookie Akil Baddoo is the breakout star of the MLB season so far. In game 1, he homered in the first big-league pitch he saw. In game 2, he hit a grand slam. In game 3, he hit a walk-off single.

💵 Topps SPAC: Topps is going public via SPAC in a deal that values the trading card company at $1.3 billion, per NYT.

🏈 NFT Tom: Tom Brady is starting an NFT company, per CNN. Dubbed Autograph, it will bring together stars from sports, entertainment, fashion, and pop culture to develop unique digital collectibles.

18 years ago today, freshman sensation Carmelo Anthony led Syracuse to their first and only men's college basketball national championship — an 81-78 win over Kansas.

• Anthony was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds.
• The title game featured numerous college hoops legends like Gerry McNamara and Hakim Warrick for the Orangemen and Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich for the Jayhawks.

What came next: After winning the title, Melo declared for one of the greatest NBA drafts in history. The top five picks (Pistons fans look away):

1. LeBron James (Cavaliers)
2. Darko Miličić (Pistons)
3. Anthony (Nuggets)
4. Chris Bosh (Raptors)
5. Dwyane Wade (Heat)

Other notable picks: No. 7 Hinrich (Bulls), No. 12 Collison (SuperSonics), No. 18 David West (Hornets), No. 29 Josh Howard (Mavericks), No. 47 Mo Williams (Jazz), No. 51 Kyle Korver (Nets)

🎥 Watch:

• Inside Syracuse's championship run (B/R)
• How the 2003 draft class transformed the NBA (ESPN)

Question: What is the course record (in tournament play) at Augusta National?

• 61 (-11)
• 62 (-10)
• 63 (-9)
• 64 (-8)

Answer at the bottom.

Giphy

Tiger Woods is in "decent spirits," according to Rory McIlroy, who recently visited him at his Florida home.

Fun story: Some golfers treat majors like any other event, while others circle them on the calendar. McIlroy has settled on the latter approach, and said his visit with Woods helped crystallize that mentality.

"So, I went over to Tiger's house a few weeks ago to see him, and in his family room he's got his trophy cabinet and it's his 15 major trophies. I said, 'That's really cool. Where are all the others?'"

"He said, 'I don't know.' I go, 'What?' He said, 'Yeah, my mom has some, and a few are in the office and a few are wherever.'"

"I'm just thinking to myself, how easy must that have felt for him if all he cared about were four weeks a year. The other stuff must have been like practice. That's a really cool perspective to have, right?"

More Masters:

• Read: Revisiting Jack Nicklaus' 1986 win (The Ringer)
• 🍿 Watch: 2020 Masters Official Film (YouTube)