Good morning, New York/New Jersey-area sports fans! Let's get our first look at what is happening around the regional sports scene.
↵NBA: The New York Knicks did not play Monday, but they did learn who they will meet in the NBA playoffs. The sixth-seeded Knicks will face the third-seeded Boston Celtics in the opening round. The good news for the Knicks is the Celtics have been staggering down the stretch. The bad news is they are still the veteran Celtics who know how to win close playoff games down the stretch, something the Knicks have not experienced.
↵MLB: The New York Mets suffered an ugly 7-6 loss to Colorado Monday night. The New York Yankees open a series with the revitalized Baltimore Orioles tonight.
↵COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Jared Smith tells us how, after months on the fence, Villanova apparently wants to join the Big East Conference for football. Only now, after a long courtship, the Big East might wind up leaving Villanova standing at the altar.
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