Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson knows a good bit about basketball. He played the sport at Marietta High School.

And he has two teams to root for in the NCAA tournament.

Swanson attended Vanderbilt, which opens play against Northwestern Thursday, but he's a big Duke fan too. The Blue Devils face Troy Friday.

Swanson filled out his NCAA bracket and believes Duke, Arizona, Kansas and North Carolina will reach the Final Four.

And he thinks, and hopes, Duke will win it all, beating Kansas in the championship game.

"[Duke] finally got everybody healthy, and that's the biggest key," Swanson told MLB.com. "When they had everybody, they weren't all healthy. But now, they're good to go. They've obviously got Coach K and that experience from guys like Grayson Allen, Matt Jones and Amile Jefferson. They've got experienced guys that will be able to right the ship when it goes wrong."

The championship game is Monday, April 3, and the Braves open the season that day in New York against the Mets. But fortunately for Swanson, it is a 1:10 p.m. game.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Allisha Gray has elevated her status in the league with her third straight All-Star selection, including her first as a starter. (Michael Conroy/AP)

Credit: AP

Featured

The city of Brookhaven's mayor and City Council last week decided to remove the colored panes of glass from the dome of Brookhaven's new City Centre after residents objected to the brightness of the colors, seen here Friday, June 27, 2025. (Reed Williams/AJC)

Credit: Reed Williams/AJC