No. 1 overall seed Duke will look to secure a spot in the Sweet 16 when it faces No. 9 TCU in Round 2 of the NCAA Tournament.
The Blue Devils just barely avoided an upset against No. 16 Siena in the first round of March Madness. The Boozer brothers led Duke to victory with Cameron scoring 22 points and grabbing 13 rebounds and Cayden adding 19 points.
TCU beat Ohio State in its tournament opener after Xavier Edmonds hit a layup with 4.3 seconds left on the clock. Micah Robinson scored a game-high 18 points in the win, and Edmonds and David Punch each finished with 16 points.
Here's what you need to know about Saturday's matchup between Duke and TCU, including broadcast information and start time.
Duke vs. TCU will air on CBS. Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery and Grant Hill will be on the call, and Tracy Wolfson will serve as the sideline reporter.
Fans can stream the game live on Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100-plus top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
Paramount+ is another streaming option for all CBS games in the tournament.
What time is Duke vs. TCU today?
Date: Saturday, March 21
Time: 5:15 p.m. ET
The NCAA tournament game between Duke and TCU is set to tip off at 5:15 p.m. ET from Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C.
Listen to every game of the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament live on SiriusXM.
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The 2026 Men's Final Four is set for April 4 and 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The semifinals will be played Saturday night, and the national championship game is set for Monday night.
The home of the Indianapolis Colts previously hosted the event in 2010, 2015 and 2021 and is set to host again in 2029. Indianapolis previously hosted the Final Four at other facilities in 1980, 1991, 1997, 2000 and 2006.
Only Kansas City has been home to the Final Four more often (10 times), but the last one held there was in 1988.
March Madness tournament schedule 2026
Here is the round-by-round schedule for the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament:
For the fifth time, Michigan State and Louisville face off in the NCAA Tournament, as the second round of March Madness commences.
No. 3 seed Michigan State took care of North Dakota State with ease in the first round of the tournament. Carson Cooper had a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Jeremy Fears had 11 assists.
No. 6 seed Louisville outlasted South Florida in the first round despite playing without injured freshman star Mike Brown once again. Isaac McKneely led the team with 23 points, while Ryan Conwell scored 18.
The all-time record between Michigan State and Louisville is 6-6. Michigan State won the last matchup during the 2021-22 season.
Here's what you need to know about Saturday's matchup between Michigan State and Louisville, including broadcast information and start time.
What channel is Michigan State vs. Louisville on today?
Michigan State vs. Louisville will air on CBS. Brian Anderson and Jim Jackson have the call, while Allie LaForce will act as the sideline reporter.
Fans can stream the game live on Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers so you can try the service before you buy.
Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
Paramount+ is another streaming option for all CBS games in the tournament.
What time is Michigan State vs. Louisville today?
Date: Saturday, March 21
Time: 2:45 p.m. ET
The NCAA tournament game between Michigan State and Louisville is set to tip off at 2:45 p.m. ET from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
The series between Michigan State and Louisville in the NCAA Tournament is tied 2-2. The last matchup was a 76-70 OT win for Michigan State during the 2015 tournament.
Listen to every game of the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament live on SiriusXM.
New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
The 2026 Men's Final Four is set for April 4 and 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The semifinals will be played Saturday night and the national championship game is set for Monday night.
The home of the Indianapolis Colts previously hosted the event in 2010, 2015 and 2021 and is set to host again in 2029. Indianapolis previously hosted the Final Four at other facilities in 1980, 1991, 1997, 2000 and 2006.
Only Kansas City has been home to the Final Four more often (10 times), but the last one held there was in 1988.
March Madness tournament schedule 2026
Here is the round-by-round schedule for the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament:
As the Texas A&M Aggies navigated their way to the 2026 NCAA Tournament, they had a significant benefit throughout their season: one of the most experienced players in college basketball.
The squad's leading scorer and rebounder, forward Rashaun Agee, was the focal point of head coach Bucky McMillan's unit throughout 2025-26.
Playing on his fifth collegiate team, Agee is among the oldest players in college basketball, and his experience has played a significant role for a Texas A&M team that earned a March Madness bid as a 10 seed, winning its first-round matchup against Saint Mary's.
Here's what to know about Agee's age, collegiate eligibility and more.
Agee is in his seventh collegiate season with his fifth different team.
He began his NCAA basketball career in 2019-20 at New Mexico State, and he's also had stints with Casper College, Bowling Green and USC prior to joining Texas A&M.
For the time being, Agee is in the final year of his collegiate eligibility. Because of his freshman-year redshirt, the blanket COVID-19 waiver for most college players in 2020-21, and a petition in 2025 where his lawyers argued that because he did not play during the 2019-20 season and was enrolled in classes at New Mexico State and a JUCO, his eligibility clock should not have started, Agee has been able to play NCAA basketball into the 2025-26 season.
Before the 2025-26 season, Agee filed for a temporary restraining order against the NCAA and was granted a temporary court injunction to preserve his eligibility, per Chron. His eligibility remained up in the air, but he was able to participate in games and practices with the Aggies, as he intended to do by transferring there.
Here's a look at Agee's seven seasons in college basketball.
2019-20: New Mexico State (redshirt)
Agee, who went to Bogan Technical High in Chicago, joined New Mexico State's roster in 2019-20.
However, he redshirted for his first season at the school.
2020-21: New Mexico State (injured)
Agee wound up playing just one career game for the Aztecs. He played in one game in 2020-21, scoring two points, and injuries prevented the forward from appearing in any more games.
Because of the blanket COVID-19 waiver that applied to college athletes in 2020-21, the season did not impact Agee's eligibility.
2021-22: Casper College (JUCO)
Agee went to a junior college for his third season, joining Casper College in Wyoming. He found more consistency, averaging 20 points and 11.5 rebounds per game and being named a NJCAA Division I All-America nominee, first-team all-conference and first-team all-region.
In his petition to later spend a seventh season in college basketball, Agee and his lawyers would say that he season Agee completed at Casper did not count toward his eligibility clock because he was a JUCO player — similar to quarterback Diego Pavia's case against the NCAA, where the Vanderbilt star prompted the NCAA to approve a blanket waiver which granted another year of eligibility to former JUCO players, per 247Sports.
2022-23: Bowling Green
Agee's first full-time season on the court for a Division I team was at Bowling Green in 2022-23. He played in 30 games, averaging 9.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
2023-24: Bowling Green
In 2023-24, Agee became a full-time starter for Bowling Green. He averaged 13.3 points and a team-leading 9.9 rebounds per game, being named to All-MAC second-team.
Agee's 17 double-doubles were tied for the 12th-most in NCAA, and he had a 17-rebound game against Central Michigan.
2024-25: USC
USC landed Agee in the transfer portal for the 2024-25 season. He appeared in 34 games for the Trojans, making 10 starts and averaging 9.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
2025-26: Texas A&M
After the 2024-25 season, Agee entered the transfer portal, despite still fighting to land another season of collegiate eligibility. He landed at Texas A&M.
Weeks before the season, Agee's eligibility waiver had yet to be approved by the NCAA. However, in October 2025, Agee was granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA that allowed him to practice and play with the Aggies.
In a quick turnaround from a new lawsuit filed today in Brazos County, Texas, incoming Texas A&M basketball transfer Rashaun Agee has been granted a temporary restraining order forcing the NCAA to allow him to be eligible for practice and play ahead of a scheduled Oct 9 hearing. pic.twitter.com/w6lSdrwni8
The court ruled that Agee would be "irreparably harmed" if he couldn't join the Aggies for practice right away, that he "cannot be adequately compensated" for his lost opportunities and that the public interest weighs in favor of granting the restraining order, per Texas A&M Aggies on SI.
Agee's petition argued that in his freshman year at New Mexico State, coaches told Agee he would be eligible to play for their team despite a dual-enrollment situation, per KBTX, and the NCAA said it counted as a year of eligibility used at the junior college level. According to the petition, Agee transferred to Texas A&M believing he had used three seasons of eligibility, also citing Diego Pavia's court victory vs. the NCAA for time spent in junior college.
The injunction that allowed Agee to join Texas A&M said the NCAA could not enforce any eligibility rules or issue any sanctions against the player or school, per KBTX. With Agee becoming eligible, he also was able to receive Texas A&M's $1.2 million revenue share payment.
With his eligibility issues in the background, Agee became a centerpiece of a successful Aggies team in 2025-26. Averaging nearly 15 points and nine rebounds per game, leading the team in both categories along with blocks per game, Agee led Texas A&M to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 10 seed.
In this era of college basketball, winning without the 3-pointer is impossible. High Point seems to have figured that out.
While the Panthers have plenty of talent and experience across their roster, no one is more dangerous from 3-point range than Chase Johnston.
In fact, that's about all Johnston does. The senior had not even made a 2-point shot all season long until he scored a clutch late bucket off a turnover in an upset win over Wisconsin. That was Johnston's introduction to the national stage, but he's been at it for quite some time.
Here's what you need to know about Johnston's age and where he ranks among the oldest players in the NCAA Tournament.
The High Point super senior is in his seventh year of college basketball. He started at PFW in 2019–20 but transferred to Stetson after one semester and redshirted that season, followed by two full seasons at Stetson. Johnston averaged a career-high 15.2 points per game in 2021–22.
The 2020–21 season was the “COVID year” for all college basketball players, so it didn’t count toward eligibility. After 2022, Johnston transferred to FGCU with three years of eligibility remaining. He appeared in 31 games in 2022–23 but received an injury redshirt in 2023–24, playing only nine games for the Eagles.
With two years of eligibility remaining due to the two redshirts and the free 2020–21 season, Johnston transferred to High Point in 2024. He has been used almost exclusively as a 3-point shooter during his time with the Panthers.
Johnston is believed to be the third-oldest player in the NCAA Tournament, trailing only Kansas reserve Nginyu Ngala and South Florida's Devin Haid, who are also 26.
Ngala joined Kansas this season after four seasons playing in Canada, but he has only played a total of 40 minutes this season. Haid, who started out at the junior college level, has also played sparingly at USF after transferring from Central Connecticut State.
Johnston, Texas' Lassina Traore and Gonzaga's Tyon Grant-Foster round out the tournament's 26-year-olds, and all have missed time due to injuries or other health issues in their college careers.
One of the biggest names in March Madness most likely will not be a top draftee in the upcoming NBA Draft. His name: Chandler Bing.
As weird as it sounds, according to the Vanderbilt Commodores athletics page, Bing has never watched an episode of the "Friends" show. His family says he was named after a family preacher.
The NCAA Tournament is one of the best ways for college athletes who are not widely known to gain some national recognition. Many around the country are now familiar with the freshman who shares the name of Matthew Perry's "Friends" character.
Let's take a look at the Atlanta native's background and his stats for the 2025-2026 season for the Commodores.
Chandler Bing, not to be confused with the famous "Friends" character, is a freshman guard for the Vanderbilt Commodores. He frequently comes off the bench for his first college season.
Bing attended Pace Academy in Atlanta and helped lead his team to the Georgia 4A state championship game. In Vanderbilt's Round of 64 win against McNeese, Bing played 22 minutes and scored four points, three rebounds, and a block.
In his freshman year, Bing has started his college career strong. He was an important bench player and helped lead Vanderbilt to a stellar 27-8 record and a SEC tournament championship appearance.
Here are Bing's stats for the 2025-26 season.
Games
Points
Assists
Rebounds
FG%
3P%
34
3.6
0.4
1.5
47.1% (40-85)
28.9% (11-38)
Where is Chandler Bing from?
Bing comes from Atlanta, Georgia, according to his Vanderbilt profile. During his senior year at Pace Academy, he averaged 19.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.3 steals per game.
Bing helped Pace to a 27-5 record in his senior year and led the school to the Georgia 4A state title game.
The journey begins now. No. 2 Iowa hosts No. 15 Farleigh Dickinson in the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament.
Two years after their last national championship appearance, the Hawkeyes have reloaded. The trio of Ava Heiden, Hannah Stuelke and Chazadi Wright already creates a solid front throughout the entire court, but the depth is there when needed.Despite losing its final game of the regular season in the Big Ten championship, Iowa is ready to run.
The Knights are no easy opponent, though. Three players average double-digits points and three average more than 5.0 rebounds per game. They won the NEC Tournament for a reason, and despite early-season losses to power schools Purdue, Notre Dame and Rutgers, this first round game could be a bracket-buster.
Here's what you need to know about Saturday's matchup between Iowa and FDU, including broadcast information and start time.
Iowa vs. FDU will be broadcast on ESPN with Matt Schumacker and Ros Gold-Onwude on the call.
Fans looking to stream Iowa vs. FDU can watch live on the ESPN app, which will carry every NCAA women’s basketball tournament game in 2026.
Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, plus SportsCenter, First Take, and all your favorite ESPN shows—anytime, anywhere—only in the new ESPN app.
Fans can also stream the game via Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers so you can try before you buy.
Iowa vs. FDU start time
Date: Saturday, March 21
Time: 4 p.m. ET
The NCAA women’s tournament game between Iowa and FDU is set to tip off at 4 p.m. ET from Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
These squads faced off just once previously when the Hawkeyes earned a massive 102-46 win over the Knights in 2023.
Listen to Iowa vs. FDU in the 2026 NCAA women's basketball tournament live on the SiriusXM app.
New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
The 2025 Women's Final Four is set for April 3 and 5 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix. The semifinals will be played Friday night and the national championship game is set for Sunday afternoon.
Women’s March Madness tournament schedule 2026
Here is the round-by-round schedule for the 2026 NCAA women’s basketball tournament:
Many college basketball fans were introduced to the VCU Rams in 2011, when coach Shaka Smart led the team to its first Final Four appearance. Now, the Rams are a popular underdog pick whenever they are present on a tournament bracket.
However, many don't take the time to ask themselves what VCU stands for before picking or choosing against the Rams moving on.
Let's take a look at what the letters in VCU mean and the history behind the Virginia school.
The letters in VCU stand for Virginia Commonwealth University. The term "commonwealth" means an organized political community, according to ThoughtCo, and the VCU name signifies that it is a public institution chartered by Virginia. Commonwealth is a 1700's term signifying that its government was based on the common good of the people.
Virginia is officially known as a commonwealth. There are three other states that can also be considered commonwealths: Kentucky, Virginia, and Massachusetts.
However, the school originally started in 1838. The school originally was known as the Medical College of Hampden-Sydney, which later became the Medical College of Virginia.
According to VCU's website, the school currently has 29,288 students enrolled and has over 230,000 alumni.
The 2025-26 basketball season has been a strong one for both of the High Point Panthers' programs.
The men's squad went 30-4, including 15-1 in conference play, winning the Big South title and earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, the women's team went 27-5, also securing the Big South title and earning a No. 15 seed in March Madness.
With both High Point squads reaching the NCAA Tournament, that's not the only connection between the two units — they're also both coached by members of the Clayman family.
Here's how High Point men's basketball coach Flynn Clayman's wife, Katie, also leads Panthers hoops.
Flynn Clayman's wife is Katie Clayman. She is an assistant coach for the High Point women's basketball team, while Flynn is the head coach of the men's Panthers team. The two have a 19-month old son named Quinn, per U.S. News.
Both Flynn and Katie Clayman helped guide their teams to an NCAA Tournament bid in 2025-26. And as Flynn's men's team upset No. 5 Wisconsin in the first round, Katie was in attendance in Portland, Oregon, to support — despite her own team beginning its March Madness run vs. Vanderbilt two days later across the country in Nashville, Tennessee.
High Point was one of 30 schools to have both its men's and women's squads make the 2026 NCAA Tournament, per News 6.
This is what you call a power coaching couple ❤️
Coach Flynn Clayman's wife, Katie, is in attendance for today's @HPUMBB game. She is an assistant coach for @HPUWBB, who made the Women's NCAA Tournament.
Katie Clayman is an assistant coach for the High Point women's basketball team. She is the husband of Flynn Clayman, the head coach of High Point men's basketball. The two have a young son named Quinn.
Katie was hired in 2023 after a four-year stint at Southern Utah University, where she was an assistant coach and associate head coach. While coaching the Thunderbirds, they notched three consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1993-96; they also made their NCAA Tournament debut in 2022-23.
Flynn Clayman also previously coached at Southern Utah for the men's basketball team, so the husband-wife coaching duo has a multi-school history. Flynn was a special assistant for the Thunderbirds from 2017-19, an assistant coach from 2019-22, and was promoted to associate head coach in 2022 before joining High Point as an associate head coach in 2023, when his wife was also joining thw women's team. By 2025, Flynn was promoted to full-time head coach for the Panthers' men's basketball team.
Katie Clayman also had previous stints as an assistant coach at Division III school Willamette University, served as the head coach for the Willamette Valley Basketball 16U Club in the spring of 2019, spent 2016-17 as a graduate assistant at Clemson University, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Oregon in 2016, per her High Point introduction page.
While at Oregon, Clayman competed in both women's basketball and track and field. In 2015-16, she was a member of a Ducks team that reached the semifinals of the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT).
USC and Clemson will meet in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, with Clemson holding home-court advantage for the matchup in South Carolina.
It will mark the first meeting in program history between the Trojans and Tigers. The winner will advance to face either South Carolina or the winner of Samford vs. Southern.
USC did not win a conference title this season, but the Trojans still earned an NCAA Tournament berth despite losing JuJu Watkins to injury. Much of that success has been driven by standout guard Jazzy Davidson.
Clemson is back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2018-19 season. The Tigers, who finished eighth in the ACC, will lean on leading scorer Mia Moore.
Here’s everything you need to know about Saturday’s matchup between Clemson and USC, including start time and broadcast information.
Clemson vs. USC will be available on ESPN2. Courtney Lyle and Stephanie White will call the action. Acting as sideline reporter will be Molly McGrath.
Fans looking to stream Clemson vs. USC can watch live on the ESPN app, which will carry every NCAA women’s basketball tournament game in 2026.
Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, plus SportsCenter, First Take, and all your favorite ESPN shows—anytime, anywhere—only in the new ESPN app.
Fans can also stream the game via Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers so you can try before you buy.
Clemson vs. USC start time
Date: Saturday, March 21
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
The NCAA women’s tournament game between Clemson and USC is set to tip off at 3:30 p.m. ET from Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
USC won the NCAA Tournament in 1983 and 1984. The Trojans made it to the Elite Eight the last two years.
Clemson may have last appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2019, but the Tigers last made it to the Elite Eight in 1991.
Listen to Clemson vs. USC in the 2026 NCAA women's basketball tournament live on the SiriusXM app or on channel 206 in vehicles.
New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
The 2025 Women's Final Four is set for April 3 and 5 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix. The semifinals will be played Friday night and the national championship game is set for Sunday afternoon.
Women’s March Madness tournament schedule 2026
Here is the round-by-round schedule for the 2026 NCAA women’s basketball tournament:
It was a Friday of favorites on Day 2 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. In 15 games on Friday, the team that was favored came out victorious, bringing a rare sense of chalk to a bracket that had been set on fire in years past. After a chaotic Thursday defined by High Point’s historic upset and multiple double-digit seeds advancing, the heavyweights reasserted their dominance to ensure the weekend wouldn't be entirely devoid of blue bloods.
Top seeds Arizona, Florida, Purdue, and Iowa State all handled their business with relative ease, avoiding the nightmare 16-over-1 scenarios that have haunted favorites in recent years. Arizona, in particular, looked the part of a national title contender, dismantling LIU behind a balanced attack that saw five players reach double figures. Even in the few games that flirted with drama, the higher-seeded teams found ways to survive and advance, preserving their place in the Round of 32.
The lack of upsets on Friday was a welcome sight for bracket purists and those chasing the "perfect bracket" dream, though the number of unblemished entries still plummeted below 1,500 by late evening. While the magic of March was largely absent from the scoreboard today, the stage is now set for a heavyweight-heavy second round.
The second day of the 2026 NCAA Tournament was a stark departure from the relative madness of Thursday, as higher-seeded teams collectively slammed the door on any potential Cinderella stories. In a rare display of dominance, favorites went a perfect 16-0 on Friday, restoring order to a bracket that had been rattled by High Point’s massive upset just 24 hours earlier.
While the betting favorites all advanced, the path was anything but easy for several Blue Bloods. Kentucky provided the game of the day in St. Louis, surviving a near-disaster against 10th-seeded Santa Clara. The Wildcats were saved by Otega Oweh’s miraculous, half-court buzzer-beating heave to force overtime, eventually pulling away for an 89-84 victory. Similarly, Virginia had to sweat out a final-second defensive stand to avoid a repeat of their infamous tournament history, narrowly edging out a gritty Wright State squad.
What was the last first-round day without an upset?
Per ESPN research, the last time favorites went undefeated on a single day in the Round of 64 was March 19, 1992 -- 34 years ago.
The opening day of the 1992 tournament saw all 16 higher-seeded teams advance, including top-ranked Duke's blowout win over Campbell and Ohio State’s victory over Mississippi Valley State. While several games that day were closely contested, including a narrow escape by 4-seed North Carolina against Miami (OH), the favorites ultimately held firm across the board.
The feat remained unmatched for over three decades until this Friday, March 20, 2026, when the favorites again pulled off a perfect 16–0 sweep. While the 2019 tournament saw a similar run on its opening Thursday, that day is technically excluded from this specific historical record due to the "seeding upset" of No. 9 Washington over No. 8 Utah State; while the betting favorite won, the higher seed did not.
How many upsets were in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament?
In total, there were 5 upsets in the first round (Round of 64) of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
The lopsided nature of the opening round was defined by a chaotic Thursday followed by a historically chalky Friday. While Thursday saw multiple double-digit seeds advance, Friday became the first day in more than 30 years where favorites went a perfect 16–0.
How many upsets were in the first round of last year’s NCAA Tournament?
The 2025 NCAA Tournament was also one of the most chalky in recent history, featuring only 7 first-round upsets.
While the tournament eventually provided plenty of drama — including Florida's run to its third national title — the opening round was historically stable for top seeds. For the first time since 2008, all four No. 1 seeds advanced to the Final Four, and not a single team seeded 1 through 4 lost their opening game.
It was a simple answer. But from AJ Dybantsa, it didn’t sound small. “I definitely made the right decision." he said.
In the moment, it was reflection. After the moment, it felt like something more. Not because the BYU Cougars lost 79-71 to the Texas Longhorns in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but because of what comes next.
Dybantsa is widely projected as a top-two or top-three pick in June’s NBA Draft. Whether he formally says it now or later, the path forward is already coming into focus.
“Just talk to my family,” he said when asked about his next step. “My mom ultimately. She kind of is the big boss.”
Even in defeat, Dybantsa showed flashes of why NBA teams are already circling. There were stretches where his shot-making and ability to create space stood out, moments where the game slowed and everything ran through him.
For BYU, that presence defined the season. “I just like how we persevered,” Dybantsa said. “We could have folded and lost by 20, but we tried to cut it down and make a push for the win.”
That push came after a difficult first half, one that head coach Kevin Young called “extremely disappointing,” particularly on the glass. BYU adjusted in the second half, but the early gap proved too much to overcome.
Still, the fight matched what Young has seen from this group all year, and what Dybantsa helped establish.
“I’ll probably look back in 20 years and just have a lot of joy that I was able to be a part of his story,” Young said. “He’s going to be a Coug for life.”
That’s the part of AJ’s season that won’t show up in draft projections.
He arrived as a headline, a centerpiece talent capable of reshaping a program. BYU built around him, pairing him with veteran leadership and scoring options that, at one point, formed one of the most productive trios in college basketball.
Dybantsa remains what he’s been all season: a player comfortable taking over, capable of creating his own offense, and already looking like he belongs at the next level.
Now comes the decision everyone is waiting for, even if he isn’t rushing it.
And when he looks back on this moment, on this season, on everything that came with it, one part already feels settled. “I love this place,” he added.
“[The Nets] brought the fight to us. They came out. They wanted to prove a point obviously, so our approach has to be better,” a frustrated Robinson said in front of his locker following his 10-rebound performance against the Nets on Friday. “We can’t just look at their record and just say, ‘Alright, we’re gonna whip their ass.’ We’ve just gotta be better all together, and until we figure that part out, it’s gonna be a long road.
“Our approach in shoot around, the way we come to the game. We’ve gotta be ready to go.”
Robinson picked up a technical foul for taunting after Nets rookie guard Nolan Traore appeared to undercut the Knicks’ big man on an alley-oop with roughly three minutes left in the second quarter. Traore came crashing down to the ground, and Robinson stood over him before several Nets players approached the scene. Officials separated the two, Robinson was assessed a technical, and Traore was whistled for a common foul.
“Yall saw that s–t bro. It ain’t even a need to speak on it right now,” Robinson said after the game. “It is what it is. I don’t even wanna talk about that s–t.”
Starting Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns said Robinson has every right to defend himself how he sees fit. The Knicks’ defensive anchor has undergone two surgeries to repair stress fractures in his left ankle. Plays like Traore’s lend themselves to re-injury.
“I’ve seen Mitch have moments, but I think today was one of those days where you’ve gotta protect yourself,” Towns said. “Especially if something like that happens. We need him. We need him on this team. We need him available and healthy, and that’s a play that can lead to [injury].”
The Nets, who entered the night with a 17-52 record and lost 13 straight games to the Knicks before making in 14 on Friday, won the first quarter, 22-14, behind a level of physicality Robinson said his team wasn’t prepared for.
“We’ve played them how many times this year? Three or four? This is probably the most physical they’ve gotten with us,” he said. “So we can’t just take their record and say this is an easy one. They’re grown-ass men just like us and in the NBA too, just like us. So our approach has to be better and more respectful. That’s all.”
The Knicks proceeded to outscore the Nets, 61-43, in the second and third quarters.
“We had to get physical back. That’s how it’s gonna be,” Robinson said. “Gotta stand on business about that. So f–k it.”
Brown said the Knicks haven’t struggled with physicality from opposing defenses regularly this season. He considers Friday’s result an outlier — and a loss on his personal resume against Jordi Fernandez, his former assistant coach during his tenure with the Sacramento Kings.
“Give Brooklyn a lot of credit. I thought they came out and they were extremely physical throughout the whole game and it impacted us, starting with Jordi on down,” Brown said. “Jordi out-coached me. They out-played us in a lot of areas, and we were just able to find a way to get a win.
“We have shown we’ve been comfortable with [physicality] in the past. Tonight was just one of those nights we didn’t do a good job handling their pressure. You’ve just gotta go by someone if somebody’s pressuring you cause they’re probably not gonna call the foul. You’ve just gotta go by them. You’ve gotta make the right play and if you make the right play, after going by them a couple times, the pressure will loosen up. And then whether you’re blitzed or hit, you just have to make sure you get off the ball timely. And then we had more 24 second shot clock violations tonight than the entire season. There were a lot of things that were unlike our group.”
Robinson had a different message: The Knicks have been sleepwalking against teams with losing records like the Nets. They barely beat a Golden State Warriors team without a recognizable starter in its rotation, and the Knicks have been routinely punting on first quarters and playing catch-up later in games, a habit all-but certain to come back to bite them in the playoffs.
Towns said he didn’t think the Nets were going to be a walk in the park, even though the Knicks won their last meeting by 50 points.
“They’re an NBA team, a really great team. They’ve got young talent, a great coaching staff,” he said. “There’s no part of me that thought this was gonna be an easy game. We had to meet them and exceed the physicality. Obviously they brought it today. They wanted to win the game. Like I said it was a team effort to win tonight.”
The No. 2 seed UConn Huskies look to get off on the right foot in the NCAA Tournament. Dan Hurley's team faces the No. 15 seed Furman Paladins in the first round on Friday night.
The back-to-back title years seems like an eternity ago in Storrs. The Huskies are trying to become the first school to win three national titles in four years since UCLA and John Wooden did it starting in 1972. Furman has played the role of being a giant killer in the past. They stunned No. 4 seed Virginia in the first round in 2023.
Here is a look at the box score from Friday's first round East Region in Philadelphia.
The fourth-seeded Kansas Jayhawks face a March Madness newcomer in the No. 13 seeded California Baptist Lancers in an East Regional first-round game on Friday at Viejas Arena in San Diego. This is the first-ever meeting between the schools.
Kansas' season has been rocky with great wins and terrible losses. Freshman Darryn Peterson averages 19.8 points and is projected by many as the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. On the other side, California Baptist clipped top-seeded Utah Valley 63-61 for the Western Athletic Conference title. Dominique Daniels Jr. leads the Lancers with an average of 23.2 points.
Here is a look at the box score from Friday's first round East Region game in San Diego.
The No. 16 Prairie View A&M Panthers will battle the top-seeded Florida Gators in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Friday night. This will be the start of the defending national champions run to repeat. Prairie View A&M is coming off a 67-55 win over Lehigh in Wednesday's First Four matchup.
On the other hand, Florida didn't make it to the SEC Championship game. The Panthers (19-17) have won eight in a row to walk away with a SWAC title. The Gators (26-7) won 12 of their last 13 in the regular season.
Here is a look at the box score from Friday's first round South Region game in Tampa.
Prairie View A&M vs. Florida March Madness box score
Tennessee’s season came to an abrupt, but predictable, end on Friday night as the No. 10 seed Lady Vols lost 76-61 to No. 7 seed NC State.
The loss marked Tennessee’s 14th of the year, and it ended one of the worst end-of-season stretches in the storied history of the program. Led by second-year coach Kim Caldwell, the Lady Vols exited on an eight-game losing streak and lost 11 of their final 13 games. For the first time in program history, they were winless in March.
This was only the third time in 38 tournament appearances that Tennessee dropped a first-round game, and it was the first time since 2019 when it lost to UCLA. The loss is especially jarring to long-time basketball fans who were accustomed to Tennessee’s dominance. The Lady Vols own the second-most NCAA Tournament championships with eight under Pat Summitt from 1987 to 2008.
Friday’s game, which resulted in Tennessee’s fourth straight double-digit loss, was an opportunity for Caldwell to quiet any noise about her fitness for the job. She was an unorthodox choice as a hire out of Division II, but her unique system and early returns last season provided her with some credibility as she led the Lady Vols to the Sweet 16.
Tennessee, which was projected to finish fourth in the SEC this season, started 14-3, but couldn’t keep things together down the stretch. The Lady Vols lost in the SEC tournament to Alabama and then lost to the Wolfpack on Friday, giving up a career-high 30 points to NC State guard Zamareya Jones.
It didn’t help that when Tennessee took the floor, it was without second-leading scorer and leading rebounder Janiah Barker.
Without Barker, the Lady Vols still out-rebounded the Wolfpack 41-32, but couldn’t find any consistent scoring. Talaysia Cooper led them with 24 points, but nobody else scored more than 10 as they shot 32.9 percent from the field and made just 7 of 36 3-point attempts. Tennessee led 2-0 to begin the game, but never led again.
Though the Lady Vols cut the Wolfpack’s lead to three points in the third quarter, Tennessee never looked capable of taking control, even with NC State’s second-leading scorer Zoe Brooks leaving in the third quarter with a foot injury.
Caldwell had no answer for Jones and couldn’t find anybody, other than Cooper, to score. That will leave Caldwell with a lot of questions this offseason.
Though there are some unhappy fans in Knoxville, it seems unlikely that Tennessee will fire Caldwell after her second season, considering her $4 million buyout. But an ending like this will make for an uneasy feeling entering next season.
The 12-seed Northern Iowa Panthers will battle the 5-seed St. John's Red Storm in a first-round matchup in the East Region of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Northern Iowa (23-12) won the MVC Tournament as the lowest seed in history.
The Red Storm (28-6) won the Big East regular-season title and conference tournament. St. John's boasts the Big East Player of the Year, Zuby Ejiofor, who averages an impressive 16.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. The Panthers have won their last five games, while the Red Storm have won 19 of their last 20.
Here is a look at the box score from Friday's first round East Region game in San Diego.
Northern Iowa vs St. John's March Madness box score
The NCAA sued DraftKings on Friday, asking a federal court in Indianapolis for a temporary restraining order to stop the online sportsbook from using trademarks such as March Madness and Final Four to promote sports wagering.
The NCAA men’s basketball tournament began this week and there were 16 first-round games on Thursday and Friday. The tournament is typically one of the most heavily bet events on the sports calendar.
The first round of the NCAA women’s tournament started Friday.
Betting on sporting events is now legal in at least 39 states, and many professional leagues have partnerships with online sportsbooks such as DraftKings and FanDuel. The NCAA has no such deals, and the association has pushed hard to limit the types of bets sportsbooks offer on college events. Specifically, the NCAA has lobbied state and federal lawmakers to ban prop bets, which allow gamblers to wager on the performance of individual players, on college games.
The NCAA’s statement said DraftKings’ “unauthorized use of its trademarks is flatly contrary to one of the association’s most deeply held institutional values: that sports betting must not be associated with, endorsed by, or linked to NCAA championships or the student-athletes who compete in them.”
By using terms such as March Madness, Final Four, Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight in its promotional and marketing campaigns, DraftKings is falsely suggesting the NCAA is endorsing the platform, the NCAA said.
DraftKings did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The NCAA says online harassment of college athletes has dramatically increased since the legalization of sports gambling.
In a recent study, the NCAA found that almost half of Division I men’s basketball players experience online, verbal or physical abuse by fans for betting losses.
Prop bets have been at the heart of several cases that involved players allegedly manipulating games and shaving points. NCAA investigations have resulted in numerous players being ruled permanently ineligible.
A federal indictment handed down in January charged 26 men with participating in a conspiracy to bribe and manipulate college basketball games involving then-active college athletes.
The indictment alleged the existence of a gambling ring that pulled in at least 39 players across mostly low- and mid-major schools, 20 of whom were charged.
The NCAA has eased penalties and tried to loosen some of the rules around legal gambling related to college athletes and those who work for athletic programs.
Last year, the NCAA moved toward lifting a ban on legal betting of professional sports for college athletes but later pivoted and left the current rule in place.
A big week for Braden Smith continued Friday night. After setting the NCAA all-time career assists record, the Purdue guard signed an NIL deal with State Farm, the company announced.
State Farm announced the partnership after Smith passed Bobby Hurley for the most assists in NCAA history. He found Trey Kaufman-Renn less than eight minutes into Friday’s game against Queens for his 1,077th career dime, putting him alone atop the all-time list.
Following the historic moment, State Farm capitalized by adding Smith – who has a $1.1 million On3 NIL Valuation – to its athlete roster. He will take part in marketing initiatives, digital campaigns and social media content through the NCAA Tournament through the insurance company’s “With the Assist” campaign.
“I’ve always believed that the best play you can make is the one that sets up a teammate for success,” Smith said in a statement. “Teaming up with State Farm just made sense because they share that same mindset of stepping up and being there to help others.”
Friday’s announcement continued a big week of NIL deals for Smith. He also signed a partnership with Great Clips, which referenced his Big Ten assists record. That added to a portfolio which also includes 2K Sports as part of NBA 2K26’s foray into college basketball.
Braden Smith’s $1.1 million On3 NIL Valuation puts him at No. 10 in the college basketball NIL rankings and No. 32 in the On3 NIL 100, the first of its kind and defacto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by their On3 NIL Valuation. He joins a State Farm athlete roster that also includes Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, who signed with the brand while at Iowa, and USC guard JuJu Watkins.
“Braden’s selfless style of play and commitment to elevating his team make him a strong ambassador for our brand,” said Kristyn Cook, State Farm chief agency, sales and marketing officer, in a statement. “Breaking the all-time assist record is an incredible achievement, and it reflects what we stand for: Showing up with the assist when it matters most.”
The most exciting part of the NCAA Tournament is that small programs are given the chance to play against big schools on a national stage. It gives smaller schools a chance to show they can hang with the best of the best, especially since the tournament is single-elimination.
The NCAA Tournament field comprises 68 teams, with four teams having to win play-in games to secure their spots in the bracket. The field is broken down into four regions of 16 teams each. Given that teams are ranked in descending order, there is a "favorite" and an "underdog" in every matchup. Some are close, like the No. 8 vs. No. 9 game, while others are far apart in terms of seeding and expected talent, like a No. 1 seed facing a No. 16 seed.
In the history of the NCAA Tournament since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985, the Final Four has been made up entirely of No. 1 seeds just twice. That means in all but two of the last 41 tournaments, there has been at least one upset.
The 2026 NCAA Tournament began with No. 8 Ohio State taking on No. 9 TCU. It was the Horned Frogs that emerged victorious with a 68-66 win, marking the first upset of this year’s tournament. As things played out, all four No. 9 seeds beat the No. 8 seeds.
Here is more on all of the upsets that have happened so far in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Here is a look at the upsets in 2026 March Madness so far.
No.
Upset
1.
No. 9 TCU beat No. 8 Ohio State 66-64
2.
No. 11 VCU beat No. 6 North Carolina 82-78 in OT
3.
No. 10 Texas A&M beat No. 7 Saint Mary's 63-50
4.
No. 9 Saint Louis beat No. 8 Georgia 102-88
5.
No. 11 Texas beat No. 6 BYU 79-71
6.
No. 12 High Point beat No. 5 Wisconsin 83-82
7.
No. 9 Utah State beat No. 8 Villanova 86-76
7.
No. 9 Iowa beat No. 8 Clemson 67-61
No. 9 TCU beat No. 8 Ohio State
The Horned Frogs in Buckeyes met in the first game of the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. TCU came to play and went into halftime 39-24. Ohio State battled back throughout the second half, though, and nearly completed the full comeback. The Buckeyes scored 40 points in the second half compared to the Horned Frogs' 27, but they came just shy of the win and TCU advanced.
The Horned Frogs were led by Micah Robinson, who had 18 points, and David Punch, who had a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
No. 11 VCU beat No. 6 North Carolina
North Carolina went into halftime 39-28. The Tar Heels led by 19 points at one point, but the Rams battled all the way back and scored 47 points in the second half to force the game to go into overtime. VCU used that momentum to sustain them through the extra period, beating North Carolina 82-78, in what was one of the Tar Heels' worst losses in program history.
Texas A&M got out to an early lead over Saint Mary's and never looked back. The Aggies went into halftime up 11 points and maintained their lead throughout the second half. When the dust settled, Texas A&M cruised to the 63-50 victory.
The Aggies were led by Rashaun Agee, who finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and three assists.
No. 9 Saint Louis beat No. 8 Georgia
Saint Louis was matched up with Georgia in the first round, pitting an Atlantic-10 at-large team against an at-large team from the SEC. The Billikens took the opportunity to ball out for the mid-majors and took some frustrations out on Georgia. Saint Louis took a 17-point lead into halftime and didn't take its foot off the gas.
The Billikens beat the Bulldogs 102-77, one of the largest point spreads at that point in the tournament. Saint Louis had five different players finish with double-digit points.
Texas was one of the last at-large teams in the NCAA Tournament, which meant it had to play in for its spot as an 11-seed. The Longhorns beat NC State in the play-in game, which may have helped them build momentum. Texas was then matched up with BYU in the first round. The Longhorns led by nine at halftime but were outscored by the Cougars in the second half, 34-33.
Texas still hung on for the eight-point win. The Longhorns were led in scoring by Matas Vokietatis, who recorded a double-double with 23 points and 16 rebounds in 33 minutes of action.
No. 12 High Point beat No. 5 Wisconsin
High Point had the biggest upset win on the first day of the first round. The Panthers entered the tournament as the Big South Champions and were given a No. 12 seed to take on Wisconsin, an at-large team from the Big Ten. High Point hung with Wisconsin throughout the game, keeping the game close. Chase Johnston, infamously known for only making three pointers during the regular season, hit his first two of the year and it ended up being the two points the Panthers needed to clinch the win.
Despite having a 10-point lead early in the second half, the Villanova Wildcats were unable to hold on against Utah State. The Cougars never believed they were out of the running to win this game, and their determination showed. The team shot just 12.6% (2/16) from beyond the arc today, compared to Villanova's 46.7% (14/30), so the Cougars had to adapt. Utah's guards were what pulled them away from Villanova, and helped lead the team on a 20-6 run to close out the game, largely thanks to MJ Collins Jr.
No. 9 Iowa beat No. 8 Clemson
Iowa confirmed that every No. 9 seed would advance in this year's bracket. The Hawkeyes took down Clemson, 67-61, fending off some late Tigers pushes to move forward in the South Region. Even on a day where star guard Bennett Stirtz shot just 4 of 17 from the field, Iowa built a halftime lead and held on thanks to 14 points from Alvaro Folgueiras off the bench, plus an efficient 15-point night for Kael Combs. The Hawkeyes took 31 trips to the free-throw line and out-rebounded Clemson 40-27 in the first-round matchup.
Any upsets in college basketball today?
Today is Friday, March 21 and is the second and final day of the first round matchups.
There have been two upsets on the day, both from No. 9 seeds beating No. 8 seeds.
The NBA conducts its playoffs in a series format. After a single elimination play-in tournament for the final two spots, the rest of the playoffs are four best-of-seven series.
The NCAA playoff system is extremely exciting because it is a single-elimination tournament. The No. 1 team in the field could beat the No. 16 team 99 times out of 100. But the excitement comes from the fact that it has now been proven that the No. 16 team has a chance to pull off a miraculous win, and that 100th time the two would've played, and the upset would've occurred, just happens to be in the tournament.
The WNBA and players’ union announced the two sides have signed to a term sheet for the new collective bargaining agreement, the league announced Friday afternoon.
The new CBA includes significantly increased salaries, housing players for the first three years of the agreement, expanded retirement benefits and more games in future seasons.
Here are five key provisions that impact the Indiana Fever, and WNBA teams, from the new collective bargaining agreement:
Expanded salary cap
The salary cap will rise to $7 million in 2026, more than four times the 2025 salary cap of $1.5 million. The salary cap, along with player maximum and minimum salaries, are expected to rise each year with the new revenue sharing system. The league projects the salary cap to be $11 million by 2032, the final year of the CBA.
The new supermax will be $1.4 million in 2026, while the veteran minimum will be between $270,000 and $300,000 depending on years of service.
For the players on rookie contracts, their salaries will increase to the new rookie scale. That will give 2024 No. 1 pick Caitlin Clark a $530,000 salary in 2026, according to ESPN.
Delayed changes to core requirement
The league and players’ union made a tweak to the core service requirement, limiting it to players who have fewer than seven years of experience. Under the previous CBA, all players, regardless of years of experience, were eligible to be cored — a supermax contract in exchange for exclusive negotiating rights — for up to two years.
This provision, however, will not go into effect until 2027.
This is significant for the Fever, as it means they will be able to core Kelsey Mitchell in 2026 — as long as the new CBA does not decrease the number of core service years required.
Indiana cored Mitchell for the first time in 2025, giving her a supermax salary of $250,000. If the Fever core her again in 2026, she would likely command a salary of $1.4 million as part of the new salary scale.
The Fever do not necessarily need to core Mitchell in 2026, but it could be an option for them.
Expedited path for players to make maximum money
In another tweak to the core requirement, the league and players’ union agreed to create an expedited path for top players on rookie contracts to earn maximum contracts.
EPIC — exceptional players on initial contracts — allows players who have made All-WNBA teams to renegotiate their fourth-year salary, according to ESPN. Players who are on All-WNBA first or second teams will have the ability to negotiate up to a maximum contract, ESPN reported, while players who have won MVP would be eligible to negotiate up to a supermax.
Aliyah Boston, who is entering the fourth year of her rookie contract with the Fever, would be eligible for a renegotiation ahead of the 2026 season, as she was an All-WNBA second team selection in 2025. Clark, an All-WNBA first team selection in 2024, will be eligible for a max contract in 2027, or a supermax contract if she wins MVP in 2026.
Developmental player spots
Each team will be required to carry a minimum of 12 players on the roster at all times. In the previous CBA, teams could carry a minimum of 11.
To combat needing hardship contracts, each team will also have two developmental spots on the roster which don’t count against the salary cap. Those developmental players will be called up as needed when a player on the main roster gets injured.
There will also be salary cap exception for players with season-ending injuries and players who become pregnant.
These provisions would have been extremely helpful to the Fever in 2025, when they had six season-ending injuries. Indiana had to use multiple hardship contracts, bringing in players midseason and applying for salary cap exceptions. Now, with the developmental roster spots, players will be with the franchise from the beginning of the season.
There are no details announced yet on how many games a developmental player could play on the main roster or if they’d regularly travel with the team.
More games in future seasons
The 2026 season will stay at 44 games, but the new CBA opened the door for more games in future seasons.
There could be as many as 50 games in 2027 and ‘28, and up to 52 games in 2029-32.
More games will force the WNBA to expand the footprint of its season either forward or backward. The 2026 season is expected to extend into November because of the leaguewide World Cup break between Aug. 31-Sept. 16, and future seasons could do the same.
It would be difficult for the WNBA to start its season earlier, as rookies coming off their final college season do not finish until early April with the women’s college basketball national championship game.
The expanded season will also create more wear on players, especially the rookies who are essentially playing two seasons in a row. The WNBA has not specified how it would extend the season.
Mar. 20—ST. LOUIS — The impressive run for the Heise family continued Friday afternoon.
Just over a month after Taylor Heise won an Olympic gold medal as part of the U.S. women's hockey team, her younger brother, Nate Heise, had a day to remember in the Round of 64 at the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
The Iowa State University senior and Lake City Lincoln graduate scored 22 points, shooting 8 of 13 from the field, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range, as the No. 2-seed Cyclones had little trouble with No. 15-seed Tennessee State in a 108-74 victory in St. Louis.
The 22 points were the most in Heise's two seasons at Iowa State. He finished three points shy of his career high of 25, which he set in 2024 while playing at the University of Northern Iowa. Heise had entered with a season average of 4.7 points per game and had scored 21 points in his last seven games combined.
The 6-foot-5 guard had eight of his 22 points during a 23-0 run for the Cyclones (28-7) that blew the game open early in the first half.
The Cyclones cruised from there and now advance to play No. 7 Kentucky in a second-round Midwest Region game on Sunday, with the time to be determined.
The No. 7-seed Wildcats (22-13) are coming off a thrilling 89-84 win over No. 10-seed Santa Clara, which featured a buzzer-beating logo 3-pointer by Kentucky to send the game into overtime.
Utah State guard Mason Falslev (12) shoots against Villanova guard Tyler Perkins (4) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 20, 2026, in San Diego.
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Mark J. Terrill
Editor’s note: The Deseret News is updating how Utah ties — both native Utahns and those whose playing careers have included a stop in Utah — are performing in the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament through the first two rounds.
For BYU and Utah State, who both made the 68-team field, these updates will primarily focus on notable Utah natives with those respective teams.
Check back for more updates throughout the first four days of this year’s tournament.
Utah State guard Mason Falslev (12) controls the ball while being defended by Villanova guard Bryce Lindsay (2) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 20, 2026, in San Diego.
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Marcio Jose Sanchez
Mason Falslev’s career-high in an NCAA Tournament game paces Utah State
Utah State 86, Villanova 76
The Aggies’ do-everything junior guard, Mountain West Conference Player of the Year Mason Falslev (Sky View High), came up big in the NCAA Tournament, too.
Falslev led the Aggies with 22 points — a career-high in the NCAAs for the Utah native — while shooting 9 of 16 from the field and 4 of 5 from the free-throw line.
He also had seven rebounds and four assists to lift the Aggies.
Falslev’s final points — on a jumper with 1:37 to play — came during a decisive 14-1 run that allowed Utah State to put the game away.
Another Utah native, guard Drake Allen (Utah Valley, Southern Utah and Westlake High), also scored in double-figures for the Aggies.
He ended the day with 11 points, a team-high six assists, three rebounds and three steals, and Allen scored four of his points in the final 3:11 to help Utah State pull away.
Forward Zach Keller (University of Utah) added 4 points, a rebound and an assist in 12 minutes.
Wright State's TJ Burch, center, goes up for a shot between Virginia's Dallin Hall, left, and Johann Grünloh during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 20, 2026, in Philadelphia.
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Matt Slocum
Dallin Hall, Virginia stave off upset bid from Wright State
Virginia 82, Wright State 73
Utah native Dallin Hall (BYU, Fremont High) and No. 3 seed Virginia are moving on after rallying from a halftime deficit.
Hall, a senior guard who previously played three seasons at BYU, was limited in the first half after picking up two fouls.
His first bucket of the day tied the game at 43-43 early in the second half, after Virginia went into the break trailing 43-38.
Hall ended up with 8 points, three assists, three rebounds and a steal for the Cavaliers.
Virginia will face the winner of Tennessee and Miami (Ohio) in Sunday’s second round.
Other Friday afternoon action
Iowa State 108, Tennessee State 74: Guard Dominick Nelson (UVU) had 9 points, two rebounds, an assist, a steal and a blocked shot in the Cyclones’ blowout win.
Kentucky's Otega Oweh (00) celebrates after making a basket as teammate Kam Williams (3) and Santa Clara's Elijah Mahi (8) watch during the second half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 20, 2026, in St. Louis.
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Ali Overstreet
Miracle shot saves Mark Pope’s Kentucky team in overtime win
Kentucky 89, Santa Clara 84
Former BYU head coach Mark Pope has dealt with an up-and-down season in his second year at his alma mater, Kentucky, and the Wildcats looked like they were on the verge of elimination in their first-round NCAA Tournament game against Santa Clara Friday.
Then Otega Oweh delivered the season-saving shot Kentucky needed.
Moments after the Broncos’ Allen Graves hit a go-ahead 3 with 2.4 seconds to go in their first-round contest to put Santa Clara up 73-70 in regulation, Oweh quickly pushed the ball upcourt, set his feet and launched a 3 just beyond midcourt.
Oweh’s miracle shot forced overtime, and after both teams held the lead in the extra session, Kentucky prevailed 89-84.
Oweh’s unforgettable performance wasn’t just limited to the final 3-point heave. The senior guard scored a game-high 35 points and added eight rebounds, seven assists, a steal and a blocked shot.
The Wildcats needed another late hoop just to extend the game to overtime, and a Utah native played a key role in that sequence.
Santa Clara's Christian Hammond (1) drives past Kentucky's Collin Chandler (5) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 20, 2026, in St. Louis.
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Ali Overstreet
Kentucky took possession of the ball with 28 seconds remaining in regulation down 70-68, and after a timeout to set up a play, Collin Chandler (Farmington High) found a cutting Brandon Garrison, who spun into the lane and banked in a short jumper to tie the game with 9.9 seconds remaining.
That set up the final sequence that included two 3s — and one midcourt heave — in the final 10 seconds.
Chandler ended up with 5 points, five assists, two steals and a block for Kentucky.
Pope and the Wildcats, a No. 7 seed, will advance to face the winner of No. 2 Iowa State and No. 15 Tennessee State on Sunday in the NCAA Tournament’s second round.
Last year, Pope led Kentucky to the Sweet Sixteen before the Wildcats fell to Tennessee.
Georgia guard Jordan Ross (3) loses control of the ball while attempting to drive past Saint Louis guard Amari McCottry, left, during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
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Yuki Iwamura
Utah ties in Thursday’s late action
Saint Louis 102, Georgia 77: Guard Jordan Ross (Pleasant Grove High) scored 7 points and had two rebounds for the Bulldogs in the loss.
Forward Kanon Catchings (BYU) was scoreless on 0 of 11 shooting while adding four rebounds, a steal and a block for Georgia.
Houston 78, Idaho 47: Guard Isiah Harwell (Wasatch Academy) had one steal in three minutes of play for Houston.
Guard Jackson Rasmussen (Utah Prep) scored 5 points and had four rebounds, an assist and a block for Idaho.
Texas A&M 63, Saint Mary’s 50: Guard Pop Isaacs (Wasatch Academy) scored 3 points, tied for the team lead with three assists and added two steals for the Aggies.
Texas 79, BYU 71: Forward Camden Heide (Wasatch Academy) had 5 points, two rebounds and two steals for the Longhorns in the victory.
Forward AJ Dybantsa (Utah Prep) had a game-high 35 points, 10 rebounds and one assist for BYU, while forward Keba Keita (University of Utah) added 5 points, four rebounds and three blocks before fouling out.
Michigan State forward Jaxon Kohler (0) looks to pass past North Dakota State guard Markhi Strickland (30) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y.
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Jeffrey T. Barnes
American Fork native nearly puts up a double-double for Michigan State
Michigan State 92, North Dakota State 67
Michigan State senior forward Jaxon Kohler (American Fork High) had another solid day for the Spartans, helping his team roll to a first-round win.
The 6-foot-9 Kohler was one of four Michigan State players in double-figures, as he scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds, to go with two assists and a steal.
Kohler has played in the NCAA Tournament each of his four seasons at Michigan State.
Guard Carson Smith (Bountiful High), the son of former Utah head coach Craig Smith, played one minute for North Dakota State in the loss.
Hawaii guard Hunter Erickson (0) drives the ball down the court during the second half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Arkansas, Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Portland, Ore.
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Amanda Loman
Arkansas 97, Hawaii 78
A trio of Utah natives were on the losing end of the Rainbow Warriors’ first NCAA Tournament game in a decade.
Center Isaac Johnson(Utah State, American Fork High), who has played in the NCAAs two previous times with the Aggies, started for Hawaii and scored 15 points and grabbed five rebounds.
Guard Hunter Erickson (Utah, BYU, SLCC and Timpview High) and forward Isaac Finlinson (Utah Tech, Snow College and Dixie High) also started for the Rainbow Warriors.
Finlinson was one of three Hawaii players in double-figures, as he added 12 points, two rebounds and two assists.
Erickson had 5 points and a team-high six assists.
High Point head coach Flynn Clayman looks on during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Wisconsin, Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Portland, Ore.
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Amanda Loman
High Point’s coach has roots to the Beehive State
The first upset of the 2026 NCAA Tournament is in the books, as No. 12 seed High Point beat No. 5 Wisconsin 83-82.
There’s a Utah tie to this game — High Point head coach Flynn Clayman is a former Southern Utah assistant coach.
The 37-year-old Clayman is in his first year as head coach of the Panthers, and Thursday’s victory was High Point’s first in the NCAA Tournament.
Clayman began his coaching career at SUU in 2017, and over the next six years, he was a special assistant, assistant and associate head coach with the Thunderbirds.
During his final year at SUU, he was the interim coach during the program’s three games in the CBI tournament. Clayman led them to a 2-1 record in the CBI, then took an assistant coach position at High Point the next season.
TCU forward Xavier Edmonds celebrates after scoring against Ohio State during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Greenville, S.C.
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Chris Carlson
Former Salt Lake Community College star delivers game-winner in NCAA’s opening game
TCU 66, Ohio State 64
The first game of the NCAA Tournament had plenty of March Madness, and it was a former Salt Lake Community College star that delivered the winning points.
In a tie ball game with the clock winding down, TCU forward Xavier Edmonds (SLCC) took a pass in the paint from teammate David Punch, then patiently found an opening before finishing at the rim for two with 4.3 seconds left to play, giving the Horned Frogs a 66-64 lead.
Following a timeout, Ohio State could only get a half-court heave off and it was no good, allowing TCU to advance.
“I had to get the ball in the basket. Punch made a great pass, put me in the right position to score, and I went up and I scored it,” Edmonds told CBS in a postgame interview.
Edmonds, who spent the past two seasons at SLCC and was ranked the No. 1 JUCO player of the year last season, ended up with 16 points, eight rebounds, three assists and a steal in the win.
TCU went into halftime up 39-24 but Ohio State rallied behind John Mobley Jr. (Wasatch Academy) and eventually took a 55-50 lead.
Moments after picking up his fourth foul with 8:02 to play, Edmonds helped TCU retake the lead.
He scored three straight points for the Horned Frogs to cut the deficit to one, and then after a defensive stop, TCU went back ahead 58-57 on a Punch layup.
TCU guard Tanner Toolson (BYU, Utah Valley) had three rebounds, an assist and a steal while missing his only two shot attempts.
Mobley, meanwhile, scored a team-high 15 points for Ohio State in the losing effort. He shot 6 of 17 from the floor and hit three 3-pointers, while adding six assists and three rebounds.
Other Thursday morning action
Louisville 83, South Florida 79: Center Aly Khalifa (BYU) had 3 points and an assist for the Cardinals in the win.
From First Four action
Prairie View A&M 67, Lehigh 55: Forward Cory Wells (Utah Valley) scored 19 points and added 11 rebounds, three steals and three blocks for the Panthers in the win.
Texas 68, NC State 66: Forward Camden Heide (Wasatch Academy) had 3 points, two assists, one rebound and a block for the Longhorns.
Mar. 20—SIOUX CITY, Iowa. — For the third NAIA tournament game in a row, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team had the lead the whole way.
That meant it was all Tigers on Friday afternoon in the tournament's Round of 16 in the Duer Quadrant, as No. 2-seed DWU cruised past No. 3-seed Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) for a 78-53 victory at the Tyson Events Center.
With the victory, the Tigers improved to 28-6 and are in the final eight of a national tournament for the seventh time in school history. It is DWU's first quarterfinals berth since 2019.
Up next is a matchup between the quadrant's top-two seeds, with No. 1 Bethel (Tenn.) and No. 2 DWU at 6 p.m. Saturday night in the national quarterfinals. Bethel, which like Lindsey Wilson is part of the Mid-South Conference, improved to 28-5 on Friday with a 78-70 win over Lewis-Clark State (Idaho).
The Tigers led 20-4 at the end of the first quarter, powered by a 14-0 run as DWU took LWU apart inside the paint. The Tigers held the Blue Raiders to 1-for-15 shooting in the first 10 minutes of the game, and while it wasn't over, the contest was never on equal footing from that point forward.
"We knew they were a tough team but I'd say we're a pretty tough team," DWU's Rylee Rosenquist said. "We were more physical and worked it to our advantage.
DWU led 47-23 at halftime and the Blue Raiders never got closer than 17 points in the latter stages of the game.
The Tigers' top-three scorers — Emma Yost, Rosenquist and Avery Broughton — combined for 49 of the Tigers' 78 points. Playing down the road from her high school alma mater of Dakota Valley, Rosenquist finished with 17 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Broughton finished with 16 points and six rebounds, with 16 points from Yost on a 7-for-12 shooting effort from the field. Shalayne Nagel had eight points, 12 rebounds and four assists, while Jaida Young and Maleighya Estes each had seven points apiece.
In a matchup of two of the nation's best assist-to-turnover ratio teams, DWU feasted in that category, finishing with 23 assists on 30 made field goals. The Tigers had eight assists before their first turnover, which came nearly 14 minutes into the game.
The physicality of the game was apparent in the rebounding numbers, where DWU held a 49-43 edge. It included 46 total offensive rebounds, with Lindsey Wilson pulling down 24 and the Tigers snaring 22.
Lindsey Wilson was held by 16 points from its leading scorer Meadow Tisdale but she was kept to four points in the opening half. Saniyah Shelton and Taylor Guess each had 10 points for the Blue Raiders, who end the season at 23-8.
"We had five days to prepare for them and I thought we did a really good job," DWU coach Jason Christensen said. "Our kids listened to the scouting report. We executed the sets that we wanted to run offensively. We did what we wanted to do defensively on Tisdale and Shelton."
Mar. 20—SIOUX CITY, Iowa. — National tournament games aren't easy to win.
Through three games in the NAIA bracket, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team is making it look that way anyway.
For the third game in a row on Friday, the Tigers made a big run to put away an opponent and didn't give them a chance to get back in it. DWU claimed a 78-53 win over third-seeded Lindsey Wilson at the familiar venue of the Tyson Events Center in downtown Sioux City, moving the Tigers into the final eight in the running for a national championship.
They've played 120 minutes of game time and have not trailed. On Friday, the Tigers took the lead for good less than 3 minutes into the game, and then turned off the Blue Raiders' offense for the rest of the first quarter, to the tune of shooting 7% from the field.
"We just knew we had to come out and play hard right from the get-go, show them who we are," DWU senior Rylee Rosenquist said. "That's what we did. We came out, played hard, had a lot of fun, and just got a good jump on them."
At this point of the season, you don't get to the third round of the national tournament by accident or with a fluke. There's no way these games are easy. But DWU is making them look at that way.
"That's a question for the kids because I didn't think that was going to be the outcome, in terms of the score," DWU coach Jason Christensen said when asked how the Tigers have been so dominant. "I knew we could play with them and everything but I didn't think we would get off to the start that we did. This Lindsey Wilson team, (their) conference is like the GPAC. We've been battle-tested night in and night out and that was the key. ... You've got to match their physicality, otherwise it's going to be a long day for you."
"Our coaches do a great job of getting us prepared for big games like this," DWU junior guard Avery Broughton added. "Our scoring report was great for this game and even on a short turnaround going into (Saturday), we'll be prepared."
Lindsey Wilson had the look of what many national contenders have, with a decent amount of size among its players, plus skilled guards and balanced scoring. But DWU won the physicality and toughness battle early and seemed to take LWU out of its game for good.
DWU relatively got the looks they wanted and had a 16-2 edge for points in the paint in the first 10 minutes for a 20-4 lead.
With wins by margins of 28, 23 and 25 points in the first three rounds, DWU hasn't shown many signs of being nervous or afraid of the moment in the national tournament. On the other side of the bracket, the Tigers' conference rival Dordt is the only team that has blown out its opponents in a similar vein to DWU through three national tournament games.
Tigers' starter Broughton said she felt some nerves at the start of the game but those went away once the game started. The Tigers also had the benefit of having more than 500 DWU fans on hand to back them in a neutral venue.
"I just thought the energy was phenomenal. It was so fun. You could just feel it," Broughton said. "You look at that whole side, and it's packed with Dakota Wesleyan fans. That's just a phenomenal environment to play in."
DWU expects to see a similar profile in its Saturday quarterfinal opponent, taking on No. 1-seeded Bethel (Tenn.) at 6 p.m. They're skilled and have some size and have won their national tournament games by an average of 13 points.
The Tigers would love to bring the same national tournament recipe back to the Tyson on Saturday and keep this tournament run on the tracks.
"I told the kids, we've been on the big stage all year," Christensen said. "The Dordt (conference title) game was a big stage. We went to Hawaii. That was a big stage game. We got to host at the Corn Palace and those were big games. We've been in that situation before, so this is nothing different. Just go out and play and have fun."
Mar. 20—FORT WORTH — The Washington Huskies weathered an early barrage from South Dakota State and turned the tables on the Jackrabbits, overwhelming the Summit League champions 72-54 in the first round of the women's NCAA tournament on Friday afternoon at Schollmaier Arena.
With the win, the 6th-seeded Huskies (22-10) advance to face 3rd-seeded host TCU on Sunday. The Jackrabbits finish their season 27-7.
SDSU jumped out to a 13-3 lead, looking confident and determined to pick up what would be their third NCAA tournament win in the last four seasons. Washington seemed somewhat caught off guard by the Jacks' opening punch, but after the first timeout they settled in offensively and turned up the intensity on defense, harassing the Jacks in the paint and on the perimeter. The Huskies forced 13 SDSU turnovers in the first half while also enjoying a 20-13 rebounding edge that included a 9-3 advantage on the offensive glass.
That led to a 13-2 lead in points off turnovers and a 8-3 edge in second chance points, and with that the Huskies turned a 10-point deficit into a 38-24 halftime lead.
SDSU got the lead down to nine in the first minutes of the third quarter, but they just couldn't string together stops or scores, and Washington pushed the lead as high as 21 before the end of three.
Brooklyn Meyer had 29 in the final game of her illustrious career, while Madison Mathiowetz had six to cap hers. Emilee Fox had 14 points for SDSU.
Avery Howell had 30 points to lead the Huskies, hitting seven 3-pointers and adding nine rebounds.
Queens University faces Purdue in a Round of 64 matchup during the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Friday as both teams look to advance through the early stages of the bracket.
Mar 18, 2026; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; General view of tournament signage during a practice session ahead of the first round of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
The NCAA Tournament continues on Friday, where 16 more teams will advance deeper into the weekend, setting the stage for another day of action-packed upsets and dramatic finishes. As all the top teams in the nation have their eyes set on a national championship, the tournament once again promises the chaos and excitement that make March Madness one of the most thrilling events in sports.
The Queens Royals (No. 15 seed, 21–13, Atlantic Sun Conference) punched their ticket to the 2026 NCAA Tournament by winning the ASUN Conference Tournament, finishing 21–13 overall with a 13–5 mark in league play and capturing the league’s automatic bid. As a 15‑seed in the West Region, Queens enters March Madness as one of the mid‑major underdogs looking to build on their conference success.
The Purdue Boilermakers (No. 2 seed, 27–8, Big Ten Conference) earned a No. 2 seed in the West Region after finishing 27–8 overall and winning the Big Ten Tournament Championship, solidifying their place as one of the nation’s top teams heading into the bracket. Their résumé from one of college basketball’s premier leagues positions them as heavy favorites in this first‑round matchup, but Queens’ tournament berth and momentum ensure they’ll compete with confidence.
Watch every matchup during the 2026 NCAA Tournament on DIRECTV.
Games throughout the tournament are broadcast on CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV, with DIRECTV packages providing access to all four networks, so viewers can stream every round live.
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The 11th-seeded Miami (OH) Redhawks will face the sixth-seeded Tennessee Volunteers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Friday. The MAC-SEC matchup will be interesting on many levels.
Tennessee went 22-11 this season and was 11-7 in the SEC, while Miami won all 31 of its regular-season games before a stunning loss to UMass in the first round of the MAC Tournament.
Rick Barnes has guided the Vols to Elite Eight runs in the last two seasons, while the RedHawks are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007.
Here is a look at the box score from Friday's first round Midwest Region game in St. Louis.
The No. 15 Queens University Royals will make their NCAA Tournament debut on Friday night. The former Division II program led by Grant Leonard faces the second-seeded Purdue Boilermakers in a first-round matchup in the West Region of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Friday.
This matchup of two conference champs will be interesting. Queens (21-13) won the Atlantic Sun tournament title. On the other hand, Purdue (27-8) won the 2026 Big Ten Tournament, beating Michigan 80-72 to win its third conference tournament title and first since 2023.
Here is a look at the box score from Friday's first round West Region game in St. Louis.
The No. 10 seed UCF Knights face the seven-seeded UCLA Bruins in a first-round matchup in the East Region of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Friday. This will be an interesting game to watch for several reasons.
UCLA's Donovan Dent goes up against UCF's Themus Fulks as two of the best guards in the country. Both teams took at-large bids in the tourney. The Knights (21-11) have a similar record to the Bruins (23-11) and are both middle of the pack in their respective conferences.
Here is a look at the box score from Friday's first round East Region game in Philadelphia.
UCF faces UCLA in a Round of 64 matchup during the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Friday as both teams look to advance through the early stages of the bracket.
Mar 19, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; A general view of the backboard stanchion with NCAA March Madness logos during a practice session ahead of the first round of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
The NCAA Tournament continues on Friday, where 16 more teams will advance deeper into the weekend, setting the stage for another day of action-packed upsets and dramatic finishes. As all the top teams in the nation have their eyes set on a national championship, the tournament once again promises the chaos and excitement that make March Madness one of the most thrilling events in sports.
The UCF Knights (No. 10 seed, 21–11, 9–9 Big 12 Conference) earned an at-large bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament after finishing 21–11 overall against a strong Big 12 schedule. Their .500 mark in conference play reflects the league’s difficulty, and they enter the bracket as a dangerous double-digit seed capable of competing with high-major opponents.
The UCLA Bruins (No. 7 seed, 23–11, 13–7 Big Ten Conference) secured a 7-seed following a 23–11 season and solid Big Ten performance, including a strong conference record that helped them land an at-large berth. With experience against top competition throughout the year, UCLA comes into this 7-10 matchup looking to take advantage of its seeding edge in what projects to be a tightly contested first-round game.
Watch every matchup during the 2026 NCAA Tournament on DIRECTV.
Games throughout the tournament are broadcast on CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV, with DIRECTV packages providing access to all four networks, so viewers can stream every round live.
Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
A lot of worries started to surface in the first half of the Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Hofstra Pride game. Coach Nate Oats could not find the proper schemes and rotations to pull away from the 13th-seeded squad. Labaron Philon Jr. started heating up just like he did back in 2025's March Madness and it all started to click. The result? They now have a Round of 32 NCAA Tournament meeting against the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Philon Jr. gets real on Alabama's winning March Madness philosophy
The Crimson Tide had a rough first half. They only had a slim 37-35 lead over Hofstra and there were a lot of problems to fix on the defensive side of the court. Coach Oats started to signal the need for someone to step up and Philon was the one who answered the call. He played 36 minutes and tormented the opposing defense which led to a 90-70 first round win.
Philon Jr. outlined how they managed to pull through and outscore Hofstra 53-35 in the second half, via CBS Sports.
"Like I said in the pregame ritual, we came ready and I think we prepared the best. I feel like all the coaches were ready. So, we were ready to get out there. We got rid of the first game, so we just have to be ready to move on. It's just about the grittiness. I mean, everybody wants to fight hard. We want to win games, we came here to prove something. I think it's close early but we kind of pulled away," the Alabama basketball star declared.
Coach Oats had his offense revolve around Philon Jr. to win in this March Madness clash. The star sophomore notched 29 points through shooting 56% from the field and knocking down six of his seven free throws. He also proved that the Hofstra defense along with other schools in March Madness should be guarding him on all levels of scoring. Philon was able to sink three shots from beyond the arc on seven attempts.
More than that, he was also a facilitator for Alabama. Philon Jr. dished out seven assists to get their offense going. On the defensive side of things, he was also amazing. The star sophomore from Alabama closed possessions well which got him eight rebounds. Not to mention, he was also a menace when playing on-ball and his three steals showed that.
Texas Tech is their next challenge in March Madness. However, there is not much worry for Philon Jr. and Alabama. He claimed that they had a deeper squad than the Jaylen Petty-led No. 5 Red Raiders.
"We got a lot of depth and the next team we play, they are going to be really good. So, we got to be ready because they play just like us," Philon added.
Alabama has been progressing really well in their March Madness performances. Coach Oats notched an Elite Eight berth last year and he may have found a star which could lead them to win the NCAA Tournament despite only being a four-seed.
On Friday afternoon, Virginia basketball got its first NCAA Tournament win since its national championship in 2019. In year one of the Ryan Odom era — who ironically was the coach of No. 16 UMBC when it defeated the No. 1 Cavaliers — era, the Cavs are on to the Round of 32 after an 82-73 win over Wright State.
At the center of the win was a fan favorite in Charlottesville, Jacari White. In the victory, White exploded for 26 points, a new career high, as the Cavaliers outscored the Raiders by 14 in the second half to secure the comeback.
Though this is White’s first and only year in Charlottesville, the graduate transfer from North Dakota State has wasted no time embedding himself into the fabric of the program. He arrived over the summer as a high-volume "sniper" to fit Odom’s more offensive-minded system, but he brought something more than just a jump shot: a personality that ignited a movement.
If you looked toward the stands in Philadelphia, you likely saw them — a sea of military-green t-shirts and headbands known as the "Jacarmy." As the Hoos prepare for the Round of 32, the Jacarmy is already mobilizing for Sunday. If Friday was any indication, the General isn't ready to end his tour of duty just yet.
White has become the emotional spark plug of year one of Ryan Odom era at Virginia. Standing 6-foot-3, the Orlando native arrived in Charlottesville after three standout seasons at North Dakota State and a stint in the JUCO ranks. White went from being an unranked recruit who once faced homelessness — at one point sleeping in his car and showering at the YMCA — to becoming one of the most feared sharpshooters in the country.
On the court, White effectively ended Virginia's reputation for stagnant offense. He etched his name into the UVA record books early in the 2025-26 season by making 12 consecutive three-pointers over a multi-game stretch, including a perfect 7-for-7 performance from deep against Dayton. While he often provides a scoring punch off the bench, his impact as a lockdown perimeter defender has made him an two-way asset in Odom’s fast-paced, redesigned system.
Jacari White was the hero with a season-high 26 points today for UVA. Their student section started dressing as the “Jacarmy” earlier this year, matching his signature white headband. Alum Dean Heflin (pictured left) and his friends wanted to get in on the fun. pic.twitter.com/3VQtifUeZ9
Beyond the box score, White has inspired a unique cultural phenomenon known as the "Jacarmy." This dedicated student fan brigade, led by second-year Ben Miller, attends games in military-themed attire and AI-generated T-shirts featuring White in uniform. The bond between the player and the "soldiers" is deeply personal; when White was sidelined with a wrist injury mid-season, the Jacarmy showed up to games with their own wrists taped in solidarity.
Friday was a pure explosion for White, who hit six of Virginia's 13 threes in the game and shot over 80% from the field overall. It marks a career high for the graduate transfer, who set that total earlier in the season against Dayton when he hit seven threes.
White was the only Cavalier to score over 12 points, providing the offense in a stage where Virginia has struggled in recent years.
How old is Jacari White?
White is 23 years old.
He was born on May 15, 2002, in Houston, Texas, before later moving to Orlando, Florida. As a graduate student in his first and only year at Virginia, he is one of the more experienced veterans on the roster, having played three seasons at North Dakota State and one year at the junior college level before arriving in Charlottesville.
Where is Jacari White from?
Originally from Orlando, Florida, White attended Olympia High School, where he averaged 13.5 points per game as a senior.
Despite his production in a competitive Florida landscape, he was largely overlooked by major programs and began his college career at the junior college level. At the State College of Florida, he quickly established himself as a high-volume threat, averaging 13.5 points and leading the region with an impressive 92.6% mark from the free-throw line.
This performance served as a springboard to North Dakota State, where White’s role expanded across three seasons. He evolved from a bench contributor into a Second Team All-Summit League selection, culminating in a senior year where he averaged 17.1 points per game. Known as much for his perimeter defense as his scoring — earning a spot on the Summit League All-Defensive Team in 2024 — White arrived in Charlottesville as a graduate transfer with over 1,000 career points and a reputation for high-efficiency shooting.
His transition to the ACC has seen that efficiency remain a constant, highlighted by a UVA-record 12 consecutive made three-pointers earlier this winter. Now a veteran presence for Ryan Odom, White’s career path from unranked high schooler to March hero has made him a natural fit for a program currently redefining its own identity.
NEW PHILADELPHIA — Two Ashtabula County graduates have found a home for the Kent State Tuscarawas men's basketball team.
Jerry Arrington and Dasjuan Williams are working their basketball magic in New Philadelphia.
Both are 2024 graduates, Arrington at Grand Valley and Williams at Lakeside.
Arrington is completing his second year at KSU Tuscarawas, and Williams in his first, after starting his college career at Lakeland Community College.
"This year was a better experience than last year because I got to play more," Arrington said.
He said it has taken some time to get used to the college game.
Arrington and Williams said they played AAU basketball together in high school so it was nice to have a familiar face on the team.
They both earned more playing time and helped the team make the recent United States Collegiate Athletic Association national tournament.
The association serves 70-80 small colleges, including junior college programs.
"We played together in AAU ball," Arrington said of the connection to Ashtabula County.
They also played against each other during the high school season.
"We have a really good pick and roll," Arrington said of his work with Williams.
KSU Tuscarawas ended the season in Buffalo in the Division II National Championship tournament with losses to Penn State York 95-91 in the quarterfinals and University of Maine-Augusta 80-73 in a consolation game.
York ended up winning the tournament with a 56-48 win over Miami-Hamilton in the championship game.
Arrington said he is studying business management and made the dean's list.
Justin Turk, Arrington's coach at Grand Valley, had a lot of positive things to say about his former player.
"Jerry is a basketball junkie," Turk said. "He was a great leader and motivator for our program. He had a relentless desire to be great and competed."
Arrington said he plans to be back in the GV gymnasium this summer.
"You have to stick to the basics and get good at them," he said.
Arrington ended up averaging 4 points and 4.2 rebounds per contest in the 2025-26 season.
He recorded a season-high 12 points during the team's 96-86 win over Miami-Hamilton Jan. 31.
Williams said there was a difficult adjustment during the early stages of the season after moving from Lakeland Community College to Tuscarawas.
"The last 10 or 12 games I started and averaged 21 points a game," he said.
Williams scored 23 points, on 8 of 13 shooting, in KSU Tuscarawas' 82-71 tournament win over Vermont State University Randolph.
He averaged 11.6 points per game, and shot 41.2% from 3-point range.
Williams said it was good to have Arrington in his corner during the transition.
Williams said the biggest thing he learned this season was not to be complacent.
He said he felt he got too comfortable with his ability and where he was in high school and at Lakeland.
Williams said he plans to work hard this summer when he returns to Ashtabula.
The pair hope to the next step forward by improving in next year's tournament.
Utah State had a real upset opportunity as the 9th-seed faced the eighth-seeded Villanova Wildcats in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Friday. The Aggies did just that. Mason Falslev led the way for USU in the upset with 22 points and seven rebounds.
Villanova (24-8) earned an at-large bid and have won two of their last three games. That ended with the one-and-done loss.
Here is a look at the box score from Friday's first round West Region game in San Diego.
Alabama enters the NCAA Tournament with a 29-6 record after finishing 16-4 in SEC play. They were added to the tourney as an at-large with a No. 2 seed in the East Region to face No. 15 Hofstra.
The Pride took home the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament championship, and came into the tournament with an auto bid, hoping to challenge the Tide early.
Here is a look at the box score from Friday's first round Midwest Region game in Tampa.
Iowa State meets a tough No. 15-seeded opponent in Tennessee State on Friday. This marks the third Men's NCAA Tournament appearance for the Tigers (23-9), who have won six straight games, marking its longest win streak since winning seven straight in 2017-18. The Cyclones (27-7) have hovered in the Top 10 of the AP poll most of the season.
ISU lost on a heartbreaker to the eventual Big 12 champion and No. 2-ranked Arizona on a buzzer-beater shot, 82-80. TSU was the No. 1 offensive team in the Ohio Valley Conference (80.5 points per game). Iowa State is ranked 12th nationally in scoring defense (65.1 ppg.)
Here is a look at the box score from Friday's first round Midwest Region game in St. Louis.
Iowa State vs. Tennessee State March Madness box score
California Baptist faces Kansas in a Round of 64 matchup during the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Friday as both teams look to advance through the early stages of the bracket.
Mar 20, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA; General view of March Madness signage prior to NCAA Tournament First Round Practice at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
The NCAA Tournament continues on Friday, where 16 more teams will advance deeper into the weekend, setting the stage for another day of action-packed upsets and dramatic finishes. As all the top teams in the nation have their eyes set on a national championship, the tournament once again promises the chaos and excitement that make March Madness one of the most thrilling events in sports.
The Utah State Aggies (No. 9 seed, 28–6, 15–5 Mountain West Conference) head into the 2026 NCAA Tournament after a strong regular season and winning both the Mountain West regular‑season title and conference tournament, securing the automatic bid and a 9‑seed in the West Region. The Aggies’ 28–6 record reflects consistency in one of the nation’s deeper mid‑major leagues and sets them up for a competitive first‑round matchup in San Diego.
The Villanova Wildcats (No. 8 seed, 24–8, 15–5 Big East Conference) earned an at‑large bid and the 8‑seed in the same region after a 24–8 season in the Big East, finishing with a strong 15–5 league record. As a program with a high‑major résumé, Villanova’s placement at 8‑9 in the bracket suggests a closely matched game, with both teams looking to advance past the opening round of March Madness.
Watch every matchup during the 2026 NCAA Tournament on DIRECTV.
Games throughout the tournament are broadcast on CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV, with DIRECTV packages providing access to all four networks, so viewers can stream every round live.
Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
The Santa Clara Broncos suffered a tough 89-84 overtime loss to the Kentucky Wildcats in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. It appeared the Broncos were going to win the contest in regulation, but the Wildcats hit a game-tying buzzer beater to force overtime. However, that play may have never come to fruition had the referees seen the Santa Clara head coach calling a timeout after going up three in the final seconds of the second half.
In an image taken almost immediately after the Broncos hit the three-pointer with just over two seconds left in the game, you can see Herb Sendek, the program’s head coach, calling timeout in the background, according to Chris Vannini of The Athletic. Referees were not looking at him, so the timeout was never officially called.
“Santa Clara coach Herb Sendek was calling timeout after the 3, but the ref wasn’t looking. Kentucky then tied the game.”
Santa Clara coach Herb Sendek was calling timeout after the 3, but the ref wasn't looking. Kentucky then tied the game. pic.twitter.com/5e1cE2MDTz
Just a brutal outcome for Santa Clara. The missed timeout call by the officials had sports fans jump on social media to defend the Broncos. Many criticized the poor officiating in the game against Kentucky overall, while others simply felt bad for Sendek’s team.
This user stated, “Incredible how they’ll spend several minutes Zapruder Filming whether a player’s shoelace aglet is out of bounds, but also ‘oops I wasn’t paying attention’ is also totally fine to them.”
“He was trying to get a TO from a ref running away from him. Had he gone toward the ref running toward him from the baseline (turned to his right instead of running to his left), he may have gotten the call?” explained one fan.
Another person said, “Pretty egregious considering the timeout they awarded Kentucky seconds earlier.”
“So how is this not a thing that can be overturned? We clearly see on camera him calling a timeout like wtf,” stated another individual.
Kentucky advances despite some controversial decisions from the referees. While Santa Clara exits the NCAA Tournament early, the Wildcats will prepare for their next game on Sunday when they take on the winner of Iowa State and Tennessee State.
The Indiana high school boys basketball 2025-26 season is coming to a close with state champions on the horizon to be crowned at the IHSAA championships.
The Fishers Tigers despite not coming away with a state championship, have not move from the No. 1 spot as the top team in the latest set of Indiana high school boys basketball of the 2025-26 season. Besides the Tigers, which teams should we watch for out of Indiana when it comes to the state’s top boys basketball squads?
The Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory.
Here’s a latest look at the top 25 high school boys basketball teams in the state of Indiana according to the Massey Ratings, which ranks teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule and margin of victory, as of Mar. 20.
1. Fishers Tigers (25-1)
FishersTigers (25-1) were in hopes of bringing home another IHSA Class 4A state championship, but fell short when they were upset by Carmel, 50-49. Maintaining the No. 1 spot in our latest set of Indiana high school boys basketball Top 25 rankings, the Tigers are as talented as anyone in the Midwest and arguably the country when it comes to public schools. The Tigers brings back a pair of junior guards in Jason Gardner Jr. and Cooper Zachary, whom combined for around 26 points per game a season ago. Coming off a 30-1 2024-25 season, the Tigers had remained a nationally ranked team as they’re off to a strong undefeated start through 26 total games.
2. Pike Red Devils (23-4)
Remaining firm at the No. 2 spot in this week’s latest set of Indiana high school boys basketball rankings are the Pike Red Devils (23-4) as they have proven themselves worthy with impressive wins and abundance of talent. Pike had won 11 straight games, until they fell to Mt Vernon in the IHSAA Class 4A Southport Regionals. What had really stood out about this squad during the course of the season is the number of Class of 2027 talent that’s on it, including four-stars Isaiah Hill and Jahari Miller.
3. Mt Vernon Marauders (25-3)
The very team to knock out Pike (see above) in the IHSAA Class 4A Southport Regionals was the Mt Vernon Marauders (25-3) as they find their way into the Top 5 of this week’s rankings. The Marauders have been led all season long by the play of 6-foot-2 forward Luke Ertel, who also plays on the football team as well. Ertel this season has averaged over 24 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game. Up next for Mt. Vernon is Decatur Central in the IHSAA Class 4A Boys Basketball State Tournament.
4. Silver Creek Dragons (28-1)
Remaining among the top five teams in the state of Indiana are the Silver Creek Dragons (28-1), which have won 21 straight contests. The Dragons have proven to be one of the state’s more well balanced squads when it comes to scoring the basketball as Silver Creek is averaging 73.8 points per game, with four players in double digits. Leading the way for the Dragons scoring wise is the play of 6-foot-10 senior forward Dane Caldwell, who is averaging a team-high 16.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Silver Creek will take on Roncalli in the IHSAA Class 3A Boys Basketball State Tournament.
5. Crown Point Bulldogs (23-1)
The undefeated Crown Point Bulldogs (23-1) take the fifth spot in our latest Illinois high school boys basketball rankings as they are one of very few teams with just one loss to this point. Arguably the team’s most impressive victory to date was a recent 59-55 victory over the Brownsburg Bulldogs as they had then improved to 9-0 on the season. Leading the way for Crown Point this season is the play of Illinois-Chicago commitment Dikembe Shaw and power forward Ty Kennedy, respectively. Next challenge for the Bulldogs will be Saturday at the IHSAA Class 4A Boys Basketball State Tournament against Fort Wayne Snider.
Massey Ratings Indiana High School Boys Basketball Rankings Nos. 11-25
March Madness isn’t just one tournament. In fact, women’s college basketball has been on the rise and the top of the sport is extremely good. And just like the men, brackets aren’t the only way to enjoy the tournament, as sportsbooks have every women’s game as well. So it’s time to fire up the College Basketball Projection Model for the women and see if there is any value on the board before the first round gets underway.
First, the tournament formats are slightly different. And that small difference is that the first two rounds are played at the home arenas of the Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 seeds in each region. So any top-four seed that’s playing in the first two rounds will be playing at home in front of their fans. That must be accounted for. This also makes upsets a little less likely. Not only is the top of the sport stronger than the middle compared to the men, but adding a home-court advantage for the best teams makes it even tougher.
That’s all taken into account by my model, but I just wanted to make a note if you’re wondering why some of these games have such large spreads.
We have a pretty big card for the first round, so let’s get after it. As always, shop around for the best price, and good luck to us!
Women’s March Madness first-round best bets
Baylor moneyline (+104) vs. Nebraska
Wrong team favored! Yes, Baylor as a No. 6 seed is an underdog here. Maybe No. 11 Nebraska will benefit from playing a game earlier this week in the First Four, but I see some matchup problems for the Cornhuskers. Most importantly, their 2-point defense is bad, which should give Baylor something to exploit. Baylor isn’t a dominant two-point team or anything, but Nebraska is so poor that this shouldn’t be hard to exploit. The second advantage that I like is that Nebraska is one of the better 3-point shooting teams in the country, but Baylor is even better at defending them. With an advantage to get the offense going, I think Baylor should have enough on the defensive end to advance.
Worst price to bet: Baylor moneyline (-110)
Tennessee moneyline (+102) vs. NC State
Again, wrong team favored! This time, I’m going to be on the side of the worse seed, as I think No. 10 Tennessee should be short favorites here. No. 7 NC State has a weird profile, as they don’t shoot a ton of 3s, but they also don’t get to the free-throw line very often. Tennessee is usually very good at defending the 3-point line and not allowing opposing teams to get shots up, so that matchup will be interesting. But this game is going to come down to whether Tennessee can turn NC State over — the Wolfpack are very good at taking care of the basketball — and whether Tennessee can crash the offensive glass. My projections think the Volunteers will have more success on the offensive glass than one might think, which sways this line to them being the favorites.
Worst price to bet: Tennessee moneyline (-105)
Oklahoma vs. Idaho under 158.5 (-112)
Admittedly, I’m terrified of this play. Oklahoma and Idaho both play at blazing speeds, which always leads to the possibility of a game going over. But both teams are very good at rebounding, offensively and defensively. That gives me some hope that this game can slow down, as both teams have height and can end possessions with defensive rebounding. Another aspect of this matchup that I like is that neither team relies on turnovers, which means we shouldn’t see a ton of easy points off turnovers. I’m not holding my breath here as the pace could make this a loser early, but my model has this pegged for the low 150s, and I could see Idaho struggling to score.
Worst price to bet: Under 157.5 (-110)
James Madison +16.5 (-114) vs. Kentucky
On one hand, James Madison played Texas earlier in the year and lost by 40. On the other hand, they played Notre Dame tough in a 13-point loss at home. So, what to do here? Well, I’ll give them a shot because I think they do kind of match up well here. Kentucky is not a team that will turn you over on defense, so that shouldn’t be a problem we have to worry about. Kentucky is a good rebounding team, but so is James Madison, so that advantage shouldn’t be drastic. I have plenty of concerns about Kentucky’s height advantage here, and that’s where I think we could see a drastic advantage on the glass for the Wildcats. But if James Madison doesn’t get overwhelmed, they should be able to stay within this number on a neutral court.
Worst price to bet: James Madison +16 (-110)
USC -5.5 (-106) vs. Clemson
I think USC has the two best players in this game, and I think there is an argument that they could have the three best. There aren’t any drastic matchup advantages here, but I just don’t think these two teams are in the same class. If you go by record, yes, Clemson looks like the better team, but the Big Ten was much stronger than the ACC this year, and we know that record doesn’t mean much here. My number is closer to double digits here as I’m taking the team with the best players in the game.
The Akron Zips face the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Friday as March Madness action continues, with the Red Raiders aiming to impose their defensive identity early in the tournament.
Mar 7, 2026; Provo, Utah, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Donovan Atwell (12) looks on during the second half against the BYU Cougars at Marriott Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Baker-Imagn Images
Texas Tech is known for its physical defense and half-court execution, often slowing the game down and forcing opponents into difficult possessions. That style has translated well in March in past years, making them a tough out.
Akron enters as a confident mid-major with a balanced offensive attack and the ability to score from beyond the arc. If the Zips can knock down shots and avoid turnovers, they could challenge Texas Tech’s defensive pressure.
Fans can catch all the action as the NCAA Tournament continues on Friday.
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March Madness is officially here and it's time for the fun part of filling out brackets.
Texas women's basketball secured a No. 1 seed and if the Longhorns win their first and second round games, they will travel north for the Fort Worth Regional. Wednesday's First Four win for Missouri State over Stephen F. Austin meant a "First Four" will determine who Texas plays Friday.
Texas guard Rori Harmon guards South Carolina guard Maddy McDaniel during the first half of the Southeastern Conference tournament title game March 8, 2026, in Greenville, S.C. (Chris Carlson/Associated Press)
Other No. 1 seeds include UCLA and South Carolina. But UConn is undefeated and the No. 1 overall seed as they look to win the Huskies' second straight NCAA title. The last time UConn had a title streak, it was between 2013-2016.
MIAMI — Based on his sizzling start to the season, and then in light of his first career All-Star appearance in February, the expectation with Norman Powell hardly was of a reserve role with the Miami Heat in late March.
And yet here Powell and the Heat stand, with the veteran guard now two games into his role realignment, having played off the bench twice this week.
Returning as a starter this past Saturday in the loss to the Orlando Magic after a seven-game absence with a calf strain, the expectation was same as it ever was.
“Just playing my game,” Powell said, with the Heat shifting their attention to Saturday night’s road game against the Houston Rockets. “Those decisions and things are above me. I can’t control that.
“I focus on what I can control, be a good teammate, be professional, continue to have confidence in myself, go out there and play the way I need to play in whatever minutes I do get and figure it out and how we can make it work.”
And yet behind the diplomacy is the reality that Powell will become a free agent in July unless extended by the Heat in the interim.
“I’ve been through every single role, position in this 11-year career that I’ve had,” he continued. “It’s nothing new to me. I just put my hard hat on and go to work.
“Whatever role it is, I put myself in a position to help this team win games. I don’t want to depend on who’s in and who’s out and the injuries.”
Those injuries likely have impacted the approach of coach Erik Spoelstra. Thursday night, for example, sixth man Jaime Jaquez Jr. was out due to tightness in his left hip. So, instead, Powell played as sixth man, with Simone Fontecchio starting. Tuesday night, Spoelstra elected to go big in Charlotte, with center Kel’el Ware added to the opening mix.
“We’ve talked game-to-game,” Powell said of his discourse with Spoelstra. “I don’t know. That’s a question with Spo, but we talked about how it was going to be going forward, treating every game as a playoff game because it’s so important — whatever role you’re put in, the focus has to be going out there and winning the game no matter what. That’s my focus.”
And yet to be paid as a starter, it typically means playing as a starter.
“I feel like I’m a starter. I’ve worked to be in that role,” Powell said. “If the team feels that me coming off the bench some games or whatever it is based on a matchup is going to put us in a position to win games, I’m going to accept the role and go out there and play basketball.”
Thursday night the pairing with Tyler Herro worked particularly well in the fourth quarter, with Powell scoring 12 in the period, Herro 11, on combined 7 of 9 shooting.
Getting the two to work together on a more extended basis is the goal — and possibly the key to resume going with the pairing from the start.
“You know the skill level with both of them on the court. You know that’ll work itself out,” Spoelstra said. “We need it. We need all the offensive firepower. It’s tough to assess, and I get it because that is a storyline, since they haven’t had a full body of games and a season together.”
And if Powell remains as a reserve, center and team captain Bam Adebyo is confident he will figure it out.
“Norm sacrifices coming off the bench,” Adebayo said, “and he’s figuring out his role, but he’s still playing at 32 (minutes, as he did Thursday night). So it’s like, it doesn’t matter about coming off the bench.”
After securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament, can Miami (Ohio) continue its momentum, or will Tennessee take the RedHawks down in the first round?
Tennessee holds a 4-2 all-time record against Miami, with the former winning the last matchup during the 1999-2000 season.
Miami (Ohio) was eliminated from the MAC tournament in the opening round despite finishing the regular season undefeated. The RedHawks still earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and beat SMU in the First Four. It was their first victory in the NCAA Tournament since 1999.
Tennessee won fewer games than it did last year, but still impressed this season. Seeded sixth, The Volunteers appear in their sixth straight NCAA Tournament. They hope to make it to the Final Four for the first time.
Here is everything you need to know in order to listen to Tennessee vs. Miami (Ohio) in the NCAA Tournament.
Fans can listen to the Tennessee vs. Miami (Ohio) broadcast live on the SiriusXM app or on channel 204 in vehicles.
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Tennessee vs. Miami (Ohio) start time
Date: Friday, March 20
Time: 2:50 p.m. ET
Tennessee vs. Miami (Ohio) will tip off at 2:50 p.m. ET on Friday, March 20.
The game will be played at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Earning a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Virginia looks to return to the top of the mountain. The Cavaliers take on Wright State, No. 14, in the opening round.
Virginia won the NCAA Tournament in 2019. Wright State won the NCAA Tournament for Division II basketball in 1983.
In his first season as head coach, Ryan Odom has brought Virginia to the NCAA Tournament after the Cavaliers didn’t make it last year. The Cavaliers attempt to make it to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019. Thijs De Ridder leads the team in scoring.
Wright State won the Horizon League Tournament for the first time since the 2021-22 season, the same year it last made the NCAA Tournament. Clint Sargent turned things around in his second season as coach. Michael Cooper and TJ Burch lead the team in scoring.
Here is everything you need to know in order to listen to Virginia vs. Wright State in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Fans can listen to the Virginia vs. Wright State broadcast live on the SiriusXM app or on channel 204 in vehicles.
New subscribers can enjoy SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
Virginia vs. Wright State start time
Date: Friday, March 20
Time: 1:50 p.m. ET
Virginia vs. Wright State will tip off at 1:50 p.m. ET on Friday, March 20.
The game will be played at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Let’s get this out of the way first: The fact that the WNBA will complete a full season in 2026 is a win for everyone involved. The league has experienced so much growth over the past few years that, even as negotiations grew tense and sometimes stalled during collective bargaining, the WNBA could not afford a stoppage that risked halting this wave of momentum.
The collective bargaining agreement, which was finally met by the players’ union and league early Wednesday morning, brings record players salaries and a revenue-sharing model that is tied to their pay. The particulars of the CBA will naturally benefit some parties more than others. Until the full CBA is drafted, we don’t have a complete picture of how this document will affect the business of the WNBA.
But we understand how transformative it is … and the ripple effects that will come from it.
Here is our first attempt to assess winners and losers from the 2026 CBA.
Winners
Nneka Ogwumike
The WNBPA president has now presided over two labor negotiations that were immediately hailed as landmark victories for players. After the 2020 CBA raised the standard of player experience across the league, the 2026 deal delivered on compensation. Ogwumike and the players association secured revenue sharing, albeit at a lower percentage than they may have hoped, and dramatically increased salaries for every player in the league, with the promise of significant increases throughout the life of the seven-year CBA. The average salary has gone up about five times from 2025 to 2026.
Consider where the union was two weeks ago: Two of its vice presidents were publicly messaging that the league’s CBA offer was a good deal and privately expressing concern with union leadership. Rather than let the solidarity splinter, Ogwumike got everyone in line and didn’t blink in the face of the league’s self-imposed deadlines. After a week of face-to-face meetings, she helped the union close a deal with a salary cap more than a million dollars higher than it was when the two sides arrived in New York.
Being the president of the union is a challenging and thankless job. There is a reason no one has tried to run against Ogwumike since she assumed the role in 2016. She led the players through a tumultuous period and came out on the other side with a life-changing deal.
WNBA stability
The WNBA secured a seven-year CBA deal with an opt out after six, ensuring labor peace for the foreseeable future. The league can pitch investors and sponsors with confidence in its financial outlook. It’ll be easier to manage the growth of the WNBA knowing what the expenses will be during this time period. The players also benefit from this stability — unlike in the previous CBA, when the salary system didn’t allow them to partake in the revenue the league was bringing in, they will share in the gains over the next seven years.
Given how contentious this process had been, the fact that union and league leadership were able to sit down together and come up with a deal that suits both parties bodes well for the WNBA’s ability to conduct business going forward.
Superstar players
Everyone was underpaid in the last CBA, but no group more so than superstar players. A’ja Wilson made $200,000 in 2025 — only $80,000 more than the average salary. The overall values and gradations didn’t make sense considering how much superstars drive winning and popularity. Now, the best players will be compensated accordingly. Max players and supermax players will make seven-figure salaries, and the best players don’t have to wait until they finish their rookie contracts to sign those contracts. High-performing young players will also be able to earn supermax salaries in their fourth season provided they meet certain benchmarks. Plus, rookie contracts will be right-sized to the 2026 rookie scale so that no one in the recent draft classes gets left behind.
The players fought to ensure better pay for their full body, but it’s undeniable that the superstars are most responsible for the rocketship growth of the league. They deserve their reward.
Tunnel fits
This could apply to clothes, jewelry, bags, even cars — anything that the players can spend their increasing amounts of disposable income on. The lifestyle of the average WNBA player is about to change, and it’ll be plain to see when they walk into games.
The Langham Hotel
The hotel where many negotiating meetings were held is New York City’s latest hot spot!
Breanna Stewart even shared on social media that her phone location automatically suggests this as a destination because of her frequent trips there for negotiations.
The 2026 free agency period should have been the most exciting in the league’s history. Essentially every veteran in the league is able to switch teams. There is so much money available to them and players will actually have choices based on where they want to play, who they want as teammates and the length of their contracts.
But those decisions require time. And the WNBA doesn’t have any of it. The league and players essentially engaged in a staring contest for the first month of 2026, and the consequence of that stalling is an extremely truncated offseason. All of the news of player signings and trades will come out in a flood rather than spread out over a few weeks, limiting the potential drama. With so much to accomplish in so little time, the hope is that too many parties don’t regret the decisions they have made in haste.
Toronto and Portland front offices
Speaking of having very little time, no one will feel the squeeze more than the front offices of the expansion teams. In theory, every team is assembling a roster at this time of year since more than 100 players are free agents. But the returning teams at least have relationships with players and can bank on re-signing some people from their 2025 rosters; the Tempo and the Fire are starting from scratch. They’re selling WNBA players on something entirely new, even if their organizations have a few familiar faces. Toronto and Portland also have to prepare for an expansion draft, another task to accomplish while the rest of the league can focus its attention on the college draft and free agency.
Teams will start training camp less than a month from today. The Tempo and the Fire have zero players. They can’t have an identity, because they don’t know who will be on the team. Expansion teams already have an uphill battle in professional sports but never has the climb been so steep.
Non-billionaire ownership groups
The price of being a WNBA owner just became a lot higher. Between salaries, improved standards for staffing, and new standards for facilities, there are many more expenses that the owners will foot. Many teams have been clamoring for a way to provide for their players beyond the rules of the CBA for quite some time — think of the New York Liberty illegally chartering flights in the second half of the 2021 season or the Aces providing impermissible benefits to Dearica Hamby when she extended her contract in 2022. Now, those ownership groups can spend their money in sanctioned methods, and the players will still benefit.
The owners who don’t have the money? This will be a tough new world. The spotlight is on them, and players won’t have to settle for substandard experiences. The line of people wanting to buy a WNBA team is long. The league could put pressure on owners who don’t meet the new standards of the CBA if it diminishes the product and embarrasses the league at large.
Offseason leagues
The launch of Unrivaled and Athletes Unlimited already put a dent in the number of players who choose to compete overseas during the WNBA offseason, when they can instead make money domestically. Now that the average salary in the WNBA has increased by five times, not as many players will need the extra paycheck if they prefer the time off.
Then again, the WNBA offseason is long, and many players don’t want to sit out for six months. Many players also have equity in Unrivaled and are literally invested in the success of the league. But the finances and player experience were the draw for Unrivaled, and that is no longer an advantage over the WNBA.
Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, Seattle Storm, Los Angeles Sparks, Washington Mystics, Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Indiana Fever, Dallas Wings, Las Vegas Aces, Phoenix Mercury, Golden State Valkyries, Portland Fire, Toronto Tempo, WNBA
Every March, college basketball transforms into something far bigger than just a tournament—it becomes a spectacle of buzzer-beaters, underdog triumphs, and bracket-busting chaos known as “March Madness.” The phrase itself feels tailor-made for the NCAA tournament, yet its origins are surprisingly older and rooted in a completely different level of the sport. Long before millions of fans filled out brackets, an Illinois high school official, Henry V. Porter, first used the term in 1939 to describe the overwhelming excitement surrounding high school basketball championships. At the time, entire communities rallied behind their teams, creating an atmosphere so intense it felt almost uncontrollable—hence, “madness.”
The phrase remained relatively localized for decades until it found new life through television. In the early 1980s, broadcaster Brent Musburger began using “March Madness” during NCAA tournament coverage, introducing it to a national audience. The timing was perfect: the tournament itself had evolved into a single-elimination format filled with unpredictable outcomes, dramatic finishes, and Cinderella stories. What started as a descriptive phrase quickly became the defining identity of the event.
Today, “March Madness” represents more than just basketball—it captures the emotional highs, shocking upsets, and nationwide engagement that make the NCAA tournament one of the most exciting sporting events in the world. From its unexpected origins to its modern cultural impact, the name reflects exactly what fans experience every spring: pure, unforgettable chaos.
The term “March Madness” didn’t originate with the NCAA at all—it came from high school basketball. In 1939, Illinois writer and assistant executive secretary for the Illinois High School Athletic Association Henry V. Porter used it to describe the overwhelming excitement surrounding state tournaments.
At the time, small-town communities were deeply invested in their local teams, creating an almost electric atmosphere each March. Porter saw how the games consumed attention and emotion, and the phrase perfectly captured that frenzy. It wasn’t about chaos yet—it was about passion spilling over. Decades later, that same energy would define college basketball.
2. Brent Musburger popularized it on national television
A general view of a microphone with a March Madness logo during a press conference ahead of the first round of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena. Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Although the phrase existed for decades, it didn’t become widely known until broadcaster Brent Musburger used it during NCAA tournament coverage in the early 1980s.
Musburger’s voice carried the term to a national audience at a time when televised sports were booming. What had once been a regional phrase suddenly became part of the national sports vocabulary. His usage felt natural because the NCAA tournament already had that same intensity. From there, the phrase stuck and spread rapidly.
The word “madness” speaks directly to the chaos and unpredictability of the games themselves.
Every year, lower-seeded teams knock off favorites, creating dramatic upsets that no one sees coming. Fans fill out brackets only to watch them fall apart within days. That sense of uncertainty is what makes the tournament so addictive. The name captures the emotional swings that define the experience.
4. The NCAA Tournament adopted the name much later
March madness graphics at center court before a practice session ahead of the first round of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Even though the tournament began in 1939, it wasn’t immediately associated with “March Madness.”
For years, it was simply known as the NCAA tournament without any flashy branding. As the event grew in scale and popularity, the phrase gradually migrated from high school basketball to the college level, gaining traction through media and fan usage. It wasn’t until 1988 that the NCAA officially adopted and licensed the term, solidifying it as the tournament’s identity. By then, it already felt like the perfect fit—capturing both the energy and unpredictability that define the event.
Once “March Madness” became the official nickname, it elevated the tournament beyond just sports.
The phrase added drama, urgency, and a sense of spectacle that resonated with casual fans and diehards alike. It helped make bracket pools, office competitions, and nationwide engagement part of the experience. Today, the name is instantly recognizable even to non-basketball fans. It transformed the tournament into a major cultural event.
Conclusion
A Wilson Evo NXT basketball with March Madness logo during a practice session ahead of the first round of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
“March Madness” is a name that perfectly mirrors the unpredictable nature of the NCAA tournament. What began as a local expression for high school basketball evolved into a national symbol of excitement and chaos. Today, it stands as one of the most iconic phrases in sports, capturing the spirit of a tournament where anything can happen.
After a 24-10 season and a Coastal Athletic Association title, the Hofstra University Pride is headed to the 2026 NCAA Tournament. They are a No. 13 seed and will face No. 4 Alabama in the Round of 64.
This will be the school's fifth trip to March Madness, but the Pride is still vying for its first March Madness win.
The NCAA Tournament is a great way to learn about schools that aren’t household names, and Hofstra University is one of them. Here’s more information about Hofstra.
Hofstra University is located in Hempstead, New York. The university lies east of Queens in Long Island. The school is around 30 miles from Manhattan.
The university is a private research university that was founded in 1935 as an extension of New York University, according to The Conversation. As of fall 2024, the school had an undergraduate population of 6,581, per U.S. News and World Report.
The Hofstra Pride, who have 17 varsity teams, compete in the NCAA's Coastal Athletic Association. The conference was founded in 1979 and is based in the Eastern region of the United States.
Hofstra joined the conference in 2001 and has been a member since. The CAA currently includes 13 teams, which are as follows:
Hofstra University is named after William Hofstra, who purchased the Van Wranken estate in Hempstead, New York, to head the Nassau Lumber Company in 1902, according to the school's website. Hofstra found great success with his company, which earned him the title of a millionaire.
Although Hofstra never intended to create a university, his estate eventually became a part of the Hofstra University campus posthumously. After William and his wife passed away, Howard Brower, a trustee of his estate, looked to create a tribute to the Hofstra family.
Truesdel Peck Calkins, the superintendent of public schools in the village of Hempstead, and Brower discussed creating a higher education institution, and Hofstra University was born.
Hofstra University made the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in school history in 2026. The Pride qualified by winning the CAA Championship. Previously, the Pride earned bids to March Madness in 1976, 1977, 2000, and 2001, but are still searching for their first tournament win.
They entered the tournament as a No. 13 seed to face No. 4 Alabama in the Round of 64.
One of the best aspects of March Madness is that the tournament brings together schools of all shapes and sizes. The tournament field isn't restricted to Power 5 schools, and several mid-major schools will have high-profile matchups where people learn about them by picking against them in their brackets.
Wright State made the 2026 NCAA Tournament as a No. 14 seed and got matched up with No. 3 Virginia in the first round. The Raiders are making just their fifth appearance in the tournament.
Wright State is a member of the Horizon League, and many basketball fans may not be familiar with where the school is located, given that "Wright" and "Horizon League" don't provide any geographic qualifiers.
Here is more on Wright State University's location, including city, origin and more.
Wright State University is located in Fairborn, Ohio. Fairborn is located between Columbus and Cincinnati, and is outside Dayton. The city is located 71 miles northeast of Cincinnati, 58 miles southwest of Columbus, and 16 miles northeast of Dayton.
As of fall 2025, Wright State has a total enrollment of nearly 12,000 students between its campuses, per the school's website.
Wright State is a member of Horizon League. It was founded in 1979 as the Midwestern City Conference and changed to the Midwestern Collegiate Conference in 1985. The conference became the Horizon League in 2001 and has retained the name. The Horizon League fields 19 sports across men's and women's events, but it is a non-football conference.
As of March 2026, there are 11 members of the Horizon League, but the conference will be expanding to 12 teams in the summer.
Cleveland State University
University of Detroit Mercy
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Indiana University Indianapolis
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Northern Kentucky University
Oakland University
Purdue University Fort Wayne
Robert Morris University
Wright State University
Youngstown State University
Northern Illinois University (joining for 2026 season)
Wright State sits right outside Dayton, Ohio. Dayton is the home of the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, who are credited with inventing the world's first successful airplane. The brothers designed the airplane in their local bicycle shop in Dayton, so the name Wright State actually is an homage to the Wright brothers.
Wright State became a Division 1 basketball team in 1987. The Raiders were initially an independent team for four years, then joined the Mid-Continent Conference. After three years, Wright State then moved to the Midwestern Collegiate Conference in 1994, and it became the Horizon League in 2001, where Wright State is still a member to this day.
The Raiders first made the NCAA men's basketball tournament in 1993. Wright State was a 16-seed and played Indiana in the first round. The Raiders lost 97-54.
Here is a look at Wright State's history at the NCAA Tournament.
Day 1 of the NCAA Tournament is a rush to the senses, a four-paneled split-screen opening act. There’s nothing quite like elimination basketball, let alone 12+ hours of it.
The Friday slate introduces some splashy favorites, including the No. 1 seed Texas Longhorns. We also meet the unsung chaos agents — for rising programs like South Dakota State, it’s time to shock the system and throw red across our brackets. Let’s see how it all plays out on one of live sports’ singular days.
All times ET.
Women’s March Madness schedule for round of 64, Day 1
All ESPN networks are available on ESPN Unlimited.
No. 3 Duke vs. No. 14 Charleston
Sacramento 2 Region
Toby Fournier is a force for the Blue Devils. The Canadian sophomore averages north of 17 points, eight rebounds and two blocks per game. Under coach Kara Lawson, Duke won the ACC’s regular-season and tournament titles. All-conference senior guards Ashlon Jackson and Taina Mair try to graduate with emphasis.
Charleston makes its dancing debut. The Cougars are led by twin sisters Taryn and Taylor Barbot.
No. 3 TCU vs. No. 14 UC San Diego
Sacramento 4 Region
TCU has truly maximized the transfer portal. Last season’s addition of Hailey Van Lith lifted the Horned Frogs to their first Elite Eight berth. This year’s fifth-year leader is Olivia Miles, two-way point guard with a deep playmaking bag. She averages 19.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game.
This is only the second year that UC San Diego has had postseason eligibility after reclassifying to Division I; the Tritons have made the NCAA Tournament both years. The Big West champs are trending up around program architect Heidi VanDerveer, sister of legendary coach Tara VanDerveer.
No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 9 Virginia Tech
Fort Worth 3 Region
Katie Fiso took the leap for Oregon, a school known for developing star point guards. The sophomore Fiso averages more than 15 points and six dimes on high volume. Virginia Tech likes to muddy games around strident defense and inside action. Let’s see which style prevails.
No. 6 Baylor vs. No. 11 Nebraska
Sacramento 2 Region
Baylor was ranked No. 12 in the Feb. 9 AP poll. From there, the Bears lost all three of their ranked matchups by double figures, then dropped their one and only game in the Big 12 tournament. The team still has a strong duo in Taliah Scott and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, but there’s upset potential on Nebraska’s sideline.
The Cornhuskers dropped six straight games in February. The ledger is wiped clean for March Madness, though, and Nebraska comes in ranking 14th in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency, per Bart Torvik. The Huskers looked good in Wednesday’s First Four defeat of Richmond.
No. 6 Washington vs. No. 11 South Dakota State
Sacramento 4 Region
So let there be rain. Washington has sophomore Avery Howell, who shoots 41.9 percent on 3s. South Dakota State counters with sophomore Emilee Fox, national 3-point shooting leader at a 47.7 percent clip. The Jackrabbits tout a well-balanced offense behind senior paint presence Brooklyn Meyer, but the Huskies have been tested by a far tougher strength of schedule.
No. 5 Maryland vs. No. 12 Murray State
Fort Worth 1 Region
Brenda Frese knows how to win in March. Maryland’s head coach has held her position since 2002. Last year’s Terrapins made a Sweet 16 run and lost to formidable South Carolina by just four points. Junior Duke transfer Oluchi Okananwa adds extra punch to this season’s bid.
The Racers live up to their name with fast pace and gaudy point totals. Now to see if the offense can hang with power-conference pressure.
No. 5 Ole Miss vs. No. 12 Gonzaga
Sacramento 2 Region
Rebels senior Cotie McMahon can wear teams down in the paint or decelerate a game at the foul line. After three seasons at Ohio State, the 6-foot forward is averaging nearly 20 points per contest and has put herself on the WNBA radar.
For the Zags, Lauren Whittaker is just a freshman, but her versatility is remarkable — in the WCC tournament title game versus Oregon State, she finished with 26 points, nine boards, three assists, three made 3s and two steals.
No. 1 Texas vs. No. 16 Missouri State
Fort Worth 3 Region
The region runs burnt orange. Texas is an overwhelming favorite after dominating a stacked SEC tournament. In the finale, the Longhorns shot 54 percent against South Carolina’s vaunted defense. They took just seven 3s and still racked up 78 points.
All-American Madison Booker thrives in the midrange, while senior Rori Harmon pesters along the perimeter and Jordan Lee spots up for buckets. Vic Schaefer coaches up top-10 rankings in offensive and defensive rating. Godspeed, Missouri State, which beat Stephen F. Austin in Wednesday’s First Four.
No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 15 Holy Cross
Fort Worth 3 Region
Michigan’s sophomore trio of Olivia Olson, Mila Holloway and Syla Swords can hang with the best cores in the field. Olson has third-team All-American honors for her efficient scoring. Holloway tallies assists and makes space off the dribble. Swords stretches the court with her limitless range. Holy Cross allows just 56.8 points per game … but yeah, it probably needs a miracle.
No. 4 North Carolina vs. No. 13 Western Illinois
Fort Worth 1 Region
UNC topped the ACC in 3-point efficiency during the regular season, and it plays aggressive defense under coach Courtney Banghart. Nyla Harris joined the Tar Heels from Louisville in the transfer portal. The senior big is surrounded by reliable shooters. For Western Illinois, senior Mia Nicastro is the nation’s fourth-leading scorer at 24.2 points per game.
No. 2 LSU vs. No. 15 Jacksonville
Sacramento 2 Region
The Tigers have the No. 1 scoring offense … and the best per-game average in Division I since the 1990-91 Providence Friars. They’re also second to mighty UConn in scoring differential. When fully locked in, LSU offers must-see hooping with unmatched swagger. Senior Flau’jae Johnson is the face of the collective, but MiLaysia Fulwiley and Mikaylah Williams are game-breaking stars on their own.
Jacksonville goes for its first NCAA Tournament win ever. Does coach Special Jennings have something special in the works?
No. 4 Minnesota vs. No. 13 Green Bay
Sacramento 2 Region
The Golden Gophers are in the tourney for the first time since 2018, cutting their teeth in a crowded Big Ten. Grace Grocholski can be a heat-checker off the looks generated by senior distributor Amaya Battle. The Horizon-winning Phoenix rally around senior stretch center Jenna Guyer.
Minnesota versus Green Bay sounds like a Lambeau Field classic, but it teases some upset potential on the hardwood.
No. 5 Michigan State vs. No. 12 Colorado State
Sacramento 4 Region
Consistent senior Grace VanSlooten has put up between 15 and 15.5 points per game across her last three seasons, split between the Spartans and Oregon. She’s a great offensive rebounder and has nine stocks (steals + blocks) in her last two outings.
Colorado State comes in hot on a nine-game win streak. The Rams’ last NCAA Tournament W was in 2001, but maybe Ryun Williams’ side is due for disruption.
No. 7 NC State vs. No. 10 Tennessee
Fort Worth 3 Region
Wes Moore’s Wolfpack made a Sweet 16 run in 2025. Then they added two intriguing juniors — Khamil Pierre from Vanderbilt and Qadence Samuels from defending champ UConn. The team hasn’t quite jelled as expected, from ninth in the preseason AP poll to unranked since December.
The same can be said for Tennessee, the orange-colored blue blood with eight national titles (second to UConn). The Lady Vols have made every women’s NCAA Tournament; this is just their second time as a double-digit seed. Kim Caldwell’s crew has lost its last seven contests, but no one will wholly discount Tennessee in March.
No. 7 Texas Tech vs. No. 10 Villanova
Sacramento 2 Region
Texas Tech is a defense-first, defense-second kind of team. Villanova plays slow, small, effective offense. For the Red Raiders, junior Jalynn Bristow just led the Big 12 in blocks per game. For the Wildcats, sophomore Jasmine Bascoe finished the regular season as the Big East leader in points and assists per game. We’ve got a true style clash in Friday’s penultimate matchup.
No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 13 Idaho
Sacramento 4 Region
This iteration of Oklahoma puts the “soon” in Sooners, zipping through sets with quick pace. The buckets are layered. Breakout freshman Aaliyah Chavez is there as an outside option, while senior Raegan Beers is elite at the rim. The brisk pace does open the door for extra turnovers and momentum swings, which the Big Sky champions will try to manipulate.
Idaho has seven international players on its roster, representing countries from Brazil to Estonia. The Vandals have a chance to put the whole world on notice.
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Nestled in the middle of South Carolina lies Furman University. In the sports world, the home of the Paladins is most known for its 2023 tournament upset of No. 4 Virginia, 68-67, as a 13-seed. Three years later, Furman is back dancing and has drawn No. 2 UConn in the Round of 64.
Outside of its occasional recent NCAA Tournament appearances, not many people know about the history of Furman, including the fact that it is the oldest private university in South Carolina.
Here is an inside look at the small South Carolina school and the history behind this Southern gem.
Furman University is located in Greenville, South Carolina. The school lies just over 30 miles from Clemson University. Furman sits between Asheville, Charlotte, and Atlanta.
The school was founded in 1826 and is the oldest private university in South Carolina, per the university's website. The school is centralized around liberal arts and sciences.
As of fall 2024, Furman's undergraduate population sat at 2,383, according to U.S. News and World Report.
The Furman Paladins, who have 17 varsity sports, compete in the NCAA's Southern Conference. The conference was founded in 1921 and is based in the southeastern region of the United States.
Furman joined the conference in 1936 and has been a member since. The SoCon currently includes 10 teams, which are as follows:
The university is named after Richard Furman, who was one of the most important Baptist clergymen during the early decades of America's history, according to the school's website. Furman was a large advocate for educational institutions throughout the country.
Along with the university named after him, Furman was also involved with Brown University, George Washington University, the University of South Carolina, and Mercer University.
Throughout its history, Furman has played in eight NCAA Tournaments. It qualified for the Big Dance in 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1980, 2023 and 2026.
In the 2023 tournament, as a 13-seed, Furman defeated 4-seed Virginia, 68-67, in the opening round before losing to San Diego State in the second round.
In the 2026 tournament, Furman qualified as the Southern Conference champion and was named a 15-seed to face 2-seed UConn.
The first round of the NCAA Tournament comes to a close in Tampa when No. 1 Florida and No. 16 Prairie View A&M tip off.
The Gators enter March Madness as the reigning champions. A task that's more daunting than being the top overall seed, the pressure is on.
Meanwhile, the Panthers outlasted Lehigh in the First Four with a 68-55 win. Now in the 64-team bracket, it's time for Prairie View to level up their dancing shoes. Don't count out the underdogs.
The Madness continues in Tampa as the Gators and Panthers face off in the first round of the tournament.
Here's what you need to know about Friday's matchup between Florida and Prairie View, including broadcast information and start time.
What channel is Florida vs. Prairie View on today?
Florida vs. Prairie View A&M will be broadcast on TNT. Tom McCarthy, Candace Parker, Dan Bonner and AJ Ross will be on the call.
Fans looking to stream the Gators vs. Panthers game can watch live on DIRECTV.
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What time is Florida vs. Prairie View today?
Date: Friday, March 29
Time: 9:25 p.m. ET
The NCAA tournament game between Florida and Prairie View is set to tip off at 9:25 p.m. ET from Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida.
This matchup marks just the second-ever between the programs. Florida and Prairie View A&M previously faced off in 2006 when the Gators earned a dominant 94-33 win at home.
Listen to every game of the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament live on SiriusXM.
New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
The 2026 Men's Final Four is set for April 4 and 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The semifinals will be played Saturday night and the national championship game is set for Monday night.
The home of the Indianapolis Colts previously hosted the event in 2010, 2015 and 2021 and is set to host again in 2029. Indianapolis previously hosted the Final Four at other facilities in 1980, 1991, 1997, 2000 and 2006.
Only Kansas City has been home to the Final Four more often (10 times), but the last one held there was in 1988.
March Madness tournament schedule 2026
Here is the round-by-round schedule for the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament:
After their narrow 2026 Mid-Atlantic Conference Tournament championship win, many college basketball fans became more familiar with the University of Akron Zips.
However, few fans know what a Zip is and the surprising history behind Akron's team name. While many only know a zipper as a clothing item, this wasn't always the case.
Here is everything you need to know about the history of Akron's nickname and mascot.
In 1927, the University of Akron held a contest around its campus to choose a nickname for the University's sports teams. According to the school's website, a student named Margaret Hamlin shared her idea, which was the "Zippers." This was also the name of a popular rubber overshoe sold by B.F. Goodrich Co., a local Akron shoe company. After being one of the final choices for the team name, Hamlin's idea was voted in by students.
In 1950, just 23 years later, the school's athletic director, Kenneth Red Cochrane, shortened the nickname to the "Zips." The name still stands today and is one of college sports' most unique team names.
A zip is the abbreviated name of Akron's former team name, the Zippers. They were formerly named the Zippers, but former Akron athletic director Kenneth Red Cochrane had it shortened to the "Zips."
Zippers were also the name of a popular 1920s rubber overshoe sold by Akron's B.F. Goodrich Co.
Akron's kangaroo mascot is known as Zippy. In 1953, Dick Hansford, the school's vice president, suggested recomended the kangaroo.
Zippy was eventually designed later that year and featured a zipper across its pouch. This signified that Zippy was female, which came as a surprise because a female mascot was rare across sports (and still is).
Zippy made her official debut in 1955 during Akron's Rubber Bowl football game. In 2007, she won the National Capital One Mascot of the Year Challenge.
Iowa isn't going anywhere. The Hawkeyes enter March Madness as a No. 2 seed, ready to return to the national championship two years later.
While they were dominated in the Big Ten Championship, that type of defeat is exactly what fuels the Hawkeyes. And so does proving their worth.
Led by Ava Heiden, Hannah Stuelke and Chazadi Wright, who all average double-digits, Iowa has the pieces it needs to succeed. And if it can play the right moves at the right time, this squad is dangerous.
Here's how to watch Iowa throughout the NCAA women's tournament with a look at its next game.
When is Iowa's next game?
Matchup: vs. No. 15 Farleigh Dickinson
Date: Saturday, March 21
Time: 4 p.m. ET
Iowa will face Farleigh Dickinson in the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament. Tipoff is set for Saturday, March 21 at 4 p.m. ET from Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
How to watch Iowa women's March Madness game: TV channel, live stream
Iowa vs. Farleigh Dickinson will be broadcast on ESPN. Cord-cutters can live stream the game on the ESPN app or Fubo.
Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, plus SportsCenter, First Take, and all your favorite ESPN shows—anytime, anywhere—only in the new ESPN app.
UCF’s John Bol is 7-foot-2, but it’s his routine at the 15-foot line that has turned the sophomore center into a viral sensation during the 2026 season.
Stepping to the stripe, Bol abandons the traditional guide-hand approach for a bizarre, one-armed flick that involves twisting the ball back toward his body before a snapping release. While the form has been called everything from "AI-generated slop" to the basketball equivalent of a Charles Barkley golf swing, the logic behind the change is purely functional.
For Bol and the UCF coaching staff, the ugly mechanics are a small price to pay for a developmental project who has transformed from a bench-warmer into a legitimate postseason interior threat.
— Mostly Hoops With Mark Titus & Co. (@MostlyHoopsShow) January 4, 2026
The center takes his left hand off the ball when releasing his shot. After struggling with a severe case of the "yips" and shooting just 50% as a freshman at Ole Miss, Bol adopted the one-handed motion to simplify his mechanics and remove the extra variables of his massive 7-foot-9 wingspan.
The results, as strange as they look, are hard to argue with. Bol has defied the eye test by improving his free-throw shooting to a robust 68.1% for the Knights, becoming a reliable late-game presence in a high-octane Big 12.
Bol’s journey to the Big 12 is a story of rapid transformation that spans thousands of miles and a complete shift in athletic focus. Born in Boma, South Sudan, Bol grew up in a household where soccer was the primary passion—he was a devoted fan of Cristiano Ronaldo and initially had very little interest in basketball.
His path to the United States began at age 16, when he moved from South Sudan (having also spent time in Kenya) to pursue better educational and athletic opportunities. Remarkably, Bol did not even pick up a basketball until 2021.
After a chance encounter at a neighborhood court in Georgia, he was discovered by scouts and eventually joined the Overtime Elite program in Atlanta. By the time he graduated high school, he had transitioned from a complete novice to a consensus four-star recruit and the No. 1 ranked player in the state of Georgia. He began his collegiate career at Ole Miss before transferring to UCF for the 2025–26 season, where he has become one of the most recognizable defensive anchors in the country.
Despite their shared home country and identical last name, John Bol is not related to Bol Bol or his father, the late NBA legend Manute Bol.
While it is common for fans to assume a family connection — especially given that both are 7-foot-2 and originally from South Sudan — the name "Bol" is extremely common among the Dinka people of that region. In fact, John Bol’s journey into basketball is entirely separate from the Bol family dynasty; he grew up as a soccer fan and didn’t even pick up a basketball until 2021, nearly a decade after Bol Bol had already become a high school sensation.
Mar 19, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dunks against the Miami Heat during the first half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Isabella Frias-Imagn Images
When LeBron James sat out the first few weeks of the 2025-26 season, a narrative began in the NBA circles: the Lakers are better off without him. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were flying, and when the King returned from his sciatica issue, it took him time to get settled, which, in some ways, affected the Lakers’ offense.
Fast forward to March 2026, though, and the Lakers have won eight in a row and 11 of their last 12 games. So, is James really surplus to their needs? Many have said no, and now James himself has come ahead to defend himself, repeating the same thing he has over the years — smearing him is good for business.
James has adapted well to his role as a support player for Luka Doncic and, at times, for Austin Reaves as well. At 41, doing that and still averaging 21 ppg is insane. James knows that. He just wishes the rest of the world saw it that way, too.
“It sells papers a lot easier, and clippings and podcasts. If you say, ‘LeBron, the team is better off without him.’ A lot of people will try to like it. So, I get it,” James said after the Lakers’ win over the Heat on Thursday.
The purple and gold team won 134-126, with Doncic erupting for 60 points and James adding 19 points with 15 rebounds. It was a perfect win, which once again refutes the claim from some analysts that the Lakers aren’t contenders.
James will play a crucial role in the post-season, using his wealth of experience to aid Doncic and Co. to get over the line. For those who doubt James can do that, he had a messagefor them. “They’re absolutely wrong.”
The narrative isn’t even backed all that well with stats. With James in the lineup, the Lakers are 29-18. Without him? 14-7. So, it’s not all that different after all.
JJ was asked about this narrative around the time of LBJ’s elbow and hip contusion which kept him out for a few games. While he did give a word salad-esque answer, Redick admitted that there is a sort of ‘established hierarchy’ when it’s just Luka and Reaves manning the offense.
“There’s a clear pecking order when Luka and AR are on the floor together with guys that are low usage players. I know LeBron, he recognizes the importance of having Luka as the engine. All he really wants is to impact winning,”saidRedick.
That being said, the chatter is wrong. James remains crucial to the Lakers despite his age, and the franchise knows that well. He’s not the main man anymore, and that’s fine. But this version of James is still more dangerous than 90% of the players in the NBA.
Mar 19, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) reacts after making a three point basket against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers got the job done against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday, but it wasn’t without a big scare. In a game that most expected them to breeze through, they began digging their own grave, allowing the Bulls to come close to spoiling their night. James Harden, a man serious about playing at the highest possible level, reflected on just that post-game.
The Bulls outscored the Cavs 37-22 in the fourth quarter, which meant that Harden and Co. only got over the line by five points. Because the Bulls have a 28-42 record and are #12 in the East, the Cavs really have to understand that they were spared the blushes, barely.
Harden joined Cleveland after being traded from the Los Angeles Clippers in February, and he has made one thing clear: he wants to win the title. But if they keep making things difficult for themselves as they did against the Bulls, that dream may fade away come the post-season.
“It’s not good enough,” Harden admitted, moments after the game ended. “We gotta be more professional. We have to do a better job in closing that game out a lot earlier. We started being careless, so we just gotta be better.”
Harden has played for plenty of good teams over the years. He had a fairly good chance to compete for the title in Houston, Brooklyn, and the Clippers. But most of the time, his teams choked, especially in H-Town and the Nets. With the Clippers, things just never clicked.
At Cavs, now in the business end of his career, considering he’s 36, Harden has a solid chance at retiring with at least one ring. The Cavs have a great team, and one of the best backcourts in the league with Harden and Donovan Mitchell.
They managed to hold down the fort against the Bulls, but will a performance like this fly against the Celtics or the Knicks? Harden doesn’t want to find out.
The Illini (25-8) nearly led the entire way through against a Quakers (18-12) team that was overhauled by coach Fran McCaffery following a successful 15-year stint with the Iowa Hawkeyes. But the opening round belonged to Illinois, led by forward David Mirković's 29 points, 17 rebounds and three assists in one of the best games of his collegiate career, if not the best.
"David had a historic night by setting an Illinois rebounding record in the NCAA Tournament and became the second Illini to notch 20+ points and 15+ rebounds in an NCAA Tournament game," the Illinois men's basketball "X" account wrote.
Illinois led by as many as 40, 102-62, with a little over two minutes left after playing a suffocating blitz of high-octane offense and not letting the Quakers get comfortable from the perimeter after finding early success in the opening half.
More specifically, Underwood said center Tomislav Ivišić, who finished the game with 12 points and was a huge physical presence on the offensive side of the ball.
"Tomi can score down there," Underwood told reporters. "It's something we do, we don't do it frequently, but we do it when we feel we've got matchup opportunities... What he brings to our team is more than just on a stat sheet."
The focus will now quickly shift to a Saturday matchup with the VCU Rams (28-7), who overcame a 19-point deficit in the opening round as a No. 11 seed against the No. 6 seed North Carolina Tar Heels (24-9) in an 82-78 overtime appetizer in Greenville Thursday night.
Amir Khan took the college basketball world by storm in 2025. One year on, he remains a reminder of the magic of March.
Khan entered tournament play a relative unknown, having avoided the spotlight while mopping floors and handing out towels as one of McNeese State’s managers. His distinctive flair could not be blighted as the Cowboys made their run through the tourney, however — not as he wielded his trusty boombox, fired off fiery rap lyrics and dressed in the finest furs.
Khan is stitched into the quilt of March’s mayhem, placed alongside other college basketball heavyweights like the late Sister Jean and “One Shining Moment.” His passion for his alma mater knows no bounds. Still, his whereabouts have garnered interest. Khan swapped McNeese State for an ACC powerhouse ahead of the 2026 season, only to make a stunning U-turn one month later.
Here’s what you need to know about Khan, his stunning departure from McNeese State and subsequent rebirth as manager to the stars with the Cowboys.
Khan was the darling of the 2025 NCAA tournament, coming to prominence as McNeese State's manager. Known for his stirring rendition of classics like "In and Out" by Lud Foe, Khan was the name on the lips of a great many college basketball enthusiasts during the tournament. It didn't hurt that the Cowboys bested Clemson in the Round of 64, extending his time under the spotlight.
A Lake Charles, Louisiana native, Khan grew up a stone's throw from McNeese State's campus. Despite his hometown ties, Khan actually grew up an LSU fan. He watched on as Will Wade brought the Tigers back to relevance, leading the side to three tournament appearances.
Wade's tenure in Baton Rouge ended in controversy. He was fired in March 2022, the same month the school was notified of allegations from the NCAA detailing several Level I violations involving Wade. He was summarily handed a two-year show-cause penalty.
McNeese State offered Wade a lifeline, hiring him upon the expiry of his ban. Khan was already enrolled at the school at the time of Wade's hire. He felt that the opportunity to serve under Wade was too good to pass up.
Khan is in his third season as the Cowboys' manager. His swiftness of feet is the stuff of legend in his slice of Louisiana, immortalized by a quote that features in his official managerial bio:
"If they kept manager stats for rebounding and wiping up wet spots on the court, I'd put up Wilt Chamberlain numbers."
That bravado rubbed off on the masses of viewers who tuned into McNeese State contests during the 2025 NCAA tourney.
"As a manager, you don't expect this kind of attention," Khan told The Sporting News in 2025. "So just seeing brands reach out to me, coaches from across the country, people saying 'I'm a big fan,' it means a lot to me. I appreciate all the love and support, but I never expected all of that. But I've definitely been enjoying all of it."
Amir Khan nickname
Khan's nickname is "Aura." The origins of the moniker are a bit murky, although it seems to have emerged after videos of Khan invoking famed rappers went viral.
"Some of the players they mess around with me and they're like, 'hey, look, it's Aura,'" Khan said. "But I definitely still go by Amir."
Amir Khan March Madness highlights
Khan racked up the highlights in his McNeese State's fifth-ever tournament appearance. He led the Cowboys out with his patented boombox ahead of their proceedings.
Amir Khan leads the McNeese walk out vs. Clemson 🔥
Following the Cowboys' memorable run in tournament play, Wade drew interest as one of the coaching carousel's biggest names. NC State was linked heavily with McNeese State's taskmaster during the tournament. Shortly after it was bounced, news broke that Wade agreed to a six-year deal with the ACC side.
Khan, a self-described Wade acolyte, planned on following him to Raleigh. CBS Sports' Matt Norlander reported that Khan was set to field "additional roles and responsibilities" in his new home. Khan was tipped to become a graduate assistant, an apparent step up from his managerial role.
"Coach Wade called me himself to say, 'Amir, we would love to have you there,'" Khan told ESPN. "'We'd love to have you here.' ... For Coach Wade to call me personally and say that he wants me [at NC State], it meant a lot to me."
Wade offered Khan a platform to become a social media sensation during his time in McNeese State. That decision proved profitable for Khan, whose earnings from his NIL deals reportedly hang somewhere in the six figures range.
Why did Amir Khan return to McNeese?
Khan tried his luck in Raleigh. But after a few months at his new campus, he felt homesick.
So he decided to go home. Khan entered the transfer portal in Dec. 2025. By the end of the semester, he was back at McNeese
His decision to transfer was motivated by a few factors. Khan’s credits didn’t properly transfer, leaving him in something of an academic quagmire
"It pushed me back to being a sophomore,” Khan said. “So I’m a senior [at McNeese], so I decided to come back and get my degree. That was really the reason why I left in the middle of the season, so I could be [at McNeese] for next semester and try to graduate this upcoming semester."
He also yearned for the chance to return to his native Lake Charles.
“I just wanted to be back home,” he said. “I think NC State was amazing. I loved the city, loved the campus, loved the players on the team. There was no animosity whatsoever. I just wanted to be back with McNeese. It means a lot more to me to work for McNeese.”
Miami (Ohio) has an array of shooters, a high-powered offense and a unique level of confidence. The RedHawks also have a secret weapon: John Cena.
Junior forward Eian Elmer is a noted fan of Cena, and a now-retired Cena is showing the love back to Elmer and the RedHawks.
Elmer did Cena's signature hand wave after Miami's First Four win over SMU, and there's no telling what the ceiling could be for the RedHawks now that they have the wrestling great on their side.
Here's what you need to know about the connection between Elmer and Cena.
Elmer is a longtime fan of Cena, and Miami has incorporated Cena's signature "You can't see me" hand wave gesture into its celebrations this season. While the exact history between Elmer and his wrestling fandom isn't clear, the RedHawks have found inspiration through Cena during their remarkable season.
After Cena heard about his role in Miami's success this season, he sent a message to Elmer in particular ahead of the RedHawks' First Four game. It may be no surprise, then, that Miami advanced past SMU despite entering as an underdog. Elmer led the team in scoring despite foul trouble limiting him to 23 minutes, as he scored 23 points and drilled six 3-pointers with the power of Cena behind him.
Elmer and the rest of the RedHawks celebrated with Cena's "You can't see me" hand wave while doing an on-court interview after their First Four win, and Elmer led another hand wave celebration in the locker room:
Cena thanked Elmer and the RedHawks for finding inspiration in him, and he offered sage advice after an undefeated regular season. "My advice to you is may we never perfect. I choose to use the word 'undefeated' because there is always reflection we can have in our moments, and we get a takeaway if life seems to hand us a plan that we haven't accounted for yet."
After watching the video, Miami coach Travis Steele joked, "AI is incredible," but Elmer knew Cena himself took the time to reach out and was nearly speechless.
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Illinois needed a get-right game. The fans at Bon Secours Wellness Arena probably needed a rest from the nail-biters.
The third-seeded Illini delivered both late Thursday night with a good old-fashioned blowout of No. 14 seed Penn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Illinois turned a 10-point halftime lead into a 105-70 rout, wearing Penn down with its powerful, deep offense to advance to Saturday’s second round against No. 11 seed VCU.
The Illinois-Penn matchup was not supposed to be one of those March Madness beauties, and it wasn’t, though Penn kept it close in the first half.
Illinois freshmen David Mirković and Keaton Wagler led the way in their first NCAA Tournament appearance. Mirković had 29 points and 17 rebounds, getting a standing ovation from the Illini fans who made the trip when coach Brad Underwood took him out with 5 minutes to play.
Wagler had 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Kylan Boswell added 13 points, and Tomislav Ivišić had 12 points and seven rebounds, scoring seven points early in the second half to help spark the surge.
This looked more like the Illini team that won 24 games in the regular season, sporting a dominant offense in which any number of talented players can make massive contributions.
On defense, the Illini shut down Penn forward TJ Power, who scored 44 points in the Ivy League Tournament championship game Sunday. He missed Wednesday’s practice with an illness but started Thursday. Power, defended by Boswell and Andrej Stojaković early, had just six first-half points on two 3-pointers, one at the halftime buzzer. That was all he scored.
Illinois pulled to a 13-point first-half lead after back-to-back Mirković baskets inside. But Penn went on a 9-0 run, including three jumpers from senior guard Michael Zanoni.
The Illini survived a stretch of 7:19 when they made only one field goal and two free throws as Penn drew within five points. But a Mirković 3-pointer, followed by another 3 from Ben Humrichous, broke through the drought.
Zanoni finished with 20 points for Penn.
VCU stormed back from a 19-point deficit to beat North Carolina 82-78 in overtime. The Rams trailed by 14 with 7:11 to play but went on a 12-0 run to cut it to two points with 3:56 to play.
Sophomore guard Terrence Hill Jr. made the tying layup in regulation and then the go-ahead 3-pointer in overtime for VCU. He finished with 34 points, five rebounds and five assists.
North Carolina committed seven of its eight turnovers in the second half, including a five-second call on an inbounds play and a Henri Veesaar lost-ball turnover, both in the final 28 seconds.
The No. 3 seed Gonzaga Bulldogs will try to make a deep run in the tournament. They'll have to get by No. 14 seed Kennesaw State Owls in the first round of the Big Dance on Thursday night.
Gonzaga won the West Coast Conference title and will come in needing a boost after some down time. On the other hand, Kennesaw State won the Conference USA Tournament title to earn an automatic bid. These schools are meeting for the first time ever.
Here is a look at the box score from Thursday's first round West Region game in Portland.
Kennesaw State vs. Gonzaga March Madness box score
If you want to max out on college basketball, this is the day.
Friday features wall-to-wall NCAA men's and women's tournament games, 32 in all, with tip times ranging from 11:30 a.m. to 10:10 p.m. ET.
As always, it figures to be one of the least productive workdays of the year across America as fans monitor their brackets and sneak a peek at their favorite teams throughout the day and deep into the evening.
Among the main attractions on tap Friday in the men's bracket: Title hopefuls like Arizona, UConn, Purdue and reigning champ Florida get into action, and we'll get a look at how Kansas plans to use potential top NBA Draft pick Darryn Peterson after an erratic pattern of regular-season playing time.
On the women's side, Texas is the lone No. 1 seed set to take the court today, and dangerous LSU and Michigan teams will also get their chance to make a statement out of the gate ahead of what they hope will be a deep run through the bracket.
Whatever you're looking for, Friday should have it somewhere across about 13 consecutive hours of basketball. Here's when and where to watch every game.
Friday's 32 March Madness games will air across eight broadcast networks, with men's games on CBS, TNT, TBS and truTV and women's games portioned across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPNews. See the full game-by-game schedule below.
Fans who want to stream games live have numerous options led by DIRECTV, which will carry every men's and women's game.
Men's games on CBS can also be streamed via Fubo and Paramount+, while every women's game will also be available on Fubo and the ESPN app.
St. Louis secured an impressive victory over the Georgia Bulldogs on Thursday night, 102-77. The St. Louis Billikens, representing Saint Louis University (SLU) in the Atlantic 10 Conference, accomplished this remarkable win as conference champions.
This moment truly embodies the excitement of March Madness, as an Atlantic 10 team defeats an SEC team. Prior to the game, Georgia was widely favored to win against the Atlantic 10 champions, but the sportsbooks' predictions did not reflect the night's outcome.
The Houston Cougars suffered a heartbreaking end to last season in the National Championship Game. However, this is their road to redemption.
Kelvin Sampson's team took care of the No. 15 seed Idaho Vandals with a 78-47 win in the South Region in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night. Kingston Flemings had 17 points for the Cougars, who bounced back after a 79-74 loss to Arizona in the Big 12 title game. On the other side, Idaho first tourney appearance since 1990 was short-lived.
Here is a look at the box score from Thursday's first round South Region game in Oklahoma City.
AJ Dybantsa’s freshman campaign at BYU is officially over.
Despite a commendable 35-point effort from the 18-year-old star forward against Texas in the Round of 64 on Thursday night, the Cougars were unable to win the rebounding battle (40-31 in favor of Texas) and get enough stops down the stretch to pull off a come-from-behind victory over the Longhorns.
Texas secured a 79-71 NCAA Tournament victory over BYU to advance to the Round of 32.
After the crushing eight-point loss, Dybantsa, a projected top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, discussed his immediate future with reporters.
Is AJ Dybantsa declaring for the NBA Draft after BYU’s loss to Texas?
While it’s a foregone conclusion that Dybantsa will enter his name into the NBA Draft, the future pro has yet to make a final decision on the subject. However, the Boston, Massachusetts native did walk reporters through his next steps after coming up short in the Big Dance.
“Just talk to my family,” Dybantsa said. “My mom ultimately, she kind of is the big boss, she kind of makes the decisions in life. Just talk to her, see what she says and y’all will get an answer in the next couple of weeks.”
Although Dybantsa has stated that his mom wants him to stay in school and earn his degree, it’s challenging to envision him spending multiple years at the collegiate level. The 6-foot-9 forward possesses the contested shot-making ability off the dribble (at all three levels), downhill physicality, and above-the-rim ability necessary to succeed in today’s NBA.
Dybantsa averaged 25.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game with BYU this season, shooting 51.3% from the field and 34.0% from beyond the arc. Expect Dybantsa to declare for the NBA Draft in due time.
Robbie Avila is a 6-foot-10 center at Saint Louis University, who was key to the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament against Georgia.
Interestingly, he is gaining a lot of popularity for his protective goggles and his nickname, "Cream Abdul-Jabbar," which is basically a nod to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He is also known as "Larry Nerd" or "Larry Blurred."
Another curiosity is that due to his resemblance to Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, Avila was also nicknamed College Jokic.
He was born in Oak Forest, Illinois, on Sept. 10, 2003. As a rookie, Avila averaged 10.7 points and 4 rebounds during his time at Indiana State and was named to the MVC All-Freshman Team.
During his junior year, Avila averaged 25.5 points and 11.5 rebounds at Oak Forest High School. He was subsequently ranked as the sixth-best player in the state of Illinois and the 54th-best power forward in the country, according to Patch.
Robbie Avila, aka 'College Jokic,' leads Saint Louis in March Madness
On Thursday, at the start of the game between St. Louis and Georgia, he was key to his team going into halftime up 49-32, with eight points (3-of-4 from the field), four rebounds, three assists, one block, and two turnovers. Not bad.
Avila was the constant focus of the CBS broadcast and the cameras, which also followed his family in the stands.
Robbie is now a senior, transferred from Indiana State — where he had already gone viral in 2024 for his uncommon combination of size and court vision — and comes in averaging about 17 points, seven rebounds, and four assists in the A-10 with St. Louis.
His reading of the game and his resources are making him a very striking figure in March Madness.
Ready, set, go. The first round of the women's NCAA basketball tournament is here. It's time for a weekend of basketball, kicking off Friday.
For 10 hours, 16 games will tip off throughout the country. That includes top squads like Texas, Duke, LSU, Michigan and more. Only time will tell whose season is done or whose dreams will continue.
Are you ready for some Madness? Here's how to watch today's women's March Madness games with a schedule and TV channels.
Women's March Madness games will be broadcast across the ESPN family networks, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPNews. Viewers can also stream every tournament game on the ESPN App and Fubo.
Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, plus SportsCenter, First Take, and all your favorite ESPN shows—anytime, anywhere—only in the new ESPN app.
The 2026 NCAA Tournament will continue on Friday with another loaded slate of first-round games.
No. 7 Kentucky and No. 10 Santa Clara will meet in the first contest of the day, and No. 7 Miami (Fla.) and No. 10 Missouri will close out the evening. Plenty of eyes will be focused on No. 11 Miami (Ohio) after the RedHawks beat SMU in a First Four game to set up a clash with No. 6 Tennessee.
Here is everything you need to know about the first round of the NCAA Tournament, including TV and streaming options for Friday's March Madness games.
NCAA Tournament games will air on CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV. Viewers can also stream March Madness games on DIRECTV (CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV), Fubo (CBS) and Paramount+ (CBS).
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You can listen to NCAA Tournament games live on SiriusXM. Channels for games are listed below.
New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
One of the better 8 vs. 9 matchups in the 2026 NCAA Tournament comes late on Thursday night. The Georgia Bulldogs face the Saint Louis Billikens in the Midwest Region.
No. 8 Georgia (22-10) has won three of its last four games coming into the tourney. No. 9 Saint Louis (28-5) won the A-10 regular season title. But they've dropped two of the last three and limp into this matchup. The Billikens are dancing for the first time since 2019 and Georgia makes a consecutive appearance.
Here is a look at the box score from Thursday's first round Midwest Region game in Buffalo, NY.
The Houston Cougars are set to face the Idaho Vandals in the NCAA First Round in Oklahoma City, and the matchup promises to be exciting. Houston, last year's tournament runners-up, reached the National Championship but lost to Florida in San Antonio. They are eager to build on a season filled with both highs and lows as they aim for a deep tournament run once again.
The Idaho Vandals enter the tournament as a 15-seed, hoping to achieve a major upset after winning their first Big Sky title in 36 years.
For the Houston Cougars, a victory will secure a game against Texas A&M, and a win there would allow them to host the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 at the Toyota Center.
Houston vs. Idaho score
Houston vs. Idaho live updates, results, highlights from NCAA First Round
FINAL: 78-47 Houston advances to take on Texas A&M in the hopes of advancing to their sixth straight Sweet 16.
11:01 PM: Houston leads 70-40 with five minutes remaining, Kingston Fleming still leads the Cougars at 18 points. Houston leads in rebounds, while Idaho has fought back it hasn't been enough for Houston's offense.
10:45 PM:Houston has maintined their momentum heading into the second half, standing at 57-33 with 12 minutes remaining. Idaho is struggling to turn plays into points.
10:09 PM HALFTIME: The Houston Cougars are dominating the first half, excelling in nearly every aspect of play against Idaho. Freshman Kingston Fleming is proving to be a valuable asset for the Cougars. Houston has secured 28 rebounds, with Chris Cenac Jr. leading the way with 12, while the Vandals have collected a total of 13 rebounds.
9:52 PM: Entering the final five minutes, the Houston Cougars have a 22-point lead. The brakes aren't being pumped anytime soon.Kingston Fleming leads the Coogs with 14 points, and the Cougars are dominating with rebounds, 23-11.
9:35 PM: Houston is on a 12-0 run with a 25-15 lead. The defensive unit is shining, forcing throws from the Idaho offensive unit.
9:30 PM: The first five minutes of action have been a thriller; Houston and Idaho are finding their rhythm.
Houston vs. Idaho start time
Date: Thursday, March 20
Time: 10:15 p.m. ET
The NCAA tournament game between Houston and Idaho is set to tip off at 10:15 pm ET.
Fans looking to stream Houston vs. Idaho can watch live on DIRECTV.
Catch every game of March Madness – try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live Soccer, MLB, and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.
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Potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft AJ Dybantsa lived up to every ounce of the hype during his NCAA Tournament debut. The future lottery pick certainly would have rather come out on the winning end of Thursday's Round of 64 contest against Texas, but those who watched the game won't soon forget Dybantsa's performance.
After leading the nation in scoring at 25.3 points per game and carrying BYU to a No. 6 seed, the freshman phenom proved that his elite skill set translates perfectly to the high-stakes environment of March Madness.
In BYU's 79-71 loss to Texas in Portland, Dybantsa was electric. The Brockton, Mass., native came out blazing hot with 20 points in the first half alone. He finished the game with 35 points and eight rebounds. And while his season is now over, the legacy he leaves behind at BYU is undebatable.
Here's more on Dybantsa's performance against the Longhorns.
Dybantsa led all scorers in BYU-Texas, flashing his playmaking ability from the first minute until the final buzzer.
Points: 35
Rebounds: 10
Assists: 1
Shots/Attempts: 11/25
Three Point Shots/Attempts: 1/7
Free Throws: 12/12
His 35 points was just four shy of the all-time record for a freshman, set in 2017 by De'Aaron Fox. Dybantsa put up a double-double in his only NCAA Tournament game, flashing every bit of brilliance he's become known for. Moreover, the freshman played 40 minutes, extending a streak where he's played at least 34 dating back to January 17.
In four postseason games, Dybantsa scored at least 26 points in each game. Sadly, his heroics were not enough for BYU, who saw its season end on Thursday night.
Most points by a freshman in an NCAA Tournament game
While several freshmen have had legendary runs, the gold standard for a single-game scoring performance remains held by De'Aaron Fox. Now a star for the San Antonio Spurs, Fox solidified his place in college basketball history during the 2017 NCAA Tournament while playing for the Kentucky Wildcats.
In a highly anticipated Sweet 16 matchup against UCLA, Fox was unstoppable, pouring in 39 points to lead Kentucky to an 86–75 victory. He shot 13-of-20 from the field and 13-of-15 from the free-throw line, outplaying fellow star freshman Lonzo Ball in the process. To this day, those 39 points represent the most ever scored by a freshman in a single NCAA Tournament game, surpassing the previous record of 35 set by Michigan's Loy Vaught in 1987.
Dybantsa has put together one of the most prolific freshman campaigns in college basketball history, entering the 2026 NCAA Tournament as the nation’s leading scorer. Averaging 25.3 points per game, he is on track to become the first underclassman to lead Division I in scoring since 2021. His elite efficiency is equally impressive, shooting 51.3% from the field and 76.4% from the charity stripe while consistently drawing fouls at a high rate (8.4 FTA per game).
His impact on the record books has been immediate and historic. In the Big 12 Tournament, Dybantsa broke Kevin Durant's 19-year-old record for most points in a single tournament, totaling 93 points over three games — headlined by a 40-point masterpiece against Kansas State. That performance made him the only Division I player this century to record a line of 40+ points, 5+ rebounds, 5+ assists, and 3+ steals on 70% shooting with zero fouls.
Dybantsa is 19 years old. He was born on Jan. 29, 2007, in Brockton, Massachusetts.
Because of his early 2007 birthday, Dybantsa is slightly older than the average college freshman, which has been a major factor in his physical readiness for the collegiate level. His age and development were key drivers in his decision to reclassify from the high school class of 2026 to 2025, allowing him to join BYU a year early. Despite playing against older competition this season, he has consistently been the most dominant physical force on the court, utilizing his 6-foot-9 frame and 19-year-old frame to lead the nation in scoring.
By the time the 2026 NBA Draft arrives in June, Dybantsa will be roughly 19 years and 5 months old.
One of the later games for the opening night of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Thursday features No. 3 seed Illinois against No. 14 seed Pennsylvania in the South Region. The Fighting Illini went 24-8 (15-5 Big Ten) during the regular season. On the other hand, the Ivy league Quakers were 18-11 overall and 9-5 in conference play.
Illinois has a 40-30 lead over Penn at halftime.
Here is a look at the box score from Thursday's first round South Region game in Greenville, SC.
Magic coach Jamahl Mosely stressed the importance of Orlando slowing down the Hornets from 3-point range and in transition when speaking with the media ahead of Thursday’s game at Charlotte.
The Magic failed to accomplish both tasks, and Mosley was unavailable for more than half the contest inside Spectrum Center.
With Orlando trailing by 15 points and roughly five minutes left in the second quarter, Mosley was ejected from the game after protesting a non-call against the Hornets.
The Magic allowed 72 points in the first half, fell down by 19 at the break and never recovered in a 130-111 loss against the Hornets, who outrebounded Orlando 41-31.
“When you’re playing a team like that, you give them an inch and they take a mile,” Magic guard Desmond Bane said. “You’ve got to be extremely locked in, disciplined on defense … They scored the ball in a variety of ways.”
Both sides entered 7-3 in their last 10 games, but for Orlando, the loss was its third in a row while Charlotte won its second straight.
Notching 110 points in the first three quarters, the Hornets (36-34) also secured the four-game regular-season series against the Magic 3-1.
The Magic (38-31) return home when the Lakers make their lone trip of the regular season to Kia Center on Saturday.
Mosley ejected
Although he’s picked up individual technical fouls in the past, Thursday’s game marked the first time in Mosley’s career that he had been ejected from a game.
Mosley picked up his first technical foul for questioning why a foul wasn’t called on the Hornets after Bane (24 points) tried to put back an offensive rebound. From there, Mosley continued to protest the non-call and eventually earned a second technical, resulting in the ejection from head official Scott Foster.
“I’ve got to be better for our group in that situation,” Mosley said about his ejection. “But listen, I thought we went to the basket a couple times, didn’t get a couple calls that were very similar on the other end and just a level of consistency in that. So, that’s what I was fighting for, for our guys to be able to see that if we’re going to play a physical style of basketball, which we do, that I’m OK with it being called on the other end, as long as we’re getting the same call on our end.
“Again, our guys wanted to continue to fight, keep fighting no matter what’s going on in the game. And I’ve got to be better in that situation to not put us up against the wall there,” he added.
Magic assistant coaches Dale Osbourne and Joe Prunty attempted to bring Mosley back to the bench but their efforts in corralling the upset coach were unsuccessful.
Prunty, who coached the second half of a Nov. 22 game for the Magic against the Knicks after Mosley dealt with an illness, served as the acting head coach the rest of the night.
Magic guard Jalen Suggs (nine points in 22 minutes) also received a technical foul from Foster in the first quarter.
Second-quarter swing
Mosley’s ejection wasn’t the only thing that went wrong for the Magic prior to halftime.
The Hornets outscored Orlando 38-21 in the second quarter, sunk seven 3-pointers and limited the Magic to just four points in the paint.
Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel scored 12 of his 17 points in the second frame.
Charlotte didn’t slow down from there either, building their lead up to as many as 35 points in the third quarter.
Difference from distance
Charlotte entered the contest with the third-best 3-point percentage in the NBA (37.8%) and averaged the most made 3s per night (16.1).
On the other end, Orlando ranked 26th in 3-point percentage (34.5%) and 24th in made triples per night (11.8). The difference between the sides couldn’t have been more glaring.
In the third quarter alone, the Hornets shot 9 for 16 from beyond the arc while the Magic shot 1 for 11.
Overall, Charlotte ended 22 for 46 (48%) and held Orlando to 33% from distance (14 for 42).
Carter update
Wendell Carter Jr. missed his fourth game of the season due to a left rib mild contusion. He wasn’t added to the team’s injury report until 2 p.m., or roughly five hours before Thursday’s tip-off.
Mosley said before the game Carter will receive treatment, and the team will see how he responds to that over the next day or so.
Orlando was also without Anthony Black (left lateral abdominal strain), Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain injury management) and Jonathan Isaac (left knee sprain)
Honoring Curry
At halftime of Thursday’s game, the Hornets honored franchise great Dell Curry by retiring his No. 30 jersey.
Curry, the father of Stephen and Seth Curry, was the franchise’s leader in games played (701), points scored (9,839), field-goals made (3,951) and 3-pointers made (929) when he retired in 2002.
“He’s been a centerpiece for this organization (and) for this city for so long,” Mosley said before the game. “You’re retiring his jersey because of the numbers he put up, but I think it’s more about the human being he is … always carrying a smile on his race.”
The Texas Longhorns are coming off a thrilling buzzer-beater victory over NC State in the First Four and are now set to face the BYU Cougars in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday evening, with tip-off scheduled for 6:35 p.m. CDT.
Texas, under first-year head coach Sean Miller, aims to make a deep tournament run, relying on guards Jordan Pope and Tramon Mark to deliver crucial perimeter scoring and playmaking.
On the other hand, BYU boasts one of the most talked-about freshmen in the country, AJ Dybarta, a projected top NBA draft pick who has been the driving force for the Cougars throughout the season.
Texas vs. BYU score
Texas vs. BYU live updates, results, highlights from NCAA First Round
8:06 PM: Texas has maintained its lead opening the second half, leading by 12 points with 12 minutes left. BYU is struggling to keep up with small bursts of energy, but no real progression. Texas leads by more than half from points on the board vs. BYU.
7:50 PM: BYU analysts are speaking the truth; it's a matter of survival and advancement for BYU in the second half.
Sure feels like the first five minutes of this second half will determine if BYU’s season will continue or they’ll be one-and-done.
Defend with some semblance of heart/pride, clean up on the glass & keep generating high-percentage looks on offense
1ST HALF: It was a scoring sensation for both Texas and BYU. Heading into the half, the Longhorns found a last-minute push to dominate 46-37. The freshman sensation AJ Dybarta is at 20 points, 7-13 FG (54%), while the rest of BYU is dragging at 17 points, 7-15 FG (47%).
AJ Dybantsa in 1st half vs Texas: 20 points, 7 for 13 FG (54%)
BYU vs. Texas will be aired on TBS, with Brad Nessler, Wally Szczerbiak and Jared Greenberg on the call.
Fans looking to stream BYU vs. Texas can watch live on DIRECTV.
Catch every game of March Madness – try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live Soccer, MLB, and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.
Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.
After three years as a role player, averaging less than 10 minutes per game at Washington State, Gardner chose to spend the fourth year of her college career at nearby Idaho.
Nearly a year after making that decision, Gardner and her fellow Vandals on the Idaho women's basketball team find themselves in the NCAA Tournament.
The 13th-seeded Vandals (29-5) will challenge fourth-seeded Oklahoma (24-7) at 7 p.m. Friday (ESPN) on the Sooners' home court in Norman, Okla.
The 15th-seeded Idaho men (21-14), also playing March Madness in Oklahoma, will face second-seeded Houston (28-6) at 7:10 p.m. today (TruTV) at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City (see "Vandal men building a culture" below).
"These coaches had so much trust in me, and I'm very thankful that they took a chance (on me)," Gardner said shortly after learning the Vandals' fate at a Selection Sunday watch party at ICCU Arena in Moscow. "I got to show what I can do, and especially with my teammates (trusting) me too. We wouldn't be here if the whole team didn't trust each other."
The right opportunity
Gardner's first game in the black and gold brought her to a familiar place: Beasley Coliseum in Pullman for the Battle of the Palouse.
Against her former team, the Raymond, Wash., native doubled her career high with 26 points, including 18 points in a 27-7 Idaho run that shattered a double-digit WSU lead.
The senior guard's sixth 3-pointer of the afternoon tied the game in the final minute and her blocked shot sealed the 87-85 victory for the Vandals.
It was a key win that set the stage for Idaho's historic season.
"She's the type of player that thrives with freedom," Idaho coach Arthur Moreira said after the Vandals beat WSU in November.
Gardner said that her former teammate, Charlisse Leger-Walker, now with the top-seeded UCLA Bruins after working her way back from a major knee injury, congratulated her on the win over Wazzu.
"She's someone I look up to and I'm very grateful for her, because she's taught me so many things," Gardner said. "She's an amazing player."
The Battle of the Palouse win was Idaho's first of a program-record 29 victories this season.
Four months later, the Vandals won the Big Sky regular season and tournament titles to punch their ticket to the school's first NCAA Tournament in 10 years.
It's a remarkable transformation for the Vandals, led by second-year coach Moreira.
Moreira said he is incredibly grateful that the Vandals took such a dramatic step forward, particularly because of the sacrifice and opportunity of seniors such as Hope Hassmann, Gardner and others.
"People come here because they know we have a good program. They love our community. I mean, our campus is super easy to sell, but they also come here because they want to win," Moreira said. "So them believing in that vision and now we can accomplish that, it means a lot."
In Moreira's system, Gardner has thrived, posting 12.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game — all good for second best on the team.
The chance to stay on the Palouse was also a blessing for Gardner off the court, as she got to stay close to her boyfriend and now fiancé, Tristan West. Gardner announced their engagement with an Oct. 27 Instagram post.
West has been in the stands for most of Gardner's games this year.
The two met online several years ago and went out to dinner, where West found out that Gardner played basketball, West said. The relationship took off and West became a Cougar — and now, Vandal — basketball fan.
West, a city of Pullman employee and third-generation Palouse farmer, said that he was happy that Gardner found the opportunity that she did at UI.
"I knew what she was capable of on the court and what type of person she was, and she just didn't quite get to show that — her full potential — at WSU," West said. "But she came here, and it was a great fit, and she's gotten lots of minutes, and she's shown what she can do and what we all knew she could do and I'm super proud of her."
Gardner said that West has been one of her biggest supporters.
"He knows how hard it was for me at WSU," Gardner said. "He's always just been that support person for me, and I'm grateful for him to be in my life because I don't think I would have made it as far as I did without him being there."
Vandal men building a culture
Idaho sophomore Miles Klapper hasn't forgotten his early taste of March Madness.
"My dad took me to one at the SAP Center, where the San Jose Sharks played when I was really little, and (we) watched Xavier beat Arizona," Klapper said. "It was kind of like my very first memory of just how cool the experience was."
Klapper was in the building for 11th-seeded Xavier's 73-71 takedown of second-seeded Arizona on March 23, 2017.
Nine years later, Klapper and the Idaho men are seeking an upset of their own over the Houston Cougars — last year's national runner-ups.
The path for Klapper and his teammates to become the group that took Idaho back to March Madness for the first time in 36 years began three years ago with the hiring of coach Alex Pribble.
Pribble, then an assistant at Seattle U, had a vision for the program.
"That vision was bringing in high-character young men who would represent this university well, who would set records in the classroom, who would be mentors to the young kids in the community and who would compete for championships on the court," Pribble said during his Selection Sunday news conference.
Klapper said he had been in conversation with Pribble about an opportunity at Seattle U and did not hesitate to follow him to Moscow.
It wasn't an easy journey for Idaho to climb the Big Sky Conference's mountain.
"Coming in Year 1, we obviously faced a lot of adversity, but the biggest thing we did was just lay the groundwork in the culture, and every year since (then), we've just gotten progressively better," Klapper said. "Even this year, we faced a lot of adversity, but just came together at the right time."
Idaho finished the regular season as the seventh-best team in the Big Sky by conference record.
Over the course of five days in Boise, the Vandals ran the table and won the tournament title.
Klapper didn't just sit on the bench. The third-year Vandal guard posted 11 points in 21 minutes on the floor during Idaho's quarterfinal upset of second-seeded Montana State on March 8.
The Hillsborough, Calif., native said that he felt like his defense kept him off the court during his first two years of college and so he kept working on it.
"Now it's one of those things that — it's almost like a skill of mine," Klapper said. "I think I can really go out there and help our team defensively."
Klapper said that through all of the text messages, phone calls and special events related to March Madness, he is grateful.
"I'm just trying to really soak it up and really enjoy it, because this is really a once-in-a-lifetime thing. You know, there's no guarantee that any of us will come back here. So really trying to just stay in the moment, be grateful for it, and, you know, enjoy it."
Where to watch the Vandals
The Vandals are in the Big Dance and the madness may be best observed with a drink in your hand and passionate fans beside you.
Three locations in Moscow — The Corner Club, Forty Two and La Casa Lopez — will host watch parties for Vandal basketball squads on Thursday and Friday nights, Idaho announced in a social media post.
Zone 208 in Lewiston will also host watch parties, alongside locations in Coeur d'Alene, Boise, Garden City and Meridian.
Taylor can be reached at 208-848-2260, staylor@lmtribune.com, or on X or Instagram @Sam_C_Taylor.
Mar. 19—UD Arena is playing host to two Division IIII boys state semifinal games Thursday evening.
Trotwood (22-4) is facing Toledo Central Catholic (23-3) for a trip to the state championship game at 6 p.m. Both teams are in the semifinals for the seventh time overall and are seeking what would be their third championship game appearances.
The winner will play either Steubenville or Akron Archbishop Hoban at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Those two teams play one another in Thursday's second game of the evening.
Check back for more photos, video and news from the postgame.
OVERTIME
Trotwood can't stop winning close games.
The Rams do it again and will play for a state championship on Friday with a 55-53 victory.
Je'Carious Reaves helped run down nearly the final 1:36 off the clock with the game tied before he drove into the lane and scored with roughly three seconds remaining.
TCC's final heave down the court was picked off at midcourt.
Reaves leads all scorers with 16 points. Dennis scored 12, including the three most important of Trotwood's season to send the game to overtime.
FOURTH QUARTER
More late game magic taking place at the state tournament at UD Arena
Darius Dennis hit a three at the buzzer to send the game into overtime at 49
TCC built its lead to 10 before Trotwood had a short surge to cut its deficit in half Midway through the period
TCC hit one of two free throws with 15 seconds left to keep the open for Trotwood.
THIRD QUARTER
TCC heads to the fourth quarter ahead 39-32.
TCC took its first lead of the game, 29-28, off a Kingston Sito jumper right at the midway point of the period.
Trotwood only made one field goal over the initial six minutes of the quarter. Justyce Taylor broke free on the block for an open layup to stop a 7-0 TCC run and Reaves got a steal and fast break layup to tie the score seconds later.
After a 2-for-6 start at the free throw line, the Fighting Irish found some better success in the final two minutes with three straight makes to go back in front as they scored the final seven points of the quarter.
The only TCC player with any fouls committed is Kaeden Carruthers with three. No Trotwood player has more than two.
SECOND QUARTER
A 23-20 lead for Trotwood at the break.
Daveon Arnold leads all scorers with seven points at the break.
Trotwood jumped back into the lead with consecutive three-pointers made by Je'Carious Reaves and Arnold to go up 17-11. TCC has been stifled from getting looks inside and has needed to settle for jumpers.
The Fighting Irish were able to trade baskets for most of the period, but haven't been able establish a rhythm on offense.
The Rams have yet to trail at any point in the game.
FIRST QUARTER
Trotwood and TCC are tied at 11 after one.
The Rams led for most of the first quarter. Reaves, Arnold and Dennis all scored. Trotwood led 7-2 early before they began missing shots from three.
TCC tied the score twice at 9 and 11 in the final minute.
Mar. 19—UD Arena is playing host to two Division IIII boys state semifinal games Thursday evening.
Trotwood (22-4) is facing Toledo Central Catholic (23-3) for a trip to the state championship game at 6 p.m. Both teams are in the semifinals for the seventh time overall and are seeking what would be their third championship game appearances.
The winner will play either Steubenville or Akron Archbishop Hoban at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Those two teams play one another in Thursday's second game of the evening.
Check back for more photos, video and news from the postgame.
OVERTIME
Trotwood can't stop winning close games.
The Rams do it again and will play for a state championship on Friday with a 55-53 victory.
Je'Carious Reaves helped run down nearly the final 1:36 off the clock with the game tied before he drove into the lane and scored with roughly three seconds remaining.
TCC's final heave down the court was picked off at midcourt.
Reaves leads all scorers with 16 points. Dennis scored 12, including the three most important of Trotwood's season to send the game to overtime.
FOURTH QUARTER
More late game magic taking place at the state tournament at UD Arena
Darius Dennis hit a three at the buzzer to send the game into overtime at 49
TCC built its lead to 10 before Trotwood had a short surge to cut its deficit in half Midway through the period
TCC hit one of two free throws with 15 seconds left to keep the open for Trotwood.
THIRD QUARTER
TCC heads to the fourth quarter ahead 39-32.
TCC took its first lead of the game, 29-28, off a Kingston Sito jumper right at the midway point of the period.
Trotwood only made one field goal over the initial six minutes of the quarter. Justyce Taylor broke free on the block for an open layup to stop a 7-0 TCC run and Reaves got a steal and fast break layup to tie the score seconds later.
After a 2-for-6 start at the free throw line, the Fighting Irish found some better success in the final two minutes with three straight makes to go back in front as they scored the final seven points of the quarter.
The only TCC player with any fouls committed is Kaeden Carruthers with three. No Trotwood player has more than two.
SECOND QUARTER
A 23-20 lead for Trotwood at the break.
Daveon Arnold leads all scorers with seven points at the break.
Trotwood jumped back into the lead with consecutive three-pointers made by Je'Carious Reaves and Arnold to go up 17-11. TCC has been stifled from getting looks inside and has needed to settle for jumpers.
The Fighting Irish were able to trade baskets for most of the period, but haven't been able establish a rhythm on offense.
The Rams have yet to trail at any point in the game.
FIRST QUARTER
Trotwood and TCC are tied at 11 after one.
The Rams led for most of the first quarter. Reaves, Arnold and Dennis all scored. Trotwood led 7-2 early before they began missing shots from three.
TCC tied the score twice at 9 and 11 in the final minute.
PHILADELPHIA —On the eve of UCF basketball’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in seven years, discussions surrounding a possible contract extension for coach Johnny Dawkins have already begun.
Dawkins, who is wrapping up his 10th season with the Knights, signed a two-year contract extension in 2024 that runs through the 2026-27 season. However, the final year of the deal is non-guaranteed.
UCF athletics director Terry Mohajir said the university is considering several scenarios regarding any future deal with Dawkins.
“We’ll talk to his representatives,” Mohajir told the Sentinel. “There are several different scenarios that we’re looking at — short-term extension or long, we’re going to look at some different options.”
Mohajir indicated that a governance process is involved in extending a contract, with UCF President Alexander Cartwright and the school’s Board of Trustees working with the athletics department on a new deal.
“We’re talking to his representatives and I’ve got to work through the university,” he said.
Mohajir said he sat down with Dawkins last season to discuss expectations surrounding the program.
“We had high expectations,” said Mohajir, who was in Philadelphia for UCF’s first-round game against UCLA on Friday. “No one has higher expectations for the basketball program than Johnny. Obviously, he lives it every single day.”
The Knights won a program-best nine Big 12 games this season, finishing eighth in the conference standings. The team also secured five Quad 1 victories, including wins over Texas A&M, Kansas, Texas Tech, BYU and Cincinnati.
The win over the Bearcats came in overtime in the second-round of the Big 12 Tournament.
Mohajir said he tries to avoid entering the last year of a coach’s contract unless there are expectations for that year.
“That’s kind of been our thing, if you look at our history of all of our sports, it’s pretty common,” Mohajir explained.
He went on to add that, because college sports are transactional, athletes are less likely to ask about coaches’ long-term contracts.
“No one asks how long coaches’ contracts are like they did 10 years ago,” Mohajir said. “They’re not asking about that because kids may not be there for five years now.”
Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.
PORTLAND, Ore. — There’s an age-old difference between the starting point guards of today’s NCAA West Region game.
When Hawaii’s Hunter Erickson was a senior at Timpview High School in Utah, Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. was a fifth-grader in Detroit.
“I am old,” said Erickson, 26, with a smile.
While All-American Acuff is a 19-year-old freshman sensation with a quasar-bright NBA future, Erickson is the dean of one of college basketball’s oldest rosters.
At the start of this season, the average age of a Rainbow Warrior was 23 years, three months. Erickson is one of five ’Bows who is married. After serving a two-year mission, Erickson was with BYU for two years, Salt Lake Community College for one season, and Utah for two before joining the ’Bows last June. He qualified for a sixth season because of the pandemic exemption and a one-time special waiver for playing at a junior college.
Although Acuff presents several challenges, Erickson has played against eventual NBA players, such as LJ Cryer, Andrew Nembhard, Jalen Suggs and Caleb Love.
“He’s a very talented player,” Erickson said of Acuff, and “you’re not always going to stop these guys. You’re not going to hold them to zero points. It’s not about that. It’s about getting them to take shots they don’t want to take. Long-range contested shots. Floaters. Deep floaters. Things like that. That’s our game plan. Hopefully we can execute.”
Erickson also has gained confidence through experience.
“Maybe that’s something I struggled with my first two years, going from starting, kind of being the guy on every team I’ve played on my whole life, until then it’s (a limited role) to adjust to,” Erickson said. “But it’s something that paid off in my career and allowed me to realize the value in accepting your role but also excelling at your role regardless of what it is. It’s doing what’s best for your team.”
Erickson has started all 32 games this season, including the past 15 at the point following Aaron Hunkin-Claytor’s season-ending injury.
“Big Fish” circles back to Oregon
For the second time this season, UH senior center Isaac “Big Fish” Johnson has circled back to Oregon.
Johnson, who was born in Oregon, lived in Roseburg, Ore., in his fifth- and sixth-grade years.
“I was a Ducks fan,” Johnson said of rooting for University of Oregon teams.
The father of a youth league teammate had a successful lumber business. He sponsored an event in which Johnson’s youth team played at halftime of a Portland Trail Blazers game at Moda Center.
In November 2021, Johnson, then a backup center for Oregon, faced his brother’s BYU team in a game at Moda. BYU won 81-49.
UH opened this season against Oregon in Eugene. And now Johnson will be back at Moda for today’s opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
“It’s a full-circle moment to be back here for March Madness in what could potentially be my last college game,” Johnson said.
Calipari has a “Classic” history
It was 30 seasons ago when Arkansas coach John Calipari brought his top-ranked UMass team to the 1995 Rainbow Classic in Stan Sheriff Center.
Star center Marcus Camby was injured in the Minutemen’s semifinal victory over USC. The next night, Camby came off the bench to score 20 points to help UMass defeat Syracuse and win the title.
That season, the Minutemen reached the 1996 Final Four, losing to Kentucky in the semifinals. The following year, the NCAA Executive Committee negated the Minutemen’s 1996 NCAA Tournament record because Camby accepted what was ruled to be “improper” gifts from agents.
Camby, who was the second overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, played 17 seasons. Calipari won a national title with Kentucky in 2012.
The fact that the NCAA basketball tournament is unpredictable. It feels like anything can happen, and that makes every game feel exciting.
Even though a 5-seed is almost always the favorite over 12 seeds in the first round, they don't always win. With everyone hoping for upsets for maximum chaos in the tournament, it didn't take long for a 12-seed to beat a 5-seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
High Point University entered the tournament as a 12-seed after earning an automatic bid from winning the Big South conference tournament. The Panthers were matched up with No. 5 Wisconsin, which earned an at-large bid from the Big Ten.
High Point is the epitome of what makes the tournament exciting, and pulled off the 83-82 upset win, their first in the NCAA Tournament in program history.
Here is more on High Point becoming a 12-seed that beat a 5-seed.
High Point pulled off the first big upset of the tournament and it was only the fourth game of the first day of the first round. The Panthers were trailing for most of the game, but did a good job at keeping the game close. High Point was fueled by some massive three-pointers from senior guard Chase Johnston. He was infamous for not making a two-pointer the entire regular season.
Johnston caught fire in the second half, hitting a three pointer from the logo, and another moving in the corner.
The guard then finally had a play that you'd only think Hollywood could come up. Johnston was on a breakaway, took the outlet pass and made a layup. It was his first non three-pointer and non free-throw of the entire season. It put High Point up 83-82. Wisconsin tried to throw the ball down the court to attempt a buzzer beater, but High Point intercepted it, ending the game.
12 seeds to beat a 5
High Point became the 57th 12-seed to register a win over a 5-seed team since 1985. Even though the matchup looks one-sided on paper, at least one 12-seed has advanced to the second round in all but five tournaments since 1985.
Year
Result
Score
1985
Kentucky def. Washington
66-58
1986
DePaul def. Virginia
72-68
1987
Wyoming def. Virginia
64-60
1989
DePaul def. Memphis State
66-63
1990
Dayton def. Illinois
88-86
1990
Ball State def. Oregon State
54-53
1991
Eastern Michigan def. Mississippi State
76-56
1992
New Mexico State def. DePaul
81-73
1993
George Washington def. New Mexico
82-68
1994
UW-Green Bay def. California
61-57
1994
Tulsa def. UCLA
112-102
1995
Miami (Ohio) def. Arizona
71-62
1996
Drexel def. Memphis
75-63
1996
Arkansas def. Penn State
86-80
1997
College of Charleston def. Maryland
75-66
1998
Florida State def. TCU
96-87
1999
Detroit def. UCLA
56-53
1999
Missouri State def. TCU
96-87
2001
Utah State def. Ohio State
77-68 (OT)
2001
Gonzaga def. Virginia
86-85
2002
Tulsa def. Marquette
71-69
2002
Missouri def. Miami (Fla.)
93-80
2002
Creighton def. Florida
83-82 (2OT)
2003
Butler def. Mississippi State
47-46
2004
Pacific def. Providence
66-58
2005
Milwaukee def. Alabama
83-73
2006
Montana def. Nevada
87-79
2006
Texas A&M def. Syracuse
66-58
2008
Villanova def. Clemson
75-69
2008
Western Kentucky def. Drake
101-99 (OT)
2009
Wisconsin def. Florida State
61-59 (OT)
2009
Arizona def. Utah
84-71
2009
Western Kentucky def. Illinois
76-72
2010
Cornell def. Temple
78-65
2011
Richmond def. Vanderbilt
69-66
2012
South Florida def. Temple
58-44
2012
VCU def. Wichita State
62-59
2013
Ole Miss def. Wisconsin
57-46
2013
California def. UNLV
64-61
2013
Oregon def. Oklahoma State
68-55
2014
Harvard def. Cincinnati
61-57
2014
North Dakota State def. Oklahoma
80-75 (OT)
2014
Stephen F. Austin def. VCU
77-75 (OT)
2016
Little Rock def. Purdue
85-83 (2OT)
2016
Yale def. Baylor
79-75
2017
Middle Tennessee def. Minnesota
81-72
2019
Oregon def. Wisconsin
72-54
2019
Liberty def. Mississippi State
80-76
2019
Murray State def. Marquette
83-64
2021
Oregon State def. Tennessee
70-56
2022
New Mexico State def. Connecticut
70-63
2022
Richmond def. Iowa
67-63
2024
James Madison def. Wisconsin
72-61
2024
Grand Canyon def. Saint Mary's
75-66
2025
McNeese def. Clemson
69-67
2025
Colorado State def. Memphis
78-70
2026
High Point def. Wisconsin
83-82
The 8-9 game is the closest two teams can be seed-wise in the bracket. Because of this, it is pretty common for the 9-seed to upset the 8-seed, though many don't view it as a true upset because they are generally considered evenly matched.
After that matchup, though, the 12-5 upset has historically been the most common upset in March Madness, with at least one happening in 26 of the last 31 seasons. After two 12-5 upsets in 2025, the first 5-12 matchup saw the 12-seed pull the upset.
The East region in the 2026 NCAA tournament is a gauntlet that features a handful of blue bloods and experienced coaches.
While Duke leads the way as the No.1 seed, Jon Scheyer is only in his fourth season as the Blue Devils' head coach. In order to make it to Indianapolis, Scheyer may need to go through several Hall-of-Fame-caliber coaches.
Over the course of the next two weekends, some of the biggest names in the sport will have to go against each other for just one Final Four spot. Here's a breakdown of which coaches make up the East region.
Scheyer took over for Mike Krzyzewski in 2022, but Duke hasn't lost a step. The Blue Devils have improved each year under Scheyer, and are the No. 1 overall seed for the first time since 2019 this year.
Scheyer's success shows that he is one of the brightest young coaches in college basketball, and he made his first Final Four in 2025. However, Scheyer is still looking for his first NCAA championship as a coach.
Dan Hurley, UConn
Hurley was a top high school coach for a decade before making the jump to college, where he has only continued his success. The former Seton Hall guard coach Wagner and Rhode Island before taking the UConn job in 2018.
Hurley specifically rose to prominence in the last three years, leading UConn to back-to-back National Championships. However, he's only made it out of the first weekend twice, albeit during both of his NCAA championship seasons.
Tom Izzo, Michigan State
Izzo is the second-longest tenured active coach in NCAA basketball, having coached Michigan State for the past 31 years. Over those three decades, Izzo 's Spartans have been a consistent presence in the NCAA tournament.
While Izzo has just one national championship, his five Final Four appearances is the fifth most in college basketball history. However, Izzo hasn't made the Final Four in the last five tournaments, the longest such drought in his career.
Bill Self, Kansas
Considering Bill Self has been the Kansas head coach for over two decades, his four Final Fours and two NCAA championships may be seen as a disappointment. Still, Self consistently produced one of the best teams in the country, and has 17 regular-season championships at Kansas alone.
Prior to joining the Jayhawks, Self had stops at Oral Roberts, Tulsa and Illinois. He has also made the NCAA tournament every season since 1998-99.
Rick Pitino, St. John's
In a region full of experienced coaches, Rick Pitino is the most experienced. The 73-year-old began his head coaching career at Hawaii in 1975 and has coached seven different college teams since then.
Pitino's career includes NCAA championships at Kentucky and Louisville, although a chunk of his wins and his title at Louisville were vacated by the NCAA. Still, Pitino has always proven to be perhaps the best coach in college basketball.
Mick Cronin, UCLA
Mick Cronin is known for his consistency, as he's made 13 of the last fourteen NCAA tournaments. Cronin's coaching career began at Murray State before taking over at Cincinnati, where he led the Bearcats to nine-straight appearances.
Cronin joined UCLA in 2019, and made his first Final Four in 2021 with a 11-seeded Bruins team. UCLA has made the tournament five times in the last six seasons under Cronin.
Jamie Dixon, TCU
While Jamie Dixon doesn't have the accolades of some of his contemporaries in the East, he is extremely experienced himself. Dixon coached Pittsburgh for 13 years, making the NCAA tournament 11 times, and has now been at TCU for 10 years, making the tournament five times.
However, Dixon is still searching for his first trip to the Final Four. The 60-year-old came close a few times with Pittsburgh, but hasn't been able to make a serious run with the Horned Frogs.
The East Region has a combined seven NCAA championships, as four coaches come together to make up the total. That includes Rick Pitino's 2013 championship, which the NCAA has since vacated.
Final Four appearances
Tom Izzo: 8
Rick Pitino: 7
Bill Self: 4
Dan Hurley: 2
Jon Scheyer: 1
Mick Cronin: 1
Six coaches in the East region have reached at least one Final Four, totaling 23 overall appearances. Tom Izzo, Rick Pitino and Bill Self do the heavy lifting here, as they have a combined 19 trips to the Final Four.
March Madness appearances
The 16 East region head coaches have made a combined 131 March Madness appearances. Of those coaches, Izzo, Self and Pitino have all made the tournament at least 25 times, while Mick Cronin and Jamie Dixon have been to the dance 16 times each.
Conference championships
Of the coaches in the East region, 14 of them have won at least one conference championship. Overall, those 14 coaches have combined for 60 conference titles, as Rick Pitino leads the way with 16, while Bill Self has 10 himself
Career record
Coaches in the East region have a combined record of 5,211-2,610, which comes out to a winning percentage of around 66.7%. Eight of the 16 coaches have won at least 300 games, while five have at least 500 wins and three have at least 750 wins. Pitino once again tops everyone with 913 wins overall.
March Madness continues Thursday as North Dakota State faces Michigan State in a first-round NCAA Tournament matchup, with the Spartans looking to make another deep postseason run.
Michigan State flag is displayed as the Spartans play UCLA in a Big Ten Tournament men’s basketball quarterfinal at United Center in Chicago on Friday, March 13, 2026.
Michigan State enters the tournament as one of the more experienced teams in the field, led by head coach Tom Izzo, who has built a reputation for success in March. The Spartans are powered by guard Tyson Walker, a consistent scoring threat, along with A.J. Hoggard, who controls the pace and facilitates the offense. Their balance and tournament experience make them a dangerous team as the bracket gets underway.
North Dakota State is a potential upset candidate, bringing a disciplined offensive approach and strong perimeter shooting. The Bison are led by guard Boden Skunberg, who has been a key contributor throughout the season, helping guide the team through Summit League play and into the NCAA Tournament.
As with many 1st-round matchups, tempo will be a major factor. Michigan State will look to lean on its physical defense and half-court execution, while North Dakota State aims to spread the floor and capitalize on scoring opportunities from beyond the arc.
Fans can catch all the action as the NCAA Tournament continues Thursday.
Fans can watch every moment of the NCAA Tournament through DIRECTV.
Games throughout the tournament are broadcast on CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV, with DIRECTV packages providing access to all four networks, allowing viewers to stream every round live.
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TCU delivered the first true bracket-busting moment of the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament Thursday, knocking off Ohio State 66-64 in an East Region first-round matchup.
The 9-seeded Horned Frogs entered as slight underdogs against the 8-seeded Buckeyes, but quickly flipped expectations. TCU controlled the tempo early, building a double-digit lead in the first half and going up by as many as 15 points. Ohio State responded with a second-half surge, briefly taking the lead and appearing to validate the 67% of brackets that had picked the Buckeyes to advance.
Instead, TCU was stronger down the stretch. Coach Jamie Dixon’s group executed in the final two minutes with great defense and composed offensive possessions to close out the two-point victory.
The win marked the first major disruption of the bracket, with millions of entries busted before the tournament’s opening window had fully unfolded.
TCU’s path to this moment has been anything but conventional. The Horned Frogs endured an up-and-down regular season that included an early loss to New Orleans, raising questions about their consistency. However, they also proved capable of competing with elite teams, notching key wins over defending national champion Florida, along with Iowa State and Texas Tech.
Those flashes of high-level play carried into Thursday’s performance. With the victory, TCU advances to the second round and positions itself as an early tournament disruptor. They may not be finished busting brackets just yet
The First Four games marked the official start of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, but college basketball fans know that March Madness isn't in full swing until they can sit down and watch an entire day of action.
Thursday's slate will feature 16 games, beginning with No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 TCU in the afternoon and concluding with No. 2 Houston vs. No. 15 Idaho in the evening. No. 1 seeds Duke and Michigan will also hit the court and take on Siena and Howard, respectively.
Here is everything you need to know about the first round of the NCAA Tournament, including TV and streaming options for Thursday's March Madness games.
March Madness schedule today
Thursday, March 19
tr>
Game
Time (ET)
TV/Live stream
No. 9 TCU 66, No. 8 Ohio State 64
—
—
No. 4 Nebraska 76, No. 13 Troy 47
—
—
No. 6 Louisville 83, No. 11 South Florida 79
—
—
No. 12 High Point 83, No. 5 Wisconsin 82
—
—
No. 1 Duke 71, No. 16 Siena 65
—
—
No. 5 Vanderbilt 78, No. 12 McNeese 68
—
—
No. 3 Michigan State 92, No. 14 North Dakota State 67
NCAA Tournament games will air on CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV. Viewers can also stream March Madness games on DIRECTV (CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV), Fubo (CBS) and Paramount+ (CBS).
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You can listen to NCAA Tournament games live on SiriusXM. Channels for games are listed below.
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No more debates. No more projections. Let March Madness begin.
Led by Sporting News College Basketball Player of the Year Cameron Boozer, Duke (East Region) will enter the bracket as the No. 1 overall seed. Arizona (West Region), Florida (South Region) and Michigan (Midwest Region) earned the other No. 1 seeds in this year's tournament.
Of course, there are also plenty of underdogs hoping to make Cinderella runs. Which teams will navigate their way through a challenging bracket and reach the Final Four?
Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 NCAA Tournament, including TV and streaming options for each round of March Madness.
How to watch 2026 March Madness games: TV channels, live streams
NCAA Tournament games will air on CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV. Viewers can also stream March Madness games on DIRECTV (CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV), Fubo (CBS) and Paramount+ (CBS).
Catch every game — try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live college basketball, MLB, NHL and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1 and NFL Network — all included with DIRECTV.
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You can listen to NCAA Tournament games live on SiriusXM. Channels for games are listed on the official SiriusXM website.
New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
March Madness bracket 2026
You can download Sporting News' printable NCAA Tournament bracket (PDF) by clicking here.
All the anticipation is finally over — the 2026 Women's March Madness bracket has been revealed, and it's a doozy.
To no surprise, the defending champions UConn snagged the overall No. 1 seed in the tournament, meaning the Huskies will have a target on their back as they look to pull off back-to-back titles campaigns. UCLA, Texas and South Carolina round out the remainder of the regional top seeds.
But of course, upsets are the hallmark of March Madness. Fans should also be on the lookout for programs like LSU, Vanderbilt, Michigan, Ohio State, Duke, Iowa and more to make convincing campaigns throughout the coming weeks.
Who will defy the odds and become 2026 champions?
Here's everything you need to know about Women's March Madness, including TV channel, streaming options and score for each game of the 2026 NCAA tournament.
How to watch 2026 Women's March Madness games: TV channels, live streams
NCAA women's tournament games will air on the ESPN family of networks, along with ABC for the championship game. Viewers can also stream March Madness games on the ESPN app and Fubo.
Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, plus SportsCenter, First Take, and all your favorite ESPN shows—anytime, anywhere—only in the new ESPN app.
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NCAA women's tournament schedule, scores 2026
First Four
Wednesday, March 18
Game
Time (ET)
TV/Live stream
No. 11 Nebraska 75, No. 11 Richmond 56
—
—
No. 16 Missouri State 85, No. 16 Stephen F. Austin 75
You can listen to many NCAA Tournament games live on SiriusXM. Channels for games are listed on the official SiriusXM website.
New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
Women's NCAA Tournament schedule 2026
The 2026 women's NCAA Tournament will begin with the First Four on March 19 and March 20. It will end with the championship game on Sunday, April 5.
Round
Dates
First Four
March 18-19
First Round
March 20-21
Second Round
March 22-23
Sweet 16
March 27-28
Elite Eight
March 29-30
Final Four
April 3
Championship
April 5
NCAA women's tournament sites 2026
Here's a look at the host sites for each round of the 2026 women's tournament. The First Four, first and second round games will be played at campus sites, hosted by the top 16 seeds.
College basketball fans wait all year for March, and it's finally here. Women's March Madness is set to bring all the blood, sweat and tears to the court for the next several weeks.
If you weren't paying attention, you might confuse this year's top programs with last year's, as South Carolina, UCLA and Texas are still names to look out for. UConn hasn't faltered since graduating Paige Bueckers — the Huskies are the only undefeated squad heading into the big dance, with a winning streak predating their 2025 championship.
After a couple years in the shadows, programs like LSU and Iowa have also resurfaced and will surely be hungry for a title. From Sarah Strong to Hannah Hidalgo and Lauren Betts, this bracket is overflowing with talent.
Who will hoist the trophy on April 5?
Here's everything you need to know about Women's March Madness, including TV channel and streaming options for each game of the 2026 tournament.
NCAA women's tournament games will air on the ESPN family of networks, along with ABC for the championship game. Viewers can also stream March Madness games on the ESPN app and Fubo.
Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, plus SportsCenter, First Take, and all your favorite ESPN shows—anytime, anywhere—only in the new ESPN app.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
How to listen to NCAA women's tournament games on the radio
You can listen to many NCAA Tournament games live on SiriusXM. Channels for games are listed on the official SiriusXM website.
New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
NCAA women's tournament sites 2026
Here's a look at the host sites for each round of the 2026 women's tournament. The First Four, first and second round games will be played at campus sites, hosted by the top 16 seeds.
Here's a quick guide on how you can stream March Madness 2026 for free using trial offers from YouTube TV, Hulu+Live TV, Fubo TV, DirecTV Stream and more.
The third edition of the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament is here, with the top women's teams that don't make the NCAA field shooting to end their season with a trophy.
Thirty-two teams begin the journey to the semifinals and final, which will be played at Wichita State University this year for the first time.
Though the tournament's history is brief, the Big Ten is 2 for 2 in producing WBIT champions. Illinois won the inaugural event in 2024 and Minnesota took home the title last year.
Coaches hope a successful WBIT showing can be a springboard for the following season, and that has been the case for the Illini and Gophers, who each achieved better records and an NCAA bid the season after taking the WBIT title.
Who will be next to lift the trophy? Here's everything you need to know to follow this year's WBIT.
WBIT bracket 2026
The bracket for this year's WBIT has been revealed. See the full first-round game schedule below.
Where to watch WBIT 2026: TV channels, live streams
TV channels: ESPNU (semifinals), ESPN2 (championship)
Every game of the 2026 WBIT can be streamed live via the ESPN app, with the first three rounds set to be broadcast by ESPN+, the semifinals on ESPNU and the championship game on ESPN2.
Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, plus SportsCenter, First Take, and all your favorite ESPN shows—anytime, anywhere—only in the new ESPN app.
As the bracket mayhem begins, here's how to watch March Madness 2026 live streams from anywhere with college basketball TV channels and free streams explained.
Brace yourselves, college basketball fans. March Madness has finally arrived.
The 2026 edition of the NCAA Tournament will begin with First Four games on March 17 and 18, and it will conclude with the national championship game on April 6.
Arizona, Duke, Florida and Michigan are just a few of the contenders hoping to end the 2025-26 season with a celebration. Which squad will cut down the nets in Indianapolis?
Here is everything you need to know about this year's NCAA Tournament bracket, including key dates and TV and streaming options for each round.
NCAA Tournament games will air on CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV. Viewers can also stream March Madness games on DIRECTV (CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV), Fubo (CBS) and Paramount+ (CBS).
Catch every game — try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live college basketball, MLB, NHL and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1 and NFL Network — all included with DIRECTV.
Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.
You can listen to NCAA Tournament games live on SiriusXM. Channels for games are listed on the official SiriusXM website.
New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
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