The second day of the tournament is underway for the women’s NCAA Tournament.  Few upsets so far as Georgia has been the only higher seed to lose so far. But lots of strong performances have been on display.

Follow along for highlights from the day:

No. 6 Notre Dame 79, No. 11 Fairfield 60

Up next: No. 3 Ohio State

One of the most highly-anticipated second-round matchups is officially set, as No. 3 seed Ohio State and No. 6 seed Notre Dame will meet in Monday’s second round in Columbus. It will pit two of the nation’s most elite point guards, Ohio State’s Jaloni Cambridge and Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, against each other.

Hidalgo, the ACC Player of the Year and Notre Dame’s do-it-all guard, put on a clinic in the Irish’s 79-60 victory over Fairfield with an NCAA Tournament program-record eight steals. That feat came on top of 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists. She entered the tournament ranked second nationally with 807 points this season.

and we add another and @HannahHidalgo now has EIGHT https://t.co/WGpasD2aXm

— Notre Dame Women’s Basketball (@ndwbb) March 21, 2026

Meanwhile, Cambridge, a sophomore, ranked seventh nationally with 751 points this season. She reached the 1,000-point career mark this year in just 54 games, one of the fastest paces in program history. Cambridge had 21 points, two steals and two blocks in the Buckeyes’ first-round win Saturday morning over Howard.

Both reached All-America stature, though, because they are more than just scorers.

Cambridge’s speed is a difference-maker for Ohio State’s high-tempo offense and full-court press defense. She leads the Buckeyes in assists and ranks third as a rebounder, averaging 5.2 per game, the most among Ohio State guards.

Hidalgo exceeds any limits on the court. She leads the country with 173 steals and ranks second on the team in rebounding, as well.

The two aren’t strangers, either, playing with and against each other in the Team USA system.

“Another phenomenal guard like Jaloni, and to be able to go head-to-head with her, it’s going to be a fun game,” Hidalgo said. “Two quick guards too, she’s extremely fast, she ran track, so the foot speed is going to be crazy.”

This is the type of matchup the NCAA Tournament is known for, but it doesn’t often come this early in the tournament. It’s something, though, that Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey said is good for the sport. “It’s great to grow the game,” Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey said. “People want to watch women’s basketball, they want to see the great products on the floor. I think we have two of the best players on the floor.”

But Cambridge versus Hidalgo isn’t the only familiar matchup. Ohio State coach Kevin McGuff and Ivey have been linked together for years

McGuff, who spent time as an assistant at Notre Dame from 1996-2002, coached Ivey in her time playing for the Irish. Ivey called McGuff a mentor, but their lives have stretched beyond basketball. Ivey is the godmother to one of McGuff’s six children and is best friends with his wife Letitia. “He’s family,” Ivey said. “He’s somebody that I love, I love their whole family.”

That will bring a familiarity to Monday’s matchup, amplifying the intensity on the floor.

Notre Dame and Ohio State want to dictate the pace of play with their defense. Ohio State is 17th nationally with 706 turnovers forced, Notre Dame is 36th and forced Fairfield into 19 turnovers.

“I knew it was going to be an incredible game,” Ivey said. “Two dynamic guards and again a system that I’m familiar with.” — Cameron Teague Robinson

No. 10 Virginia 82, No. 7 Georgia 73 (OT)

Up next in Round 2: Winner of No. 2 Iowa vs. No. 15 Fairleigh Dickinson

It took 20 games, but the 2026 NCAA Tournament finally produced its first upset: No. 10 Virginia took down No. 7 Georgia to keep one double-digit seed alive. It took a seven-point comeback in the fourth quarter, a midrange jumper that was just short at the regulation buzzer and an entire extra session for the Cavaliers to pull away and advance to the second round for the first time since 2018.

Virginia is the second First Four team to win a game in the Round of 64, joining No. 11 Mississippi State in 2023, but the Cavaliers were also the highest-seeded First Four team in the 68-team era, earning a slightly easier first-round matchup.

No Virginia player had ever suited up in the NCAA Tournament in a Cavaliers uniform, but they had plenty of experience at previous stops. LSU transfer Sa’Myah Smith won a national championship as a freshman and was a starter on an Elite Eight team last season (she missed the 2024 tournament with a knee injury). She was a steadying force for Virginia with 22 points on 10-of-12 shooting, 11 rebounds and three assists. Smith had five points in the overtime as the Cavaliers pulled away.

Tabitha Amanze, who has played in the tournament twice for Princeton, and Romi Levy, who made her NCAA Tournament debut in 2025 for South Florida, had important defensive efforts for Virginia on Mia Woolfolk and Riley Theuerkauf. Levy also hit the game-tying 3 in regulation on an absurd banker.

That veteran presence should help the Cavaliers in the second round, likely a road game against No. 2 seed Iowa. Smith is no stranger to facing the Hawkeyes, and a familiar foe from 2023, Hannah Stuelke, awaits.

But the leader for Virginia was the homegrown Kymora Johnson, who has dazzled in her first March Madness. Johnson had the game-winning 3-pointer in the First Four against Arizona State to top off a 17-point, 10-rebound, five-assist night. The junior followed that up with 28 points, seven rebounds and six assists against the Bulldogs with only one turnover. It has been a star turn for the Charlottesville, Va., native who hasn’t had the opportunity to play on national television much but has certainly made some new fans over the last three days.

The Cavaliers had outscored the Bulldogs 13-6 over the final seven minutes of regulation, then finished the game on a 7-0 run.

Record-breaking temperatures soared to 88 degrees in Iowa City, which brought a little extra warmth to Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The building does not have air conditioning and was built 43 years ago inside a local crater. Courtside temperature approached the mid-70s at game’s end.

It’s been one of the wildest weather weeks in the region. On Selection Sunday, a blizzard gripped Eastern Iowa, sending temperatures to near zero with extra wind and several inches of snow. Virginia plays either second-seeded Iowa or 15th seed Fairleigh Dickinson on Monday, which has an expected high temperature of 53 degrees. – Sabreena Merchant and Scott Dochterman

Zoe Brooks’ availability uncertain

NC State coach Wes Moore said it was “hard to say at this point” whether junior Zoe Brooks will be available for the seventh-seeded Wolfpack’s second-round game against second-seeded Michigan on Sunday. The guard injured her foot midway through the third quarter in a first-round win over Tennessee on Friday evening and didn’t return to the game.

“Some of it may come down to just how she feels tomorrow,” Moore said on Saturday. “She won’t be practicing today. Taking all precautions with a boot, crutches, trying to keep weight off it.”

Brooks is the Wolfpacks’ second-leading scorer, and their leader in assists,  steals free throws. The junior has started 72 games during her career and has the highest usage of any NC State player this season.

If Brooks is unable to go, Moore will likely turn to freshman Destiny “Ky’She” Lunan as a ballhandler. Moore called on her after Brooks’ injury against Tennessee, and she played 23 minutes, the fourth-most of her career. Lunan has appeared in 30 games this season, averaging 4.5 points and 1.2 assists per game in 17 minutes of play.

“I’ve got a lot of confidence in her, and I think the other players do as well,” Moore said of Lunan. “Still not the same as having Zoe out there, a junior with her experience and all that she’s done, but either way we’ll be ready to play.”

With the hit to its backcourt, NC State would likely try emphasizing the paint more, highlighting senior Khamil Pierre and exposing a potential mismatch against Michigan forward Sofilkanich. Pierre, a Vanderbilt transfer, has led the Wolfpack in scoring and rebounding this season, averaging a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double.

Especially with a homecourt advantage, the Wolverines already had the edge going into Sunday but given Michigan’s talent and depth across its backcourt — Olivia Olson, Syla Swords, Mila Holloway and Brooke Quarles Daniels — replacing a veteran like Brooks with any freshman dampens the Wolfpacks’ chances at an upset. — Chantel Jennings

Day 1 highlights

You can read our first-day takeaways here. The most noteworthy events of the day included:

• Tennessee’s futile effort to extend its season, leaving the tournament on an eight-game losing streak of historic proportions.

• Minnesota’s 30-9 fourth quarter comeback at The Barn.

• Skylar Jones’ departure from Louisville.

• Duke withstanding a 36-point scoring barrage from Charleston’s Taryn Barbot.

How to watch

Here’s Saturday’s guide for watching the rest of the first-round games.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Virginia Cavaliers, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, North Carolina State Wolfpack, Ohio State Buckeyes, Georgia Lady Bulldogs, Alabama Crimson Tide, Women's College Basketball

2026 The Athletic Media Company

Louisville vs Michigan State box score: Full stats from 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The sixth-seeded Louisville Cardinals face the third-seeded Michigan State Spartans in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Louisville advanced by beating South Florida 83-79 in the first round on Thursday, while Michigan State convincingly defeated North Dakota State 92-67. 

The Cardinals (24-10), finished sixth in the ACC at 11-7, are 3-6 against ranked opponents this season. The Spartans (26-7), tied for the second best record in the Big Ten standings at 15-5, are 5-4 against ranked opponents this year.

Here is a look at the box score from Saturday's second round East Region game in Buffalo.

Louisville vs Michigan State March Madness box score

Louisville stats 

Michigan State stats

More college basketball news:

• Hubert Davis buyout, contract details as UNC Tar Heels coach
• Seven championship worthy teams in 2026 NCAA men’s basketball bracket
• John Calipari says college athletics is broken — Here’s his plan to fix it
• Fact check: AJ Dybantsa was paid $7 million-plus at BYU
• Where Arkansas Darius Acuff Jr. ranks among John Calipari's best NBA guards

NCAA tournament Cinderella team just offered Charles Barkley originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Only a day after his bold statement about his college basketball eligibility, Hall of Famer Charles Barkley received an offer from one of the most talked about team of the 2026 NCAA tournament.

High Point Panthers stunned the #5 Wisconsin 83-82 on Thursday, proving that their 30-win season was no fluke. In the postgame conference, head coach Flynn Clayman said that they aim to win six games. Barkley responded to the comment during ESPN’s March Madness segment.

“I got one year of college eligibility left, I’m going to get there by next game. That guy makes me want to play,” Barkley said.

HPU ready to sign Charles Barkley

After the former NBA forward’s comment went viral, the HPU Men’s Basketball account extended an offer to Barkley.

“Hey Chuck, you are blessed to receive an offer from High Point University! Due to only playing 3 years at Auburn, we feel positive about your waiver for immediate eligibility. Let’s work! -Coach Clayman,” the caption read. 

“Hey Chuck, you are blessed to receive an offer from High Point University!

Due to only playing 3 years at Auburn, we feel positive about your waiver for immediate eligibility. Let’s work!”

-Coach Clayman pic.twitter.com/jY8Q36wXAj

— HPU Men's Basketball (@HPUMBB) March 20, 2026

The graphic featured Barkley in a purple-and-white High Point #34 jersey. The joke, of course, centers on Barkley leaving Auburn early for the NBA Draft in 1984. 

The 11-time NBA All-Star is a close friend of HPU President Dr. Nido Qubein and has been a vocal ambassador for the school’s "Premier Life Skills" philosophy for years. 

The Hall of Famer’s praise didn't stop at the locker room fire. He pointed out that HPU’s success is about a refusal to be intimidated by Power Conference logos. 

“I said earlier, this is going to be a dangerous game for Wisconsin. It was a comfortable matchup, but that team has won 30 games. You win 30 games, you know how to win. You’re probably not intimidated,” Barkley said.

The 1993 NBA MVP went on to give a massive compliment to Flynn Clayman.

“I want to see that coach… you want to play for a coach like that.”

The High Point Panthers are set to go up against the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday in the Round of 32 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. 

More college basketball news:

• Chase Johnston's High Point stats: How 3-point sharpshooter compares to Jack Gohlke in March Madness
• High Point University has insane traditions you must see
• John Calipari says college athletics is broken — Here’s his plan to fix it
• March Madness upset predictions for 2026 NCAA men’s basketball bracket

Saint Louis vs. Michigan box score: Full stats from 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The No. 1 seed Michigan Wolverines will battle the 9th-seed Saint Louis Billikens in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday. This is one of the most underrated games in the next round with Michigan 11-1 in non-conference play during the regular season.

The Wolverines are led by Yaxel Lendeborg, who averages 14.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Saint Louis ranks fifth in the A-10, allowing 69.7 points per game while holding opponents to 37.7% shooting. Robbie Avila is averaging 12.9 points and 4.1 assists for the Billikens

Here is a look at the box score from Saturday's second round Midwest Region in Buffalo.

Saint Louis vs. Michigan March Madness box score

Michigan stats 

Saint Louis stats 

More college basketball news:

• Hubert Davis buyout, contract details as UNC Tar Heels coach
• Seven championship worthy teams in 2026 NCAA men’s basketball bracket
• John Calipari says college athletics is broken — Here’s his plan to fix it
• Fact check: AJ Dybantsa was paid $7 million-plus at BYU
• Where Arkansas Darius Acuff Jr. ranks among John Calipari's best NBA guards

On Thursday, Northern Michigan sophomore Cal Klesmit entered the D2 Transfer Portal. Not only did that raise eyebrows because he is former Wisconsin guard Max Klesmit’s brother, but also because of the season he had shooting the basketball.

Klesmit earned first-team All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) honors this season. He is a 6-foot-2 guard out of Neenah, Wisconsin. He started all 35 games this season, and averaged 12.2 points and 3.1 assists while shooting 41.8 percent from three on 6.4 attempts per game.

READ: 2026 On3 Transfer Portal Rankings

Since going into the Transfer Portal, Klesmit has had several schools reach out. Programs like Washington State, Green Bay, East Tennessee State, Cal State Fullerton, Albany, and Youngstown State all eached out within the first 24 to 36 hours.

Klesmit has had an interesting journey. He committed to Green Bay out of high school, but Will Ryan was let go. He then had a knee scope as a true freshman and a broken wrist as a redshirt freshman. Last year, his redshirt sophomore season, was his first full season playing basketball in a couple of years.

Green Bay is talking about getting him on a visit soon, and other programs continue to jump into the mix each day. Klesmit says that his Transfer Portal recruitment right now is wide open.

Good morning! Don’t chip a tooth today. Inside:

🏀 The madness so far

☕️ Whittingham’s odd split

⚾ Bold predictions

A Chalky Mix: It’s either bracket busters or blockbusters

Having fun now vs. having fun later. Not a bad option either way, I suppose.

In some years, the NCAA Tournament is heavy on early mayhem, but starts running out of star power before the end. Other years, it’s the opposite, a bit of a slog to get to the main events.

So far in this men’s tourney, we’ve gotten a sample of each flavor. After Thursday was loaded with seasonally appropriate thrills (and No. 16 Siena nearly finishing off No. 1 Duke, which I’m still not over), yesterday was heavy on chalk.

Biggest excitement: Kentucky needing a miracle along the way to beating No. 10 Santa Clara 89-84 in OT. A miracle complete with a timeout controversy, in fact. Observe:

Overall, for just the sixth time ever, all four No. 9 seeds advanced. Yesterday, that included Iowa’s 67-61 win over Clemson and Utah State’s 86-76 upset of Villanova. (Anybody have the Aggies, rather than NIL-heavy BYU, being Utah’s only team in the second round?)

Four double-digit seeds are also still alive, with No. 12 High Point the ranking Cinderella at the moment.

Nuggets on all of Saturday’s men’s games here, including Purdue’s Braden Smith breaking the NCAA’s career assists record and a 31-point, 27-rebound night from UConn’s Tarris Reed Jr.

Meanwhile, the women’s bracket has historically been light on opening-weekend upsets. Yesterday’s first day of Round 1 followed that trend, though No. 12 Colorado State nearly took down No. 5 Michigan State, 65-62. No. 7 Texas Tech trailed heading into the fourth but edged ahead of No. 10 Villanova, 57-52.

The highlight, in my opinion: College of Charleston’s Taryn Barbot putting up 36 points on No. 3 Duke in the Cougars’ first tournament game ever. Comfy 81-64 win for the Blue Devils, but that’s the most any player’s scored on them all year. (And her twin sister, Taylor Barbot, had 13.)

Full women’s takeaways here, with business picking up soon.

Side note! Since last year’s chalky men’s tourney produced so many worries about whether college sports’ financial inequalities have ruined March Madness forever, let’s take a look back at some of the most Madness-free moments since the bracket expanded to 64 in 1985:

1989: A nearly entirely basic Sweet 16, other than No. 11 Minnesota.

1991: Zero seeding upsets in the entire second round.

2000: Round 1 had a record-low three upsets, and the wildest was merely a No. 11 (Pepperdine) over a No. 6 (Indiana).

2007: The lowest-seeded Elite Eight team was No. 3 Oregon.

2008: The first time all four No. 1 seeds reached the Final Four.

2009: No. 12 Arizona was the only Sweet 16 team lower than No. 5.

2025: Matched the preordained Final Four of 2008 and Elite Eight of 2007.

Life’s certainly as hard as ever on mid-majors, but predictable tourneys were happening long before the Supreme Court told the NCAA in 2021 to stop barring players from making money. For now, March Madness still works. (And if nothing else, we still get to have fun later in the Final Four.) Notes below on today’s games. Now for some news.

News to Know

Whittingham wanted to stay at Utah

This is an odd story: New Michigan football head coach Kyle Whittingham told Utah he wanted to stay on for the 2026 season, according to records obtained by The Athletic — but received a counter-offer from Utah that said he’d have to cede some oversight over players and staff to defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley (his eventual successor). After Whittingham walked with an agreed buyout and then brought several Utah coaches with him to Ann Arbor, Utah’s AD said the school felt that Whittingham violated the buyout terms, but would let it slide. Hm. Not the parting you’d expect for a school legend coming off a 10-2 season. More here.

More news:

The worst team in the Eastern Conference two years ago, the Pistons became the first East team to clinch a playoff spot. What a turnaround.

Aaron Judge discussed the perception that Team USA played without joy in the World Baseball Classic. Read his comments.

The Thunder won’t be visiting the White House to celebrate their NBA championship because of a “timing issue.” Full story here.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order to — in theory, at least — protect the Army-Navy game’s exclusive December window from College Football Playoff expansion.

The longest active winning streak in women’s college basketball came to an end Thursday night, at 91. Take a bow, NYU.

The Nationals sent former No. 2 pick Dylan Crews to Triple A after a rough spring. More here.

A rehabbing Cristiano Ronaldo was left out of Portugal’s squad for an upcoming friendly against the U.S., continuing his almost 12-year streak of not playing on American soil.

📰 Find more news here 24/7.

Watch Guide

📺 NCAAW: First round

11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

ESPN networks

It’s hard to overstate how much of a favorite No. 1 UConn is in this tournament … and yet we managed to do it. The Huskies begin their repeat bid with -275 title odds per BetMGM — not -5000, as we wrote yesterday. Our apologies! We promise it’s true that they’re 55.5-point favorites against No. 16 UTSA today (3 p.m. ET on ABC). Tune in an hour earlier to channel-surf the day’s three best upset candidates, per our model.

📺 NCAAM: Second round


12:10 p.m.-9:45 p.m. ET

CBS, TNT, TBS and truTV

After barely avoiding a historic upset against Siena, a worryingly thin Duke will be desperate for the return of injured center Patrick Ngongba against TCU (5:15 p.m. ET, CBS). The most intriguing game is probably the nightcap between High Point and Arkansas (9:45 p.m., truTV/TBS): a Cinderella, a freshman scoring machine, and two teams that average 90-plus.

Get tickets to games like this here.

Pulse Picks

Roman Anthony for MVP? A Cy Young for Jacob Misiorowski? Eno Sarris is back with his 10 bold predictions for the upcoming MLB season.

Young children’s YouTube is mostly a soulless hell, but my 4-year-old has been at least 2% raised by this guy’s zany animated songs. Somehow they’re all at once educational, unpretentious, calming and legit funny. Just don’t tell our pediatrician. — Matt Piper

Is Las Vegas still the right choice for NBA expansion? Our experts weighed in.

I’m back with a verdict on the easy ricotta-cake mix cookies, and DANG — these things are neat!! They come out like single-serve, handheld cakes. They’re spongy and moist on the inside and firm on the outside. I topped mine with chocolate icing and cinnamon. — Lauren Merola

U.S. cross-country star Jessie Diggins will retire after this weekend’s races in Lake Placid, N.Y. Remarkably, as Matthew Futterman writes, she’s going out on top.

I’m far from the first person to share this on the sports internet, but the seemingly impromptu emotional deep dive between Thierry Henry and Micah Richards on “UCL Today” really impacted. I really recommend a watch. — Chris Branch

🎥 Ken Rosenthal shares what’ll be his lasting memory from the World Baseball Classic in his latest “Week in Baseball” video.

Last year, Wirecutter’s experts rigorously tested and recommended nearly 3,000 picks. Of those, 71 useful, delightful products stood out so much, we’ve crowned them the first-ever winners of our Best New Picks Awards. — Samantha Schoech

Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: NCAA men’s Day 1 takeaways.

📫 That’s all for now! Say hello at thepulse@theathletic.com, and check out our other newsletters.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Men's College Basketball, Women's College Basketball, The Pulse

2026 The Athletic Media Company

The first two days of March Madness 2026 are in the books! Only 32 teams are left standing, and half of them are going to be gone by Monday morning. This weekend will separate the contenders from the pretenders. Here are our game picks for Saturday’s Round of 32 action. Enjoy what promises to be an incredible weekend of college basketball!

MORE: Predicting the winner of March Madness 2026

Michigan over Saint Louis

This one should be a bit of a chess match, as it will be very interesting to see how Michigan will guard Robbie Avila (and who Avila will guard on the other end). If Aday Mara guards someone else and can sit in the paint, and gets the Avila defense, I think he could be in for a huge night. The Billikens will keep it close for a half, but expect Michigan to pull away in the second!

Michigan State over Louisville

I don’t like using the word “lucky,” but the Louisville Cardinals are very fortunate that South Florida, a good shooting team, had their worst shooting night of the season in the round of 64. Without Mikel Brown Jr, I expect Jeremy Fears to lock up Ryan Conwell, and the Sparty frontcourt will dominate on the other end. 

Duke over TCU

If you look up “wake-up call” in the dictionary, there should be a picture of Duke’s victory over Siena on Thursday. TCU is going to get the Blue Devils’ best. And Duke’s best, even with injuries, is one of the best in the country. The injury to Caleb Foster will not be as impactful as long as Cayden Boozer continues to play at a high level. 

Houston over Texas A&M

“Buckyball” got its first NCAA Tournament win against a sick Saint Mary’s on Thursday, but this style should not be effective against the Cougars. Houston’s experienced guards, Miloz Uzan and Emanuel Sharp, should be unfazed by the press. And Texas A&M is not a good rebounding team, which is a recipe for disaster against Houston. 

Texas over Gonzaga

Without Braden Huff, the Zags have been overly reliant on Graham Ike to generate offense through the post and grab rebounds, and they were not impressive in a first-round victory over Kennesaw State. Texas can pose a super unique matchup nightmare for Gonzaga — Matas Vokietaitis’ ability to draw fouls (the 3rd-best in the nation) could get Ike in early foul trouble, which would be worst case scenario for the Zags. 

Illinois over VCU

It was a terrifically entertaining comeback to watch, but VCU had some gaps exposed against North Carolina. Henri Veesaar ate the Rams’ front court alive to the tune of 26 points and 10 rebounds. How in the world are they going to slow down David Mirkovic and Tomislav Ivisic?

Vanderbilt over Nebraska

If you were to ask Fred Hoiberg who is the team he would LEAST want to see across from him in a potential 4-5 matchup before the bracket was released, his answer would have probably been Vanderbilt. The Cornhuskers have no one who can stay in front of Tyler Tanner or Duke Miles. There are multiple ways to combat this, whether they want to over-help or go zone, and either of those leads to additional catch-and-shoot opportunities for Tyler Nickel. The Cornhuskers are between a rock and a hard place. 

Arkansas over High Point

Don’t get it twisted — High Point is more than just a neat story with an on-campus steakhouse, outdoor pools, and a literal 3-point specialist. They’re a good basketball team with an elite offense and I expect them to be able to score enough to keep this game close. But ultimately, it’s going to be too much Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas as High Point will have no answers defensively.

— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

MARCH MADNESS: Predicting March Madness upsets in the 2026 NCAA Tournament

NFL DRAFT: New Mel Kiper NFL mock draft shows major impact of free agency

MLB: Dodgers announce Shohei Ohtani’s spring training pitching debut

NHL: Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl out for regular season with lower-body injury

ENTERTAINMENT: Is ‘Bachelorette’ still airing amid Taylor Frankie Paul domestic dispute allegations?
VIRAL: Livvy Dunne shares ‘Baywatch’ training with BTS swimsuit, set photos

Inside Illinois basketball roster: How Brad Underwood used European influence to build Fighting Illini program originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Brad Underwood has helped bring Illinois back to prominence, producing a consistent contender since being hired in 2017.

Underwood's success is partly due to his recruiting, as the 62-year-old coach looks beyond the United States to fill out his roster. His international recruiting has helped turn the Illini into a destination for players from abroad, as seen with his 2026 squad.

As the Fighting Illini aim to return to the Final Four for the first time in over two decades, Underwood is relying on several European players to lead the way. Here's how he built his team by going beyond the United States. 

MARCH MADNESS HQ:Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Latest news and more

Illinois basketball roster

Where is Illinois basketball roster from?

Illinois' roster comes from all over the world, as Brad Underwood has scouted globally to fill out the 15-man squad. Underwood acquired players from five different countries and one U.S. territory, including six players from Europe alone.

Within the United States, players come from four different states. Notably, five players were born in Illinois, while players from three other states also contributed.

Illinois players come from the following locations:

• Illinois
• Michigan
• Kansas
• Indiana
• Puerto Rico
• Croatia
• Greece
• Serbia
• Montenegro

HISTORY OF UPSETS BY SEED:
16 vs. 1 | 15 vs. 2 | 14 vs. 3 | 13 vs. 4 | 12 vs. 5

How Illinois basketball built roster

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood has made recruiting international players a priority for the Illini roster. Beyond fitting the school's identity, Underwood said he admires the way Europeans play basketball.

"It fit me, it fit what I liked, the big three: dribble-pass-shoot guys," Underwood said. "I love the fact that they have tremendous passion for the game, they've been extremely well-coached in their young days, they're fundamentally very sound."

Underwood added that the NIL landscape has allowed the school to compete for top European prospects, further reinforcing the priority. He also believes Illinois is simply following the trend set by the NBA.

"The best players in the NBA are European players now," he added. "We're following a trend; it's exciting for them to come here and play."

Brad Underwood on international recruiting: "It fits our university... It fit me, it fit what I like."

Loves the passion for the game they bring and their coaching growing up. Says NIL has opened the door to get the top talent from overseas.

"The best players in the NBA are… pic.twitter.com/1OujaJOTxN

— Glenn Kinley (@glenn_kinley) October 9, 2025

In the past, some of Underwood's best players were Kofi Cockburn from Jamaica, Giorgi Bezhanishvili from Georgia and Kasparas Jakučionis from Lithuania. This year's team is largely built around brothers Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic from Croatia, David Mirkovic from Montenegro and Andrej Stojakovic from Greece.

Of Illinois' 15 players, seven were born outside of the United States, which includes one player from Puerto Rico, and another five players are from Illinois. That means there are only three players on the team who were born in any of the other 49 states

MORE MARCH MADNESS NEWS:

• SN's 2026 NBA Mock Draft
• 10 best NBA prospects in March Madness
• Ranking the college basketball's loaded freshmen class
• Meet the Cinderella stars who could bust brackets

So begins another day of quad-box TV splits. Living rooms welcome the ambient tones of squeaking sneakers and droning cheer squads. The NCAA Tournament’s round of 64 continues through Saturday and introduces the bracket’s brightest stars.

From the West come Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice. UCLA closes the Saturday slate at Pauley Pavilion. From the East, Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong pursue perfection. Their story picks back up in Storrs, where UConn hosts an over-the-air ABC spotlight. Connecticut is a target twice over: as reigning national champions and as a current unbeaten.

Upsets await and highlights are loading. The full schedule is laid out below.

All times ET.

Women’s March Madness schedule for round of 64, Day 2

Date: Saturday, March 21

Watching in person? Get tickets on StubHub.

ABC is available for free over the air. All ESPN networks can also be streamed on ESPN Unlimited. 

No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 14 Howard

Fort Worth 1 Region

The Buckeyes have won four of their last six games — the losses were a two-point overtime finish with Michigan, then a hard-fought Big Ten semifinal against UCLA. Ohio State carries second- or third-weekend potential around guards Jaloni Cambridge and Chance Gray. The team just needs to shore up its glaring weakness in 3-point defense.

Howard set a school record for wins in a season. Zennia Thomas is resilient, going from a heart procedure to the MEAC’s player of the year.

No. 3 Louisville vs. No. 14 Vermont

Fort Worth 3 Region

Louisville led the ACC tournament championship game for 35 of 40 regulation minutes. Duke won in overtime. The Cardinals have some frustration to vent. Tajianna Roberts, Imari Berry and Laura Ziegler are remarkably balanced, each averaging between 11-12 points and 2.7-3.1 assists per game.

Vermont arrives at the KFC Yum! Center (great venue name) with one of the nation’s top scoring defenses. The Catamounts (great team name) are 1-8 all-time in March Madness.

No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 16 Southern

Sacramento 4 Region

With the ascent of Dawn Staley, South Carolina has won three of the last eight NCAA Tournaments and reached the Final Four in three others. The Gamecocks are new-age nobility in women’s basketball. They did have a surprising wobble against Texas in the SEC tournament title tilt, but any suggestion of a 16-over-1 upset is pure heresy. Second-team All-American Joyce Edwards leads the deep ensemble.

Southern doesn’t have a single player who averages double-digit scoring. The Jaguars beat Samford in Thursday’s First Four.

No. 7 Georgia vs. No. 10 Virginia

Sacramento 4 Region

Dani Carnegie transferred from Georgia Tech to Georgia, which unlocked her game as a do-it-all lead option. “Drop the Tech. Just … Georgia. It’s cleaner.”

UVA beat Arizona State 57-55 in Thursday’s First Four banger. Kymora Johnson buried an icy 3 and broke a late tie.

No. 6 Notre Dame vs. No. 11 Fairfield

Fort Worth 1 Region

Here’s a bracket blender: Notre Dame women’s basketball and BYU men’s basketball are connected. Both No. 6 seeds have soon-to-be-pro supernovas. Both have underperformed this season, while still giving occasional glimpses of what could be. AJ Dybantsa and BYU lost their opening matchup on Thursday. Can the Fighting Irish break the spell?

Hannah Hidalgo’s stats are eye-popping — 25.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 5.4 steals (!) per game. But the junior hasn’t played past the Sweet 16 yet. Fairfield carries an 11-game win streak into this underdog bid and makes more 3s than any other team.

No. 6 Alabama vs. No. 11 Rhode Island

Fort Worth 3 Region

Kristy Curry’s team flows in a slow, unbothered pace. Senior Jessica Timmons is sharp from long distance, shooting better than 40 percent on 5.5 attempts per game. A Timmons heat check could position Alabama for second-round disruption. But if the jumpers go cold, the Tide will be vulnerable to a first-round upset.

Rhode Island’s last dance was its only dance — a one-and-done appearance in 1996. Brooklyn Gray leads this year’s Rams from the backcourt.

No. 5 Kentucky vs. No. 12 James Madison

Fort Worth 3 Region

Welcome to Clara Strack’s block party, where any and all opponents can get their shots swatted to the band section. Strack averages a 17-point double-double, and she has multiple blocks in eight of her last nine outings.

Kentucky is countered by JMU, champion of the Sun Belt tournament and cleaner of the glass. This matchup will reveal itself inside the paint as Strack and Ashanti Barnes go big-on-big.

No. 1 UConn vs. No. 16 UTSA

Fort Worth 1 Region

Geno Auriemma’s 34-0 Huskies stayed wholly dominant despite Paige Bueckers’ graduation. Fudd and Strong are both first-team All-Americans, and UConn is six wins from a seventh perfect season. Its brilliance cannot be understated.

UTSA is summoned for background acting. For reference, Connecticut won last year’s first round by 69 points, a margin more than double the 34 it allowed.

No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 USC

Sacramento 4 Region

This is Clemson’s best season in 25 years. Head coach Shawn Poppie inherited a program that had a sole NCAA Tournament berth since 2002-03. He has the Tigers as a respectable No. 8 seed in his second year. Clemson relies on its defense and runs possessions through senior Mia Moore.

In contrast to Clemson’s special campaign, USC has had something of a mulligan season in 2025-26. JuJu Watkins tore her ACL 12 months ago, and the Trojans should be instant top-shelfers when she returns this fall. In the meantime, breakout freshman Jazzy Davidson gets to show what she can do.

No. 2 Iowa vs. No. 15 Fairleigh Dickinson

Sacramento 4 Region

The Hawkeyes took a head-spinning 51-point L from UCLA in the Big Ten tournament championship game. But an implosion against the juggernaut doesn’t fully diminish Iowa’s strong closing stretch. Jan Jensen’s group stacked eight straight wins up through the conference semifinal, with two convincing defeats of Michigan. The duo of 6-foot-2 Hannah Stuelke and 6-foot-4 Ava Heiden is tough to hang with across four quarters.

FDU went a flawless 18-0 in the Northeast Conference. This is the program’s second dance, and its second in a row.

No. 4 West Virginia vs. No. 13 Miami (Ohio)

Fort Worth 3 Region

Senior Mountaineer Jordan Harrison outplayed future WNBA pick Olivia Miles in the Big 12 tournament final. She dropped an efficient 21 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals to lead WVU past TCU. The RedHawks are 8-1 in their last nine and won their last two rounds of the MAC tournament by double figures.

Miami is still a long shot in Morgantown, but the program deserves props for checking into its second-ever NCAA Tournament.

No. 8 Iowa State vs. No. 9 Syracuse

Fort Worth 1 Region

Iowa native Audi Crooks is a cheat code from the low block. She broke her own program scoring record with a 47-point frenzy earlier this season. The junior Cyclone can drop post dimes against double coverage, too. Yet Iowa State took an early exit at the Big 12 tourney, and it’s lost three of four heading into Saturday. Syracuse has a turnover problem, but it also has a potential Crooks concealer in Nigerian freshman Uche Izoje.

No. 2 Vanderbilt vs. No. 15 High Point

Fort Worth 1 Region

No one in the NCAA has rung up more points than Vandy’s Mikayla Blakes. She’s topped 30 a dozen times during her first-team All-American turn. Shea Ralph, longtime assistant to Auriemma at UConn, is transforming Vanderbilt in real time.

The Commodores haven’t reached the second round since 2013. That is all but certain to change … unless High Point’s March magic extends to the women’s bracket.

No. 8 Oklahoma State vs. No. 9 Princeton

Sacramento 2 Region

Oklahoma State has green marks across its offensive metrics. It shoots above 35 percent from 3, with Haleigh Timmer at a team-best 41.8 percent. Princeton is similarly perimeter-minded; Skye Belker checks in at 41.9 percent on treys. With similar seeding, shot distribution and orange-and-black color schemes, we have ourselves a true mirror match.

No. 7 Illinois vs. No. 10 Colorado

Fort Worth 1 Region

Berry Wallace is Illinois’ battery pack. She’s played the full 40 minutes in seven games this season. With shooting splits around 47/36/87, the sophomore is on pace for a national profile in the next two years. Colorado has one of the lowest 3-point rates in Division I, but French forward Anaelle Dutat hauls in almost four offensive boards per game.

No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 16 Cal Baptist

Sacramento 2 Region

The Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant revealed her WNBA mock draft Friday. Five Bruins landed in the first round, and four cracked the top 10. UCLA’s rich talents accentuate one another. Betts is a defensive anchor and screen finisher. Her gravity makes space for off-ball orbiters Gianna Kneepkens and Gabriela Jaquez to drill 3s. If Betts is shaded, Rice or Charlisse Leger-Walker can quickly initiate from the perimeter.

For the viewer, it’s a well-timed symphony. For Cal Baptist, it might sound like thrash metal.

Ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process, and do not review stories before publication.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

USC Trojans, Virginia Cavaliers, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Vermont Catamounts, California Baptist Lancers, James Madison Dukes, Clemson Tigers, Princeton Tigers, Ohio State Buckeyes, High Point Panthers, UCLA Bruins, Colorado Buffaloes, South Carolina Gamecocks, Georgia Lady Bulldogs, Rhode Island Rams, Alabama Crimson Tide, Kentucky Wildcats, Fairfield Stags, Vanderbilt Commodores, Syracuse Orange, Louisville Cardinals, Illinois Fighting Illini, Iowa Hawkeyes, Iowa State Cyclones, Miami (OH) RedHawks, West Virginia Mountaineers, Southern University Jaguars, Howard Lady Bison, Connecticut Huskies, UTSA Roadrunners, Fairleigh Dickinson Knights, Oklahoma State Cowgirls, Women's College Basketball, Fubo Partnership, How to Watch

2026 The Athletic Media Company

PORTLAND, Ore. — When it comes to hoops, Gonzaga brings a lot more clout than Texas basketball.

After all, the Zags boast the second-longest active NCAA Tournament streak at 27 consecutive appearances and have won 29 tournament games over the past 10 years, which is more than any other squad in the country. In comparison, Texas has reached six consecutive NCAA Tournaments and has won six tournament games over the past decade, including Thursday’s 79-71 first-round triumph over BYU.

But don’t tell head coach Mark Few his No. 3 Zags (31-3) are favorites over 11th-seeded Texas (20-14) when the teams meet Saturday in a second-round contest in Portland's Moda Center.

“I mean, it's Texas, man,” Few said after his team’s Friday practice. “I mean, Texas has everything, usually: The resources, the student population. I wouldn't exactly classify this as some sort of Cinderella or anything here.”

MORE: Texas basketball in March Madness: Best photos of 2026 NCAA Tournament

But the facts say otherwise. Gonzaga had reached nine consecutive Sweet 16s before last year’s loss to top-seeded Houston in the second round. Texas, on the other hand, has survived the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament just once in the past 12 years.

And the Zags have achieved that level of success over a generation. Since Few took over the program for the 1999-2000 season, Gonzaga has never missed the NCAA Tournament while winning 773 games. That number, by the way, has lifted Few to No. 19 on the all-time list of Division I NCAA men’s basketball coaching wins and sixth among active coaches.

“I think one day down the road people will reflect back on what (Few) has done at Gonzaga, and it's almost like a movie that's too good to be true,” Texas coach Sean Miller said. “How can you have that much success in Spokane, Washington, and at Gonzaga for that long?

“I think what you catch onto is their ability to build a roster, to recruit internationally, to make great choices that fit who they are, to get it right year in, year out, decade after decade. There's a lot of things they've done in an historic fashion of excellence. But I don't think people give them enough credit for the talent, the roster building for that long of a stretch of time. It's incredible.”

MORE: AJ Dybantsa got the stats, Dailyn Swain grabbed the win. Could the 2 meet in the NBA?

Based on thhe history alone, Texas remains a football school that dabbles in hoops. Gonzaga? It doesn’t even have a football program.

But Texas has faced off plenty over the past few years with schools that favor fast breaks over fast receivers and 3-pointers more than touchdowns. Think Duke and UConn in nonconference play this season, or Kansas and Kentucky in league play.

“We've always been an underdog, being at Texas, my three years here,” Chendall Weaver said.  “I mean, we're kind of used to it. We're not really worried about it.”

Besides, the Longhorns need to worry more about Gonzaga forward Graham Ike (19.7 points, 8.2 rebounds a game) and a versatile rotation that goes 10 deep rather than a betting line that has the Zags favored by 6 ½ points.

“I don't feel like an underdog,” said Texas forward Nic Codie, who will likely see his share of action against Ike. “I feel like in no game are we an underdog. I feel like we can beat any team and match up with any team in America.”

And if America expects the Longhorns to lose Saturday? So be it, said laconic Texas guard Tramon Mark, who has 36 points, nine rebounds and six blocks in two NCAA Tournament games this year.

“Probably everybody else thinks that,” said the sixth-year senior. “So, we'll just rock with it. As long as we keep winning, we can be underdogs, overdogs, whatever. I really don't care.”

Who is Pryce Sandfort's brother? Meet Nebraska star's NBA sibling Payton breaking through on Thunder originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Nebraska's Pryce Sandfort is not the only one in his family lighting it up in March. His older brother Payton, a standout for the Iowa Hawkeyes before suffering a string of shoulder and wrist injuries during his senior year, officially made his NBA debut for the Oklahoma City Thunder just last night.

After fighting through a grueling rehab process that saw him go undrafted in 2025, the elder Sandfort rewarded the Thunder's faith by draining a signature three-pointer in his first professional appearance against the Brooklyn Nets. The timing couldn't have been more poetic, as Payton caught a 6:50 a.m. flight out of New York this morning to surprise his younger brother in Oklahoma City.

The gesture clearly provided an emotional spark; with Payton watching from the stands in a red "Sandfort" jersey, Pryce exploded for 23 points and seven three-pointers to lead Nebraska to a 76–47 rout of Troy. The performance didn't just highlight the family’s sharpshooting genes — it secured the first NCAA Tournament victory in the history of the Nebraska program, ending a decades-long 0–8 drought in the Big Dance.

Before the two each had career-defining moments within 24 hours, they played with one another under Fran McCaffrey at Iowa. Get to know Payton, the older of the two who just made his pro debut.

SN's MARCH MADNESS HQ:Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Printable PDF

Who is Pryce Sandfort's brother?

Pryce Sandfort's older brother is Payton Sandfort, a former standout for the Iowa Hawkeyes who now plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA.

On Wednesday night, March 18, Payton made his NBA debut and scored his first professional points on a three-pointer in a victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Immediately following the game, he took an early morning flight to Oklahoma City to surprise Pryce at the Paycom Center, his new NBA home.

OKC Thunder forward Payton Sandfort is surprising his brother at March Madness after his game in Brooklyn last night. 🤯

Team dinner: 1 a.m.
Taxi: 3 a.m.
Flight: 6 a.m.
Nebraska tipoff: 11:40 a.m. pic.twitter.com/P95mDIZJmS

— Hurrdat Sports (@HurrdatSports) March 19, 2026

With his brother watching from the stands, Pryce led Nebraska to a 76–47 win over Troy on Thursday, March 19. His 23-point performance was a cornerstone of a historic afternoon, as it secured the first-ever NCAA Tournament victory in the history of the Nebraska men's basketball program.

The two spent two seasons as teammates at Iowa from 2023 to 2025, where they combined their sharpshooting skills before Pryce transferred to Nebraska and Payton moved on to the professional ranks.

Payton and Pryce Sandfort share an emotional moment after Iowa is eliminated from the Big Ten Tournament.

Maybe their last game together on the floor. pic.twitter.com/b6SypqrmJc

— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) March 14, 2025

During their final season together in Iowa City, the Sandfort brothers became a focal point of the Hawkeyes' offense, often sharing the floor as a dual-threat perimeter pairing. Their chemistry was evident from the start of that 2024-25 campaign, most notably in a season-opening victory where they combined for 33 points and expressed how special it was to play one final year together in their home state. 

SN AWARDS: All-America team | Player of the Year | Coach of the Year

What team does Payton Sandfort play for?

Sandfort now plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder, making his debut the night before his brother played in the NCAA Tournament. He was signed by Oklahoma City as an undrafted free agent in June 2025, after a senior season at Iowa where he battled through shoulder and wrist injuries.

Payton Sandfort scores his first NBA bucket ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/1ILZKyS205

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) March 19, 2026

Payton spent the majority of the 2025-26 season with the Thunder's G League affiliate, the OKC Blue, while completing his injury rehab. His persistence was rewarded on March 2, 2026, when he signed a two-way contract with the parent club. Just over two weeks later, he scored his first NBA points on a fourth-quarter three-pointer against the Nets. 

MORE MARCH MADNESS NEWS:

• SN's 2026 NBA Mock Draft
• 10 best NBA prospects in March Madness
• Ranking the college basketball's loaded freshmen class
• Meet the Cinderella stars who could bust brackets

Pryce Sandfort family tree

Payton Sandfort

A former standout at the University of Iowa, Payton finished his collegiate career in 2025 as one of the most lethal shooters in program history, ranking second all-time in career three-pointers. Despite a senior season hampered by injuries, he earned All-Big Ten honors and was known for his automatic release, culminating in a 30-point performance in his final game as a Hawkeye.

After going undrafted in 2025, Payton signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder and spent most of the 2025–26 season with their G League affiliate, the OKC Blue. His persistence paid off on March 18, 2026, when he made his official NBA debut and scored his first professional points against the Brooklyn Nets, just hours before traveling to watch his brother's NCAA Tournament opener.

Pryce Sandfort

Pryce followed in his brother's footsteps to Iowa City, playing two seasons alongside Payton from 2023 to 2025. A former Iowa Mr. Basketball, Pryce showcased his own perimeter prowess as a key rotation piece for the Hawkeyes before electing to transfer to Nebraska for the 2025–26 season to take on a more prominent starting role.

Pryce Sandfort has 5 FIRST HALF THREES 👀🔥

Watch March Madness on TNT Sports pic.twitter.com/tXjnHin7IU

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 19, 2026

In his first year with the Huskers, Pryce became a breakout star, leading the team in scoring and setting a new school record for three-pointers in a single season. His 23-point performance was the driving force behind Nebraska's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, a historic milestone that he achieved with his older brother cheering from the stands.

Piper Sandfort

The youngest of the three siblings, Piper has continued the family's athletic legacy in Waukee, Iowa, where she emerged as a highly-touted recruit in the high school ranks. Growing up in a household of collegiate and professional shooters, she developed a similar reputation for her high basketball IQ and knockdown scoring ability.

Just like her brothers, Piper played college basketball, starring at the University of Iowa from 2021 to 2025. During her time with the Hawkeyes, she was a consistent presence on the wing, contributing to several deep postseason runs and maintaining the Sandfort tradition of elite perimeter shooting in the Big Ten.

SN EXPERT BRACKETS:DeCourcy (Arizona) | Bender (Michigan) | Iyer (Arizona) | Gay (UCLA women)

Fred Hoiberg family tree: Meet Nebraska coach's son Sam playing under him, team manager son Charlie and more originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

JUMP TO:

• Is Fred Hoiberg related to Sam Hoiberg?
• Fred Hoiberg son: Sam Hoiberg
• Who are the Hoiberg twins?
• Fred Hoiberg son: Charlie Hoiberg
• How many kids does Fred Hoiberg have?
• Fred Hoiberg's wife: Carol
• Fred Hoiberg grandfather: Jerry Bush
• Fred Hoiberg parents
• Where is Fred Hoiberg from?

Sometimes you're able to tell what a basketball coach's legacy is going to be, or at least part of it, while they are still coaching.

Fred Hoiberg has been the head men's basketball coach at Nebraska since 2019. It took seven years, but Hoiberg led the Cornhuskers to the NCAA Tournament and helped the team pick up its first NCAA Tournament win in program history when Nebraska beat Troy 76-47. The pressure of that first win is finally off the school's back, but the Cornhusker faithful are likely not going to forget the coach who finally helped them get over the hump.

Hoiberg has long been a basketball coach, starting his career at Iowa State in 2010 after a 10-year NBA career. He now runs a Nebraska program where he has coached one of his sons for the past four years. Hoiberg is one of 20 coaches in the 2025-2026 season who have their son playing for them. He might be the only one, though, who has another son serving as a manager on his staff. 

Here is more on Hoiberg's family, including his two sons involved with his program at Nebraska and his grandfather, who was also a coach. 

MORE: Most March Madness wins by school

Is Fred Hoiberg related to Sam Hoiberg?

Yes. Sam is one of Fred's children, specifically one of his twin boys. Sam played his collegiate basketball for his father's team and his twin brother, Charlie. 

Fred Hoiberg son: Sam Hoiberg

Sam Hoiberg is the most well-known of Fred Hoiberg's kids. He played in 21 games as a freshman, but played only 12 minutes per game. Hoiberg saw more and more playing time over the last three years. In the 2025-2026 season, he started all 33 games, playing an average of 32.1 minutes per game. Hoiberg averaged 9.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists in the regular season.

MORE: Which teams managed to go undefeated during the regular season?

Who are the Hoiberg twins?

Sam and Charlie are twin brothers and the sons of Fred and Carol Hoiberg. Sam played for his father at Nebraska while his twin brother Charlie served as a team manager. 

Are Sam and Charlie Hoiberg identical twins?

Yes, Sam and Charlie are identical twins. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by KETV NewsWatch 7 (@ketv7)

Fred Hoiberg son: Charlie Hoiberg

Charlie did not attend Nebraska, but instead opted to go to TCU for his undergraduate experience. He served as the student manager for the Horned Frogs for two seasons. While Charlie never played collegiate basketball, he did join his dad and brother at Nebraska as a graduate manager. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Carol Hoiberg (@carolhoiberg)

MORE: How did 'One Shining Moment' become college basketball anthem?

How many kids does Fred Hoiberg have?

Hoiberg and his wife, Carol, have four children together. Along with their twins, Sam and Charlie, they share a daughter, Paige, and another son, Jack. 

Paige Hoiberg

Paige is the lone daughter of Fred and Carol Hoiberg. While she didn't follow in her family's footsteps onto the collegiate basketball court, she did play basketball in high school while also running track. Paige opted to go to Kansas for her undergrad and worked in the school's basketball office part-time. 

She is not involved in sports anymore. Her LinkedIn profile says that Paige is a Sales Representative at Stryker ENT and is based in Chicago, Illinois. Paige got engaged to her fiancee Mike in November 2025, per her mother's Instagram. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Carol Hoiberg (@carolhoiberg)

Jack Hoiberg

Jack is the one Hoiberg son not either playing for his father or on his father's staff. He played his collegiate ball at Michigan State, and got matched up against his father. Jack was a walk on in 2017, but played his way to a scholarship ahead of his final seasons. His LinkedIn profile shows that he works for the San Antonio Spurs as a Basketball Operations Video Assistant. Jack is the older brother for Sam and Charlie. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Carol Hoiberg (@carolhoiberg)

Fred Hoiberg's wife: Carol

Carol Hoiberg is from Ames, Iowa. There isn't much information available about her other than that she grew up in Ames and that she and Fred have four children together. Fred and Carol got married in 1996, and in July 2026, they will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Carol Hoiberg (@carolhoiberg)

MORE: Most March Madness wins by coach

Fred Hoiberg grandfather: Jerry Bush

Fred isn't the only basketball coach in his family. His grandfather was Jerry Bush, who served as the head basketball coach at Nebraska from 1954 to 1963. Bush's coaching record at Nebraska was 81-132. Bush was the head coach at Toledo before moving to Nebraska and compiled a 127-58 record with the Rockets, including one NCAA Tournament appearance in 1954. 

Fred Hoiberg parents

Fred was born to Eric and Karen Hoiberg on October 15, 1972 in Lincoln, Nebraska. When Fred was young, the family moved to Ames, Iowa. His father, Eric, became a sociology professor at Iowa State. His mother, Karen, taught elementary school in the local area. Eric and Karen have reportedly been married for 60 years. 

Fred Hoiberg dad: Eric Hoiberg

Eric is now retired, but spent 21 years as a professor at Iowa State. He was a Sociology faculty member and also served as the advisor and coordinator of the Public Service and Administration program. Eric was also the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Agriculture for 11 years. Since his retirement, he returned to Iowa State twice. The first was helped to create an alumni program, and the second was as the Interim Associate Provost while the school conducted a search for a permanent replacement. 

Fred Hoiberg mom: Karen Hoiberg

While there is a good bit of info about Eric available, and plenty about Fred, there isn't as much information about Karen Hoiberg. All that is known is that she was an elementary school teacher and she and Eric had three sons together. 

MORE: Where did the term 'Cinderella' come from with March Madness?

Where is Fred Hoiberg from?

Hoiberg was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on October 15, 1972. Early in his life, his family moved to Ames, Iowa. Hoiberg went to Iowa State for college and spent four years playing for the Cyclones' men's basketball team. He was a second-round pick by the Indiana Pacers in 1995 and spent 10 years in the NBA.

After Hoiberg retired, he returned to his alma mater, Iowa State, as head coach in 2010. After five years, he left the Cyclones and became the head coach of the Chicago Bulls. Hoiberg remained in the NBA for only three seasons and then was named the head coach at Nebraska in 2019.

What time is Arkansas vs. High Point today? Channel, live stream, TV schedule to watch March Madness Round 2 game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

On the first day of the NCAA Tournament, High Point delivered one of the highlights so far, upsetting Wisconsin in a thrilling one-point win. Now, the Panthers face another tall task, as they draw Arkansas in the second round.

The Razorbacks made easy work of Hawaii in their first round matchup, as Arkansas' high-powered offense had no issues on Thursday. Led by a future lottery pick in Darius Acuff, the Razorbacks are explosive on the offensive end, not that different than a Wisconsin team that High Point just played.

Last year, Arkansas made the Sweet 16 as a No. 10 seed, and the Razorbacks are looking to return to the second weekend. Meanwhile, High Point is coming off its first ever NCAA tournament win and has never been to the Sweet 16.

Here's what you need to know about how to watch Arkansas vs. High Point in the NCAA tournament Round of 32.

What channel is Arkansas vs. High Point on today?

• TV channel: TBS, truTV
• Live stream:DIRECTV

Both TBS and truTV will have a broadcast of Arkansas vs. High Point on Saturday, as Brad Nessler, Wally Szczerboak and Jared Greenberg will be on the call. The game cam also be streamed using 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.

What time is Arkansas vs. High Point today?

• Date: Saturday, March 21
• Time: 9:45 p.m. ET

Arkansas and High Point are set to play in the final game of the day on Saturday night, as the game is scheduled for 9:45 p.m. ET. However, since this game will follow Gonzaga vs. Texas, it could be delayed past the initial start time.

Arkansas vs. High Point radio coverage

• Radio station:SiriusXM, channel 204

Fans looking for a radio option can find Arkansas vs. High Point on SiriusXM using channel 204.

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

Check the Sporting News NCAA Tournament live bracket for the latest final scores and next-round matchups.

When and where is the Final Four in 2026?

• Date: April 4 and 6
• Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis

The Final Four will take place on April 4 in Indianapolis this year, as the games will take place in Lucas Oil Stadium. Then, the National Championship will be on April 6 in the same venue.

It will be the ninth time that Indianapolis has hosted the Final Four, but fourth time in Lucas Oil Stadium. Previously, Lucas Oil Stadium was the host for Final Fours in 2010, 2015 and 2021, while Market Square Arena and the RCA Dome were also once hosts in Indianapolis.

March Madness tournament schedule 2026

Here is a look for the round-by-round schedule in 2026 NCAA tournament.

Related Links

• 2026 March Madness live bracket
• March Madness 2026 schedule, scores
• Latest college basketball news

What time is Nebraska vs. Vanderbilt today? Channel, live stream, TV schedule to watch March Madness Round 2 game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Nebraska finally made history in the NCAA tournament, becoming the last Power 4 team to win a tournament game, defeating Troy on Thursday. Now, the Cornhuskers look to make it a tournament winning streak against Vanderbilt.

Saturday's matchup between Nebraska and Vanderbilt is a battle between two teams who are not used to playing deep in March. The Cornhuskers have never been this far, while Vanderbilt hasn't been to the Sweet 16 since 2007.

Now, one of these teams will have a chance at a deep run and make it to Houston for the Sweet 16 next weekend. The loser, however, will likely view this year as something to build on in the future.

Here's what you need to know about how to watch Nebraska vs. Vanderbilt in the NCAA tournament Round of 32.

What channel is Nebraska vs. Vanderbilt on today?

• TV channel: TNT
• Live stream:DIRECTV

TNT will broadcast Nebraska vs. Vanderbilt on Saturday, as Brandon Gaudin, Chris Webber and Andy Katz will be on the call. Those looking for a streaking option can also find the game 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.

What time is Nebraska vs. Vanderbilt today?

• Date: Saturday, March 21
• Time: 8:45 p.m. ET

Nebraska vs. Vanderbilt is scheduled to take place at 8:45 p.m. ET on Saturday night from Oklahoma City, but that is subject to change. Since this game will follow the Houston-Texas A&M game, it could be pushed back depending on when the first game ends.

Nebraska vs. Vanderbilt radio coverage

• Radio station:SiriusXM channel 202

Fans looking for radio coverage of Nebraska vs. Vanderbilt can find the game on SiriusXM channel 202.

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

Check the Sporting News NCAA Tournament live bracket for the latest final scores and next-round matchups.

When and where is the Final Four in 2026?

• Date: April 4 and 6
• Location: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana

This year, the NCAA tournament Final Four will take place on April 4 in Indianapolis, as Lucas Oil Stadium will serve as the host. Then, the National Championship will be on April 6.

It will be the ninth time that Indianapolis has hosted the Final Four, but fourth time in Lucas Oil Stadium. Previously, Lucas Oil Stadium was the host for Final Fours in 2010, 2015 and 2021, while Market Square Arena and the RCA Dome were also once hosts in Indianapolis.

March Madness tournament schedule 2026

Here is a look for the round-by-round schedule in 2026 NCAA tournament.

Related Links

• 2026 March Madness live bracket
• March Madness 2026 schedule, scores
• Latest college basketball news

Is Rashaun Agee related to Arthur Agee? Explaining connection between Texas A&M basketball star, 'Hoop Dreams' documentary subject originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The addition of veteran forward Rashaun Agee has helped the Texas A&M Aggies make their fourth-consecutive NCAA Tournament in 2025-26.

Agee, a former player at New Mexico State, Bowling Green, Casper College and USC, was able to secure legal approval to play a seventh year of college basketball for Texas A&M. As one of the older players across college hoops, his experience proved critical.

Leading the Aggies in points, rebounds and blocks per game, Agee has been a star for Texas A&M. As he's earned more time in the spotlight, his last name has caused some fans to wonder: is Rashaun Agee related to Arthur Agee, the subject of the 1994 "Hoop Dreams" documentary?

Here's what to know about whether the Texas A&M star is related to Arthur Agee.

MARCH MADNESS HQ:Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Latest news and more

Is Rashaun Agee related to Arthur Agee?

While the two do share some similarities, including their last names and being basketball players, Rashaun Agee and Arthur Agee are not related.

During a Fox broadcast of a USC matchup in 2024-25, Rashaun Agee reportedly told the broadcasters that he is of no familial connection to the "Hoop Dreams" subject, but he did get that question often.

HISTORY OF UPSETS BY SEED:
16 vs. 1 | 15 vs. 2 | 14 vs. 3 | 13 vs. 4 | 12 vs. 5

Who is Arthur Agee?

Arthur Agee is a former basketball player from Chicago, Illinois, who was one of two players made a subject for the 1994 documentary, "Hoop Dreams." Both he and William Gates had their young dreams of becoming professional basketball players chronicled in the documentary, which is considered one of the best ever.

Agee went on to play college basketball at Arkansas State, then played professionally with the Winnipeg Cyclone of the International Basketball Association. In more recent years, Agee helped launch "The Hoop Dreams Podcast."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Agee & Gates Podcast (@oghoopdreams)

MORE: Most March Madness wins by school 

What channel is Duke vs. TCU on? Time, TV schedule, live stream to watch March Madness Round 2 game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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.

What channel is Duke vs. TCU on today?

• TV channel: CBS
• Live stream: Fubo, Paramount+

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.

Duke vs. TCU radio coverage

• Radio station:SiriusXM

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.

March Madness bracket 2026

Check the Sporting News NCAA Tournament live bracket for the latest final scores and next-round matchups.

When and where is the Final Four in 2026?

• Date: April 4 and 6
• Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis

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:

Related Links

• 2026 March Madness live bracket
• March Madness 2026 schedule, scores
• Latest college basketball news

What channel is Michigan State vs. Louisville on? Time, TV schedule, live stream to watch March Madness Round 2 game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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?

• TV channel: CBS
• Live stream: Fubo, Paramount+

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. 

Michigan State vs. Louisville radio coverage

• Radio station:SiriusXM

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.

March Madness bracket 2026

Check the Sporting News NCAA Tournament live bracket for the latest final scores and next-round matchups.

When and where is the Final Four in 2026?

• Date: April 4 and 6
• Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis

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:

Related Links

• 2026 March Madness live bracket
• March Madness 2026 schedule, scores
• Latest college basketball news

How old is Rashaun Agee? Explaining viral Texas A&M player's age, college basketball eligibility originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

How old is Rashaun Agee?

Agee is 25 years old. He was born on Nov. 2, 2000, according to his former USC player profile.

MORE: Most assists in a March Madness game

What year is Rashaun Agee?

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.

MORE: Has a 1 seed ever lost to a 16 seed in March Madness?

Rashaun Agee eligibility

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.

MORE: What is the fewest points scored in a March Madness game?

Rashaun Agee career timeline

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)

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

— Sam C. Ehrlich (@samcehrlich) September 26, 2025

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. 

RASHAUN AGEE WITH A HAMMER 🔨 pic.twitter.com/ee4rYwIsOz

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 20, 2026

HISTORY OF UPSETS BY SEED:
16 vs. 1 | 15 vs. 2 | 14 vs. 3 | 13 vs. 4 | 12 vs. 5

How old is Chase Johnston? Where High Point 3-point specialist ranks among oldest March Madness players originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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.

MARCH MADNESS HQ:Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Latest news and more

How old is Chase Johnston?

Johnston is 26 years old, born Jan. 11, 2000.

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.

MORE:Inside Chase Johnston's ridiculous 3-point stats

Oldest players in March Madness

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.

Who is Chandler Bing? Meet Vanderbilt basketball star sharing name as iconic 'Friends' character originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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.

MARCH MADNESS HQ:Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Printable bracket

Who is Vanderbilt's Chandler Bing?

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.

SN EXPERT BRACKETS:DeCourcy (Arizona) | Bender (Michigan) | Iyer (Arizona) | Gay (UCLA women)

Chandler Bing basketball stats

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.

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.

MORE MARCH MADNESS NEWS:

• SN's 2026 NBA Mock Draft
• 10 best NBA prospects in March Madness
• Ranking the college basketball's loaded freshmen class
• Meet the Cinderella stars who could bust brackets

How old is Chandler Bing?

Bing is 19 years old and was born in 2007. He is currently in his freshman year at Vanderbilt.

Who plays Chandler Bing in 'Friends'?

Matthew Perry played Chandler Bing on the "Friends" TV show.

The show ran for 10 seasons on NBC, spanning from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004. The sitcom had 236 episodes total.

What channel is Iowa vs. FDU on today? Time, TV schedule, live stream to watch NCAA women's game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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.

What channel is Iowa vs. FDU on today?

• TV channel: ESPN
• Live stream: ESPN app, Fubo

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.

Iowa vs. FDU radio coverage

• Radio station:SiriusXM

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.

Women’s March Madness bracket 2026

Check the Sporting News women’s NCAA Tournament live bracket for the latest final scores and next-round matchups.

When is the Women's Final Four in 2026?

• Date: April 3 and 5
• Location: Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix

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:

Related links

• 2026 Women's March Madness bracket, scores
• Latest women's college basketball news

What does VCU stand for? Meaning, history behind name of university that is home to Rams basketball program originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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.

MARCH MADNESS HQ:Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Latest news and more

What does VCU stand for?

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.

HISTORY OF UPSETS BY SEED:
16 vs. 1 | 15 vs. 2 | 14 vs. 3 | 13 vs. 4 | 12 vs. 5

When was VCU founded?

VCU was founded in 1968 after merging with Richmond Professional Institute, according to the Virginia Commonwealth University website. 

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.

SN AWARDS: All-America team | Player of the Year | Coach of the Year

Where is VCU located?

VCU is located in the heart of Virginia's capital, Richmond. The school's neighborhood is directly south of the neighborhood of Carver.

The city of Richmond has a population of 226,610, per the 2020 census.

MORE MARCH MADNESS NEWS:

• SN's 2026 NBA Mock Draft
• 10 best NBA prospects in March Madness
• Ranking the college basketball's loaded freshmen class
• Meet the Cinderella stars who could bust brackets

Who is Flynn Clayman's wife? Meet Katie Clayman, assistant coach of High Point women's program originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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. 

MARCH MADNESS HQ:Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Latest news and more

Who is Flynn Clayman's wife?

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.

She will join her team in Nashville on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/wC9paV8S6p

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 19, 2026

Katie Clayman was seen celebrating throughout the High Point men's team's upset over the Badgers, advancing to face Arkansas in the second round.

Both Katie and Flynn Clayman previously coached basketball at Southern Utah University before joining High Point.

MORE: Where is High Point University located?

Who is Katie Clayman?

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).

HISTORY OF UPSETS BY SEED:
16 vs. 1 | 15 vs. 2 | 14 vs. 3 | 13 vs. 4 | 12 vs. 5

What channel is Clemson vs. USC on today? Time, TV schedule, live stream to watch NCAA women's game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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.

What channel is Clemson vs. USC on today?

• TV channel: ESPN2
• Live stream: ESPN app, Fubo

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.

Clemson vs. USC radio coverage

• Radio station:SiriusXM

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.

Women’s March Madness bracket 2026

Check the Sporting News women’s NCAA Tournament live bracket for the latest final scores and next-round matchups.

When is the Women's Final Four in 2026?

• Date: April 3 and 5
• Location: Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix

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:

Related links

• 2025 Women's March Madness bracket, scores
• Latest women's college basketball news

Favorites dominate NCAA Tournament Day 2: Explaining how day without point-spread upset fits into history originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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. 

Here's more on the favorites' dominant day.

SN's MARCH MADNESS HQ:Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Printable PDF

Favorites record on Day 2 of NCAA Tournament 

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.

SN AWARDS: All-America team | Player of the Year | Coach of the Year

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.

HISTORY OF UPSETS BY SEED:
16 vs. 1 | 15 vs. 2 | 14 vs. 3 | 13 vs. 4 | 12 vs. 5

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.

SN AWARDS: All-America team | Player of the Year | Coach of the Year

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.

SN EXPERT BRACKETS:DeCourcy (Arizona) | Bender (Michigan) | Iyer (Arizona) | Gay (UCLA women)

AJ Dybantsa’s comments raises eyebrows about what’s next originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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.

More: Why Bryce James has already done something LeBron and Bronny never did

“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.

More: March Madness: NCAA tournament should expand to 80 or 96 teams or revert to 64

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. 

More college basketball news:

• Darryn Peterson situation not alarming to NBA teams, ESPN insider says
• Grant McCasland sees evolving Texas Tech team amid JT Toppin absence
• John Calipari on Nolan Richardson statue at Arkansas
• College Basketball Invitational cancels 2026 tournament
• Doug Gottlieb follows disastrous Green Bay debut with Coach of the Year level season
• Mike Krzyzewski fights against NCAA Tournament expansion

For the first time since 2018, the Gophers won an NCAA Tournament game Friday, rallying past Wisconsin-Green Bay in the final frame.

Now, Minnesota takes aim at its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2005.

That will require a win over fifth-seeded Ole Miss, a significantly stiffer test than the Phoenix.

Fourth-seeded Minnesota hosts the Rebels at 1 p.m. Sunday at Williams Arena. The game can be seen on ESPN.

The Gophers are 4.5 point favorites in the matchup. Ole Miss beat 12th seeded Gonzaga by 15 on Friday.

The winner of Sunday’s tilt is likely to face UCLA in the Sweet 16.

Related Articles

• NCAA Tournament: Gophers explode in final frame to escape major upset
• For Niamya Holloway and Gophers women’s basketball, road back to NCAA Tournament was a long one
• Gophers women’s basketball: How deep will Minnesota advance in NCAA Tournament? Here’s what odds say
• NCAA Tournament: Jenna Guyer found a home, and her versatile game, in Green Bay
• NCAA Tournament: Gophers start ‘Big Dance’ full of confidence

After picking up a technical foul for what he called “standing on business” following a dangerous play in the Knicks’ narrow victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, backup center Mitchell Robinson challenged his teammates to play better in first quarters, a struggle the team has faced routinely in recent weeks,

“[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.”

Furman vs. UConn box score: Full stats from 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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.

UConn vs. Furman March Madness box score

UConn stats

Furman stats 

More college basketball news:

• Darryn Peterson situation not alarming to NBA teams, ESPN insider says
• AJ Dybantsa makes college basketball history never done by NBA stars
• John Calipari says college athletics is broken — Here’s his plan to fix it
• March Madness upset predictions for 2026 NCAA men’s basketball bracket
• Where Arkansas Darius Acuff Jr. ranks among John Calipari's best NBA guards

Cal Baptist vs. Kansas box score: Full stats from 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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.

Cal Baptist vs. Kansas March Madness box score

Kansas stats 

Cal Baptist stats  

More college basketball news:

• Darryn Peterson situation not alarming to NBA teams, ESPN insider says
• AJ Dybantsa makes college basketball history never done by NBA stars
• John Calipari says college athletics is broken — Here’s his plan to fix it
• March Madness upset predictions for 2026 NCAA men’s basketball bracket
• Where Arkansas Darius Acuff Jr. ranks among John Calipari's best NBA guards

Prairie View A&M vs. Florida box score: Full stats from 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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

Florida stats

Prairie View A&M stats 

More college basketball news:

• Darryn Peterson situation not alarming to NBA teams, ESPN insider says
• AJ Dybantsa makes college basketball history never done by NBA stars
• John Calipari says college athletics is broken — Here’s his plan to fix it
• March Madness upset predictions for 2026 NCAA men’s basketball bracket
• Where Arkansas Darius Acuff Jr. ranks among John Calipari's best NBA guards

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.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

North Carolina State Wolfpack, Tennessee Lady Volunteers, Women's College Basketball

2026 The Athletic Media Company

Northern Iowa vs St. John's box score: Full stats from 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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

Northern Iowa Stats

St. John's Stats

More college basketball news:

• Darryn Peterson situation not alarming to NBA teams, ESPN insider says
• AJ Dybantsa makes college basketball history never done by NBA stars
• John Calipari says college athletics is broken — Here’s his plan to fix it
• March Madness upset predictions for 2026 NCAA men’s basketball bracket
• Where Arkansas Darius Acuff Jr. ranks among John Calipari's best NBA guards

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.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Men's College Basketball, Women's College Basketball, Sports Betting, Betting Controversy

2026 The Athletic Media Company

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.

SUBSCRIBE to the On3 NIL and Sports Business Newsletter

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.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by State Farm (@statefarm)

“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.”

March Madness upsets so far: wins for VCU, High Point among biggest upsets in 2026 NCAA Tournament originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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. 

MARCH MADNESS HQ:Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Latest news and more

March Madness upsets so far

Here is a look at the upsets in 2026 March Madness so far. 

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. 

HISTORY OF UPSETS BY SEED:
16 vs. 1 | 15 vs. 2 | 14 vs. 3 | 13 vs. 4 | 12 vs. 5

No. 10 Texas A&M beat No. 7 Saint Mary's

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. 

MORE: Where loss to VCU ranks among the worst in Tar Heels history

No. 11 Texas beat No. 6 BYU

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. 

MORE: High Point joins list of 12 seeds to beat a 5 seed in NCAA Tournament

No. 9 Utah State beat No. 8 Villanova

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.

SN AWARDS: All-America team | Player of the Year | Coach of the Year

Why are there so many upsets in March Madness?

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bank. Swish.

NO. WAY. 😱

WE'RE GOING TO OVERTIME!!! #MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/3n8rDxkY3h

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 20, 2026

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.

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.

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.

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.

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’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.

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.

MORE:Updated March Madness bracket entering Round of 64 of 2026 NCAA Tournament

How to Watch Queens vs Purdue

• Date: Friday, March 20, 2026
• Time: 7:35 PM ET
• TV Channel: truTV
• Live Stream: DIRECTV (try for free)

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.

– Watch every NCAA Tournament matchup on DIRECTV –

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.

Live stream Queens vs Purdue with DIRECTV: Start your free trial now!

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.

— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

MARCH MADNESS: 5 bold March Madness predictions for 2026 NCAA Tournament

NFL DRAFT: New Mel Kiper NFL mock draft shows major impact of free agency

MLB: Dodgers announce Shohei Ohtani’s spring training pitching debut

NHL: Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl out for regular season with lower-body injury

ENTERTAINMENT: Is ‘Bachelorette’ still airing amid Taylor Frankie Paul domestic dispute allegations?

VIRAL: Livvy Dunne shares ‘Baywatch’ training with BTS swimsuit, set photos

Miami (OH) vs Tennessee box score: Full stats from 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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.

Miami (OH) vs. Tennessee March Madness box score

Miami (OH) Stats

Tennessee Stats

More college basketball news:

• Darryn Peterson situation not alarming to NBA teams, ESPN insider says
• AJ Dybantsa makes college basketball history never done by NBA stars
• John Calipari says college athletics is broken — Here’s his plan to fix it
• March Madness upset predictions for 2026 NCAA men’s basketball bracket
• Where Arkansas Darius Acuff Jr. ranks among John Calipari's best NBA guards

Queens vs. Purdue box score: Full stats from 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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.

Queens vs. Purdue March Madness box score

Queens stats

Purdue stats