After surviving an upset scare from No. 16 seed Siena, Duke is only beginning its March Madness run.

It would not be shocking to see Ken Jeong be a part of it. The Hangover actor is a Duke alum and has been a frequent attendee of Blue Devils basketball games for years now.

Jeong has been especially enthusiastic about this year's Duke team, as evidenced by him appearing on ESPN's College Gameday a couple weeks ago. During his appearance, Jeong couldn't have enough positive things to say about Cameron and Cayden Boozer, the twins who helped power Duke to a No. 1 seed.

A Greensboro, North Carolina native, Jeong earned his bachelor's degree from Duke in 1990. He'd go on to do medical school at North Carolina, though he's never wavered on his allegiance to the Blue Devils.

Ken Jeong mic'd up at Duke's Elite 8 game is everything you could imagine 😭 🎤 pic.twitter.com/4evuBprNKV

— Ken Jeong (@kenjeong) March 31, 2025

Jeong, 56, has gone on to star in numerous hit comedies over the years, from The Hangover to Knocked Up and Role Models.

As Duke advances through March Madness, it's worth keeping an eye out for Jeong, as he can get quite animated in the stands while cheering on his team.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Is Ken Jeong rooting for Duke in March Madness?

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Michigan meets Saint Louis today at 12:10 p.m. ET on CBS with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.

It’s a matchup between two teams that have no interest in playing slow, and my Saint Louis vs. Michigan predictions believe that will lead to offensive fireworks in Buffalo.

Read on for my March Madness picks for Saturday, March 21. 

Saint Louis vs Michigan prediction

Who will win Saint Louis vs Michigan?

Michigan: I just don’t think the Saint Louis Billikens will have enough answers for their size. They are a legitimately good offensive team, and they’ll score, but this feels like a case where their strengths are exceeded by the Michigan Wolverines' strengths.  

Saint Louis vs Michigan best bet: Over 161.5 (-116)

Michigan’s defense is a concern without LJ Cason, and it shows up more in high-tempo games, as seen in allowing 80 points to Howard. This matchup could be even faster, amplifying those defensive challenges.

Michigan’s offense is elite across actions, ranking near the top in big cut + rolls, pick + pops, and general inside-out actions. That’s not ideal for Saint Louis, which is smaller and poor defensively at the rim.

Likewise, St. Louis should enjoy some of its own offensive advantages, particularly in transition. Michigan has been well below the national average, allowing 1.02 PPP.

COVERS INTEL: Michigan has scored 85+ points in 8 of their last 10 games, and their offense hasn't dipped below 1.0 points per possession in any game since January. On the other side, Saint Louis has hit 80+ in 7 of their last 10.

Saint Louis vs Michigan same-game parlay

Elliot Cadeau is the offensive engine for Michigan, and his usage has only gone up.

Those rim issues I mentioned for St Louis? They’ll be most exposed by Cadeau facilitating those actions. He’s the primary passer on bigs cutting to the rim, and the Billikens rank in the Bottom 40% of the country defensively against such actions.

Saint Louis vs Michigan SGP

• Over 161.5 
• Elliot Cadeau Over 6.5 assists

Our Big Dance SGP: Mara makes his mark

Aday Mara is the best scorer around the rim for the Wolverines. Full stop.

With that in mind, taking him to exceed his points total is a proverbial layup given the narrative of our best bet.

I paired that with Amari McCottry Over 10.5 points, as he has the highest usage of any Saint Louis player in transition. 

Saint Louis vs Michigan SGP

• Over 161.5 
• Elliot Cadeau Over 6.5 assists
• Aday Mara Over 14.5 points
• Amari McCottry Over 10.5 points

Saint Louis vs Michigan odds

• Spread: Saint Louis +12.5 | Michigan -12.5
• Moneyline: Saint Louis +575 | Michigan -850
• Over/Under: Over 161.5 | Under 161.5

Saint Louis vs Michigan betting trend to know

Michigan has hit the Moneyline in 18 of their last 20 games (+14.00 Units / 2% ROI). Find more college basketball betting trends for Saint Louis vs. Michigan.

How to watch Saint Louis vs Michigan

Saint Louis vs Michigan key injuries

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At a height of 6-foot-8, Prairie View A&M men's basketball player Hassane Diallo is almost a foot taller than the average male height in the United States. But in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday evening, the junior center found himself in an unusual situation. With just under two minutes left in a game dominated by the South Region's No. 1 seeded Florida, Diallo lined up against the Gators' Olivier Rioux.

At 7-foot-9, the Canadian basketball player is the tallest in college basketball history. Rioux, a redshirt freshman for Florida, is a Guinness World Record holder for world's tallest teenager when he hit 7-foot-5 at age 16. So we don't blame Diallo for taking in the moment.

Cameras caught Diallo looking up at Rioux as the pair prepared for the restart of play, with the duo sharing some small talk.

Sizing up the tallest player in college basketball history pic.twitter.com/dvzaFaBqiZ

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 21, 2026

Rioux and Florida moved on after a dominating 114-55 victory, and the Gators will face the Big Ten's Iowa in the Round of 64 on Sunday.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Olivier Rioux had Prairie View A&M player in awe of Florida center

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Connecticut forward Tarris Reed Jr. did something no other Division I men's basketball player has done in a March Madness game in nearly 60 years.

The 6-foot-11 forward became the first player since Houston's Elvin Hayes in 1968 to finish with at least 30 points and 25 rebounds in an NCAA Tournament game, as he finished with a career-high, video-game-like 31 points and 27 rebounds.

REQUIRED READING: Braden Smith sets NCAA all-time assists record, breaks Bobby Hurley's mark

"That's as good as you are ever going to see it," UConn coach Dan Hurley said of Reed's performance after his team's 82-71 win over Furman to a group of reporters outside the Huskies locker room.

The 2-seeded Huskies needed every single point and every single rebound to avoid a potential first-round upset to the 15-seeded Paladins, as UConn nearly lost its 11-point second-half lead late in the second half.

A MONSTER game for Tarris Reed Jr... 30 points, 27 rebounds and counting 🤯🤯 @UConnMBBpic.twitter.com/yXuy4A5IpY

— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 21, 2026

The night the Huskies got from Reed saved Hurley's program from being added to the wrong end of March Madness history at Wells Fargo Center. Entering the night, 15-seeds pulled off an upset in two of the last three times that the Men's NCAA Tournament came to Philadelphia. The first came in 2013 when 15-seed Florida Gulf Coast University upset 2-seed Georgetown in the first round, while the other came in 2022 from that year's Cinderella story in 15-seed St. Peter's, Which knocked off 3-seed Purdue in the Sweet 16.

It didn't take long for Reed to showcase his dominance in front of a packed Xfinity Mobile Arena on Friday, which at times was rooting for an upset to happen. He matched his season-high of 16 rebounds by halftime to go with 19 points on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting from the field.

"He's a grizzly bear," Hurley said of his forward on the TV broadcast to Evan Washburn.

Reed told USA TODAY Sports in the Huskies locker room that it was at halftime that he realized the night he ended up having could be a possibility.

"Mindset coming into the game was really just be dominant, knowing that it's my last March Madness (and) my days are numbered in college basketball," Reed said of his mentality on the night. "We're just going out and giving it all I got."

He added 12 points and 11 rebounds in the second half, three of which came consecutively down the stretch and proved to be big as they helped the Huskies kill time and led to an Alex Karaban 3-pointer to push the lead to 11 with 2:06 remaining.

The Bear inside UConn's defense, which is the Huskies' path to a hopeful third national title in the last four years, helped the Huskies finish with a 46-26 advantage in the paint. His 27 rebounds were four more than Furman had on the night as a whole, at 23.

His night was also continuing a season-long theme of him looking much more comfortable in Hurley's system this year than he did last season, when he transferred from Michigan and the Big Ten.

"This really isn't a surprise to anybody," Karaban said of his fellow teammate's big night.

He added: "He opens everything everything else up (for us). Having a dominant player download that just draws so much attention and just doubles and helps us shooters get open. He makes our life so much easier. ... He's really a game change for us."

With UConn point guard Silas Demary Jr. still working his way back from an ankle injury he sustained in the Big East tournament championship and his status still in the air for Sunday's second round game against 7-seed UCLA, the Huskies will need Reed to be at his best like Friday night once again.

"He's probably got to get off social media now and focus on his matchup and not swim around in dopamine," Hurley said of Reed going into Sunday's second-round game. "And get ready for a much more formidable front court that's going to be tougher sledding versus UCLA and a Big Ten team."

Reed will be ready for whatever's asked.

"Keeping that momentum, same energy that I did in the first half and second half," Reed said.

Tarris Reed Jr. stats today vs Furman in NCAA Tournament

Here's a full breakdown of Reed's stats in UConn's win over Furman on Friday:

• Points: 31
• Shooting: 12-of-15
• 3-point shooting: N/A
• Rebounds: 27
• Assists: Three
• Turnovers: Two
• Minutes: 35

Who does UConn play next in March Madness?

The Huskies will take on 7-seed UCLA in the second round of the Men's NCAA Tournament at 8:45 p.m. ET on Sunday at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The winner will advance to the Sweet 16 of the East Region and face the winner of 3-seed Michigan State vs. 6-seed Louisville.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tarris Reed Jr. stats otherworldly as UConn avoids March Madness upset

ST. LOUIS — Friday felt, Jai Lucas said, tinged with the same “anxious excitement” he felt the first time he played in the NCAA Tournament.

The butterflies, the nervous energy. Miami’s first-year coach felt it all again, just through a different lens.

“Same type of feeling,” he said. “It was a neutral (site) but it really was a road game, so it made it even more exciting.

“It’s something that we’ve thrived in all year.”

Thrived. An appropriate word. It’s what Miami’s been doing since Lucas took over as head coach last spring and — after affecting what was essentially a total program rebuild — began the most dramatic turnaround in college basketball this season.

Friday’s nightcap 80-66 win against No. 10-seeded Missouri moved the Hurricanes to 26-8, tying a Division I record for the largest single-season swing in win-loss differential. Miami now has won 19 more games than it did a season ago, and the credit, its players say proudly, starts with their head coach.

“We’ve got,” leading scorer Malik Reneau said, “the utmost trust for coach.”

Centered on the Sunshine State

It was not lost on Ernest Udeh, the 6-foot-11 TCU transfer from Orlando, that as Lucas pulled together his first roster in Coral Gables, he started with Florida players.

A Texas native, Lucas came to Miami from Jon Scheyer’s staff at Duke. He started his own roster build with in-state players who spoke and walked with pride at the idea of representing their home state.

“It’s no secret that most of us (are) from Florida,” Udeh said of the veteran core underpinning the Hurricanes’ success this season. “Everybody else that came in, we kind of built a culture around just letting other guys feel welcome, understanding that they are welcome.

“They play for Miami. This is their home now.”

Shoulder to shoulder with Udeh are fellow Sunshine State natives Reneau (Miami) and Tre Donaldson (Tallahassee), veterans who wear Lucas’ call for toughness as team identity proudly.

They finished Friday night with their influence all over No. 7 Miami’s first-round win.

FIRST ROUND WINNERS AND LOSERS: Key wins for Nebraska and Kentucky, disaster for UNC

Veterans reinforce Miami's identity

Udeh and Reneau form one of the most versatile frontcourts in the country, one an elite rim protector finisher and the other more versatile offensively than at any other point in his career.

It showed up in the form of 10 rebounds from Udeh — on a night when Miami’s 19-2 advantage in second-chance points made a tremendous difference — and 19 second-half points from Reneau, the Indiana transfer delivering many of the game’s biggest buckets down the stretch in front of a rowdy pro-Missouri crowd.

“Just calming down,” Reneau said, when asked what turned his evening on. “Everybody telling me to be patient and letting the game come to you.”

The Tigers (20-13) rode their hot hand when they found out, Jayden Stone’s 21 points his most in a single game in roughly six weeks

And Miami had to make peace with Mark Mitchell’s 19.

Lucas helped recruit Mitchell at Duke and coached the Kansas City native there. He knew there was no shutting down Mitchell, just making life as difficult as possible.

“The way Stone started shooting the ball made it tougher,” Lucas said. “But we never wanted (Mitchell) to be able to take more than two dribbles and not see somebody.”

For all that individual success, no number told the story of Friday’s game like the nearly 34 minutes Miami led — even through a turgid offensive first half and some spotty free-throw shooting, the Hurricanes were always Friday’s likely winner.

They got there in the end, thanks to contributions from freshmen Shelton Henderson (15 points, six rebounds, four assists) and Dante Allen (nine points off the bench).

But it was fitting that those veterans around which Lucas fashioned his first roster at Miami finished the evening off.

Seniors send Missouri home

Donaldson scored 17 points to complement Reneau’s game-high 24. During the winning minutes inside the second half’s final media timeout, across a stretch that decided the game, that pair combined to score 16 of their team’s 18 points.

None bigger than Donaldson’s end-of-clock 3-pointer just inside 90 seconds to go, a back breaker that put Miami up 12. As he watched his last make fall, Donaldson turned in celebration, throwing three fingers synonymous with the kind of shot he’d just made.

And the bench that Lucas assembled and turned into an instant winner erupted one more time, while a mob of black and gold behind them began filing toward the exits. Missouri, fans realized, was about to become the latest victim of one of college basketball’s best stories this season.

All of it, starting with the 37-year-old Lucas, the team he built and the confidence he infused it with.

“Just how relatable he is,” Donaldson, asked about his coach’s strengths, said. “That gives us as a team the ability to be that close to our coach. It’s easy for us as a team and players to come together, and just understand why we’re all here.”

In the box score, yes, Friday manifested a lot of what Lucas has preached since Day 1.

Rebounding as an avatar for toughness. Veteran leadership as a cornerstone of a roster infused with pride in its place and its purpose.

Strength in the face of adversity. Poise in the face of doubt.

Missouri tested that mettle Friday, hanging around as Miami missed free throws and Stone made 3s. The Tigers even grabbed a single-possession advantage as late as the under-8 timeout in the second half, 54-52.

Miami responded with an 11-0 run, leaving no doubt on the scoreboard or on the floor just who would be tougher Friday night.

Udeh saw it form in summer workouts, from individual drills all the way to 5-on-5 work. Nights like Friday, and wins like these, are no surprise to him now.

“When you bring a group of guys together who know how to compete and just want to push to make each other better, that’s already a sign you’ve got a great group,” he said. “Us winning these games, these gritty games, where a team goes on a run, to the outside crowd, it may look like things are getting out of hand.

“But between us and our locker room, we understand what it is — just stay poised, stay together. Everything that we’ve worked on from the summer is just on display now.”

Hurricanes 'fight' for Lucas, as Sweet 16 approaches

It will need to be again Sunday afternoon, when Miami plays No. 2 seed Purdue for a place in the Sweet 16.

Miami, which won seven games last season, now stands just one away from the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. There has been no more dramatic, more impressive reversal of fortunes in the sport this winter, and there should be no question as to where it started.

Or, more accurately, who started it.

“We’re just fighting for our lives,” Reneau said. “We go out there and we fight for coach, every time we step on the court.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Miami turnaround continues with NCAA Tournament first-round win

xxxx

Game times and TV assignments for Sunday's second round were announced late Friday night. Here is the schedule for the second day of the second round, as well as what network it will air on.

March Madness bracket update: Second round game times, full schedule

Saturday, March 21

All times Eastern

• 12:10 p.m.: No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 9 Saint Louis, CBS
• 2:45 p.m.: No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 6 Louisville, CBS (prediction)
• 5:15 p.m.: No. 1 Duke vs. No. 9 TCU, CBS (prediction)
• 6:10 p.m.: No. 2 Houston vs. No. 10 Texas A&M, TNT (prediction)
• 7:10 p.m.: No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 11 Texas, TBS/truTV (prediction)
• 7:50 p.m.: No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 11 VCU, CBS (prediction)
• 8:45 p.m.: No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt, TNT (prediction)
• 9:45 p.m.: No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 12 High Point, TBS/truTV (prediction)

Sunday, March 22

All times Eastern

• 12:10 p.m.: No. 2 Purdue vs No. 7 Florida, CBS
• 2:45 p.m.: No. 2 Iowa State vs No. 7 Kentucky, CBS
• 5:15 p.m.: No. 4 Kansas vs No. 5 St. John's, CBS
• 6:10 p.m.: No. 3 Virginia vs No. 6 Tennessee, TNT
• 7:10 p.m.: No. 1 Florida vs No. 9 Iowa, TBS
• 8:45 p.m.: No. 2 UConn vs No. 7 UCLA, TNT
• 9:45 p.m.: No. 4 Alabama vs No. 5 Texas Tech, TBS

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness game times: Second round TV schedule update

In a college sports landscape where resume is so important, loyalties don't just lie with teams anymore. They lie with conferences as well, even if it's to push an agenda.

With that in mind, every conference wants to believe it is the creme de la creme. The SEC showed its depth for the second year in a row by sending 10 teams to the Men's NCAA Tournament, the Big Ten fielded nine, and the Big 12 sent eight. The ACC also sent eight teams, whereas the Big East sent just three.

MARCH MADNESS SCORES: See the big shots, moments, highlights in today's first round

Other multi-bid conferences include the West Coast Conference, the MAC, and the Atlantic 10.

Of course, beyond them are the auto-bid conference tournament winners, the single-bid conferences who annually send one team. How did these teams fare, and who is moving on to the second round? Here's a breakdown of the records across the board for all 31 college basketball conferences.

Power 4 Men's NCAA Tournament records

The SEC is leading the way among the Power 4, with only Georgia and Missouri suffering losses in the opening round. First Four team Texas was able to defeat former Big 12 conference-mate BYU and AJ Dybantsa, while Tennessee unseated regular season undefeated darlings Miami (Ohio).

In the Big Ten, Wisconsin suffered an upset at the hands of High Point, whereas Ohio State lost to TCU to open the tournament. The rest of the conference was able to advance. The Big 12 lost BYU and UCF, while the rest of the conference advanced despite scares to Kansas and TCU. The ACC struggled, with Duke being forced to play all 40 against Siena and North Carolina suffering a devastating loss at the hands of VCU.

Other multi-bid conference records in March Madness

One and only one conference stands undefeated after two days of March Madness: The dreaded Atlantic 10.

Indeed, Josh Schertz's Saint Louis squad completely dismantled Georgia in the first round, while VCU pulled off the aforementioned comeback against North Carolina. The West Coast Conference lost Saint Mary's and Santa Clara in Round 1, while Gonzaga continues to dance, and the MAC dropped Miami and Akron.

While the Big East saw UConn and St. John's move on, Villanova lost to Utah State, capping off the Wildcats' season.

Other conferences March Madness records

Beyond the eight conferences to send multiple teams, there were 23 other conferences represented. Of those, the only single-bid conferences to advance to the second round were the Big South's High Point, which stunned No. 5 Wisconsin, and the Mountain West's Utah State, which took down Villanova as a No. 9 seed. That puts them at 2-21 as far as single-bids go.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness records by conference: How Big Ten, SEC, others fared

The Furman Paladins suffered a nearly 40-year men's NCAA tournament drought after 1980, finally emerging from stasis for a brief Cinderella run in 2023. They didn't have to wait nearly as long for their next return trip.

The Paladins made a run as the Southern Conference's sixth seed to claim the league crown and a 15 seed in the 2026 bracket. The reward for their hard work? A date with Connecticut, winner of two of the last three national titles. Friday night's late game will be a massive step up in competition for Furman, who played three non-Division I opponents and zero high major teams across 34 games this winter.

Then again, so was four-seed Virginia in 2023. The Paladins took down the Cavaliers 68-67.

Furman University is located in Greenville, South Carolina

That's in the northwestern corner of the state. It's roughly 100 miles west of Charlotte, North Carolina. It's also 150 miles northeast of Atlanta, Georgia.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Where is Furman University located as Paladins play in March Madness?

March Madness has just about everything, from future NBA stars to unlikely heroes. But sometimes, it can also uncover heartfelt moments, even in the midst of a blowout.

That's what happened during No. 16 seed LIU's 92-58 loss to No. 1 Arizona in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 20. The game was virtually over by halftime, but it still provided the Sharks with lifelong memories – especially one player in particular.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness scores: See the big shots, moments, highlights in today's first round

Sophomore guard Eddie Munyak, a 6-foot-1 walk-on guard, entered for LIU in the final moments of its loss to one of the national championship favorites. He waved for the ball multiple times while the Sharks were down 80-53, and when he finally received the pass, he fired from 3-point range and banked the shot off the backboard through the net for his first career points.

It was only Munyak's second appearance in a game this season, last seeing the floor for two minutes against LeMoyne on Jan. 29. He was expectedly hype after sinking the shot, putting his arms out as he ran back on defense in jubilation.

"HE'LL REMEMBER THAT FOR A LIFETIME."

LIU Sophomore Eddie Munyak is playing in his 2nd game this season for the Sharks.

He just scored in a NCAA Tournament game. pic.twitter.com/HSuIiNCXhb

— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 20, 2026

"He'll remember that for a lifetime," play-by-play commentator Kevin Harlan said on the broadcast. "This is the beauty of this tournament."

Despite Munyak's 3-pointer having no impact on the game's conclusion, his LIU teammates erupted on the bench after he hit his first-career shot. Sometimes it means more than just wins and losses, especially as the Sharks have never won an NCAA Tournament game.

The teams that make deep NCAA Tournament runs in 2026 will be riddled with future professional players. Munyak won't be one of them, but he certainly made a memory that'll last a lifetime against Arizona.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LIU walk-on scores first career points vs Arizona, erupts in celebration

There's a new assists king in college basketball.

Purdue guard Braden Smith is the all-time leader in assists, breaking Bobby Hurley's record in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Queens on Friday, March 20. The senior from Indiana got the record on a dish to Trey Kaufman-Renn in the first half.

Smith now has 1,077 assists in his four year career with the Boilermakers. Purdue fans at the game gave Smith a standing ovation for the achievement.

CONGRATS TO BRADEN SMITH 👏#MarchMadnesshttps://t.co/QOD4ei9qTYpic.twitter.com/mX8sx2kIPC

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

One of the most prolific passers in the sport, Smith entered his senior year within striking distance of reaching Hurley's record from his time at Duke from 1990-93, and has continue to find buckets for teammates. He entered the day averaging nine assists per game, second-most in the country.

Hurley previously told USA TODAY Sports he has "always admired" how Smith plays. He was surprised his record stood for more than 30 years, and while he said he couldn't dictate who was worthy of breaking it, Hurley believed Smith was the right player to become the new leader.

"To have someone that would take it down, (Smith) would be the type of person that I would really respect having the record," Hurley said.

Smith collected the record after a sensational run in the Big Ten tournament that was capped off with the conference title.

He entered conference championship week with 1,029 assists, in fourth place of the leaderboard and 47 assists away from Hurley's record. There was uncertainty if he would be able to beat the record by the time his career was over, but he was dishing it out at an incredible rate in Chicago to set himself up to break the record in the first round of March Madness.

The guard went into March Madness needing just two assists to set the new record.

It was nearly foretold by Purdue coach Matt Painter, who told USA TODAY Sports in January the record would "come because you get to the championship game of the Big Ten tournament, you get to the Final Four." Turns out, he didn't need March Madness to do it.

Smith told USA TODAY Sports ahead of the tournament he was "ready to just get it over with" so he could put all of the attention toward winning Purdue's first national championship. Now with that in hand, the decorated guard can go for the two goals he had for his senior season.

"That's one of the reasons I came back, was to win and to get the record," he said. "Obviously, wanted to do it at a place that I've been for the three years prior. For me, just to be around a great bunch of guys and obviously great coaching staff, and do it with them, I think it makes it more special."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Braden Smith breaks NCAA all-time assists record set by Bobby Hurley

Queens University is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance this year.

As the team embarks on this historic run, it's getting inspiration from an unusual source: Buddy the Street Dog, a two-foot tall ceramic figurine of a golden shepherd.

The statue will surely be featured for as long as Queens is in March Madness, so let's get into what we know about it.

What inspired the statue choice?

Coach Grant Leonard introduced the statue after hearing his players over the summer describe themselves as dogs, according to the Associated Press. One of Leonard's assistants reportedly asked if the players were street dogs or Petco dogs, to which they replied the former, so Leonard took to Amazon to purchase Buddy as a tangible representation of the street dog mentality.

It's now the team's "spirit animal," according to Leonard.

Queens University carries Buddy The Street Dog with them to every game.

HC Grant Leonard says his players say they're a bunch of dogs, so he asked, "What kind of dog are you? A street dog or a Petco dog?"

Players can earn the Street Dog Of The Game. pic.twitter.com/zZwREn0Qzy

— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 8, 2026

Who gets the statue?

Buddy travels with the team each game, and Leonard awards him to the player who exhibits the most grit and hustle plays on a given night. Leonard says it's because "I wanted our guys to identify with being hungry and fighting for everything,” per the AP.

There you have it!

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why does Queens have dog statue? Explaining 'Buddy the Street Dog'

There's nothing like spending your Friday night with some madness.

The 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament first round continues with eight more games tonight.

Will anything match the drama of Otega Oweh's banked-in buzzer-beating 3-pointer that kept Kentucky's season alive against Santa Clara?

Did Santa Clara get hosed? Officials missed Herb Sendek timeout on Otega Oweh buzzer-beater

Guess we'll find out. Tonight's remaining schedule is below:

March Madness games tonight: Men's NCAA Tournament first round schedule, TV listings

• 6:50 p.m.: No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 Iowa, TNT (predictions)
• 7:10 p.m.: No. 5 St. John's vs. No. 12 UNI, CBS (predictions)
• 7:25 p.m.: No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 UCF, TBS (predictions)
• 7:35 p.m.: No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Queens, truTV (predictions)
• 9:25 p.m.: No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M, TNT (predictions)
• 9:45 p.m.: No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 California Baptist, CBS (predictions)
• 10 p.m.: No. 2 UConn vs. No. 15 Furman, TBS (predictions)
• 10:10 p.m.: No. 7 Miami (FL) vs. No. 10 Missouri, truTV (predictions)

March Madness results so far today

• No. 7 Kentucky 89, No. 10 Santa Clara 84, OT
• No. 5 Texas Tech 91, No. 12 Akron 71
• No. 1 Arizona 92, No. 16 Long Island 58
• No. 3 Virginia 82, No. 14 Wright State 73
• No. 2 Iowa State 108, No. 15 Tennessee State 74
• No. 4 Alabama 90, No. 13 Hofstra 70
• No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Utah State, in second half
• No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio), in second half

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness games tonight: Who is playing in NCAA Tournament Friday?

Santa Clara's trip to the big dance ended in heartbreak on Friday afternoon.

The No. 10-seeded Broncos hit a three-pointer to take a lead on No. 7-seeded Kentucky with just 2.4 seconds remaining. However, the Wildcats managed to push the ball up the court, and a tying heave from Otega Oweh went through at the buzzer.

Kentucky ultimately won the game 89-84 in overtime.

Santa Clara coach Herb Sendek wasn't pleased when he addressed the media after the game, with his ire directed at the officials, in particular. Sendek argued that he called a timeout after the go-ahead shot, but it wasn't granted.

"I unequivocally called timeout," Sendek said. "But they didn't grant it. I think the video evidence is clear, and anybody's able to pull it up. Which is a likely response after Allen hits the three, that the coach would be calling timeout to set the defense, which I tried to do and was successful in doing, other than it wasn't acknowledged or recognized. So, that's what happened."

"I unequivocally called timeout. But they didn't grant it."

Santa Clara HC Herb Sendek spoke on the moments leading up to Otega Oweh's buzzer beater. pic.twitter.com/BCrzlYm9id

— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) March 20, 2026

Sendek does have a point. The replay clearly shows Sendek frantically signaling for a timeout, but it seemingly wasn't noticed by the officials.

Santa Clara head coach Herb Sendek was trying to call a timeout before Kentucky nailed a three at the buzzer. #NCAATournament#MarchMadnesshttps://t.co/JuUQfHyYmspic.twitter.com/lGbQvrfOsJ

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 20, 2026

It's a frustrating end to the season for Sendek's Broncos, who had an SEC squad on the ropes but couldn't hang on for the win.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Santa Clara coach criticized refs after Kentucky loss

Wright State has spent nearly four decades as a Division I basketball program. If the Raiders can find a way to upset Virginia Friday afternoon, they'll notch the first men's NCAA Tournament win outside the First Four since the program was crushing Division II competition in the early- to mid-1980s.

Wright State stacked wins under longtime coach Ralph Underhill as a D2 power, but its jump to the highest level of the sport has brought only five NCAA Tournament appearances in 39 seasons. While the program earned a play-in victory in 2022 over Bryant University, every game the team has played as part of the field of 64 has ended in a defeat of 17 points or more.

While the school was named after the godfathers of aviation, the Wright Brothers, nearby University of Dayton had already cornered the market on related nicknames by calling its athletic teams the Flyers for decades before Wright State was founded. Thus, the very different and slightly boring Raiders, personified in logo and mascot form by a... gray wolf. Sure.

Anyway, let's see why the Raiders have a homecourt advantage in any play-in game.

Wright State is located in Dayton, Ohio

It's about 10 miles northwest of the University of Dayton. Fittingly, the school is sandwiched between the Wright Brothers Memorial and the neighborhood of Wrightview.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Where is Wright State located as Raiders play in March Madness?

The 2026 NCAA Tournament has arrived, and so have major upsets.

March Madness officially got underway with first-round games on Thursday, March 19. Sixteen games were played on "opening day" of the NCAA Tournament, with another 16 on Friday, March 20. And we had some shockers already.

March Madness predictions, odds: Picking all 16 games on today's NCAA Tournament schedule

Will Big 10 drought end this year? Big Ten hasn't won March Madness since 2000

The NCAA Tournament continues through April 5, when a national champion will emerge from the Final Four in Indianapolis. Second round coverage begins on Saturday, March 21 and continues through Sunday, March 22.

As March Madness continues to unfold, USA TODAY Sports will be on top of all the action. Here's a look at the March Madness results so far for men's March Madness:

March Madness results so far

First round

Thursday, March 19

• East Region: (1) Duke 71, (16) Siena 65
• Midwest Region: (1) Michigan 101, (16) Howard 80
• South Region: (2) Houston 78, (15) Idaho 47
• East Region: (3) Michigan State 92, (14) North Dakota State 67
• South Region: (3) Illinois 105, (14) Penn 70
• West Region: (3) Gonzaga 73, (14) Kennesaw State 64
• East Region: (9) TCU 66, (8) Ohio State 64
• South Region: (4) Nebraska 76, (13) Troy 47
• West Region: (4) Arkansas 97, (13) Hawai'i 78
• West Region: (12) High Point 83, (5) Wisconsin 82
• South Region: 5) Vanderbilt 78, (12) McNeese 68
• East Region: (6) Louisville 83, (11) South Florida 79
• South Region: (11) Virginia Commonwealth 82, (6) North Carolina 78, OT
• West Region: (11) Texas 79, (6) BYU 71
• South Region: (10) Texas A&M 63, (7) Saint Mary's 50
• East Region: (9) TCU 66, (8) Ohio State 64
• Midwest Region: (9) Saint Louis 102, (8) Georgia 77

March Madness schedule: Today's games in men's NCAA Tournament

• Midwest Region: (7) Kentucky vs. (10) Santa Clara | 12:15 p.m. | CBS (Fubo)
• Midwest Region: (5) Texas Tech vs. (12) Akron | 12:40 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)
• West Region: (1) Arizona vs. (16) LIU | 1:35 p.m. | TNT (Sling TV)
• Midwest Region: (3) Virginia vs. (14) Wright State | 1:50 p.m. | TBS (Sling TV)
• Midwest Region: (2) Iowa State vs. (15) Tennessee State | 2:50 p.m. | CBS (Fubo)
• Midwest Region: (4) Alabama vs. (13) Hofstra | 3:15 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)
• West Region: (8) Villanova vs. (9) Utah State | 4:10 p.m. | TNT (Sling TV)
• Midwest Region: (6) Tennessee vs. (11) Miami (Ohio)/SMU | 4:25 p.m. | TBS (Sling TV)
• South Region: (8) Clemson vs. (9) Iowa | 6:50 p.m. | TNT (Sling TV)
• East Region: (5) St. John's vs. (12) Northern Iowa | 7:10 p.m. | CBS (Fubo)
• East Region: (7) UCLA vs. (10) Central Florida | 7:25 p.m. | TBS (Sling TV)
• West Region: (2) Purdue vs. (15) Queens | 7:35 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)
• Midwest Region: (1) Florida vs. (16) Prairie View A&M/Lehigh | 9:25 p.m. | TNT (Sling TV)
• East Region: (4) Kansas vs. (13) Cal Baptist | 9:45 p.m. | CBS (Fubo)
• East Region: (2) UConn vs. (15) Furman | 10 p.m. | TBS (Sling TV)
• West Region: (7) Miami vs. (10) Missouri | 10:10 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness games yesterday: Results so far from men's NCAA Tournament

Bryce James, LeBron James' son, is approaching his first NCAA Tournament.

He'll have to wait before seeing the floor, however. Bryce, a freshman for No. 1 seed Arizona, will not suit up during March Madness as he is redshirting this season to focus on his development. That means the 6-foot-5 guard will finish his first college season without a game appearance.

It's not entirely surprising James is taking his time to develop. He was a three-star recruit out of Sierra Canyon, where brother Bronny James also attended, with 247Sports' Adam Finkelstein noting in 2023 he was "far from a finished product" physically.

The show goes on for Arizona, though, with the Wildcats having serious championship aspirations. They are the No. 1 seed in the West Region and are riding the momentum of beating fellow top seed Houston in the Big 12 Championship Game.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Is Bryce James playing for Arizona in March Madness?

March Madness officially kicked off on Thursday, March 19.

When the cameras went to the studio analysts for CBS and TNT Sports, some fans were shocked to see Ernie Johnson not present along with Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith, the longtime loved trio of "Inside the NBA," but also regulars hosting the NCAA Tournament.

REQUIRED READING: One day in and March Madness already its usual marvelous self

Instead of Johnson, former NFL player turned "CBS Mornings" host, Nate Burleson, replaced Johnson with his hosting responsibilities. The former wide receiver also does football analysis in the studio with CBS and has been one of the commentators for Nickelodeon's Super Bowl broadcast for kids.

Nate Burleson makes his March Madness studio hosting debut. 🏀🏈📺🎙️ #MarchMadness#NCAATournamenthttps://t.co/3F2OcAG31Bpic.twitter.com/NKcDR0l3Hw

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 19, 2026

But why was Johnson not present for the opening of the NCAA Tournament and who is Burleson? Here's what you need to know:

Where is Ernie Johnson?

Johnson took on the lead role as the host last year, following the death of the legendary Greg Gumbel in December 2024.

However, this year, Johnson requested additional time off, necessitating the need for CBS to bring in a brand new host.

“At my request, I will take a step back from working the first two weeks of March Madness,” Johnson said to NJ.com in a statement. “I appreciate the support from TNT Sports, along with my CBS Sports colleagues. We have a tremendously talented broadcast team, and I look forward to hosting our studio coverage from the Final Four in Indianapolis.”

Johnson is set to return for the Final Four and championship game in Indianapolis on April 4 and 6. (Where he will see Florida will win again).

Who is Nate Burleson?

Burleson, 44, was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on Aug. 19, 1981. His father, Al, was a defensive back in the CFL. His brother, Kevin, played in the NBA.

After attending Nebraska for college, Burleson was a third-round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He enjoyed an 11-year NFL career with the Vikings, Seahawks and Lions, finishing his career with 457 receptions for 5,360 yards and 39 touchdowns.

Burleson began his broadcasting career soon after his playing career ended in 2014, as an analyst for NFL Network. In 2021, the responsibilities for the two-time Sports Emmy Award winner grew as he expanded his work with CBS. He served as the first color commentator for Nickelodeon's NFL Wild Card game and as a host of CBS' reality show "The Challenge: All Stars."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Nate Burleson? Why has he replaced Ernie Johnson?

Let's face it: The upsets from non-blue blood schools in March Madness is what the NCAA tournament is all about.

Now we all know where High Point is located and how fiery coach Flynn Clayman is and how Chase Johnston made his first two-pointer of the season on Thursday.

And now we know the radio voices are awesome, too. Say hello to Jimmy Rosselli and Griffin Wright, who were viral sensations last year and are doing it all again this year. Check out their reactions during the final minutes of the High Point upset over Wisconsin. It's SO SO GOOD:

HELLO SATURDAY!!!! pic.twitter.com/aLqSp4XyC3

— The Jimmy and Griff Show (@JimmyandGriff) March 19, 2026

Magic. Gotta love it.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: High Point radio call of Wisconsin upset is March Madness gold

Half of the first round of the men's NCAA basketball tournament is complete. But we’re far from done, March Madness fans.

The action Friday continues with another full slate of 16 contests. Once again, this will be your guide for the day with all the matchups, channels and tip times. Stick with us all day as teams advance and brackets are busted.

Once again, the times listed can vary slightly if preceding contests run long, but there should always be something happening throughout the afternoon and evening hours. Here’s the ranking of all the games and everything you need to know about how to watch Friday’s contests.

1. No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Utah State

Time/TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, TNT

The Aggies have appeared in every NCAA Tournament but one since 2019 but own just one victory in that stretch, something this veteran lineup with leaders MJ Collins Jr. and Mason Falslev hopes to change. They should match up well with the Wildcats, though Duke Brennan could give Villanova the edge in the paint.

2. No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio)

Time/TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, TBS

You’d be hard-pressed to find a first-round contest featuring more contrasting styles. The free-wheeling RedHawks won over plenty of skeptics in Wednesday night’s First Four victory against SMU, but the Volunteers will do their best to make this affair a grind with a premium on controlling the boards.

3. No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 Iowa

Time/TV: 6:50 p.m. ET, TNT

The final 8-9 matchup tips off the evening session, though it, too, provides something of a contrast. The Hawkeyes have a true floor general in Bennett Stirtz, who rarely leaves the floor. But the Tigers’ ability to spread the offensive load could serve them well given their recent injury woes. This looks to be tight throughout.

4. No. 7 Kentucky vs. No. 10 Santa Clara

Time/TV: 12:15 p.m. ET, CBS

One of the sport’s name-brand programs appears in the leadoff spot, though this year’s Wildcats can hardly be considered Final Four contenders. They figure to get a formidable first-round challenge from the Broncos, a well-rounded squad led by veteran coach Herb Sendek that shares the ball and holds its own on the glass.

5. No. 7 Miami (Fla.) vs. No. 10 Missouri

Time/TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, truTV

The final game of the round of 64 features what is as de facto home game for Mizzou despite its lower seed. The Tigers, however, enter the tourney on a three-game losing streak, so a fast start by the Hurricanes could neutralize the home-state crowd in St. Louis. Missouri leading scorer Mark Mitchell will have to keep pace with the Miami duo of Malik Reneau and Tre Donaldson.

6. No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 Central Florida

Time/TV: 7:25 p.m. ET, TBS

The Bruins’ late push in the crowded Big Ten could elevate them only so far up the seeding hierarchy, but they should at least be at full strength for this assignment. The Knights weren’t at their best in the closing weeks of the season but have enough weapons to be dangerous.

7. No. 5 Texas Tech vs. No. 12 Akron

Time/TV: 12:40 p.m. ET, truTV

Unfortunately, the loss of All America forward JT Toppin to a season-ending knee injury severely dampened Final Four hopes for the Red Raiders. They didn’t phone in the rest of their season, of course, but they now find themselves as credible upset picks against the experienced and very talented Zips, paced by lead guard Tavari Johnson and versatile forward Amani Lyles.

8. No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Hofstra

Time/TV: 3:15 p.m. ET, truTV

While courts of a different sort have kept Alabama in the news for much of this season, the Crimson Tide are still capable of making noise in March if Labaron Philon has his A-game. His opposite number here will be Hofstra’s Cruz Davis, a high-usage point guard who puts up 20.2 points and 4.6 assists a game.

9. No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 Cal Baptist

Time/TV: 9:45 p.m. ET, CBS

With plenty of questions about their overall chemistry and the uncertainty around star freshman Darryn Peterson entering the tourney, the Jayhawks arguably need an easy first-round tuneup more than most upper-tier squads. They might not get it against the Lancers and WAC player of the year Dominique Daniels (23.2 ppg).

10. No. 5 St. John’s vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa

Time/TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS

Big East champion St. John’s and its supporters have plenty of reasons to be displeased with the committee for their tournament draw, not the least of which is this first-round matchup in far away San Diego against a program with a veteran coach, Ben Jacobson, and a reputation as a March giant killer. Be that as it may, the Panthers might not have an answer for Red Storm big man Zuby Ejiofor.

11. No. 3 Virginia vs. No. 14 Wright State

Time/TV: 1:50 p.m. ET, TBS

The new-look Cavaliers have a different playing style than the past versions that proved susceptible to the occasional first-round exit. Nonetheless, they must be ready for a challenge from the Horizon League champion Raiders, who also like to play fast and connect on 36.1% of their three-point tries.

12. No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 15 Tennessee State

Time/TV: 2:50 p.m. ET, CBS

When everything is working, the Cyclones can look like a Final Four team. But the program has been here before as a No. 2 seed that suffered a memorable loss to Hampton in the first round. The high-scoring guard tandem of Aaron Nkrumah and (17.6 ppg) and Travis Harper (17.3) could keep the Tigers in it for a while.

13. No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Queens

Time/TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, truTV

The Boilermakers were undoubtedly happy to see their name on the Friday slate on Selection Sunday after a hard weekend of work in the Big Ten tournament. And the improvement to a No. 2 seed means a favorable matchup with the Royals, newcomers to the big stage, at least hope to make a good first impression.

14. No. 2 Connecticut vs. No. 15 Furman

Time/TV: 10:00 p.m. ET, TBS

All UConn coach Danny Hurley has to do to get his players’ attention is remind them what Furman did the last time it played in this event. Bob Richey is still coaching the Purple Paladins, as he was in 2023 when they sent Virginia packing in the first round, and he once again has a dependable floor leader in Alex Wilkins (17.7 ppg, 4.7 apg). But the Huskies look primed to make a title run this year.

15. No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 Long Island

Time/TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, TNT

Arizona has a history of underachieving in March, but that usually comes on the second weekend. This well-constructed version of the Wildcats should make short work of this one. Jamal Fuller, a 43.8% marksman from the arc, is a guy to watch for coach Rod Strickland’s Sharks.

16. No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M

Time/TV: 9:25 p.m. ET, TNT

Congratulations are in order for the Panthers as they claimed their first ever March Madness victory. The run almost certainly stops here against the defending champion Gators, though Prairie View’s Dontae Horne can make things happen at both ends of the floor.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness games today: NCAA Tournament first-round schedule Friday

BUFFALO, NY — This was a moment delayed by two years, a coaching change and a transfer.

Two seasons ago, Indiana State won the Missouri Valley regular-season crown, earning the program’s first national ranking since the Larry Bird-led team in 1979 along the way, before losing to Drake in the finals of the conference tournament.

The Sycamores were then snubbed by the NCAA selection committee, who held them out of the at-large field despite a NET rating of 28, the highest of any team to miss the tournament.

“It was kind of the biggest disappointment we’ve ever had,” said former Indiana State and current Saint Louis assistant coach Antone Gray. “It was a huge letdown that night.”

Two years later, the biggest pieces behind that season’s success — coach Josh Schertz and center Robbie Avila — embraced after No. 9 Saint Louis routed No. 8 Georgia, 102-77, in the opening round of the Midwest region, celebrating an achievement rooted in the decision to leave Indiana State after the 2024 season.

“Our goal was from the beginning of the year to reach this moment, so we got here, we kind of accomplished that goal,” Avila said. “But obviously that 2024 year was just what it was. I'm just excited and blessed to have the opportunity to do it here.”

The Billikens advanced to face No. 1 Michigan, which pulled away from No. 16 Howard in the second half of a 101-80 win.

Shertz accepted the Saint Louis opening days after the Sycamores lost to Seton Hall in the NIT championship game. Two weeks later, Avila followed suit to become the centerpiece of the Billikens’ transformation from 13-20 in 2023-24 to a school-record 29 wins and growing this season.

“I wanted to get this team to the NCAA Tournament for a lot of reasons, but he was the biggest,” Shertz said of Avila. “There was a lot of people that helped bring me here, but I just never wanted for him to have ended his career not in the tournament, particularly after what happened to our Indiana State team.”

The player with a collection of the best nicknames in the sport — Bert, Steph Blurry, Larry Nerd and many more — showcased his deft touch near the basket and skills as a passer against the Bulldogs, posting 12 points to go with five rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal before being replaced with 4:45 remaining and the Billikens holding a 38-point lead.

After drilling a 3-pointer to put Saint Louis ahead 86-52 with just over nine minutes left, Avila raised his arms as fans chanted his first name. At this point, Avila and the Billikens had so demoralized the Bulldogs that Georgia fans sitting behind press row began discussing Thursday’s start of spring football.

“Major impact. Energy booster,” said Saint Louis guard Trey Green. “Robbie hit some key buckets. He made some good passes. Defensively, he held his own. To have your leader make an impact like that, you know, it drives us to have his back and do the same thing.”

This was par for the course for one of the top players on the mid-major level and one of the most balanced players in the country, period, even if Avila was not named one of the five finalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award as the nation’s best center.

Avila is now averaging a team-best 12.9 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game and a team-leading 4.1 assists per game, all while shooting 50.9% from the field, a career-best 41.7% from deep and 80.3% from the free-throw line.

All this while looking like, well, someone who shouldn’t be this good. With his goatee, beefy frame and lack of rim-shaking athleticism, Avila is a human version of the Spider-Man-pointing meme for those watching at home: Hey, he looks just like me!

“He’s the most team guy that we have,” said Gray. “He leads us. He could’ve gone anywhere in the country and he came here for a reason. He came back for this.”

Like Avila, Schertz saw his profile grow at Indiana State, which hired him in 2021 after a hugely successful run at Division II Lincoln Memorial. He’s since become one of the hottest names in mid-major coaching, drawing heavy attention for the Syracuse opening before declining the Orange’s overtures and signing a contract extension with Saint Louis last week.

There’s no wonder larger programs are so interested: Schertz has made things happen at every stop, making three Division II Final Four appearances at Lincoln Memorial, winning 62.3% of his games with the Sycamores and now posting a 48-20 mark in his two seasons with the Billikens.

“It’s been everything I’ve ever dreamed of and more,” said his son, Jaden, a walk-on junior guard who followed his dad from Indiana State.

“It’s surreal, man. I’ve known my dad is a great coach since the D-II days. We’ve watched March Madness since we were little. So it’s awesome watching it on this stage.”

Overall, Schertz has won 77.8% of his games, ranking him eighth among active college coaches across all NCAA levels. In four seasons with Avila on the roster, he’s gone 103-40. But this win stands alone.

“This was just a full-circle moment,” said Gray. “I think this was what we deserved and honestly, what Robbie and coach deserved the most.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Saint Louis' NCAA Tournament blowout win was two years in the making

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Welcome to your March Madness hub for the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament.

Our college basketball experts will guide you through the March Madness bracket with March Madness expert picks, matchup breakdowns, and betting analysis for every game, right through to the National Championship.

Bookmark this page and come back for our latest college basketball picks.

March Madness picks for 3/20 & 3/21

Game	Pick	Odds
Iowa vs Clemson	Under 129.5	-116
Northern Iowa vs St. John's	Ejiofor o7.5 rebounds	-120
UCF vs UCLA	Dent o7.5 assists	+102
Queens vs Purdue	Purdue -25.5	-110
Cal Baptist vs Kansas	Kansas TT u36.5 1H	-120
Furman vs UConn	Bowser o11.5 points	-112
Prairie View A&M vs  Florida	Florida TT o95.5	-120
Missouri vs Miami (FL)	Pierce o1.5 threes	-115
Saint Louis vs Michigan	Over 161.5	-116
Louisville vs Michigan State	Michigan State moneyline	-185
TCU vs Duke	TCU TT u64.5	-120
Texas vs Gonzaga	Texas +6.5	-110
Nebraska vs Vanderbilt	Vanderbilt -2	-110

March Madness best bets and SGPs

Friday, March 20

9 Iowa vs 8 Clemson

South Region, 6:50 p.m. ET, TNT

Best bet

Neither the Iowa Hawkeyes nor the Clemson Tigers believe in moving quickly. The Hawkeyes play at a Bottom-10 pace in the country, while the Tigers sit just outside the Bottom-30. 

And neither shoots well from deep, with Iowa generally reluctant to heave from long range and Clemson generally middling at it. Nor does either defense emphasize forcing 3-pointers.

These two defenses will encourage elongated half-court sets, grinding down this game. A la Big Ten Tournament games of 25 years ago, this may be a moment of “first team to 60 wins,” if either team even gets to 60 points.

Read Douglas Farmer's full Iowa vs. Clemson predictions for Friday, March 20.

SGP

15 Queens vs 2 Purdue

West Region, 7:35 p.m. ET, truTV

Best bet

The Purdue Boilermakers boast the highest-rated offense in KenPom history. They take care of the ball, shoot extremely well from everywhere on the floor, and generate second chances on the glass.

Meanwhile, the Queens University Royals are a fast-paced team who are terrible defensively. They sit outside the top 300 in adjusted defense, opponent eFG% (54%), and defensive rebounding rate. 

Queens is 0-5 SU and 1-4 ATS against high-major opponents this season, with the only cover coming by the hook. Purdue has the firepower to build a big lead and the depth to extend it when key starters rest.

Read Rohit Ponnaiya's full Queens vs. Purdue predictions for Friday, March 20.

SGP

12 Northern Iowa vs 5 St. John's

East Region, 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS

Best bet

St. John's forward Zuby Ejiofor averaged more than seven rebounds amongst the trees of the Big East. The 6-foot-9, 245-pound senior will be battling MVC saplings in the Round of 64.

Northern Iowa has a couple of starters who run 6-foot-8 but are nowhere near Ejofor’s strength and athleticism.
 
For the most part, the Panthers don’t bother crashing the offensive glass and face their toughest challenge against this St. John’s defense. Ejiofor is also active on the offensive boards (3.3 per game).

Ejiofor was a beast on the glass in the Big East tournament, and projections call for 8+ rebounds versus UNI.

Read Jason Logan's full Northern Iowa vs. St. John's predictions for Friday, March 20.

SGP

10 UCF vs 7 UCLA

East Region, 7:25 p.m. ET, CBS

Best bet

The Bruins’ late-season surge has a lot to do with Donovan Dent. 

He dished out a dozen assists in his first two Big Ten tournament games before getting hurt and averaged almost 10 assists in the 12 games prior to that minor injury.

Dent is fine for the opener against Central Florida. The Golden Knights are one of the weakest defenses the Bruins have faced in a while, with UCF giving up 14 assists an outing and taking on a UCLA offense that ranks in the Top 40 in assist ratio.

Projections sit as high as 10.3 assists from Dent on Friday.

Read Jason Logan's full UCF vs. UCLA predictions for Friday, March 20.

SGP

16 Prairie View A&M vs 1 Florida

South Region, 9:25 p.m. ET, TNT

Best bet

The Florida Gators have cracked 100 points five times this season, exceeding this lofty prop two other times. Their first two times in triple-digits came against their only two opponents rated worse by KenPom than the Prairie View A&M Panthers.

Both North Florida and Saint Francis play at an accelerated pace, ranking No. 30 and No. 45 in Pomeroy’s pace stat this season.

Uh oh, Prairie View A&M ranks No. 23, even faster.

That many possessions will give the Gators’ talent edge too many chances at easy buckets.

Read Douglas Farmer's full Prairie View A&M vs. Florida predictions for Friday, March 20.

SGP

13 Cal Baptist vs 4 Kansas

East Region, 9:45 p.m. ET, CBS

Best bet

Kansas isn’t thinking about California Baptist. 

The second the bracket dropped, KU saw Duke waiting in the second round, and thoughts of the Blue Devils started dancing in its head.

And then there’s star Darryn Peterson, whose priority has been protecting himself for the upcoming NBA Draft.

Kansas’ offense was in the toilet in the home stretch, especially in the opening 20 minutes. It’s averaged less than 33 first-half points in the past 10 outings, scoring fewer than 30 in four of those games.

The Lancers slow things down, protect the perimeter, and allow the 10th-fewest 1H points per game.

Read Jason Logan's full California Baptist vs. Kansas predictions for Friday, March 20.

SGP

15 Furman vs 2 UConn

East Region, 10:00 p.m. ET, TBS

Best bet

The UConn Huskies may seem like a tall task for Cooper Bowser, especially with shot swatter Tarris Reed patrolling the paint.

However, the Furman Paladins' half-court offense starts with Bowser at the top of the circle, setting on-ball screens and moving a lot without the basketball.

Bowser's recent output was tempered due to lineup changes, with the Paladins going smaller in the conference tournament. He scored 14 points in 24 minutes in each of the first two games before striking for 21 in 30 minutes in the final.

He’s tallied 12 + points in 14 of his last 17 games and is projected for 13 points on Friday.

Read Jason Logan's full Furman vs. UConn predictions for Friday, March 20.

SGP

10 Missouri vs 7 Miami

West Region, 10:10 p.m. ET, truTV

Best bet

The Miami Hurricanes are 324th in the country in opponent 3PT% (37.4%) since January 1. The Missouri Tigers offense will need to take advantage of that weakness which means getting the ball to Trent Pierce.

The 6-foot-10 wing is a matchup nightmare who can stretch the floor. His quick release and catch-and-shoot ability makes him especially dangerous with Miami struggling against movement shooters. 

Pierce is coming off a game against Kentucky where he went 1-for-4 from deep. However, he cleared 1.5 treys in his previous six contests, knocking down 2.5 threes per game at a 42.9% clip.

Read Rohit Ponnaiya's full Missouri vs. Miami predictions for Friday, March 20.

SGP

Saturday, March 21

9 Saint Louis vs 1 Michigan

Midwest Region, 12:15 p.m. ET, CBS

Best bet

Michigan’s defense is a concern without LJ Cason, and it shows up more in high-tempo games, as seen in allowing 80 points to Howard. This matchup could be even faster, amplifying those defensive challenges.

Michigan’s offense is elite across actions, ranking near the top in big cut + rolls, pick + pops, and general inside-out actions. That’s not ideal for Saint Louis, which is smaller and poor defensively at the rim.

Likewise, St. Louis should enjoy some of its own offensive advantages, particularly in transition. Michigan has been well below the national average, allowing 1.02 PPP.

Read Chris Hatfield's full Saint Louis vs. Michigan predictions for Saturday, March 21.

SGP

6 Louisville vs 3 Michigan State

East Region, 2:45 p.m. ET, CBS

Best bet

The Cardinals are already without top threat Mikel Brown Jr., and backcourt mate Ryan Conwell took some hard screens in that win over USF. A tenderized Louisville Cardinals now meets one of the most physical teams — on both ends of the floor — in the MSU Spartans.

The Spartans can bully UL, especially down low. The Cardinals gave up 44 points in the paint to the Bulls and rolled out the red carpet to the rim in the home stretch of ACC play.

Michigan State has capable bodies to battle in the paint, a deeper bench, and fresher legs. Getting MSU shorter than two bucks seems like a steal.

Read Jason Logan's full Louisville vs. Michigan State predictions for Saturday, March 21.

SGP

9 TCU vs 1 Duke

East Region, 5:15 p.m. ET, CBS

Best bet

The TCU Horned Frogs’ first half versus Ohio State was a weird one. 

Texas Christian isn’t a great 3-point team, but its 39 first-half points were fueled by 7-of-13 shooting from deep. That eventually dried up, as TCU made just 2 of 10 from beyond the arc in the second half and scored only 27 points.

The Frogs’ offense is normally driven by fastbreak buckets, points off turnovers, and offensive rebounds. Those are areas in which the Duke Blue Devils deny opponents.

Duke cleans the glass, takes care of the basketball, and its efficient offense forces opponents to start possessions from in-bounds, pushing them into the halfcourt.

Read Jason Logan's full TCU vs. Duke predictions for Saturday, March 21.

SGP

11 Texas vs 3 Gonzaga

West Region, 7:10 p.m. ET, truTV

Best bet

The Longhorns' biggest weakness is their 3-point defense (35.4%) and tendency to foul (307th in opponent FT rate). However, Gonzaga attempts threes at one of the lowest rates in the country while ranking just 277th in FT rate.

On the other side of the floor, the Zags have impressive defensive stats, but that's puffed up by weak competition in the West Coast Conference. 

They struggled to defend more athletic teams earlier in the season, and Texas has a highly efficient offense. Gonzaga doesn't have a wing capable of locking up Dailyn Swain or a rim protector to contain Matas Vokietaitis.

Read Rohit Ponnaiaya's full Texas vs. Gonzaga predictions for Saturday, March 21.

SGP

5 Vanderbilt vs 4 Nebraska

South Region, 8:45 p.m. ET, TNT

Best bet

Congratulations to the Nebraska Cornhuskers for finally winning their first NCAA Tournament game. Here comes the natural letdown.

Nebraska ran through Troy in part thanks to a 26-10 advantage in points in the paint, which is to be expected against a mid-major opponent. The Vanderbilt Commodores will not yield such chances, as they boast one of the best interior defenses in the SEC.

Meanwhile, Vanderbilt has been knocked a bit because it failed to cover -12.5 against McNeese, despite winning by 10 in a rather slow game. If anything, the Commodores should receive a touch of praise, while the Cornhuskers are ripe to be disappointed.

Read Douglas Farmer's full Vanderbilt vs. Nebraska predictions for Saturday, March 21.

SGP

March Madness betting 101

Single elimination changes everything. One cold shooting night or foul trouble can end a season, so aim for good prices and smart risk, not “can’t-miss” takes.

Start with the basics

Spread: In point spread betting, you’re wagering on how close the game stays. In the tournament, late-game fouling can turn a tight cover into a bad beat (or vice versa).

Moneyline:Moneyline betting is often the cleanest way to play a true March Madness upset, but you risk losing more frequently if you wager just on underdogs.

Total: Pace and shot quality matter in Over/Under betting, but so do tournament quirks like neutral rims, tight legs, and whistle changes.

Neutral-site mindset

Games aren’t played in familiar gyms, and crowds can be split. Travel, time zones, and quick turnarounds can matter, especially for teams that rely heavily on energy, depth, or shooting rhythm. When in doubt, lean on repeatable traits: defense, rebounding, and turnover control.

Why single elimination matters

Underdogs can be live because favorites feel pressure and have less room to “play through” a bad stretch. But favorites can also separate late when depth and free throws matter. Think in game scripts:

• Take the underdog + points if they can control tempo, defend without fouling, and protect the ball.
• Sprinkle a unit on the moneyline if they have a clear matchup advantage (e.g., elite 3-point volume vs weak perimeter D).
• Bet on the favorite if they can force turnovers, dominate the glass, or punish inside.

First half vs full game betting

Early nerves and unfamiliar sightlines can create slow starts. If you expect a tactical feel-out period, 1H Unders or 1H underdog spreads can be sharper than full game.

Overtime and endgame chaos

OT is usually included in spreads/totals, and late fouling can add 10–20 “free” points. Totals can swing wildly in the final minute, but don’t panic if you’re on the right side of pace and shot quality.

Still need help? Our Covers hoops analysts are here to provide you with March Madness expert picks from the First Four to the National Championship Game.

Popular March Madness betting markets

March Madness is a betting buffet - the key is picking the right market for your edge.

Futures: Futures are best when you’re early or disagree with the bracket. Conference tourney week and Selection Sunday can create mispriced numbers on title, Final Four odds, March Madness MVP odds, and region winner odds. Shop prices, and remember: a “good team” isn’t always a good futures bet if the path is brutal.

Game lines: The spread, moneyline, and total are the bread and butter once the bracket starts. Neutral courts, quick turnarounds, and unfamiliar sightlines can impact shooting (and totals) especially early. If you have a strong pace or matchup read, consider team totals or 1st half bets to isolate the edge.

Props:March Madness props shine when roles are stable and matchups are clear: usage, minutes, foul risk, and opponent style (rim protection, pace, rebounding). Ladders and alt lines can be powerful, but keep stakes smaller.

Same-game parlays: SGPs can be fun, but value varies. Compare the parlay payout to betting legs individually, and prioritize lines you’d play on their own.

And be sure to check out our expert NCAA bracket picks before the action begins!

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.