… Gonzaga is seeking to become the first team to make it to the Final Four unbeaten since Kentucky in 2015. 11 seed UCLA (21-9), East Region final, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis. … UCLA is back in a regional final for the first time since earning three straight Final Four berths from 2006-08. 6 seed Texas (21-9), Hemisfair Region final, Alamodome, San Antonio. … Texas is in a regional final for the first time since 2016 and seeking its first Final Four appearance since 2003.

The scary part is, he thinks that also might be true for the undefeated Zags. Nembhard had 17 points and eight assists, both season highs, to keep the NCAA Tournament's top overall seed rolling with Sunday's 83-65 rout of fifth-seeded Creighton in the West Region semifinals. Defensively, the Zags held Creighton to 40 points over the final 30 minutes as they methodically turned a 27-25 game into a blowout. “They just play so fast, so efficient with everything they do," said Marcus Zegarowski, who led Creighton with 19 points. That just about finished off Creighton as the Zags moved within three wins of becoming the first undefeated national champion since Indiana in 1976.

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)INDIANAPOLIS – Marcus Zegarowski and his Creighton teammates battled through a close call — along with a few jitters — to open the NCAA Tournament. Zegarowski scored 20 points to help Creighton beat Ohio 72-58 on Monday, securing the program's first trip to the round of 16 in 47 years. It hurts right now, but it’s going to be a great memory someday.”BIG PICTUREOhio: This was the Bobcats' first NCAA Tournament trip since 2012's surprise run to the Sweet 16. Creighton: The Bluejays had never won back-to-back games in the same NCAA Tournament. He also came up with some key late plays to keep Creighton in control after Ohio clawed back within 65-56.

“It felt really good to step up to the line and hit those two big free throws,” Bishop said. He received a one-game suspension and returned for the Big East Tournament last week. AdThe Bluejays' season will continue Monday in the West Region against 13th-seeded Ohio thanks to some unlikely clutch foul shooting. Creighton grabbed the lead back with 3:08 remaining when Bishop finished a pick-and-roll with a reverse two-handed dunk to make it 59-58. BIG PICTUREUC Santa Barbara: The Gauchos started fast, making nine of their first 12 shots and taking a 23-15 lead.

Georgetown is champion of the Big East again, with the greatest Hoya of them all leading the way. AdNow he is the first person in Big East history to be the most outstanding player on a Big East Tournament champion and coach a team to a Big East Tournament title. 8 seed to win the Big East Tournament and the lowest seed since Connecticut did it as a No. That seems unlikely for these Hoyas, who entered the Big East Tournament with a losing record. UP NEXTThe Hoyas likely give the Big East four teams in the NCAA Tournament along with Creighton, Villanova and UConn.

17 Creighton held Connecticut without a field goal over the final six minutes to beat the Huskies 59-56 Friday night in the Big East Tournament semifinals. Bouknight scored 14 to lead the third-seeded Huskies, who were playing in their first Big East Tournament since 2012 after returning to the conference this season. Creighton will look for its first Big East Tournament championship a little more than a week after coach Greg McDermott was suspended by the school for making racially insensitive remarks to his team. Creighton has reached the Big East final twice previously since it joined the league for the 2013-14 season, but has yet to win the championship. Creighton: Zegarowski struggled to find his groove most of the game against UConn's tough perimeter defense.

McDermott created a firestorm for twice using the term “plantation” as part of an analogy urging team unity. McDermott will be with team for the Big East Tournament this week and the NCAA Tournament that begins next week. “Let me be clear: Coach McDermott's use of the ‘plantation’ analogy was egregious and has absolutely no place in our society. I can’t have anybody leave the plantation,” McDermott told the players, using a term evocative of slavery and the antebellum South. Rasmussen announced McDermott had been indefinitely suspended the next night, with McDermott tweeting that he merited the suspension.

The Bluejays pulled away early in the second half of the meeting of the Big East's top two teams. Early in the second half, Zegarowski made a move to get Gillespie to go the other way, then swished a one-handed floater in the lane. The Wildcats had shot 70% in the second half of that game and a season-best 63% overall. The Wildcats weren't nearly as good at CHI Health Center, shooting 33% in the second half and 37.5% for the game. Creighton: This was the performance the Bluejays had been looking for from Zegarowski, who had been up and down following offseason knee surgery.

… Christian made a hell of a play to win the game for us.”Creighton led by 13 with about seven minutes left in the second half. Creighton inbounded quickly, and Zegarowski pushed the ball up the floor and found the trailing Bishop for the dunk. They also played the second half without Jared Bynum, who sat with an undisclosed injury. Greg Gantt started the second half in his place. Providence had just one turnover in the opening nine minutes of the half, but gave it away over the final 11 minutes.

NEW YORK – Jay Wright and his fellow Big East coaches are hoping that the basketball season runs as smoothly as possible and that they can make it to March. “Marcus ended up having surgery in New York City the day before we opened in the Big East Tournament. Here are a few other tidbits from Big East media day:HONORING BIG JOHN: The Big East announced that it will establish an award named for former Georgetown coach John Thompson Jr. that will recognize his efforts to fight prejudice, discrimination and advance positive social change. PARTIAL SCHEDULE: The Big East announced its conference schedule through the month of December with play beginning on Dec. 11 with three games. The Pirates have to replace Big East Player of the Year Myles Powell.