WEATHER ALERT
Aziaha James scores 29 to lead N.C. State into the women's Elite Eight with 77-67 win over Stanford
Read full article: Aziaha James scores 29 to lead N.C. State into the women's Elite Eight with 77-67 win over StanfordAziaha James had 29 points and third-seeded North Carolina State earned its third trip to the women's Elite Eight with a 77-67 victory over second-seeded Stanford.
Terrence Shannon Jr. leads Illinois past Iowa State 72-69 for first Elite Eight trip since 2005
Read full article: Terrence Shannon Jr. leads Illinois past Iowa State 72-69 for first Elite Eight trip since 2005Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 29 points and Illinois reached the Elite Eight for the first time since 2005, beating Iowa State 72-69 in an East Region semifinal on Thursday night.
Top-seeded UConn blows through another opponent, beating San Diego State 82-52 to reach Elite Eight
Read full article: Top-seeded UConn blows through another opponent, beating San Diego State 82-52 to reach Elite EightTop-seeded and defending NCAA champion UConn advanced to the Elite Eight with another double-digit victory, beating San Diego State 82-52 in a rematch of last year’s title game.
Pac-12's final chapter is not over yet. Conference has 5 teams in women's Sweet 16
Read full article: Pac-12's final chapter is not over yet. Conference has 5 teams in women's Sweet 16In a women’s NCAA Tournament where Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, LSU coach Kim Mulkey and undefeated South Carolina have dominated the headlines, the Pac-12 Conference is making sure it doesn’t go away quietly in its final season.
Women's NCAA Tournament features plethora of March Madness
Read full article: Women's NCAA Tournament features plethora of March MadnessThis year’s record-breaking women’s NCAA Tournament featured breakout stars, upsets and capped off with the flamboyant Kim Mulkey leading LSU to its first basketball championship.
Virginia Tech keeps rolling in March Madness, tops Tennessee
Read full article: Virginia Tech keeps rolling in March Madness, tops TennesseeGeorgia Amoore scored a career-high 29 points and top-seeded Virginia Tech advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time in school history with a 73-64 win over No. 4 seed Tennessee.
Florida Atlantic makes first Elite Eight, bounces Tennessee
Read full article: Florida Atlantic makes first Elite Eight, bounces TennesseeFlorida Atlantic, playing in just its second NCAA Tournament, moved within a victory of the Final Four by using a second-half push led by Michael Forrest to beat fourth-seeded Tennessee 62-55.
March Madness: Top-seeded SC moves on after topping USF
Read full article: March Madness: Top-seeded SC moves on after topping USFZia Cooke scored 21 points and Aliyah Boston had her 81st career double double as top-seeded South Carolina shoot a slow start to power past eighth-seeded South Florida and into the Sweet 16 with a 76-45 victory Sunday.
15th-seeded Princeton beats Missouri 78-63 to reach Sweet 16
Read full article: 15th-seeded Princeton beats Missouri 78-63 to reach Sweet 16Blake Peters made five 3-pointers in the second half and Princeton shocked another power conference team to reach the regional semifinals for the first time in 56 years by beating Missouri 78-63.
Van Lith, Engstler lead Louisville past Lady Vols, 76-64
Read full article: Van Lith, Engstler lead Louisville past Lady Vols, 76-64Hailey Van Lith had 23 points and six assists, Emily Engstler had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and No. 1 seed Louisville held off Tennessee 76-64 in the women's NCAA Tournament to reach the Elite Eight for the fourth consecutive time.
Upstart Creighton women top Iowa State, reach Elite Eight
Read full article: Upstart Creighton women top Iowa State, reach Elite EightMorgan Maly scored a career-high 21 points to help 10th-seeded Creighton beat Iowa State 76-68 in the NCAA Tournament, becoming one of the lowest seeds to ever reach a women’s regional final.
Boston, South Carolina top North Carolina 69-61 in Sweet 16
Read full article: Boston, South Carolina top North Carolina 69-61 in Sweet 16Aliyah Boston had 28 points and 22 rebounds, and top-seeded South Carolina moved on to the Elite Eight with a 69-61 victory over North Carolina in the women's NCAA Tournament.
TIPPING OFF: Coach K win away from record 13th Final Four
Read full article: TIPPING OFF: Coach K win away from record 13th Final FourMike Krzyzewski would pass famed UCLA coach John Wooden for most Final Four appearances if No. 2 seed Duke can beat fourth-seeded Arkansas in the West Region final in San Francisco.
Notae, Arkansas muscle top overall seed Gonzaga out of NCAAs
Read full article: Notae, Arkansas muscle top overall seed Gonzaga out of NCAAsJD Notae scored 21 points despite missing 20 shots and fourth-seeded Arkansas made Gonzaga miserable on both ends of the floor, bouncing the top overall seed from the NCAA Tournament with a 74-68 win.
Miller scores 24, Terps roll past Florida Gulf Coast 89-65
Read full article: Miller scores 24, Terps roll past Florida Gulf Coast 89-65Diamond Miller scored 24 points, and fourth-seeded Maryland used a 19-0 run spanning parts of both halves to pull away to a 89-65 win over 12th-seeded Florida Gulf Coast.
What To Watch: Remaining Final Four spots up for grabs
Read full article: What To Watch: Remaining Final Four spots up for grabs… 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.
Texas slows Maryland, gets to Elite Eight with 64-61 win
Read full article: Texas slows Maryland, gets to Elite Eight with 64-61 winCharli Collier scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and No. 6 seed Texas used a grinding, hustling defensive effort to shut down the nation's highest scoring offense for a 64-61 win Sunday night in the Sweet 16. Collier scored 10 points in the second half and her last basket in the fourth quarter pulled Texas even after second-seeded Maryland had swung momentum with two baskets, including a 3-pointer. "They are not letting anybody in that huddle think about anything but win," Schaefer said. Miller scored 21 points to lead Maryland (26-3) but there was just no punch in the offense outside of her.
No. 11 UCLA beats 'Bama 88-78 in OT to reach Elite Eight
Read full article: No. 11 UCLA beats 'Bama 88-78 in OT to reach Elite EightInstead, they scored the first five points of the extra session, then cruised from there to an 88-78 victory that gave the No. 11 seed Bruins their first trip to the Elite Eight since 2008 — and Cronin the first of his 18-year coaching career. Singleton was fouled and made two free throws for UCLA, pushing the lead to 65-62 with 4 seconds to go. Alabama led the nation in 3-pointers attempted and made this season, so it was fitting that a 3 would send the game to overtime. UCLA has beaten Michigan in three of their four NCAA Tournament games, including the 1965 national championship in Portland, Oregon.
ACC ends forgettable season with early NCAA Tournament exit
Read full article: ACC ends forgettable season with early NCAA Tournament exitACC teams finished with a 4-7 NCAA Tournament record, marking the league's lowest win total and winning percentage in this event since 1979. Duke went 13-11, withdrew from the ACC Tournament due to a positive COVID-19 test and ended a string of 29 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. When the NCAA Tournament brackets came out, the ACC teams with the best seeds were Florida State and Virginia at No. “We weren’t quite as good at the top,” Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said after the first round of the NCAA Tournament. AdThe ACC’s one pleasant NCAA Tournament surprise was Syracuse, which sneaked into the field with a No.
Stanford romps into Elite Eight, 89-62 over Missouri State
Read full article: Stanford romps into Elite Eight, 89-62 over Missouri State(AP Photo/Morry Gash)SAN ANTONIO – Missouri State had waited two years to get another crack at the Sweet 16 and Stanford, only to watch the Cardinal turn their rematch into a romp. 5 Lady Bears 89-62 to earn a spot in the Elite Eight of the women's NCAA Tournament for the 21st time. Elle Ruffridge scored 18 points to lead Missouri State (23-3), a team with a history of punching above its status as a mid-major from the Missouri Valley Conference. And Missouri State was hungry to push for even bigger things after the coronavirus pandemic canceled the 2020 tournament and abruptly ended a 26-4 season. “Every game we’ve been down, we’ve always come back,” Missouri State coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton said.
Unbeaten Zags keep rolling with 83-65 rout of Creighton
Read full article: Unbeaten Zags keep rolling with 83-65 rout of CreightonThe 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.
What To Watch: men's, women's regional finals start Monday
Read full article: What To Watch: men's, women's regional finals start Monday... Oregon State opponents are shooting just 31.3% overall and 23.1% from 3-point range in the NCAA Tournament. That Missouri squad lost a regional final to an Oklahoma team coached by Kelvin Sampson, who’s now at Houston. … Arkansas is in a regional final for the first time since 1995, when it lost to UCLA in the championship game. … Arkansas’ Justin Smith is averaging 20.3 points and 11 rebounds in three NCAA Tournament games. Arizona and Indiana are both in an NCAA regional final for the first time.
Houston locks in on defense, beats Syracuse 62-46 in NCAAs
Read full article: Houston locks in on defense, beats Syracuse 62-46 in NCAAsNow it's taken coach Kelvin Sampson's team somewhere new: the program's deepest NCAA Tournament run since the days of Olajuwon, Drexler and the famed “Phi Slama Jama." That sent the second-seeded Cougars through to their first regional final in 37 years, earning a matchup with No. Houston (27-3) came in holding opponents to a national-low 37.3% shooting, and then harassed Syracuse (18-10) into just 28% (14 for 50). “It’s the best defense that that we’ve seen this year and they deserved to win,” coach Jim Boeheim said. Syracuse had shot at least 52% each time while making 29 3-pointers — but there would be no repeat of that unexpected 2016 Final Four run thanks to Houston's defense.
Davis' jumper gives Arkansas 72-70 win over Oral Roberts
Read full article: Davis' jumper gives Arkansas 72-70 win over Oral RobertsDavonte Davis hit a short jumper with 2.9 seconds left, and Arkansas advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time in 26 years with a 72-70 win over Oral Roberts in the South Region semifinals Saturday night. 15 seed to reach the Elite Eight, Oral Roberts stumbled with a series of turnovers and missed shots. “We gave him a pass option, we gave him a dribble option,” Oral Roberts coach Paul Mills said. Oral Roberts knew it had a chance to top it against the Razorbacks after playing them earlier in the season. Oral Roberts led by 10 at halftime in Fayetteville on Dec. 20 before Arkansas bullied the Golden Eagles in the second half for an 87-76 win.
Close range: Baylor grinds to Elite 8 in 62-51 win ova 'Nova
Read full article: Close range: Baylor grinds to Elite 8 in 62-51 win ova 'NovaDavion Mitchell, a 46% shooter from 3 this season, went 0 for 3 from long range on a 14-point day. Jared Butler scored nine points on 1-for-9 shooting from 3, and MaCio Teague had five points without a 3. The guards did a great job of not settling and probing more.”Because of that, Baylor shot 53% in the second half, even though it made only one 3. Constantly harassing Villanova shooters who'd carved out space in the first half, Baylor held Villanova to 37.5% shooting in the second and 0 for 9 from 3. Forward Brandon Slater left the game about midway through the second half after landing awkwardly during a fight for a rebound.
Picked last, Oregon State now Elite after beating Loyola
Read full article: Picked last, Oregon State now Elite after beating LoyolaOregon State won 65-58. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)INDIANAPOLIS – Picked to finish dead last in the Pac-12, Oregon State instead might be the last one standing. Then the Ramblers, who failed to take advantage of their defense, proceeded to miss 11 consecutive shots as Oregon State flip-flopped between man-to-man and zone defenses. Oregon State built on Warith Alatishe's buzzer-beating bucket to end the first half by getting some shots to go in the second. Oregon State has never played Syracuse, but it beat Houston in the 1966 West Region semifinal and again in the 2009 CBI Tournament.
Florida State beats Colorado, reaches 3rd straight Sweet 16
Read full article: Florida State beats Colorado, reaches 3rd straight Sweet 16(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)INDIANAPOLIS – Florida State barely reveled in its return to the Sweet 16 — exactly as Seminoles coach Leonard Hamilton wanted. 4 seed Florida State pulled away in the second half to beat Colorado 71-53 Monday night and advance to the regional semifinal for the third straight NCAA Tournament. AdColorado trimmed its deficit to a point on a 3-pointer by Schwartz, but Florida State quickly answered with a thunderous alley-oop dunk by Sardaar Calhoun. Minutes later, Balsa Koprivica dunked, was fouled and made the free throw to put Florida State up nine. Florida State remained in control, stretching its lead to 19 points.
Mobley Bros. lead No. 6 seed USC to 85-51 rout of Kansas
Read full article: Mobley Bros. lead No. 6 seed USC to 85-51 rout of Kansas15 seed Florida Gulf Coast to the Sweet 16 in 2013 and now has the Trojans there for the first time in 14 years. Mobley's four first-half 3s, doubling his career best for an entire game, staked the Trojans to a 40-21 lead at the break. Kansas trimmed its deficit to 16 early in the second half, but Enfield immediately called timeout and the momentum swing was over. 2 seed Iowa earlier in the day, in a Pac-12 showdown for a spot in the West Region finals. “We have a lot of respect for that team," Enfield said.
Not rusty: Oregon soars past Iowa 95-80 into Sweet 16
Read full article: Not rusty: Oregon soars past Iowa 95-80 into Sweet 16Oregon players celebrate following a second-round game against Iowa. When another kink surfaced in the NCAA Tournament, the resilient, adaptable Ducks shook it off and soared. Chris Duarte scored 23 points and Oregon showed no signs of rust after a long layoff, beating No. 2 seed Iowa 95-80 on Monday to reach the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in the past five NCAA Tournaments. “We did and it was a lot of fun.”The Ducks' sweet offensive movements left the Hawkeyes (22-9) flailing, one game short of the Sweet 16 for the fourth time under Fran McCaffery.
Again, Syracuse makes Sweet 16 as double-digit seed
Read full article: Again, Syracuse makes Sweet 16 as double-digit seed(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)For the third time since 2016, Syracuse is headed to the Sweet 16 as a double-digit seed. “It's hard to make the Sweet 16. Here are the six double-digit seeds who made the Sweet 16 from 2016-19:2016 SYRACUSE (No. 11 seed)The Bulldogs beat Seton Hall and Utah by a combined 39 points before falling 63-60 to Syracuse in the Sweet 16. Syracuse lost to Duke 69-65 in the Sweet 16.
Grimes helps No. 2 seed Houston rally past Rutgers, 63-60
Read full article: Grimes helps No. 2 seed Houston rally past Rutgers, 63-60The Cougars play No. By the time the first half ended, and the Scarlet Knights had forged a 30-27 lead, Rutgers and Houston each had two regulars mired in foul trouble. AdChaney took a seat with his fourth with 15:45 left and the Scarlet Knights went on the attack. And by the time there was 10 minutes to go, the Scarlet Knights had meticulously built a 50-40 lead. UP NEXTThe Cougars play the Orange next weekend for a spot in the Elite Eight.
Buddy Boeheim gets dad back to Sweet 16 as Syracuse tops WVU
Read full article: Buddy Boeheim gets dad back to Sweet 16 as Syracuse tops WVUSyracuse defeated Syracuse 75-72. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)INDIANAPOLIS – Buddy Boeheim kept shooting, carrying his Hall of Fame father and 11th-seeded Syracuse back into the Sweet 16. The Orange, a top program for four decades under Jim Boeheim, once again showed they're just as dangerous as an NCAA Tournament afterthought. Now they're heading to Jim Boeheim's 20th Sweet 16, thanks to his 6-foot-6, sweet-shooting son. They have advanced to the Sweet 16 each time they’ve been given a double-digit seeding, reaching the Final Four as a 10 in 2016 and the Sweet 16 as an 11 in 2018.
The Latest: Appleby cleared to play for Florida
Read full article: The Latest: Appleby cleared to play for Florida(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)The Latest on the second round of the NCAA Tournament (all times Eastern):___7:45 p.m.Florida guard Tyree Appleby has been cleared to play and was in the starting lineup for No. 1 seed in the second round for a third time, joining the 2000 team against Arizona and the 2017 squad against Villanova. Sister Jean Delores Schmidt gave an inspirational pregame prayer to her Loyola Chicago team before the eighth-seeded Ramblers met top-seeded Illinois in Sunday’s second round. UCLA and Abilene Christian face off Monday, assuring that at least one double-digit seed will reach the Sweet 16. This is the first time four teams seeded 13th or worse made it to the second round.
Teen gets surprise Sweet 16 present from late father
Read full article: Teen gets surprise Sweet 16 present from late fatherPORT HURON, Mich. – A teenage boy got a bittersweet gift from his dad on his Sweet 16, but it was the timing of the gift that made it all the more special. It was the first birthday the teen celebrated without his father. The birthday boy's sister, Chandler Mae Crow, posted on Facebook about the surprise that was left for Johnny Crow. Video of Johnny opening the guitar went viral, with more than 6 million views. Johnny's sister ended her post with a special message for her brother: "Happy 16th birthday buddy.