Last updated: March 21, 2026, 1:30 PM ET
NCAA Basketball Postseason Heats Up
The second weekend of the Men's NCAA Tournament got underway Saturday after a frantic first round that saw upsets and record-breaking performances. UConn narrowly avoided a major scare, with Tarris Reed Jr. delivering a historic 31-point, 27-rebound effort to push the No. 2 seed past Furman 82-71. In other action, Kentucky needed a late Oweh heroics to escape Santa Clara 89-84, while Duke remains hopeful that center Patrick Ngongba II can return for the second round against TCU. The women’s bracket also saw Day 2 action, with No. 1 seed Florida opening its title defense by crushing Prairie View A&M by 59 points, the second-largest margin in tournament history, while Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson suffered a sprained ankle in their 108-74 win over Tennessee State.
The women’s tournament favorites look formidable, as UConn enters the next stage as the odds-on championship favorite following Day 1 success where chalk went 16-0. Wisconsin's Caroline Harvey received the Patty Kazaier Memorial Award as college women's hockey's top player, earning the top women's honor just as the basketball field narrowed. Meanwhile, the administrative side of the tournament is seeing friction, as the NCAA filed a trademark infringement suit against Draft Kings for using terms like "March Madness" in its sportsbook operations. In other college basketball news, Purdue's Braden Smith surpassed Bobby Hurley's assist record, logging his 1,077th career helper during a first-round victory.
The coaching carousel continues as Cal State Bakersfield is reportedly targeting USC assistant Todd Lee to fill its vacancy following Rod Barnes' departure in September and ensuing staff scandal. Elsewhere in college hoops, the matchup between Michigan’s Dusty May and Saint Louis’s Josh Schertz added intrigue to their contest, as the two coaches who have long exchanged scouting notes met with a Sweet 16 spot hanging in the balance. UCLA’s Skyy Clark battled through adversity, shaking off a lost tooth to help the Bruins secure a 75-71 win over UCF, while teammate Lauren Betts drew praise from Coach Cori Close for her courageous vulnerability regarding mental health.
Cycling & Snow Sports Feature Dominance
In professional cycling, Tadej Pogacar captured his maiden Milan-San Remo title following a dramatic physical contest with Britain’s Tom Pidcock in the sprint finish. The race atmosphere was marred, however, as Italian rider Debora Silvestri was hospitalized following a serious crash during the women's one-day classic. On the slopes, Great Britain's Mia Brookes secured her fifth World Cup title in the slopestyle event at Flachnau, Austria, demonstrating continued international success for the nation's winter athletes.
Rugby & Combat Sports Updates
The European rugby circuit saw mixed results for traveling sides, as Edinburgh endured a heavy 8-try defeat away to the Lions in Johannesburg, while in the United Rugby Championship, Connacht produced a powerful second-half display to earn a statement bonus-point victory over Ulster. In the Premiership Women's Rugby, Abi Burton’s late try clinched a tight 21-17 win for Trailfinders over Harlequins. In combat sports, Costello van Steenis successfully retained his PFL middleweight championship by stopping Fabian Edwards in the third round, denying Edwards a world title shot again. Separately, Chinese Taipei’s Olympic champion Lin Yu-ting was cleared to compete by World Boxing after successfully passing the organization's new sex testing protocol, while referee Phil Edwards discussed the pressures of the job and the viability of VAR in boxing during an in-depth interview.
NFL, Golf, & Other Global Sports News
In the NFL, Kenny Pickett expressed that his move to Carolina was driven by a desire to reconnect with coach Dave Canales, aiming to reclaim a starting role. Meanwhile, the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder announced they will skip a White House visit, citing "timing" issues during their current road trip. In golf, Jon Rahm dropped his appeal against DP World Tour sanctions for participating in LIV Golf events but simultaneously refused to pay the associated fines. On the ice, the Colorado Avalanche became the first NHL franchise to secure a playoff spot following a decisive 4-1 victory over the Blackhawks. In swimming, Australian Cameron McEvoy shattered Cesar Cielo's long-standing 50m freestyle world record, which had stood since the 'supersuit' era. Finally, the world of indoor fitness continues its expansion, with predictions suggesting that by 2028, the UK will host more virtual golf rounds than outdoor ones.