General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: March 22, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Shocks & Advancements

The second round of the Men's NCAA tournament delivered immediate upsets and dramatic finishes, sending several unexpected teams into the Sweet. Iowa eliminated defending champion Florida in a thriller after Alvaro Folgueiras sank a go-ahead three-pointer with just 4.5 seconds left on the clock. Elsewhere, St. John's punched their ticket to the regional semifinal for the first time since 1999 when Dylan Darling converted a layup as time expired to secure a 67-65 victory over Kansas. The Jayhawks' coach, Bill Self, stated following the season-ending loss that he has not made a final decision regarding his coaching future. Meanwhile, Minnesota achieved its first Sweet 16 appearance in 21 years after Amaya Battle hit a tiebreaking jump shot with 0.7 seconds remaining to defeat Mississippi 65-63.

The tournament narrative also featured dominant performances and historic milestones for other advancing programs. Purdue coach Matt Painter notched his 500th victory at his alma mater by guiding the Boilermakers past Miami 79-69 en route to the Sweet 16. Texas, which navigated the First Four to reach this stage, is not embracing an underdog role, as Coach Sean Miller insisted his team is not a Cinderella despite upsetting No. 3 seed Gonzaga on Saturday. In stark contrast to the celebratory atmosphere elsewhere, Kentucky suffered their largest defeat in NCAA tournament history, falling 82-63 to Iowa State, a margin of 19 points.

NCAA Women's Basketball Second Round Action

Sunday's action in the Women's NCAA tournament saw top seeds assert control while others advanced through tight contests, setting the stage for the Elite Eight push. No. 1 seed Texas cruised past No. 8 Oregon with a dominant 100-58 win, fueled by Madison Booker's career-high 40 points in a dazzling offensive display. As the field narrowed, analysis shifted to ranking the remaining 32 teams based on their path through the second round contests. Nebraska survived a scare against Vanderbilt, holding on for a 74-72 victory when a last-second half-court heave by Vanderbilt's Tyler Tanner narrowly rimmed out.

LPGA & International Golf Updates

On the professional golf circuit, Hyo Joo Kim secured a wire-to-wire victory at the Fortinet Founders Cup in California, edging out Nelly Korda on Sunday at Sharon Heights. Across the globe, Australia's Hannah Green claimed her third consecutive tournament victory by winning the Australian WPGA Championship on the Gold Coast.

Motorsports & Snooker Headlines

NASCAR star Tyler Reddick achieved a milestone at Darlington, securing his fourth victory of the season and joining an elite group of drivers following a demanding race on the "Track Too Tough To Tame" circuit. In Moto GP action from Brazil, Marco Bezzecchi rode to victory in a race that was shortened to 31 laps due to extreme heat conditions. Meanwhile, in snooker, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh defeated Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-7 in the World Open final in China, making a maximum 147 break during the upset victory.

UK & European Athletics Records

Great Britain made history at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland, achieving their best-ever medal haul after securing three gold medals within a sensational 28-minute span. This included a commanding performance from Keely Hodgkinson, who captured the 800m title, setting a new championship record in the process. Ireland's Kate O'Connor also secured a bronze medal in the pentathlon event at the same championships.

Rugby & Combat Sports Developments

In the United Rugby Championship, the Stormers reclaimed second place in the standings following a four-try performance that overcame the tenacious Dragons in Cape Town. Wales received a boost with the return of key players like Taulupe Faletau, Jac Morgan, and Elliot Dee ahead of a challenging weekend, while South African sides registered strong results. In combat sports, the debate over fighter compensation re-emerged prominently following UFC London, despite career-defining performances on the undercard, though Paddy Pimblett is targeting a return to the Octagon in July during International Fight Week. Separately, a deeply concerning incident occurred in boxing where 19-year-old junior flyweight Isis Sio was placed in a medically induced coma following a knockout during a Pro Box TV event.

Coaching Carousel & Personnel Moves

The college basketball coaching carousel continued spinning with Syracuse reportedly moving to hire Siena's Gerry McNamara as their next head coach, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. Providence also finalized its new leadership, bringing in Bryan Hodgson from South Florida to take the reins of their men's program. In the NFL, the New York Jets are accounting for a substantial portion of their salary cap, paying a combined $48 million for Aaron Rodgers and Justin Fields, neither of whom is expected to be the primary quarterback in 2026.

Netball & Soccer Notes

In the Netball Super League, London Pulse continued their strong form, defeating Nottingham Forest in extra time, a result Coach Sam Bird suggested proved the team's composure in tight contests will be beneficial for the remainder of the season. In English football, Frank Lampard expressed hope that supporters would cease directing abuse toward midfielder Matt Grimes after Grimes displayed sportsmanship by refraining from celebrating a goal scored against his former club, Swansea City. Hull FC edged out Leeds Rhinos in a pulsating Yorkshire derby to register their second Super League win of the year.