Last updated: March 20, 2026, 8:30 PM ET
NCAA Men's Tournament Opens with Upsets & Dominance
The opening round of the Men's NCAA tournament delivered a mix of commanding victories and significant upsets, with sixth-seeded Tennessee ending a fabulous run for Miami (Ohio) in a decisive 78-56 contest, powered by Ja'Kobi Gillespie’s 29 points and six three-pointers. Meanwhile, seventh-seeded Kentucky needed a late surge to survive Santa Clara, winning 89-84 after Otega Oweh’s buzzer-beater forced overtime against the upstart team. Conversely, Utah State utilized a second-half rally to overcome Villanova 86-76, capped by MJ Collins’ emphatic one-handed dunk following a crucial steal, giving him 20 points. The day provided plenty of material for the "coolest, weirdest and most notable things" review as the field narrowed toward the weekend’s matchups.
NCAA Women's Tournament Starts Strong
The Women's NCAA tournament began with third-seeded TCU cruising to a blowout victory over UC San Diego, 86-40, featuring Olivia Miles recording her 12th career triple-double. While UConn enters the bracket as the heavy odds-on title favorite, analysts are breaking down every game from Day, offering takeaways on how each winner can successfully advance to the Sweet 16. The action throughout Friday's 16 games was tracked in real-time, with comprehensive betting lines, spreads, and BPI data available for the first round. Injury news also surfaced, as Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson suffered a sprained left ankle during their 108-74 victory over Tennessee State, though X-rays returned negative.
College Hoops Personnel & Off-Court Issues
Duke coach Jon Scheyer expressed optimism that center Patrick Ngongba II might be available for the Blue Devils’ second-round game against TCU, as the team prepares for Saturday’s slate following an uneven opening performance. In coaching searches, Cal State Bakersfield is reportedly targeting USC assistant Todd Lee to fill the vacancy left by Rod Barnes, amid ongoing scandal related to the previous staff. Separately, Tuskegee coach Benjy Taylor is suing for $1 million, filing a federal suit against two police officers and Morehouse College stemming from his postgame detainment back in late January.
Championship Fights & Rugby Results
In professional combat sports, Costello van Steenis successfully retained his PFL middleweight title by stopping Fabian Edwards in the third round, once again denying the Briton a chance at world championship gold. Elsewhere in the ring, Kevin Walsh pulled off a stunning upset over Michael Conlan via a split decision in Belfast, effectively halting the local favorite’s pursuit of a third world title shot. Turning to rugby union, Connacht delivered a powerful second-half display to secure a statement bonus-point victory over Ulster in the United Rugby Championship, while Scarlets swept aside Zebre with six tries to win the basement battle. In the Premiership Women's Rugby competition, Trailfinders clinched a narrow 21-17 win over Harlequins after Abi Burton grounded a try three minutes from time.
NBA, Tennis, and Other Global Sports Notes
Reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City declined a White House visit scheduled during their upcoming road trip to the nation's capital, citing scheduling difficulties as the reason for the cancellation. In tennis at the Miami Open, British number two Jack Draper exited in the second round after falling to Reilly Opelka, though Katie Boulter advanced when her opponent, Clara Tauson, retired due to injury. On the track, Great Britain’s Jeremiah Azu finished fourth in what was described as "one of the best 60m races of all time" at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, narrowly missing a medal. Meanwhile, Australian swimmer Cameron McEvoy shattered a long-standing world record in the men's 50m freestyle, eclipsing the previous mark set during the high-tech 'supersuit' era.
Miscellaneous Sporting UpdatesIn Super League action, Bradford Bulls** outmuscled Huddersfield Giants to earn their third consecutive home victory in an epic contest, simultaneously contributing to Wakefield’s success as they exacted revenge on Leigh, continuing the Leopards' poor start to the season. In soccer, Larne extended their Premiership lead to five points following a 3-0 victory over Glenavon on Friday night. Golf’s Jon Rahm dropped his appeal against DP World Tour sanctions related to his participation in LIV Golf events but affirmed he would not pay the associated fines. Finally, several major sports figures, including Serena Williams and Shaq, participated in a viral '90s throwback meme trend set to the Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris".*