General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: March 23, 2026, 12:30 AM ET

NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

The second round of the men's NCAA tournament provided high drama, sending St. John's to its first Sweet 16 since 1999 after Dylan Darling's layup at the buzzer secured a 67-65 victory over Kansas. Kansas coach Bill Self stated post-game that he has "not yet made a decision" regarding his coaching future after the season-ending loss. Elsewhere, Iowa pulled off a major upset, eliminating defending national champion Florida when Alvaro Folgueiras connected on a decisive three-pointer with 4.5 seconds remaining. Meanwhile, Purdue advanced to the Sweet 16 as coach Matt Painter earned his 500th career win at his alma mater by defeating Miami 79-69.

The thrilling slate of second-round matchups also saw Minnesota reach the Sweet 16 for the first time in 21 years, thanks to a tiebreaking jump shot from Amaya Battle in a narrow 65-63 win over Mississippi. Texas, who began the tournament in the First Four, secured their spot by crushing No. 8 Oregon 100-58, fueled by Madison Booker's career-high 40 points in a dazzling display. Despite this run, Texas coach Sean Miller insisted his team is not a Cinderella, noting they are prepared for the next stage after upsetting No. 3 seed Gonzaga on Saturday to advance to the next round. Conversely, Kentucky suffered its worst tournament loss since 1972, falling by 19 points to Iowa State in an 82-63 defeat, though forward Quaintance is using manga comics to aid his recovery from injury.

NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament

Action on Day 3 of the women's NCAA tournament saw several teams punch tickets to the Elite Eight as the field narrowed down to the final eight contenders. Iowa survived a thriller to advance, while No. 1 seed Texas showcased dominance, routing No. 8 Oregon by 42 points. Following the second round, analysts released updated rankings of the remaining 32 teams heading into the next phase of competition. Elsewhere, Nebraska narrowly outlasted Vanderbilt 74-72 on Saturday night when a half-court heave at the buzzer tragically failed to drop for Vanderbilt.

Professional & International Sports

In LPGA play, Hyo Joo Kim secured a wire-to-wire victory at the Fortinet Founders Cup on Sunday, edging out Nelly Korda in the final round at Sharon Heights. This success mirrors the form of Australia's Hannah Green, who claimed her third successive tournament win at the Australian WPGA Championship on the Gold Coast. Shifting to motorsports, Tyler Reddick achieved his fourth victory of the season at the demanding Darlington Raceway, placing him in an elite club of NASCAR winners. Meanwhile, Moto GP saw Italy's Marco Bezzecchi win the Brazilian Grand Prix, which was shortened to 31 laps due to extreme heat conditions.

In snooker, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh achieved a major upset in the World Open final, defeating Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-7 while compiling a maximum 147 break during the encounter in Yushan, China. In rugby union, the United Rugby Championship saw Stormers defeat Dragons with four tries to move into second place in the standings, while Wales received boosted player availability with the returns of figures like Taulupe Faletau and Jac Morgan.

Coaching Carousel & Athlete Safety

The college basketball coaching market saw movement as Syracuse is reportedly moving to hire former star Gerry McNamara from Siena as their next head coach. In other hires, Providence officially named South Florida's Bryan Hodgson as their new men's basketball coach. On the safety front, the combat sports world is grappling with serious concerns after 19-year-old women's junior flyweight boxer Isis Sio was placed in a medically induced coma following a knockout defeat on a Pro Box TV card. The debate over fighter compensation re-emerged at UFC London, even as fighters like Mason Jones secured bonuses after a redemption victory in the same arena.

Track & Field Dominance

Great Britain made history at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Poland, securing three gold medals within 28 minutes to achieve the nation's best-ever medal haul at the event. A key component of this success was Keely Hodgkinson, who commanded the 800m field to claim her first world indoor title with a new championship record. Ireland also reached the podium, as Kate O'Connor secured the bronze medal in the pentathlon competition.

Other League Updates

In Super League action, London Pulse ended Nottingham Forest's unbeaten streak in the Netball Super League following a thrilling extra-time victory, which Coach Sam Bird suggested proves the team's composure in tight contests. In English football, Frank Lampard expressed hope that boos aimed at midfielder Matt Grimes by Swansea fans will cease after Grimes displayed class by choosing not to celebrate scoring against his former club. Meanwhile, the New York Jets are reportedly committing approximately $48 million in combined salary cap space toward managing the roster situations involving Aaron Rodgers and Justin Fields for 2026.