Last updated: March 21, 2026, 10:30 AM ET
NCAA Men's March Madness Roundup
The NCAA Men's Tournament field narrowed to 32 teams following a first round filled with historic performances and close calls, prompting experts to rerank the remaining contenders. UConn survived a scare, propelled by Tarris Reed Jr.'s dominant outing where he posted 31 points and 27 rebounds in an 82-71 victory over Furman. Elsewhere, UCLA sophomore Skyy Clark displayed toughness after losing a chunk of his top front tooth yet still helped secure a 75-71 win against UCF, while Utah State rallied in the second half, capped by MJ Collins' steal and dunk, to topple Villanova 86-76. Meanwhile, Purdue's Braden Smith officially became the NCAA's all-time assists king, surpassing Bobby Hurley with 1,077 career helpers.
Several high seeds advanced, though not without drama, as Kentucky needed a buzzer-beater from Otega Oweh to force overtime before ultimately defeating Santa Clara 89-84 in the first round contest. Defending champion Florida began its title defense in dominant fashion, securing the second-largest margin of victory in tournament history with a 114-55 pounding of Prairie View A&M, while TCU opened with an 86-40 romp featuring Olivia Miles' 12th career triple-double in the lopsided contest. to Saturday's slate, analysts are providing keys to success for every matchup, including the intriguing clash between Michigan and Saint Louis, where coaches Dusty May and Josh Schertz meet after years of sharing scouting notes. In off-court legal news, the NCAA filed suit against DraftKings for alleged trademark infringement concerning use of terms like "March Madness."
NCAA Women's Tournament & Coaching Moves
The Women's NCAA Tournament saw chalk reign supreme on Day, as the top 16 seeds all advanced undefeated in their opening-round games, leading analysts to immediately label UConn as the odds-on title favorite. Tennessee State, however, saw its season conclude with an eighth consecutive loss after the 10th-seeded Lady Vols were defeated by NC State, a result for which coach Kellie Harper took the blame. In coaching developments, Cal State Bakersfield is reportedly moving to hire USC assistant Todd Lee as head coach amidst ongoing issues with their previous staff, sources indicated, while Tuskegee coach Benjy Taylor has initiated a $1 million federal lawsuit against Morehouse College and two officers following a postgame detainment in January.
Professional Sports Updates: NFL, NHL & NBA
In the NFL, Kenny Pickett expressed optimism regarding his move to Carolina, stating his desire to regain a starting job in the league under coach Dave Canales. The Colorado Avalanche became the first NHL franchise to clinch a playoff berth this season. Meanwhile, the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder confirmed they will skip the White House visit during their upcoming trip to the capital, citing "timing" issues.
Combat Sports & Referee Insights
Olympic champion Lin Yu-ting has been cleared to compete by World Boxing after successfully passing the organization's new sex verification testing protocol. This testing introduces new levels of scrutiny in the sport, prompting referee Phil Edwards to discuss the pressures of his role and whether technology like VAR could ever be effectively implemented in boxing. In professional boxing, Michael Conlan announced the "end of the road" for his career following a split decision defeat to Kevin Walsh, marking a conclusion to a professional run that failed to meet the high expectations set by his amateur success. Further afield, Costello van Steenis successfully defended his PFL middleweight title by stopping Fabian Edwards in the third round, denying the Briton another championship opportunity.
Global Sports & Miscellaneous
In rugby, Trailfinders secured a narrow 21-17 Premiership Women's Rugby win over Harlequins thanks to a late try from Abi Burton, while Connacht earned a statement bonus-point victory against Ulster in the United Rugby Championship. On the tennis side, Wimbledon announced that it will be introducing video review technology for the first time this year. In golf, Jon Rahm has dropped his appeal against fines levied by the DP World Tour for competing in LIV Golf events but has simultaneously refused to remit payment for the outstanding fines. Track and field saw Jeremiah Azu narrowly miss a medal, finishing fourth in what was described as "one of the best 60m races of all time" at the World Indoors Championships, as he defended his title. Separately, Australian swimmer Cameron McEvoy set a new long-standing world record in the men's 50m freestyle, eclipsing the previous best mark set during the 'supersuit' era. The growth of virtual sports was also noted, with predictions suggesting that by 2028, the UK will host more rounds of indoor virtual golf than outdoor play.