Last updated: March 21, 2026, 9:30 AM ET
NCAA Men's Tournament Action & Upsets
The Men's March Madness bracket narrowed to 32 teams following a Friday slate filled with high-stakes matchups and standout individual efforts. Reigning champion Florida began its title defense with an overwhelming 114-55 victory over Prairie View A&M, registering the second-largest margin of victory in tournament history. In a contest where coaching strategy was paramount, the meeting between Michigan and Saint Louis featured a fascinating subplot, pitting coaches Dusty May and Josh Schertz against each other after years of sharing ideas. Meanwhile, Purdue's Braden Smith etched his name into history by breaking Bobby Hurley's all-time NCAA assists record, reaching 1,077 career assists during the first round.
Several other first-round contests provided dramatic finishes and notable individual showcases as the field was trimmed. No. 2 seed UConn narrowly escaped elimination thanks to a Herculean effort from Tarris Reed Jr., who supplied 31 points and 27 rebounds in an 82-71 win over Furman. Elsewhere, UCLA's Skyy Clark played through injury—losing part of a front tooth late in the game—to help secure a tough 75-71 victory against UCF, while Kentucky survived an upset bid when Otega Oweh hit a buzzer-beater to force overtime in their 89-84 win over Santa Clara. Utah State also advanced by rallying in the second half, capped by an MJ Collins steal and dunk that sealed an 86-76 defeat of Villanova.
Coaching changes and legal disputes characterized some off-court college basketball news as the tournament progressed. Cal State Bakersfield is reportedly working toward hiring USC assistant Todd Lee as its next head coach, following the departure of Rod Barnes in September amid an assistant facing serious charges. In separate legal matters, Tuskegee coach Benjy Taylor filed a $1 million federal lawsuit against two police officers and Morehouse College stemming from his postgame detainment in late January. Duke received some positive injury news, as coach Jon Scheyer expressed being 'hopeful' for the return of center Patrick Ngongba II for the team's second-round matchup against TCU.
NCAA Women's Tournament & Player Stories
The Women's March Madness bracket saw chalk prevail on Day, with the better seeds achieving a clean 16-0 sweep across all opening-round games. UConn enters the competition as the established odds-on title favorite across the bracket. In one of the day’s key matchups, TCU utilized a dominant performance from Olivia Miles, who recorded her 12th career triple-double in an 86-40 romp over UC San Diego. Conversely, the season for Tennessee concluded with disappointment, as the Lady Vols fell to NC State, marking their eighth consecutive loss. UCLA coach Cori Close praised Lauren Betts for her 'courageous vulnerability' after the center publicly shared details about her mental health journey the previous day.
Pro Sports & Athlete Updates
In the NHL, the Colorado Avalanche secured the distinction of being the first team across the league to clinch a playoff berth this season. Meanwhile, the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder announced they will forego a White House visit during their upcoming trip to the nation's capital, citing 'timing' as the reason for declining the traditional ceremony. In NFL news, Kenny Pickett expressed optimism regarding his move to Carolina, stating he was drawn to the Panthers by new coach Dave Canales, with the ultimate aim of regaining a starting role in the league. Separately, President Donald Trump issued an executive order mandating that the annual Army-Navy football matchup in December be protected from competing broadcasts, ensuring national focus on the service academies' game.
Combat Sports & Referee Insight
The world of boxing saw complex developments, including Chinese Taipei's Olympic champion Lin Yu-ting gaining clearance to compete after successfully passing the sport's new sex verification testing protocol implemented by World Boxing. This testing technology was discussed by referee Phil Edwards, who shared insights on the privilege and criticism inherent in officiating, while also weighing in on the potential feasibility of adopting VAR in boxing. The career of Michael Conlan was chronicled, noting how the amateur legend, who started his professional career with high expectations, ultimately fell short of his multi-weight champion dream following a split decision loss to Kevin Walsh, which Conlan confirmed marked the "end of the road" for his career. In MMA, Costello van Steenis successfully retained his PFL middleweight title by stopping Fabian Edwards in the third round, denying the Briton another shot at world championship glory.
Global Sports & Miscellaneous
The tennis world is preparing for a technological shift at the All England Club, as video review technology will debut at Wimbledon for the first time this year. In golf, Jon Rahm abandoned his appeal against sanctions levied by the DP World Tour for participating in LIV Golf events, though he simultaneously refused to remit the outstanding fines owed to the circuit. Meanwhile, a cultural shift is underway in the UK's golf market, where it is now projected that by 2028, virtual rounds played indoors will surpass those played on outdoor courses. Darts sensation Luke Littler is taking preemptive measures against digital impersonation, applying to trademark his own face to combat potential AI-generated fakes. Australian swimmer Cameron McEvoy set a new world record in the men's 50m freestyle, surpassing a long-standing mark set during the sport's 'supersuit' era. Rugby news included Trailfinders edging past Harlequins 21-17 thanks to a late try from Abi Burton, while in the United Rugby Championship, Scarlets thrashed Zebre running in six tries in a basement battle.