Last updated: March 21, 2026, 1:30 AM ET
NCAA Tournament Upsets & Records
The men’s NCAA basketball tournament delivered immediate drama and record-breaking performances as the first round concluded Friday, with Purdue’s Braden Smith becoming the NCAA's all-time assists king, surpassing Bobby Hurley with 1,077 career dimes during their contest against Queens University. Elsewhere on the court, UCLA’s Skyy Clark played through significant injury, shaking off the loss of a piece of his front tooth to help the Bruins secure a hard-fought 75-71 victory over UCF. The day also saw major upsets in the women's bracket, where seventh-seeded NC State eliminated Tennessee, handing the Lady Vols their eighth consecutive defeat, while defending champion Florida dominated, beginning their title defense with a staggering 114-55 pounding of Prairie View A&M, marking the second-largest margin of victory in tournament history.
Further action in the men’s bracket featured several close calls and decisive rallies, including Utah State’s 86-76 triumph over Villanova, sealed late by an emphatic dunk from MJ Collins, who finished with 20 points. Meanwhile, Tennessee secured their spot in the next round by dispatching Miami (Ohio) 78-56, powered by Ja'Kobi Gillespie’s 29 points and six three-pointers. These results, alongside other notable first-round occurrences described as the "coolest, weirdest and most notable things," set an energetic tone for the remainder of the tournament first-round superlatives.
College Athletics & Legal Battles
In off-court developments, the NCAA initiated a lawsuit against sportsbook operator Draft Kings, alleging trademark infringement related to the use of proprietary terms such as "March Madness." This legal challenge comes as the tournament drives massive engagement across betting platforms nationwide. Separately, the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder announced they would decline the customary White House visit during their upcoming East Coast road trip, citing scheduling "timing" issues for the cancellation.
Player Milestones & Team News
In college basketball news away from the main tournament action, Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson sustained an ankle sprain during the Cyclones' 108-74 victory over Tennessee State, though X-rays reportedly came back negative, potentially limiting his time off the floor. On the UCLA women’s side, head coach Cori Close expressed deep admiration for Lauren Betts’ decision to discuss her mental health journey publicly, praising the player's "courageous vulnerability" following Betts' recent openness.
International Rugby & Combat Sports
Across the pond in professional rugby, the Trailfinders narrowly defeated Harlequins 21-17 in Premiership Women's Rugby, clinched by Abi Burton’s decisive try just three minutes before the final whistle. In the United Rugby Championship, Connacht mounted a powerful second-half display to earn a crucial bonus-point win over Ulster, while the Scarlets similarly swept aside Zebre in a basement battle, running in six tries for their own bonus-point victory against the Italian side. In combat sports, Costello van Steenis successfully retained his PFL middleweight title by stopping challenger Fabian Edwards in the third round, simultaneously ending Edwards' world title aspirations. Furthermore, professional boxer Michael Conlan confirmed the "end of the road" for his career after suffering a split decision defeat against Kevin Walsh in Belfast earlier this week.
NHL & Super League Updates
The Colorado Avalanche became the first NHL team across the league to officially clinch a playoff berth this season, signaling dominance in the Western Conference standings. Meanwhile, Super League action saw Bradford Bulls outmuscle Huddersfield Giants in an epic encounter at Odsal to earn their third consecutive home victory, while Wakefield exacted revenge for last season’s playoff exit by handing the Leigh Leopards another defeat that continues their difficult start to the season. In Northern Irish football, Larne extended their Premiership lead to five points following a decisive 3-0 win over Glenavon on Friday evening.