General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: March 22, 2026, 3:30 PM ET

NCAA Basketball Tournament Advances

The second round of the Men’s March Madness tournament saw several winners punch their tickets to the Sweet 16 across the nation, with action tracked from Philadelphia to San Diego via live updates. Notably, the Texas Longhorns completed an improbable run by advancing from the First Four to the Sweet, capitalizing on a Saturday upset over No. 3 seed Gonzaga, a feat not achieved by any team in five years, leading coach Sean Miller to assert the squad is not to be considered a Cinderella. On the women’s side, the field narrowed following Sunday’s action as teams vied for Elite Eight berths, with No. 10 seed Virginia authoring the first major upset of the tournament by toppling No. 7 seed Georgia 82-73 in the first round, contrasting with South Carolina’s dominant 103-34 first-round routing of Southern, fueled by Joyce Edwards’ 27 points and eight rebounds in their opening victory.

Further second-round men’s action included the Midwest Region’s top seed, Michigan, which powered past Saint Louis thanks to Yaxel Lendeborg’s 25-point performance to secure their spot in the Sweet, while Purdue also clinched its passage on Sunday. In a scintillating contest, Nebraska outlasted Vanderbilt 74-72 late Saturday after a last-second, half-court heave by Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner narrowly missed the mark. Meanwhile, USC was saved by a crucial review that nullified a Clemson buzzer-beater, allowing the Trojans to eventually win 71-67 in overtime and advance to the women’s second round following the dramatic initial contest. In coaching news, Syracuse is reportedly pivoting toward hiring former star Gerry McNamara from Siena as its next head coach, while Providence simultaneously announced that Bryan Hodgson, formerly of South Florida, would take the reins as its new men's basketball coach following the ongoing reshuffling.

Global Athletics & Combat Sports

Great Britain celebrated dual victories at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland, where Georgia Hunter Bell and Molly Caudery secured gold medals in their respective events, marking a high point for the nation’s indoor track performance. In the world of combat sports, the debate surrounding fighter compensation was brought to the forefront during UFC London following several career-defining undercard performances, even as Movsar Evloev secured a majority decision victory that crushed Lerone Murphy's featherweight title aspirations. Mason Jones earned the Fight of the Night bonus at the London event, aiming for a top-15 UFC ranking after achieving redemption in the same arena, while Paddy Pimblett confirmed he is targeting a July return during the promotion’s international fight week to resume his active schedule.

Rugby League & Union Updates

In Super League action, Hull FC edged out Leeds Rhinos in a tense Yorkshire derby, securing their second victory of the season in a pulsating contest. Across the globe, the title-chasing Stormers overcame a tenacious Dragons side in Cape Town, scoring four tries to move back into second place in the United Rugby Championship standings. Elsewhere in football, Frank Lampard expressed his hope that supporters of Swansea City would cease booing midfielder Matt Grimes, whose classy decision not to celebrate his goal against his former club was meant to quell the hostility. Furthermore, Dragons player Ryan Woodman is eager to impress for his club to earn his first cap for Wales following his call-up for the upcoming Six Nations tournament.

Other Sports & Financial Notes

Australian golfer Hannah Green continued her dominant run, capturing her third consecutive tournament win at the Australian WPGA Championship held on the Gold Coast. Meanwhile, in the world of snooker, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh shocked the field by defeating Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-7 in the World Open final in Yushan, China, which included Un-Nooh compiling a maximum 147 break during the contest. In college baseball, Paul Mainieri was relieved of his duties as South Carolina's baseball coach midway through his second season, unable to replicate the level of success achieved during his tenure at LSU. On the gridiron, the New York Jets are reportedly allocating approximately 16% of their available salary cap space by moving on from both Aaron Rodgers and Justin Fields, resulting in a combined $48 million commitment for the 2026 season. Separately, Kentucky forward Quaintance is utilizing manga comics as a tool to pass the time and aid his recovery process while healing from his current injury.