General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: March 23, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

College Basketball: NCAA Tournament Heats Up

The field for the Women's Sweet 16 is now set following Monday's intense second-round action, which saw teams secure their spots in the regional semifinals. Among the victors, TCU narrowly outlasted Washington 62-59 in overtime, propelled by Olivia Miles' 18 points and 10 rebounds, sending the Horned Frogs to the Sweet 16 for only the second time in program history. Similarly dramatic, Minnesota clinched its first Sweet 16 appearance in 21 years after Amaya Battle hit a tiebreaking jump shot with 0.7 seconds remaining to defeat Mississippi 65-63. On the men's side, the bracket shifted significantly as Iowa eliminated defending champion Florida after Alvaro Folgueiras sank a decisive three-pointer with 4.5 seconds left. The men's bracket also advanced St. John's, as Dylan Darling's buzzer-beating layup secured a 67-65 victory over Kansas, marking the program's first Sweet 16 run since 1999.

The men's tournament saw Purdue advance as coach Matt Painter recorded his 500th career win at his alma mater with a 79-69 defeat of Miami, while No. 1 Texas showcased dominance with Madison Booker delivering a career-high 40 points in a resounding 100-58 rout of Oregon to reach the second weekend. Meanwhile, the conclusion of the men's tournament has brought coaching uncertainty, with longtime Kansas coach Bill Self stating publicly he has made no decision regarding his future following their season-ending loss to St. John's. In a less competitive showing, Kentucky suffered its worst tournament defeat since 1972, falling 82-63 to Iowa State.

Coaching Carousel & Personnel Moves

The college basketball coaching world experienced significant developments, most notably with Creighton announcing that Greg McDermott will retire following the conclusion of the current season, ending a highly successful 16-year tenure during which he accumulated 365 victories. In contrast, Syracuse is reportedly nearing a hire, with sources indicating the program is working toward naming former star Gerry McNamara as the next head coach, transitioning him from his current post at Siena. to the gridiron, the Indianapolis Colts are heavily banking on quarterback Daniel Jones returning to form after his Achilles injury, as the team made a substantial investment in his recovery, with early reports suggesting positive signs.

Global Sports & Offseason Activity

The professional sports offseason is shaping up to be exceptionally busy, particularly in the WNBA, where the league is preparing for a period described as "chaos" due to an expansion draft, the college draft, and a historic free agency period slated to unfold over the next six weeks. In international rugby, England is set to host a high-profile rematch against Canada this September during the WXV Global Series, recreating the 2025 Women's World Cup final. Separately, two teammates at non-league club Rushden & Diamonds have been told to find new clubs after an on-pitch confrontation resulted in both Bruno Andrade and Tyler Winters receiving red cards prompting the club's decision.

Cricket & Rugby Union Updates

England & Wales Cricket Board chief executive Richard Gould defended Head Coach Brendon McCullum, asserting that sacking the coach would have been "easy"* despite the recent 4-1 Ashes series defeat in Australia, affirming his confidence in McCullum's long-term vision for the team. Meanwhile, the English Premiership resumed with compelling action, as Leicester Tigers ran effectively from deep space* while fly-half Finn Russell delivered another masterful performance, juxtaposed against Harlequins sinking further into difficulties. In the United Rugby Championship, Welsh teams faced a difficult weekend, though Taulupe Faletau, Jac Morgan, and Elliot Dee returned to bolster the Welsh contingent, while South African sides recorded strong results.

Motorsports & Track & Field Excellence

NASCAR's Tyler Reddick achieved an elite milestone* by securing his fourth victory of the season at Darlington Raceway, further solidifying his status as a top competitor in "The Track Too Tough To Tame." In Moto GP, Marco Bezzecchi continued his strong start to the season by claiming victory in Brazil* in a race that was shortened to 31 laps because of extreme heat conditions impacting rider safety. Great Britain experienced a sensational 28-minute stretch* at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland, capturing three gold medals to achieve the nation's best-ever medal haul at the event. This included Keely Hodgkinson commanding the 800m field to win her first world indoor title* with a championship record, while Alice Kinsella made British gymnastics history* by resuming elite competition after giving birth.**

Other Global Sports Notes

In European football, both Arsenal and Manchester City received a *"reality check" in the Carabao Cup, raising questions about how those results might influence their ongoing Premier League rivalry, while Real Madrid's bravery was rewarded in the Madrid derby. In the aftermath of a knockout bout on a Pro Box TV card, 19-year-old women's junior flyweight boxer Isis Sio has been placed in a medically induced coma following the stoppage. Furthermore, England is scheduled to play Canada in a September fixture as part of the WXV Global Series, *rematching the 2025 Women's World Cup final. In netball, the London Pulse *edged out Nottingham Forest in extra time*, a performance Coach Sam Bird suggested demonstrates the team's composure in high-pressure situations late in the Super League season.