General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: March 28, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

NCAA Tournament Heats Up

The men's NCAA tournament continued its dramatic run as Illinois secured its first Final Four appearance in 21 years, powered by Keaton Wagler’s 25-point performance in a 71-59 victory over Iowa, prompting Champaign officials to limit alcohol sales anticipating potential public celebrations. The remaining eight men’s teams, including nine-seed Iowa, are now being ranked ahead of the regional finals following Saturday’s Sweet 16 action, while Arizona looked poised to pull away from Purdue late in their matchup with a trip to the Final Four on the line. On the women’s side, No. 2 seed Michigan punched its ticket to the Elite Eight after Olivia Olson netted 19 points in a 71-52 dismissal of Louisville, setting up a major regional final clash where No. 1 South Carolina, despite its dominant three wins, insists it still has room to grow.

Sunday’s slate promises high stakes, with betting analysis focusing on UConn’s potential showdown with Duke and the Tennessee-Michigan contest, as the Volunteers earned their third consecutive Elite Eight berth by utilizing dominant rebounding to overcome Iowa State 76-62. Duke also advanced after Ashlon Jackson sank a buzzer-beating three-pointer to defeat LSU 87-85, setting up the rivalry game against UConn, whose coach, Geno Auriemma, subsequently questioned the NCAA’s setup and preparation process for the tournament. Meanwhile, Notre Dame prepared to face the Huskies in the Elite Eight, with coach Niele Ivey asserting her team is fundamentally different from the squad that suffered an earlier blowout loss to UConn this season.

In the wake of the men's regional finals, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo firmly scoffed at retirement speculation following his Spartans' Sweet 16 exit, stating he has no intention of stopping coaching. UConn advanced to the regional final after Tarris Reed Jr. contributed 20 points and Alex Karaban added, with both players making crucial late free throws to secure a narrow 67-63 win against Michigan State. In the women's bracket, all four No. 1 seeds successfully navigated the weekend, ensuring the ACC, Big Ten, and SEC each place two teams into the Elite Eight field.

Combat Sports & Figure Skating Shocks

The world of combat sports saw an unusual procedural error when UFC fighter Tyrell Fortune was called back to the Octagon after Bruce Buffer mistakenly announced his opponent, Marcin Tybura, as the victor, forcing a correction of the scorecards. In a separate reflection on his career, Bellator heavyweight Tyrell Fortune detailed the extreme challenge of a past weight cut that nearly proved fatal, giving him a new perspective on life. Separately, figure skater Ilia Malinin immediately moved past a disappointing showing at the 2026 Winter Olympics to confirm his status atop the sport by capturing the world championship title in Prague.

Global Rugby & Cricket Action

The United Rugby Championship delivered several tight contests, including an intense match in Pretoria where the Bulls edged Munster 34-31, while Edinburgh’s play-off aspirations were severely damaged following a 33-14 defeat away to the Stormers in Cape Town, leaving their chances "all but over". In the English Premiership Rugby, Northampton Saints maintained their top spot after Archie McParland scored a dramatic late try to secure a narrow victory over Saracens, whereas Harlequins snapped a six-game losing streak with a hard-fought 18-14 win against Bristol. On the international circuit, a disjointed Ulster side managed a much-needed 28-12 win against Zebre in Parma.

In cricket, the Indian Premier League commenced with Royal Challengers Bengaluru recording an impressive opening victory, as Virat Kohli anchored the chase with an unbeaten 69 runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Furthermore, Major League Cricket is set to bolster its ranks, as Indian spin legend Ravichandran Ashwin announced his intention to join the San Francisco Unicorns for the upcoming season, making him the first former national team star to join the U.S. league.

Figure Skating & Track Developments

While Ilia Malinin dominated the men's event, the World Figure Skating Championships in Prague also saw Britain's Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson finish just off the podium in fourth place in the ice dance after receiving a two-point penalty deduction, and Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto concluded her competitive career by securing her fourth world gold medal. On the track, British middle-distance runner Josh Kerr has set his sights on capturing a major milestone, stating the world mile record is a "career goal" he intends to pursue at the London Diamond League in July. In other track news, Georgia Hunter Bell, fresh off her world indoor championship win, was beaten in the 1500m in Melbourne in her first outdoor race of the season.

Other Sports Notes

In boxing, heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma discussed his professional trajectory, emphasizing that quick knockout victories are insufficient for his development as he prepares for his toughest test yet against Jermaine Franklin. Meanwhile, boxer Floyd Mayweather cast doubt on the specifics of his anticipated bout with Manny Pacquiao, clarifying that the planned event would only be an exhibition contest and not a professional fight, with the venue still undecided. In other news, the Athletes Unlimited Softball League issued its inaugural "golden ticket" to pitcher NiJaree Canady, an honor presented by Kim Ng and Patrick Mahomes. In cycling, Tom Pidcock was forced to withdraw from the Volta a Catalunya after suffering a severe "horror" fall down a ravine during the fifth stage, resulting in his abandonment of the race.