General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: March 29, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four Field Set

The Men's Final Four bracket is locked in for next weekend, featuring a compelling final quartet after a dramatic Sunday in the Elite Eight Men's March Madness 2026: Ranking the Final Four teams. The University of Connecticut Huskies secured their spot by eliminating the No. 1 overall seed, Duke, thanks to a last-second three-pointer from Braylon Mullins with just 0.4 seconds remaining on the clock. Meanwhile, Michigan advanced by overwhelming Tennessee in a decisive regional final, winning 95-62 behind a 27-point performance from Yaxel Lendeborg and 10 assists from Elliot Cadeau, marking the program’s first Final Four appearance since 2018. Completing the field, Illinois punched their ticket by defeating Iowa, sending Coach Underwood’s program to the national semifinals for the first time in 21 years following Keaton Wagler’s 25-point effort.

NCAA Women's Basketball Elite Eight & Program Stability

The Women's Final Four also crystallized Sunday, with both No. 1 seeds surviving tough matchups How UConn and UCLA clinched a spot in the women's Final Four. The UCLA Bruins demonstrated resilience, overcoming a rare first-half deficit and fending off an aggressive Duke defense to win 70-58 and advance. The UConn women's team ground out a hard-fought 70-52 victory over No. 6 seed Notre Dame, extending their dominance by reaching their 25th Final Four and 17th in the last 18 tournaments. Separately, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley indicated that the financial implications of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) are now the leading factor in recruiting discussions, even as the top-seeded Gamecocks cruised into the Elite Eight maintaining they still have "room to grow" S.C. cruises into Elite Eight with 'room to grow'. In a unique recruiting development, the Gamecocks also landed a commitment from Neff Giwa, a 20-year-old Irishman who has never played American football, to join the offensive line.

Coaching Contracts & Player Tributes

In coaching news, St. John's finalized a lucrative extension with Rick Pitino, making him the second-highest-paid coach within the Big East conference, according to sources confirming previous reports. Away from current contract discussions, legendary NFL quarterback Peyton Manning shared that a pivotal meeting with the late legendary coach Pat Summitt sparked a lifelong friendship that proved instrumental to his own career trajectory.

Professional Golf & Motorsport Victories

On the professional golf circuit, Gary Woodland secured a significant victory at the Houston Open on Sunday, winning by five shots in his first PGA Tour triumph since undergoing brain surgery in 2023 to address his battle with PTSD. Meanwhile, in international motorsport, Italy's Marco Bezzecchi claimed his third consecutive win to start the Moto GP season at the United States Grand Prix. In Formula, despite the tactical advantage provided by a late safety car, Kimi Antonelli demonstrated sufficient pace to take the win at the Japanese Grand Prix, leading analysts to suggest he is a genuine title threat, though questions remain about how F1 management can retain top talent like Max Verstappen amid evolving regulations What can F1's bosses do to help keep Verstappen in the sport?. Driver ratings following the race showed that Oscar Piastri impressed while Pierre Gasly also delivered an excellent performance.

International Sports & Combat Sports Shakes Up

International sports saw several decisive results, including Donegal claiming the National Football League Division One title after thumping Kerry 3-20 to 2-10 at Croke Park, securing their second-ever league title and first in 19 years McGuinness 'delighted' by Donegal's league success. In rugby, Bath mounted a comeback at Sale, rallying from a 19-7 half-time deficit to secure a bonus-point victory thanks to a late try by Alfie Barbeary. In high-level combat sports, the UFC saw a major upset when Joe Pyfer finished former champion Israel Adesanya via ground-and-pound in the second round. Elsewhere in boxing, 21-year-old Moses Itauma solidified his heavyweight status with an awe-inspiring knockout victory over Jermaine Franklin Jr. In a bizarre officiating incident, UFC fighter Tyrell Fortune was momentarily denied his win after the cage announcer mistakenly declared his opponent the victor, forcing a return to the Octagon to correct the scorecard error.

Other Global Notables

In other action, professional cyclist Jonas Vingegaard continued his strong 2026 form by holding on for the overall victory at the Volta a Catalunya. In the Pakistan Super League, the Lahore Qalandars were penalized for ball tampering during their defeat against the Karachi Kings. Meanwhile, Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson called up Portsmouth winger Millenic Alli for his first senior squad appearance ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against North Macedonia. Finally, in freestyle skiing, Olympic bronze medallist Zoe Atkin secured the overall World Cup halfpipe title following a victory in Switzerland.