General Sports 3d Briefing
×Last updated: March 13, 2026, 2:53 AM ET
College Basketball Turmoil
The Big 12 reverted to hardwood espn.com after the LED glass court caused slipping incidents, a problem highlighted when Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson strained a muscle espn.com on the same surface during Iowa State’s 75‑53 win. A day later, freshman AJ Dybantsa set a record espn.com by pouring in 40 points, propelling Kansas State to a 105‑91 victory over Kansas in the opening round of the conference tournament.
Coaching Carousel & Blowouts
Kansas State is poised to hire Casey Alexander espn.com from Belmont, ending a season that saw the Wildcats’ 105‑91 win. Meanwhile, Arizona State announced that Bobby Hurley will depart after 11 seasons espn.com following a 91‑42 loss to Iowa State, the largest margin in Big 12 tournament history. The blowout underscored the urgency of the coaching search as the Sun Devils look to rebuild.
NCAA Tournament Drama
Auburn’s coach Steven Pearl advocated for an at‑large bid espn.com after the Tigers squandered a double‑digit lead to Tennessee in the SEC quarterfinals. In contrast, Hofstra celebrated a return to March Madness espn.com for the first time in 25 years by defeating Monmouth 75‑69 to claim the CAA crown. Syracuse, meanwhile, dismissed Adrian Autry espn.com after three seasons without an NCAA appearance, adding another vacancy to the coaching market.
College Football Offseason & Player Union
Miami head coach Mario Cristobal faces a “most challenging” offseason as recruiting stalls espn.com, while No. 20 Miami (OH) suffered its first loss, falling 87‑83 espn.com to UMass in the MAC tournament opener. Across the sport, the NFL Players Association is set to vote on new leadership espn.com as members seek stability after the controversy surrounding former executive Lloyd Howell.
Track & Figure Skating Milestones
Swedish pole‑vault star Armand Duplantis cleared 6.31 m bbc.com, his 15th world‑record improvement, extending his dominance in the event. In the United States, Olympic figure‑skating champion Alysa Liu received a key to her hometown espn.com during a rally that featured Bay Area musical performances, highlighting her continued popularity beyond the rink.
Tennis & Golf Highlights
Alexander Zverev described his semi‑final run at the ATP Masters 1000 circuit as “very special” after becoming the fifth player to reach the semi‑finals of all nine events in history bbc.com. On the PGA Tour, Scottie Scheffler entered The Players Championship as the overwhelming betting favorite espn.com, while veteran Jordan Koepka sought consistency espn.com in his fourth start at the tournament. Matt Fitzpatrick later called a Players win “up there” bbc.com as a stepping stone toward major success.
Six Nations Rugby Updates
Wales will finish its Six Nations campaign with record‑breaking flanker Alex Mann starting against Italy bbc.com, while Ireland lock James Ryan was ruled out bbc.com as Andy Farrell made four changes for the Triple Crown clash with Scotland. England’s head coach Steve Borthwick reiterated that the team’s kicking remains a strength despite fan criticism in recent matches bbc.com. Coach Steve Tandy also kept Wales unchanged bbc.com for the final test against Italy, hoping to avoid the slow starts that have plagued the side.
The Hundred Auction & International Cricket
London Spirit broke the auction record by paying £390,000 bbc.com for uncapped Sussex all‑rounder James Coles, reflecting the franchise’s aggressive recruitment. Coaches clarified that they were not instructed to avoid Pakistan players bbc.com amid speculation surrounding the men’s auction, while Sunrisers Leeds secured Pakistani‑origin bowler Abrar Ahmed to ease franchise concerns bbc.com.
Motorsport & Formula 1
Lewis Hamilton ultimately missed the Oscars espn.com after the Chinese Grand Prix, confirming that travel logistics prevented his attendance at the ceremony. Following the season‑opening Australian Grand Prix, BBC Sport’s Andrew Benson answered fan queries in a post‑race Q&A bbc.com that addressed the impact of new technical regulations on team strategies.
Paralympic Milestones
Jake Adicoff became the first openly gay man to win an individual Winter Paralympic gold medal in cross‑country skiing bbc.com, while Cristian Westemaier Ribera earned Brazil’s inaugural Winter Paralympic medal by finishing second in the men’s seated sprint cross‑country event bbc.com. Great Britain added a silver medal when Neil Simpson and guide Rob Poth claimed the alpine combined bbc.com at Milan‑Cortina.
Cheltenham Festival & Horse Racing
Trainer Henry de Bromhead celebrated his first Festival victory as Heart Wood won the Ryanair Chase bbc.com on day three. Willie Mullins added a second‑day triumph when Il Etait Temps captured the Queen Mother Champion Chase bbc.com. Harry Redknapp’s Jukebox Man was confirmed for the Gold Cup bbc.com and later joined ten other entries bbc.com as Redknapp aims to become a Gold Cup‑winning owner.