General Sports 8-Hour Briefing

Last updated: March 13, 2026, 2:54 AM ET

College Basketball

The Big 12 Conference transitioned back to traditional hardwood courts for its tournament at T-Mobile Center after experiencing issues with the innovative LED glass court that caused players to slip during games. Meanwhile, Kansas State prepared to hire Belmont's Casey Alexander, a perennial 20-game winner, to take over their program according to sources close to the negotiation. Elsewhere in the college basketball landscape, Auburn coach Steven Pearl intensified lobbying for his team's NCAA tournament chances after blowing a double-digit second-half lead to Tennessee in the SEC tournament quarterfinals, arguing that his team "deserves" a bid based on their regular season performance.

Professional Basketball & Tennis

Miami Heat responded online after the Milwaukee Bucks brought up the Heat star's historic 83-point performance in what appeared to be a social media exchange between the teams. In tennis, Alexander Zverev expressed pride at becoming just the fifth player in history to reach the semi-finals of all nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, describing the achievement as "very special" that would join the Big Four in the history books of the sport.

Winter Sports & Darts

Olympic figure skating champion Alysa Liu received a key to her hometown during a rally that included performances from Bay Area artists, celebrating her remarkable Olympic achievement. In darts action, Jonny Clayton overcame gout to dominate Luke Humphries 6-1 in the final of night six at the Premier League in Nottingham, demonstrating his resilience despite physical challenges that would have sidelined many competitors.

Rugby

England rugby teammates Fin Smith and Maro Itoje brushed off their on-pitch disagreement, with Smith stating it demonstrated the depth of their relationship rather than any disintegration of team unity, emphasizing "it's how you speak to a mate" in professional rugby where on-field disagreements are common.

Sports Business

Regulatory authority emerged as central in a growing battle surrounding prediction markets, with conflicting court rulings creating uncertainty in the industry that has begun to affect sports wagering markets across multiple professional leagues.