Last updated: March 21, 2026, 4:30 PM ET
NCAA Tournament Advances & Coaching Carousel
The NCAA Men's Tournament advanced Saturday as top seed Michigan handled Saint Louis with a 25-point performance from Yaxel Lendeborg, securing their spot in the Sweet 16 alongside other winners whose paths are being dissected tracking every ticket punched. In the women's bracket, Saturday's action saw teams like Ohio State and Louisville win as analysts broke down how those winners could continue their momentum through the Sweet, following all 16 first-round games live updates throughout Day 2. Meanwhile, a major off-court story emerged from Chapel Hill where UNC officials are discussing coach Hubert Davis's future following another disappointing first-round exit from the tournament.
The men’s bracket saw further dramatic results, including No. 2 seed UConn escaping an upset bid thanks to Tarris Reed Jr.'s historic 31-point, 27-rebound night in an 82-71 victory over Furman, while Utah State managed a rally to top Villanova 86-76, aided by MJ Collins' 20-point effort and a late dunk. Other first-round action featured Otega Oweh's buzzer-beater to save Kentucky against Santa Clara in an 89-84 overtime win, and UCLA’s guard Skyy Clark shook off a lost tooth to help secure a 75-71 victory over UCF. In team news, Duke is hopeful center Patrick Ngongba II can return for the second round against TCU after missing time with a foot injury, while Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson suffered a sprained left ankle but received negative X-rays following their win over Tennessee State.
Further NCAA action included Florida opening their title defense with a massive 114-55 victory over Prairie View A&M, marking the second-largest margin of victory in tournament history, and Purdue's Braden Smith setting a new NCAA all-time assists record with 1,077 career assists, leaping past Bobby Hurley during their first-round contest. In women's play, seventh-seeded NC State eliminated Tennessee, handing the Lady Vols their eighth consecutive season-ending loss, while Tennessee ultimately ended Miami (Ohio)'s run with Ja’Kobi Gillespie scoring 29 points in a 78-56 victory ending the Red Hawks' fabulous season. On the administrative front, the NCAA filed a lawsuit against DraftKings on Friday, alleging trademark infringement related to the use of terms like "March Madness."
Global Sports & Track & Field Milestones
In international track and field, Josh Kerr completed an impressive comeback from injury, reclaiming his world indoor 3,000m title and thanking his family after his triumph, while in the men's 60m dash, Great Britain's Jeremiah Azu finished fourth in what was described as "one of the best 60m races of all time" at the World Athletics Indoor Championships narrowly missing a medal. Meanwhile, a remarkable achievement occurred in women's cricket as Rwanda's Fanny Utagushimaninde became the youngest T20 centurion in history at just 15 years and 223 days old, describing the feat as feeling "like a dream."
Combat Sports & Cycling Updates
The weekend featured several high-profile bouts, including the UFC London card headlined by Lerone Murphy and Movsar Evloev, with analysts noting specific reasons why each contest might steal the show. In professional boxing, Costello van Steenis stopped Fabian Edwards in the third round to retain his PFL middleweight title, dashing Edwards' world title aspirations again, while Chinese Taipei's Olympic champion Lin Yu-ting was cleared to return to competition by World Boxing after successfully undergoing the organization's new sex testing protocol. In cycling, Tadej Pogacar secured his first Milan-San Remo title after a fierce late battle with Tom Pidcock, though the women's Milan-San Remo classic saw Italian rider Debora Silvestri rushed to the hospital following a serious crash during the race.
Rugby & Soccer League Standings Shifts
The weekend's rugby action saw significant movement in the English Premiership, where Exeter defeated Sale 26-14 to move into the crucial play-off positions, while in the Premiership Women's Rugby, Abi Burton's late try clinched a tight 21-17 victory for Trailfinders over Harlequins. In the United Rugby Championship, Connacht utilized a strong second half to earn a statement bonus-point win against Ulster, and Scarlets dominated Zebre in the basement battle, running in six tries for a comprehensive victory sweeping aside their Italian rivals. In Super League, Kelepi Tanginoa scored four tries as Warrington Wolves hammered Castleford Tigers to move into second place, and Bradford Bulls also secured a home victory, outmuscling Huddersfield Giants in an epic encounter at Odsal, while Wakefield earned revenge by continuing Leigh's poor start to the season exacting payback for last year's elimination.
North American Sports & Other Developments
In the NHL, the Colorado Avalanche clinched the first playoff berth of the season following their 4-1 defeat of the Blackhawks, while the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder announced they will not make a White House visit during their trip to Washington D.C., citing "timing" concerns. College hockey recognized its top player, with Wisconsin defender Caroline Harvey voted the winner of the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. Elsewhere, Jon Rahm has taken the step to drop his DP World Tour appeal regarding sanctions for playing in LIV Golf events, though he maintains his refusal to pay the associated fines. Finally, in tennis administration, it was confirmed that video review technology will debut at Wimbledon this year, while in the burgeoning world of virtual sports, it is projected that by the end of 2028, more rounds of indoor golf will be played in the UK than outdoor rounds.