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		<title>Latest College Basketball News &amp; Videos from FOX Sports</title>
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			<title>Latest College Basketball News &amp; Videos from FOX Sports</title>
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			<link>https://www.foxsports.com/college-basketball</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:13:02 -0400</pubDate>
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					<![CDATA[Frosted Flakes Drops Michigan Wolverines National Championship Cereal Box]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/frosted-flakes-michigan-wolverines-national-championship</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/frosted-flakes-michigan-wolverines-national-championship</guid>
				<category>college-basketball</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Kellogg's Frosted Flakes released a limited-edition Michigan Wolverines National Championship cereal box.]]>
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				<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:18:48 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[As Tony the Tiger says, "They'rrre Michigan!" Wait, what? First, the Michigan Wolverines claimed their first men's college basketball championship in 37 years. Now, they're on the cover of a cereal box. Kellogg's Frosted Flakes revealed on Wednesday that it's selling a limited-edition Michigan championship-themed cereal box, according to WXYZ Michigan. There's no cereal inside, rather it's a box to commemorate the triumph. The Wolverines beat the UConn Huskies on Monday night, 69-63, to win the National Championship for the first time since the 1988-89 season. Elliot Cadeau finished with a game-high 19 points for Michigan, while Morez Johnson posted a double-double (12 points and 10 rebounds) and Yaxel Lendeborg scored 13 points on a bad ankle and a sprained MCL. In all, the Wolverines went 25 of 28 from the free throw line. [Cowherd: Transfer Portal, NIL Working for Michigan, Big Ten] Michigan ended the season 37-3 overall and 19-1 in Big Ten regular-season play, good for first in the conference. The Wolverines were first in the Big Ten in points (87.3 per game), field goal percentage (50.7%), opponent field goal percentage (38.2%) and opponent 3-point shooting percentage (30.4%), second in rebounds (40.1 per game) and third in 3-point shooting percentage (36.8%). As for individual standouts, Lendeborg, who averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals per game, won Big Ten Player of the Year honors; Johnson averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game; Cadeau averaged 10.5 points and 5.9 assists per game; center Aday Mara averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and a Big Ten-high 2.6 blocks per game; Trey McKenney averaged 9.9 points in 22.1 minutes per contest, while shooting 39.1% from behind the arc.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Cowherd Buys Into NIL, Transfer Portal Impact After Michigan's National Title Win]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/the-herd-with-colin-cowherd/cowherd-buys-nil-transfer-portal-impact-after-michigans-national-title-win</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/the-herd-with-colin-cowherd/cowherd-buys-nil-transfer-portal-impact-after-michigans-national-title-win</guid>
				<category>the-herd-with-colin-cowherd</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The Michigan Wolverines were crowned national champions with a win over UConn on Monday. Here's what their secret to a title was.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 20:09:14 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The No. 1-seeded Michigan Wolverines took home their first national title since 1989 after defeating the No. 2-seeded UConn Huskies 69-63. What made this Wolverines team merely unstoppable was their strategic use of the transfer portal and NIL. In Dusty May's second year leading the program, his starting lineup, composed entirely of first-year transfers, scored 90 points in five consecutive games leading up to the title game. In a world where NIL and the transfer portal may seem cruel to the future of college sports, May and the Wolverines showcased the power of utilizing both in their dominant win, while also pushing the standard for Big Ten dominance across various sports. "The other advantage Michigan had is the Big Ten. Illinois was outstanding, Iowa beat Florida, Purdue is always exceptional. Michigan State and Tom Izzo. I mean for years and years, the SEC always had an advantage because they played harder schedules," FOX Sports' Colin Cowherd said on Tuesday's edition of "The Herd." The Big Ten took home national titles in three different sports this year—Indiana in football, Michigan in men's basketball, and UCLA in women's basketball. The trio of titles makes the Big Ten the first Division I conference ever to win national championships in three sports in the same year. The conference dominance is rapidly growing, with Indiana becoming the first undefeated team to win a national championship, as well as a quarterback Heisman Trophy winner since LSU in 2019. UCLA women's basketball won its first national championship in just two seasons as a part of the conference, and Michigan took a men's basketball title for the program's first time since 1989, and the conference's first since 2002. - [WAY-TOO-EARLY TOP 25: Where Does Michigan Rank?] "So, I don’t know how the NIL and transfer portal are working for your conference, but they’re doing really well in the Big Ten," Cowherd said. "The Big Ten has always been their alumni: smart, affluent and strategic. The Big Ten has always taken great pride in their academics. The new model in college is not just about ‘hey, we get a bunch of really good athletes in our geographic footprint,’ that’s not what it’s about." To put it in perspective, the Wolverines spent roughly 10 million on this season's roster, with Yaxel Lendeborg receiving a $3 million NIL package to play for Michigan. The Hoosiers and Curt Cignetti constructed a team of former two-and three-star players into a $20 million NIL championship team, with Fernando Mendoza being the highest-paid player with $2.6 million NIL package. Even if NIL and the transfer portal have presented challenges, Cowherd emphasizes that this is the new norm in college sports. "But you can grumble about it, and convince yourself that the sports are broken. But I just watched the best national championship in college football I maybe ever saw. I saw unbelievable dedication, coaching passion last night," Cowherd said. "How about UCLA women’s basketball? 71-4 in two years? So you can grumble about it, but the train is moving with or without you."]]>
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					<![CDATA[Big Bets Report: Michigan Helps Bettor Win 160k After Losing 75k]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/big-bets-report-michigan-helps-bettor-win-160k-after-losing-75k</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/big-bets-report-michigan-helps-bettor-win-160k-after-losing-75k</guid>
				<category>college-basketball</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[One bettor had a unique way of making sure they made money on Michigan. Patrick Everson breaks down that wild bet and more.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:53:28 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Shortly before the NCAA Tournament Championship Game tipped off on Monday night, a BetMGM customer decided to get involved. Like, really involved. Four bets totaling $325,000, all on Michigan, at various point spreads vs. UConn. The bettor batted .500, but spread the money around in a way that still netted a high-five-figure payday. More on those wagers, a million-dollar miss and other notable bets from March Madness, MLB and elsewhere as we recap the week that was in sports betting. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Michigan Money Michigan was a consensus 6.5-point favorite vs. UConn. But that point spread alone wasn’t quite enough to satisfy one bettor. So the customer mixed in alternate spreads, taking the Wolverines at four numbers: -4.5, -5.5, -6.5 and -7.5. Had all four tickets gotten there, the bettor would’ve netted approximately $229,400. But all four didn’t get there, as Michigan held on for a 69-63 win. The bettor won the first two wagers and lost the second two. However, the bigger bets were at -4.5 and -5.5. So, while the customer lost an eye-popping $75,000 on Michigan -6.5 and -7.5, the two winners totaled 159,663.86 in profit. Subtract the losers, and the bettor profited $84,663.86. Pretty fortuitous, but a pretty big sweat, as well. The bettor was one UConn bucket away from going 0-4. One Step Short Back on Feb. 15, well before most of us were thinking about March Madness, a DraftKings Sportsbook customer decided it was time to play big. The bettor put $77,000 on UConn +1300 to win the national title. To win a whopping $1.001 million. And it almost happened. The Huskies trailed by double digits multiple times in the second half, then clawed within four at 67-63 with 37 seconds remaining. Michigan then missed two free throws, so UConn had the ball with a chance to cut the lead to two or perhaps one. But that was the end of the line. The Huskies scored no more, and as noted above, Michigan won 69-63. Laser Beam FanDuel Sportsbook has a new prop bet it offers on MLB games: Player to hit a laser. What’s a laser, you might ask? Well, it’s a home run with an exit velocity of at least 110 mph. On Friday night, a FanDuel customer decided, why not craft a two-leg laser-beam parlay? The bettor put all of nine dollars on: The cumulative odds for this parlay: +106400, or in easier-to-read terms, 1064/1. Freeman was the much longer shot to hit a laser, but did so on a fifth-inning homer in the Dodgers’ 13-6 win over the Nationals. Rice’s laser came in the seventh inning of the Yankees’ 8-2 win over the Marlins. So that modest $9 turned into a hefty $9,585. That’s the kind of ROI we can all appreciate. Parlay Partay If you’re going to bet 23-leg parlays, then you’d be wise to keep that bet amount to a minimum. Even more so on 23-leg tennis parlays. Twenty dollars is more than adequate. That’s how much a Fanatics Sportsbook customer put down while bundling a bunch of ATP and WTA singles matches with a couple of doubles matches. Granted, every leg was a favorite, and in some cases a big favorite. Still, all it takes is one player to derail the whole train. Somehow, all 23 got there, at odds of +57029, or just beyond 570/1. So the bettor turned $20 into $11,425.80. Parlay Partay, Part II On Saturday, a Fanatics customer put $36 on a 12-leg parlay, covering an interesting array of sports: hockey, tennis, NBA and college basketball. The final leg was arguably the easiest. Michigan built a 30-point second-half lead vs. Arizona in Saturday’s Final Four showdown, and the Wolverines coasted to a 91-73 victory. At odds of +35029 — again, riding nothing but favorites — the bettor banked $12,453. Homerless Happiness Another MLB prop bet generating some interest this season: No home runs in a game. On March 31, a DraftKings customer compiled a three-leg no-homer parlay, on A’s-Braves, Yankees-Mariners and Pirates-Reds games. The odds of that happening were a huge +107900, or 1079/1. But the bettor then utilized a 50% parlay boost, hiking the odds to +161850, or just beyond 1618/1. Somehow, not a single baseball left the yard in those three games. And 10 bucks became $16,195. I Like Big Bets and I Cannot Lie There was no shortage of high-roller plays on the NCAA Tournament title game, along with some futures bets, as well. A few more notable tickets, all from DraftKings:]]>
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					<![CDATA[Men's CBK AP Top 25: National Champion Michigan is Final No. 1 of 2025-2026]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/michigan-uconn-duke-arizona-march-madness</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/michigan-uconn-duke-arizona-march-madness</guid>
				<category>college-basketball</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Michigan is No. 1 in the final Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for the 2025-26 season after winning the program’s first national championship in 37 years.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:51:05 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Michigan is No. 1 in the final Associated Press Top 25 men's college basketball poll for the 2025-26 season after winning the program's first national championship in 37 years. The Wolverines (37-3) claimed all 57 votes in Tuesday's poll in the third year the AP has released its final rankings after the completion of the NCAA Tournament. Michigan beat UConn 69-63 in Indianapolis on Monday night to complete the winningest season in program history, along with winning its first NCAA title since 1989 and the Big Ten's first since 2000. Michigan spent a week at No. 1 in mid-February and didn't rank lower than fourth after November in its second season under Dusty May. UConn finished second, followed by Arizona, Duke and Illinois. The Huskies jumped five spots and the Fighting Illini eight after their runs to the Final Four. Purdue, Houston, Iowa State, Florida and St. John's rounded out the top 10. [Men's College Basketball Rankings: Illinois, Duke Highlight Way-Too-Early 2026-2027 Top 25] Iowa and Texas both wound up in the poll after being unranked heading into March Madness. The Hawkeyes finished the season ranked No. 15 after reaching the Elite Eight in a run that included a second-round upset of defending champion Florida, while the 22nd-ranked Longhorns went from the First Four to the Sweet 16. In addition to the 25 ranked teams, 15 others received votes in the final poll. UCLA and Saint Louis led the way with 51, followed by Utah State (45), 12-seed High Point (37) – which upset Wisconsin in the first round of March Madness – VCU (29), and Miami (OH) (26). Also picking up votes were BYU (15), North Carolina (14), Kentucky (14), TCU (9), Texas A&amp;M (7), Saint Mary's (7), Akron (3), Ohio State (2) and NIT champion Auburn (1). Here is the full list of 25: 25. Wisconsin, 24-11, Big Ten24. Miami (FL), 26-9, ACC23. Louisville, 24-11, ACC22. Texas, 21-15, SEC21. Texas Tech, 23-11, Big 1220. Kansas, 24-11, Big 1219. Vanderbilt, 27-9, SEC18. Gonzaga, 31-4, WCC17. Virginia, 30-6, ACC16. Alabama, 25-10, SEC15. Iowa, 24-13, Big Ten14. Nebraska, 28-7, Big Ten13. Arkansas, 28-9, SEC12. Tennessee, 25-12, SEC11. Michigan State, 27-8, Big Ten10. St. John's, 30-7, Big East9. Florida, 27-8, SEC8. Iowa State, 29-8, Big 127. Houston, 30-7, Big 126. Purdue, 30-9, Big Ten5. Illinois, 28-9, Big Ten4. Duke, 35-3, ACC3. Arizona, 36-3, Big 122. UConn, 34-6, Big East1. Michigan, 37-3, Big Ten The Associated Press contributed to this report.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Everything Happening in the Big Ten Last Time Michigan Won NCAA Men's Tournament]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/michigan-march-madness-national-championship-big-ten</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/michigan-march-madness-national-championship-big-ten</guid>
				<category>college-basketball</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Michigan won the NCAA Men's Tournament for the first time since 1989; here's everything that was happening in the Big Ten 37 years ago.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:00:33 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The Michigan Wolverines are atop the men's college basketball world for the first time in 37 years. By winning the 2026 NCAA Men's Tournament title game against UConn on Monday night, Michigan claimed its first national title since 1989 — and a whole lot was different in the sport back then. With that in mind, here's everything that was happening in the Big Ten Conference in 1989 – including with present-day Big Ten teams that weren't in the conference in the 1988-89 season.]]>
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					<![CDATA[UConn Coach Dan Hurley on Alex Karaban: 'This Guy Changed My Life']]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/uconn-coach-dan-hurley-alex-karaban-this-guy-changed-my-life</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/uconn-coach-dan-hurley-alex-karaban-this-guy-changed-my-life</guid>
				<category>college-basketball</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[UConn coach Dan Hurley expressed how senior forward Alex Karaban "changed" his life following their national title loss.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 10:19:07 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Michigan got the best of UConn in the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship on Monday night, and now the Huskies have to say goodbye to one of its best players in recent memory: Alex Karaban. UConn coach Dan Hurley is forever grateful for the senior forward's contributions to the program. "This guy changed my life [and] the staff's lives," Hurley said in his postgame press conference. "The joy he [has] brought to the university, the fan base, his decision to come to UConn. … He [has] helped make UConn, I think right now, probably the premier program in college basketball, having been to three out of four national championship games [and] having won two of them. He's put UConn in that rarefied place in college basketball. "Everyone owes everything to that guy, and I figured let me just play him into the ground one more time. Just one more 40-minute game for Alex. Let me just play that guy into the ground one more night like I have throughout his career. He deserved to play 40 minutes." Karaban finished the 69-63 loss with a team-high 17 points, 11 rebounds and two steals; he played all 40 minutes. The Huskies connected on nine 3-pointers and held the Wolverines to just two 3-balls, but Michigan went 25-for-28 from the free-throw line and led the entire second half. On the season, Karaban averaged 13.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 46.4/37.4/85.1. He led the Big East with 34.3 minutes per contest and played in every minute of three games this season and seven games altogether over his collegiate career. Karaban redshirted the 2021-22 college basketball season and was then a four-year starter for the Huskies, highlighted by being part of their 2023 and 2024 national title triumphs. Over the past three years, he averaged 13.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per season, while shooting a combined 46.6/36.7/85.0. Karaban stands first in UConn history with 292 3-pointers and 4,906 minutes played, fifth with 670 overall field goals and sixth with 1,880 points. He was a two-time All-Big East honoree.]]>
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					<![CDATA[4 Takeaways From Michigan's NCAA Men's National Championship Game Win]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/takeaways-michigan-ncaa-mens-national-championship-game-win-over-uconn</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/takeaways-michigan-ncaa-mens-national-championship-game-win-over-uconn</guid>
				<category>college-basketball</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[From Michigan's suffocating defense to Yaxel Lendeborg's warrior-like effort, here are four takeaways from Michigan's win over UConn in the national title game.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 02:56:23 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[As maize and blue confetti rained down from the rafters at Lucas Oil Stadium, Michigan senior Yaxel Lendeborg held up a sign. On a yellow background, written in navy blue letters, the message read: "SHOCK THE WORLD, BOYS. GO BLUE!" It was a fitting image for a small-town kid from Pennsauken, New Jersey, who dreamed of playing on college basketball’s biggest stage. A lightly recruited prospect who began his career at Arizona Western Community College, Lendeborg went on to spend two years at UAB before ultimately bypassing the NBA Draft to take a chance on Dusty May and the Michigan Wolverines. Lendeborg — who played through obvious pain in Monday night's national championship game after suffering a sprained MCL and a rolled ankle in the Final Four win over Arizona — developed into a first-team All-American under May. He became the driving force behind one of the most dominant national championship runs in recent memory, which concluded with a 69-63 victory over UConn. "We’re the hardest-playing team in basketball," Lendeborg said after the game, flanked by teammates in a celebratory gathering. "We are the best team in college basketball, and we want to be one of the greats ever." Shock the world. … Mission accomplished. Here are four takeaways from Michigan’s national championship victory. 1. Michigan showcases suffocating defense on college basketball's biggest stage Michigan entered Monday night's national championship game having put together one of the most impressive offensive runs through five games in NCAA Tournament history. The Wolverines scored 90 or more points in every game in the Big Dance, including an emphatic 91-73 win over Arizona in the Final Four — a matchup many viewed as the de facto national title game. Their closest contest was a 13-point win over fourth-seeded Alabama that, in hindsight, wasn’t even as close as the final score suggested. But the story in the title game wasn’t Michigan’s high-flying offense. It was the defense. And it was, simply put … suffocating. May’s team held UConn to just 31% shooting from the field and a measly 27% from 3-point range. The Wolverines also forced 11 turnovers and blocked six shots in a dominant display. But the most impressive stat of all? Michigan held each of its last four NCAA Tournament opponents to a season-low in field goal percentage — 30% in the Sweet 16 (Alabama), 19% in the Elite Eight (Tennessee), 35% in the Final Four (Arizona) and 27% in the national championship game. "These guys have done it all year," May said after the game. "When one side of the ball was letting us down, the other side picked it up. Our togetherness defensively ultimately got us over the hump." 2. Yaxel Lendeborg shows warrior-like effort in win Lendeborg, Michigan's senior leader, could barely move. But he made it abundantly clear: There was no way he was coming off the floor. It was evident early that Lendeborg was far from 100 percent. He admitted as much during a halftime interview, saying he felt "awful" and "super weak," adding that he "couldn’t make anything." Still, Lendeborg gutted it out, playing all 20 minutes of the first half and finishing with 36 total minutes, the most of any Michigan player. While clearly not at his best, he found ways to contribute, often using his size to exploit mismatches. He broke a 27-27 tie late in the first half by establishing position inside, catching a lob from Aday Mara and laying it in over an undersized Jayden Ross. Later came a floater through contact against UConn big man Tarris Reed Jr. And then, his most impactful play: a tip-in off his own miss with just over five minutes remaining, pushing Michigan’s lead to 10. It was a valiant effort from a player who wasn’t going to let injury keep him off the court on the sport’s biggest stage. "My teammates, they didn’t give up on me," Lendeborg said in a postgame interview. "I still sucked in the second half, but I made a little bit of a push." That push showed up on the defensive end. Tasked with guarding UConn’s sharpshooting freshman Braylon Mullins — the hero of wins over Duke and Illinois — Lendeborg delivered. He held Mullins to just 4-of-17 shooting from the field and 3-of-10 from beyond the arc. "It took a lot to get on the court, honestly, and stay on there," Lendeborg said to the media following the game. "I was dealing with a lot of mental issues today. These guys all leaned in on me and helped me dig myself out of a hole and just continue to keep fighting. "It just feels really good to be a champion and to be on top of the world." 3. UConn’s Achilles heel resurfaced at the worst possible time A problem that nagged UConn all season long — and reared its head again in the national title loss to Michigan — is fouling. The Huskies ranked 237th in the country in fouls per game (18.2), just a couple of whistles away from falling outside the top-300 programs in Division I. After averaging 18.6 fouls per game through their first five NCAA Tournament games, Dan Hurley’s team committed 22 on Monday night, and the Wolverines made them pay, knocking down 25 of 28 free throws, including a stretch of 20 straight. That ultimately proved to be the difference, as UConn attempted just 16 free throws and made 12. Michigan point guard Elliot Cadeau, named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player, went 8-of-9 from the line and finished with a game-high 19 points in the win. There were other areas where UConn played well enough to win. The Huskies controlled the glass, 46-39, and held Mara — fresh off a 26-point, nine-rebound performance against Arizona — to just eight points and four boards in 30 minutes. But the free-throw disparity, combined with UConn’s cold shooting, ultimately defined the outcome. "It’s hard to have a level of disappointment where, literally, it just came down to we didn’t make enough shots in the basket," Hurley said after the game. "To be able to keep that team to under 40% from the field … this team has destroyed everyone in this tournament." 4. Michigan ends Big Ten's 26-year drought Take a bow, Michigan. The Wolverines have officially ended one of the most glaring and talked-about droughts in college basketball. It had been 26 years since a Big Ten program last won a national championship: Tom Izzo’s 2000 Michigan State team, led by an injured senior who also willed his team to victory — Mateen Cleaves. In the years since, 14 Big Ten teams have reached the Final Four. None could finish the job. Until now. Michigan finally broke through on Monday night in Indianapolis, putting an end to a narrative that had lingered for more than two decades. And in doing so, the Wolverines capped what has been a banner year for the conference. Not only did Michigan win the men’s basketball national title, but UCLA captured its first women’s championship, defeating South Carolina in dominant fashion. Indiana’s football program added to the haul, winning its first national title in the College Football Playoff. It marks the first time a conference has pulled off the trifecta in those three sports since the SEC in 2007. No conference in the country appears to be thriving in the NIL and transfer portal era quite like the Big Ten. 4½. What’s next? Michigan enters the offseason knowing it has its head coach in place, as Dusty May has reportedly informed university officials that he is not pursuing other college basketball jobs. The news comes after May emerged as an early target in North Carolina’s coaching search. With May set to remain in Ann Arbor, the focus now shifts to roster retention. Michigan is expected to lose Lendeborg to the NBA Draft, while both Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara must decide whether to return to school or declare early.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Men's College Basketball Rankings: Illinois, Duke Highlight Way-Too-Early Top 25]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/mens-way-too-early-top-25-rankings-michigan-duke-illinois</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/mens-way-too-early-top-25-rankings-michigan-duke-illinois</guid>
				<category>college-basketball</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[FOX Sports' Casey Jacobsen shares his way-too-early men's college basketball rankings for next season.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 02:07:08 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The confetti has barely settled on the Michigan Wolverines' 2026 national championship — they topped UConn, 69-63, in a thrilling Men's NCAA Tournament title game Monday night — but it's never too early to look ahead. Can't help it… Both the Wolverines and the Huskies should come back strong next season, regardless of exactly how many players return or opt for the NBA Draft. They're both toward the top of my extra-early list — but not No. 1. Which players are expected to return, and who might be headed for the NBA or the transfer portal? Let's get into it. Here’s my way-too-early men's college basketball rankings for next season: VCU closed out the 2025-26 season with a bang, winning 15 of its last 16 games and notching a memorable upset win over North Carolina in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Losing Terrence Hill Jr. to the transfer portal hurts, but there are plenty of veterans returning to Phil Martelli Jr.'s team, which should make this group among the favorites in the A-10. What's next for Texas Tech's dynamic duo of Christian Anderson and JT Toppin? Both received All-American honors this past season, marking the first time the Red Raiders have had a pair of All-Americans in the same season. Both have massive decisions surrounding the upcoming NBA Draft. What they ultimately decide to do will dictate where Grant McCasland's team ranks as we get closer to next season. Sean Miller's team was one of the surprise stories of this year's NCAA Tournament. As a No. 11 seed, Texas upset BYU and Gonzaga before falling to Purdue in the Sweet 16. The Longhorns will welcome the No. 12-ranked recruiting class in the nation. Florida has four players that could depart early for the 2026 NBA Draft, which is what makes this such a difficult exercise. Thomas Haugh is a projected first-round pick and is expected to leave for the pros, but will Alex Condon, Boogie Fland and Rueben Chinyelu follow? There aren't many teams that will have to replace more talent next year than Purdue. Gone are Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kauffman-Renn, who contributed more than 52% of the team's scoring this past season. C.J. Cox and Omer Mayer will be looked at to take a big step forward for Matt Painter's team. Freshman phenom AJ Dybantsa will likely be a top-3 pick in this spring's NBA Draft, while both Richie Saunders and Keba Keita were honored at this year's senior night. It will be interesting to see if Robert Wright returns to BYU next season, and if so, how he will gel with an incoming freshman class that ranks No. 16 in the country. John Blackwell sent shock waves through the college basketball world Monday morning when he announced his intention to enter the transfer portal while going through the NBA Draft process. Nolan Winter will have a chance to be a star for Greg Gard's program next season. Vanderbilt's roster was built around a group of seniors, outside of standout guard Tyler Tanner. Will he forgo the NBA Draft and return to school for his junior season? If so, Mark Byington will have one of the top guards in the country leading the show next time around. Fresh off the most successful year in program history, can Fred Hoiberg build on the success his team had this past season? Pryce Sandfort, who earned All-Big Ten honors, is expected to return next season for Nebraska and should be one of the top players in the conference. Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp are set to graduate, while Chris Cenac and Kingston Flemings are both expected to be first-round NBA Draft picks. That means a bigger role for forward Joseph Tugler. Houston coach Kelvin Sampson will also bring in the top-ranked center prospect in the nation in 7-foot-1 big man Arafan Diane. The Tar Heels will usher in a new era in Chapel Hill with former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone being named the school’s next head coach. Malone hasn’t coached in college since he was an assistant at Manhattan back in 2001. He will be tasked with keeping the team’s 2026 recruiting class intact, which includes a pair of blue-chip prospects in point guard Dylan Mingo and small forward Maximo Adams. With freshman phenom Darryn Peterson likely off to the NBA and forward Flory Bidinga announcing he will test the NBA waters or potentially transfer elsewhere, this will be a new-look team for Bill Self. Don't be surprised to see the Jayhawks make a big splash or two in the portal this offseason. The Cavaliers are one of the few teams in college basketball that can say this: They are set to return their leading scorer and rebounder next season. Thijs De Ridder, a 6-foot-9 forward from Belgium, enjoyed a breakout freshman campaign and should be one of the top interior players in the sport next season. Rick Barnes’ team enjoyed a memorable run to the Elite Eight this season, but it will be tasked with replacing standout guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie and likely Nate Ament, who is projected to be a first-round pick. Look for veteran forward J.P. Estrella to take a big step next season. Rick Pitino made it clear that it will be near impossible to replace a player like Zuby Ejiofor, who defined everything this program is about. The Red Strom will also have to replace Bryce Hopkins and Dillon Mitchell in the front court, but look for Pitino to go to the portal and fill those voids this offseason. Ian Jackson will need to take another step next season if this group is going to compete for a Final Four next year. Losing Darius Acuff Jr.and Meleek Thomas is a bummer, but Arkansas fans don’t need to worry. D.J. Wagner, Karter Knox, and Billy Richmond III return, and coach John Calipari has added the No. 2-ranked player in the nation in guard Jordan Smith Jr. In T.J. Otzelberger we trust! Iowa State lost hometown leaders Tamin Lipsey and Joshua Jefferson, but the return of Milan Momcilovic and Killyan Toure is a great place to start. The Cyclones also are bringing in a top-20 recruiting class with four freshmen. The Zags move to the new Pac-12, and they bring big man Braden Huff back for a senior season. The backcourt combo of Braeden Smith and Mario Saint-Supéry need to take a big step forward. It might be disrespectful to have UConn this low on any ranking, but the Huskies will be losing Alex Karaban — aka "Captain America" — Tarris Reed Jr. and Braylon Mullins. If Solo Ball and Silas Demary Jr. stick around, UConn's backcourt should be solid, and center Eric Reibe is ready for his close-up. Alabama coach Nate Oats got a contract extension over the weekend. Even though he’ll lose Lebaron Philon Jr., I expect Amari Allen to return and be poised for a great season. Aden Holloway, Aiden Sherrell and a top-10 recruiting class have me excited about the Crimson Tide. A core group of returnees led by Ivan Kharchenkov and Mo Krivas is enough to justify a top-5 ranking here for Arizona. Dwayne Aristode is expected to break out and five-star shooting guard prospect Caleb Holt is legit. A couple of transfers are needed, but I trust coach Tommy Lloyd to have another stellar group. Tom Izzo's top initiative this offseason will be to retain All-American point guard Jeremy Fears Jr., as well as fellow backcourt mate Jordan Scott and forward Coen Carr. The combination of those three players and a top-5 recruiting class should have Michigan State in position to compete for a Big Ten title next season. Assuming that either Aday Mara or Morez Johnson Jr. return, I think Michigan is a top-3 team. If both head to the NBA, then incoming five-star Brandon McCoy must deliver immediately. The backcourt of Elliot Cadeau, L.J. Cason, and Trey McKinney will be excellent. Duke coach Jon Scheyer is bringing in another top recruiting class, highlighted by Cameron Williams and Bryson Howard, to go along with returnees Cayden Boozer, Caleb Foster and Dame Sarr. Yes, Illinois will lose Keaton Wagler, but if David Mirkovic, Andrej Stojakovic and Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic return, this is going to be one of the best and most experienced teams in the land.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026-27 Men's National Title Odds: Duke Favored; Michigan Second on Board]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/2026-27-mens-march-madness-national-championship-odds</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/2026-27-mens-march-madness-national-championship-odds</guid>
				<category>college-basketball</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Even though it's a year out, the 2026-27 NCAA Tournament is now in our sights. See the odds for next year's champion.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 23:20:55 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[This college basketball season is kaput, with the Wolverines scratching their way to a national title. Now, next season is right in front of us. Let's check out the odds for next season's national championship winner at DraftKings Sportsbook as of April 6. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Men's NCAA Tournament champion 2026-27 Duke: +800 (bet $10 to win $90 total)Michigan: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)Florida: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)Arizona: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total)Michigan State: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)Kansas: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)Illinois: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)Houston: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)Arkansas: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)UConn: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)Texas Tech: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)Alabama: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)North Carolina: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)Purdue: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total) Here's what to know about this oddsboard: The Favorites: Duke has suffered heartbreak each of the past two seasons, losing in the Final Four two years ago and falling to UConn in dramatic fashion this past season. Still, the Blue Devils are favored to win it all next season. We know they will lose Cameron Boozer to the NBA, but who might return? Caleb Foster? Dame Sarr? Isaiah Evans? Oh, don't forget, Duke has the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, featuring top-five recruit Cameron Williams. Second on the board is this year's champion Michigan. It will presumably lose Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson and Aday Mara in the NBA Draft, but will return a few key pieces from this year's title team, as well as bring in a top-10 recruiting class. The Contenders: Also near the top of the board is Florida, which won the national championship a season ago. The Gators figure to lose big man Thomas Haugh to the NBA, but who else? It looks like a returning roster stacked with talent and experience. Then there is Arizona, which landed top-five recruit Caleb Holt, and could possibly return reigning Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley.]]>
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					<![CDATA[NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship Game: Top Storylines]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/ncaa-mens-basketball-national-championship-game-top-storylines</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/ncaa-mens-basketball-national-championship-game-top-storylines</guid>
				<category>college-basketball</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Who will cut down the nets in Indy? Here are the top storylines to know ahead of Monday night's national championship game.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:16:21 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[A spot in the college basketball history books is on the line Monday night in Indianapolis as Dan Hurley and the UConn Huskies will face the No. 1-seeded Michigan Wolverines in the NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship. The Wolverines – chasing their first national title since 1989 – have been a dominant force throughout the Big Dance, winning five games by an average of 22 points per game. They are led by senior standout Yaxel Lendeborg, who sprained his left MCL and left ankle in the first half against Arizona on Saturday night, but is expected to play.UConn is looking to capture its third national championship in four years under Hurley. The Huskies are led by the senior duo of Tarris Reed Jr. and Alex Karaban, but are also dealing with an injury of their own to Solo Ball. The junior guard was in a walking boot after the team's Final Four win over Illinois, but he appears good to go for Monday night's championship game. Here are the top storylines ahead of Monday night's title game: UConn Huskies 1. UConn's Alex Kabaran going for third title with Huskies Alex Karaban has been with the Huskies since he stepped foot into the college basketball world. A two-time national champion, Karaban has never once thought about leaving UConn. "I’ve never considered the portal," Karaban said. "You win and start on two national championship teams here, freshman and sophomore year, it’s going to be tough going into the office and being like, ‘Coach I want to leave.’" What Karaban has now is a chance to go for a third title to close out his time with the Huskies. Karaban has been a star for UConn for four straight seasons, something unheard of in today's transfer portal world. 2. Mullins' Michigan alliance shifting ahead of title game UConn freshman Braylon Mullins hit the shot heard around the world, a 30-foot 3-pointer to help the Huskies advance to the Final Four with a win over Duke. Now, the Mullins family, who were loyal to the Michigan Wolverines, have shifted their alliance to the Huskies ahead of the game. Mullins was born and raised in Greenfield, Indiana, and grew up in a Michigan athletics household. Now, the chance to go up against his childhood team has extra meaning for the true freshman. "In my household, growing up, it was Michigan football, Michigan basketball," Mullins said Sunday. "That's what my family and friends were watching. So having people around me who are probably going to be rooting for Michigan means a little more in this game, just to be fun. But at the end of the day, it's just another game." 3. Huskies going for third title in four seasons UConn's dominance as a basketball program has led to this moment, competing for a third national championship in four seasons. The previous two titles came consecutively, in 2023 when they defeated San Diego State, and in 2024, beating Purdue. Hurley has accumulated an 18-1 record in the NCAA Tournament and is 199-74 in eight seasons. If the Huskies clinch their third title in four years, it'll make them the first program to do so since the dominant UCLA run under John Wooden. Michigan Wolverines 1. Can Michigan stay dominant with Yaxel Lendeborg's injury? Yaxel Lendeborg is a pivotal piece when it comes to the Wolverines' starting lineup. The senior forward suffered a sprained MCL and rolled ankle that sidelined him for a large portion of the team's Final Four win over Arizona. While the Wolverines still took care of the Wildcats, 91-73, to advance to their first title game since 2018, the concern now turns to Lendeborg's health against the Huskies. Lendeborg averaged 15.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game this season. 2. Dusty May competing for first-ever national championship May, who led FAU to the Final Four in 2023, is set to make his first-ever appearance in a national title game. "What makes Dusty May special as a coach is obviously his eye for talent, his ability to construct a roster, the fact that he insulates himself with an excellent coaching staff, and his ability to build team and culture," Hurley said of May. "He’s got a special eye for how to put together a great team." The Wolverines' season-long dominance has caught the eyes of many, notably when they knocked a powerful Arizona team out of title contention, leading by 30 points at one point in the game. Michigan's title win would tie the B1G single-season win record. 3. Michigan's starting lineup shows the power of the transfer portal In the midst of the transfer portal era, the Wolverines have proven that, when done right, the perfect portal class can lead to success. The Wolverines boast Lendeborg from UAB, Elliot Cadeau from North Carolina, Morez Johnson Jr. from Illinois and Aday Mara from UCLA. Collectively, this lineup has produced five consecutive 90-point games leading up to the title game, the most since by any team in a single tournament. Michigan's strength is its interior size, as the trio of Lendeborg, Johnson and Mara have combined to average 13.5 points and seven rebounds per game this season. The Associated Press contributed to this report]]>
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					<![CDATA[2025-26 March Madness Odds: Will Underdog UConn Upset Michigan?]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/uconn-vs-michigan-championship-best-bet</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/uconn-vs-michigan-championship-best-bet</guid>
				<category>college-basketball</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Is UConn poised to pull a huge upset over Michigan in the championship game? Here's how Will Hill is wagering Monday's title tilt.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:01:14 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The trophy will be in the building on Monday night in Indianapolis, and the storylines are great for this one, with the UConn Huskies looking for their third national title in four years. Still, they're coming into this game as the underdogs, despite all of their recent success as a program. That's because they will take on a Michigan juggernaut that has obliterated everyone in its path. After demolishing Arizona on Saturday night — where even the 18-point final margin of victory doesn’t do justice to how lopsided that game was — it’s hard to bet against the Wolverines. But on the other hand, the Huskies have now covered an incomprehensible 18 out of their last 19 Tournament games and also won 18 of their last 19 Tournament matchups, while improving to 13-1 all-time in the Final Four as a program. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Both sides have some injury concerns ahead of this one. UConn guard Solo Ball is dealing with a foot sprain that had him miss practice Sunday. Ball is going to play, and it should be noted that he finished Saturday’s game despite the injury and threw down an emphatic dunk late to help seal the victory. Michigan star forward Yaxel Lendeborg will also play but limped off the court after an ankle injury in the win over Arizona. He maintained a noticeable limp, despite returning later in the game. It’s scary to bet against the Wolverines right now, and their path to the title game reminds me of Indiana’s dominant run to the CFP championship, that culminated with a blowout of Oregon before eventually winning it all. But as scary as it is to bet against Michigan, the alternative is going against a coach that is 18-1 in his last 19 Tournament games. This is what makes this game so fun. Ultimately, I like UConn getting the 7 points. From a matchup standpoint, the Huskies are one of the best teams in the country at limiting transition opportunities, which is a must for slowing down this high-flying Michigan team. The Huskies play at a slow pace and can implement a similar approach to how they beat Illinois, shooting a high volume of 3s. They were 12 of 33 from beyond the arc against Illinois and will need a similar number of attempts — and probably a couple more makes — if they’re going to pull off the upset. UConn held Illinois to a season low of 61 points when the squads met in November. Then, on Saturday, the Huskies limited Illinois to just 62 points, a reflection of how prepared the UConn coaching staff is. Michigan is the rightful favorite here, but UConn has the coach and the style to keep this game close. This would be the biggest upset in the title game since Duke lost in 1999 to — you guessed it — UConn. In that game, the Blue Devils were 9.5-point favorites. In what hopes to be a classic championship game, I’m taking the points with Dan Hurley and the Huskies, although I think they will fall short of pulling off an outright upset. PICK: UConn (+7) to lose by fewer than 7 points or win outright]]>
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					<![CDATA[In a Surprising Move, UNC Will Reportedly Hire Michael Malone as Next Head Coach]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/unc-will-reportedly-hire-michael-malone-next-head-coach</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/unc-will-reportedly-hire-michael-malone-next-head-coach</guid>
				<category>college-basketball</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[UNC is turning to the NBA to find its successor to Hubert Davis.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:15:30 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[North Carolina is hiring a coach with an NBA background to be its next men's basketball head coach. However, it isn't the NBA coach that many had speculated could become the next head man of the Tar Heels. Former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone is expected to be hired as UNC's next head coach, ESPN reported Monday. Malone, who helped coach the Nuggets to an NBA title in 2023, has never been a head coach at the college level, and hasn't coached in the college game since 2001. Malone's reported hire is a bit of a surprise. He wasn't even speculated by most insiders as a potential candidate for the job, and there hadn't been any credible reports indicating that UNC was interested in hiring him. Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan had been rumored as the top candidate for the job after Michigan's Dusty May and Arizona's Tommy Lloyd reportedly withdrew their names from consideration. Malone does have a connection to UNC's athletic department, though. His daughter, Bridget, plays for the university's women's volleyball team. The reported hiring of Malone came nearly two weeks after UNC opted to fire head coach Hubert Davis after five seasons. Davis, who also played college basketball at UNC, went 125-54 over his tenure with the program, helping the Tar Heels play in the national championship game in his first season at the helm. But UNC opted to fire Davis after it blew a large lead to VCU in its upset loss in the first round of this year's NCAA Tournament. It marked the second straight year that UNC failed to advance past the first round. Malone, 54, was widely regarded as one of the top head coaches in the NBA over his 10-year stint with the Nuggets. He's gone 510-394 in his NBA head coaching career, helping Denver become a playoff mainstay by the end of his tenure before he was abruptly fired just days before the start of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Malone was also previously the head coach of the Sacramento Kings, but was fired not long into his second season with the team in 2014. Prior to becoming an NBA assistant head coach in 2001, Malone was an assistant coach at Oakland, Providence and Manhattan.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2025-26 Men's National Title Odds: Michigan Favored Over UConn]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/2025-26-mens-march-madness-odds</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/2025-26-mens-march-madness-odds</guid>
				<category>college-basketball</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[It's down to Michigan and UConn. See the odds for Monday's national title game.]]>
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				<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 11:00:26 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[And just like that, it's time for the title game. Here’s a look at the odds for the men's NCAA Tournament winner at DraftKings Sportsbook as of April 6. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. No. 2 UConn vs. No. 1 Michigan Spread: Michigan -6.5Moneyline: Michigan -285, UConn +230O/U: 145.5 Michigan is the only thing that stands in the way of UConn making history. The last time a team won three titles in four years was UCLA way back in the John Wooden days. The Huskies have won two of the last three, and will look to make it three out of four come Monday night. It hasn't been an easy road for UConn, so it will surely be battle-tested heading into the title game. It beat Duke in dramatic fashion in the Elite Eight, after trailing by as many as 19 points. That was after beating Michigan State by just four in the Sweet 16. Then, in the Final Four, the Huskies led by just four with under a minute left in the game, before hanging on to take down Illinois. Now, they get the Wolverines. Michigan has had no such difficulties so far in the Tournament. It beat Alabama by 13 in the Sweet 16, Tennessee by 33 in the Elite Eight and Arizona by 18 in the Final Four. The last time the Wolverines won the national championship was way back in 1989. Lastly, both Michigan and UConn have covered four consecutive Tournament games after failing to cover in the Round of 64.]]>
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					<![CDATA[4 Takeaways From West Virginia's Comeback Win in College Basketball Crown Title Game]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/west-virginia-oklahoma-college-basketball-crown-championship-analysis</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/west-virginia-oklahoma-college-basketball-crown-championship-analysis</guid>
				<category>college-basketball</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Breaking down West Virginia's Crown victory against Oklahoma, from Honor Huff's heroics to heartbreak for Nijel Pack.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 22:10:24 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[T-MOBILE ARENA (LAS VEGAS) — After nearly two and a half hours of seesawing leads and pendulum-esque momentum swings, after an overtime session in which one team scored six consecutive points and the other — the eventual winner — reeled off the final 13 to capture the second annual College Basketball Crown, a celebration befitting this city awaited anyone and everyone associated with West Virginia. Out came the championship hats and necklaces. Out came the cell phone cameras and social media apps for live broadcasting directly from center court. Out came the finger-rubbing money gestures from seemingly every player on the Mountaineers’ roster. And through it all, moments before the blue and yellow confetti rained down on the would-be recipients of $300,000 in NIL prize money, the lyrics to "We Fly High" by rapper Jim Jones blared through the sound system. We stay fly, no lie, and you know this… ballin'! Hips and thighs, oh my, stay focused! To the victors went the spoils and the crown: West Virginia 89, Oklahoma 82. "Like this group can do and has shown an ability to do all year long," head coach Ross Hodge said in the post-game news conference, "when it looked like we were just about done for, you know, their competitive spirit and their competitiveness and love for each other kicks in." Here are my takeaways from the championship game of the College Basketball Crown: 1. West Virginia point guard Honor Huff steals the show When the actual crown that doubles as the trophy for this event was brought to center court amid the championship celebration, the Mountaineers attempted to place it on Honor Huff’s head. Huff, a diminutive point guard generously listed at 5-foot-10, had poured in a game-high 38 points while splashing eight 3-pointers and making all 12 of his free-throw attempts. He was, simultaneously, the smallest and best player on the floor. "Some of the shots they hit, you’ve just got to tip your hat to Honor Huff," Oklahoma head coach Porter Moser said during the post-game news conference in response to my question about West Virginia’s perimeter shooting. "I mean, he made some incredible shots. We talked about, ‘What could we do?’ Our ball-screen defense needed to be better. And you can’t take a swimmer’s breath on him. He’ll get separation. He doesn’t need much separation. He’s hitting step-backs, he’s flying off screens. I mean, [he scored] 38." It was more than enough for Huff to be named the Most Valuable Player, an award that came with a shimmering necklace containing two gold dice. He was dubbed King of the Crown and flashed his newly won chain for all to see in the post-game photos. The only reason his teammates didn’t succeed in placing the crown on his head was because Huff already donned a championship hat. Minutes earlier, one Mountaineer fan had screamed "West Virginia, baby!" as Huff stepped to the free-throw line with 55.2 seconds remaining in overtime. When he arrived at the stripe again 18 seconds later — by which time the Sooners were intentionally fouling — another West Virginia supporter shouted, "Oklahoma is choking!" Still, Huff’s facial expression never changed. Even as he dribbled out most of the clock in the waning seconds, he wouldn’t allow himself to smile. But when Huff walked toward the West Virginia bench and was engulfed by coaches and teammates alike, an ear-to-ear grin stretched across his face. He’d willed his team to a win, a championship and a hefty payday with the third 30-point game of his collegiate career. "He’s a really great shooter," Mountaineers power forward Brenen Lorient said during the post-game news conference in response to my question about watching Huff’s performance. "Probably the best shooter I ever played with. I’m just happy I was here to play with him." 2. Unexpected 3-point prowess propels the Mountaineers to victory When this year’s College Basketball Crown began, there was very little about West Virginia’s analytic profile that suggested the Mountaineers would become 3-point marksmen here in Las Vegas. The Mountaineers entered the championship game ranked 251st nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (32.5%) and only relied on perimeter jumpers for 32.9% of their total points, which ranked 137th overall, according to KenPom. They were, by a fairly wide margin, the worst 3-point shooting team during Big 12 conference play, trailing 15th-place TCU by nearly two full percentage points. And yet, following a decidedly poor shooting effort in an opening-round win over Stanford (2-for-20 from beyond the arc), the Mountaineers ignited over the final two games of the tournament. Hodge’s team buried 12 of its 30 attempts (40%) to pull away from Creighton, 87-70, in the semifinals on Saturday afternoon. A day later, West Virginia scorched from the opening tip by making seven of its first nine attempts by the 11:47 mark to build a double-digit lead before Oklahoma seemed to realize the game had begun. [CBB CROWN RECAP: How WVU Outlasted Oklahoma in OT] The barrage started with Huff, a 34.6% shooter, who made five consecutive 3s in an instant, matching the point total for the entire Sooners’ team with nine minutes remaining in the half. When his fifth straight attempt swished through the hoop, to the slack-jawed disbelief of everyone along the Oklahoma bench, Huff bounced on his toes with glee while the Mountaineer faithful roared. "Honor led the country in 3s last year," Hodge said during the post-game news conference in response to my question about the Mountaineers’ perimeter shooting. "He didn’t make one in the first game, so law of averages tells you he’s going to make a couple." A couple, as Hodge phrased it, wound up being eight in the championship game alone — all of them necessary. The rest of Huff’s teammates combined to make seven triples on an afternoon when West Virginia outscored its opponent by 21 points from beyond the arc. By the time this tournament ended, the Mountaineers had drilled 27 3-pointers over their final two outings combined. It’s a number they only reached once in any other two-game stretch this season. 3. Elite Oklahoma offense can only carry the team so far In addition to having the strongest overall résumé of any team in this year’s College Basketball Crown, one of the reasons why Oklahoma was such a popular pick to win the event centered around the Sooners’ prolific offense. Moser’s team entered the tournament with an offense that ranked among the top 20 nationally in efficiency, according to KenPom, and the group entered Sunday’s title game at No. 20 exactly. That’s a better ranking than the offenses for teams like Iowa State, Michigan State, Tennessee and UConn, all of whom made deep runs in the NCAA Tournament. Such potency at the end of the floor was on full display in Sunday’s title game against West Virginia. The Sooners were blitzed from the 3-point line early, falling behind by double digits at the midway mark of the first half. But then the free-flowing group that performed so well all season flashed its might. Oklahoma unleashed a breathtaking 24-4 run in the span of eight minutes to stun the Mountaineers and upend the original script. When extended to the early portion of the second half, the Sooners enjoyed a run of 15 made field goals in 18 attempts to build a 10-point lead of their own. "Just an incredible basketball game," Hodge said in the post-game news conference. "A lot of ebbs and flows." Slowly but surely, though, an Oklahoma defense that now ranks 99th nationally in efficiency began to splinter. In addition to the Sooners’ struggles defending Huff, who was remarkable, they allowed the Mountaineers to shoot 52% from the floor in the second half. At one point, West Virginia made seven of eight field goals to begin digging out of a double-digit deficit. There were only two instances in the entire second half and overtime when Moser’s team forced more than two consecutive missed shots. 4. Long and winding career for Sooners guard Nijel Pack ends in defeat It’s amazing to think about much has changed since Oklahoma point guard Nijel Pack, a well-traveled redshirt senior, made his original collegiate commitment to Kansas State on June 12, 2019, as a four-star prospect and the No. 126 overall player in the country. Back then, the COVID-19 pandemic was still six months from arriving en masse in the United States. Bruce Weber, who resigned from Kansas State following the 2022 season, was still the head coach of the Wildcats and the man who recruited Pack. His tenure has since given way to Jerome Tang, interim coach Matthew Driscoll and, presently, Casey Alexander, formerly of Belmont. The Big Ten had yet to annex Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA. The SEC hadn’t snared Oklahoma and Texas from the SEC. Heck, NIL didn’t even exist. Between then and now, Pack spent two seasons at Kansas State (first-team All-Big 12 in 2022) and three seasons with the Miami Hurricanes (including a Final Four in 2023) before ultimately landing at Oklahoma, where he averaged 16.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists this season. The championship game for the College Basketball Crown marked his 159th collegiate game and his 158th start. Only a select group of players, all of whom benefited from an extra year due to the pandemic, have ever logged more appearances. "And every one of those games, he gave his all," Moser said during the post-game news conference in response to my question about Pack’s career. "He gave every practice his all. I mean, he practices and he prepares unbelievably. He’s an extraordinary teammate, extraordinary teammate. He’s crushed right now. He just played his last game. But man, extraordinary teammate [and an] unbelievable career." Though his team ultimately fell short, Pack did all he could to keep the Sooners afloat down the stretch. He scored a team-high 24 points on 50% shooting and dished out a game-high seven assists. It was his 3-pointer with 1:28 remaining in regulation that, for a moment, seemed like a potential capstone for an incredible career. But overtime soon arrived, and Oklahoma quickly wilted. 4½. What’s next? Three teams that participated in last year’s College Basketball Crown used that experience as a launching point to qualify for the NCAA Tournament in 2026: Villanova, UCF and Nebraska, which enjoyed the best season in program history and reached the Sweet 16. Based on the way Oklahoma and West Virginia performed over the last few days in Las Vegas, handling opponents with relative ease in the semifinals, it’s certainly possible for both teams to make similar leaps next season. The Sooners, who have publicly committed to giving Moser more NIL resources, will need to invest heavily in the transfer portal to replenish a roster that includes six seniors. Moser’s high school recruiting class for 2026 only includes one player in four-star power forward Gage Mayfield (No. 72 overall, No. 12 PF). West Virginia also is losing the core of its roster, which featured seven players listed as seniors or older at the College Basketball Crown. But Hodge has put together the nation’s 23rd-ranked recruiting class thus far, led by five-star point guard Miles Sadler (No. 23 overall, No. 3 PG) and two additional prospects rated among the top 200 nationally. That’s a strong nucleus to build around. The transfer portal opens on April 7.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Michigan-UConn Betting Report: 'Public is Gonna Ride This Michigan Team']]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/michigan-uconn-betting-report-public-gonna-ride-michigan-team</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/michigan-uconn-betting-report-public-gonna-ride-michigan-team</guid>
				<category>college-basketball</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[After that performance against Arizona? It's no wonder the public is on Michigan to win the title. Patrick Everson has the report.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 19:24:23 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[It’s been said that the public betting masses remember what they saw last, and respond accordingly. In March Madness odds, that last visual was Michigan flattening Arizona in the Final Four on Saturday. As of Sunday evening, that’s reflected in action on NCAA Tournament Championship Game odds for Monday’s UConn vs. Michigan final. "We’ve taken quite a lot of Michigan money early, and rightfully so," Caesars Sports head of college basketball trading Rich Zanco said. With 24 hours or so until tipoff, oddsmakers help break down Monday’s title game and recap the Final Four. Plus, one bettor is looking a million-dollar win square in the face. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Huskies a Big Dog In a matchup of No. 1 seeds, Michigan led Arizona by 30 points in the second half on Saturday, before letting off the gas in a 91-73 rout. The Wolverines improved to 36-3 straight up (SU) and 19-20 against the spread (ATS). No. 2 seed UConn (34-5 SU/17-22 ATS) was certainly impressive in its 71-62 win over No. 3 seed Illinois, in Saturday’s first semifinal. But oddsmakers were much more impressed with Michigan. Caesars Sports opened the Wolverines as 7-point favorites for Monday’s 8:50 p.m. ET tipoff. And though the spread hasn’t moved yet, it’s clear where the masses are heading. "I think the public is gonna continue to ride this Michigan team," Zanco said. "We’ve taken some moneyline bets on the underdog, which makes sense, because you’re getting close to 3/1. But most of the action is on Michigan. We’re gonna end up needing UConn." That’s not necessarily a bad place to be. The Huskies — who won the title in 2023 and 2024 — are a March Madness bettor’s best friend, currently on runs of 11-0 ATS in the Sweet 16 or later, and 15-0 ATS in the Round of 32 or later. Futures Forecast The March Madness championship futures market is in play Monday night, as well. Customers have been betting into those odds for 12 months, ever since Florida beat Houston in the 2025 title game. So it’s not just action on the game itself that determines a sportsbook’s need. Futures liability could reinforce that need, lessen that need or perhaps create an opposite need. BetMGM is in a unique spot. UConn is BetMGM’s only futures liability. Therefore, Michigan at least winning Monday’s final — even if the Wolverines don’t cover the spread — is a desired outcome. However, as noted above, Michigan is expected to be well-bet right up until tipoff. Which could make a UConn upset easier to absorb. "With the way Michigan played against Arizona, along with BetMGM’s presence in Michigan, I would guess we’ll end up with a lot of Michigan money. So that will help offset the UConn futures liability," BetMGM trading manager Christian Cipollini. Caesars has no such concerns or needs. For Zanco’s risk room, it’s just a matter of winning — or winning more. "We do well to the futures market with both teams. We win more to Michigan, but we still do extremely well to UConn, too," Zanco said. One Million Dollars If you don’t have a dog in Monday’s fight, then perhaps it’s worth rooting for a DraftKings Sportsbook customer who’s going for a seven-figure win. Some time ago, well before the NCAA Tournament began, a high-roller dropped a $77,000 beton UConn +1300 to win it all. If UConn cuts down the nets, then that $77,000 wager will profit just over $1 million (total payout $1.078 million). BetMGM also has a notable futures ticket out there: $25,000 on UConn +900 to win the title. A Huskies victory nets that customer $225,000 (total payout $250,000). Final Four Recap At Caesars Sports, the public betting masses were riding UConn’s hot hand for Saturday’s semifinal vs. Illinois. However, that was offset by several large wagers on Illinois, along with sharp action on the Fighting Illini. "The pros and the bigger bets were on Illinois. All the four- and five-digit bets were on Illinois. So even though the public was on UConn, we did well to the game," Zanco said. Caesars also did well to Michigan’s blowout of Arizona. "A lot of late love came in on Arizona, an hour or two before tipoff — a lot of bigger bets," Zanco said. "So we ended up needing Michigan. It wasn’t a huge decision, but overall, it was a good one. It probably would’ve been better to have Arizona going for us in the futures. But we do well to Michigan, too, so no complaints there." I Like Big Bets and I Cannot Lie There were a few noteworthy major wagers on the two Final Four matchups. And the largest one nabbed a near-six-figure win: Without a doubt, there’ll be some five- and six-figure plays on Monday’s final. But those are high-rollers who can afford the downside of such decisions. Keep your expectations and your bet size reasonable. Enjoy the game!]]>
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					<![CDATA[UNC Head Coach Rumors: Who Will Be Tar Heels Next Head Coach?]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/unc-head-coach-rumors-who-will-tar-heels-next-head-coach</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/unc-head-coach-rumors-who-will-tar-heels-next-head-coach</guid>
				<category>college-basketball</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Here are the latest rumors surrounding the possible candidates for the UNC job.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 18:20:51 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Who will be the next head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels' men's basketball team? Nearly two weeks after the program fired Hubert Davis, there seems to be a lot of unknowns about who'll be the next head coach of one of college basketball's blue bloods. Let's take a closer look at some of the rumored candidates to replace Davis, and who might remain in the running to become the next head coach of North Carolina. Billy Donovan, Chicago Bulls head coach Donovan, who hasn't coached the college game in over a decade, might be the favorite to become UNC's next head coach. In fact, Donovan is one of the Tar Heels' primary targets, CBS Sports reported. If UNC wants to hire Donovan, though, it might have to wait a little longer than it might like to. The Bulls' regular season doesn't end until April 12, which is several days after the transfer portal opens on April 7. But there have been hot-seat rumors about Donovan's future in Chicago as the Bulls are set to miss the playoffs for a fourth-straight season. Donovan, 60, was one of the top coaches in college basketball before he left for the NBA in 2015. He helped Florida win back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007, posting a 467-186 record in 19 seasons in Gainesville. Dusty May, Michigan head coach May was the latest head coach to pull out of the running to become North Carolina's next head coach. May has informed Michigan officials that he won't pursue other college basketball jobs this offseason, ESPN reported Sunday. May, 49, has quickly become one of the top coaches in the sport over the last five years or so. He led Florida Atlantic to the Final Four in 2023 and has quickly turned Michigan around. The Wolverines are on the precipice of winning a national championship as they prepare to face UConn in the national championship game on Monday night in May's second year at the helm. Prior to Sunday, May had been among the top names speculated as a potential candidate to replace Hubert Davis. Nate Oats, Alabama head coach Oats was another speculated candidate for the North Carolina job. However, he is no longer in the running. Oats has signed a new contract that will make him one of the five-highest-paid coaches in the sport, ESPN reported Sunday. In his seven seasons at Alabama, Oats has helped the Crimson Tide become one of the more consistent programs in college basketball this decade. Alabama has reached the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament in five of the last six seasons, including a Final Four appearance in 2024. Tommy Lloyd, Arizona head coach Lloyd said he turned down a larger offer from North Carolina before signing an extension with Arizona on April 3. Prior to the extension, Lloyd was UNC's top choice for the job, CBS Sports reported. Lloyd, 51, has quickly helped Arizona become one of the top teams in college basketball again. The former Gonzaga assistant has a 148-36 record in five seasons, making the NCAA Tournament in all five seasons he's been with the Wildcats. Arizona went 36-3 in 2025-26, reaching its first Final Four since Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Stevens quickly removed his name from consideration to be North Carolina's next head coach, CBS Sports reported on March 25. Stevens was widely regarded as one of the top coaches in college basketball after he led Butler to two straight national championship games in 2010 and 2011. However, he's remained out of the college game since he became the Celtics' head coach in 2013. He became the team's president of basketball operations in 2021.]]>
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					<![CDATA[College Basketball 2025-2026 Buzz: Nate Oats Inks Massive Deal With Alabama]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/college-basketball-2025-2026-buzz</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/college-basketball-2025-2026-buzz</guid>
				<category>college-basketball</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[We're tracking notable injuries, news and happenings across men's and women's college basketball during the 2025-2026 season.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 17:15:12 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[A big-time performance — or a key injury — can be the difference for teams in March Madness, which is already upon us. We're keeping track of notable injuries, news and happenings across men's and women's college basketball as the 2026 NCAA Tournament ensues. April 5 Alabama, Nate Oats agree to new contract Oats has agreed to a new deal with Alabama that will make him one of the top five highest-compensated men’s basketball coaches in the country, according to multiple reports. April 3 Tommy Lloyd signs new deal with Arizona Wildcats Lloyd has signed a new contract with the Wildcats that makes him one of the five highest-paid coaches in the sport, per ESPN. The new deal will pay Lloyd $7.5 million in average annual value over five years. Lloyd had been considered among the candidates to become the new head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels. Arizona is in this year's Final Four, as it's set to take on the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday night. This season, the Wildcats are 36-2 overall and a combined 148-35 under Lloyd since he took over for the 2021-22 season. Alabama's Holloway plans to enroll in classes, rejoin team this fall Alabama guard Aden Holloway, who was arrested on felony drug charges on March 16, announced he plans to enroll at the university, with hopes to rejoin the team this fall, per ESPN. Holloway's arrest happened just days before the Crimson Tide tipped off March Madness competition, where they reached the Sweet 16 before their loss to Michigan. Holloway was a star for Alabama this season, where he averaged 16.8 points, 3.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds. Jason Neff, Holloway's attorney, emphasized that "Although it's not Aden's call to make, given the opportunity, his intent is to play basketball next year," Neff told ESPN. April 1 Bill Self provides clarity on his future Kansas head basketball coach Bill Self announced he will return to the Jayhawks for his 24th season, per a post on the team's social media account. After Kansas' season ended in a Round of 32 loss to St. John's on March 22, Self, 63, said he was going to discuss his future with his family. He missed a game against Colorado this season and the Big 12 Tournament last season for health reasons. Those issues were a part of his thinking process, but he decided to return "with renewed clarity and the ongoing support from our administration," Self said. Elliot Cadeau treated for allergic reaction ahead of Final Four Michigan point guard Elliot Cadeau is receiving medical attention for a possible allergic reaction before traveling to Indianapolis for the Final Four, the team said Wednesday. Detroit radio station WWJ 950 posted a video on X on Wednesday showing a covered individual being wheeled out of Michigan’s player development center on a gurney and loaded into a Huron Valley ambulance. Michigan later confirmed it was Cadeau, who complained of a possible allergic reaction. "Before the team departed the Player Development Center today, Elliot alerted the medical staff that he may have had an allergic reaction to something that he ate," the team said in a statement. "The doctors evaluated Elliot and he is fine. Out of an abundance of caution, he is receiving medical supervision and will be traveling to Indianapolis later today." Cadeau will meet the team in Indianapolis, where Michigan is set to take on Arizona on Saturday in a Final Four clash between No. 1 seeds. Andrzejek steps down as Campbell coach John Andrzejek stepped down as Campbell's men's basketball coach on Wednesday, citing the school's shifted priorities in a post on social media. "Over the last 6 months, it has become clear that Campbell has made the decision to shift their commitment from basketball,' Andrzejek wrote. 'Simply put — the institution now has different priorities, and they are not compatible with putting the kind of team on the floor that you deserve. As difficult as this is, I respect the decision and understand it as one that the University feels it must make in what are unprecedented times in higher education." Andrzejek joined Campbell in 2025 after a two-year stint as an assistant at Florida, where he helped lead the Gators to a national title. In his sole season in Buies Creek, he led Campbell team to a 16-18 overall record and an 8-10 record in Colonial Athletic Association play. Campbell was eliminated in the semifinals of the CAA Tournament with a 74-64 loss to Monmouth. The coach said he explored several options with Campbell's athletic department in hopes to move forward with the team, but it became clear that the school cannot support the program. "Despite months of intense work and collaboration with AD Hannah Bazemore and our terrific athletics administration, and several creative options that were proposed and thoroughly explored, there are no pathways that the institution will support to fund the program appropriately moving forward," he wrote. Andrzejek will join Louisville as associate head coach, serving under coach Pat Kelsey, Campbell said in a statement. Mar. 31 NC State hires former player Justin Gainey as head coach Will Wade left NC State after one season, leaving the head coaching position open. After a five-day search, the Wolfpack hired Tennessee associate head coach — Justin Gainey. Gainey helped lead Tennessee to the NCAA Tournament, where they lost against Michigan in the Elite Eight. Though this is his first coaching stint with the Wolfpack, he previously played with NC State for four seasons as a point guard from 1996 until 2000. He averaged 6.9 points, starting 103 of his 128 games with the Wolfpack. St. Bonaventure hires MacDonald of D-II power Daemen St. Bonaventure has hired Mike MacDonald of Division II Daemen University to succeed the retired Mark Schmidt as men's basketball coach, the school announced Tuesday. MacDonald returns to his alma mater after leading Daemen, in nearby Amherst, to a 61-3 record over the last two seasons and an appearance in the Division II Elite Eight last week. MacDonald was named Division II national coach of the year in 2025. He previously was head coach at Division I Canisius and Division III Medaille and is the only coach in college basketball history to win at least 100 games at each NCAA level. "We are extremely excited to bring Mike back to St. Bonaventure," athletic director Bob Beretta said. "As we set out to identify the next leader of our men’s basketball program, we developed a list of more than 20 characteristics that we would look for in the person who would succeed Mark Schmidt as head coach. Mike checked every box.' Schmidt, the Bonnies' all-time wins leader with 341, retired after his 19th season. St. Bonaventure finished 17-17 this season after reaching the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Tournament. Daemen went 33-2 in 2025-26, winning the school’s second regional championship over Saint Anselm to reach the Elite Eight. Thirty-one of Daemen’s 33 wins were by double digits, with 14 wins by 20-plus points and five by more than 30. The Wildcats’ only two losses were to national finalists Gannon and Lander. Mar. 30 Pitino, St. John's agree to extension St. John's says Hall of Fame basketball coach Rick Pitino has signed a new agreement that will keep him under contract with the school through the end of this decade. Pitino was hired in March 2023 and given a six-year contract through 2029. Several media outlets, citing anonymous sources, reported Sunday his restructured deal includes an additional year through the 2029-30 season and a raise that will make him the second-highest paid coach in the Big East behind Dan Hurley at UConn. "We’re thrilled that Coach Pitino has signed a new agreement to remain at St. John’s, a deal that will keep him in Queens through the end of the decade," athletic director Ed Kull said in a statement. "This extension reflects our strong confidence in his leadership, vision, and commitment to our student-athletes. "Coach Pitino has changed the culture of our community and we want his presence to be felt on this campus for years to come. We look forward to more Big East championships and NCAA Tournament runs with Coach Pitino at the helm." In three seasons with the Red Storm, the 73-year-old Pitino has led a remarkable resurgence for the New York City program, coaching the Johnnies to consecutive Big East regular-season and tournament championships. St. John's reached the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 27 years before losing 80-75 to No. 1 overall seed Duke on Friday night. Pitino earned his 900th career win on the court this season and said he'd like to reach 1,000. He is 81-25 at St. John's and coming off consecutive 30-win seasons. Utah State hires Northern Iowa's men's basketball coach Utah State has hired longtime Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson to be its men’s basketball coach, the school announced Monday. Jacobson, who agreed to a five-year deal with the Aggies, succeeds Jerrod Calhoun, who left to take over at Cincinnati. Jacobson becomes the fifth head coach in seven seasons at Utah State. He takes over an Aggies program that has reached the NCAA Tournament in four straight seasons. "I’m thankful for the opportunity to join Utah State as it enters its next chapter in the Pac-12," Jacobson said in a news release. "I’m grateful to Cameron Walker for trusting me to lead such a historic program and to continue its tradition as one of the top men’s basketball programs in the West." Jacobson spent 20 seasons at Northern Iowa and made five NCAA Tournament appearances with the Panthers — highlighted by a Sweet 16 appearance in 2010 as a No. 9 seed. He compiled a 397-259 record at Northern Iowa and had a school- record 31 wins in the 2014-15 season. Jacobson is the all-time leader in conference game victories (220) and conference tournament victories (24) in the Missouri Valley Conference. Calhoun guided the Aggies to a 55-15 record and two NCAA Tournament appearances over two seasons before leaving for Cincinnati, his alma mater. Utah State will move to the Pac-12 Conference from the Mountain West Conference, starting with the 2026-27 season. Mar. 27 Alabama's Holloway granted permission to travel out of state Alabama guard Aden Holloway, who was arrested on felony drug charges, was granted permission by a judge to leave the state on Friday as his team prepares to face Michigan in the Sweet 16 in Chicago. It was initially unclear whether the travel permission opened the door for Holloway to play in the NCAA Tournament game that is scheduled to tip off at 7:35 p.m. Eastern, but Alabama released a statement saying that, "Nothing has changed with regard to Aden's status with the team," per ESPN. The university removed him from campus last week "pending further investigation by the UA Office of Student Conduct." Holloway, Alabama’s No. 2 scorer, was arrested March 16 after authorities found 2.1 pounds of marijuana in his apartment. He was suspended indefinitely following the arrest, but coach Nate Oats has not ruled out the possibility of his return in the NCAA Tournament. Holloway's attorney, Jason Neff, had requested his client be allowed to travel "on a trip out of the state' — without specifying where — departing Friday and returning Tuesday. Tuscaloosa County District Court Judge Joanne Jannik approved that travel Friday morning, according to court documents. If Alabama were to win Friday night, it would play in the Elite Eight on Sunday. Mar. 26 Boston College hires Luke Murray Boston College men's basketball has hired Luke Murray as its next head coach. Murray had been an assistant coach at UConn since 2021. He helped the Huskies win back-to-back national titles in 2023 and 2024. LSU Tigers hire Will Wade (again) Let Act 2 begin! LSU is hiring Wade, previously the head coach of the NC State Wolfpack, for his second stint as the Tigers' head coach on a seven-year deal, according to The Field of 68. The Tigers are coming off a 15-17 overall season (3-15 in SEC play, good for last in the conference), which marked their second consecutive losing season and third in four years. LSU head coach Matt McMahon has been fired and is due over $8 million, per ESPN. LSU fired Wade in 2022 after a recruiting scandal came to light, with him later becoming the head coach of the McNeese Cowboys for the 2023-24 season. After McNeese made the NCAA Tournament in each of Wade's first two seasons, he left to become NC State's head coach for the 2025-26 season. The Wolfpack were eliminated by the Texas Longhorns in the First Round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament last week. Over Wade's five seasons as LSU's head coach (2017-18 to 2021-22), the Tigers went a combined 105-51. Mar. 25 USF hires Chris Mack The Bulls have hired former Louisville and Xavier coach Chris Mack as their next head coach. Mack had spent the last two seasons at College of Charleston before being hired at USF. He will succeed Bryan Hodgson, who took the head coach position at Providence, after one season at USF, in which he led the Bulls to an American Athletic Conference Tournament regular- and post-season title, and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Mack will be USF's fourth coach in four years. Butler hires Ronald Nored The Bulldogs have hired long-time NBA assistant coach and former Butler guard Ronald Nored as their new head coach, the school announced. "In a rapidly evolving college basketball landscape, our priority was identifying the absolute best leader to spearhead the future of Butler Basketball. Ronald Nored is that leader," Butler Vice President and Director of Athletics Grant Leiendecker said in a statement about hiring Nored. "Ron is a relentless worker with an elite basketball IQ and a proven track record of developing talent at the highest level of basketball. He is the ultimate competitor, and he will cultivate that same quality within his team and staff. He is a gifted relationship builder who commands respect through his character and his craft." Nored, who's in his third season as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks, also has assistant NBA coaching stints with the Indiana Pacers, Charlotte Hornets and Boston Celtics under his belt, among other roles; he was the head coach of the Long Island Nets, the Brooklyn Nets' G League affiliate, for the inaugural two seasons of the program (2016-17 and 2017-18). Nored played four seasons at Butler (2008-09 to 2011-12), serving as a primary starter in each of his four seasons with the program. The four-year guard was a two-time Horizon Defensive Player of the Year and earned All-Horizon honors in his senior season. Mar. 24 Syracuse announces Gerry McNamara hire Syracuse announced that it has hired Gerry McNamara as its next head coach less than two weeks after firing Adrian Autry. McNamara spent two seasons at Siena, leading the Saints to a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2026. McNamara has deep Syracuse ties, spending 12 years as an assistant with the program (2011-2023) and playing for the school from 2002-2006 — highlighted by winning a national championship with the Orange in 2003 as a freshman alongside Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony. Mar. 23 Saint Mary's to promote associate HC Mickey McConnell After the recent departure of Saint Mary's head coach Randy Bennett, the team has tabbed its next head coach. The Gaels did not have to search long after settling on associate head coach Mickey McConnell. McConnell is no stranger to the Gaels as his first stint with them was as a player. He was recruited in 2007, where he played four seasons as a sharpshooter. He averaged 10 points and four assists on nearly 50% shooting and 46% from 3-point range. His first coaching gig came in 2019 where he held a position as assistant coach at Saint Mary's. Then in 2022, he earned his first promotion to associate head coach. After four strong years in that role, he earned his most recent elevation to head coach. Arizona State set to hire St. Mary's HC Randy Bennett After 25 seasons at St. Mary's, Randy Bennett is moving on. The 63-year-old head coach has agreed to a deal to become Arizona State's next head coach, CBS Sports reported Monday. Bennett had helped turn St. Mary's into one of the top non-power conference programs in college basketball during his tenure. The Gaels made the tournament 12 times during his tenure, including each of the last five seasons. Bennett went 589-228 during his time at St. Mary's. At Arizona State, Bennett will take over for Bobby Hurley, who was fired earlier in March. Hurley failed to lead Arizona State to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last three seasons, and went 185-167 during his 11-year tenure. Cincinnati to hire Utah State HC Jerrod Calhoun Utah State's Jerrod Calhoun is going home. The Cincinnati alum will become the school's next men's basketball head coach, CBS Sports reported Monday. Calhoun, 44, has quickly risen up the coaching ranks in recent years. He became Utah State's head coach in 2024 following successful stints at Division II's Fairmont State and at Youngstown State. Utah State went 55-15 during Calhoun's tenure as head coach, making the NCAA Tournament in both seasons. Calhoun will replace Wes Miller, who failed to make the NCAA Tournament in his five seasons at Cincinnati. Creighton's McDermott retiring Greg McDermott announced Monday he would retire as Creighton's coach after the Bluejays' final game in the College Basketball Crown tournament next month. Alan Huss, who returned to his alma mater last year as associate head coach and head coach in waiting, will succeed McDermott. "It has been an incredible honor to lead the Creighton men’s basketball program for the past 16 years," the 61-year-old McDermott said in a statement. "I’m very proud of the young men that have proudly worn the Bluejay uniform and represented our program in a first-class manner. Witnessing their growth and development on and off the playing floor was especially gratifying. "I’m deeply grateful for the support of my family, our players, coaching staff and support staff, as well as the presidents, athletic directors, and all the University and athletic administrators. The support of the Omaha community consistently packing our arena with 17,000 fans has created many fond memories." McDermott is 365-188 at Creighton and 645-383 in 32 seasons as a head coach. He led Creighton to 14 seasons of 20-plus wins and 10 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including to the Elite Eight in 2023 and the Sweet 16 in 2021 and 2024. Creighton won the Big East regular-season title in 2020. The team is 15-17 this season. Huss played at Creighton from 1997-2001, was an assistant under McDermott from 2017-23 and then left to become head coach at High Point. He was 56-15 in two seasons and led High Point to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in its Division I history in 2025. "I am incredibly honored and humbled to be named the head men’s basketball coach at Creighton University," Huss said. "This University has meant so much to me as a former player, as an alumnus and through the seven years I’ve spent serving this program. Creighton helped shape who I am, and the opportunity to now lead this program is something I do not take lightly.' Florida hires Rhode Island's Weiss Florida hired Rhode Island's Tammi Reiss as the program's next women's basketball coach Monday, tasking her with rebuilding the least-accomplished program on campus. Reiss, a three-time Atlantic 10 coach of the year, spent seven seasons with the Rams and led them to the NCAA Women's Tournament for the first time in 30 years earlier this month. Rhode Island lost to Alabama in the opening round. Nonetheless, the Rams won a school-record 28 games to go along with a share of the A-10 regular-season championship and the league tournament. Reiss, 55, played alongside Dawn Staley at Virginia and appeared in three consecutive Final Fours (1990, 1991 and 1992), including the 1991 national title game. She was part of eight NCAA Women's Tournament appearances as an assistant coach, including four at Syracuse, before arriving at Rhode Island. She replaces Kelly Rae Finley, who was fired two weeks ago while the Gators were poised to miss the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive year. The 40-year-old Finley went 93-75 in five seasons in Gainesville, including 30-50 in Southeastern Conference play. She put together one of the program’s best collections of talent in recent years, with Liv McGill, Me’Arah O’Neal and Laila Reynolds giving the team three McDonald’s All-Americans in its starting lineup. But the trio was unable to deliver enough wins in one of the country’s deepest leagues. The Rams tripled their average attendance during Weiss' tenure and raised the program’s first three conference banners. Her overall record is 138-73, including 96 wins over the last four seasons. She twice set the program record for victories. Charlotte hiring ex-Cincinnati coach Miller The Charlotte 49ers have hired Wes Miller as their basketball coach. Miller spent the past five seasons at Cincinnati before being fired on March 13 with three years left on his contract after failing to get the Bearcats to the NCAA Tournament. He was 100-74 at Cincinnati. The Bearcats finished 18-15 this season. They had recovered from a disappointing start to win seven of nine games down the stretch and were considered an NCAA Tournament bubble team heading into the Big 12 Tournament. But the Bearcats lost to UCF 66-65 in overtime in the second round after surrendering an eight-point lead in the final two minutes of regulation, paving the way for Miller's departure. The 43-year-old Miller has strong ties to North Carolina, leading the Tar Heels to a national championship as a player. He also coached a decade at UNC Greensboro, where he earned Southern Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2012 and 2018. He helped UNC Greensboro win 25 or more games in three consecutive seasons, won three conference titles and led the Spartans to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2018 and 2021. He left UNCG for Cincinnati considered one of the bright young coaches in the game after recording a school-record 185 wins, including an average of 25 wins per season over his final five years. Miller posted the most wins (217) by a coach by the age of 40. Athletic director Kevin White called Miller a "proven leader with a deep understanding of the game and strong ties to basketball in our state.' Kansas coach Self deciding whether to continue coaching Bill Self says he hasn't decided whether he will continue his Hall of Fame coaching career after the Kansas Jayhawks' season ended with a heartbreaking loss to St. John's in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday. The 63-year-old Self has won two national championships and built a powerhouse during his 23 seasons in charge of the Jayhawks, but he has missed several games over the past few seasons due to heart issues and other health concerns. "I’ve gone through some stuff off the court, so I’ll get back and get with family and visit and see what’s going on," Self said. "I love what I do. I need to be able to do it where I’m feeling good and healthy to do it fairly well. I’ll get back home and it will all be discussed." Self most recently missed a game at Colorado in January after taking a precautionary trip to the hospital. He also had two stents inserted in his heart in 2023, and two more last year. Self has been one of college basketball's most successful coaches since he replaced Roy Williams in Lawrence in 2003. He joined the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017, and he became the winningest coach in Kansas history in November 2024, passing Phog Allen. "My career ain’t going to be based on one game," Self said when asked if it would be tough to end his career on such a crushing defeat. "I said I was going to get back and evaluate my health situation." Mar. 22 Joshua Jefferson injury update Iowa State star forward Joshua Jefferson was ruled out for the No. 2-seeded Cyclones' second-round game against No. 7 seed Kentucky. Jefferson sustained an ankle injury in Iowa State's game against Tennessee State on Friday, and was unable to recover in time for Sunday. If the Cyclones advance to the Sweet Sixteen, Jefferson will have five days to recover and prepare for the next opponent, which would be No. 6 seed Tennessee or No. 3 seed Virginia. Mar. 20 Georgia Tech hires HC Scott Cross The Yellow Jackets announced that they've hired Troy and former UT Arlington coach as their new head coach. Cross leaves Troy, which was a No. 13 seed in this year's NCAA Tournament before losing to No. 4 seed Nebraska on March 18, after posting a combined 125-99 record over seven seasons in his respective position. He takes over a Georgia Tech program coming off a season that saw it record an 11-20 overall record and a 2-16 record in ACC play; head coach Damon Stoudamire was fired after three seasons on the job, failing to produce a winning season. Mar. 18 Belmont hires Evan Bradds as its next head coach Belmont reportedly hired Evan Bradds as its next head coach on Wednesday. Bradds was most recently an assistant coach at Duke, where he spent one season. He played at Belmont for four years from 2013-17, averaging 20 points per game as a senior. Bradds also spent multiple seasons as a coach with the Boston Celtics and Utah Jazz. Bradds, 31, becomes the second-youngest active head coach in Division I basketball, behind just Nicholls coach Tevin Saddler. He follows former Belmont coach Casey Alexander, who spent seven seasons at Belmont, leading the Bruins to three Missouri Valley Conference regular-season titles, before taking the position at Kansas State on March 13. Mar. 17 Louisville star Mikel Brown Jr. out the first weekend of the tournament The Cardinals' star freshman will miss the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament due to an ongoing back injury, the school announced. "I just don’t feel 100%," Brown said in the locker room, according to The Associated Press. "I don’t feel like I can play to our standard." Brown hasn't played since Feb. 28. Through 21 games this season, Brown is averaging 18.2 points, 4.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 41.0/34.4/84.4. Louisville is a No. 6 seed in the East Region of the tournament and faces No. 11 seed South Florida in the first round on Thursday. Mar. 16 Alabama's Aden Holloway arrested on felony drug charge The second-leading scorer for the Crimson Tide was arrested on Monday morning, days before the NCAA tournament. He was booked after agents with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force searched a home near the Alabama campus. It was there they found and "recovered more than a pound of marijuana, paraphernalia and cash" that belonged to Holloway, according to police spokesperson Stephanie Taylor's email to The Associated Press. Following the arrest, Holloway was reportedly "removed from campus" and will not be with the team as the UA Office of Student Conduct investigates his case, the school announced Monday. Holloway has had his best season, averaging 16.8 points, shooting a prolific 43.8% from beyond the arc. This could hurt Alabama in their NCAA tournament matchup on March 20 at 12:15 PM ET against Hofstra. Matta retiring from coaching Longtime college basketball coach Thad Matta announced Monday he is retiring after a career that included 13 NCAA Tournaments and a national title game appearance with Ohio State. Matta spent the past four seasons at Butler, his second stint at the helm of his alma mater. The Bulldogs suffered a season-ending 91-81 loss to Providence in the Big East Tournament. Matta, 58, will remain on staff as a special counselor to President Jim Danko and athletic director Grant Leiendecker. Butler officials said they have begun searching for his successor. "The love my wife, my daughters and I have for Butler is what brought us back four years ago, and it feels especially meaningful that I conclude my coaching career here," he said in a statement. "Butler has always meant more to us than just basketball — and that connection is why I’m grateful to continue working with the university and offering my help in any way I can. I want this program to compete at the highest levels of the Big East and national landscape, and I am excited to be part of what we continue to build here." Matta finishes his head coaching career with a 502-223 record, winning eight conference regular-season titles at three different stops — Butler, Xavier and Ohio State. He led the Buckeyes to two Final Fours, losing to Florida in the 2007 title game. He is Ohio State’s winningest coach, compiling 337 wins over 13 seasons. Mar. 13 Billikens extend coach Josh Schertz Second-year Saint Louis coach Josh Schertz has agreed in principle to a long-term contract extension, athletic director Chris May announced Friday before the Billikens' game in the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament. The Billikens (27-4) tied with Virginia Commonwealth for the A-10 regular-season championship and were the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. May locked up Schertz as the coach's name was bandied for a number of jobs in power conferences. Saint Louis entered Friday one win away from tying its season record, and in January the Billikens made their first appearance in The Associated Press Top 25 since 2020-21. They were ranked as high as No. 18 and appeared in seven straight polls before dropping out Monday. Saint Louis hired Schertz away from Indiana State in 2024 after he led the Sycamores to their first Missouri Valley regular-season championship since 2000. The Billikens were 19-15 with an appearance in the National Invitation Tournament last season. Pitt keeping embattled Capel Athletic director Allen Greene announced Friday that Jeff Capel will be back for a ninth season with Pitt despite a disappointing 13-20 mark this year, that ended with a 98-88 loss to North Carolina State in the second round of the ACC tournament. "I believe our best path forward is leadership continuity paired with clear expectations and a willingness to evolve," Greene said in a statement. Capel, who has four years left on the contract extension he signed in 2024, is 127-127 at Pitt. The Panthers have made the NCAA tournament just once during Capel’s tenure, when the 2022-23 team won 24 games and advanced to the second round. Pitt narrowly missed the tournament in 2024 and saw a 12-2 start to the 2024-25 season turn into a sluggish 17-15 finish. Things weren't any better this winter, leading to a dwindling of fan support and speculation about Capel's job security. Greene put that speculation to rest, for now anyway. He pointed to the way the Panthers played down the stretch while winning four of their final seven games as proof that all is not lost. "They fought until the end and represented this university with toughness," Greene said. "Effort alone is not enough. We must be better going forward. I know it. Jeff knows it." Mar. 12 Syracuse introduces Bryan Blair as new AD Syracuse University hired Bryan Blair as its athletic director on Thursday, at a time the ACC school is searching to regain relevance and with its once-proud men’s basketball program in transition. The 40-year-old Blair takes over after spending the past four years holding the same job at Toledo, where in 2022 he was nation’s youngest AD. And Syracuse is counting on Blair’s youth and familiarity with the NCAA’s changing revenue landscape to guide Orange athletics into the future. "Bryan Blair is the athletics leader for this moment and for the future of Syracuse University," Syracuse chancellor-elect Michael Haynie said in a release. "He is a fierce competitor who knows how to build winning programs, a visionary who approaches the business of college athletics with genuine creativity and ingenuity." He will be replacing John Wildhack, who had previously announced his retirement in July following a 10-year tenure. One of Wildhack’s final decisions was firing men’s basketball coach Adrian Autry on Wednesday. Autry was fired after three largely unsuccessful seasons in which he struggled in replacing Jim Boeheim. Anderson slips, injured on Big 12 tournament glass floor Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson strained a muscle while slipping on the new glass floor at the Big 12 Tournament, leaving the all-conference player to watch from the bench as No. 7 Iowa State beat the No. 16 Red Raiders 75-53 on Thursday. Anderson was hurt on an inbounds pass when his foot slipped near his own free throw line with about 8 and a half minutes remaining in the game. He immediately grabbed at his groin area while Iowa State proceeded to score a basket and play was stopped. Anderson limped over to the end of the Texas Tech bench, was examined by a trainer and spent the rest of the game there. "I'm feeling good," Anderson said afterward. "Obviously the floor is a bit slippery, so I think I just kind of misstepped or did a movement that caused me to slip and kind of ended up in a little unnatural position. That's what it was." The innovative glass surface has drawn mixed reviews during the Big 12 women’s tournament last week and the first two days of the men’s tournament this week. It has been praised by coaches and players alike for its glitzy ability to display graphics and hype up the fans, but numerous players in both of the events have complained about its relatively slick nature. Mar. 11 Arizona State parts with Bobby Hurley The Sun Devils will be pivoting in another direction as Bobby Hurley's coaching tenure at ASU has finished after 11 seasons, according to Chris Karpman. He will be sent on paid administrative leave for the rest of his contract in June. Previously an NBA player, Hurley took his talents to the whiteboard in 2010, assisting his brother at Wagner College, 12 years after his time in the league. He then transitioned to a head coaching position at the University of Buffalo in 2013, before taking his most recent gig with the Arizona State Sun Devils in 2015. With the Sun Devils, Hurley went 185-167 overall and held a conference game record of 90-115. Syracuse fires Adrian Autry The Orange are turning the page at head coach, as they've fired Autry after three seasons at the helm, according to CBS Sports. Syracuse lost to SMU in the first round of the ACC Tournament on Tuesday night, 86-69. This season, they went 15-17 overall and 6-12 in ACC play, good for 14th in the conference. Over Autry's three seasons at Syracuse, the Orange went a combined 49-48. Autry, who played four seasons at Syracuse (1990-91 season to 1993-94 season) and was a two-time All-Big East honoree, was an assistant coach at Syracuse under Jim Boeheim for 13 seasons before succeeding his former head coach in 2023. Mar. 10 Injuries rock Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer revealed that junior guard Caleb Foster suffered a fracture in his right foot and is out for the foreseeable future following recent surgery for the matter, per ESPN. Scheyer also announced that sophomore center Patrick Ngongba II will miss this week's ACC Tournament due to foot soreness. This season, Foster is averaging 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, while shooting 44.2/40.2/58.5. Meanwhile, Ngongba is averaging 10.7 points, six rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game, while shooting 60.2% from the field. Duke (29-2, 17-1) is the No. 1 seed in the ACC. Mar. 6 North Carolina star Caleb Wilson's season is over UNC's star freshman forward broke his right thumb in a non-contact drill at practice on Thursday and will need surgery. As a result, Wilson's season is officially over. Wilson previously sustained a fractured left hand during the team's loss to Miami (Fla.) on Feb. 10. Through 24 games this season, Wilson averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game, while shooting 57.8% from the field. Mar. 3 Tennessee Tech fires coach John Pelphrey Pelphrey is out after his seventh consecutive losing season ended with the Golden Eagles failing to qualify for the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. Pelphrey, 55, posted a 79-138 record that included a 13-18 mark this season. Tennessee Tech was the third head coaching stop for Pelphrey, who owns an overall record of 228-264 in 16 seasons. He posted an 80-67 record at South Alabama (2002-07) and went 69-59 at Arkansas (2007-11) before his seven-year run at Tennessee Tech. Pelphrey reached the NCAA Tournament with South Alabama in '06 and with Arkansas in '08. Michigan considers options at point guard Michigan lost the best backup point guard in college basketball, according to coach Dusty May, when L.J. Cason tore a knee ligament as the team clinched an outright Big Ten title with a win at then-No. 10 Illinois. The Wolverines will certainly miss the smooth-shooting sophomore, who averaged 8.4 points and more than one 3-pointer per game, but May said the injury will give guards an opportunity to play larger roles. Starting point guard Elliot Cadeau plays about 25 minutes a game, a number that may increase if he can avoid foul trouble. Freshman Trey McKenney, sixth-year player Nimari Burnett and senior Roddy Gayle each average about 20 minutes a game — and all of them will have a chance to be on the court more without Cason. Rutgers fires women's basketball coach Coquese Washington is out after Rutgers ended the season with 11 consecutive losses and failed to win 10 games for the second time in three years. Rutgers was 9-20 this season; its 1-17 Big Ten record was the worst in program history in conference play. Washington succeeded Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame coach C. Vivian Stringer, who retired in 2022. A national search for a new head coach will begin immediately, Keli Zinn, Rutgers' athletic director, said. Mar. 1 USC, Chad Baker-Mazara part ways The USC men's basketball team announced that guard Baker-Mazara is no longer a member of the program on Sunday. He sustained an injury during the Trojans' loss to Nebraska. It was USC's fifth consecutive loss as it continues to fall off the NCAA Tournament bubble. Baker-Mazara dealt with multiple injuries this season. He sustained a knee injury in a Feb. 3 game against Indiana, which kept him out three games. He returned for USC's games against Oregon and UCLA before getting re-injured against Nebraska and parting ways with the team. That said, there's no specific reason — injury or otherwise — that's been released as the cause of his departure. Baker-Mazara was a fifth-year senior, so this could mean the end of his college basketball career. His journey included multiple different spots — Duquense, San Diego State, Auburn and one season at the junior college level. Feb. 27 Tarleton State coach Billy Gillispie won't return Gillispie, who has been away from the bench for more than a month because of medical issues, won’t return next season, the school announced Friday. Glenn Cyprien was named acting head coach on Jan. 30, about two weeks after Gillispie stepped away. The 66-year-old Gillispie said earlier this month that he was dealing with heart and blood-pressure issues that have plagued him for years. The former Kentucky coach had a kidney transplant in 2018. Feb. 18 Texas Tech star JT Toppin has torn ACL Toppin was doing his usual work in the paint Tuesday night, pouring in buckets and grabbing rebounds against Arizona State in a tough road environment. Then, late in the second half, the junior forward drove to the basket before going down in a heap, holding his right leg. Toppin stayed down for a few minutes before needing assistance to gingerly limp off the court. The school announced on Feb. 18 that Toppin suffered a torn ACL, ending his season. Toppin finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four blocks, and the Red Raiders were obviously shaken when he left the floor. He sat on the bench for a brief period before going back to the locker room. Texas Tech was trailing 61-56 at the time of the injury and fell behind 67-56 over the next few minutes. The Red Raiders regrouped and pulled to 70-67 in the final seconds, but Christian Anderson turned the ball over, costing them a chance to tie the game with a 3-pointer. San Diego fires Steve Lavin Lavin is out as the Toreros' head coach after three-plus seasons. In four combined seasons, San Diego went 46-79 under Lavin, including 11-17 this season. He had previous head-coaching stints at UCLA and St. John's. Feb. 16 Gonzaga forward Braden Huff injury update Huff will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 regular-season because of a left knee injury sustained in practice on Jan. 14. He was given an original timeline of 4-to-8 weeks, which meant there was a chance he'd return before the end of the regular season. However, on Feb. 16, Bulldogs coach Mark Few said that his return will likely be at least eight weeks, meaning he won't return until after the West Coast Conference Tournament concludes. Feb. 15 Kansas State fires coach Jerome Tang K-State fired Tang on Sunday "for cause," per the athletic department, citing Tang's "public comments and conduct, in addition to the program’s overall direction." Moreso, athletic director Gene Taylor filed this statement as a reason to fire Tang for cause: "There’s language in his contract that addresses certain things that can potentially bring embarrassment," Taylor said. "Basically, his comments about the student-athletes and the negative reaction to those comments from a lot of sources, both nationally and locally, is where I thought we needed to make the decision." After K-State's 91-62 loss to Cincinnati on Feb. 11, Tang said his players "do not deserve to wear this uniform." "There will be very few of them in it next year," Tang added. "I’m embarrassed for the university, and I’m embarrassed for our fans, our student section. It is just ridiculous. We’ve got practice at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning, and we will get this thing right. I have no answer and no words. … Right now, I’m like pissed." Tang defended those comments in a statement. "I am deeply disappointed with the university’s decision and strongly disagree with the characterization of my termination," he wrote. "I have always acted with integrity and faithfully fulfilled my responsibilities as head coach." Tang coached at K-State for the better part of four seasons. He led the Wildcats to the Elite Eight in 2023, his first season. Following that year, Kansas State rewarded him with a seven-year contract extension, starting with a $3.6 million base salary, including a $100,000 increase each year, and an $18.7 million buyout. The Wildcats were 10-15 overall at the time of Tang's for-cause firing. Feb. 14 BYU forward Richie Saunders sustains season-ending injury Saunders sustained a torn ACL during the Cougars' win against Colorado on Valentine's Day. The injury effectively ends the senior's college basketball career. He has played all four seasons at BYU and leads the team with 64 made 3-point shots this season. The Cougars had dropped four of their past five games previous to a 90-86 overtime victory against Colorado. They had also lost senior guard Dawson Baker to a season-ending ACL injury earlier this season. Saunders' injury is another obstacle contributing to BYU's dwindling national championship chances. The Associated Press contributed to this report.]]>
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					<![CDATA[National Championship Game: Latest on Michgan's Yaxel Lendeborg, UConn's Solo Ball]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/national-championship-game-latest-michgans-yaxel-lendeborg-uconns-solo-ball</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/national-championship-game-latest-michgans-yaxel-lendeborg-uconns-solo-ball</guid>
				<category>college-basketball</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Here's the latest on the statuses of Yaxel Lendeborg and Solo Ball ahead of Monday's national championship game.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 15:07:19 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[UConn and Michigan are dealing with some injury concerns to key players ahead of Monday night's national championship game, but Wolverines star Yaxel Lendeborg seems more likely to play than Huskies guard Solo Ball. Ball missed Sunday's practice because of a sprained foot. He said he expects to play, but UConn head coach Dan Hurley said Ball's status is uncertain as his foot remains in a walking boot. "Just doing everything I can to prepare for tomorrow," said Ball, who hurt his left foot when he got tangled with teammate Tarris Reed Jr. in the first half of UConn's semifinal win over Illinois. "So, it's a bump in the road, but I'm still going to play." Lendeborg, meanwhile, hurt his left ankle and wore a protective brace covering his left knee in the second half of Saturday's 91-73 rout of Arizona. But the All-American has quickly stated that he'll play in Monday's game. "Absolutely not," Lendeborg said when asked whether he would miss Monday night's game. "Unless I wake up and I get up and fall off my feet, I’m going to be in that game." Ball was wearing a boot on his left foot less than 24 hours after playing 28 minutes and scoring 13 points in the 71-62 victory over the Illini. The Huskies advanced to their third national championship game in four years. Ball said adrenaline helped him get through the rest of the game and "I'm doing everything I can to prepare" for the game against the Wolverines on Monday night. Ball started all 38 games he's played, averaging 12.9 points. Coach Dan Hurley was noncommittal to whether his junior guard would play Monday night, saying he would know more about Ball's status after an MRI. As for Lendeborg, he played five minutes in the first half before reinjuring his left ankle. Team officials later announced he had hurt his knee as well. But Lendeborg returned in the second half and made two key 3-pointers to propel the Wolverines to their first title game since 2018. Michigan head coach Dusty May said that he's "sure" Lendeborg will give it a go and play against UConn on Monday. "He played the second half like a 38-year-old at the YMCA," May told reporters of Lendeborg. "And a really good 38-year-old at the YMCA." The Wolverines have lost four consecutive championship games since beating Seton Hall in overtime in 1989 for the school's only national title. The Associated Press contributed to this report.]]>
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					<![CDATA[4 Takeaways From the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/takeaways-ncaa-mens-basketball-tournament-final-four</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/takeaways-ncaa-mens-basketball-tournament-final-four</guid>
				<category>college-basketball</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[From UConn's status as a modern-day dynasty to Michigan looking like a team of destiny, here are four takeaways from the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 02:59:27 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[UConn’s Braylon Mullins let out a radiant, triumphant smile before exchanging a high-five and locking foreheads with head coach Dan Hurley, a moment of pure joy as the Huskies marched on to their third national title game in four years. Mullins, a 6-foot-6, slim-built five-star freshman, was just six days removed from authoring one of the most unforgettable shots in NCAA Tournament history — a buzzer-beating 3 to eliminate top-seeded Duke in the Elite Eight. On Saturday night, he delivered yet another defining moment, burying a cold-blooded dagger 3 with under a minute remaining to seal a 71-62 win over third-seeded Illinois. "The start to the game, and then the finish to the game," Hurley said of his freshman star, glancing back at the roaring crowd behind him. "He’s amazing." Just like that, the Huskies are headed back to the national championship, where they will take on No. 1-seeded Michigan, fresh off a dominant win over Arizona. Here are four takeaways from the Final Four. 1. UConn’s status as a modern-day dynasty is no longer debatable There was no shortage of eye-popping stats circulating on social media ahead of Saturday’s Final Four matchup between UConn and Illinois. One centered on senior Tarris Reed, who entered the game averaging 22 points and 13.5 rebounds through four NCAA Tournament games, putting himself firmly in the conversation for Most Outstanding Player if the Huskies finished the job. Another highlighted UConn’s suffocating defense, which had held every opponent under 66 points per game during the tournament and hadn’t allowed a team to score more than 75 since Creighton did it back on Feb. 18. But the most staggering stat of all? UConn is now 12-1 in Final Four games. CBS play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle summed it up perfectly as the final horn sounded and the Huskies punched their ticket to a third national championship game in four years: "They are the bluest of bloods in college basketball right now." It’s hard to argue that. For years, the sport’s blue-blood conversation has been dominated by programs like Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Kansas. It’s time to officially add UConn into that mix. Outside a Round of 32 loss last year to No. 1 seed Florida — the eventual national champion — UConn has been as dominant as any program in the country in recent memory. The Huskies have won 19 straight games in the Sweet 16 or later and, remarkably, have captured all six of their national championships since 1999. That’s more than triple the combined total of this year’s other Final Four participants: Michigan, Arizona, and Illinois. "You’re set up for success at UConn," Hurley said in a postgame interview. "I’ve got the best staff in the country and an incredible group of players. There’s nothing like that bus ride to the stadium on Monday night when you’re one of the last two teams standing." 2. The Huskies won with a complete team effort There’s a lot of truth to the following sentiment: brackets set the stage for March Madness, but the NCAA Tournament is often defined by its superstars. We saw it last year with Florida All-American Walter Clayton, and in past runs from Anthony Davis, Kemba Walker, Carmelo Anthony, and countless others who carried their teams on the sport’s biggest stage. But that hasn’t been the formula for this UConn group. Yes, Tarris Reed Jr. has been the Huskies’ most productive player throughout the tournament. Yes, Alex Karaban ranks among the most accomplished players in program history. But UConn’s ability to hold off Illinois’ second-half comeback on Saturday had far more to do with balance than individual stars. The Huskies had four players score nine or more points, yet none finished with more than 17. Mullins — coming off that buzzer-beating 3 to eliminate Duke in the Elite Eight — set the tone early. He knocked down three of his five attempts from beyond the arc in the first half and led all scorers with 12 points before the break. Mullins cooled off in the second half, but that’s when UConn’s depth took over. Junior guard Solo Ball had a strong second half, finishing with 13 points while going 5-of-11 from the field, but the real difference came on the defensive end. UConn held Illinois to just 34% shooting from the field and 23% from 3-point range while holding Andrej Stojakovic and David Mirkovic — Illinois' second- and third-leading scorers — to just 15 combined points on 6-of-17 shooting. The most telling stat: this marked just the second time all season Illinois has been held under 65 points. The first? A 74-61 loss to UConn back on Nov. 28. "This year hasn’t been a joyride," Hurley said in the postgame press conference. "We haven’t been a machine of destruction. We’ve been a team that’s had to grind out games like this." 3. Michigan was ready for the moment. Arizona wasn’t. In a game billed as a heavyweight fight — and by some as the de facto national championship — Dusty May’s team looked composed and in control from the opening tip. Arizona, meanwhile, never seemed comfortable on the big stage. Michigan raced out to a 10-1 lead and pushed the margin to 16 in the first half, immediately setting the tone. Point guard Elliot Cadeau, who faced questions all week about how the Wolverines would handle Arizona’s dynamic back court of Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries, proved to be the most poised guard on the floor, playing under control and dictating the tempo throughout. Michigan's Aday Mara established his presence down low early on and never let up. The 7-foot-3 junior big man controlled the paint on both ends, outplaying Arizona’s interior duo of Motiejus Krivas and Koa Peat. Mara, a transfer from UCLA, finished with a career-high 26 points and nine rebounds in a dominant performance. All season, Arizona has thrived by attacking the rim, scoring more than 56% of its points from inside the arc, a mark that ranked 14th nationally and easily led all Final Four teams, according to KenPom. But Michigan completely disrupted the Wildcats' identity, holding them to just 37% shooting and forcing 14 turnovers, their highest total of the tournament and eight more than they committed in their Elite Eight win over Purdue. "They had us on our heels all night, and we could never get into a rhythm," Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd said in the postgame press conference. "No one’s been able to do that to us all year." 4. Michigan looks like a team of destiny In today’s college basketball landscape, where NIL and the transfer portal have reshaped roster building, it’s nearly impossible to label a true preseason favorite. That is especially true for a team like Michigan, whose top four players — Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr., Mara and Cadeau — were all playing elsewhere last season. But as the year progressed and Dusty May’s group began to gel, it became clear this was a really talented team. The Wolverines opened the year 14-0, outscoring opponents by an average of 28 points per game, then tore through the Big Ten to a 19-1 record, winning the conference by four games. Their dominance has only intensified in March. Entering Saturday night, Michigan had won its first four NCAA Tournament games by an average of 22.5 points, the closest being a 13-point win over Alabama in the Sweet 16. That trend continued in the Final Four, where a 91–73 win over Arizona added yet another emphatic chapter to their storybook run. Michigan has now beaten all five tournament opponents by double digits, becoming the first team in NCAA Tournament history to score 90 or more points in five games in the Big Dance. And perhaps most impressive, they did it Saturday without a fully healthy Lendeborg, who played just 14 minutes after suffering an injury in the first half. Lendeborg called it "a weird feeling," but added, "there’s no way I miss the game on Monday night." The Big Ten’s national title drought has loomed over this tournament, with the conference’s last championship coming in 2000, when Tom Izzo led Michigan State to a national title. This Michigan group looks like a team of destiny, and one poised to end that drought. 4½. What’s next? No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 2 UConn (Monday) — After overpowering Arizona and controlling the game for all 40 minutes Saturday, Michigan advanced to the national championship with a chance to secure the program’s second title (1989). Standing in their way is a UConn team chasing its seventh national championship, all since 1999. The Huskies haven't lost an NCAA Tournament game beyond the opening weekend since 2009. With one more win, they would break a tie with North Carolina for the third-most titles in history, trailing only UCLA (11) and Kentucky (eight). This game has all the makings of an instant classic.]]>
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