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NCAA settlement chaos: New legal move could trigger massive increase in NIL spending

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:52:58 -0400

Nine months after the House settlement was approved pertaining to a lawsuit against the NCAA, there is a massive wrinkle to the case that could potentially lead to further disarray around college athletics.

Last June, after intense negotiations on a financial figure that would suit all parties involved, the NCAA agreed to pay $2.8 billion in back pay to former college athletes that sued because of their name, image and likeness being used by the organization.

But, that was not the biggest piece of the perceived pie when it came to the future of college athletics. In that settlement, schools could begin paying athletes through what was thought of at the time as a salary cap, much like the NFL or NBA, of $20.5 million per academic year.

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Meaning, every school underneath the NCAA umbrella could essentially decide how they wanted to split up the $20 some-odd million that they were allowed to use towardspaying athletes.

Each member institution had the opportunity to use that much, but plenty of schools decided they could not financially afford an extra $20 million on the books, leading them to spend a lesser amount compared to bigger conferences like the SEC, Big Ten, ACC or Big 12.

Tough decisions on funding a college sports roster

A majority of athletic departments across college sports obviously chose football as the main beneficiary of the new revenue-sharing, while others would give more to basketball.

In the aftermath, we have seen colleges have to make serious decisions about how much money programs like women's basketball would get compared to mens.

In most cases, football drives the revenue stream, so the obvious choice was for the sport to get a lion share of the money available under these new rules.

And while it sounded ‘feasible’ on the surface, none of this was ever going to stay above-board, or at least according to CSC guidelines.

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If one school was spending $25 million on their football roster, through the transfer portal and high school recrutiing, another school would see fit to spend $30 million. All of this has been a source of frustration within athletic department buildings across the country.

How in the world were schools going to continue being able to raise this type of money, knowing the ‘rules’ only allowed them to spend $20.5 million per year?

If you ever wondered how programs like Ohio State, LSU, Texas Tech, Oregon and a plethora of others were able to spend upwards of $30–40 million per season on their football roster, look no further than their multimedia rights partners.

Motion seeks to exclude multimedia rights partners from rules

In a way to create more cash flow, schools are trying, and using, their multimedia partners like Learfield Sports or PlayFly, to circumvent their revenue-share cap.

If a starting quarterback were to sign with LSU for $3 million, that would come out of their allowed share, the multimedia rights partner would also hypothetically sign that player to a contract that provides them an extra $2 to $3 million per year.

This has led to the ‘enforcement’ arm of the House settlement, called the College Sports Commission, denying a plethora of deals that were designed to help those schools keep up with their opponents off the field.

In a motion filed on Monday, plaintiffs in the House v. NCAA case asked a judge to declare that multimedia partners are not "Associated Entities or Individuals", and allow them to operate outside the CSC's purview.

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This would essentially mean that if the judge grants injunctive relief, there would be an all-out battle between college programs on who could sign the most players to the more lucrative deals with the help of media rights partners.

Also, in their filing, plaintiffs are asking a judge to rule that ‘third-party brand sponsors’ are not associated with the school, so their deals with players would not need to be approved by the College Sports Commission.

See where we are potentially headed here? Sure, schools could still put together their multi-million dollar rosters within the rev-share cap limit, but the outside revenue from either 3rd party deals or agreements through their media rights partner would send the costs of rosters through the perceived roof.

Most people would tell you that there haven't been rules regarding NIL since its inception, and they'd more than likely be right.

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Now, within the world of college athletics, if this judge in California grants the injunctive relief, a $40 million roster will be a thing of the past.

We're clearly headed toward lower-tier MLB budgets in the future, and there's not much that can stop it at the moment, which includes an executive order from President Trump.

Shaquille O'Neal says he doesn't text NBA players past or present because 'they're a--holes'

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 12:02:43 -0400

If you’re an NBA player and think you might one day get a random text from Shaquille O’Neal, don’t get your hopes up.

O’Neal, 54, doesn’t reach out to NBA players from the past or present for one reason.

"None. I don’t like athletes or superstars because they’re a--holes," O’Neal told the New York Post.

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"I denounced myself from being a celebrity about 10 years ago because those people are weird. I’m not weird," O’Neal said.

The New Jersey native said he wants to treat people with respect and just be a regular guy. O’Neal, despite his prowess as a basketball player, went to school after his playing career.

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O’Neal left LSU after his junior year to play in the NBA but returned to finish his bachelor's degree. He also has an MBA and Ph.D. in education, but people don’t think he actually earned the "Dr." before his name.

"The funniest thing I get is, ‘Oh it’s honorary.’ I say, ‘No, it’s not. I had to go to school and write papers and do all that stuff," O’Neal said.

"I’m very super successful without that, but I wanted to stress to my children and children around that education is very important."

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O’Neal talked about the NIL era and how young athletes want the money first but don’t have the education for how to manage money.

O’Neal thrived on the court, winning four NBA titles in 19 seasons and making 15 All-Star teams and appears to be thriving off the court as well.

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Dick Vitale announces fifth cancer diagnosis as biopsy confirms melanoma in his lung and liver cavity

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:30:23 -0400

College basketball legendary broadcaster Dick Vitale announced he is battling cancer yet again.

The 86-year-old announced Monday that a biopsy confirmed he has melanoma in his lung and liver cavity, and he is immediately beginning immunotherapy to combat it.

This is the fifth time Vitale has been diagnosed with cancer, and melanoma is one he has had before.

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"I’ve beaten melanoma," Vitale said in a statement released by ESPN. "I’ve beaten lymphoma. I’ve beaten vocal-cord cancer. I’ve beaten lymph-node cancer. I’m 4 for 4 and I’m fully confident I’m going to make it 5 for 5."

Vitale made a separate social media post on Monday, where he said he had gone through days of testing, which included scans, MRIs, bloodwork and the biopsy to confirm what doctors believed was cancer yet again.

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"I obviously did not get the report today that I was hoping for when my oncologist called," Vitale said. "Now at least I know what I face."

"Dickie V" is one of the most established broadcasters in American sports, providing countless memorable calls through his natural enthusiasm for the game and moments on the hardwood.

Vitale’s impact on college basketball dates to ESPN’s launch in 1979, and he’s close to five decades in the sport with a contract with the "Worldwide Leader" going through the 2027-28 season.

However, health issues arose in 2021 when he was diagnosed with melanoma for the first time. Lymphoma followed, and then he needed chemotherapy and radiation treatments for his vocal cord cancer.

In 2024, he required surgery to remove cancerous lymph nodes from his neck, and Vitale’s iconic voice could not be heard as he was unable to speak for a time after the vocal cord surgery.

But like the other four diagnoses, Vitale remains optimistic and in good spirits, saying he feels "fantastic" and ready to take on yet another battle.

"At 86 years young, I’ve lived a hell of a life, and I’m more motivated than ever to raise money for kids battling cancer," Vitale said.

The New Jersey native spent time coaching at Garfield High School before taking over his alma mater, East Rutherford High School, where he led teams to two New Jersey state titles.

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Vitale went on to coach as an assistant at Rutgers before heading to the University of Detroit as their head coach. He remained in the Michigan city to coach its Pistons from 1978-79.

Once he was done coaching the Pistons, Vitale joined ESPN, calling its first-ever college basketball game in 1979, a game where DePaul beat Wisconsin.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Former Baylor women's basketball star Melissa Jones dead at 36

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 08:06:26 -0400

Former Baylor women’s basketball star Melissa Jones, who is just one of seven players to ever have their jerseys retired by the program, has died, the team confirmed in a statement. She was 36.

In a social media post shared on Thursday, the Baylor women’s basketball team confirmed Jones’ passing.

"The Baylor Family mourns the loss of 2011 alum Melissa Jones," the post on Instagram read. "Her impact on our women’s basketball program will not be forgotten. Please keep the Jones family and the Baylor women’s basketball program in your prayers during this time."

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Jones’ mother told KWTX that she died in her home in Commerce City, Colorado, on April 3. The cause of death was not immediately known.

Jones, a Colorado native, played for Baylor from 2007-11, during which she helped the team reach the Final Four in 2010 and win the Big 12 championship the following season. She was a fan favorite and became the fifth player in the program’s history to have her jersey retired.

LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey, who coached Jones during her time at Baylor, released a statement on X, calling Jones more than just a former player.

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"My heart is broken over the loss of Melissa Jones. She was more than just a player to me — she was family. She left her mark on Baylor, not just basketball, and she was loved by the entire community. I’m grateful I had the chance to coach her and know her. Rest in peace MJ."

WNBA veteran and former Baylor star Brittney Griner shared the team’s post to her Instagram Stories with a caption that read, "You will be missed MJ!"

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The two played at Baylor together from 2009-11.

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Megan Rapinoe says Geno Auriemma has 'added responsibility' of positive representation because he is White

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:09:22 -0400

Former UConn star Sue Bird and her wife, ex-soccer star Megan Rapinoe, were critical of Bird's former coach, Geno Auriemma, after he got into a shouting match with South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley after their Final Four game.

Rapinoe said the coach put "you all in a really tough spot."

"Listen, I think what Coach Auriemma did last night was obviously wrong and disappointing," Bird said on her and Rapinoe's podcast before praising the coach for apologizing.

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"We’re so used to him speaking his mind in those moments, especially in a press conference, that it did feel out of character on some level. But I am glad he came out with a statement and apologized."

Rapinoe took it a step further, saying that because Auriemma is an important presence as a White man in a "predominantly Black space," "it matters" how he represents himself.

"No matter the growth, investment and success, women’s basketball sits at the intersection of gender, race sexuality, and diversity because of who he is in this sport, and he absolutely deserves respect for his success. It matters how he shows up," Rapinoe said.

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"It matters that he acknowledges South Carolina’s players and says, 'You beat me.' It matters that he shows up for his staff, his players, Dawn Staley and her team. Not being there in that moment didn’t honor the space he’s been given. He didn’t show that respect back, and I think that’s what struck a nerve with people.

"As a highly successful White figure in this space, there’s an added responsibility to lead by example in allyship and stewardship of the game. He missed the mark on that. He has apologized, which is important, and hopefully he continues to take responsibility and repair."

Auriemma said after the game he was upset Staley had not shaken his hand before the game (the two were seen shaking hands pregame, but Auriemma said he waited several minutes before seeing Staley).

"There’s no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina," Auriemma said in a statement posted to social media.

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"It’s unlike what I do and what our standard is here at Connecticut. I want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don’t want my actions to detract from that. I’ve had a great relationship with their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them."

South Carolina wound up losing to UCLA in the national championship.

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Jimmy Kimmel tells UCLA women's basketball team to give Trump fake national championship trophy

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:12:02 -0400

UCLA's national champion women's basketball team was given an eyebrow-raising political quest by late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel.

During a group interview on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on Tuesday, a discussion with Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jaquez, Angela Dugalić and coach Cori Close turned political.

After Kimmel pointed out that former President Barack Obama made a social media post congratulating the team on their championship win, the host asked if President Donald Trump had reached out yet.

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The players answered "no" in response to Kimmel's Trump question.

But then Kimmel steered the conversation deeper into an anti-Trump routine.

"I'm sure you know he's busy. Um he's in two weeks you'll hear from him," Kimmel said. "In the event that you do get invited to the White House and you decide to go to the White House, I have something for you."

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Kimmel then pulled out a silver trophy that hardly resembled the NCAA championship trophy that sat on his desk.

"What I want you to do is bring this fake trophy we've made to the White House. He's not going to know. But when you bring a trophy, he sometimes takes it and keeps it for himself. So, this is for you guys to take to the White House. And then you can say, 'President Trump, we want you to have this.' And he'll be so happy. You'll probably get an endowment and you'll be able to keep the real one," Kimmel said.

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Close laughed at Kimmel's joke, while the players lightly clapped their hands, exchanging light laughs.

Meanwhile, social media users criticized Kimmel for turning the sports interview into a Trump-focused rant.

"Even celebrating their championship he has to make it about himself and his hatred for Trump. What an a---hole," one X user wrote.

One X user mocked Kimmel, writing, "What will he do when Trump is out of office? Is the show cooked?"

Another X user wrote, "This is funny, but I dislike that he used them to smite the frump."

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UCLA won its first women's basketball national championship in program history this past weekend, defeating the South Carolina Gamecocks, the team led by Dawn Staley that had reached the national title game three consecutive seasons and won it in 2024, in dominant fashion, 79-51.

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Dawn Staley asks basketball world to move on after tense exchange with Geno Auriemma in Final Four clash

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:20:51 -0400

UConn coach Geno Auriemma confronted South Carolina’s Dawn Staley in the moments after the Huskies’ upset loss in last week’s Final Four.

Despite Auriemma’s apology, which did not name Staley, chatter about the heated exchange carried into this past Sunday’s national championship game between UCLA and South Carolina.

After the Bruins’ dominant title-game win over the Gamecocks, Staley praised UCLA coach Cori Close as a "really quality" person, a remark that contrasted sharply with her initial response to Auriemma following their on-court dispute.

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Staley moved to defuse the situation Tuesday, saying she had spoken with Auriemma and praising his legacy in women’s basketball.

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"I spoke with Geno, and I want to be clear — I have a great deal of respect for him and what he’s meant to this game. One moment doesn’t define a career, and it doesn’t change the impact he’s had on growing women’s basketball. The standard at UConn is what it is because of him, and that’s something this game has benefited from."

Staley also called for a shift in focus, encouraging fans and the broader basketball community to move forward.

"So, I’m asking everyone to turn the page. Let’s refocus on what matters most — continuing to elevate our game, creating opportunities and pushing it forward.

"That’s always been my mission, and it’s not changing."

South Carolina beat UConn 62-48 in last Friday’s national semifinal. Auriemma approached Staley for a routine handshake after the game — but the moment escalated, and the two had to be separated.

Auriemma initially struck a defiant tone when asked about the exchange, though he later said his behavior was inexcusable.

"There’s no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina. It’s unlike what I do and what our standard is here at Connecticut," the Hall of Fame coach said in a statement. "I want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don’t want my actions to detract from that. I’ve had a great relationship with their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them."

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Staley previously said she had not spoken with Auriemma after Sunday’s women’s national championship game. She led South Carolina to the national title in 2024 before falling to Auriemma in last year’s championship.

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ESPN pundit rips UConn's Geno Auriemma over heated incident with Dawn Staley

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:15:59 -0400

ESPN pundit Michael Wilbon teed off on UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma on Monday, following the coach’s outburst toward South Carolina's Dawn Staley on Friday night.

Auriemma was seemingly frustrated with Staley’s lack of a traditional handshake before UConn and South Carolina played their Final Four game. South Carolina would eventually win the matchup, but Auriemma and Staley had a heated exchange at the end of the game as they went up to greet each other.

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The UConn coach also complained at halftime that Sarah Strong didn’t get a foul call despite her jersey getting ripped. Strong later said she accidentally ripped her own jersey.

Wilbon didn’t mince words in his criticism of Auriemma on ESPN’s "Pardon the Interruption."

"I’m going to take the rest of the time to deal with Geno, who was guilty of not just the handshake, but the bogus apology and the fictional lies he had a ripped jersey, saying the other team behaved like thugs when his own player ripped her own jersey. It’s the disgraceful behavior of a massively insecure bully," he said, via Awful Announcing. "It was petulant, it was classless."

"The fictional visualization of the ripped jersey is unbelievable. The apology didn’t even address the person he offended. We’re all taught to shake hands at the end of a game, no matter what happens. Maybe before a game. He couldn’t even do that. He wandered away, and then he lied on national television, round after round of interviews, and accused South Carolina’s players of doing something his own players did, as if we don’t all have television. And the apology, aftermath, all of it was disgraceful."

Auriemma released a statement on the issue, apologizing for his own behavior.

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"There’s no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina," Auriemma said in a statement posted to social media. "It’s unlike what I do and what our standard is here at Connecticut.

"I want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don’t want my actions to detract from that. I’ve had a great relationship with their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them."

Staley took the high road when asked about the incident after the team lost to the UCLA Bruins in the national championship.

"I don’t want – this is UCLA’s day, right? Let’s keep it UCLA, them winning the national championship," Staley told reporters, via The Athletic. "… We’re not going to damper UCLA’s day with it."

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Staley has yet to fully address the incident and what she yelled back at Auriemma during their exchange.

Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.

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Coach K invokes Bill Belichick's rough UNC debut when asked about Michael Malone's Tar Heels hire

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:08:35 -0400

NBA champion or not, legendary Duke Blue Devils head basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski isn’t too worried about Michael Malone, who was reportedly hired to replace Hubert Davis with the UNC Tar heels, getting the program back on track.

After all, Krzyzewski’s biggest rival during his illustrious Duke tenure was UNC. And he invoked Bill Belichick when asked about the Malone hire during his appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Monday.

"They had an NFL champion hired as the coach, and Duke beat Carolina football this year," Krzyzewski told McAfee and A.J. Hawk with a smirk on the program. "That doesn’t mean coach Belichick isn’t a great coach, but there is time for adjustments. It takes longer coming from the pros to college."

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Belichick learned that firsthand last season, his first in college football with the Tar Heels. While Duke finished with a 9-5 overall record, and won the ACC title, UNC was a paltry 4-8 with a 2-6 ACC record.

Also, as Krzyzewski mentioned, Duke defeated Belichick’s UNC crew, 32-25, to end his first season with a loss.

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Of course, the college game has completely changed now, with name, image and likeness (NIL) deals paving ways for richer programs to pay for the cream of the crop in the transfer portal as well as out of high school.

Belichick and his staff will need to be more creative, and perhaps open the checkbooks more, as this new college system continues to stay in place.

But football isn’t king at Chapel Hill – basketball reigns supreme. Krzyzewski knows this, as the Blue Devils were usually pitted against the Tar Heels as top teams in the country fighting for not just bragging rights, but national titles.

Malone coached the Denver Nuggets for 10 seasons, which included an NBA title in 2023. However, he was fired in April 2025, quickly taking a sports media role with ESPN one month later.

The Tar Heels, who fired Davis following UNC’s crushing loss to VCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, are taking a similar route as the football program – a coach with a great track record in the pros, but no head coaching experience in college.

Malone was an assistant at Oakland, Providence and Manhattan before transitioning to the NBA with the New York Knicks in 2001. His first NBA head coaching gig came with the Sacramento Kings before cementing his spot in Denver.

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"Mike is a terrific coach and a terrific guy, there’s a learning curve," Krzyzewski added. "Whatever the reasoning is, maybe they’re changing; they now have two pro coaches coaching in college. The infrastructure of their athletic department is now going to become more of a pro-organization, which I think everybody should be doing that. He knows how to do that, and so does coach Belichick. Maybe it’s a sign that they’re moving in that direction organizationally."

Malone is hoping for a better inaugural season in Chapel Hill than Belichick, who returns for another football season looking to turn the tides on the gridiron.

UNC set to hire Michael Malone as next men's basketball coach after firing Hubert Davis: report

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 15:16:02 -0400

The UNC Tar Heels are dipping into the NBA pool for its next men’s basketball coach.

After Hubert Davis was fired following a shocking loss to VCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament earlier this month, the Tar Heels are set to hire Michael Malone, according to ESPN.

North Carolina was previously linked to top college coaches, including Michigan’s Dusty May, who will be competing for an NCAA title on Monday night against UConn. But May took his name out of any running across college, while Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd and Iowa State’s T.J. Otzelberger were also rumored to be in the Tar Heels’ favor.

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But Malone, who spent the past 10 seasons leading the Denver Nuggets, is the man they’re settling on to lead the Tar Heels back to greatness.

Malone is the winningest coach in Nuggets history, tallying 471 career wins across his career there, while also winning an NBA title in 2023.

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However, Malone, despite what he means to the franchise record books, was fired by the Nuggets in April 2025. He quickly entered the sports media space, joining ESPN in May 2025, but he’s back in the saddle now in a whole new collegiate world compared to the pros.

Perhaps North Carolina wouldn’t have been searching for another head coach if Davis and the Tar Heels didn’t collapse against No. 10 VCU in the first round, as the Rams mounted the biggest first-round comeback in tournament history to ultimately defeat No. 6 UNC in overtime, 82-78.

"We appreciate all that Hubert has done for Carolina as a player, assistant coach, head coach and community leader – he has helped make special memories we will never forget," athletic director Bubba Cunningham said in a statement. "This was not an easy decision because of Hubert’s tremendous character and all he has given to the program, but we must move forward in a way that allows our team to compete more consistently at an elite level."

Davis, who made four NCAA Tournaments, including the last three seasons, over his five campaigns with the Tar Heels, released his own statement on the matter.

"Tonight, I was let go by the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill," he wrote. "My desire was to continue to coach here. This opportunity has truly been such a blessing. I thank Jesus literally every day for giving me the opportunity, relationships and experiences with the kids and my staff. I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish together."

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Davis added that he hopes to be coaching "in the very near future."

Davis, who played for UNC from 1988-92 before being a first-round pick by the New York Knicks in 1992, left the program with about $5.3 million still guaranteed from his contract, per ESPN.

Davis went 125-54 during his 179-game tenure with his alma mater, which included a first-year Final Four appearance during the 2021-22 campaign. The Tar Heels reached the national championship game, falling to the Kansas Jayhawks, who also overcame a double-digit deficit to be crowned champions.

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After missing March Madness in 2023, the Tar Heels earned themselves a No. 1 seed in 2024, but they were taken down by No. 4 Alabama in the Sweet 16, cutting their national title hopes short. Still, Davis earned himself the ACC Coach of the Year Award that year.

The Tar Heels want to get back to the Roy Williams days, as the legendary UNC head coach led his squad to three NCAA titles during his tenure, the most recent coming in 2017.

BYU women's basketball star explains religious reason why team didn't practice before tourney win

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 07:48:47 -0400

The BYU Cougars women’s basketball team was on the outside looking into the NCAA Tournament this season despite going 26-12 under head coach Lee Cummard.

The Cougars played well enough to earn an invitation to the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament, where the team was able to knock out the Kansas Jayhawks last week before losing to the Columbia Lions on Wednesday.

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BYU drew attention for an interesting and faith-based, decision ahead of their 70-67 win over Kansas. The team didn’t practice because it was a Sunday.

Delaney Gibb, who led the team in scoring, explained it was for religious reasons that the team doesn’t practice on Sundays.

"When you look at it from a perspective of our team and our culture we’ve built and the faith that we have it’s a day that we get to have a different perspective on life," Gibb said, via the school’s website. "There’s things that are bigger than basketball and Jesus Christ and having faith in Him is something that’s bigger than basketball."

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Gibb scored 12 points in the three-point victory. Sydney Benally added 15.

The sophomore’s remarks went viral during the week.

Unfortunately, for the Cougars, BYU lost to the Lions in their next game.

Gibb is likely to return for her junior season. She was named to the All-Big 12 Conference First Team after being named the 2025 Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year.

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During the 2025-26 season, Gibb averaged a team-leading 18.3 points per game. She also averaged 5.1 rebounds.

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Division III national championship ends on wild buzzer-beater as Mary Washington wins first title

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 06:36:35 -0400

NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament excitement isn’t limited to Division I schools.

The University of Mary Washington and Emory University’s Division III national championship game came down to the wire. The Mary Washington Eagles had the ball in the final seconds and were scrambling to get a last-second shot into the net against the Emory Eagles.

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Mary Washington guard Kye Robinson put up a fallaway shot as he fell out of bounds. Robinson’s shot missed, but forward Colin Mitchell was there to rebound the ball and put it into the basket as time expired.

Mitchell ran back up the court as his teammates ran toward him to celebrate the win.

"We trusted Kye to get to the spot," he said, via Yahoo Sports. "And he got there and shot a good shot. Right place, right time."

Robinson admitted he didn’t take the "easiest shot possible."

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"I feel like I was making it kind of hard on myself. And then once I felt my leg buckle a little bit, I was like, 'Oh, I just have to get it up.' Definitely the best missed shot of my life."

Seconds before Mitchell’s game-winning putback, Emory’s Ethan Fauss hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 12 seconds left. Fauss and Jair Knight were the catalyst in putting Emory up eight points three minutes into the second half. It was Emory’s largest lead.

Mary Washington would go on a 14-2 run to get back into the game.

Robinson had 27 points on 12-of-22 shooting. He had eight rebounds, four assists and four steals in the win. Jay Randall had 14 points and Kaden Bates added 10.

Knight and Fauss had 24 points for Emory. Ben Pearce, Emory’s all-time leading scorer who eclipsed 2,000 points in his career, was held without a made shot until he hit a 3-pointer with 90 seconds left. He went 7-of-11 from the free-throw line.

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Mary Washington’s victory gave the team 30 for the season. It was a program record for wins. The team, which lost to Emory in the tournament last year, eliminated the defending champions, Trinity, in the semifinals.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Dawn Staley gives classy answer after Geno Auriemma question following national title loss: 'It's UCLA's day'

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 19:13:35 -0400

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley was disappointed how the Gamecocks’ season ended on Sunday afternoon in Phoenix, a 79-51 loss to the UCLA Bruins in the national championship game.

During her post-game interview, Staley was asked about what happened in the Gamecocks’ prior Final Four matchup against UConn, where she and head coach Geno Auriemma had a tense exchange after South Carolina advanced to the title game for the third year in a row.

Rather than hash out more of her thoughts, Staley had a classy response.

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Before this national title contest, Staley was spotted having a cordial experience greeting UCLA Bruins head coach Cori Close -- a much different experience than how Friday night ended with Auriemma.

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After the Gamecocks defeated the Huskies, Staley and Auriemma went viral with their interaction at midcourt, where Auriemma appeared to enrage Staley before walking off.

This time, Staley and Close hugged and shared a few words. During the exchange, Staley "looked around afterward like, ‘see??’", per NBC Sports.

Staley was showing a bit of sarcasm, as she noted Auriemma didn’t shake her hand before the Final Four tipped off between the two teams on Friday night.

After the Gamecocks’ victory over the Huskies, Staley was asked what exactly happened with Auriemma, though she tried to explain her focus in helping her team lock in for the national title game. If they won, it would’ve been the fourth national championship in the last 10 years for South Carolina.

"For me, no distractions at this time. I'm concentrating on winning a national championship, that’s it," Staley said at the time. "That’s a little disheartening. This is sports, sometimes things like this happen. Continue to focus on my team and ability to advance in this tournament and hopefully win another national championship."

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Auriemma later released a statement, apologizing for his behavior after the loss.

"There’s no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina. It’s unlike what I do and what our standard is here at Connecticut," the Hall of Fame coach said in a statement on Saturday. "I want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don’t want my actions to detract from that. I’ve had a great relationship with their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them."

Staley added she had "no idea" why Auriemma was angry after the game, though she guessed perhaps he was ticked off by the lack of handshake before the game on his own end. Either way, Staley was moving forward.

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"I don’t know what he came with after the game, but, hey, sometimes things get heated. We move on," she said.

For UCLA, it was the first time the women’s basketball program has won the national title, as their emotional celebration ensued following the game in Phoenix.

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The Chainsmokers' Final Four concert draws backlash from fans: 'Who asked for this?'

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 17:18:23 -0400

The Chainsmokers, the electronic music duo, performed in between Final Four games on Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, marking the first-ever Final Four concert for the NCAA Tournament.

However, some fans, including prominent figures in sports, were not happy with the NCAA’s decision to have the performance happen in the first place.

Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy, ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt and others took their frustrations to social media, as they saw The Chainsmokers take the stage following UConn’s victory over Illinois in the first Final Four matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium.

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"This Chainsmokers concert in between games is playing off like somebody lost a bet," Portnoy tweeted on Saturday night. "I like the Chainsmokers but nothing has ever made less sense than this."

One of the main reasons fans had an issue with the concert was the starting time for Michigan-Arizona, which was written as 8:49 p.m. ET. However, tipoff didn’t come until around 9:20 p.m., which was an hour after UConn-Illinois finished.

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Portnoy is a well-known Michigan fan, so he was very glad to see the delay didn’t hurt his Wolverines in the end. But Van Pelt was also shocked to see the performance take place.

"Who asked for this?" he wrote on social media. A fan followed up in the comments, asking what he had against the Chainsmokers.

"Not one thing. Just an odd spot," Van Pelt replied.

Michigan handled Arizona easily in its 91-73 win, leading by 30 points at one moment in the contest. They will take on UConn in the national championship game on Monday night at Lucas Oil.

Wolverines senior star Yaxel Lendeborg was injured in the victory, though he’s battling through a sprained MCL and an ankle injury. He was asked if there was any chance he would miss the national title game, to which he replied, "Absolutely not," per Yahoo Sports.

Lendeborg played only 14 minutes, scoring 11 points with three rebounds and one assist.

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It was Aday Mara leading the charge for the Wolverines on the offensive end, as he drilled 11 of his 16 shots for 26 points with nine rebounds and three assists. Trey McKenney also added 16 points off the bench for Dusty May’s squad, including four made three-pointers.

Michigan makes a return to the national championship game for the first time since 2018, which they lost to Villanova, 79-62.

UConn's Dan Hurley hears boos after Final Four win over Illinois

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 07:56:09 -0400

UConn Huskies men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley celebrated with his team after advancing to the national championship with a victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday.

But not everyone in the Indianapolis crowd was excited to see Hurley get back to the title game for the third time in four years.

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Hurley was getting ready to speak to CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson. When freshman Braylon Mullins wrapped up his talk, Hurley headbutted the player, appearing to call back to his interaction with a referee immediately after the win over the Duke Blue Devils.

The crowd booed Hurley as he stepped up to the mic.

"The start to the game and the finish to the game," Hurley began to say about Mullins with the boos being picked up on the CBS broadcast. "I don’t know what… are they booing? The headbutt? I don’t know what they’re booing."

Hurley’s intensity has drawn criticism and praise from college basketball fans. Since he took over the UConn job from Kevin Ollie before the 2018-19 season, he’s helped the Huskies regain national prominence.

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He’s only had one losing season with the Huskies – his first year in which they went 16-17. It was a two-year improvement for the school that was hit with sanctions for the last two years of Ollie’s tenure.

Now, he’s doing something that no coach has done in a very long time – getting back to the national title game quickly. Roy Williams got back to the national final in two straight years with the North Carolina Tar Heels in 2016 and 2017. Brad Stevens led the Butler Bulldogs to back-to-back appearances in 2010 and 2011. Billy Donovan won two-in-a-row in 2006 and 2007.

The last coach to have three appearances in four years was Mike Krzyzewski with Duke, but he went to three straight from 1990 to 1992. He won two of those titles in 1991 and 1992.

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UConn will look to hoist the trophy again on Monday night against the Michigan Wolverines.

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Michigan routs Arizona to advance to men's national championship, will take on UConn

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 23:41:46 -0400

The Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball team will return to the national championship for the first time since 2018 after a rout of the Arizona Wildcats, 91-73, in the Final Four.

Michigan jumped out to a 16-point lead midway through the first half and never had to look back. The high-percentage shooting from Aday Mara and Elliott Cadeau’s ability to knock down the long-range shot was more than enough for the Wolverines to get the win.

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Wolverines star Yaxel Lendeborg was saddled with two fouls early in the first half and then suffered a tough-looking ankle injury during the period to keep him on the bench. He started the second half and hit two 3-pointers before he called it a night.

He looked as though he was struggling with the pain. He managed to score 11 points, including three 3-pointers in 14 minutes of play. As he struggled, Trey McKenney stepped up big time.

McKenney was hot from long range. He finished with 16 points on 4-of-6 from 3-point range.

Mara led Michigan with 26 points and nine rebounds. Cadeau had 13 points and 10 assists.

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Arizona was unable to find its rhythm throughout the night, and the continued missed shots sucked the air out of the building. The Wildcats only shot 37% from the floor.

Wildcats freshman Koa Peat scored 16 points to lead the team. He also had six rebounds.

Brayden Burries and Jaden Bradley each had 13 points. Motiejus Krivas had 11 points.

Michigan lost in the 2018 national championship to Jay Wright’s Villanova squad. Their appearance in the Final Four on Saturday night was their third since 1993. The team last won a national championship in 1989 when Glen Rice and the Wolverines knocked off Seton Hall in overtime.

The Wolverines will take on the UConn Huskies in the national championship game on Monday night. The Huskies defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini to receive the opportunity at the title.

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If UConn wins, it will be the Huskies’ third title in four years.

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UConn dispatches Illinois to make third men's national title game in four years

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 20:30:20 -0400

The UConn Huskies men’s basketball team is headed back to the national championship game for the third time in the last four years after defeating the Illinois Fighting Illini, 71-62, in the Final Four.

The Huskies, who were leading by as much as 14 points, fended off a late 10-0 run from Illinois to keep their championship hopes alive. Tarris Reed Jr. ended the run with a lay-up in the paint, then a turnover led to a Solo Ball one-handed slam.

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UConn will be in a position to win three national championships in four years and give head coach Dan Hurley a place to call his program a dynasty.

The Big East champions, and the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, needed heroics from freshman Braylon Mullins to get past the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight. Mullins stepped up in a big way against the Fighting Illini.

Mullins’ only made shot against Duke was the game-winner. It didn’t take him 40 minutes to score for UConn as he hit the first 3-pointer he attempted against Illinois. He had 12 points in the first half as UConn held a nine-point lead. He finished with 15 points.

Reed led UConn with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Reed’s poised play was needed as it looked like the Fighting Illini were going to come back in the game. He was 6-of-12 from the field and made each of the five free throws he attempted, despite being a 59% free-throw shooter.

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It was Mullins and Reed’s performances that helped take some of the pressure off Alex Karaban.

Karaban had nine points, four rebounds and four assists. He was only 1-of-8 from the field.

Illinois cut the deficit to four points with 43 seconds left. The Fighting Illini shot themselves back into the game, but living and dying by the three ball ultimately cost Illinois in the end. As Illinois got cold, UConn was able to capitalize.

The Fighting Illini finished shooting 23% from long range.

Keaton Wagler led the team with 20 points. Tomislav Ivisic added 16 points. The teammates were the only ones in double figures.

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UConn takes on Michigan in the national championship.

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Dan Hurley’s wife calls out St John’s fans for rooting against UConn in March Madness

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 17:09:51 -0400

The UConn Huskies men’s basketball team is one win away from reaching its third national championship in the last four years.

The Huskies got to the Final Four after a stunning Elite Eight win over the Duke Blue Devils when Braylon Mullins nailed a long 3-pointer to give them the lead right before the buzzer.

Duke reached the game with a victory over the St. John’s Red Storm.

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Dan Hurley’s wife, Andrea, weighed in on St. John’s fans seemingly rooting against the Huskies as they took on the Michigan State Spartans in the other Sweet 16 matchup on that side of the bracket. It appears the rivalry between the two schools is alive and well.

"OK, I’m gonna say it, St. John’s fans. … When we went to the game, all those St. John’s fans were rooting against us," Andrea Hurley said on "The Field of 68: After Dark." "And that just broke my heart. … It’s really sad. … That’s crappy. … That was crappy."

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Hurley said she was talking to Rick Pitino’s wife during the Big East championship and asked her how she did it, seemingly forming a bond with the family over the rival school. She added she may not have wanted to see the Red Storm in the tournament but didn’t necessarily want to face the Blue Devils either.

Dan Hurley had praise for his wife earlier in the week after he said she was able to keep players from storming the court after Mullins’ shot went in against Duke. UConn may have received a technical foul for storming the court too early, which may have presented a different conversation from the media heading into the Final Four.

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UConn will take on Illinois in a Final Four matchup. The winner will face the winner of Arizona-Michigan.

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Geno Auriemma releases statement after shouting match with Dawn Staley: 'Unlike what I do'

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 15:58:54 -0400

UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma showed regret for his actions at the end of Friday's Final Four game against South Carolina when he and Dawn Staley got into a heated discussion.

He began to speak to her aggressively before the conversation devolved and quickly escalated into a visible shouting match.

Auriemma said after the game he was upset Staley had not shaken his hand before the game (the two were seen shaking hands pregame, but Auriemma said he waited several minutes before seeing Staley).

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"There’s no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina," Auriemma said in a statement posted to social media.

Staley addressed the incident in an interview with ESPN immediately afterward.

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"I have no idea, but I'm going to let you know this: I'm of integrity. I'm of integrity," Staley said. "So, if I did something wrong to Geno, I had no idea what I did. I guess he thought I didn't shake his hand at the beginning of the game. I didn't know. I went down there pregame, shook everybody on his staff's hand. I don't know what we came with after the game, but hey, sometimes things get heated. We move on."

Auriemma expressed displeasure with Staley and the referees during an in-game interview on ESPN.

"Their coach rants and raves on the sideline and calls the referee some names you don’t want to hear. And now we get 6 to 0, and I got a kid with a ripped jersey, and they go, ‘I didn’t see it.’ Come on, man. It’s for a national championship," he told Holly Rowe.

After the game, Auriemma declined to elaborate on the incident.

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"I said what I had to say and ... nothing ... nothing," he said when asked what happened with Staley, refusing to tell reporters what he said. "Why would I say it? I said what I said, and obviously she didn't like it. I just told the truth."

South Carolina ended UConn's perfect season in what was a rematch of last year's national championship that the Huskies won. The loss ended UConn's 54-game winning streak dating back to last season.

Fox News' Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.

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Bill Murray is the ultimate sports dad as son Luke leads UConn to Final Four after defeating Duke

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 12:00:07 -0400

Bill Murray is proving to be the No. 1 sports dad.

Throughout tense March Madness college basketball competition, Murray has attended University of Connecticut games because his son is an assistant coach.

On March 29, Bill witnessed son Luke and UConn defeat Duke at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., to advance to the Final Four. UConn stunned Duke with a clutch, last-second 3-pointer to secure a dramatic Final Four victory.

Bill was all smiles after his son and the Huskies defeated the Blue Devils. The actor and comedian sported a UConn hat while celebrating with the university's band after the game.

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DC News Now reporter Alex Flum uploaded a video after the game of Bill and Luke embracing on the court after UConn's big win.

During an interview in 2014, Bill revealed that Luke found his love for basketball through their shared admiration for the game.

"We all played basketball, and we were Bulls fans, and he got to like Michael Jordan," Bill said at the time.

He also bragged about his son's accomplishments, saying Luke "can pay his own bills and everything.

"Who wouldn't be proud of their son in a tie?"

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On Saturday, Luke and the Huskies will take on Illinois in the Final Four.

During the height of March Madness, Boston College announced it had hired Luke Murray to be the head men's basketball coach.

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"Today marks a turning point in Boston College men's basketball," director of athletics Blake James said in a statement. "In Luke Murray, we have found a leader who does not just understand the modern landscape of college basketball, he has helped define it.

"His role in building a national championship-caliber program, his sophisticated offensive vision and his relentless pursuit of excellence make him the perfect fit to lead our student-athletes. We are thrilled to welcome Luke; his wife, Kara; and their family to the BC community."

Luke has been an assistant men's basketball coach at UConn since 2021, serving under head coach Dan Hurley.

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At the Big East Conference in 2023, Bill said he was "very proud" of his son during March Madness.

"I'm very proud of this boy, and he's a wonderful kid. And he's worked very hard," the star said.

That same year, Luke shared a photo with his dad on Instagram, celebrating a win in the NCAA tournament.

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College basketball legend Jimmer Fredette reveals pick to win it all in NCAA Tournament

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:56:39 -0400

The Final Four is set for Saturday night in Indianapolis with Michigan, Arizona, Illinois and UConn all fighting to reach Monday's national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Only one of those four teams will emerge as NCAA Tournament champions, and one college basketball legend already has his pick for who will be cutting down the nets Monday night.

Jimmer Fredette, the BYU great who had his "One Shining Moment" in March Madness in 2011, has been following the intense games throughout the tournament to get to this point.

He knows exactly who he’s riding with the rest of the way.

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"I honestly have Michigan right now. I have Michigan winning it all," he told Fox News Digital in a recent interview, highlighting his partnership with Coca-Cola and its "Fan Work Is Thirsty Work" campaign for the tournament.

It’s hard not to love everything the No. 1 seed out of the Midwest Region has been putting together in this tournament. The Wolverines, led by head coach Dusty May in his second season, have dominated the competition they’ve faced.

Michigan has won by double digits in each of their four tournament games, including a rout of No. 6 Tennessee, 95-62, in the Elite Eight to secure a spot in the Final Four. The Wolverines are led by forward Yaxel Lendeborg, who averaged 15.2 points this season but is scoring 25 per contest in the tournament.

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"I just think their length and their size is so unique," Fredette explained. "They can play multiple different ways, but that just poses a real problem for people, especially in the tournament.

"It’s hard to game plan on a single-game basis. Obviously, they haven’t lost many games this year, and if they did lose a game, they were very close. You know that when you’re playing against them, it’s going to be a fight. It’s going to be a battle."

Fredette added that May previously coaching in the Final Four with Florida Atlantic University in 2023 will be a key factor for the Wolverines.

But Arizona, the No. 1 seed out of the West Region, could match up well against Michigan Saturday night. While Michigan has lost just three games this season, the Wildcats have only lost two in a tough Big 12 Conference schedule.

The way Fredette sees it, this Final Four matchup is basically a national championship matchup before the actual game.

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"Arizona’s playing great right now," he said. "In my opinion, that’s kind of a national championship matchup with those two teams. They’re big, they’re long, they’re athletic. They’re playing great basketball. But you never know."

As for the other matchup — No. 2 UConn, coming off a thrilling end to upset No. 1 Duke, and No. 3 Illinois — Fredette also has a winner there.

"Obviously, UConn and Illinois are both playing well. I think Illinois, in my opinion, is going to beat UConn, and I think it’s going to be Illinois and Michigan in the final, and Michigan winning it all. So, we’ll see. I’ll probably be completely wrong. That’s how it works in this tournament. But that’s what I see right now, and Michigan’s playing some of the best basketball you can play."

As Fredette said, the tournament finds a way to make the craziest things happen on a basketball court, living up to the March Madness moniker.

It will be UConn-Illinois to begin the festivities in Indianapolis Saturday night at 6:09 p.m. ET, followed by Michigan-Arizona.

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From buzzer-beaters to overtime thrillers, this year’s men’s tournament has had it all in terms of intense, edge-of-your-seat basketball. But that can be thirsty work for fans across the country, which is why Coca-Cola launched its "Fan Work is Thirsty Work" campaign, which celebrates the fans behind the tournament’s Cinderella stories.

Who doesn’t love the feel-good, Cinderella story of the tournament? While there may be top seeds still left in the bracket, moments like High Point upsetting Wisconsin in the first round, VCU shocking UNC in overtime and others have truly powered this year’s fun in March.

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Coca-Cola introduced the Coca-Cola Glass Sipper, an ode to the famous children’s story that is a custom size 11 basketball sneaker-shaped cup to celebrate the team and fan base whose tournament journey most defies expectations.

"That’s what March Madness is all about. It’s about the energy, and that’s what Coca-Cola wants to have in their campaign," Fredette said. "They want to capture how much fans put into every game, and, for me, I love the fans.

"I love playing in front of packed crowd. They were rowdy, they had such loyalty to their schools, and that obviously transitions into the March Madness tournament. Everyone is a part of it because everyone fills out a bracket. They want to see the Cinderella stories. They want to see their brackets go well, [and] they want to pick the right Cinderella. Coke wants to capture that."

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UConn's undefeated season crumbles as South Carolina gets sweet revenge against reigning champs

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:07:01 -0400

The UConn women's basketball team's quest to 40-0 ended on Friday after one of their worst performances in recent memory.

Winning each of its first 38 games of the season, the Huskies were outscored by 16 points in the final 20 minutes to fall to fellow No. 1 seed South Carolina, 62-48, in the Final Four.

The bout was a rematch of last year's national championship, which the Huskies won for a storybook ending to UConn alum Paige Bueckers' career.

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It's the fourth time in the last five years that the Gamecocks are back in the national championship, while the Huskies had won 54 straight dating back to last year.

Ta’Niya Latson scored 16 points, and Agot Makeer added 14 with South Carolina playing stifling defense. UConn (38-1) entered the Final Four undefeated for the ninth time in school history, and for the third straight time left without a title. The Huskies also lost in the 2017 and 2018 national semifinals.

This was the fewest points UConn had scored since putting up 49 points in a national championship game loss to the Gamecocks in 2022.

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Leading 46-44 a few minutes into the third quarter, South Carolina scored five straight points, capped by Agot Makeer’s 3-pointer to extend the advantage to seven.

UConn's Sarah Strong hit a 3-pointer to get the Huskies back within 51-47 with 4:39 left, but the Huskies didn't score again until Strong hit a free throw with 30.8 seconds left, after South Carolina had scored 11 straight points.

Strong, who was honored as the AP Player of the Year on Thursday, had 12 points and 12 rebounds, but went 4 for 16 from the field. Azzi Fudd had just eight points for the Huskies, making only 3-of-15 shots.

UConn had its worst shooting night of the season, finishing 19 for 61 (31.1%) from the field.

The game was headlined by a heated postgame exchange between coaches Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley.

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The Gamecocks will now face UCLA on Sunday for the national championship.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Legendary women's basketball coaches Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma get into heated shouting match

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 22:46:01 -0400

Friday's women's March Madness game between UConn and South Carolina saw an eruption of tempers boil over as two of the sport’s most legendary coaches engaged in a heated sideline confrontation.

UConn's Geno Auriemma and South Carolina's Dawn Staley were seen shouting aggressively at each other in the closing moments of the game. South Carolina was on the verge of a 62-48 win in the Final Four, when Auriemma approached Staley. He began to speak to her aggressively, before the conversation devolved and quickly escalated into a visible shouting match.

After the game, Auriemma appeared to not shake Staley's hand.

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Staley addressed the incident in an interview with ESPN immediately afterward.

"I have no idea, but I'm going to let you know this: I'm of integrity. I'm of integrity," Staley said. "So if I did something wrong to Geno, I had no idea what I did. I guess he thought I didn't shake his hand at the beginning of the game. I didn't know. I went down there pregame, shook everybody on his staff's hand. I don't know what we came with after the game, but hey, sometimes things get heated. We move on."

Auriemma was seen shaking Staley's hand in ESPN footage before the game.

"I don't want what happened there to dampen what we were able to accomplish today," Staley added.

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Meanwhile, Auriemma expressed displeasure with Staley and the referees during an in-game interview on ESPN.

"There were six fouls called that quarter — all of them against us," Auriemma said on the broadcast. "And they’ve been beating the (expletive) out of our guys down there the entire game. I’m not making excuses, ’cause we haven’t been able to make a shot. But this is ridiculous.

After the game, Auriemma declined to elaborate on the incident.

"I said what I had to say and... nothing... nothing," he said when asked what happened with Staley, refusing to tell reporters what he said. "Why would I say it? I said what I said, and obviously she didn't like it. I just told the truth."

Auriemma later addressed the speculation over the handshake pre-game and his mid-game interview.

"I don't have any regrets," Auriemma said of his mid-game interview.

"I've been coaching a long time, I never had a kid have to change their jersey because somebody ripped it and the official said they didn't see it. There were a lot of things that happened in that game. Unless you're on that sideline, you have no idea what's happening on that sideline...

"The protocol is, before the game, you meet at half court, anybody ever see that before? The two coaches meet at half court, and they shake hands... they announce it on the loudspeaker. I waited there for like three minutes."

Footage of the shouting exchange quickly went viral on social media, with many fans shocked when two of women’s basketball’s most respected figures clashed so publicly.

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ESPN star Stephen A. Smith blasted Auriemma for the incident in an X post.

"That was some straight B.S. from the GREAT Geno Auriemma. Never — ever — thought I’d see the day when the greatest woman’s college coach in history would go down so CLASSLESSLY!!! Horrible look, and should be called out for it. He got OUTCOACHED," Smith wrote. "Plain and simple. And gets in her face like she did something wrong to him instead of being gracious. Had Dawn Staley acted like that we would be all over her."

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Former Syracuse basketball player to be deported after spending weeks in ICE custody

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 14:44:36 -0400

A former Syracuse basketball player is being deported to Sudan after spending several weeks in ICE custody.

John Bol Ajak was taken into custody Feb. 18 and agreed to a deportation order Thursday, according to Syracuse.com.

The outlet reported that Ajak had been given the option of either voluntary departure or a deportation order, and he chose the latter.

The U.S. government pays for the deportation order, while voluntarily leaving allows eligibility for future entry.

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"If this is how I’m leaving, I never want to step foot in this country again," Ajak said.

Ajak was held at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Pennsylvania, and had been living in Syracuse.

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He was arrested four times between December and when he was placed in ICE custody for trespassing, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. He admitted Thursday he had been in the country illegally after his F-1 student visa had expired, which also resulted in him not being able to attend the Newhouse School of Public Communications at the university.

Ajak came to the United States from Kenya in 2014 to pursue an education and basketball opportunities in Pennsylvania and played for the Orange from 2020 through 2023 under Jim Boeheim.

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At 6-foot-10 and 215 pounds, he played in 35 games. He scored 21 career points and had 43 rebounds, 26 assists and 27 personal fouls.

Ajak was born in South Sudan, but his family fled to Kenya when he was an infant during the country's civil war.

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Dan Hurley credits 'Jersey boss lady' wife Andrea for keeping UConn out of trouble in wild finish vs Duke

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 18:34:34 -0400

While the UConn Huskies have a trip back to the national championship at stake, it’s hard not to keep thinking about the insane ending against Duke, when a halftime court shot sealed victory in a way fit for March Madness.

But head coach Dan Hurley credited his wife, Andrea, who he called a "Jersey boss lady," for making sure the Huskies didn’t do anything they’d regret after that 3-pointer gave them a 73-72 lead, securing them a spot in the Final Four.

Hurley, making an appearance on Barstool Sports’ "Pardon My Take," agreed with Dan "Big Cat" Katz when he mentioned how "incredible" Andrea was in making sure all the players and staff went back to the bench after the shot was hit.

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With 0.3 seconds still left on the clock, the Huskies may have gotten a technical foul, which would have resulted in free throws for Duke.

"Yeah, she’s a boss. She’s the Jersey boss lady. And her language is colorful, too. I mean, she was grabbing people around the back of their warmups. And she doesn’t know anything about basketball, you know?" Hurley said.

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Hurley revealed the conversation he had with his wife after the Final Four spot was secured.

"I said to her on the plane, ‘This is wild. Three out of four years, you’re going to the Final Four. Do you ever imagine this with your life,’" Hurley said.

"And she’s like, ‘I didn’t even know Final Four existed until four years ago."

Four years ago, Hurley made his first trip to the Final Four, and the result was exactly what he had hoped for — a national title.

The Huskies successfully defended that title in 2024, maintaining their No. 1 overall seed throughout the year. But after losing in the second round to Florida in last year’s NCAA Tournament, the Huskies came in looking for redemption.

They got as high as No. 2 in the AP rankings, and they are a No. 2 seed about to face No. 3 Illinois with a chance to return to the national championship next Monday.

But that wouldn’t have been the case if his players didn’t intercept a pass by Duke star Cam Boozer, the son of Duke and NBA great Carlos Boozer, and Braylon Mullins drilled a 3-pointer almost at the buzzer in a bizarre finish to their Elite Eight matchup.

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UConn had come back from a 19-point deficit to shock the Blue Devils and earn a trip to Lucas Oil Stadium, where they will take on Illinois, the top-ranked offense in the country this year, for a spot in the final.

The teams will tip off in Indianapolis at 6:09 p.m. ET Saturday.

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