Mitch Stacy, Associated Press | Updated March 18 - 7:59 p.m.
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Last year, a team from New Jersey called Fairleigh Dickinson played its way out of the First Four and then became one of the most improbable bracket-busters in NCAA Tournament history. Two days after winning in Dayton, the Knights upset Purdue, only the second time in history a No. 16 seed beat a No 1 seed. Eight teams begin their NCAA Tournament journey on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, hoping to be the next team to start in Dayton and do some bracket busting. Wagner faces Howard on Tuesday night, followed by Colorado State against Virginia. On Wednesday, Grambling plays Montana State, and Colorado draws Boise State.
Sean Walker, KSL.com | Posted March 18 - 6:31 p.m.
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The Cougars wrapped up their third week of spring practices with their first 76-play live scrimmage, and Sitake said the offense has had the upper hand most days.
Mark Anderson, Associated Press | Posted March 18 - 5:53 p.m.
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Bettors expect a lot of upsets in this year's NCAA Tournament. They are placing wagers on long shots to win. The First Four is Tuesday and Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio. The tournament begins in full Thursday. Recent history has shown some of those fliers can turn into big money. Saint Peter's made the Sweet 16 two years ago as a No. 15 seed. Last year's Final Four included a very un-blue-blooded San Diego State, Florida Atlantic and Miami.
John Zenor, Associated Press | Updated March 18 - 5:29 p.m.
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Alabama is set to pay new football coach Kalen DeBoer at least $87 million over eight years. School trustees also formally approved raises and extensions for basketball coach Nate Oats and athletic director Greg Byrne. The 49-year-old DeBoer replaced seven-time national champion Nick Saban after leading Washington to the national championship game in his second season. He's set to make $10 million his first year. Oats will make $5 million over the next year with a huge buyout. Byrne has an eight-year deal that averages just over $2 million.
Pete Iacobelli, Associated Press | Posted March 18 - 3:54 p.m.
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In a season where fans marveled at the sustained excellence of NCAA all-time career scorer Caitlin Clark of Iowa, there's a stellar group of freshmen who've made an impact as they prepare to dazzle in their first NCAA Tournament. Newcomer JuJu Watkins at Southern Cal has surpassed Clark's points output as a freshman. Hannah Hidalgo at Notre Dame, MiLaysia Fulwiley at South Carolina and Madison Booker at Texas were all named MVPs in their first conference tournaments. And all are ready for what's next.
Eric Olson, Associated Press | Posted March 18 - 3:09 p.m.
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This season has been quite a bounce back for Link Jarrett and the Florida State Seminoles, at least so far. The Seminoles are 18-0 and the only unbeaten team in Division I after sweeping Notre Dame at home over the weekend. Last season they went 22-31 for their first sub-.500 record in the 74-year history of the program. They finished last in the ACC for the first time since they joined the league in 1992 and missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1977. The 18-0 start is FSU's best since 2007.
The Associated Press | Posted March 18 - 3:06 p.m.
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Dartmouth says it will not enter into collective bargaining with the union its men's basketball players voted to join earlier this month. The school made the announcement Monday in a move that could send the case to federal court. The school was adamant that it believes "athletes in the Ivy League are not employees" in a statement that declared its refusal to bargain a labor deal with the athletes. A regional director of the National Labor Relations Board ruled last month that Dartmouth basketball players were employees, clearing the way for them to vote to join the union.
Will Graves, Associated Press | Updated March 18 - 2:33 p.m.
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Keith Dambrot's first NCAA tournament appearance as the head coach at Duquesne will also be his last. The 65-year-old Dambrot is retiring whenever the Dukes' run in March Madness ends. Dambrot announced his decision a day after a 57-51 victory over VCU in the Atlantic 10 tournament final clinched the small Catholic school in downtown Pittsburgh its first NCAA tournament berth since 1977. Dambrot says he was 80% sure he was going to retire last summer. That turned into 100% when his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. Â Duquesne is an 11th-seed in the NCAA tournament and will play sixth-seeded BYU in the first round.
Michael Marot, Associated Press | Posted March 18 - 2:27 p.m.
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The tears started streaming down the cheeks of coach Kevin Borseth's wife and daughter even before they welled up in his own eyes or the eyes of Green Bay's players last week. Nothing makes the pure, raw emotions flow like a championship run to end an NCAA Tournament drought. And it was evident in the aftermath of a dominant 64-40 victory over rival Cleveland State in last week's Horizon League Tournament title game. The victory sent Green Bay, which not so long ago had made 18 NCAA appearances in 222 years, to March Madness for the first time since 2018.
Michael Marot, Associated Press | Posted March 18 - 2:22 p.m.
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consistent 3-point shooting. With Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer about to complete their second college seasons and Lance Jones, a transfer from Southern Illinois, adding energy in the backcourt, Purdue could be better positioned to make a deep March Madness than they've been recently.
Andrew Seligman, Associated Press | Posted March 18 - 12:56 p.m.
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Chris Holtmann couldn't pass up the chance to restore DePaul's once-proud program and insists he's ready for the challenge as the Blue Demons' new coach. He says he took the job because he and his family "really do believe in what this place can be." The 52-year-old Holtmann was introduced Monday at a news conference at Wintrust Arena after being hired last week, a month after Ohio State fired him. He comes with a 251-171 record with seven NCAA Tournament appearances in 13 seasons at Gardner-Webb, Butler and Ohio State. DePaul hasn't made the NCAA Tournament in 20 years and just finished one of the worst seasons in Big East history.
Dave Skretta, Associated Press | Posted March 18 - 12:29 p.m.
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Bill Self feels pretty good about Hunter Dickinson's availability for the NCAA Tournament. The Kansas coach frankly has no idea what to expect of his other All-America candidate, Kevin McCullar Jr. And he's not the only one fretting the health of their teams with First Four games beginning Tuesday and the tournament ramping up to full speed Thursday and Friday. Whether it's Marquette star Tyler Kolek's oblique injury or Houston big man J'Wan Roberts dealing with some leg soreness, injuries could play a big role in what transpires over the next three weeks.
Eric Olson, Associated Press | Posted March 18 - 12:23 p.m.
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Coach Matt Rhule spent the first 10 minutes of his pre-spring football practice news conference giving a pep talk to a Nebraska fan base reeling from last week's surprise departure of athletic director Trev Alberts. Rhule has only been at the school for 16 months, and in that time he has seen university president Ted Carter leave for the same position at Ohio State and Alberts take off for the AD job at Texas A&M. Rhule is in his second year of an eight-year, $74 million contract. He said the hiring a high-caliber AD will be crucial at this pivotal time.
John Marshall, Associated Press | Posted March 18 - 11:45 a.m.
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The status quo has become a moving target as college basketball ramps up to March Madness. NIL has offered student-athletes more revenue-earning opportunities while forcing the NCAA to create new rules to govern it. The transfer portal has had a massive impact on programs, with teams practically starting over every season. Conference realignment has vastly altered the college sports landscape, with super conferences forming after the demise of the Pac-12. Schools, coaches and the NCAA have all been forced to adapt to what's become constantly changing terrain.
The Associated Press | Posted March 18 - 11:33 a.m.
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Suspended South Carolina freshman Sahnya Jah has entered the transfer portal. Jah is a 6-foot forward who was ranked the 40th best player in last year's recruiting class. She was suspended in February for conduct detrimental at the team. Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley would not give more details about Jah's suspension, only saying the player could work her way back onto the team. Staley said Monday that she wished Jah well in her future.
Noah Trister, Associated Press | Posted March 18 - 11:25 a.m.
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UConn is the betting favorite to win a second straight national title, but repeating is not easy. Houston has now been tested by a power-conference schedule after joining the Big 12. Purdue will be eager to put aside last year's loss to 16th-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson. Here's a quick early prediction: UConn, Houston, Gonzaga and longshot Michigan State reach the Final Four. Then Houston denies UConn a repeat in the championship game.
Aaron Beard, Associated Press | Posted March 18 - 11:01 a.m.
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Reigning national champion Connecticut is back at No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 men's college basketball poll. The Huskies swapped places with Houston a day after UConn was picked as the top overall seed for the NCAA Tournament. Houston fell to No. 2 after losing to Iowa State in the Big 12 Tournament title game. The Cyclones jumped to No. 4 for their highest ranking in more than eight years. The final Top 25 will be released for the first time the day after the NCAA title game.