FAU holds off Nowell and K-State to reach 1st Final Four
March 26, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Alijah Martin sent a message early for upstart Florida Atlantic, soaring to the basket for a one-handed jam and chirping with the Kansas State players about his poster moment at Madison Square Garden.
Gonzaga’s Drew Timme ends storied career in loss to UConn
March 26, 2023 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — Gonzaga was down 10 points early in the second half Saturday night in the West Region final against UConn, but Julian Strawther had just secured a defensive rebound, and perhaps the Bulldogs had a run in them.
Zags’ Strawther may jump to NBA after sad ending in Vegas
March 26, 2023 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — Two nights after Julian Strawther exuberantly stormed through the tunnel at T-Mobile Arena following his 3-pointer from the March Madness logo that lifted Gonzaga past UCLA, his walk to the locker room Saturday night was somber.
UConn routs Gonzaga 82-54 for first Final Four in 9 years
March 26, 2023 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — The critique of UConn under coach Dan Hurley had been the program’s inability to win in March.
Consecutive first-round NCAA Tournament exits meant the Huskies were good, not great — certainly not anywhere in league with the UConn women’s program.
Florida Atlantic beats K-State, makes Final Four as 9 seed
March 26, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Alijah Martin, Vladislav Goldin and ninth-seeded Florida Atlantic became the first and lowest-seeded team to reach this year’s Final Four as the Owls withstood another huge game by Kansas State’s Markquis Nowell to beat the Wildcats 79-76 on Saturday night.
Nowell’s heroics not enough to get K-State to Final Four
March 26, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Playing in front of a Madison Square Garden crowd that was riveted every time he touched the ball, Markquis Nowell did everything he could to carry Kansas State to its first Final Four since 1964.
March Madness: Elite 8 arrives with a twist: 2 sites, not 4
March 26, 2023 GMTMarch Madness has reached Elite Eight! There is a twist this year for the women's tournament: The NCAA picked two regional sites instead of four, with Greenville, South Carolina, and Seattle each hosting eight teams.
Creighton, San Diego State each aim to reach 1st Final Four
March 26, 2023 GMTLOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Creighton and San Diego State have dreamed of being in this situation for years. And it's not the first time each team has stood in the other's way.
The sixth-seeded Bluejays and the fifth-seeded Aztecs are each seeking their first Final Four when they meet in Sunday's South Region final.
Virginia Tech keeps rolling in March Madness, tops Tennessee
March 26, 2023 GMTSEATTLE (AP) — Throughout this historic season for Virginia Tech, coach Kenny Brooks has repeated the belief that Elizabeth Kitley is the best player for the Hokies, but Georgia Amoore is the most important.
Louisville women in familiar March Madness spot, face Iowa
March 26, 2023 GMTSEATTLE (AP) — By this point, Louisville resume of women’s NCAA Tournament success should have the Cardinals getting mentioned in the same breath as South Carolina, UConn and the other powers in the sport.
Ohio State ends UConn women’s run of 14 straight Final Fours
March 26, 2023 GMTSEATTLE (AP) — UConn’s record streak of reaching 14 straight Final Fours ended when third-seeded Ohio State beat the No. 2 seed Huskies 73-61 on Saturday in the Sweet 16 of the women’s NCAA Tournament.
UConn’s Final Four streak ends with 73-61 loss to Ohio State
March 26, 2023 GMTSEATTLE (AP) — UConn’s record Final Four run is over, thanks to a monumental performance by Ohio State.
The Buckeyes ended UConn's unprecedented streak of reaching 14 consecutive Final Fours, beating the Huskies 73-61 on Saturday in the Sweet 16 of the women's NCAA Tournament.
Seniors take Aztecs to new heights on Elite Eight journey
March 25, 2023 GMTLOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — San Diego State's recruiting pitch to Darrion Trammell certainly sounded intriguing.
Coach Brian Dutcher asked the former Seattle University guard to come to Southern California and play in a Final Four.
Miami coach Jim Larrañaga asks for transparency on NIL deals
March 25, 2023 GMTKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Miami coach Jim Larrañaga wants to know how much money athletes at other schools are making through name, image and likeness deals.
It's only fair, he said, since no school has had the values of its athletes' deals publicized more than Miami.
Nova Southeastern completes perfect season, wins D-II title
March 25, 2023 GMTEVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Will Yoakum scored 31 points, Dallas Graziani added 24 points, nine assists and three steals and top-ranked Nova Southeastern beat West Liberty 111-101 on Saturday to win the first NCAA Division II national championship in program history.
Boston, South Carolina women overpower UCLA in March Madness
March 25, 2023 GMTGREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina's defenders chased ballhandlers and used their length to disrupt any flow. Its bigs continued to snag just about every miss coming off the rim.
It's an unwavering combination, one that at times has the Gamecocks' push for a second straight national championship flirting with a vibe of inevitability.
Maryland Madness: Miller leads Terps to Elite Eight
March 25, 2023 GMTGREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Amid Maryland's on-court celebration of reaching the Elite Eight for the first time in eight years, Terrapins coach Brenda Frese took a few moments to smile and reflect on how far her team has come in the past year.
Texas seeks 1st Final Four in 20 years, Miami its 1st ever
March 25, 2023 GMTKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Texas coach Rodney Terry was not more than 20 minutes removed from a resounding win over Xavier in the Sweet 16 when he was asked about the next mammoth task during what is becoming an improbable run toward a home-state Final Four.
March Madness betting guide: UConn, Texas new favorites
March 25, 2023 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — March Madness is down to eight teams, and often by this point, nearly all the expected top teams are still playing. All the No. 1 seeds are gone, and Texas is the only No.
March Madness: Sweet 16 underway from NYC to Las Vegas
March 25, 2023 GMTMarch Madness has reached Sweet 16 weekend. Two No. 1 seeds, Kansas and Purdue, are already gone along with millions of busted brackets and a host of bluebloods including Kentucky, Duke, Indiana and UCLA.
Miami’s mad March sees men, women programs in Elite 8
March 25, 2023 GMTKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Nijel Pack understands why the question gets asked. He plays for a school that’s won five national championships in football.
Miami aims to extend wild NCAA run, meets LSU in Elite 8
March 25, 2023 GMTGREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Miami was only a few hours removed from pushing deeper in the women's NCAA Tournament than ever before.
Miami beats No. 1 seed Houston; all four top NCAA seeds out
March 25, 2023 GMTKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Knocking No. 1 seed Houston out of the NCAA Tournament made Jim Larrañaga feel like dancing.
Much to his players' delight, the 73-year-old Miami coach busted moves straight out of the disco era in the locker room Friday night to celebrate an 89-75 Sweet 16 victory that left the tournament without a No.
Texas blows out Xavier 83-71 for spot in NCAA Elite Eight
March 25, 2023 GMTKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Rodney Terry stopped on the way to the Texas locker room after his team knocked out Xavier for a spot in the Elite Eight, the interim coach fulfilling a fan's wish for a photograph by flashing that all-too-familiar “Hook ’em Horns” sign.
Creighton ends Princeton’s March Madness run with 86-75 win
March 25, 2023 GMTLOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Creighton coach Greg McDermott understood what his team needed to do if it wanted to make school history.
Ryan Kalkbrenner, the Big East's two-time defensive player of the year, had to use his 7-foot-1 frame to overwhelm Princeton's defense.
March Madness: Louisville tops Ole Miss 72-62 in Sweet 16
March 25, 2023 GMTSEATTLE (AP) — Hailey Van Lith put on a show in her home state to get Louisville back to a familiar place — the Elite Eight.
Van Lith scored 21 points to help the fifth-seeded Cardinals beat No.
Clark’s March Madness marches on, Iowa women beat Colorado
March 25, 2023 GMTSEATTLE (AP) — Caitlin Clark felt it was all happening a little too quick and on the stage of playing in a regional semifinal, Iowa's star needed to slow down for a change.
Miami beats No. 1 seed Houston, SDSU ousts 1 seed Alabama
March 25, 2023 GMTKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Nijel Pack and Miami hit shots from near and far against the stingiest defense in the country to beat Houston 89-75 on Friday night in the Sweet 16, leaving the NCAA Tournament without a single No.
Crazy Eight: No top seeds among last 8 in March Madness
March 25, 2023 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — March has gone from madness to unprecedented.
With Miami's win over Houston and San Diego State's takedown of Alabama on Friday night, the men's NCAA Tournament will not have a No.
San Diego State ousts top seed Alabama from March Madness
March 25, 2023 GMTLOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher has insisted throughout the NCAA Tournament that if his team plays to its strengths, it doesn't matter what the opposition does.
The Aztecs certainly played the way they wanted to against the top overall seed in March Madness.
Final No. 1 seed falls as Houston gets blown out by Miami
March 25, 2023 GMTKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The next stop for Houston's resurrected basketball program is the Big 12.
The Cougars would've preferred it to be the Elite Eight — and eventually back home for the Final Four.
March Madness: Morris, LSU women top Utah, into Elite Eight
March 25, 2023 GMTGREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — LaDazhia Williams was determined to extend her career. Thanks to her best game of the season, her LSU teammates will get to keep playing, too.
New York, Las Vegas players shine brightest in March Madness
March 25, 2023 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — Long known as the city that never sleeps, New York has a rival for that title in 24/7 Las Vegas, and in both places, stars shine as bright as the neon lights in Times Square or the Vegas Strip.
Different types of transfers helped KSU, FAU to Elite Eight
March 25, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — To get a sense of where Kansas State and Florida Atlantic sit in college basketball's hierarchy, look at their transfers.
The Wildcats have nine players who previously played at other Division I schools, several of whom were productive multi-year starters in mid-major conferences.
K-State’s Keyontae Johnson thriving 2 years after collapse
March 25, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Florida Atlantic coach Dusty May had a hard time keeping his emotions in check as he spoke about Kansas State forward Keyontae Johnson.
May's near-tears had nothing to do with preparing his Owls (34-3) to face Johnson and the Wildcats (26-9) in the East Region final on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden with a trip to the Final Four on the line.
Gonzaga faces UConn in Elite Eight after epic win over UCLA
March 25, 2023 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — Gonzaga pulled off a March miracle against UCLA in Sweet 16, winning an epic game that featured a furious rally and two 3-pointers in the final 13 seconds.
The Zags celebrated on the floor, with their families in the stands and in the locker room.
Miami women hold on, beat Villanova for 1st trip to Elite 8
March 24, 2023 GMTGREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — The horn sounded and Miami coach Katie Meier turned to start jumping and hugging her staff as players and cheerleaders sprinted past for a meet-at-midcourt celebration. She soon made her way into the crowd to embrace players hollering with delight.
Lack of March Madness: Seeds hold form in Seattle 3 Region
March 24, 2023 GMTSEATTLE (AP) — Reaching the Sweet 16 is old hat for Geno Auriemma and UConn. They've done it in a record 29 consecutive NCAA Tournaments.
Because of all the Huskies have gone through this season with injuries and illnesses to both players and coaches, this one was more special for the Hall of Fame coach.
Column: Cinderella tries to claim a title at March Madness
March 24, 2023 GMTCinderella is no stranger at March Madness.
From George Mason to VCU to Loyola of Chicago, there are some scintillating Final Four runs that keep hope alive for the little guys.
March Madness: Low-cut sneakers gain traction on court
March 24, 2023 GMTDENVER (AP) — The squeaks from the sneakers on the court sound the same. But these are far from your classic Chuck Taylors or vintage Air Jordans. Or any version of high tops at all.
The iconic shoe designed to extend slightly over the ankle has pretty much fallen out of favor in the lanes across basketball.
March Madness: Bench play key to South Carolina’s success
March 24, 2023 GMTGREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina certainly has front-line, championship talent with All-American Aliyah Boston and top scorer Zia Cooke. And they're backed by a bench that's second-to-none in the women's game.
Gonzaga beats UCLA 79-76 in Sweet 16 on Strawther’s shot
March 24, 2023 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — Gonzaga and UCLA played one NCAA Tournament game that left the Zags' star player bawling, and another game that stunned the Bruins.
Add another to the list. Maybe the maddest one in March yet.
UCLA’s Kiki Rice AP Diary: On to the Sweet 16!
March 24, 2023 GMTGREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — What a fun atmosphere that was!
Playing in my first NCAA Tournament was a blast and to get to play the first two rounds at home was special. The crowd was incredible and that was one of the best environments we’ve had all season.
Florida Atlantic makes first Elite Eight, bounces Tennessee
March 24, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — When the horn sounded on the greatest victory in the history of Florida Atlantic athletics, Nick Boyd and Bryan Greenlee hopped onto the press row table to celebrate.
Instead of going to the locker room, some of the Owls players made their way up into the stands to sing “New York, New York” with their fans.
March Madness: Alabama and surprising bunch remain in South
March 24, 2023 GMTLOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Alabama was expected to be in the Sweet 16 as the overall top seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Few thought the teams standing between the Crimson Tide and a trip to the Final Four would be No.
Nowell has record 19 assists as Kansas State reaches Elite 8
March 24, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Markquis Nowell broke the NCAA Tournament record for assists in a game with 19, his last two on spectacular passes in the final minute of overtime, and Kansas State beat Michigan State 98-93 on Thursday night in a Sweet 16 thriller at Madison Square Garden.
UConn a step from Final Four after 88-65 blowout of Arkansas
March 24, 2023 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — After UConn lost as a 5 seed to 12th-seeded New Mexico State in the first round of last year's NCAA Tournament, Huskies coach Dan Hurley told his core players they would be back on this stage.
Nowell breaks NCAA assist record, KSU beats MSU 98-93 in OT
March 24, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Markquis Nowell walked the ball up the floor with the score tied in the final minute of overtime and exchanged animated hand signals with his coach, Jerome Tang.
Friday’s Time Schedule
March 24, 2023 GMTAll Times Eastern
Xavier’s Souley Boum is savoring his only March Madness
March 23, 2023 GMTKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Souley Boum never played on a losing team at his previous two schools. He also never played in an NCAA Tournament.
So Boum is savoring every moment of his one and only season at Xavier, the school he chose because he felt it gave him his best opportunity to play in March Madness.
Louisville’s Van Lith relishes March Madness back home
March 23, 2023 GMTSEATTLE (AP) — The chatter Hailey Van Lith heard from back home started in the immediate aftermath of the NCAA Tournament bracket being unveiled.
Two wins.
March Madness: Alabama’s Oats not offended by Saban comments
March 23, 2023 GMTLOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Alabama coach Nate Oats said Thursday he was not offended by comments Nick Saban made regarding Saban's handling of a football player's arrest in contrast to how the top-ranked Crimson Tide have dealt with the controversy surrounding All-American freshman Brandon Miller.
Inflategate? Bouncy basketballs hot topic at March Madness
March 23, 2023 GMTLOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Players and coaches in the NCAA Tournament may be breathing life into a new controversy: Inflategate.
After last weekend's first and second-round games were plagued by low shooting percentages from 3-point range, murmurs began about whether slick or excessively inflated basketballs may have been the culprit.
Creighton bucks March Madness trend in physical South Region
March 23, 2023 GMTLOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Creighton's players watched in disbelief last weekend as North Carolina State and Baylor pulled out oxygen masks in Denver's high altitude.
The Bluejays were in such good condition they didn't even need them to catch their breath.
Iowa, Louisville bring March Madness experience to Seattle
March 23, 2023 GMTSEATTLE (AP) — While most of the Sweet 16 is filled with top seeds, the Seattle 4 Regional is the landing place for teams that pulled off NCAA Tournament upsets to advance.
Caitlin Clark's second-seeded Iowa squad is the only one of the top four teams in this region to make it all the way West.
Texas has Terry coaching among March Madness heavyweights
March 23, 2023 GMTKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Of the four coaches who led their teams to the semifinals of the Midwest Region at the NCAA Tournament, the most unlikely of them might feel the most at home when he walks into T-Mobile Center on Friday night.
March Madness: Colorado’s resurgence relies on grit, no fear
March 23, 2023 GMTBOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Senior Jaylyn Sherrod's emotion-filled post-game interview after Colorado upset Duke reminded Buffaloes coach JR Payne of the time her point guard was interviewed after a 104-46 blowout at Oregon in Sherrod's freshman year.
March Madness: No. 2 seed Utah chasing more NCAA history
March 23, 2023 GMTGREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Utah won its first Pac-12 title behind All-American Alissa Pili, earned its highest seed ever at No. 2 in the Greenville 2 Regional and reached consecutive NCAA Tournaments for the first time in 14 years.
All-Americans Siegrist, Reese top NCAA Greenville 2 bracket
March 23, 2023 GMTGREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — No one has been able to keep up with Villanova's Maddy Siegrist all season. LSU's Angel Reese has been putting up her own video-game numbers with unrelenting and remarkable consistency.
Princeton Tigers add to their March Madness lore
March 23, 2023 GMTPRINCETON, N.J. (AP) — Two years ago, Mitch Henderson was coaching a Princeton team that was basically on sabbatical.
The Ivy League had called off sports again amid the pandemic as other leagues and the NCAA pushed ahead so the Tigers blended in with other hoops junkies and watched March Madness like fans.
UCLA dances into the Sweet 16, first time since 2019
March 23, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — When it comes to getting her team ready, UCLA coach Cori Close stresses mental preparation as much as making sure her players know their assignments.
During the season, Close motivated them with the quote "Everything you want is on the other side of hard” from Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams.
Soundtrack of this year’s March Madness begins with ‘CLANK!’
March 23, 2023 GMTKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Folks across the country watching the first-round of the NCAA Tournament last week thought it rightfully funny when they saw a couple of stadium workers scurry up a ladder and place a construction level across the rim.
Women hope Sweet 16 next step to own March Madness TV deal
March 23, 2023 GMTWomen’s college basketball believes it has the makings for a hit reality TV show with star power driving a marketable product that has a growing audience.
So they're taking the ensemble on the road for the Sweet 16.
Faith, family carry Miami’s Meier deep into March Madness
March 23, 2023 GMTCORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Katie Meier’s practices at Miami always end the same way. Every player and coach gathers around the midcourt circle, clasps the hand of the person next to them and someone then quietly offers a few words from the heart.
Gonzaga’s Timme, UCLA’s Jaquez to meet one more time
March 23, 2023 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — Drew Timme and Jaime Jaquez Jr. grew up in different states, yet often came across each other at AAU tournaments, sometimes as roommates.
The two fancy-footworking forwards with fantastic facial hair will be reunited Thursday night in the desert, when Gonzaga meets UCLA in the NCAA Tournament's West Region semifinals.
After tears, Arkansas’ Nick Smith Jr. hopes for joy Vegas
March 23, 2023 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — Arkansas had just returned to its locker room after knocking out defending national champion and West Region No.
March Madness remains must-see TV during first weekend
March 22, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Both editions of March Madness have proven to be must-see TV for basketball fans.
The first two rounds of the women's tournament averaged a record 391,000 viewers, a 28% increase over last year.
Coaches’ sons Hurley and Musselman to meet in Sweet 16
March 22, 2023 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — Every day he wasn't out recruiting or away at a game, Bill Musselman wrote a message on his son's school lunch bag.
Effort, energy, enthusiasm.
The message and the relentless pursuit of perfection it implored served as the substratum of Eric Musselman's life.
March Madness: Tennessee-FAU pits White brothers in Sweet 16
March 22, 2023 GMTThe White family text chain is relatively quiet right now.
No talking trash. No picking sides. Just a handful of “good luck” sentiments before arguably the biggest basketball game involving a handful of households with the same surname.
Brian Dutcher’s Aztecs meeting March Madness expectations
March 22, 2023 GMTSAN DIEGO (AP) — Brian Dutcher will always be known as the guy who spent all those years at Steve Fisher's side, winning the NCAA title at Michigan in 1989 and recruiting the Fab Five before helping to build San Diego State into a West Coast power.
NYC guards lead Michigan State, K-State to Sweet 16 at MSG
March 22, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Stories of New York City point guards have an almost mythical quality.
There are Hall of Famers and trailblazers such as Bob Cousy and Nate “Tiny” Archibald. In the 1980s, Kenny Smith and Kenny Anderson followed a similar path — from the same Catholic high school in Queens to the Atlantic Coast Conference to the NBA.
Texas’ Morris plays amid misdemeanor domestic violence case
March 22, 2023 GMTAUSTIN, Texas (AP) — In a season when Texas fired coach Chris Beard after a felony domestic violence arrest, it has allowed a reserve guard to keep playing while he awaits trial on a misdemeanor charge of assaulting an ex-girlfriend.
FAU doesn’t want the slipper, it wants March Madness crown
March 22, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Florida Atlantic isn't looking for a slipper to wear at the Sweet 16 dance in the East Region.
Coach Dusty May and his ninth-seeded Owls don't consider themselves a Cinderella team.
Princeton’s journey becomes face of March Madness’ COVID era
March 22, 2023 GMTPrinceton forward Tosan Evbuomwan spent his first three college seasons enduring one disappointment after another.
Reaching the NCAA Tournament and advancing to the Sweet 16 made it all worthwhile.
For top-seeded Houston, basketball is a family affair
March 22, 2023 GMTHOUSTON (AP) — Lauren Sampson remembers riding on the team bus in frigid winters as a preschooler during her father’s first head coaching job at Montana Tech, athletic tape affixed around the windows in a losing effort to stave off the cold.
March Madness Mix: Dominant Gamecocks amid Sweet 16 parity
March 22, 2023 GMTCOLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina is keenly aware that everyone remaining in the women's NCAA Tournament field is coming after the undefeated Gamecocks — and hard.
That conviction has been boosted after two of the top four seeds in Indiana and Stanford were ousted — something that hasn't happened since 1998.
Super seniors lead the way into March Madness Sweet 16
March 22, 2023 GMTJerome Tang took his time finding the right players to fit into the program he wanted to build at Kansas State.
They meshed just right, taking Tang and the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 in a season that started with them being picked to finish last in the Big 12.
Transfer portal provided boost for most March Madness teams
March 22, 2023 GMTEAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State coach Tom Izzo is not a big fan of the transfer portal, lamenting that it gives young athletes an easy out instead of an opportunity to overcome challenges.
March Madness allows Vols to showcase SEC’s rugged style
March 21, 2023 GMTKNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee coach Rick Barnes once took a team to watch a rugby match in Australia and loved what he saw.
Despite what Florida Atlantic coach Dusty May says, that sport isn't the Tennessee coach's guide for the rugged style his Volunteers bring to the basketball court.