College Basketball

PEORIA — Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood built a 28-9 team through home runs with international talent and finding a freshman who will be an NBA lottery pick. It added up to a dream season for the 39-year coach as his team earned a Final Four appearance and nearly got him the chance to play for a national …

INDIANAPOLIS — In a Final Four matchup that many expected to be a heavyweight bout, the Michigan Wolverines instead delivered a masterclass in efficiency, dismantling the Arizona Wildcats 91-73 at Lucas Oil Stadium. From the opening tip, it was clear that Michigan’s versatile offensive attack and stifling perimeter defense were too much for Tommy Lloyd’s squad to handle. As the …

Michigan defense vs. Arizona: How Wolverines terrorized Wildcats stars on way to blowout win originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. In order to take down a fellow No. 1 seed, advance to the national championship and hand the Arizona Wildcats just their third loss of the season, the Michigan …

Michigan didn’t just reach the national championship game. It rewrote what dominance looks like in March, and it did so on the biggest stage imaginable. What was billed as a heavyweight Final Four showdown quickly turned into something else entirely, as the Michigan Wolverines overwhelmed the Arizona Wildcats with a level of offensive execution that felt almost unfair. Every possession …

The University of Connecticut, with another key three-pointer from Braylon Mullins, beat the University of Illinois 71-62 on Saturday to reach the final of the NCAA collegiate basketball tournament. The Huskies will be chasing their third title in four years when they take on the University of Michigan in the championship game on Monday. Advertisement Michigan dominated the University of …

So, this is the clearest way to explain what Michigan did to Arizona in a national semifinal billed as a battle between two heavyweights: Yaxel Lendeborg played the second half after spraining his MCL and rolling his ankle. Yet, upon draining a 3-pointer at the 16:27 mark, the one-legged Lendeborg had scored more points in the half (six) than the …

So, this is the clearest way to explain what Michigan did to Arizona in a national semifinal billed as a battle between two heavyweights: Yaxel Lendeborg played the second half after spraining his MCL and rolling his ankle. Yet, upon draining a 3-pointer at the 16:27 mark, the one-legged Lendeborg had scored more points in the half (six) than the …

Where to watch NCAA D3 men’s basketball championship: Time, TV channel, live stream for Emory vs. Mary Washington originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. History is on the line this Sunday in Indianapolis as Emory and Mary Washington meet in the NCAA Division III men’s basketball national championship. Advertisement …

INDIANAPOLIS — For a moment there, Michigan looked in trouble. All-America forward Yaxel Lendeborg picked up his first foul 72 into the Final Four matchup against Arizona and then was whistled for another just five seconds later, sending the senior to the bench. Advertisement Worse yet, Lendeborg began favoring his left leg after landing awkwardly with nine minutes left in the …

INDIANAPOLIS — Yaxel Lendeborg assumed the worst midway through the first half on Saturday night after he stepped on the foot of Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas while attacking the rim off the dribble. Michigan’s first-team All-American wing feared he would not play again in Indianapolis after his left ankle rolled and his left knee buckled. Advertisement “I definitely felt like I …

INDIANAPOLIS — With fewer than five minutes left in the first half of a game that was spiraling away from Arizona, freshman point guard Brayden Burries dribbled up the sideline near the Michigan bench and right into the grown-up body of 22-year-old senior Roddy Gayle. Unable to power through the trap and with no room to escape it, Burries’ only …

UConn men’s basketball is headed to its third national championship gamer in four seasons, and the seventh overall in the program’s vaunted history. After the Huskies dispatched Illinois 71-62 in the Final Four, Alex Karaban will play the final game of his historic career in the national championship and have a chance to finish his career as the most decorated …

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — UConn knows what it will take to become the first team in more than half a century to win three national championships in four seasons. The Huskies will rely on the same physical play that helped them win the first two, along with perhaps a bit more offensive efficiency. Michigan still might need a healthy Yaxel Lendeborg …

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Michigan overpowered Arizona early and humbled the ’Cats all night long, turning the Final Four meeting billed as the Game of the Year into a 91-73 Wolverines highlight reel Saturday night. Junior center Aday Mara scored a career-high 26 points and had nine rebounds, a dinged-up Yaxel Lendeborg had 11 points in 14 minutes and the Blue …

INDIANAPOLIS — Shortly after his team grinded out a 71-62 victory over Illinois to advance to Monday’s national title game, UConn coach Dan Hurley couldn’t resist poking fun at those who picked against the Huskies. Unprompted during his press conference, Hurley pointed out that oddsmakers anointed Illinois a 1.5-point favorite over UConn even though the Huskies beat the Illini by …

INDIANAPOLIS — The horn sounded, signaling UConn’s return to the national championship game for the third time in four seasons. And freshman Braylon Mullins raised his arms in triumph, a huge smile on his face as he trotted over to join his celebrating Huskies teammates. Not far away, Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler headed dejectedly to his bench, pulling his jersey …

Yaxel Lendeborg injury updates: Michigan star hobbles to locker room after hurting ankle, knee in Final Four originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Michigan couldn’t have started much hotter against Arizona in Saturday’s Final Four matchup, but Wolverines star Yaxel Lendeborg ran into a couple of hiccups along the …

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Michigan star forward Yaxel Lendeborg was sidelined by an ankle injury during the first half of Saturday’s Final Four game against Arizona, and it was unclear whether he would return. The first-team All-American had a rough start with two quick fouls and then exited after he stepped on the foot of Arizona big man Motiejus Krivas and …

Dan Hurley’s UConn magic all over Huskies’ march to still another NCAA Championship game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. INDIANAPOLIS – From the scowls to the play calls to the angry gestures to the rare (often sarcastic) smirks, all the way to the postgame handshake lines, Dan Hurley …

INDIANAPOLIS — Fans in orange and blue streamed through the streets of Indianapolis hours before Illinois’ national semifinal against Connecticut on Saturday and showed up early to Lucas Oil Stadium, an hour or so before tipoff. One half of the stadium was covered in orange, as were large patches of seats in the upper decks. A two-hour drive from Champaign …

Illinois men’s basketball entered the 2026 Final Four with the most statistically decorated offense in the country, an explosive and dynamic group that regularly blitzed past opponents. In the national semifinals, though, the Fighting Illini ran into a team that’s quickly starting to become their kryptonite. Advertisement In a 71-62 loss to UConn at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, coach …

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The horn sounded, signaling UConn’s return to the national championship game for the third time in four seasons. And freshman Braylon Mullins raised his arms in triumph, a huge smile on his face as he trotted over to join his celebrating Huskies teammates. Not far away, Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler headed dejectedly to his bench, pulling his …

INDIANAPOLIS — Tarris Reed Jr. posted his third double-double of the NCAA Tournament and Connecticut beat Illinois 71-62 in the Final Four to advance to Monday night’s national championship game. The No. 3 Huskies will meet the winner of the second national semifinal between No. 1 seeds Arizona and Michigan. Advertisement Reed had 17 points and 11 rebounds. Guard Braylon Mullins …

LAS VEGAS — It has been quite a run to say the least. Ten NCAA appearances. Fourteen years of 20-plus wins. A trip to the Elite Eight. A smooth transition from the Missouri Valley to the Big East. Not bad for a small Catholic school in Omaha, Nebraska. Greg McDermott was the guiding hand to Creighton’s basketball success over the …

After beating Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament Midwest region final on Sunday, March 30, No. 1 seed Michigan basketball is headed to its ninth Final Four appearance, starting with fellow 1-seed Arizona in Indianapolis on Saturday. Here’s a look at the program’s eight previous runs: 1964: Cazzie’s 31 not enough The dynamic duo of Cazzie Russell (left) and Detroit’s Bill …