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Follow all of Saturday's NCAA Tournament second round games with USA TODAY Sports' live updates.

After weeks of anticipation, the most exciting two days in American sports have drawn to a close.

The first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament is a beautiful symphony of chaos, with 32 games crammed into a 36-hour window. Those highlight reels of buzzer-beaters, massive upsets and emotionally charged moments that air throughout March and into early April? A solid chunk of them take place in those first two full days of action, when millions of people across the country are skirting personal and professional obligations to soak in all the madness that March has to offer.

As it does almost every year, the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament delivered. There were surprising results in thrilling games, with High Point knocking off Wisconsin in the time-honored 12-over-5 upset. There were furious comebacks, with VCU rebounding from a 19-point deficit to beat North Carolina. There were buzzer-beaters, with Kentucky’s Otega Oweh burying a prayer of a shot to get the Wildcats to overtime against Santa Clara. And whether it was High Point’s Flynn Clayman or VCU’s Phil Martelli Jr., there were post-game interviews that immediately went viral.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness scores: See the big shots, moments, highlights in today's first round

What stood out the most from an eventful couple of days? What teams, players and coaches were the most impressive in the win-or-go-home crucible of March?

Here are the 12 most impressive performances from the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament:

March Madness first round biggest winners

Saint Louis

In 2024, a 28-6 Indiana State team that had captivated much of the country with its best season since Larry Bird was on campus ended up being one of the first four teams left out of the NCAA tournament. Two years later, at a different blue-and-white school in the midwest, the coach and star player from that team showed us all what we missed with the Sycamores’ exclusion.

No team turned in a more impressive first-round performance than Saint Louis, which continued its breakthrough 2025-26 season under coach Josh Schertz and stellar big man Robbie Avila. In a 102-77 dismantling of Georgia, the Billikens shot 58% from the field, had 27 assists on 42 made baskets, had eight players score at least nine points and persistently embarrassed a power-conference foe which had wins over the likes of Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky and Texas this season. In the process, they became just the second team in tournament history to be seeded ninth or worse to score at least 100 points in a game and win by at least 25, joining the famous 1989-90 Loyola Marymount team.

After winning 24 of its first 25 games this season, Saint Louis limped into the tournament, going just 4-4 in its final eight regular-season games. If the win against the Bulldogs is any indication, it’s moved way past whatever was ailing it.

High Point…and its coach

In an event that has a wonderful habit of making once-anonymous coaches, players and schools national celebrities overnight, it took only the fourth game of the first full day of action to get our first Cinderella story.

No. 12 seed High Point entered its game against No. 5 seed Wisconsin as a 10-point underdog, trailed for 34 of 40 minutes, never led by more than three and was down by four with 56 seconds remaining, but was able to pull off the upset after getting a fast-break layup from Chase Johnston with 11 seconds remaining for an 83-82 win. The result was only a small part of the Panthers’ charm. Johnston’s winning basket was his first made 2-pointer of the season, as each of his 68 previous made shots were from 3-point range. Immediately after the win, first-year head coach Flynn Clayman gave one of the most memorable post-game interviews in years, sticking up for mid-majors like his own that have difficulty scheduling non-conference games against teams from the sport’s major conferences.

“It looks pretty obvious to me that high-majors need to play mid-majors during the season,” Clayman said. “They said we ain’t played nobody — we played somebody now.”

"Looks pretty obvious to me that high-majors need to play mid-majors early in the season. Because they said we didn't play nobody. We played somebody now."

-High Point HC Flynn Clayman pic.twitter.com/IpObzgJSGm

— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 19, 2026

High Point doesn’t perfectly fit the bill as a plucky little upstart. The Panthers’ roster is reportedly worth more than the rest of the Big South Conference combined and the university itself is perhaps most famous on social media for having a steakhouse on campus. But on one afternoon, High Point reminded us all why we love March Madness underdogs so much.

VCU

With 15 minutes remaining in regulation in its first-round game on March 19, VCU trailed North Carolina by 19. The Rams were a popular 11-over-6 upset pick, but in that moment, the Atlantic 10 tournament champions looked to be just about finished. Then, in an instant, everything changed. VCU outscored the Tar Heels 19-4 in the final 6:11 of regulation, forcing overtime and ultimately pulling out an improbable 82-78 victory.

Though much of the attention after the game has focused on North Carolina’s collapse, and what it might mean for coach Hubert Davis’ future, the Rams deserve more than a sizable share of credit for the result. Terrence Hill Jr. was brilliant, scoring a career-high 34 points while making 13 of his 23 shots, including seven of his 10 3s. Twenty-three of those points came in the second half and overtime. The Rams continued their giant-killing ways, knocking off North Carolina as a No. 11 seed after having done the same to Duke and Kansas earlier this century. Then, after the game, first-year VCU head coach Phil Martelli Jr. took a moment to heap praise on the student reporters who have been covering his team throughout the season.

Really cool moment tonight postgame after VCU upset UNC. VCU head coach Phil Martelli Jr. made a point to shoutout the student reporters that made the trip.

Lots of great stuff this time of year, but this was a really awesome, genuine exchange. pic.twitter.com/9NiDQHfz63

— Ben Portnoy (@bportnoy15) March 20, 2026

What’s not to love about this group?

Otega Oweh

Kentucky’s All-SEC guard saved his team’s season on more than one occasion on Friday, scoring a career-high 35 points along with eight rebounds and seven assists in the Wildcats’ 89-84 victory against Santa Clara. He provided what’s likely the highlight of the tournament thus far with a 32-foot 3-poiner that banked off the glass as time expired to send the game to overtime, a shot that came less than three seconds after Santa Clara took a 73-70 lead.

NO. WAY. 😱

WE'RE GOING TO OVERTIME!!! #MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/3n8rDxkY3h

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 20, 2026

Heading into its second-round game Sunday against No. 2 seed Iowa State, Kentucky has been one of the bigger disappointments in the sport this season, with a 22-13 record despite having a $22 million roster. But with the Wildcats’ season on the line, Oweh did everything he could to make sure it kept going.

Tarris Reed Jr.

The most eye-popping numbers of the first round came in its final game, when the UConn senior had 31 points and 27 (27!!) rebounds in the Huskies' 82-71 victory against Furman on Friday. Reed was efficient on the offensive end, making 12 of his 15 shots. On the glass, he was a different kind of monster, outrebounding the Paladins by himself.

A MONSTER game for Tarris Reed Jr... 30 points, 27 rebounds and counting 🤯🤯 @UConnMBBpic.twitter.com/yXuy4A5IpY

— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 21, 2026

Just how impressive was the Michigan transfer? Reed became the first player in NCAA tournament history with at least 30 points and 25 rebounds in a game while shooting at least 80% from the field.

Nebraska

The Cornhuskers notoriously were the only program from one of college basketball’s five major conferences that had never won an NCAA tournament game. All those years of misery came to a halt on one cathartic afternoon, with Nebraska blowing out Troy 76-47 on Thursday. The win continued a magical season for coach Fred Hoiberg’s team, which got the season off to a 20-0 start and has now won a program-record 27 games.

Now, with that ignominious historical qualifier behind it, the Huskers can focus on another first heading into its matchup Saturday against No. 5 seed Vanderbilt: a first-ever trip to the Sweet 16.

Braden Smith

Heading into his team's first-round game against Queens on Friday, the Purdue All-American point guard needed only two assists to break Bobby Hurley's NCAA career record. He managed to do much more than that, dishing out eight dimes to move to 1,083 for his exemplary career.

CONGRATS TO BRADEN SMITH 👏#MarchMadnesshttps://t.co/QOD4ei9qTYpic.twitter.com/mX8sx2kIPC

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 20, 2026

For good measure, he also scored a game-high 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting.

Texas Tech

With All-American forward JT Toppin sidelined for the remainder of the season, the Red Raiders were on the receiving end of a popular upset pick in their 5-versus-12 matchup against Akron. By the time they were done with the Zips, they made those predictions of an early exit from the tournament look foolish. 

Even without its best player, Texas Tech shot 64% from the field, 55% from 3 and had five players finish with at least 14 points in a 91-71 rout on Friday. Coach Grant McCasland has built one of the toughest programs in the country, one that has enough talent and wherewithal to withstand losing one of the country’s most productive stars. After their first-round showing, and given that they’re playing an Alabama team likely without its No. 2 scorer, the Red Raiders look poised to make it to the tournament’s second week for a second-consecutive season.

David Mirkovic

Though Keaton Wagler has deservedly gotten much of the attention for Illinois this season, his fellow Fighting Illini freshman was the brightest star during their 105-70 rout of Penn and former Big Ten foe Fran McCaffery on Thursday. The 6-foot-9 Montenegro native turned in arguably the most impressive individual performance of the first round, scoring a game-high 29 points on 11-of-17 shooting, along with 17 rebounds. It continued a late-season surge for Mirkovic, who is averaging 21.5 points per game over Illinois’ past four contests.

Siena

The Saints weren’t able to pull off the third-ever 16-over-1 upset in NCAA men’s basketball tournament history, but for the vast majority of their game against Duke on Thursday, it looked like a distinct possibility. They led for 71% of the game against the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed and were up by as many as 13 before the Blue Devils eventually pulled away for a 71-65 victory.

Siena did all of that while coach Gerry McNamara channeled his inner Norman Dale and played only five players, with each of his starters logging a full 40 minutes. After the game, Duke coach Jon Scheyer said that McNamara out-coached him, believing the Saints were “way more ready to play” than the Blue Devils. If McNamara ends up leaving after this season to take over at Syracuse, his alma mater, his brief Siena tenure ended on a high note…even in a loss.

Jacari White

With a Virginia program used to NCAA tournament heartbreak on the ropes against Wright State in a 3-versus-14 matchup Friday, the North Dakota State transfer came up huge for the Cavaliers, coming off the bench to score a game-high 26 points in an 82-73 victory. White sank 10 of his 12 shots, including six of his eight 3s. He scored 15 points in the final 13:20, helping the Hoos outscore the Raiders 32-23 during that time.

Florida

Listen, when you win a game by 59 points, the second-largest margin of victory in NCAA tournament history, you’re going to make this list.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Best March Madness performances: Who impressed most in first round

Follow all of Saturday's NCAA Tournament second round games with USA TODAY Sports' live updates.

The NCAA Tournament brings jubilation for some. For others, it results in devastation.

While High Point fans are enjoying the ride after the Panthers upset No. 5 seed Wisconsin in the first round to earn the first NCAA Tournament win in program history, others like North Carolina are left searching for answers after blowing a 19-point lead to No. 11 VCU.

REQUIRED READING: BYU envisioned success with AJ Dybantsa. It ended with early March Madness exit

Will the Tar Heels move on from Hubert Davis? If so, would North Carolina hire a coach outside the family for the first time?

The NCAA Tournament giveth and taketh.

Here's a look at our five worst moments from the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament:

North Carolina collapses

The most obvious loser of the NCAA Tournament's first round is North Carolina, which has gone one-and-done in March Madness for the second consecutive seasons.

It's been a rough for years for the Tar Heels, one of, if not college basketball's most iconic brand. Davis led North Carolina to an unlikely national championship runner-up finish as a first-year coach in 2021-22, and has since declined an NIT invite, made the Sweet 16 once and been knocked off in the first round twice.

To make matters worse, North Carolina was in the driver's seat against No. 11 seed VCU on March 19. It blew a 19-point lead, the sixth largest in NCAA Tournament history and the biggest since Nevada's comeback against Cincinnati in 2022.

UNC was playing without star freshman Caleb Wilson, a likely top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, but the excuses are starting to run out, especially for the Tar Heels' national-championship-or-bust standards.

AJ Dybantsa's career comes to an end

College basketball fans were robbed of freshman phenom AJ Dybantsa making a run at the 2026 NCAA Tournament after No. 6 seed BYU was upset Texas 79-71 in the first round, with his college career likely ending as a result.

Dybantsa played his best ball of the season as the Cougars limped into March Madness following the loss of Richie Saunders to a season-ending injury. The projected No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 NBA Draft scored 35 points against the Longhorns, which succeeding a 26-point performance vs. Houston in the Big 12 tournament and a pair of 27- and 40-point showings against West Virginia and Kansas State, respectively.

BYU lost eight of its last 12 regular season games, despite Dybantsa leading the country averaging 25.5 points per game. His career is likely over, and Cougars coach Kevin Young said postgame it's pretty clear he's a bit different than others on the floor.

"There were moments in tonight's game where he just looked like that Portland Trailblazer floor should have been down there,” Young said. “Just look like an NBA player, the stuff he's able to do on the court.”

Joshua Jefferson leaves Iowa State game with injury

Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson, a second-team All-American this season, only played three minutes in the Cyclones' huge 108-74 win over East Tennessee State in the first round due to injury.

It's unclear the severity, but losing Jefferson would be a huge loss for Iowa State, a team capable of making a Final Four run. Coach T.J. Otzelberger said he sprained his ankle and that x-rays were negative but added he was unsure of his status for the second round against Kentucky.

"We'll continue to reevaluate over the next day or two and just see where things are when we get to Sunday and we figure out what time we play," Otzelberger said.

Wisconsin exits in first weekend again

For the third consecutive season, Wisconsin failed to advance past the first weekend despite being the higher seed in all three of its losses.

The Badgers lost to No. 12 seed High Point in the first round on March 19, which marks its second loss to a No. 12 seed in three seasons after falling to James Madison in 2024. Wisconsin won its first-round game over No. 14 seed Montana last season, before falling to No. 6 seed BYU in the second round.

It's an unfortunate series of trips to the NCAA Tournament for longtime coach Greg Gard and Co. Gard hasn't led Wisconsin to a Sweet 16 appearance since his first two seasons at the helm in 2016 and 2017, despite having made the NCAA Tournament, despite reaching the big dance in six of his eight eligible seasons since.

Kevin Willard's "jokes"

Kevin Willard joked he was going to fire his coaching staff after Villanova's slow start against No. 9 seed Utah State on March 20 during an in-game interview with TNT's Lauren Shehadi.

After Villanova's eventual loss to the Aggies, he made the joke again in his postgame press conference but had to clarify he was joking after his intentions were a bit unclear originally.

"It's a joke, god bless," Willard said after the game. "I don't care. Welcome to my life. It's a joke."

It was an odd sequence for the first-year Villanova coach, who led the Wildcats to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since reaching the Final Four in 2022.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness worst moments of 2026 NCAA Tournament first round

Follow all of Saturday's NCAA Tournament second round games with USA TODAY Sports' live updates.

They said name, image and likeness killed mid-majors at the NCAA Tournament. Well, March Madness delivered in vintage fashion in the first round.

No. 12 seed High Point took down No. 5 Wisconsin, No. 11 VCU stormed back to defeat North Carolina in historic fashion and Otega Oweh hit a logo 3-pointer at the buzzer to send Kentucky to overtime against No. 10 Santa Clara, saving the Wildcats' season in the process.

REQUIRED READING: High Point upset was going to take everything — including a first layup of the season

A few highly seeded teams were also tested in the first round. No. 1 overall seed Duke trailed Siena 43-32 at halftime before storming back to avoid upset and No. 3 Virginia also trailed No. 14 Wright State by five points at halftime before holding on for a first-round win.

Onto the second round, where the NCAA Tournament hopefully continues to provide bangers.

Here's a recap of the top moments so far in the NCAA Tournament:

Chase Johnston, High Point upset Wisconsin

No. 12 seed High Point upset No. 5 Wisconsin 83-82, thanks to some late heroics from guard Chase Johnston, a seventh-year senior who scored his first 2-point basket of the season on a game-winning layup.

FIRST 2-POINTER OF THE YEAR FOR CHASE JOHNSTON 😱

HIGH POINT LEADS!!! pic.twitter.com/N2ZWYSb9Dz

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2026

The 3-point specialist also hit a deep shot from the March Madness logo and hit another late in the game to pull High Point within a point during crunch time. He finished with 14 points on 4-of-6 from 3-point range off the bench, channeling former March Madness hero Jack Gohlke.

CHASE JOHNSTON FROM THE LOGO 🎯 pic.twitter.com/BW4gGNkHW2

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2026

First-year coach Flynn Clayman also had a banner postgame interview, calling out high-major programs for avoiding mid-majors like High Point. High Point's strength of schedule was used as a negative talking point against the program leading up to March Madness.

"It looks pretty obvious to me that high-majors need to play mid-majors during the season," Clayman said. "Because they said we ain't played nobody? We played somebody now."

Even High Point's student broadcasters went viral for their call of Johnston's game-winning layup and aftermath of the win. Vibes are high with the Panthers.

Otega Oweh saves Kentucky

Senior guard Otega Oweh saved his career-best performance for an opportune time on March 20, becoming the first player since Larry Bird in 1979 with at least 35 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in an NCAA Tournament game.

On top of the 2024-25 SEC Player of the Year's prolific performance, he also saved Kentucky with a wild shot in its 89-84 overtime win over No. 10 seed Santa Clara. The Broncos took a 73-70 lead with 2 seconds remaining before Oweh caught the inbounds pass and banked a 32-foot 3-pointer off the backboard to send the game to overtime.

NO. WAY. 😱

WE'RE GOING TO OVERTIME!!! #MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/3n8rDxkY3h

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 20, 2026

There was some controversy surrounding the shot as Santa Clara coach Herb Sendek attempted to call a timeout, but the officials didn't notice. Still, Oweh's shot not only saved Kentucky's season, but also kept the Wildcats from being a first-round exit amid an up-and-down year.

Second-year coach Mark Pope owes Oweh, as he likely avoids widespread criticism from Kentucky's rabid fanbase with huge expectations.

Nebraska wins first NCAA Tournament game

Nebraska entered the NCAA Tournament on March 19 against No. 13 seed Troy with an 0-8 career record in March Madness games. That mark improved to 1-8 all-time after its 76-47 win over the Trojans.

The Cornhuskers made 14 3-pointers in the dominant win, one of the biggest in program history. Their fans showed up big, too, taking over the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City in what was a virtual home game for the dedicated fanbase.

Seventh-year coach Fred Hoiberg has done one of the most impressive jobs in college basketball this season, and the Cornhuskers will look to make their first-ever Sweet 16 with a win over Vanderbilt on March 21.

VCU completes 19-point comeback vs. North Carolina

North Carolina was cruising against 11-seeded VCU. Until it wasn't.

The Rams defeated North Carolina 82-78 in overtime after completing a 19-point comeback in the second half against the Caleb Wilson-less Tar Heels. To make matters worse, North Carolina was held without a field goal in the overtime period.

The win was VCU's first in the NCAA Tournament since 2016, despite being led by a first-year coach in Phil Martelli Jr. It was the sixth-largest comeback in NCAA Tournament history, and biggest since Nevada's 22-point deficit against Cincinnati in 2022.

VCU's win could also put North Carolina coach Hubert Davis in trouble after a disappointing finish to the season.

Saint Louis destroys Georgia

Second-year Saint Louis coach Josh Schertz is among the fastest risers in the coaching ranks, although he hadn't coached in an NCAA Tournament game in his career until March 19.

It was pure domination.

The Billikens defeated Georgia 102-77 and shot 58% from the field with five players scoring in double figures. They also held the Bulldogs to 35% shooting on 72 attempts and finished the game with 27 assists collectively.

Saint Louis faces No. 1 seed Michigan in the second round on March 21 and will be a tough test for the Wolverines.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: High Point, Otega Oweh lead 5 best moments of March Madness so far

Follow all of Saturday's NCAA Tournament second round games with USA TODAY Sports' live updates.

Just like that more than half the men's NCAA Tournament field has been eliminated. Less than seven days after Selection Sunday, there are 32 teams left fighting for a place in next week's Sweet 16.

The eight-game schedule for Saturday features a little bit of everything as a cross-section of teams looking to keep their seasons alive on the road to the Final Four. A pair of No. 1 seeds will look to avoid a stumble before the regional round, while four double-digit seeds are hoping to pull off another upset against a favored opponent. Other potential Final Four contenders look to avoid potential dangerous obstacles.

So which games are the best matchups that will take place from the four sites hosting doubleheaders across the country? We ranked them all and broke down the matchups to give you a lookahead at the schedule.

1. No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt

Time/TV: 8:45 p.m. ET, TNT

With their first tournament win the books, the Cornhuskers can now turn their attention to making their initial Sweet 16. A slow first 10 minutes against Troy was overcome by the shooting of Pryce Sandfort. He will have to be on his game again against the Commodores, who also got behind McNeese State early before finding their footing. Vanderbilt will look to its backcourt of Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles to calm things against what should be a vocal Nebraska crowd in Oklahoma City.

2. No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 6 Louisville

Time/TV: 2:45 p.m. ET, CBS

It was a classic professional effort from the Spartans and coach Tom Izzo in the first round. as they look to get back to their first Final Four since 2019. The Cardinals didn't appear to miss leading scorer Mikel Brown for most of their win against upstart South Florida before the Bulls made a furious rally. The task will be more difficult against Michigan State and require big efforts again from Ryan Conwell and Isaac McKneely.y

3. No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 9 Saint Louis

Time/TV: 12:10 p.m. ET, CBS

You like points? This is your game. Both the Wolverines and Billikens exceeded the century mark in the first round and this matchup should be up-tempo throughout. Michigan has the size and star power with center Aday Mora and do-everything forward Yaxel Landeborg. But Saint Louis will counter with its unique offense that blew away Georgia and relies on multiple scoring options.

4. No. 1 Duke vs. No. 9 TCU

Time/TV: 5:15 p.m., CBS

After it's scare against Siena, the Blue Devils won't be caught napping in the second round. But that doesn't mean the Horned Frogs aren't capable of taking down the ACC champions. Duke remains short-handed without guard Caleb Foster and forward Patrick Ngongba which puts more pressure on star Cameron Boozer. His twin Cayden Boozer was critical filling in for Foster in the first round. TCU won't be overawed in this matchup. It played the other three No. 1 seeds during the regular season, including a defeat of Florida.

5. No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 11 Virginia Commonwealth

Time/TV: 7:50 p.m. ET, CBS

This looks to be another entertaining game played at a high pace with both teams relying on playing from the outside. The Illini rank ninth in 3-pointers per game, while the Rams are among the best in the country in shooting percentage from beyond the arc. Inside is where Illinois has the edge with David Mirkovic and Tomislav Ivisic. But the favorite still must be wary of VCU's comeback ability after its comeback from a 19-point deficit to North Carolina in the first round.

6. No. 2 Houston vs. No. 10 Texas A&M

Time/TV: 6:10 p.m. ET, TNT

The former Southwest Conference rivals clash up the road in Oklahoma. The Cougars have been the model of tournament success in recent seasons under Kelvin Sampson and have as scoring options Kingston Flemings and Emmanuel Sharp to compliment their rugged defense. The Aggies started fast in the SEC under first-year coach Bucky McMillian before a late-season swoon. They appeared to get their mojo back against Saint Mary's and will need that and more to pull another surprise.

7. No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 11 Texas

Time/TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, TBS/truTV

Runs from the First Four to deep into the tournament aren't uncommon, and the Longhorns have been gaining momentum after a late-season stumble before the start of NCAA play. But beating the Bulldogs will be more difficult than handling North Carolina State and Brigham Young. Gonzaga builds its success around veteran big man Graham Ike. The play of Davis Fogle could be critical after his 17 points off the bench against Kennesaw State.

8. No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 12 High Point

Time/TV: 9:45 p.m. ET, TBS/truTV

Can the Panthers pull off another upset after their last-minute defeat of Wisconsin? The task will be more difficult given the Razorbacks having the advantage in athleticism and pedigree. But that doesn't always win games. High Point must find a way to slow down star freshman guard Darius Acuff, who has put up at least 24 points in each of the four postseason wins by Arkansas that includes its run the SEC tournament title. The Panthers, who have won 22 of 23 games, have plenty of fight and a big chip on their shoulder as evidenced by the emotional interview from coach Flynn Clayman after their first-round win.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness schedule today: Ranking NCAA Tournament games Saturday

Robbie Avila stole the hearts of the men's college basketball world when he led Indiana State to a magical yet viral run in the NIT two years ago.

He garnered the nicknames of "Cream Abdul Jabbar" and "The College Jokic" as he stuffed the box score with his 6-foot-10, 240-pound frame for the Sycamores.

It's a run that saw him follow Josh Schertz to the Atlantic 10 and Saint Louis, where his second season with the Billikens has sort of been an "under the radar" one, just like that Indiana State 2023-24 season was operating until he became a viral sensation.

REQUIRED READING: Complete March Madness schedule: Dates, times, TV channels for 2026 NCAA Tournament

The Billikens center's numbers are down a bit from last season, but he remains a key focal point of the roster as he helped Saint Louis to its first Atlantic 10 regular season title since 2014. He finished with 12 points in Saint Louis' dominant first-round win over No. 8 Georgia on Thursday, along with five rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and a steal.

"He’s the most team guy that we have," Saint Louis guard Trey Gray said of Avila after the Georgia win. "He leads us. He could’ve gone anywhere in the country, and he came here for a reason. He came back for this."

Saint Louis will look to to extends its stay in March Madness with win on Saturday at 12:15 p.m. ET against No. 1 Michigan in Buffalo, New York.

Here's everything to know about Avila ahead of Saint Louis' second round game:

Robbie Avila stats

Here's a breakdown of Avila's stats this season at St. Louis:

• 2025-26: 12.9 points per game, 4.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists with a 50.6% field goal shooting percentage

Here's a game-by-game breakdown of Avila's stats in the Atlantic 10 tournament:

• Game 1 vs. George Washington (Quarterfinals): 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting with four assists, three rebounds and two blocks
• Game 2 vs. Dayton (Semifinals): 14 points on 3-of-11 shooting with nine rebounds and four assists

Here's a breakdown of Avila's stats in March Madness:

• Game 1 vs. Georgia (First Round): 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting with five rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal

How tall is Robbie Avila?

Robbie Avila is listed at 6-foot-10 on Saint Louis' official roster.

How old is Robbie Avila?

Robbie Avila is 22 years old. He'll turn 23 on September 10, 2026.

Robbie Avila transfer: How did he end up at Saint Louis?

Robbie Avila followed Saint Louis coach Josh Schertz from Indiana State following the Cyclones' run to the NIT championship game in the 2023-24 season.

The 6-foot-10 center entered the transfer portal with a "no contact tag," which is put on a player's profile when they already know where they are committing to, and after Schertz turned down a record contract extension from the Sycamores, according to the Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network.

"I will be going there to play under Josh Schertz again," Avila said of his commitment to Saint Louis on "The Field of 68" in April 2024. "I trusted his path for me the last two years and trust what he has planned for me these next few years. I'm excited to get over there and do the same thing we did at Indiana State, win some games."

Robbie Avila nicknames

Robbie Avila, who wears Rec-Spec style sports goggles, is known mainly by two nicknames: "The College Jokic" and "Cream Abdul Jabbar." There's also "Larry Nerd," though Avila has said over the years that this one isn't his favorite. All of his nicknames date back to his sophomore season at Saint Louis in 2023-24.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Robbie Avila? Former Indiana State star leads SLU to March Madness

There haven't been many playmakers in college basketball better than Michigan State guard Jeremy Fears Jr. this season.

The Spartans' 6-foot-2 point guard is second in the country in assists per game, only behind Purdue's Braden Smith. Fears also entered the Men's NCAA Tournament as one of the top guards in the 68-team field, and a reason why the Spartans are seen as a team that could make a deep run to the Final Four.

REQUIRED READING: Complete March Madness schedule: Dates, times, TV channels for 2026 NCAA Tournament

But his playmaking isn't the only part of his game that has helped him earn a spot on the finalist list for the Wooden Award or be in the mix for the top player in the Big Ten. He's also been able to impact games for the Spartans with his ability to score in all three levels.

Fears finished with seven points in Michigan State's opening-round win over North Dakota State on Thursday, his seventh game this season in which he finished with single-digit points. He'll look to improve that stat line on Saturday when the Spartans take on 6-seed Louisville in the second round of the East Region at 2:45 p.m. ET in Buffalo, New York.

Here's what to know about Fears:

Jeremy Fears Jr stats

Here's a breakdown of Fears' stats this season at Michigan State:

• 2025-26: 15.7 points per game, 9.2 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals with a 44.5% field goal shooting percentage

Here's a game-by-game breakdown of Fears' stats in the Big Ten tournament:

• Game 1 vs. UCLA (Quarterfinals): 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting with 13 assists, a rebound and a steal

Here's a breakdown of Fears' stats in March Madness:

• Game 1 vs. North Dakota State (First Round): Seven points on 2-of-6 shooting with 11 assists and two rebounds

How old is Jeremy Fears Jr?

Jeremy Fears Jr. is 20 years old. He'll turn 21 on April 19, 2026.

Is Jeremy Fears Jr a dirty player?

It really depends on who you ask and how you analyze Fears' game.

Some notable examples of this include him kicking Minnesota’s Langston Reynolds in the groin, for which he received a technical foul for in a 76-73 loss, and being called out by Michigan coach Dusty May for "dangerous" plays in the first meeting between the two Big Ten rivals.

"I go out every game and I play hard. I don't intentionally try to hurt anyone,” Fears said after Michigan State's game at Minnesota back in February, according to the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. "I go out and play every game like it's my last, because at one point it was my last. So I don't take a game for granted. I don't take a moment for granted. So I'm going to go out there and play as hard as I can every possession, every game.

"Like at one point, I had basketball taken away from me, so something I love to do, I couldn't do it for a whole year. So most people wouldn't understand that. And that's on them, I guess. At the end of the day, it doesn’t change who I am or what I do. I'm just go out there and play 150(%) no matter what."

Are Jeremy Fears Jr and Jeremiah Fears related?

Yes, the Michigan State point guard is the brother of now New Orleans Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears, who was a one-and-done at Oklahoma. Jeremiah Fears was drafted by the Pelicans with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Jeremy Fears Jr.? What to know about Michigan State point guard

It’s late March, the last of my Salted Brown Butter Cookie Häagen-Dazs is gone, and the Dallas Mavericks (23-47) are hosting the Los Angeles Clippers (34-36) in a game that actually matters—just not the same way for both teams. The Clippers are sitting squarely in the play-in and have dropped back-to-back games to the Pelicans as part of a four-game losing streak. Kawhi Leonard, who has quietly assembled what might be the most underappreciated just-shy-of-MVP-caliber season in the league, does not lose back-to-back games to bad teams without strong feelings about it. The Mavericks, meanwhile, are watching the tank race tighten with Memphis and New Orleans both finding wins. Dallas plays hard—they always play hard—but tonight the opponent has a different kind of motivation.

Let’s scan the lines in search of value.

🏀 Fixture: Los Angeles Clippers (34-36) @ Dallas Mavericks (23-47)
📍 American Airlines Center — Dallas, TX
🕖 7:30 PM CST, Saturday, March 21, 2026
📺 KFAA Channel 29 / MavsTV / NBA League Pass

📊 DraftKings Snapshot (as of 11:49 PM CST, March 20)
Spread: LAC -6.5 (-118) | DAL +6.5 (-102)
Total: 233.5 (O -110 / U -110)
Moneyline: LAC -290 | DAL +235

📉 Game Side Lean: Clippers -6.5

Kawhi Leonard is averaging 28.2 points on 50% shooting this season—the most complete version of him we’ve seen in years—and he has a history of making life miserable for Dallas specifically. The Clippers have lost four straight and are fighting for play-in positioning with three weeks left. That’s the kind of urgency that covers spreads. Dallas is still trotting out their best available lineup and playing with pride, which keeps them competitive, but competitive and covering are two different things against a locked-in Kawhi. Lay the points.

🔮 Total Lean: Under 233.5

This one sets up to play out as a slower, more deliberate basketball game—fewer threes for the sake of threes, more halfcourt sets, more physicality. The Clippers aren’t built for track meets anyway, and Dallas without full frontcourt health doesn’t push pace the way they might otherwise. This one plays in the mud. Take the under.

🎯 Player Props We Like

John Collins Over 14.5 Points (-118)
Collins has made a habit of feasting against Dallas since his Atlanta Hawks era, and with the Clippers needing a statement performance, expect their supporting cast to get opportunities alongside Kawhi. Collins is a reliable secondary scorer who benefits from defenses keying on Leonard, and 14.5 is a number he’s capable of clearing before the fourth quarter. Can Dallas keep him under 20?

Daniel Gafford Over 9.5 Points (-114)
Gafford has hit double digits in points six games in a row and the big man is back and playing with energy. Against a Clippers frontcourt that surrenders paint touches, Gafford’s catch-and-finish game should generate easy looks. If the Mavs feed Gafford with paint touches with intention, this is the kind of prop that cashes in the second quarter and you forget you have it until the final.

💡 TLDR Summary:
Clippers -6.5 for a Kawhi who has a point to prove. Under 233.5 for a halfcourt slog between two teams playing with urgency. Collins eating against a familiar victim, Gafford doing Gafford things in the paint. Four picks. Go Mavs—just maybe not tonight. Right now, losses are sweet than the best ice cream.

1. Escaped the Trap Game

Coming into this game, the Memphis Grizzlies had 10 players listed as OUT on the injury report and were running out guys on two-way deals and 10-day contracts against a mostly healthy Boston Celtics team only missing Nikola Vucevic. This has the recipe for a gold old fashioned Trap Game and it looked like the Celtics were falling into it early. Boston looked really slow and had trouble controlling the ball, turning the ball over 11 times in three quarters.

The Grizzlies had the lead for long stretches of this game and late into the fourth quarter, the Celtics were down 103-102 with 5:33 left. Boston then rattled off a 15-9 run to end the game, outscoring Memphis 33-24 in the fourth, and only turning the ball over 1 time. This was a big time test for the Celtics on the road despite the opponent. Playing through adversity to come away with a win.

Whewww this Grizzlies injury report… pic.twitter.com/0LQpuP6Qaz

— Danielle Hobeika (@DanielleHobeika) March 21, 2026

2. Win With Bad Three-Point Shooting

Going into this game against Memphis, the Celtics had a record of 5-10 when shooting under 30% from three as a team this season. In this game Boston shot 26% (11-42) from three while Memphis shot 33% (14-43) and the Celtics still came out with the win.

This was a result of the Celtics taking advantage of the Grizzlies lack of real interior defense. Boston scored 52 points in the paint while Memphis scored 44. The Celtics shot 26-40 in the paint tonight, 20-29 at the basket alone. This was a huge reason why Boston was able to get back into this game when Memphis started out the fourth quarter on fire. This shows real resiliency from this team and finding different ways to win.

3. Dominant Offensive Rebounding

Another big reason why the Celtics were able to win this game was their work on the offensive glass. Out of Boston’s 57 rebounds, 18 of them were offensive and some of the biggest came in the fourth quarter from Luka Garza and Baylor Scheierman.

With the Celtics down by 1, Scheierman grabbed a huge offensive board that resulted in a Jaylen Brown bucket that kicked off Boston’s game winning run down the stretch.

When it came to Garza, he generated 4 crucial points to ice the game for the Celtics, putting them by 9 points with 1:15 left. This clutch offensive rebounding is how Boston is able to win games despite not having the best shooting nights.

4. Mazzulla Trusted His Guys

At the end of the third quarter, the Celtics were trailing the Grizzlies 88-84. They looked lethargic with Memphis outscoring them 34-29 in the quarter so Joe Mazzulla switched up the lineups. He started out the fourth quarter with a lineup without both Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Boston had Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, and Luka Garza to start and it didn’t go great.

By the 9:08 mark, Memphis rattled off a 10-4 run where Ty Jerome started to go crazy and Mazzulla called a timeout. Instead of putting in the Jays, he came out with the same exact lineup, putting trust into these guys. I would say it worked out great. Not only taking the lead, but rattling off an 11-3 run before Brown and Tatum checked back in at the 5:41 mark.

When asked about keeping the lineup without the Jays in out of the timeout, Mazzulla said: “I thought that just that lineup hadn’t played the game. I wanted to just give a different feel to a segment of the game, and went to a couple different actions, and I thought it was just a different field there. So it’s a credit to the guys.”

I thought this was a huge confidence builder for the bench guys in this game. Showing that even without Brown and Tatum, Joe has lineups that he can throw out there that will still produce and overcome adversity to keep the Celtics in the game.

Joe Mazzulla on running the same lineup without Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum to start the 4th Quarter

“I thought that just that lineup hadn't played the game. I wanted to just give a different feel to a segment of the game, and went to a couple different actions, and I thought… pic.twitter.com/EQNSGi5nHQ

— Ian Inangelo (@iinangelo) March 21, 2026

5. White 4th Quarter Takeover

Derrick White started this game 3 points on 1-1 in the first quarter. He then proceeded to miss his next four shots, going into the fourth quarter with the same 3 points. In White’s postgame press conference he said he “was playing as bad as it gets for three quarters so I had to help the team out a little bit” in the fourth quarter and he did just that. White played all 12 minutes and scored 11 points on 5-10 shooting to lead Boston to the win.

White did a great job when it came to driving inside on the Grizzlies defense. He was using an array of euro-steps and deceleration to finish at the basket. Most of his points came after Joe Mazzulla called a timeout and kept the lineup with White and the bench in the game. This looked to light a fire under White and responded with a big time performance to close out the game.

6. Brown Carried in the Second Half

White was not alone when it came to carrying the Celtics offense in the second half because Jaylen Brown was right there with him. Brown finished with 30 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists with 14 of those points coming in the second half alone.

Brown played the entire third quarter and finished with 10 points on 4-8 shooting. He was the only guy who was able to hit a shot for Boston but it was important in keeping them in the game despite being down. He diced up Memphis with his midrange game, just making some incredible shots.

When he came into the fourth quarter, he continued to cook up the Grizzlies with his fadeaway jumper and ability to get to the paint. This was Brown’s 32nd 30+ point game this season which leads players in the Eastern Conference and tied for 3rd in the NBA this year. Just continuing to build on his MVP level season.

7. Garza Monster Performance

Luka Garza’s nickname is the “Garzilla” and I would say he lived up to it with a monstrous performance against the Grizzlies. Garza finished with a season-high 22 points and 7 rebounds on 9-12 shooting from the field and 1-3 from three. This was easily the best game of Garza’s Celtics career and was a testament to how hard he hustles every night.

I would say his fourth quarter was where we saw the biggest impact from Garza, finishing with 11 points and 3 rebounds on 5-5 shooting. Garza hit his one three pointer of the game to start the fourth quarter but the rest of his points came underneath the basket. His ability to clean up the offensive glass was incredible, finishing with 5 on the night but 2 of them came down the stretch when the Celtics needed them most.

The Celtics ability to develop productive NBA centers in a lab has to be studied but it is also a testament to how hard Luka Garza is willing to work. With Nikola Vucevic going down, it has given Garza a chance to show what he is really made of.

8. Queta Double-Double

The other Celtics big man that was able to go off in this game was Neemias Queta who finished with a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds on a perfect 4-4 shooting from the field and 4-4 shooting from the free throw line.

Queta, similar to Garza, did a great job of taking advantage of the Grizzlies lack of an interior defensive presence. Queta’s best quarter came in the second where he scored 8 of his points on 3-3 shooting. He did a great job of cleaning up offensive rebounds and showing off some nice finishes under the basket.

Queta was benched in the fourth quarter of this game for Luka Garza but I don’t that is necessarily a testament to him but more of just riding the hot hand with Garza. Either way I think Queta played a pretty solid game.

9. Scheierman Winning Plays

Baylor Scheierman did not finish with a stat line that is going to jump off the page or anything, 2 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists on 1-2 shooting. However, if you watched the game, you would have seen Baylor make some incredible winning plays that justify him being on the court.

The first came at the end of the first quarter when he made an incredible steal and pass ahead to Hugo Gonzalez who finished with a poster dunk.

Scheierman also did a great job when it came to taking two charges in this game. He was able to absorb the contact and force the offensive foul and shifting momentum to the Celtics.

In the fourth quarter, we saw Scheierman play 11 minutes and make some big plays on offense when it came to being in the right place at the right time for rebounds and scoring his only points.

Plays like these are why I love watching Baylor Scheierman play for the Celtics. He is such a smart basketball player and most importantly he’s a winner. Mind you, he’s doing all of this with a broken thumb and still playing like if he takes a break he will get taken out of the rotation. It’s hard not to love a guy a like Scheierman.

10. First “Bad” Tatum Game

For the first time since his return I think we qualify this as a bad game for Jayson Tatum. He finished with 13 points and 9 rebounds on 3-15 shooting from the field and 2-9 from three. Although the numbers look bad, I would say his performance as a whole wasn’t the worst. He did a great job when it came to generating open looks but the shots just weren’t falling. The thing that makes it a bad game in my mind was the fact he finished with 0 assists but that could also be chalked up to the fact the Celtics were bricking everything they shot.

Tatum missed his first 8 shots in this game but for the 3 that he did make, they looked solid. His three point shoot looked smooth and he was able to finish on one of his drives late in the fourth quarter as the Celtics were making their big run to ice the game.

This being the 7th game that Tatum has played coming off his Achilles tear is not lost on me. I don’t think we should slander Tatum for this game because rebounding and ability to get to the free throw line were positives. This game just happens to be the worst one he’s had so far which is perfectly fine since he is still coming back. I don’t think theres any cause for concern.

As soon as he saw an opportunity to attack the offensive glass, Luka Garza battled three Memphis Grizzlies defenders to grab the rebound off Payton Pritchard’s 3-point miss, put it back up, and convert an and-one in the first quarter. Any chance to extend a possession with a second-chance opportunity, Garza was there for the Boston Celtics on Friday night.

“I love being a part of this team,” Garza told reporters, per NBC Sports Boston. “We play hard every single night, no matter what, and I think when you do that, you put yourself in a good position — especially in a situation like tonight where we obviously have the talent to finish. You play hard long enough, you finally get that rhythm, and everything else takes over.”

The seventh straight game without Nikola Vučević highlighted Boston’s need for depth, more than ever since he suffered a right finger fracture over two weeks ago. On paper, facing a Grizzlies team with 11 players ruled out might have seemed favorable for the Celtics. But the chance for those at the tail end of Memphis’ rotation to log significant minutes made the Grizzlies a much hungrier team than Boston might’ve anticipated — and Garza immediately took notice.

In the second quarter, once again off a missed Pritchard three, Garza grabbed the offensive rebound and converted the putback layup to give the Celtics a 33-31 lead. It’s become a habit for him this season. His specialty — underappreciated but no less impactful — continues to be dominating the interior battle for second-chance opportunities. There’s been no one as determined or committed to that part of the offense.

“It’s fun,” Garza told reporters. “When you get in a rhythm like that, get to the glass, and make little plays, it’s a lot of fun. But I think every night we have a lot of guys who do that — Baylor (Scheierman), Hugo (González), (Jordan) Walsh. Guys have always stepped up in my position to make the little plays and help us win, so it’s definitely fun when you’re the guy doing that.”

Garza finished with 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting, adding seven rebounds (five offensive) in Boston’s 117-112 win over Memphis.

Fancy finish 🤌 pic.twitter.com/tbwZvv8HsU

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 21, 2026

It began as a byproduct of the identity the Celtics developed during Jayson Tatum’s absence, designed to keep the team competitive without him. Now that Tatum has returned and Boston remains in the hunt for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, Garza’s trademark strength is more valuable than ever. On Saturday night, it proved especially important in helping the Celtics overcome a 3-point slump, as they shot just 26.2 percent on 42 attempts in Memphis.

“He’s amazing,” Derrick White told Abby Chin, per NBC Sports Boston. “He plays so hard every single second he’s out there. He does so many little things for us and (he’s the) ultimate competitor, so big plays all game, really. Kind of kept us in it and huge plays down the stretch.”

At the start of the fourth quarter, Garza remained on the floor while Tatum and Jaylen Brown sat on the bench.

Garza played 11:24 in the fourth quarter, third-most behind White and Scheierman. The intensity he brought was too much to sit, as the Celtics were chasing the Grizzlies in an effort to preserve their winning streak and extend it to four games. Garza knocked down an open 3-pointer to cut Memphis’ lead to 88-87, finishing the final frame with 11 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting from the floor.

“He’s great on both ends of the floor,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters, per NBC Sports Boston. “He’s great defensively. He’s great offensively. He does a great job screening. They play a hectic style. They put a ton of pressure on you from a physicality standpoint, and you have to be able to read, and make plays, and play through physicality — and no one’s better at that than Luka.”

The toughness and blue-collar mentality Garza brings to every opportunity, big or small, is always felt. He’s never chasing double-doubles or specific scoring figures. Instead, he aims to make an impact. Garza punishes opposing defenses by exploiting their lack of preparation or inability to match him physically, leading Boston in the critical underlying battles: offensive rebounds, second-chance points, and other key margins.

The Celtics outmatched the Grizzlies in both offensive rebounds (18-7) and second-chance points (28-13), thanks in large part to Garza.

Since Vučević went down, Garza’s numbers have seen a slight boost, averaging 10.3 points on 60.5 percent shooting over the past seven games. He’s also maintained a 44.4 percent mark from three, consistent with his season average of 43.3 percent, doing everything he can to stay effective and ready whenever Mazzulla gives him the green light.

In Memphis, Mazzulla had no shortage of praise for Garza’s impact.

“His ability to screen. His ability to take advantage of mismatches on the glass,” Mazzulla told reporters. “Defensively, he kept his guy off the glass, so we were able to get other guys to come in and get rebounds. I thought he was great tonight.”

Follow all of Saturday's NCAA Tournament second round games with USA TODAY Sports' live updates.

PORTLAND, OR – As the mid-majors continue to succeed in the NCAA Tournament, the noise around the difficulty in getting opportunities to prove themselves gets louder.

After No. 12 seed High Point knocked off No. 5 Wisconsin in the first round, coach Flynn Clayman drew attention when he said his team couldn’t get games against major opponents.

“It's pretty obvious to me that something needs to be done about this nonconference scheduling,” he said. “That team (Wisconsin) right there is a fantastic team that beat five top-10 teams. If we can get games like this on neutral courts and some home games, I think we'd know who's really the best teams.”

Opinion: Miami (Ohio)'s March Madness run is over, but it won't be forgotten

More: Travis Steele advocates for analytic scheduling change with high-majors

It’s been a major talking point this season, mostly surrounding the historic season Miami (Ohio) had. Despite going 31-0 in the regular season, its NCAA Tournament resume was debated because of the quality of opponents the RedHawks faced, not facing any Quad 1 or 2 opponents during the campaign.

However, Extra Points reported Miami (Ohio) tried to schedule several Power conference teams, but weren’t successful, highlighting the struggle quality mid-major teams face in trying to prove themselves.

With Miami (Ohio) beating SMU in the First Four and High Point and VCU advancing to the second round, they showed they could hang with Power conference teams. Ahead of playing Arkansas, Clayman said his comments were misunderstood, and the main issue he has is high-major teams don’t really benefit from playing teams like his.

“They are doing what's best for their program. I would love to see a system for the fans and for the game of college basketball where it's better for them to play those games,” he said. “I've seen over time that now the good mid-majors don't get a chance to play anymore because of the system. If we can just tweak that a little bit, then they'll be right back to playing.

“I put zero blame on high-major programs for doing what's best for them,” Clayman added.

It’s a similar sentiment to what Miami coach Travis Steele said after it lost to Tennessee in the first round, mentioning how so much of the struggle is “analytically driven” and things such as KenPom and NET rankings need adjustments.

There’s been plenty said from mid-major coaches, but what about those in charge of major programs?

Arkansas’ John Calipari, as well as Gonzaga’s Mark Few, know all about it. Calipari got his start at UMass and recalled playing two-for-ones — two games at a Power school for one home game — and how it was frustrating even then to get that.

“We did anything we could to schedule games. To get home games. I've been there. It's hard,” Calipari said. “No one wants to play a team that they think are going to be really good, and they're not going to do it on the road. You're just not going to go on the road. That's why I was doing two-for-ones.”

Calipari commended High Point for its season, noting “do you know how good they must be and well-coached” to have 31 wins. He mentioned how getting administrative investment is a key for mid-majors to reach the next level of success. Arkansas did play an NCAA Tournament team in the regular season in Queens, and barely beat another notable mid-major in Winthrop.

No one may be better suited to talk about it than Few. With Gonzaga since 1989 and in charge since 1999, he’s led the Bulldogs’ evolution from mid-major trying to prove itself to a national power.

The simplest way to get those games in Few’s eyes? Be a consistent winner, starting with the Big Dance.

“We were in that plight 25 years ago. You just have to win. You have to break through in the tournament. The tournament gives you an avenue to do that and a stage to do that. Once you do that, you do it a couple years in a row, then you are able to get those games,” Few said.

He added of all the things needed to become a national power, scheduling was by far the most difficult thing to do, needing sustained success rather than little spurts of stardom to gain respect.

“It's not something you're going to be given. You're going to have to go out and earn it. You've got to earn it for quite a while,” Few said. “Once you prove yourselves, everybody wants to play you.”

While there isn’t any indication changes will be made or not, mid-major teams have proven they can back up their outstanding records by playing with the big boys. It may be frustrating to deal with ahead and during the season, but when these teams reach the NCAA Tournament, there’s no way to avoid them any longer.

It only helps their case when you let those Cinderella stories thrive.

“I think there was some teams that ducked us this year. But, I mean, like coach Flynn say, ‘we're here now,’” said High Point forward Cam’ron Fletcher. “There's no ducking anymore.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness upsets unveils mid-major scheduling hurdles

The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to finish off this three-game road trip with three-straight wins. Like the other two teams the Cavs have already faced, their opponent on Saturday — the New Orleans Pelicans — isn’t exactly playing their best basketball.

The Pelicans aren’t tanking. They don’t have their 2026 first after trading it away on draft night so that they could select Patrick Queen. There’s no incentive for them to be bad; they just are.

New Orleans is 25-46 this season, and well clear of the race for the final Play-In spot. They are, however, playing better of late as they’ve won three in a row, including a victory over Darius Garland and the Los Angeles Clippers in their last game.

The Cavs have struggled against bad teams during this road trip. They didn’t play up to their skill level in the wins over the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls. We’ll see if that changes this time around.

Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (43-27) at New Orleans Pelicans (25-46)

Where: Smoothie King Center – New Orleans, LA

When: Sat., March 21 at 7 PM

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, FanDuel Sports App, NBA League Pass

Point spread: Cavs -5

Cavs injury report: Jaylon Tyson – QUESTIONABLE (toe), Donovan Mitchell – QUESTIONABLE (eye contusion), Jarrett Allen – OUT (knee), Craig Porter Jr. – OUT (groin), Tyrese Proctor – OUT (quad), Olivier Sarr – OUT (G League),, Tristan Enaruna – OUT (G League)

Pelicans injury report: Bryce McGowens – OUT (toe), Trey Alexander – OUT (G League), Hunter Dickinson – OUT (G League), JOsh Oduro – OUT (G League)

Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Sam Merrill, Keon Ellis, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley

Pelicans expected starting lineup: Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones, Saddiq Bey, Zion Williamson, Yves Missi

Previous matchup: The Cavs defeated the Pelicans 141-118 two days before Christmas

Here’s a look at both teams’ impact stats via Cleaning the Glass.

	Offensive Rating	Defensive Rating	Net Rating
Cavs	118.6 (6th)	114.2 (12th)	+4.4 (8th)
Pelicans	114.3 (21st)	117.8 (24th)	-3.5 (22nd)

PORTLAND, OR – Everyone knows the sacrifices the spouse of a coach goes through, but what if both people in a marriage are coaches?

Even crazier, what if they’re both in the NCAA Tournament at the same time?

It’s made for a March Madness family affair unlike any other at High Point. Men’s basketball coach Flynn Clayman and women’s basketball assistant coach Katie Clayman each have their teams in the Big Dance, achieving new heights with their respective programs.

What makes it even more fun? They’re getting to experience the run together.

"It's just been perfect. I love the game of basketball. Then to find a woman that I love more than the game of basketball, I thought that was impossible, but it happened," Flynn said.

The couple have been with each other nearly every step of the way in their careers. They met while they were both assistants at Southern Utah, connecting simply because they were in the same athletic department. They spent multiple seasons at Southern Utah before they tied the knot.

In fact, Flynn and Katie got married in May 2023, and not long after saying "I do," they were packing up a U-Haul and on their way to begin their new roles at High Point. In April, Flynn was promoted to his first head coaching role.

Both men’s and women’s programs had successful seasons, each sweeping the Big South regular season and conference tournaments to punch their tickets to March Madness. When the men’s and women’s brackets were announced, it made for an interesting draw.

No. 12 seed High Point men played Thursday, March 19 against Wisconsin in Portland. No. 15 seed High Point women play Saturday, March 21 against Vanderbilt in Nashville.

Could Katie go see her husband’s first NCAA Tournament game before her team played? Absolutely, as she said head coach Chelsea Banbury insisted she’d make the trip.

“My boss was great. It wasn't even an ask,” Katie told USA TODAY Sports. “She's a mom and a wife, and she's like, ‘No, you have to be there.’”

So, Katie flew with her husband to Portland, along with their 19-month old son, Quinn. While she did as much scouting and prep as she could while being nearly 2,000 miles away from her team, she enjoyed being “a wife and a mom” during a memorable time for the family.

It was a trip of a lifetime.

The Panthers kicked off March Madness with a bang, knocking down Wisconsin thanks to a last-second shot. It was the first tournament win in High Point men’s history. 

Whether it was the heroics of March’s newest sensation Chase Johnston or the fiery postgame comments from Flynn, High Point propelled itself to the national spotlight, arguably the biggest moment in the program’s nearly 100-year history.

It was even sweeter Katie and Quinn were able to soak it all in with Flynn.

“I'm so proud of him. I mean, the team did phenomenal, what a game it was. It was a surreal moment, and I'm really glad that Quinn and I were here,” Katie said. “Everybody was watching the game, and I was watching the game, but I was watching Flynn. He was just having so much fun, so I know what that feels like. I was just so happy for him in that moment. He's so deserving.”

This is what you call a power coaching couple ❤️

Coach Flynn Clayman's wife, Katie, is in attendance for today's @HPUMBB game. She is an assistant coach for @HPUWBB, who made the Women's NCAA Tournament.

She will join her team in Nashville on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/wC9paV8S6p

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 19, 2026

There was enough time for them to celebrate, too. After the victory, the Clayman family sat courtside in the Moda Center during the Arkansas vs. Hawai’i contest, all smiles as they went through their buzzing phones. They were able to spend the rest of the day together before Katie and Quinn left for Nashville the morning of March 20.

Now comes the hard part of being able to continue supporting one another. Both Claymans will be coaching roughly at the same time. The women play Vanderbilt at 7 p.m. ET, and the men play Arkansas at 9:45 p.m. ET.

They’ll try to watch each other’s game. Flynn said he'll watch a little bit before his game begins, and then Katie likely can catch the second half of her husband's team. They're used to doing this, and now they hope Cinderella runs continue so they can keep playing. Yet, the Claymans know they wouldn’t be in their current position without each other. 

“I wouldn't be sitting here without my wife and her sacrifices. When we first met, she had opportunities to be D-I head coach, to be high-major associate head coach, all those things. She made a decision to support me and to follow where I was going,” Flynn said. “I just love her to death. I'm just so happy that she got to this game and got to watch it.”

To Katie, it’s no big deal. They understand how the coaching lifestyle is unlike any other. It takes a true team effort, and one they built their marriage on.

“We’re each other's best supporters, best teammates,” Katie said. “When we said our vows, it was that we're gonna be our best teammate. So we're just living the best life right now."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: High Point married coaches living 'best life' in March Madness

Follow all of Saturday's NCAA Tournament second round games with USA TODAY Sports' live updates.

This year's edition of March Madness has some of the top scorers in the country, highlighted by a star-studded freshman class that includes names that will dominate the 2026 NBA Draft.

Duke's Cameron Boozer, Kansas' Darryn Peterson, and BYU's AJ Dybantsa figure to go in the top 3 of the draft, but other freshmen like Arizona's Koa Peat and Brayden Burries, Arkansas' Darius Acuff Jr. and Houston's Kingston Flemings also figure to be highly south after.

But this tournament isn't just about freshmen.

So, who is the leading scorer of this year's Men's NCAA Tournament through the first round?

March Madness scores: See the big shots, moments, highlights in today's first round

Here's what to know:

Who is the top leading scorer in March Madness 2026?

Kentucky's Otega Oweh and BYU's AJ Dybantsa are tied as the leading scorers of the Men's NCAA Tournament through the first round at 35 points.

Oweh scored 35 points in the Wildcats' overtime win over 10-seed Santa Clara, which included a game-tying 3-pointer to force overtime and two free throws to seal the win. Dybantsa scored his 35 points, his eighth game of at least 30 points on the season, in the Cougars' first-round loss to 11-seed Texas.

Top leading scorers in March Madness 2026

Last updated: 1 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 21

Here's a breakdown of the top 10 leading scorers of the Men's NCAA Tournament:

• T1. Otega Oweh (Kentucky): 35 points vs. Santa Clara in First Round
• T1. AJ Dybantsa (BYU): 35 points vs. Texas in First Round
• 3. Terrence Hill Jr. (VCU): 34 points vs. North Carolina in First Round
• 4. Tarris Reed Jr. (UConn): 31 points vs. Furman in First Round
• 5. Jeremiah Wilkerson (Georgia): 30 points vs. Saint Louis in First Round
• T6. Ja'Kobi Gillespie (Tennessee): 29 points vs. Miami (Ohio) in First Round
• T6. Labaron Philon Jr. (Alabama): 29 points vs. Hofstra in First Round
• T6. David Mirković (Illinois): 29 points vs. Penn in First Round
• T9. Nick Boyd (Wisconsin): 27 points vs. High Point in First Round
• T9. Joseph Pinion (South Florida): 27 points vs. Louisville in First Round

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is leading scorer in 2026 NCAA Tournament? Most points scored

It's on to the second round of the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament. Who is headed to the Sweet 16?

Will VCU and High Point go from bracket busters to legit Cinderellas? Illinois and Arkansas certainly hope not. Top-seeded Duke overcame a scare against No. 16 seed Siena. How will they handle a TCU team that got March Madness started with a bang?

Opinion: Miami (Ohio)'s March Madness run is over, but it won't be forgotten

Here's a look at Saturday's full slate of games and TV listings:

March Madness games today: Second round game times, schedule for Saturday, March 21

All times Eastern

• 12:10 p.m.: No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 9 Saint Louis, CBS
• 2:45 p.m.: No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 6 Louisville, CBS (prediction)
• 5:15 p.m.: No. 1 Duke vs. No. 9 TCU, CBS (prediction)
• 6:10 p.m.: No. 2 Houston vs. No. 10 Texas A&M, TNT (prediction)
• 7:10 p.m.: No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 11 Texas, TBS/truTV (prediction)
• 7:50 p.m.: No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 11 VCU, CBS (prediction)
• 8:45 p.m.: No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt, TNT (prediction)
• 9:45 p.m.: No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 12 High Point, TBS/truTV (prediction)

2026 Men's March Madness remaining full schedule

• March 21-22: Second Round
• March 26-27: Sweet 16
• March 28-29: Elite Eight
• April 4: Final Four
• April 6: National Championship

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness bracket, schedule: NCAA Tournament second round today

Karl-Anthony Towns didn’t expect to make it to Barclays Center on Friday night. But he followed the wishes of his father, Karl Sr., who is recovering from a medical procedure, and dropped 26 points with 15 rebounds in a 93-92 win over the Nets.

“I wasn’t going to play. My pops was adamant he wanted me to play,” said Towns, who was listed as questionable for personal reasons before tipoff. “So I said I would. So I showed up just for the game to play. I’m going to head right back out and go be with him again for the road to recovery.”

Karl Sr., a former star at Monmouth University, is a mainstay at his son’s games, frequently flying commercial to follow the Knicks on road trips.

Towns lost his mother, Jacqueline Cruz, to COVID-19 in 2020.

Sources said Karl Sr.’s medical issue is not life-threatening.

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The Nets still haven’t officially ruled Michael Porter Jr. out for the rest of the season, but they might as well have.

Brooklyn shut Porter down with a left hamstring strain and said he’d be evaluated in two to three weeks.

Asked if Porter could return this season, Nets coach Jordi Fernández said: “So, two to three weeks, and then obviously there’s a ramp-up to go back to competition level, so we cannot predict. But it will be close. So we’re going to go through these two, three weeks and then put the work in and so forth; and then we’ll see where we’re at.”

With three weeks being the penultimate game April 10 in Milwaukee and the finale two nights later in Toronto, any ramp-up strains credulity.

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Noah Clowney missed Friday’s game with a sprained right wrist and sounds unlikely to play Sundayat Sacramento.

“Yeah, I mean obviously I had to take him out because he was really sore,” Fernández said.

“And Noah, right away when I saw that he was in pain, I was like, ‘Do you need a sub?’ And I’m like asking the guys to take a foul to be able to sub out, and I ended up calling a timeout. So he was pretty sore. He has a sprained wrist. He’ll be out [Friday], most likely he’ll be out next game, and then we’ll go from there.”

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Terance Mann (illness), Egor Dëmin (plantar fasciitis), Day’Ron Sharpe (thumb) were out for Brooklyn.

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Jalen Brunson, who sat out Tuesday’s win over Indiana, returned to the lineup for his 65th game, qualifying for postseason awards.

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• CHECK OUT THE LATEST NBA STANDINGS AND KNICKS STATS

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The Knicks guard is expected to land an All-NBA selection and is the reigning Clutch Player of the Year.

Josh Hart was out with runner’s knee.

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Brooklyn’s Josh Minott had 22 points and hit 6-for-9 from deep.

The six 3-pointers were a career best and the scoring was two points off his career high.

He added five boards, two blocks and a steal in 25:47 off the bench.