Category: Sports News

College basketball is well into postseason mode with the remaining high-major conference tournaments getting underway around the country this week.

It's a time of the year that makes or breaks a head coach's career at their respective school. Look at the handful of universities that "part ways" with head coaches each March after disappointing postseason runs.

But it's also one that can make a name for a young head coach as they lead their respective team on a March Madness run. A recent example of this is Dusty May, who leveraged a Florida Atlantic Final Four run into becoming the head coach at Michigan, which won the outright Big Ten regular season championship this season.

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The 2026 men's NCAA Tournament is expected to be flooded with some of the top coaching talent in the country, both young and experienced. There's Dan Hurley, who's looking for his third national title in the last four years at Connecticut. There's also Jon Scheyer at Duke, who is looking to bring the first national championship to Durham, North Carolina since Mike Krzyzewski retired.

There are also veteran coaches such as Michigan State's Tom Izzo, Arkansas' John Calipari and Kansas' Bill Self, who have all proven they can rip off a deep run in March at any time. But who are the top coaches in the sport heading into the heart of this year's conference tournaments and March Madness?

Here's a look at the top coaches, ranked, in men's college basketball heading into March:

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Ranking top 10 coaches in men's college basketball

1. Dan Hurley, UConn

When Hurley took over the program in 2018, the Huskies had not made the NCAA tournament in back-to-back years since 2011-12. The program lacked the physicality and toughness that it once had under Jim Calhoun. He has since built UConn back into a national powerhouse, famously warning the entire country about this after a loss at Villanova in 2020 that the Huskies were "coming" after all.

Since then, he led the Huskies to back-to-back national championships in 2023 and 2024 and has his program back to being a national championship contender after not meeting expectations last season with a second-round exit in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

2. Jon Scheyer, Duke

Taking over for the legendary Krzyzewski can be a daunting task. Jon Scheyer, however, has made it look seamless, as the Blue Devils have retained their status as one of the top programs (with the help of players such as Cooper Flagg and Cameron Boozer). He's once again in the mix for national coach of the year with the Blue Devils sitting at 29-2 overall on the season and in line for their second consecutive ACC tournament title.

But Scheyer's resume is still missing a national championship, and that's what has him under Hurley on the list. That title very much could be in store for him this season, though, given how dominant the Blue Devils have been.

3. Tommy Lloyd, Arizona

Speaking of former assistants who have thrived as head coaches, Tommy Lloyd is right up there with Scheyer. The former Gonzaga assistant under Mark Few is 140-35 in his five seasons with Arizona, and has passed Brad Stevens for the most wins in the first five seasons.

Lloyd hasn't made it past the Sweet 16, however, and has a first-round loss to No. 15 seed Princeton in 2023.

4. Dusty May, Michigan

Everyone remembers the Owls' Final Four in 2023 that helped May land the Michigan job, and a 19-win improvement in his first season that finished with a trip to the Sweet 16.

He bought into the transfer portal over the offseason to build a national championship contender that's in line for its fourth NCAA tournament 1-seed in program history. Their NCAA tournament resume features 14 Quad 1 wins — highlighted by their 3-0 record at the Players Era Festival Championship over San Diego State, Auburn and Gonzaga — and five top-25 wins in Big Ten play over Southern California, Nebraska, Purdue, Michigan State and Illinois.

5. Todd Golden, Florida

In Year 3 at Florida last season, Golden, then 39 years old, became the youngest coach to lead a team to a national championship since Jim Valvano did so at North Carolina State in 1983. It's a national championship that brought the Gators back into national contention for the first time since the Billy Donovan Era in Gainesville, putting him in the class of elite young coaches in the country.

This season, Golden has done a fantastic job of turning around the Gators' season after they went 5-4 in the first month and 0-3 against top five opponents in Arizona, Duke and UConn. Since then, the Gators are 19-2 and are knocking at the door of the 1-seed line.

6. Tom Izzo, Michigan State

It's March, so don't count out Izzo. The 71-year-old coach has won 59 games in the NCAA tournament, which he'll be leading the Spartans to for the 28th consecutive season this year. He might not have his best national contending roster this year, but the Spartans can still do some damage in the NCAA tournament.

7. Kelvin Sampson, Houston

Houston hasn't lost a beat under Kelvin Sampson since they made to the Big 12 in 2023. The Cougars have remained one of the top programs in the country, earning back-to-back No. 1 seeds and making the national championship game last season. The Cougars' likely top-three seeding projection in the NCAA tournament will be their fourth straight under Sampson.

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8. John Calipari, Arkansas

There aren't many active coaches who have a national title and multiple Final Four appearances on their resumes outside of John Calipari. He led the Razorbacks to a Sweet 16 appearance in Year 1 at Arkansas, where they nearly made the Elite Eight.

His Xs and Os may not be what they were during the prime of his tenure at Kentucky, but he can still recruit like no other, develop NBA talent and still coach. Any form of Coach Cal is better than no Coach Cal.

9. Bill Self, Kansas

Kansas' 2025-26 season hasn't necessarily gone exactly as planned with a 22-9 record and Darryn Peterson drawing attention for his limited minutes usage. Yet, the Jayhawks still find themselves between the 3- and 5-seed line. It's a true testament to Self's coaching and adaptability.

10. Rick Pitino, St. John's

Rick Pitino led St. John's on a magical run last season, where it won its first Big East Tournament crown since 2000 and earned a 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Basketball Hall of Fame coach, who won his 900th career on-court game earlier this season, reloaded his roster through the transfer portal and has the Johnnies once again atop the conference with UConn.

The Johnnies sometimes lack production from their front court outside of Zuby Ejiofor, but their defense is what makes them a headache for teams to scout. Just look at their statement win at Madison Square Garden vs. the Huskies.

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Honorable Mentions

Here's a list, in no particular order, of coaches that just missed the top 10 cut line:

• Mark Few, Gonzaga
• Matt Painter, Purdue
• T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State
• Brad Underwood, Illinois

The top of the 2026 NBA Draft class is dominated by three names: AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer. Three players, each appealing for their own reasons.

We have Dybantsa, a dynamic, flexible scorer with a refined taste for shot selection, draws fouls like an NBA superstar, and has an unmatched competitive drive despite a disappointing season at BYU.

Then there’s Darryn Peterson, perhaps the best guard prospect the game has seen since Kyrie Irving, complete with demi-god scoring talent and an Irving-esque dramatic magnetism.

And last but not least is Cameron Boozer, the best player on the best team in the nation at Duke, and as reliable as a grandfather clock. Steady, rhythmic, reliable. He does a bit of everything, and he does it all very well despite limited athleticism.

It’s all very reminiscent of the 2022 class, which was likewise triple-spearheaded by prongs Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, and Jabari Smith Jr. Now, nearly four years later, these players have revealed their true identities to the NBA world to varying degrees of favor.

The eventual first-overall selection, Paolo Banchero, whose putrid advanced stats and teeth-grinding inefficiency have basketball nerds everywhere burning Banchero’s number in effigies and smearing his reputation with the nickname “PB no J”, which is sincerely the funniest diss I have ever heard in my entire life. An undeniably talented player who has become known as one of basketball’s most inefficient scoring options has dragged both himself and the Orlando Magic well behind schedule.

Chet Holmgren, who went second to OKC, was touted as a do-it-all big with guard skills maliable and flexible to knock down a three-pointer at one end, and turn around to swat a layup into the stands at the other (if he can put some meat on his spindly frame, that is). Don’t let the fact that the upgraded model of Holmgren, known as Victor Wembanyama (apologies to Shaq and the Bol Bol fan club), buried Holmgren’s popularity a year later —Holmgren was a vital contributor for OKC’s Finals run and continues to produce at an impressive rate.

Be honest, you had almost completely forgotten about Jabari Smith Jr until reading this article. It’s not your fault — 3-and-D guys don’t collect headlines. He’s scoring over 15 points per night this season on a solid 36.5% clip from distance.

And here we are again. With no Wembanyama or Flagg standing alone as the obvious number-one pick on every draft board, it’s time to start considering what flavors of a prospect’s petri dish the teams at the top of the draft order should prioritize.

My message to the eventual owner of the number-one pick this summer is simple. Don’t overthink it: pick AJ Dybantsa.

NBA Draft Profile: AJ Dybantsa

Bio: 6 ft, 9 in | 201 lbs | 19 yrs old | Brigham Young University

2025-26 regular season stats: 24.7 PPG (leads NCAA), 6.7 RPG, 3.8 APG, 51.2% FG, 33.9% 3PT

Accolades: Big 12 Freshman of the Year, All-Big 12 First Team, Projected First-Team All-American

NBA Comparison: Cross-section of Tracy McGrady and Paul George, plus a drop of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Praise

Do you remember playing with a sticky hand as a kid? That rubber string with a grippy hand at the end, you know? AJ Dybantsa moves as if he were a sticky hand, but with a skeleton, muscles, and typical human stuff to hold him together. Recall, if you’re able, the helpless feeling of dodging your friend’s sticky hand-enhanced attacks during adolescence. The dust-riddled, grime-collecting, yet equally elastic limb flies toward your face in an unpredictable — and therefore unstoppable — pursuit. You will get slapped in the face when you stand opposed to this force. It’s a matter of when, not if.

AJ is bendy, stretchy, and equally impossible to reliably predict. Even if you could, his length, deliberate nature, and shooting touch deliver an agonizingly robust sample size of viewers unifying to say “good defense, better offense” from their seats. AJ lives in the midrange (that’s right, it’s coming back) and is at home while backing down a defender from the high post before wiggling and releasing with a turnaround jumper.

He’s equally deadly turning over either shoulder and elevating above all distractions for a clean look at the basket from nearly anywhere on the floor. For a player whose diet consists of many, many jump shots, his 51.2% FG rate is remarkable.

That’s not to suggest that Dybantsa settles for jump shots, however, as he displayed an incredible ability to get paint touches and finishes better than nearly any wing in modern collegiate history. A post in February showed that AJ converts on roughly 76% of his attempts at the rim (whoa), and is assisted on only 23.4% of those looks. He can do it himself, even against the gauntlet that is the Big 12 Conference.

He posted a program-record 43 points in an eruption against rival Utah, and led the entire nation in points per game essentially from the first game of the year until the final buzzer of the regular season.

Call it flopping, call it selling, call it a superstar whistle, but AJ Dybantsa drew more fouls in his freshman season at BYU than any other player in the nation. Getting fouled is an NBA skill, and one that competing franchises will want in their superstar. Getting fouled not only presents an opportunity for free points (Dybantsa converted 75.3% of his free throws as a freshman), but also slows the game down and gives your team a moment to regroup. Breathe easy, boys, AJ is at the line.

And AJ was at the line for a significant amount of his floor time. He attempted 8.4 free throws per night during 40-minute college basketball games. Adjusted for a 48-minute NBA game, AJ’s number would be pushed to around 10.1 attempts per night. To put that number in perspective, Luka Doncic leads the NBA in free-throw attempts with 10.4 on average. AJ Dybantsa would be in second place with 10.1, above notorious foul-drawers like SGA, Nikola Jokic, and James Harden.

In addition to all of this, Dybantsa describes himself as a playmaker first and a scorer second. With a more competent supporting cast and the increased spacing of an NBA floor, Dybantsa will have plenty of opportunity to use his on-ball gravity to create open looks for his teammates, and more breathing room to find his own shot in the midrange.

He’s fast, he’s athletic, and he scores the basketball like a 29-year-old veteran. Dybantsa’s potential is All-NBA. He could be an MVP candidate and a top-five player in the world before his career is over. He has the competitive drive and coachability of a player well beyond his years, and that’s the demeanor of a player capable of leading a team deep into the postseason.

At BYU, he’s been forced to assume greater responsibility with several key teammates and offensive load-bearers going down with injury, including two-time All-Big 12 teamer Richie Saunders, who tore his ACL with several weeks still to go in the regular season. Rallying his teammates and choosing to compete rather than quit, Dybantsa led the Cougars to wins over two top-10 programs (Iowa State and Texas Tech) without Saunders. AJ proved to be a beloved locker room presence with infectious positive energy and an incredible work ethic.

Pause

But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. Though the good is, indeed, very good with AJ, it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows in his freshman season under head coach Kevin Young. He’s not perfect as a prospect, nor are his shortcomings negligible when weighing his value as the potential number-one selection.

His biggest issue is turnovers. They’re a natural part of the growth process for a young superstar like AJ, but that doesn’t mean that ball security should be ignored. Whether he’s trying too hard to fit a pass into a tight window or is simply sloppy with his dribble, there were many frustrating instances where the swarming, disciplined defenses of teams like Iowa State, Houston, and Arizona confused and compelled AJ to make a bad decision.

I attribute this to his frame in large part, but AJ’s handle isn’t always air-tight. Far from bad, but not quite excellent, Dybantsa’s dribble is often a little loose when operating outside the three-point arc, and that’s gotten him into trouble when facing aggressive, pesky defenders who like to swipe as the ball leaves his fingertips. 2.9 turnovers per game isn’t abhorrent, but ball security should be a major point of emphasis as he advances to the NBA level.

Though AJ is a gifted scorer, his three-point shot has been less-than steady throughout the 2025-26 campaign. He’s hitting above an acceptable 33%, but the flight of his ball has me very concerned about his efficiency as he steps back to the deeper NBA arc. He shoots a fairly flat ball; there is very little arch when he elevates from distance, leaving him less room for error than a player whose shot spends more time in the air.

There is precedent for great offensive threats to shoot with a shallow arch — Kawhi Leonard comes to mind — and heaven knows that his jumper regularly found its target from two-point land.

AJ has been a serviceable defender at BYU. Not a brick wall by any means, but he has been known to suffer the occasional lapse in focus when defending off-ball. Blame TikTok and his generation’s fried dopamine receptors, I guess. This is his most easily-corrected weakness, though one that he shares with some of the NBA’s very best. Take it for what it’s worth.

Verdict

If you want to hit a home run with the first overall pick in this draft, you don’t think twice about selecting AJ Dybantsa. With a mature, poised offensive skill set and a track record of endless competitive drive, this freshman from Brigham Young University led the nation in scoring and already plays basketball like an NBA veteran.

His ceiling is higher than that of Peterson or Boozer, and his game projects favorably to the rhythm and increased spacing of the NBA style. Put in the right situation, Dybantsa could blossom into a dominant superstar, collecting accolades like they’re Halloween candy. It’s hard to imagine a future where Dybantsa doesn’t develop into an All-Star-level talent as a pro.

It’s no secret that Dybantsa is at the top of Utah’s draft board. Owner Ryan Smith has been indirectly funding his collegiate development, and the Ainge family’s frequent appearances dressed in royal blue at the Marriott Center have given the Jazz all the scouting intel they need to make a decision. If the Jazz luck into the number one pick in the upcoming lottery, don’t be surprised if their representative shakes Adam Silver’s hand with a custom Dybantsa jersey a la Cleveland in 2003.

Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.

Michigan was the big winner of the 2025-26 season Big Ten men's basketball season. The Wolverines won the league by four games and added to its dominance with Yaxel Lendeborg being named Big Ten Player of the Year by a panel of USA TODAY Network voters. It was a near unanimous selection with Lendeborg receiving 15 of 16 votes.

He was, however, the only unanimous first team All-Big Ten selection. Illinois's Keaton Wagler appeared on the first team in 15 of the 16 ballots.

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Lendeborg also took home Big Ten Newcomer of the Year, ahead of Wagler, while Michigan's Aday Mara was voted Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

Nebraska's Fred Hoiberg edged Michigan's Dusty May for Big Ten Coach of the Year.

The Big Ten Tournament begins Tuesday in Chicago.

Here are the All-Big Ten first and second teams and postseason awards as voted on by USA TODAY Network reporters who cover the conference.

2026 All-Big Ten basketball first, second teams

* denotes unanimous selection

FIRST TEAM

• Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan*
• Keaton Wagler, Illinois
• Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
• Braden Smith, Purdue
• Bennett Stirtz, Iowa

SECOND TEAM

• Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
• Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska
• Nick Boyd, Wisconsin
• Nick Martinelli, Northwestern
• Lamar Wilkerson, Indiana

Also receiving votes: Hannes Steinbach (Washington), Morez Johnson Jr. (Michigan), Tyler Bildeau (UCLA), David Mirkovic (Illinois), John Blackwell (Wisconsin), Fletcher Loyer (Purdue), Jaxon Kohler (Michigan State).

2026 Big Ten basketball Player of the Year

Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg was a near unanimous pick for Big Ten Player of the Year. The UAB transfer didn't post monster numbers (14.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 3.2 apg), but he's the best player on the conference's best team.

"If he’s not Big Ten Player of the Year, then I’ll be shocked," Wolverines coach Dusty May said Monday.

Well Dusty, all is right in the world.

Iowa's Bennett Stirtz and Purdue's Braden Smith received the other two votes.

2026 Big Ten basketball Coach of the Year

This was the closest vote as Nebraska's Fred Hoiberg edged Michigan's Dusty May by three votes.

The Cornhuskers (26-5, 15-5) were predicted to finish 15th in the Big Ten preseason rankings and will enter the conference tournament as the No. 2 seed.

Nebraska is the only Power conference team to never win a game in the NCAA Tournament, but it looks like Hoiberg's group may be the one to break that duck.

Wisconsin's Greg Gard also received a vote.

2026 Big Ten basketball Newcomer of the Year

Yaxel Lendeborg wins this one, too, though Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler received a decent amount of consideration. Lendeborg arrived via the transfer portal after winning back-to-back American Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors and consecutive first-team all-league picks.

2026 Big Ten basketball Defensive Player of the Year

Michigan's Aday Mara won the vote for Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, with Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg and Mara's Michigan teammates Morez Johnson Jr. and Yaxel Lendeborg also receiving votes.

Mara averaged a Big Ten-best 2.6 blocks per game, tied for fifth-best in the nation, and added 6.9 rebounds per game.

Voters for Big Ten postseason awards included: Tony Garcia (Detroit Free Press), Chris Solari (Detroit Free Press), Sam King (Lafayette Journal & Courier), Adam Jardy (Columbus Dispatch), Zach Osterman (IndyStar), Nathan Baird (IndyStar), Tyler Tachman (Des Moines Register), Chad Leistikow (Des Moines Register), John Steppe (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel), Graham Couch (Lansing State Journal), Connor Earegood (Detroit News), James Hawkins (Detroit News), Michael Niziolek (Bloomington Herald-Times), Chris Hansen (Eugene Register Guard), Austin Curtright (USA TODAY Network), John Leuzzi (USA TODAY Network).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 All-Big Ten basketball first, second teams, player, coach of year

The 2026 men's basketball All-Big 12 first team included three freshmen, but excluded one many wouldn't have predicted at the season's tip-off.

BYU's AJ Dybantsa, Houston's Kingston Flemings and Arizona's Brayden Burries all made the All-Big 12 first team as voted on by USA TODAY Network reporters. Dybantsa and Flemings were the only unanimous selections.

Kansas freshman star Darryn Peterson, who missed 11 games this season, was named to the second team.

Dybantsa was voted Big 12 Player of the Year and unanimous Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.

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Arizona's Tommy Lloyd was named Big 12 Coach of the Year after guiding the Wildcats to the league's regular-season title and a likely No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Arizona will be looking to make its first Final Four since 2001.

Kansas big man Flory Bidunga earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, after tying second in the nation in blocked shots.

Here are the All-Big 12 first and second teams and postseason awards as voted on by USA TODAY Network reporters who cover the conference.

2026 All-Big 12 basketball first, second teams

* denotes unanimous selection

FIRST TEAM

• AJ Dybantsa, BYU*
• Kingston Flemings, Houston*
• JT Toppin, Texas Tech
• Brayden Burries, Arizona
• Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State

SECOND TEAM

• Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
• Jaden Bradley, Arizona
• Flory Bidunga, Kansas
• Darryn Peterson, Kansas
• Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State
• PJ Haggerty, Kansas State

Also receiving votes: Motiejus Krivas (Arizona), Koa Peat (Arizona), Emanuel Sharp (Houston), Robert Wright III (BYU), Tre White (Kansas), Melvin Council Jr. (Kansas), Themus Fulks (UCF), Terrence Brown (Utah), Xavier Edmonds (TCU), Baba Miller (Cincinnati), Honor Huff (West Virginia).

2026 Big 12 basketball Player of the Year

BYU star freshman AJ Dybantsa received half the votes for Big 12 Player of the Year from our voters. Joshua Jefferson (Iowa State), JT Toppin (Texas Tech) and Arizona's Brayden Burries also received votes.

Dybantsa lived up to the considerable hype, averaging 24.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists. However, as a team, the Cougars struggled down the stretch without Richie Saunders, losing eight of their final 12 games and finishing Big 12 play 9-9.

2026 Big 12 basketball Coach of the Year

Arizona's Tommy Lloyd led the Wildcats to a 29-2 overall record and 16-2 mark in the Big 12 on their way to winning the regular-season conference title.

UCF's Johnny Dawkins received two votes, while Texas Tech's Grant McCasland and Kansas' Bill Self also received consideration.

2026 Big 12 basketball Newcomer of the Year

Dybantsa may have split opinion on overall Player of the Year, but there was no question here as the BYU star freshman was a unanimous pick for Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.

2026 Big 12 basketball Defensive Player of the Year

Kansas big man Flory Bidunga was a near unanimous selection here. Bidunga averaged 9.0 rebounds a game and a Big 12-best 2.7 blocks per game, which tied for second in the nation.

Voters for USA TODAY Network Big 12 postseason awards included: Christopher Boyle (Daytona Beach News-Journal), Nathan Giese (Lubbock Avalanche-Journal), Scott Springer (Cincinnati Enquirer), Wyatt Wheeler (Topeka Capital-Journal), Jordan Guskey (Topeka Capital-Journal), Austin Curtright (USA TODAY Network), Eugene Rapay (Des Moines Register), Travis Hines (Des Moines Register), Scott Wright (The Oklahoman), Jacob Unruh (The Oklahoman).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 All-Big 12 basketball first, second teams, player, coach of year

The men's college basketball coaching carousel is spinning.

As of Friday, March 13, six Power conference jobs are already open — Georgia Tech, Boston College, Syracuse, Arizona State, Providence and Cincinnati. They aren't blue-blood jobs, but some of them should be intriguing to potential candidates, while others are a daunting task to take.

One of the best open jobs is already filled with Kansas State hiring Casey Alexander from Belmont.

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As Power coaching positions become more available, here's a ranking of them from being great opportunities to tough jobs.

We're onto the semifinals of this year's Big Ten tournament.

And Friday's nightcap gave us the first real big surprise of this year's event as UCLA knocked off Michigan State, 88-84. The Bruins get Purdue next.

Purdue may be the No. 7 seed, but the Boilers were ranked preseason No. 1 and seem to have found something in the Big Ten tournament with back-to-back impressive performances against Northwestern and Nebraska.

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No. 1 Michigan gets No. 5 seed Wisconsin in the other semifinal. The Wolverines have all but locked up a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

There’s no doubting the Big Ten’s depth of possible tournament teams. But we’ll see this helps snap the league’s long run without a national title. The last Big Ten team to win it all was Michigan State in 2000.

It's No. 1 Duke vs. No. 2 Virginia in the ACC tournament final on Saturday night.

The Blue Devils, led by freshman Cameron Boozer, are playing for their fourth ACC title in the past five years.

Meanwhile, Virginia is having a resurgence under first-year head coach Ryan Odom.

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The game tips off at 8:30 p.m., Saturday on ESPN.

Here's a look at the rest of the ACC tournament schedule:

ACC tournament schedule, bracket, scores

All times Eastern

First round

Tuesday, March 10

• Game 1: No. 15 Pittsburgh 64, No. 10 Stanford 63
• Game 2: No. 11 SMU 86, No. 14 Syracuse 69
• Game 3: No. 13 Wake Forest 95, No. 12 Virginia Tech 89

Second round

Wednesday, March 11

• Game 4: No. 7 NC State 98, No. 15 Pitt 88
• Game 5: No. 6 Louisville 62, No. 11 SMU 58
• Game 6: No. 8 Florida State 95, No. 9 California 89
• Game 7: No. 5 Clemson 71, No. 13 Wake Forest 62

Quarterfinals

Thursday, March 12

• Game 8: No. 2 Virginia 81, No. 7 NC State 74
• Game 9: No. 3 Miami (Fla.) 78, No. 6 Louisville 73
• Game 10: No. 1 Duke 80, No. 8 Florida State 79
• Game 11: No. 5 Clemson 80, No. 4 North Carolina 79

Semifinals

Friday, March 13

• Game 12: No. 2 Virginia 84, No. 3 Miami 62
• Game 13: No. 1 Duke 73, No. 5 Clemson 61

Championship game

Saturday, March 14

• Game 14: No. 2 Virginia vs. No. 1 Duke, 8:30 p.m., ESPN

Pitt stuns Stanford, hurts Cardinal bubble chances

The ACC tournament begins in an upset fashion, as Pitt defeats Stanford 64-63. The Panthers got a clutch layup from Damarco Minor with 0.4 seconds left on the clock before getting a stop on defense as time expired to upset the 10th-seeded Cardinal, who were fighting to keep their chances alive of making the NCAA Tournament. The loss ultimately takes Stanford off the bubble. — John Leuzzi

15-SEED PITT IN THE FINAL SECOND!

What a way to kick off the ACC tournament 🔥 pic.twitter.com/MaSCjHraEs

— ACC Network (@accnetwork) March 10, 2026

How to watch ACC basketball tournament

• TV: ESPN/ESPN2 | ESPNU | ACC Network
• Streaming: ESPN app | ESPN+ | Fubo (free trial)

The ACC tournament first round will be broadcast on the ACC Network. The succeeding rounds will be shown on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU. The championship game will be aired on ESPN. All games will be streamed on ESPN+.

ACC basketball favorite

Top-seeded Duke, as was the case last season, is expected to carry the league banner well into March Madness. The Blue Devils, however, might not be at full strength entering this event with starters Patrick Ngongba and Caleb Foster on the bench in walking boots by the conclusion of their final regular-season win against archrival North Carolina. The Tar Heels will be shorthanded themselves with standout freshman Caleb Wilson sidelined for the remainder of the season. The good news for those two squads, as well as fellow double bye recipients Virginia and Miami, is they’ll have until Thursday’s quarterfinals.

ACC basketball top players

Cameron Boozer, F, Duke – The Blue Devils’ latest freshman star has lived up to his lofty expectations. The team leader in points (22.7), rebounds (10.2) and assists (4.1) might actually be asked to do even more given the health concerns.

Thijs De Ridder, F, Virginia – The Belgian standout has been the cornerstone of first-year Cavaliers’ coach Ryan Odom’s retooled roster. UVa’s top scorer (15.9) and rebounder (6.3) connects at a 51.3% clip from the field with a nice touch around the rim.

Malik Reneau, F, Miami – The Miami native returned to his hometown after starting his collegiate career at Indiana. Putting up 19 points and 6.6 boards a game, he quickly became a key piece of the Hurricanes’ rapid resurgence under new coach Jai Lucas.

Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina – The Estonia native and former Arizona transfer will have to shoulder even more of the load on both ends of the floor with Wilson sidelined. The seven-footer is averaging 16.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks for the Tar Heels.

Ryan Conwell, G, Louisville – With flashy freshman point guard Mikel Brown in and out of the lineup with recurring back issues, the Cardinals needed Conwell to provide another consistent scoring presence from the perimeter. He has delivered to the tune of 18.7 points a game and 102 made three-pointers.

NCAA tournament bubble storylines for ACC

While a couple of the teams in action Tuesday are clinging to faint bubble hopes, the real drama will take place on day two. North Carolina State and Clemson are probably safe, but the seventh-seeded Wolfpack would be advised not to tempt the fates with an early loss. SMU has struggled down the stretch and needs a win or two to breathe easier. California and Virginia Tech look on the outside looking in. A run to the final might be needed to get an at-large spot.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ACC basketball tournament bracket, scores: Duke vs. Virginia

It looked like the Boston Celtics were primed for the first season of a soft rebuild this season, largely due to a bloated salary sheet and the devestating Achilles injury suffered by franchise star Jayson Tatum. The expectations were that the Celtics were going to be a good not great team this year with a chance to be a playoff team after thinning the roster a bit and while Tatum used the year to recover from his injury. Instead, they’ve been one of the best teams in the Association, falling just a game shy of the infamous Phil Jackson 40-20 Rule of Title Contention, and Tatum is back in the fold, looking more or less the same as ever in his first 2 games back, both wins. Tatum’s return could be the spark that sets the Celtics off running heading into the playoffs, as Boston currently sit just 2.5 games back of the Detroit Pistons

San Antonio meanwhile has continued their winning ways, going 3-0 so far on this 6-game homestand. Winners of 15 of their last 16, the Spurs are trying to build all the momentum they can with April fast approaching. San Antonio beat the East-leading Pistons rather handily last week to kick off the homestand and now will have an opportunity to take down the current #2 seed and spoiler for the Jayson Tatum return tour.

San Antonio Spurs (47-17) vs Boston Celtics (43-21)

March 10 2026 | 7:00 PM CT

Watch: NBC, FDSS | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries: Harrison Barnes, ankle (OUT), Mason Plumlee, reconditioning (OUT), David Jones-Garcia, OUT

Celtics Injuries: Nikola Vucevic, finger (OUT),

What to watch for

• It’s pretty remarkable how good Tatum has looked in his two appearances so far. A little under 10 months since tearing his Achilles in the 2nd round against the Knicks last playoffs, he’s looked very close to the all around star that he was before the injury. Perhaps his game will fall off a bit as the games and minutes start to pile up, but if he can give the Celtics what he’s displayed so far, good luck betting against them in the playoffs. It’s no secret that an Achilles rupture has long been considered something of an athlete’s death warrant, but Tatum looks like he might be able to buck that trend.

• Having a healthy Tatum back in the lineup takes a lot of pressure off the rest of the Celtics, but no one is more relieved probably than Jaylen Brown. Brown has done more than just held down the fort all season long in Tatum’s absence. He’s having a career year, becoming inf the engine of the league’s 2nd best offense in the process. Coming into the season, the thought was that the only way Boston was going to compete for a playoff spot would be if Brown raised his level of play and he’s done just that. The former Finals MVP is averaging career-best numbers in points, field goal attempts, free throw attempts, rebounds, and assists.
• Boston has a top 5 offense and defense this season, an incredible feat considering what the pundits were saying at the outset. Joe Mazulla’s switch heavy scheme, elite rebounding and a glacier-like pace that’s the slowest in the league have gone a long way in helping the Celtics control games and strangle opposing offenses. They are thin in the middle, having lost the recently acquired Nikola Vucevic to a finger injury, but Neemias Queta has been the anchor of their defense all season long. A starter in all but 5 games this season, Queta has really blossomed in his 5th season into a dominant rim protecting big, capable of shutting down drives and bringing help at opportune times. Victor Wembanyama can essentially do whatever he wants on a basketball court, but Queta will provide a stiff test for San Antonio’s team offense as a whole.

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New York Knicks (41-25, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (20-45, 14th in the Western Conference)

Salt Lake City; Wednesday, 9 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks take on the Utah Jazz in a non-conference matchup.

The Jazz have gone 12-21 at home. Utah gives up 124.9 points and has been outscored by 7.5 points per game.

The Knicks have gone 18-16 away from home. New York is third in the Eastern Conference with 46.2 rebounds per game led by Karl-Anthony Towns averaging 11.9.

The Jazz's 12.9 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.8 fewer made shots on average than the 13.7 per game the Knicks allow. The Jazz average 116.9 points per game, 8.0 fewer points than the 124.9 the Jazz give up to opponents.

The teams play for the second time this season. The Knicks won the last matchup 146-112 on Dec. 6. Jalen Brunson scored 33 points to help lead the Knicks to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Brice Sensabaugh is scoring 12.9 points per game and averaging 3.0 rebounds for the Jazz. Kyle Filipowski is averaging 15.1 points and 9.1 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Towns is averaging 20 points and 11.9 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 21.3 points and 8.4 assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 2-8, averaging 112.8 points, 42.3 rebounds, 26.0 assists, 11.2 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.2 points per game.

Knicks: 6-4, averaging 111.6 points, 46.0 rebounds, 29.0 assists, 8.5 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 103.8 points.

INJURIES: Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: out (ankle), Isaiah Collier: out (illness), Ace Bailey: out (illness), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder), Jusuf Nurkic: out for season (nose), Jaren Jackson Jr.: out for season (knee).

Knicks: Mitchell Robinson: out (injury management), Miles McBride: out (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.