Eight precious tickets remain for next week’s Sweet 16 as the NCAA Tournament enters the final day of its first weekend on Sunday. Fans won’t have to wait long for the excitement to ramp up with (7) Miami and (2) Purdue kicking things off (12:10 p.m ET CBS, March Madness Live)
The second game on the slate features is shrouded with injury intrigue as No. 2 seed Iowa State faces uncertainty around All-American big Joshua Jefferson ahead of its tilt with dangerous No. 7 seed Kentucky (2:45 p.m. ET, CBS, March Madness Live).
Later in the evening, No. 7 seed UCLA takes on No. 2 seed UConn (8:45 p.m. ET TNT, March Madness Live) in a battle of coaching wits between the Bruins’ Mick Cronin and the Huskies’ Dan Hurley.
No. 5 Texas Tech and No. 4 seed Alabama will serve as a much-anticipated finale (9:45 p.m. ET CBS, March Madness Live). The winner gets a date with No. 1 seed Michigan in next week’s Sweet 16.
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Here is the full schedule and beyond to get you ready for the NCAA Tournament, and be sure to follow the live bracket throughout March Madness.
2026 NCAA Tournament schedule, dates
Second round
Sunday, March 22 Benchmark International Arena (Tampa), Xfinity Mobile Arena (Philadelphia), Viejas Arena (San Diego), Enterprise Center (St. Louis)
Mar 21, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Jannik Sinner (ITA) (L) shakes hands with Damir D?umhur (BIH) (R) at the net after their match on day five of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
World No. 2 Jannik Sinner continued his pursuit of the “Sunshine Double” by winning his opening match over Damir Dzumhur 6-3, 6-3 on Saturday at the Miami Open in Miami Gardens, Fla.
The Italian, coming off a victory at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., needed only 71 minutes to dispatch Dzumhur, ranked No. 76, from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Sinner, a 25-time winner on the ATP Tour, can be the first player to win the consecutive California and Florida tournaments — the “Sunshine Double” — since Roger Federer in 2017.
A winner of 12 straight matches at ATP Masters 1000 events, Sinner also has tied Novak Djokovic’s record with 24 consecutive sets won at that level.
“I feel like the scoreboard matters at times,” Sinner said of the latter streak. “For me, I try to improve as a player and put myself in the position to play as many matches as possible. I always treat every opponent in the same way, trying to come on court and do my best with a great attitude and trying to go for it.”
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Sinner, who won the Miami Open in 2024, had a distinct edge in aces (9-1) and winners (21-8), though each had 18 unforced errors. The Italian won 90% of his first serves (26 of 29), to 62% (23 of 37) for Dzumhur, who saved six of nine break points — to 1-for-1 for Sinner.
Third-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany handled American wild card Martin Damm 6-2, 6-4 in just under 70 minutes.
Zverev did not face a break point and converted three of eight opportunities. Damm was undermined by more double faults (6-0) and unforced errors (22-8) and fewer winners (16-12).
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Kazakhstan’s Alexander Shevchenko knocked off eighth-seeded Ben Shelton 6-7 (3) 7-6 (3), 6-3 in a battle lasting two hours, 22 minutes.
The power-serving Shelton had 17 aces but also 44 unforced errors. Shevchenko had fewer aces (11) and winners (46-33) but also fewer unforced errors (24) as he saved all five break points on his serve.
Seventh-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada moved on following a tight 7-6 (3), 7-5 win over Marton Fucsovics of Hungary. Ninth-seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia dropped the opening set before ousting Japanese wild card Rei Sakamoto 6-7 (10), 6-3, 6-1.
Also victorious on Saturday were 12th-seeded Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic, 18th-seeded Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, 19th-seeded Frances Tiafoe of the United States, 29th-seeded Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina, 30th-seeded Corentin Moutet of France and 31st-seeded Ugo Humbert of France as well as Spanish qualifier Rafael Jodar.
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A host of seeded players lost, with Russia’s Andrey Rublev (15th) falling to Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo, Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (16th) eliminated by France’s Quentin Halys, American Learner Tien (20th) downed by Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak, Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie (23st) ousted by American Alex Michelsen, Arthur Rinderknach (26th) losing to fellow Frenchman Terence Atmane and American Brandon Nakashima (27th) beaten by Croatia’s Marin Cilic.
Watch Carabao Cup final for free – TV channel, live stream and kick-off time – Manchester Evening News
Need to know
How to watch the Carabao Cup final on terrestrial TV as Arsenal and Manchester City battle for the season’s first piece of silverware
The Carabao Cup final will be available to watch for free for fans who can’t get to Wembley(Image: Sportsphoto/Allstar, Getty Images)
How to watch the Carabao Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City for free on UK TV
ITV in Sky agreement: A sub-licensing deal, struck in 2024, permits a selection of EFL and Carabao Cup matches to be aired on terrestrial television alongside Sky Sports’ comprehensive coverage. This includes Sunday’s final.
Duration of agreement: The existing broadcast deal extends until the conclusion of the 2026/27 season. This ensures fans can count on the final being accessible on terrestrial TV for at least another year following Sunday’s spectacle.
Value of agreement: The sub-licensing deal is reportedly valued at around £15 million. This extra income from ITV helps boost financial distribution to all 72 EFL clubs, supporting the wider English football pyramid beyond the Premier League.
Start time for coverage: Coverage on ITV and STV commences at 3.30pm with interviews and analysis. The match gets underway at 4.30pm.
UK streaming: Supporters can also tune in for free via the ITVX and STV Player apps with a verified account. This enables streaming on mobile phones, tablets and smart TVs across the country.
Sky’s involvement: While ITV offers the free-to-air option, Sky, as the main rights holder, continues to air every single match of the tournament live across its various channels and the Sky Sports+ platform.
Sky coverage: The build-up commences on the Sky Sports Football channel at 3.30pm, while Sky Sports Main Event will also broadcast the match following the conclusion of the relegation clash between Tottenham and Nottingham Forest.
US viewers: The match is exclusive to Paramount+. The streaming service will kick off its coverage at 11.30am ET. Although a subscription is required, new users can often utilise a seven-day free trial to watch the final.
UK radio: BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT will provide full coverage. Both stations will deliver full live commentary, pre-match analysis and post-match reaction.
Eddie Hearn believes he has the future heavyweight king in his Matchroom stable, predicting a future battle between his charge and Moses Itauma.
Many believe Itauma, at 21 years old, has the ring IQ, temperament and physical attributes to reign supreme over his division in years to come.
But while that might prove to be the case, there is also a selection of rising prospects who could pose a serious challenge to the talented Brit.
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One of whom is Teremoana Teremoana, who extended his flawless record to 10-0 (10 KOs) after scoring a first-round finish over limited heavyweight Curtis Harper.
The pair collided in the undercard of Carlos Adames vs Austin Williams, which took place at the Caribe Royale, Orlando, in the early hours of Sunday morning. Hearn talked up his charge pre-fight, saying he believed he is a world heavyweight champion in waiting.
The American, however, is perhaps better known for his disqualification against Efe Agagba in 2018, which saw him walk out of the ring without even throwing a punch.
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It therefore came as no great surprise when Teremoana scored his seventh consecutive first-round stoppage, landing a thudding right hand that sent Harper crashing to the canvas.
Clearly, the 28-year-old carries serious power and possesses a sharp boxing brain, but whether he can replicate this success against a higher standard of opposition remains to be seen – that’s where Hearn comes in, hoping to keep him busy and up the levels as he goes.
Either way, the Australian has proven to be a fan-friendly customer for viewers on DAZN, often delivering a highlight-reel knockout that merits considerable engagement on social media.
Victor Osimhen has confirmed he will undergo surgery after suffering a fractured arm, with the Galatasaray striker expected to be out for up to six weeks.
The Super Eagles forward revealed the extent of the injury during a live session with Nigerian content creator Carter Efe, where he explained that an operation is necessary for proper healing.
“I need to go under the knife,” Osimhen said. “That means I have to do surgery because my arm is broken. It will take about five to six weeks. Six weeks at most, and I will be back.”
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He also spoke about his recovery plan, noting that the process will be gradual. “Most times it is four weeks, then two weeks of training alone to regain fitness before joining the team,” he added.
The injury happened during Galatasaray’s UEFA Champions League match against Liverpool at Anfield. Osimhen was hurt in the first half after a strong challenge involving defender Ibrahima Konaté, leaving him in clear pain.
Medical checks after the game confirmed a fracture in his right forearm.
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The 27-year-old has now returned to Nigeria to rest briefly before undergoing surgery and starting his rehabilitation. His return to action will depend on how well he recovers after the procedure.
As No. 2-seeded Iowa women’s basketball (27-6, 15-3 Big Ten) prepares for No. 10 seed Virginia (21-11, 11-7 ACC) in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32 action on Monday, March 23, the contest’s official tipoff time has been announced.
While Iowa thwarted the potential upset bid by a 58-48 score over No. 15 seed Fairleigh Dickinson, Virginia pulled off an 82-73 overtime victory against No. 7 seed Georgia to advance to Monday’s Second Round matchup.
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According to Iowa Athletics and the various organizers of the NCAA Tournament broadcast schedules, Monday’s clash between the Hawkeyes and Calaviers from a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena will tip off at 1 p.m. CT on ESPN.
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If the Hawkeyes advance to the Sweet 16 with a victory over the Cavaliers on Monday, it would be the first time under head coach Jan Jensen and the fifth overall in program history as the No. 2 seed in the national tournament.
The last time Iowa secured a spot in the Sweet 16 was in 2023, when it reached the National Championship game.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
Manchester United wonderkids JJ Gabriel and Kai Rooney have been turning plenty of heads, with Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney in agreement about them
Both teenagers found the net on Saturday as Manchester United’s Under-18s beat Blackburn 3-0, further fuelling excitement among supporters who see them as future first-team prospects. But despite the rising hype, those closest to their journeys are urging restraint.
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Carrick, United’s interim head coach, has already highlighted the need for patience with 15-year-old Gabriel. He stressed that while the club rates him highly, careful development is key to managing both his talent and the attention that comes with it.
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“JJ is a big talent. We obviously think an awful lot of him, but patience is important in managing everything that comes with that and working with him in development,” Carrick said earlier this month.
Rooney, United’s all-time leading scorer with 253 goals, has taken a similar stance regarding his son Kai. Speaking to former team-mate Gary Neville, he made it clear it is far too early to predict whether the 16-year-old will follow the same path he took to the top.
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“You never know. I think he’s shown potential and good signs,” Rooney Sr said. “He’ll be at United for the next two years and that’s when they make decisions on you so we’ll have to just wait and see.”
Man United’s U18s are locked in a title battle with neighbours Manchester City for the U18 Premier League crown, and their latest win over Blackburn only strengthened their push. Gabriel opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Kai doubled their lead shortly after coming on from the bench. Jim Thwaites then wrapped up the victory with a stunning free-kick.
Gabriel has been the U18s’ star this season, scoring 21 goals in 23 appearances in all competitions. Although still too young for Premier League action, he has already trained with the first team on several occasions – an indication of how highly he is rated within the club.
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“What he’s done when he’s trained, he’s done well as you’d expect and it’s good to have the younger players come up with us,” Carrick said. “He’s doing really well.”
United have been keen to show Gabriel a pathway to the first-team – and the youngster and his family were invited into the Old Trafford directors’ box for the opening game of the season against Arsenal.
Kai, meanwhile, has drawn attention of his own after rising rapidly through the academy ranks. Like Gabriel, he is among the youngest players featuring regularly at U18 level, underlining just how highly both are regarded.
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The club’s track record in developing youth talent only adds to the excitement. From Bobby Charlton and George Best to David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, and more recently Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo, Manchester United’s academy has consistently produced first-team stars.
With that history comes inevitable comparisons – but as Wayne Rooney and Carrick have both stressed, expectations must be managed carefully.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.
The second-round matchup in Philadelphia between the Huskies and Bruins could be a slow-paced slugfest.
Connecticut plays at a rate ranked 326th in the nation, while the Bruins’ pace is 313th-slowest.
Look for body blows early and often.
And if UCLA can get going early, they could be in a position to pull the upset of second-seeded UConn.
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No. 7 UCLA vs No. 2 UConn
Sunday, March 22 5:45 pm PT, TNT Philadelphia, PA
The Huskies rank eighth in the nation in first-half points allowed per game, giving up just 30.7.
They also rank 14th in the nation in scoring margin. In the opening 20 minutes, they are +8.3 points to the good, the 11th largest halftime lead per game in the country.
A fast start will be key for the Bruins.
They have not been a great team after halftime over the last few weeks, getting outscored by 3.7 points per outing in their last three games.
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The Huskies’ rim protection makes them tough to score on.
One of the most prolific shot-blocking teams in the nation, UConn is rejecting 9.5% of opponents’ attempts, the fourth-highest rate in the country.
Tarris Reed Jr. leads the Big East regular-season champs with his two blocks per game.
On Friday evening, the Husky star center provided more than just rim protection. In fact, he did not have a single blocked shot as the second-seed held off an upset bid from Furman.
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It was about the only thing Reed did not do, however, as he finished the first-round win with 31 points on 12-of-15 shooting and 27 rebounds, including 11 on the offensive end.
Tarris Reed Jr. vs Furman | Matt Rourke/AP
That sort of stat line has not been seen in the last half-century.
Reed joins Bill Walton as the only players in the past 60 years to have at least 30 points and 20 rebounds on 80% shooting in an NCAA tournament game.
Needless to say, slowing down the Huskies inside will be pivotal if UCLA hopes to continue playing this March.
Preventing offensive rebounds has not been a strength this season for UCLA and allowing second-chance points is not a recipe for success.
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The health of Tyler Bilodeau and his ability to play on Sunday will be a huge factor against a physical opponent that will look to dominate inside.
The Bruins have played a ton of physical games in the Big Ten and have had success against the likes of Michigan State, Purdue and Illinois.
The Fighting Illini are a big team that likes to play a bit faster and UCLA was able to gut out a win while scoring in the 90s.
Donovan Dent vs UCF | Bill Streicher/Imagn Images
One common theme in some of UCLA’s biggest wins this season has been the production from Donovan Dent, both scoring and distributing.
The Bruins will need a big performance on the offensive side of the ball from their guards, and especially Dent.
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As big as the nagging injury to Bilodeau is to UCLA, the injury to Silas Demary Jr. might even be a bigger factor for UConn.
The Husky point guard missed the opener, and his ability to defend the UCLA front court will be a huge factor in determining the outcome of what should be a tight contest.
While the play of Dent will play a major role, I think the true X-Factor for UCLA on offense will be the play of Trent Perry, who is averaging 17.3 points over the last three games.
The guard can get hot from distance and get to the rim.
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Knocking down threes will open everything else up, and his ability to make plays at the rim could create some foul trouble for the Huskies, as well as some easy buckets.
If Perry can get going early, things could swing in UCLA’s direction.
writes about various topics for SuperWest sports, including stats and records, college sports, and motorsports. He also founded and runs the Sports and Entertainment Research Center (SERC).
Arizona’s path to the Final Four was never going to be easy.
Utah State is underseeded and presents a tough challenge.
The Aggies won the Mountain West Regular Season and Tournament Championships. They are well-coached and have capable players.
To advance to the Sweet 16, the Wildcats must bring their “A” game from the opening tip.
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Here’s my preview of the Round of 32 matchup.
No. 9 Utah State v. No. 1 Arizona
Sunday, March 22 4:50 pm PT, truTv San Diego, CA
Rebounding and free-throw shooting.
Those are the keys for Arizona to advance to the Sweet 16.
The Wildcats have multiple players who can be difference-makers. Tommy Lloyd’s team is not reliant on any single guy and can overcome poor performances by key contributors.
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If Brayden Burries doesn’t have it, Anthony Dell’Orso steps up. If Koa Peat can’t get it going, Tobe Awaka picks up the slack.
And so on and so on.
There are just too many weapons for Utah State to slow down. Too many variables to account for.
The only way that Arizona loses is if it beats itself. And how does it do that?
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Missing free throws and giving up offensive rebounds.
Anthony Dell’Orso vs LIU | Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
At times, the Wildcats have been slacking on the defensive glass and gone cold from the line. There aren’t many flaws to the team, but those two categories are noteworthy issues.
So, how do the Aggies match up? Well, frankly, not very well.
Jerrod Calhoun’s team is 222nd nationally in rebounds per game. That would put USU 11th in the Big 12.
In other words, in the bottom half of the league, around the other teams that missed the Tournament.
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Utah State’s offensive rebounding is marginally better, slotting in at No. 179 nationally. But that would also put them at just 11th in the Big 12.
As a comparison, Arizona is No. 2 nationally in rebounds per game and No. 33 overall in offensive rebounds per game.
That’s not a good analytical matchup for the Aggies and is arguably the reason why the spread is so wide.
This isn’t Villanova.
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MJ Collins vs Villanova | Mark J. Terrill, AP
The quality in competition USU is about to face is exponentially better than what Nova trotted out onto the floor. You aren’t lining up against Duke Brennan and Devin Askew.
This is an Arizona team that won the toughest conference in the nation by multiple games and won the Big 12 Tournament by beating two Final Four contenders.
The Cats are coming off their largest margin of victory in the NCAA Tournament since 1998, and they didn’t even play that great.
Mix in a strong contingent of Arizona fans at Viejas Arena, and you have the recipe for a convincing win.
But the three-point shot is the ultimate equalizer. And allowing second-chance opportunities, while missing free throws, is the path to an upset.
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If Utah State hits its threes while getting second-chance points, the chance of an upset rises substantially.
At the same time, if Arizona controls the defensive glass and takes care of business at the free-throw line, it should leave with a win.
Miller covers College Basketball and College Football as well as Formula 1 racing as a Senior Writer and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports.
Manchester City face Premier League title rivals Arsenal at Wembley this afternoon as the pair face off in the final of the Carabao Cup. We’ll have build-up, updates, analysis and reaction live from Wembley.
Indian opener Prithvi Shaw penned down an emotional message for the fans as he returns to the Arun Jaitley Stadium to join the Delhi Capitals (DC) camp ahead of the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which will commence on March 28. Prithvi Shaw’s long association with Delhi came to an end after seven seasons when the franchise released him ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. The 26-year-old then endured a disappointing outing at the auction, going unsold as Delhi opted not to bring back the now Maharashtra batter.
Shaw had to wait for another opportunity as his name did not come up in the main rounds of the IPL 2026 Auction. His fortunes finally changed during the accelerated phase, where he was one of the 11 players picked in the final round, securing a Rs 75 lakh contract with his former franchise.
Delhi Capitals shared a video of Shaw’s homecoming on Sunday with a caption, ‘Our Boy is back home.’
“You don’t forget a place like Kotla. Not the noise. Not the silence. Not what it made you,” Shaw said in a video released by DC. “Some stories don’t end. They come back. Delhi, your boy is home,” he added.
Shaw was bought by the Delhi team for Rs. 1.2 crore during the auction after India’s U-19 World Cup win in 2018, where he led from the front as captain. Shaw spent seven seasons with DC, where he played a total of 79 matches and scored 1892 runs, with an average of 23.5. He scored 14 fifties during his tenure.
DC nearly missed a playoff berth in the last season. They finished in fifth position by registering seven wins in 14 matches. They have never won an IPL trophy, and the team will look to end their quest in the 19th season.
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According to the 20-match schedule released by the BCCI, Delhi Capitals will start their campaign against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on April 1.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Connecticut plays at a rate ranked 326th in the nation, while the Bruins’ pace is 313th-slowest.
No. 7 UCLA vs No. 2 UConn
No. 9 Utah State v. No. 1 Arizona
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