Expert basketball coverage from around the world
Florida launched its national title defense in emphatic fashion, overwhelming Prairie View A&M 114-55 on Friday night. The 59-point margin stands as the second-largest victory in NCAA tournament history.
Purdue guard Braden Smith is now the NCAA’s all-time assists leader. Smith surpassed Bobby Hurley’s career mark Friday night during the Boilermakers’ first-round NCAA tournament game against Queens University.
The NCAA men’s tournament has been trimmed to 32 teams after the opening round. With the first wave of games complete, attention turns to how the remaining contenders stack up heading into the next phase.
The reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder will not make a White House visit during their road trip to Washington this weekend. The team cited timing as the reason for the decision.
Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis left Friday night’s road game in Detroit due to lower back spasms. Golden State went on to lose after Porzingis was forced to exit.
Prosecutors allege “drug transactions” were found on Alabama guard Aden Holloway’s phone following his arrest Monday on a felony drug charge. The allegation is included in documents obtained by ESPN.
Otega Oweh drilled a buzzer-beater to force overtime, and seventh-seeded Kentucky pulled away for an 89-84 win over Santa Clara on Friday. The victory sends the Wildcats through the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Iowa State senior forward Joshua Jefferson suffered a sprained left ankle during Friday’s 108-74 win over Tennessee State. The program said X-rays were negative.
Ja'Kobi Gillespie drilled six 3-pointers and scored 29 points as sixth-seeded Tennessee pulled away from Miami (Ohio) for a 78-56 win Friday. The first-round result ended Miami’s season and sent the Volunteers on to the next round.
Real-time coverage of Friday’s first-round action in the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Reporters are stationed across the country to deliver live updates as games unfold.
Friday’s men’s NCAA tournament action delivered first-round wins with clear themes behind the results. Here’s how Kentucky and Texas Tech got through — and what mattered most in each victory.
Luka Doncic continues to deliver at an elite level, while Ayo Dosunmu and Daniss Jenkins are gaining momentum as fantasy options. Meanwhile, managers face difficult roster decisions involving Giannis Antetokounmpo and Mikal Bridges.
Basketball Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman is slated to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. The honor recognizes his involvement in pro wrestling during the Monday night wars era, sources said.
Western Michigan is expected to hire UTRGV coach Kahil Fennell as its next head men’s basketball coach. The move would bring Fennell from the Vaqueros to lead the Broncos program.
Tuskegee basketball coach Benjy Taylor has filed a $1 million federal lawsuit against Morehouse College and two police officers. The suit stems from Taylor’s postgame detainment on Jan. 31.
As offseason attention again turns to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future, rival teams are focusing less on hypothetical packages and more on Milwaukee’s ability to navigate a major decision. A rare ownership structure and financial turbulence have created uncertainty about who ultimately has the authority to act.
North Carolina coach Hubert Davis dismissed fatigue as a factor after the Tar Heels fell 82-78 in overtime to VCU. Davis also took responsibility for sticking with a six-man rotation late in the game.
BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa said he expects to make a decision on his playing future within the next couple of weeks. The highly watched first-year Cougar indicated the timeline as he weighs what comes next.
Chase Johnston delivered his first 2-point field goal of the season at the decisive moment, pushing No. 12 seed High Point to an 83-82 upset of fifth-seeded Wisconsin. The result came Thursday in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.
Victor Wembanyama buried a go-ahead 17-foot fadeaway with 1.1 seconds left Thursday night. The shot secured San Antonio’s first playoff berth in six seasons.
The Charlotte Hornets honored franchise icon Dell Curry on Thursday night, raising his No. 30 jersey during halftime against the Orlando Magic. Curry appeared emotional as the team celebrated his legacy.
Luka Doncic poured in 60 points against the Miami Heat, matching the second-highest total of his career. The outburst helped the Los Angeles Lakers stretch their season-best winning streak to eight games.
LeBron James has tied Robert Parish for the NBA’s all-time games-played record at 1,611. Parish said James is “deserving” of breaking the mark.
Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell did not play Thursday against the Chicago Bulls due to a bruised left eye. Cleveland still secured a 115-110 victory without its leading guard.
The 2026 NCAA tournament tips off with Thursday’s first-round slate. Follow along for live, on-the-ground updates from venues across the country as the bracket gets underway.
Duke survived an early NCAA tournament scare, erasing a 13-point deficit and pulling ahead for good in the final five minutes. The No. 1 overall seed outlasted 16th-seeded Siena 71-65 on Thursday.
The Nets announced Michael Porter Jr. will miss at least two weeks due to a strained left hamstring. Brooklyn could be without its leading scorer during the final stretch of the season.
Follow along for live coverage centered on Duke, the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed. Updates will track key moments as they unfold.
The Lakers could be without three of their top names Thursday night. LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are all listed as questionable against the Miami Heat.
Miami is expected to waive guard Terry Rozier before the end of the regular season. The move would open a roster spot as the Heat prepare for their playoff run.
