Head coach Ben McCollum and senior guard Bennett Stirtz have led Iowa to their first Elite Eight appearance since 1980 following a dramatic comeback victory over Nebraska.
The Hawkeyes recovered from an early 10-point deficit in their Sweet 16 clash to continue an unlikely postseason journey.
The crucial turnaround was sparked by an explosive mid-game tirade from their demonstrative manager.
Fire and ice partnership
Stirtz watched unfazed as his coach smashed a whiteboard and shattered a marker pen on the hardwood floor.
“That’s what he likes to do,” Stirtz said following the victory.
“He’s the negative guy, and then our assistant coaches are the positive people. He was just telling us we sucked and we were soft.”
McCollum offered a much lighter interpretation of the pivotal huddle.
“We called the team into the huddle and just said very nicely, ‘I would like you to play harder, guys,'” the coach joked.
From Division II to the grand stage
The contrasting duo are currently at their third school together after previous stints at Northwest Missouri State and Drake.
Despite an underwhelming 10-10 record in the Big Ten conference, the team are now on the brink of a historic Final Four berth.
This marks the fourth consecutive year the manager and player have advanced together in an elimination tournament.
Their journey began in Division II, suffering a second-round exit in 2023 before losing to the eventual national champions in the 2024 Sweet 16.
Stepping up when it matters
Following their jump to Division I with Drake last season, the perpetually cool playmaker carried his former team to a first-round upset over Missouri.
The transition to Iowa has proved equally seamless for the former MVC Player of the Year.
Stirtz earned second-team All-Big Ten honours after averaging 19.7 points per game during the regular season.
The prolific scorer delivered once again against the Cornhuskers, sinking a crucial three-pointer with just over two minutes remaining to secure Iowa’s first lead of the contest.
The Hawkeyes will now face Illinois on Saturday with a coveted Final Four spot on the line.
Sixth-seeded Tennessee produced a dominant rebounding display to upset second seeds Iowa State 76-62 in Chicago and reach their third consecutive Elite Eight on Friday.
Nate Ament spearheaded the scoring with 18 points, while Ja’Kobi Gillespie added 16 to keep their team’s Final Four dreams alive.
A formidable performance on the glass proved decisive as the Volunteers ruthlessly outrebounded their opponents 43-22.
Absence of Jefferson proves costly
Iowa State clearly struggled to fill the void left by injured star Joshua Jefferson.
The All-America forward, who averaged 16.4 points and 7.4 rebounds this season, sustained a tournament-ending injury during their March Madness opener against Tennessee State.
Despite his absence, Nate Heise and Tamin Lipsey fought valiantly to keep the Cyclones competitive by contributing 18 points each.
A tense first half concluded with Rick Barnes’ side clinging to a narrow 34-33 advantage after Felix Okpara converted two late free throws.
Carey powers second-half surge
The contest broke open following the interval when the sixth seeds orchestrated a decisive 13-4 scoring run.
Jaylen Carey emphatically capped this momentum shift with a crucial three-point play off a tip-in.
The imposing 6ft 8in forward turned to the roaring crowd and flexed before sinking his free throw to establish a commanding 14-point lead with 11 minutes remaining.
Okpara provided essential support in the paint, chipping in with 12 points and 10 rebounds to secure a crucial double-double.
Wolverines await in regional final
Victory moves the university within just one win of a historic first Final Four appearance.
They will face top seeds Michigan in Sunday’s Midwest Region final after the Wolverines comfortably dispatched Alabama 90-77.
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic faces an automatic one-game suspension after picking up his 16th technical foul of the NBA season during Friday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets.
The MVP candidate was penalised following a third-quarter physical altercation with Nets forward Ziaire Williams.
Crew chief Sean Wright assessed double technical fouls after an offensive foul was called with just over five minutes remaining in the period.
Video replays showed the Lakers playmaker pushing Williams, who subsequently retaliated by swiping at his opponent’s face.
Pending appeal and recent reprieves
If the NBA upholds the decision, the mandatory ban will be served when the Washington Wizards visit Los Angeles on Monday.
An overturn appears highly unlikely given that officials reviewed the baseline incident extensively before confirming the penalties.
The reigning Western Conference Player of the Week recently escaped a similar suspension last weekend.
League officials rescinded a technical awarded for a verbal altercation with Orlando Magic centre Goga Bitadze following a successful Lakers appeal.
Costly absence during stellar run
Any enforced absence would severely disrupt a phenomenal run of form for the Los Angeles talisman.
He has averaged an astonishing 39.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.3 assists over his past 11 appearances.
This prolific scoring streak has driven a dominant sequence of results, with the franchise winning 10 of those recent matchups.
Second-seeded UConn survived a dramatic Michigan State fightback to secure a 67-63 victory in Washington and set up a blockbuster Elite Eight clash against Duke in the NCAA tournament.
Tarris Reed Jr scored 20 points and Alex Karaban added 17 as Dan Hurley’s side navigated a tense finish in Friday’s Sweet 16 encounter.
The Huskies squandered an early 19-point advantage but held their nerve from the free-throw line during a frantic final minute.
Karaban calmly converted a crucial one-and-one opportunity with 22.5 seconds remaining to establish a three-point cushion.
Spartans fall short after spirited comeback
Michigan State had trailed 25-6 in the opening stages after succumbing to a devastating 15-1 run fuelled by the perimeter shooting of Malachi Smith, Solo Ball and Jaylin Stewart.
However, the third seeds demonstrated remarkable resilience, eventually taking a 45-44 lead midway through the second half following a Jaxon Kohler three-point play.
The East Lansing outfit’s momentum was ultimately undermined by their struggles from distance, shooting just four of 16 from beyond the arc.
Carson Cooper missed a vital late free throw for the Spartans with under five seconds remaining, allowing Reed to secure the rebound and seal the contest from the charity stripe.
Heavyweight showdown awaits against Duke
Victory ensures the defending national champions will face top seeds Duke in Sunday’s East Region final.
The Blue Devils booked their place in the regional showpiece following a narrow 80-75 triumph over St John’s in Friday’s opening matchup.
Sunday’s highly anticipated encounter brings together two of college basketball’s most storied programmes and will carry the intensity of a Final Four showdown.
It will also serve as a rematch of the iconic 1999 national championship game, which saw the Connecticut-based institution claim their first national title.
Yaxel Lendeborg delivered a commanding 23-point performance to lead Michigan to a 90-77 victory over Alabama in Chicago on Friday, securing their first NCAA Elite Eight appearance in five years.
The top-seeded Wolverines established a new school record with their 34th victory of a remarkable season.
Big Ten player of the year Lendeborg dominated the second half, adding 12 rebounds and seven assists to his impressive scoring tally.
Crucial contributions also came from the Michigan bench, who outscored their opponents 33-6 largely thanks to Trey McKenney and Roddy Gayle Jr.
Crimson Tide fall short without suspended Holloway
Alabama put up a resilient fight in the high-tempo contest despite missing star guard Aden Holloway.
The sophomore was suspended indefinitely following a March arrest on felony drug charges.
Labaron Philon Jr attempted to shoulder the scoring burden for the fourth seeds, registering 35 points in a losing effort.
Latrell Wrightsell Jr also chipped in with 15 points, but the Crimson Tide could not match their opponents’ second-half intensity.
Historic run continues in Midwest Region
Elliot Cadeau matched McKenney’s output with 17 points to ensure the Michigan offense operated smoothly throughout the regional semifinal.
Defeat ends a streak of two consecutive Elite Eight appearances for the Crimson Tide, who finish their campaign with a 25-10 record.
The Wolverines will now turn their attention to Sunday’s Midwest Region final, where they face the winner of the clash between Tennessee and Iowa State.
Caleb Foster returned from a broken foot to score 11 crucial second-half points as top-seeded Duke rallied from a 10-point deficit in Washington to defeat St. John’s 80-75 and advance to the Elite Eight.
Playing less than three weeks after foot surgery, the resilient guard rescued his team’s national title hopes on Friday night.
Isaiah Evans led the scoring with 25 points, while Cameron Boozer added 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Blue Devils.
The victory extends the nation’s longest active winning streak to 14 matches for the heavily fancied outfit.
Sloppy start threatens Duke’s campaign
Despite a relatively controlled first half, the tournament favourites emerged after the interval looking disjointed.
A series of turnovers allowed Zuby Ejiofor to capitalise with back-to-back dunks, propelling the tenacious Red Storm into a 48-44 lead.
When 6-foot-11 Ruben Prey sank his fourth consecutive three-pointer, the New York-based programme suddenly found themselves ahead by nine.
The deficit eventually stretched to 10 points before the Duke coaching staff turned to their recovering star.
Foster sparks dramatic late turnaround
Introduced in place of Cayden Boozer, the returning playmaker immediately settled the offence while his team shifted to a zone defence.
An acrobatic layup from Evans eventually tied the contest, initiating a frantic chase to the final buzzer.
With the game hanging in the balance, a crucial pull-up jumper from the recently injured guard put the Blue Devils ahead 75-69.
He then produced a driving layup in the closing stages to establish a five-point cushion and force their opponents into desperation mode.
Pitino suffers rare Sweet 16 heartbreak
The dramatic finish marks only the second defeat for legendary coach Rick Pitino in 14 career appearances at this stage of the competition.
It also brings a bitter end to an exceptional run for his squad, who had lost just once in their previous 22 fixtures.
A desperate late three-point attempt from Dylan Darling missed the target entirely, allowing Cameron Boozer to seal the result from the free-throw line.
The victorious side will now face either second-seeded UConn or third-seeded Michigan State in Sunday’s East Region final.
Defending national champions UConn have marched into their 30th women’s NCAA tournament Elite Eight after overwhelming North Carolina 63-42 in Fort Worth on Friday.
The top-seeded outfit extended their remarkable overall winning streak to 53 games in a dominant defensive display.
Sophomore forward Sarah Strong spearheaded the victory, registering 21 points and 10 rebounds against her home-state program.
Strong orchestrates decisive second-quarter surge
The Big East Player of the Year took control during a critical stretch, scoring four consecutive field goals within a devastating two-minute window.
Her commanding performance helped the tournament favourites outscore their opponents 17-8 in the second period to establish a 28-20 halftime advantage.
Blanca Quiñonez also proved instrumental for the reigning champions, contributing 16 points and initiating the pivotal scoring run with a timely layup.
As the league’s pre-eminent defender, the 21-point star also suffocated the opposition, finishing the contest with five steals and two blocked shots.
Tar Heels stumble against relentless defence
Emerging from the interval, the Huskies delivered the final blow with an unanswered 12-0 run.
All-American guard Azzi Fudd overcame a sluggish first half to ignite the third-quarter charge, sinking a crucial three-pointer to bury any hopes of a comeback.
Fourth-seeded North Carolina endured a miserable offensive outing, committing 24 turnovers and shooting a season-low 28% from the floor.
Despite 20 points from Indya Nivar, the Tar Heels suffered their second consecutive Sweet 16 exit, having fallen to Duke at the same stage last season.
Historic rivalry awaits in regional final
The unbeaten juggernaut will now face sixth-seeded Notre Dame on Sunday for a coveted spot in the Phoenix Final Four.
The Fighting Irish secured their progression earlier on Friday following a sensational 31-point triple-double from Hannah Hidalgo against Vanderbilt.
Sunday’s encounter will mark the ninth March Madness meeting between the storied collegiate programs.
Their previous eight tournament battles all occurred in the Final Four, including back-to-back national championship showdowns which the Connecticut side swept in 2014 and 2015.
The Connecticut Sun franchise has been sold to the Fertitta family for a record $300m (£238m) to bring the WNBA back to Houston in 2027.
An official announcement confirming the historic purchase is expected on Monday.
The team will play their final season at their current home in Uncasville during the 2026 campaign before making the transition to Texas.
Reviving an iconic basketball brand
Sources indicate the newly relocated franchise is expected to adopt the Comets name.
This decision harkens back to the original Houston Comets, an iconic founding member of the league.
The legendary Texas side dominated the early years of the competition, securing four consecutive championships between 1997 and 2000.
Returning to the city has been a clearly stated priority for the WNBA over recent years.
During an expansion announcement last June, the league made its geographical intentions clear.
Houston and Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta are up next and the one we have our eye on.
Cathy Engelbert, WNBA Commissioner
Expanding the NBA ownership model
This landmark agreement marks a further shift towards aligning women’s basketball teams with existing NBA ownership groups.
The Mohegan tribe had previously owned the Sun since 2003.
They originally purchased and relocated the franchise from Florida, where the side was known as the Orlando Miracle.
The tribal ownership group launched a process to explore investment options in the autumn of 2024 to help fund infrastructure projects.
They initially reached a $325m (£258m) agreement with former Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca.
However, the WNBA governing body effectively blocked that transaction from progressing any further.
The league held firm that relocation decisions rest strictly with the Board of Governors.
This ensured that cities completing the formal expansion process maintained priority over a potential move to Boston.