A big-time performance — or a key injury — can be the difference for teams in March Madness, which is already upon us. We’re keeping track of notable injuries, news and happenings across men’s and women’s college basketball as the 2026 NCAA Tournament ensues. May 27 Baylor transfer Tounde Yessoufou has reportedly withdrawn from the NBA Draft and committed to St. John’s, per ESPN. After averaging 17.8 points per game during his freshman year with the Bears, Yessoufou declared for the NBA Draft and entered the NCAA transfer portal. After testing professional waters, he chose to return to the NCAA ahead of Wednesday’s withdrawal deadline, and transfer to the Red Storm. Michigan State guard Jeremy Fears Jr. will return for his fourth season with the Spartans, per 247 sports. Fears averaged 15.9 points and a nation’s best 9.4 assists per game during the 2025-26 season. He entered his name into the NBA Draft pool, but withdrew ahead of the May 27 deadline. His return to East Lansing is crucial for the Spartans’ contention hopes, as Fears sports a high-volume 24.3% offensive usage rate, which would have been tough to replace. Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic will return to the NCAA for his fourth season of eligibility, per ESPN. After averaging 16.9 points per game and leading the nation, shooting 48.7% from 3-point range, during his junior season with the Cyclones, Momcilovic entered the NBA Draft pool and the NCAA transfer portal. For the last month, he tested the professional waters, but will ultimately return to play college basketball. He remains uncommitted, and is viewed as one of the top transfer targets. Arizona forward Koa Peat will remain in the NBA Draft, per 247sports. Peat was one of the best freshman in the nation during the 2025-26 season, averaging 14.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, while helping Arizona make a Final Four run. Peat will join fellow Wildcat Brayden Burries in hoping to hear his name called during the NBA Draft. Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner will return for his third season with the Commodores, per On3. Tanner averaged 19.5 points and 5.1 assists per game during the 2025-26 season, both significant improvements from his freshman year, as he led Vanderbilt to its first NCAA Tournament win since 2012. After this decision to return, Tanner and the Commodores will look to build off that success. Illinois guard Andrej Stojakovic will stay in the NCAA for another season with the Illini, he announced. He averaged 13.5 points per game during his junior season, while starting 21 games. He helped Illinois make a Final Four run. Arkansas wing Billy Richmond III will reportedly return to the NCAA for his third season at Arkansas. Richmond averaged 11.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, coming off the bench in 19 of the Razorbacks’ 37 games during the 2025-26 season. Alabama guard Amari Allen has withdrawn from the NBA Draft and will return to the Crimson Tide, per On3. Allen averaged 11.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game during his freshman season in Tuscaloosa. He tested the NBA waters, ultimately deciding to stay in the NCAA ahead of Wednesday’s withdrawal deadline. May 26 Texas Tech guard Christian Andreson will remain in the NBA Draft pool, per Jeff Borzello. Anderson played two seasons with the Red Raiders, averaging 18.5 points and 7.4 assists in 2025-26. He will take the momentum from that strong sophomore year and turn it into draft capital. Santa Clara forward Allen Graves will remain in the NBA Draft pool, per Jonathan Givony. Graves played one season of college basketball, with the Broncos. He averaged 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals in 22.6 minutes per game. In fact, he started just four games all season for Santa Clara. Regardless, he’ll take his talents to the professional level. North Carolina commit Matt Able has withdrawn from the NBA Draft, per On3. Able averaged 8.8 points per game in 21.8 minutes during his freshman season at North Carolina State. Following the season, he entered the transfer portal and committed to the Tar Heels. He also opted to participate in pre-NBA draft activities, attending the combine in Chicago and performing at a Pro Day in Los Angeles. After consideration, he decided to return to college, and confirm his transfer to UNC for his second season. Kentucky center Malachi Moreno has withdrawn from the NBA Draft and will return to college to play for the Wildcats. Moreno averaged 7.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 22.6 minutes per game during his freshman season. He will look to build on that, returning to Kentucky for his sophomore season. May 22 Former Wisconsin guard John Blackwell is withdrawing from the NBA draft and will play at Duke next season. Blackwell announced his decision Friday on Instagram. Blackwell averaged 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game last season, teaming with Nick Boyd to give Wisconsin one of the nation’s top backcourt tandems. The 6-foot-4 guard shot 39% from 3-point range, helping the Badgers go 24-11 and reach the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season. Blackwell had some of his most productive performances against Wisconsin’s toughest opponents. He scored 26 points in a road win over eventual national champion Michigan and averaged 27.5 points in the Badgers’ two victories over Final Four participant Illinois. He had 25 points in a late-season road win over Purdue, an NCAA regional finalist. Blackwell had 22 points and 10 rebounds in Wisconsin’s NCAA Tournament first-round loss to High Point. He averaged 15.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game in 2024-25. May 21 Florida center Rueben Chinyelu has withdrawn from the NBA Draft, Jon Rothstein reported. Chinyelu has been widely projected as a first-round pick, which would mean he’d receive a guaranteed contract from the NBA team that selects him. Instead, he opted to return to Florida for his fourth year of college, and take the guaranteed NIL money. Despite a season cut short after a loss to No. 9 seed Iowa in the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, Chinyelu becomes the second projected first-round pick to return to the Gators as Thomas Haugh made that same decision on April 21. Florida has now retained five key players from its 2024-25 national title run, including Chinyelu, Haugh, Alex Condon, Urban Klavzar and Isaiah Brown. Florida was ranked No. 1 overall in FOX Sports’ Casey Jacobsen’s latest “Post-Portal Top 25.” Chinyelu’s decision only solidifes that. Emily Ryan, one of the most productive point guards in women’s college basketball history when she played for Iowa State, has been hired as a full-time assistant at her alma mater, coach Bill Fennelly announced Thursday. Ryan played for the Cyclones from 2020-25 and was a graduate assistant last season. She finished her career with 993 assists, a school record and seventh all-time in Division I. She was just the third NCAA women’s player to record at least 1,500 points, 900 assists and 600 rebounds in a career. She also ranks in the top five in program history in steals and blocks. “Emily made a tremendous impact on our program as a player and that will continue as a coach,’ Fennelly said in a statement. ‘Emily’s loyalty and commitment to Iowa State women’s basketball has been truly special. Our players will be learning the ‘Iowa State’ Way from one of the best Cyclones ever!” Ryan was voted to the All-Big 12 first team in 2022 and second team in 2023 and was on the league’s all-defensive team in 2021. May 20 Kentucky and Gonzaga have mutually agreed to discontinue a men’s college basketball series that had been scheduled to run for two more seasons. The two schools made a joint announcement Wednesday that said the move was made “to allow each program freedom to re-evaluate future scheduling priorities, including conference obligations and nonconference opportunities.” Kentucky had been scheduled to host Gonzaga during the 2026-27 season. Gonzaga would have been the home team for the 2027-28 matchup. Gonzaga had gone 3-1 against Kentucky over the last four seasons, including a 94-59 triumph on Dec. 5 in Nashville, Tennessee. May 19 Flory Bidunga officially signed with Louisville, Matt Zenitz reported. The Kansas transfer had committed to the Cardinals program on April 12, but was testing the NBA Draft waters. With eight days remaining before the deadline to withdraw from the draft, Bidunga has made his decision to stay in college for his junior year. New LSU basketball coach Will Wade is finding creative ways to fill out his roster. A month ago today, when the deadline for players to enter the transfer portal closed, the Tigers had only one player solidly committed to their roster — Kentucky transfer Mouhamed Dioubate. So with time running out, Wade went in a number of directions to add to his roster. LSU received the commitment of three typical college transfers including, UTSA transfer Austin Nunez, Kansas State’s Abdi Bashir Jr. and Michigan State’s Divine Ugochukwu. Wade is also attempting to add former St. John’s guard RJ Luis, who committed to the 2025 NBA Draft, but wasn’t selected. They received the commitment of multiple other professional level basketball players — Israeli guard Yam Madar, and EuroLeague players Saliou Niang, Brice Dessert and Marcio Santos. Wade has pushed the boundaries of college basketball numerous times over the last 10 years, and is doing so again to fill out his roster. With the age and professional experience of Luis, Madar, Niang, Dessert and Santos, each must file an injunction with the NCAA to gain eligibility. There’s no guarantee they’ll be able to play for LSU this upcoming season, despite Wade’s wishes. Therefore, Wade and LSU are from finished looking for pieces to fill out their 2026-27 roster. Former Michigan star Morez Johnson Jr. has left his name in the NBA Draft and forgo his remaining college eligibility, Johnson announced on X. Johnson started all 40 games for the Wolverines leading up to their national title win. With the news of Johnson officially heading to the Draft, the Wolverines now lose Aday Mara, Yaxel Lendeborg and Johnson from last year’s starting lineup. Johnson transferred to Michigan from Illinois and instantly became a star, where he averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds. “From day one, Coach May told us he was going to help develop us on and off the court, and the goal was to win a national championship,” Johnson said. “We accomplished that mission.” The Wolverines finished the year 37-3 with Big Ten and national title wins in coach Dusty May’s inaugural season. May 15 Illinois and coach Brad Underwood have agreed to new financial terms on his current six-year contract that runs through 2031-32, and the deal could extend through 2035-36 based on the team’s performance over the next four seasons. Athletic director Josh Whitman made the announcement Thursday, about six weeks after the Illini’s season ended with the program’s first NCAA Final Four appearance in 21 years. Contract terms were not announced. The agreement requires approval of university trustees. “Thanks to Brad Underwood‘s tireless leadership and relentless pursuit of championships, our men’s basketball program has established itself as one of the nation’s premier programs while rewriting much of our record book,” Whitman said. “He has revitalized a proud fan base and elevated our program to new heights while competing in the most dynamic, high-stakes environment in college sports history.’ The Illini won the fourth-most games in program history with an overall record of 29-8 and they finished in a three-way tie for second in the Big Ten at 15-5. They won each of their first four NCAA Tournament games by double digits before losing 71-62 to UConn in the national semifinals. “Illinois is a special place, and we’re coming off a special year with a trip to the Final Four,’ Underwood said. “But we know there is still more to achieve. Our focus remains competing at the highest level in pursuit of a national championship. I am more motivated than ever to help bring that title home to the University of Illinois.” Underwood is 193-110 in nine seasons at Illinois with six straight NCAA appearances. Ali Jaques has been hired as the women’s basketball coach at Campbell, after a season in which she helped Rhode Island win a program-record 28 games. The hiring was announced Friday. Jaques was the associate head coach at Rhode Island under Tammi Reiss, who is now the coach at Florida. Jaques has also worked at George Washington and Seton Hall in recent years, both of those stops following a nine-season run as Siena’s head coach. “Campbell is a great place and that was evident from the moment I stepped on campus,” Jaques said. “I knew right away this is where I wanted to be and this is the program that I want to lead.” Campbell went 20-12 this past season and 13-5 in the CAA. “Ali is ready to lead her own program and I have no doubt she will turn Campbell into a championship program,” Reiss said. Jaques was an elite student-athlete in college, playing both soccer and basketball at New York University. She helped lead NYU to the 1997 Division III basketball title, along with a Final Four appearance the season before. She has also coached at Northwestern, Dayton, Furman, Sacred Heart and Rider during a nearly three-decade career. May 8 The Hawkeyes have extended their head coach on a six-year deal, according to ESPN. McCollum’s new deal comes in the wake of Iowa reaching the Elite Eight for the time since 1987 as a No. 9 seed, a run that saw them beat the No. 1-seeded and defending national champion Florida Gators in the second round of the tournament. Iowa finished the 2025-26 season, its first with McCollum as head coach, at 24-13 overall and 10-10 in Big Ten play, good for ninth in the conference. McCollum was previously the head coach of Drake for one season, with the Bulldogs going 31-4, reaching the NCAA Tournament and him winning 2024-25 Missouri Valley Coach of the Year honors. McCollum was previously the head coach of the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats for 15 years. May 7 Michigan and Florida headline new Players Era fields The Players Era will expand from 18 to 24 teams this year and split into two tournaments, with the two most recent national champions headlining a pair of loaded fields. Michigan, which won the national title in April, will be in the Players Era Sixteen on Thanksgiving week in Las Vegas. The Wolverines routed the Gonzaga Bulldogs, 101-61, to win last year’s Players Era title. They are expected to contend again next season for the national championship even with nine newcomers on the roster. Florida, which won the national title a year ago and could be the No. 1 team heading into next season, will be in the Players Era Eight a week earlier. The Gators should have the nation’s top frontcourt with the returns of Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon, as well as Rueben Chinyelu if he opts out of the 2026 NBA Draft. Florida was not in the Players last year, but opened its season in Las Vegas with a 93-87 loss to the Arizona Wildcats. The Players Era and ESPN also announced a multiyear agreement for the men’s tournaments, though details weren’t released. There also was a women’s tournament last year, but there has been no announcement regarding another one. In the Players Era Eight, joining Florida will be Auburn, Houston, Kansas, Notre Dame, Rutgers, UNLV and West Virginia. Michigan’s field in the Players 16 includes Alabama, Baylor, Creighton, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Kansas State, Louisville, Maryland, Miami, Oregon, St. John’s, San Diego State, Tennessee, Texas Christian and Texas Tech. April 29 Otzelberger signs 10-year extension with Iowa State Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger has agreed to a 10-year contract extension that will increase his annual salary to $6 million, athletic director Jamie Pollard announced Wednesday. Otzelberger led the Cyclones to a 29-8 record and their third NCAA Sweet 16 appearance in five years this past season. He is 124-53 since becoming head coach in 2021-22. “Coach Otzelberger has elevated our men’s basketball program into a perennial NCAA Tournament and Top 25 team,’ Pollard said. ‘This contract extension demonstrates Iowa State University’s commitment to him by making him one of the highest paid basketball coaches in the country. We are excited to reward him for the success we have enjoyed during his first five years leading the Cyclones and we look forward to continued success under his leadership.” The Cyclones have appeared in 52 consecutive Associated Press Top 25 polls and were No. 8 in the final rankings. Otzelberger inherited a program coming off a 2-22 season in 2020-21 and has since led it to five straight NCAA Tournament bids. He is the only coach in program history to lead multiple teams to the Sweet 16, and his 30 wins over Top 25 opponents is a school record. “We are humbled and grateful to continue leading a program that means so much to us,’ Otzelberger said. ‘Iowa State is home for my family, and we are excited to be part of the community for years to come.” April 28 Michigan adds three from portal, six recruits to roster Michigan has reloaded, shooting to repeat as college basketball national champions with nine newcomers. Wolverines coach Dusty May announced Tuesday that three players have been added from the transfer portal and two incoming freshman are joining four high school seniors who were signed in November. May had to add an influx of talent because All-America player Yaxel Lendeborg exhausted his eligibility while Aday Mara, Morez Johnson Jr. and Elliot Cadeau declared for the NBA draft. Michigan landed three players from the portal: Moustapha Thiam, a 7-foot-2 center from Cincinnati; J.P. Estrella, a 6-foot-11 forward from Tennessee; and Jalen Reed, a 6-foot-10 forward from LSU. Brandon McCoy, a guard who is ranked as the No. 14 prospect in the country by 247Sports, joins forward Lincoln Cosby to cap a recruiting class with previously signed players: Quinn Costello, Joseph Hartman, Marcus Moller and Malachi Brown. The Wolverines won their second national championship and first since 1989 earlier this month and days later, May agreed to a deal that athletic director Warde Manuel said would put him under contract for many more years. April 27 All-Big 12 C Motiejus Krivas to Return to Arizona Not only are the Arizona Wildcats looking to build on their Final Four season, but the program is also bolstered by the return of big man Motiejus Krivas. He will be the seventh confirmed player back for coach Tommy Lloyd. Krivas is coming off a strong junior season, averaging 10.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game while anchoring a defense that ranked among the best in the country. His rim protection and presence in the paint made him the centerpiece of the team’s defensive identity. Still, his impact goes well beyond the box score, as opponents shoot 7 percent worse from the field when Krivas is on the court compared to when he is off. Opposing teams also score 14 fewer points per 100 possessions with him on the floor. That level of impact on both ends of the floor positions him as one of the most valuable returning players in college basketball. With Krivas anchoring the interior, Arizona brings back a proven defensive force who changes games without needing to dominate the ball. His return gives Lloyd a reliable cornerstone as the Wildcats look to build on last season’s Final Four run. Calipari Lands Fourth Five-Star for 2026 with Mikka Muurinen The Arkansas Razorbacks continue to make national headlines under coach John Calipari. That momentum carried into Monday afternoon with the commitment of five-star forward Mikka Muurinen out of KK Partizan in Serbia. He chose Arkansas over programs including Utah, Michigan, BYU, and Alabama. Muurinen becomes the fourth commit in a loaded 2026 class for the Razorbacks, a group highlighted by three other five-star recruits. Muurinen is the fourth five-star to join the program and provides the prototypical size and versatility that John Calipari looks for. Playing against professional competition in the EuroLeague and ABA League, Muurinen posted modest raw numbers due to limited playing time but still flashed the high-upside potential of a stretch-four. Calipari’s track record of developing frontcourt talent, Muurinen fits the mold of a high-upside piece in Arkansas’ system. If his growth continues, he could become a key building block for this Razorback class. April 24 Peterson declares for NBA Draft Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson declared for the NBA draft on Friday, just as nearly everyone had expected he would ever since his arrival on campus, and the high-scoring guard figures to be among the first three players selected in June. The 6-foot-6 Peterson showed flashes of brilliance with the Jayhawks, but he also caused a lot of headaches for the team. He dealt with a severe full-body cramping issue that required hospitalization before the season, and additional injuries and illnesses caused him to miss 11 games, hurting his ability to build any continuity with the rest of his teammates. Peterson wound up averaging 20.2 points and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 38.2% from beyond the arc in 24 games. He started to hit his rhythm in the postseason, scoring 24 points against TCU and 14 against Houston in the Big 12 Tournament. He had 28 points in a first-round NCAA tourney win over Cal Baptist and 21 in a last-second loss to St. John’s in the second round. “To my teammates, friends and everyone at the University of Kansas, a heartfelt thank you!” Peterson posted to social media Friday. “Your belief in me, your encouragement and your constant support have been invaluable every step of the way. This journey has been everything to me, and none of it would have been possible without your love, support and sacrifices.” Most mock drafts have Peterson or BYU’s A.J. Dybantsa going first overall, though Duke’s Cameron Boozer also could be in the mix. April 22 Nate Oats inks extension The Alabama Crimson Tide and head coach Nate Oats have agreed to a six-year contract extension, the team announced on Wednesday. The deal links Oats to Alabam through 2032, and will increase his salary to an annual average value of $7.25 million. Oats has gone 170-73 over seven seasons in Tuscaloosca, and led Alabama to Final Four in 2024. Vanderbilt extends coach Shea Ralph Vanderbilt Commodores women’s basketball coach Shea Ralph has agreed to a contract extension following her fifth and best season yet in leading the Commodores to the Sweet 16 and earning AP Coach of the Year honors. Athletic director Candice Storey Lee announced the extension. Lee noted Ralph was hired just after the university launched the Vandy United program to renovate athletic facilities as part of a commitment to compete at the highest levels. “She has delivered on that vision and is the right leader to keep elevating our women’s basketball program while inspiring our broader community as we set the standard for women’s athletics,” Lee said. “Her well-deserved recognition only reinforces what we see every day — she makes teams better, empowers women and brings people together.” Terms of Ralph’s extension were not announced by the school, which is a private university. Ralph led a team that returned only one starter to the most successful season in school history. Vanderbilt went 29-5, with 13 of those wins coming in the regular season against a rugged Southeastern Conference schedule. The Commodores finished tied for second in the conference, which matched the best finish in program history. They earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and reached the Sweet 16. April 21 Thomas Haugh expected to return to Florida for senior season Not only are the Florida Gators entering next season with lofty expectations and a top ranking, but one of coach Todd Golden’s key players is also set to return. Forward Thomas Haugh is expected back in Gainesville for his senior season, per ESPN. Haugh’s decision to return comes as a surprise, as he was widely projected as a consensus lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. With his return now official, the Gators could quickly find themselves positioned as a legitimate contender to debut at No. 1 in the preseason rankings He averaged 17.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 46.6% from the field. That production solidified Haugh’s status as one of the most dependable two-way contributors and a key piece of the Gators’ offense heading into next season. The decision to forgo the NBA Draft marks the first time since 2017 that a projected lottery pick has opted to return to school. The last player to make such a move was Miles Bridges, who famously returned to Michigan State for his sophomore season. Haugh is now the third starter from last season’s team to announce his return. He will rejoin forward Alex Condon and guard Boogie Fland, while center Rueben Chinyelu could also return as he continues to maintain eligibility throughout the NBA Draft process. Solo Ball to miss all of next season The UConn Huskies guard and two-time All-Big East honoree will miss the 2026-27 season due to wrist surgery, the school announced. “Solo is a true Husky and a champion who would do anything to be out on the court,” UConn head coach Dan Hurley said. “This guy has shown throughout his career what a warrior he is. Solo is going to use the season to get his wrist fully healthy and then come back next year as one of the best guards in America while cementing his legacy as an all-time great at UConn.” The 2026-27 season will count as a medical redshirt year for Ball, who averaged 12.8 points per game last season, while shooting 39.2/30.0/85.2. The year prior (2024-25), he averaged 14.4 points per game, while leading the Big East with a 41.4% shooting percentage from behind the arc. Ball and the Huskies are coming off a season that saw them claim a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and reach the National Championship before losing to the No. 1-seeded Michigan Wolverines in the title game. April 20 Big East commissioner to retire before 2026-2027 season Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman will retire at the end of August, the conference announced Monday. Ackerman, 66, has served in that role since 2013, presiding over the rebirth of the conference following the decision a year earlier for the Big East to split. Ackerman led the negotiations that resulted in the return of UConn in 2020 from the American Athletic Conference. “It’s been an extraordinary honor for me to serve as the Commissioner of one of the most prestigious and storied organizations in college sports,” Ackerman said in a statement. “I want to thank our Presidents for entrusting me with this one-of-a-kind leadership opportunity and for supporting the investments needed to maintain the Big East’s stature and meet our schools’ high competitive and academic standards.’ Big East men’s basketball teams won four national championships during her tenure, with two by Villanova and two by UConn — more than any other Division I conference in that span. The UConn women’s team won its 12th national title in 2025. “Speaking on behalf of all the BIG EAST Presidents, we announce Commissioner Val Ackerman’s retirement with a tinge of sadness and deep gratitude,” said St. John’s president, the Rev. Brian J. Shanley, who is the chair of the conference’s Board of Directors. “When we re-founded the BIG EAST in 2013 as a basketball-centric conference, our first task was to find a commissioner who could provide the strategic vision needed to position us as a basketball peer with the power football conferences and compete with the country’s best. We found that visionary leader in Val Ackerman.’ She presided in the relocation of the conference headquarters to New York in 2014, and the Big East moved to the famed Empire State Building last year. Ackerman also ensured that the Big East men’s basketball tournament will remain at Madison Square Garden until 2032, which would be the 50th anniversary of the event there. The women’s tournament is set to be held at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut until 2029. Before coming to the Big East, Ackerman was the first president of the WNBA when it was launched in 1997 and was in charge of the league for eight years. She also held positions including president at USA Basketball. Ackerman played at Virginia and was a four-year starter, becoming the first 1,000-point scorer in program history. April 15 Illinois retains three key players Tomislav Ivisic and his twin brother, Zvonimir, announced their return to Illinois, along with forward Jake Davis on Wednesday. Their announcements came moments after fellow Illini David Mirkovic announced his intention to return. So after a Final Four run, Illinois will bring back a strong core, in addition to Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks. Two star forwards remain in college ranks Two star forwards with Final Four appearances chose to play another year of college basketball instead of declaring for the NBA Draft. Illinois’ David Mirkovic and Florida’s Alex Condon will reportedly return to their respective teams for the 2026-27 season. Mirkovic averaged 13.3 points and eight rebounds per game as a freshman at Illinois. Condon posted 15.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game during his sophomore season, and helped Florida win the national title in 2025. April 5 Alabama, Nate Oats agree to new contract Oats has agreed to a new deal with Alabama that will make him one of the top five highest-compensated men’s basketball coaches in the country, according to multiple reports. April 3 Tommy Lloyd signs new deal with Arizona Wildcats Lloyd has signed a new contract with the Wildcats that makes him one of the five highest-paid coaches in the sport, per ESPN. The new deal will pay Lloyd $7.5 million in average annual value over five years. Lloyd had been considered among the candidates to become the new head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels. Arizona is in this year’s Final Four, as it’s set to take on the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday night. This season, the Wildcats are 36-2 overall and a combined 148-35 under Lloyd since he took over for the 2021-22 season. Alabama’s Holloway plans to enroll in classes, rejoin team this fall Alabama guard Aden Holloway, who was arrested on felony drug charges on March 16, announced he plans to enroll at the university, with hopes to rejoin the team this fall, per ESPN. Holloway’s arrest happened just days before the Crimson Tide tipped off March Madness competition, where they reached the Sweet 16 before their loss to Michigan. Holloway was a star for Alabama this season, where he averaged 16.8 points, 3.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds. Jason Neff, Holloway’s attorney, emphasized that “Although it’s not Aden’s call to make, given the opportunity, his intent is to play basketball next year,” Neff told ESPN. April 1 Bill Self provides clarity on his future Kansas head basketball coach Bill Self announced he will return to the Jayhawks for his 24th season, per a post on the team’s social media account. After Kansas’ season ended in a Round of 32 loss to St. John’s on March 22, Self, 63, said he was going to discuss his future with his family. He missed a game against Colorado this season and the Big 12 Tournament last season for health reasons. Those issues were a part of his thinking process, but he decided to return “with renewed clarity and the ongoing support from our administration,” Self said. Elliot Cadeau treated for allergic reaction ahead of Final Four Michigan point guard Elliot Cadeau is receiving medical attention for a possible allergic reaction before traveling to Indianapolis for the Final Four, the team said Wednesday. Detroit radio station WWJ 950 posted a video on X on Wednesday showing a covered individual being wheeled out of Michigan’s player development center on a gurney and loaded into a Huron Valley ambulance. Michigan later confirmed it was Cadeau, who complained of a possible allergic reaction. “Before the team departed the Player Development Center today, Elliot alerted the medical staff that he may have had an allergic reaction to something that he ate,” the team said in a statement. “The doctors evaluated Elliot and he is fine. Out of an abundance of caution, he is receiving medical supervision and will be traveling to Indianapolis later today.” Cadeau will meet the team in Indianapolis, where Michigan is set to take on Arizona on Saturday in a Final Four clash between No. 1 seeds. Andrzejek steps down as Campbell coach John Andrzejek stepped down as Campbell’s men’s basketball coach on Wednesday, citing the school’s shifted priorities in a post on social media. “Over the last 6 months, it has become clear that Campbell has made the decision to shift their commitment from basketball,’ Andrzejek wrote. ‘Simply put — the institution now has different priorities, and they are not compatible with putting the kind of team on the floor that you deserve. As difficult as this is, I respect the decision and understand it as one that the University feels it must make in what are unprecedented times in higher education.” Andrzejek joined Campbell in 2025 after a two-year stint as an assistant at Florida, where he helped lead the Gators to a national title. In his sole season in Buies Creek, he led Campbell team to a 16-18 overall record and an 8-10 record in Colonial Athletic Association play. Campbell was eliminated in the semifinals of the CAA Tournament with a 74-64 loss to Monmouth. The coach said he explored several options with Campbell’s athletic department in hopes to move forward with the team, but it became clear that the school cannot support the program. “Despite months of intense work and collaboration with AD Hannah Bazemore and our terrific athletics administration, and several creative options that were proposed and thoroughly explored, there are no pathways that the institution will support to fund the program appropriately moving forward,” he wrote. Andrzejek will join Louisville as associate head coach, serving under coach Pat Kelsey, Campbell said in a statement. Mar. 31 NC State hires former player Justin Gainey as head coach Will Wade left NC State after one season, leaving the head coaching position open. After a five-day search, the Wolfpack hired Tennessee associate head coach — Justin Gainey. Gainey helped lead Tennessee to the NCAA Tournament, where they lost against Michigan in the Elite Eight. Though this is his first coaching stint with the Wolfpack, he previously played with NC State for four seasons as a point guard from 1996 until 2000. He averaged 6.9 points, starting 103 of his 128 games with the Wolfpack. St. Bonaventure hires MacDonald of D-II power Daemen St. Bonaventure has hired Mike MacDonald of Division II Daemen University to succeed the retired Mark Schmidt as men’s basketball coach, the school announced Tuesday. MacDonald returns to his alma mater after leading Daemen, in nearby Amherst, to a 61-3 record over the last two seasons and an appearance in the Division II Elite Eight last week. MacDonald was named Division II national coach of the year in 2025. He previously was head coach at Division I Canisius and Division III Medaille and is the only coach in college basketball history to win at least 100 games at each NCAA level. “We are extremely excited to bring Mike back to St. Bonaventure,” athletic director Bob Beretta said. “As we set out to identify the next leader of our men’s basketball program, we developed a list of more than 20 characteristics that we would look for in the person who would succeed Mark Schmidt as head coach. Mike checked every box.’ Schmidt, the Bonnies’ all-time wins leader with 341, retired after his 19th season. St. Bonaventure finished 17-17 this season after reaching the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Tournament. Daemen went 33-2 in 2025-26, winning the school’s second regional championship over Saint Anselm to reach the Elite Eight. Thirty-one of Daemen’s 33 wins were by double digits, with 14 wins by 20-plus points and five by more than 30. The Wildcats’ only two losses were to national finalists Gannon and Lander. Mar. 30 Pitino, St. John’s agree to extension St. John’s says Hall of Fame basketball coach Rick Pitino has signed a new agreement that will keep him under contract with the school through the end of this decade. Pitino was hired in March 2023 and given a six-year contract through 2029. Several media outlets, citing anonymous sources, reported Sunday his restructured deal includes an additional year through the 2029-30 season and a raise that will make him the second-highest paid coach in the Big East behind Dan Hurley at UConn. “We’re thrilled that Coach Pitino has signed a new agreement to remain at St. John’s, a deal that will keep him in Queens through the end of the decade,” athletic director Ed Kull said in a statement. “This extension reflects our strong confidence in his leadership, vision, and commitment to our student-athletes. “Coach Pitino has changed the culture of our community and we want his presence to be felt on this campus for years to come. We look forward to more Big East championships and NCAA Tournament runs with Coach Pitino at the helm.” In three seasons with the Red Storm, the 73-year-old Pitino has led a remarkable resurgence for the New York City program, coaching the Johnnies to consecutive Big East regular-season and tournament championships. St. John’s reached the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 27 years before losing 80-75 to No. 1 overall seed Duke on Friday night. Pitino earned his 900th career win on the court this season and said he’d like to reach 1,000. He is 81-25 at St. John’s and coming off consecutive 30-win seasons. Utah State hires Northern Iowa’s men’s basketball coach Utah State has hired longtime Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson to be its men’s basketball coach, the school announced Monday. Jacobson, who agreed to a five-year deal with the Aggies, succeeds Jerrod Calhoun, who left to take over at Cincinnati. Jacobson becomes the fifth head coach in seven seasons at Utah State. He takes over an Aggies program that has reached the NCAA Tournament in four straight seasons. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to join Utah State as it enters its next chapter in the Pac-12,” Jacobson said in a news release. “I’m grateful to Cameron Walker for trusting me to lead such a historic program and to continue its tradition as one of the top men’s basketball programs in the West.” Jacobson spent 20 seasons at Northern Iowa and made five NCAA Tournament appearances with the Panthers — highlighted by a Sweet 16 appearance in 2010 as a No. 9 seed. He compiled a 397-259 record at Northern Iowa and had a school- record 31 wins in the 2014-15 season. Jacobson is the all-time leader in conference game victories (220) and conference tournament victories (24) in the Missouri Valley Conference. Calhoun guided the Aggies to a 55-15 record and two NCAA Tournament appearances over two seasons before leaving for Cincinnati, his alma mater. Utah State will move to the Pac-12 Conference from the Mountain West Conference, starting with the 2026-27 season. Mar. 27 Alabama’s Holloway granted permission to travel out of state Alabama guard Aden Holloway, who was arrested on felony drug charges, was granted permission by a judge to leave the state on Friday as his team prepares to face Michigan in the Sweet 16 in Chicago. It was initially unclear whether the travel permission opened the door for Holloway to play in the NCAA Tournament game that is scheduled to tip off at 7:35 p.m. Eastern, but Alabama released a statement saying that, “Nothing has changed with regard to Aden’s status with the team,” per ESPN. The university removed him from campus last week “pending further investigation by the UA Office of Student Conduct.” Holloway, Alabama’s No. 2 scorer, was arrested March 16 after authorities found 2.1 pounds of marijuana in his apartment. He was suspended indefinitely following the arrest, but coach Nate Oats has not ruled out the possibility of his return in the NCAA Tournament. Holloway’s attorney, Jason Neff, had requested his client be allowed to travel “on a trip out of the state’ — without specifying where — departing Friday and returning Tuesday. Tuscaloosa County District Court Judge Joanne Jannik approved that travel Friday morning, according to court documents. If Alabama were to win Friday night, it would play in the Elite Eight on Sunday. Mar. 26 Boston College hires Luke Murray Boston College men’s basketball has hired Luke Murray as its next head coach. Murray had been an assistant coach at UConn since 2021. He helped the Huskies win back-to-back national titles in 2023 and 2024. LSU Tigers hire Will Wade (again) Let Act 2 begin! LSU is hiring Wade, previously the head coach of the NC State Wolfpack, for his second stint as the Tigers’ head coach on a seven-year deal, according to The Field of 68. The Tigers are coming off a 15-17 overall season (3-15 in SEC play, good for last in the conference), which marked their second consecutive losing season and third in four years. LSU head coach Matt McMahon has been fired and is due over $8 million, per ESPN. LSU fired Wade in 2022 after a recruiting scandal came to light, with him later becoming the head coach of the McNeese Cowboys for the 2023-24 season. After McNeese made the NCAA Tournament in each of Wade’s first two seasons, he left to become NC State’s head coach for the 2025-26 season. The Wolfpack were eliminated by the Texas Longhorns in the First Round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament last week. Over Wade’s five seasons as LSU’s head coach (2017-18 to 2021-22), the Tigers went a combined 105-51. Mar. 25 USF hires Chris Mack The Bulls have hired former Louisville and Xavier coach Chris Mack as their next head coach. Mack had spent the last two seasons at College of Charleston before being hired at USF. He will succeed Bryan Hodgson, who took the head coach position at Providence, after one season at USF, in which he led the Bulls to an American Athletic Conference Tournament regular- and post-season title, and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Mack will be USF’s fourth coach in four years. Butler hires Ronald Nored The Bulldogs have hired long-time NBA assistant coach and former Butler guard Ronald Nored as their new head coach, the school announced. “In a rapidly evolving college basketball landscape, our priority was identifying the absolute best leader to spearhead the future of Butler Basketball. Ronald Nored is that leader,” Butler Vice President and Director of Athletics Grant Leiendecker said in a statement about hiring Nored. “Ron is a relentless worker with an elite basketball IQ and a proven track record of developing talent at the highest level of basketball. He is the ultimate competitor, and he will cultivate that same quality within his team and staff. He is a gifted relationship builder who commands respect through his character and his craft.” Nored, who’s in his third season as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks, also has assistant NBA coaching stints with the Indiana Pacers, Charlotte Hornets and Boston Celtics under his belt, among other roles; he was the head coach of the Long Island Nets, the Brooklyn Nets’ G League affiliate, for the inaugural two seasons of the program (2016-17 and 2017-18). Nored played four seasons at Butler (2008-09 to 2011-12), serving as a primary starter in each of his four seasons with the program. The four-year guard was a two-time Horizon Defensive Player of the Year and earned All-Horizon honors in his senior season. Mar. 24 Syracuse announces Gerry McNamara hire Syracuse announced that it has hired Gerry McNamara as its next head coach less than two weeks after firing Adrian Autry. McNamara spent two seasons at Siena, leading the Saints to a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2026. McNamara has deep Syracuse ties, spending 12 years as an assistant with the program (2011-2023) and playing for the school from 2002-2006 — highlighted by winning a national championship with the Orange in 2003 as a freshman alongside Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony. Mar. 23 Saint Mary’s to promote associate HC Mickey McConnell After the recent departure of Saint Mary’s head coach Randy Bennett, the team has tabbed its next head coach. The Gaels did not have to search long after settling on associate head coach Mickey McConnell. McConnell is no stranger to the Gaels as his first stint with them was as a player. He was recruited in 2007, where he played four seasons as a sharpshooter. He averaged 10 points and four assists on nearly 50% shooting and 46% from 3-point range. His first coaching gig came in 2019 where he held a position as assistant coach at Saint Mary’s. Then in 2022, he earned his first promotion to associate head coach. After four strong years in that role, he earned his most recent elevation to head coach. Arizona State set to hire St. Mary’s HC Randy Bennett After 25 seasons at St. Mary’s, Randy Bennett is moving on. The 63-year-old head coach has agreed to a deal to become Arizona State’s next head coach, CBS Sports reported Monday. Bennett had helped turn St. Mary’s into one of the top non-power conference programs in college basketball during his tenure. The Gaels made the tournament 12 times during his tenure, including each of the last five seasons. Bennett went 589-228 during his time at St. Mary’s. At Arizona State, Bennett will take over for Bobby Hurley, who was fired earlier in March. Hurley failed to lead Arizona State to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last three seasons, and went 185-167 during his 11-year tenure. Cincinnati to hire Utah State HC Jerrod Calhoun Utah State’s Jerrod Calhoun is going home. The Cincinnati alum will become the school’s next men’s basketball head coach, CBS Sports reported Monday. Calhoun, 44, has quickly risen up the coaching ranks in recent years. He became Utah State’s head coach in 2024 following successful stints at Division II’s Fairmont State and at Youngstown State. Utah State went 55-15 during Calhoun’s tenure as head coach, making the NCAA Tournament in both seasons. Calhoun will replace Wes Miller, who failed to make the NCAA Tournament in his five seasons at Cincinnati. Creighton’s McDermott retiring Greg McDermott announced Monday he would retire as Creighton’s coach after the Bluejays’ final game in the College Basketball Crown tournament next month. Alan Huss, who returned to his alma mater last year as associate head coach and head coach in waiting, will succeed McDermott. “It has been an incredible honor to lead the Creighton men’s basketball program for the past 16 years,” the 61-year-old McDermott said in a statement. “I’m very proud of the young men that have proudly worn the Bluejay uniform and represented our program in a first-class manner. Witnessing their growth and development on and off the playing floor was especially gratifying. “I’m deeply grateful for the support of my family, our players, coaching staff and support staff, as well as the presidents, athletic directors, and all the University and athletic administrators. The support of the Omaha community consistently packing our arena with 17,000 fans has created many fond memories.” McDermott is 365-188 at Creighton and 645-383 in 32 seasons as a head coach. He led Creighton to 14 seasons of 20-plus wins and 10 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including to the Elite Eight in 2023 and the Sweet 16 in 2021 and 2024. Creighton won the Big East regular-season title in 2020. The team is 15-17 this season. Huss played at Creighton from 1997-2001, was an assistant under McDermott from 2017-23 and then left to become head coach at High Point. He was 56-15 in two seasons and led High Point to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in its Division I history in 2025. “I am incredibly honored and humbled to be named the head men’s basketball coach at Creighton University,” Huss said. “This University has meant so much to me as a former player, as an alumnus and through the seven years I’ve spent serving this program. Creighton helped shape who I am, and the opportunity to now lead this program is something I do not take lightly.’ Florida hires Rhode Island’s Weiss Florida hired Rhode Island’s Tammi Reiss as the program’s next women’s basketball coach Monday, tasking her with rebuilding the least-accomplished program on campus. Reiss, a three-time Atlantic 10 coach of the year, spent seven seasons with the Rams and led them to the NCAA Women’s Tournament for the first time in 30 years earlier this month. Rhode Island lost to Alabama in the opening round. Nonetheless, the Rams won a school-record 28 games to go along with a share of the A-10 regular-season championship and the league tournament. Reiss, 55, played alongside Dawn Staley at Virginia and appeared in three consecutive Final Fours (1990, 1991 and 1992), including the 1991 national title game. She was part of eight NCAA Women’s Tournament appearances as an assistant coach, including four at Syracuse, before arriving at Rhode Island. She replaces Kelly Rae Finley, who was fired two weeks ago while the Gators were poised to miss the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive year. The 40-year-old Finley went 93-75 in five seasons in Gainesville, including 30-50 in Southeastern Conference play. She put together one of the program’s best collections of talent in recent years, with Liv McGill, Me’Arah O’Neal and Laila Reynolds giving the team three McDonald’s All-Americans in its starting lineup. But the trio was unable to deliver enough wins in one of the country’s deepest leagues. The Rams tripled their average attendance during Weiss’ tenure and raised the program’s first three conference banners. Her overall record is 138-73, including 96 wins over the last four seasons. She twice set the program record for victories. Charlotte hiring ex-Cincinnati coach Miller The Charlotte 49ers have hired Wes Miller as their basketball coach. Miller spent the past five seasons at Cincinnati before being fired on March 13 with three years left on his contract after failing to get the Bearcats to the NCAA Tournament. He was 100-74 at Cincinnati. The Bearcats finished 18-15 this season. They had recovered from a disappointing start to win seven of nine games down the stretch and were considered an NCAA Tournament bubble team heading into the Big 12 Tournament. But the Bearcats lost to UCF 66-65 in overtime in the second round after surrendering an eight-point lead in the final two minutes of regulation, paving the way for Miller’s departure. The 43-year-old Miller has strong ties to North Carolina, leading the Tar Heels to a national championship as a player. He also coached a decade at UNC Greensboro, where he earned Southern Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2012 and 2018. He helped UNC Greensboro win 25 or more games in three consecutive seasons, won three conference titles and led the Spartans to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2018 and 2021. He left UNCG for Cincinnati considered one of the bright young coaches in the game after recording a school-record 185 wins, including an average of 25 wins per season over his final five years. Miller posted the most wins (217) by a coach by the age of 40. Athletic director Kevin White called Miller a “proven leader with a deep understanding of the game and strong ties to basketball in our state.’ Kansas coach Self deciding whether to continue coaching Bill Self says he hasn’t decided whether he will continue his Hall of Fame coaching career after the Kansas Jayhawks’ season ended with a heartbreaking loss to St. John’s in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday. The 63-year-old Self has won two national championships and built a powerhouse during his 23 seasons in charge of the Jayhawks, but he has missed several games over the past few seasons due to heart issues and other health concerns. “I’ve gone through some stuff off the court, so I’ll get back and get with family and visit and see what’s going on,” Self said. “I love what I do. I need to be able to do it where I’m feeling good and healthy to do it fairly well. I’ll get back home and it will all be discussed.” Self most recently missed a game at Colorado in January after taking a precautionary trip to the hospital. He also had two stents inserted in his heart in 2023, and two more last year. Self has been one of college basketball’s most successful coaches since he replaced Roy Williams in Lawrence in 2003. He joined the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017, and he became the winningest coach in Kansas history in November 2024, passing Phog Allen. “My career ain’t going to be based on one game,” Self said when asked if it would be tough to end his career on such a crushing defeat. “I said I was going to get back and evaluate my health situation.” Mar. 22 Joshua Jefferson injury update Iowa State star forward Joshua Jefferson was ruled out for the No. 2-seeded Cyclones’ second-round game against No. 7 seed Kentucky. Jefferson sustained an ankle injury in Iowa State’s game against Tennessee State on Friday, and was unable to recover in time for Sunday. If the Cyclones advance to the Sweet Sixteen, Jefferson will have five days to recover and prepare for the next opponent, which would be No. 6 seed Tennessee or No. 3 seed Virginia. Mar. 20 Georgia Tech hires HC Scott Cross The Yellow Jackets announced that they’ve hired Troy and former UT Arlington coach as their new head coach. Cross leaves Troy, which was a No. 13 seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament before losing to No. 4 seed Nebraska on March 18, after posting a combined 125-99 record over seven seasons in his respective position. He takes over a Georgia Tech program coming off a season that saw it record an 11-20 overall record and a 2-16 record in ACC play; head coach Damon Stoudamire was fired after three seasons on the job, failing to produce a winning season. Mar. 18 Belmont hires Evan Bradds as its next head coach Belmont reportedly hired Evan Bradds as its next head coach on Wednesday. Bradds was most recently an assistant coach at Duke, where he spent one season. He played at Belmont for four years from 2013-17, averaging 20 points per game as a senior. Bradds also spent multiple seasons as a coach with the Boston Celtics and Utah Jazz. Bradds, 31, becomes the second-youngest active head coach in Division I basketball, behind just Nicholls coach Tevin Saddler. He follows former Belmont coach Casey Alexander, who spent seven seasons at Belmont, leading the Bruins to three Missouri Valley Conference regular-season titles, before taking the position at Kansas State on March 13. Mar. 17 Louisville star Mikel Brown Jr. out the first weekend of the tournament The Cardinals’ star freshman will miss the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament due to an ongoing back injury, the school announced. “I just don’t feel 100%,” Brown said in the locker room, according to The Associated Press. “I don’t feel like I can play to our standard.” Brown hasn’t played since Feb. 28. Through 21 games this season, Brown is averaging 18.2 points, 4.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 41.0/34.4/84.4. Louisville is a No. 6 seed in the East Region of the tournament and faces No. 11 seed South Florida in the first round on Thursday. Mar. 16 Alabama’s Aden Holloway arrested on felony drug charge The second-leading scorer for the Crimson Tide was arrested on Monday morning, days before the NCAA tournament. He was booked after agents with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force searched a home near the Alabama campus. It was there they found and “recovered more than a pound of marijuana, paraphernalia and cash” that belonged to Holloway, according to police spokesperson Stephanie Taylor’s email to The Associated Press. Following the arrest, Holloway was reportedly “removed from campus” and will not be with the team as the UA Office of Student Conduct investigates his case, the school announced Monday. Holloway has had his best season, averaging 16.8 points, shooting a prolific 43.8% from beyond the arc. This could hurt Alabama in their NCAA tournament matchup on March 20 at 12:15 PM ET against Hofstra. Matta retiring from coaching Longtime college basketball coach Thad Matta announced Monday he is retiring after a career that included 13 NCAA Tournaments and a national title game appearance with Ohio State. Matta spent the past four seasons at Butler, his second stint at the helm of his alma mater. The Bulldogs suffered a season-ending 91-81 loss to Providence in the Big East Tournament. Matta, 58, will remain on staff as a special counselor to President Jim Danko and athletic director Grant Leiendecker. Butler officials said they have begun searching for his successor. “The love my wife, my daughters and I have for Butler is what brought us back four years ago, and it feels especially meaningful that I conclude my coaching career here,” he said in a statement. “Butler has always meant more to us than just basketball — and that connection is why I’m grateful to continue working with the university and offering my help in any way I can. I want this program to compete at the highest levels of the Big East and national landscape, and I am excited to be part of what we continue to build here.” Matta finishes his head coaching career with a 502-223 record, winning eight conference regular-season titles at three different stops — Butler, Xavier and Ohio State. He led the Buckeyes to two Final Fours, losing to Florida in the 2007 title game. He is Ohio State’s winningest coach, compiling 337 wins over 13 seasons. Mar. 13 Billikens extend coach Josh Schertz Second-year Saint Louis coach Josh Schertz has agreed in principle to a long-term contract extension, athletic director Chris May announced Friday before the Billikens’ game in the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament. The Billikens (27-4) tied with Virginia Commonwealth for the A-10 regular-season championship and were the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. May locked up Schertz as the coach’s name was bandied for a number of jobs in power conferences. Saint Louis entered Friday one win away from tying its season record, and in January the Billikens made their first appearance in The Associated Press Top 25 since 2020-21. They were ranked as high as No. 18 and appeared in seven straight polls before dropping out Monday. Saint Louis hired Schertz away from Indiana State in 2024 after he led the Sycamores to their first Missouri Valley regular-season championship since 2000. The Billikens were 19-15 with an appearance in the National Invitation Tournament last season. Pitt keeping embattled Capel Athletic director Allen Greene announced Friday that Jeff Capel will be back for a ninth season with Pitt despite a disappointing 13-20 mark this year, that ended with a 98-88 loss to North Carolina State in the second round of the ACC tournament. “I believe our best path forward is leadership continuity paired with clear expectations and a willingness to evolve,” Greene said in a statement. Capel, who has four years left on the contract extension he signed in 2024, is 127-127 at Pitt. The Panthers have made the NCAA tournament just once during Capel’s tenure, when the 2022-23 team won 24 games and advanced to the second round. Pitt narrowly missed the tournament in 2024 and saw a 12-2 start to the 2024-25 season turn into a sluggish 17-15 finish. Things weren’t any better this winter, leading to a dwindling of fan support and speculation about Capel’s job security. Greene put that speculation to rest, for now anyway. He pointed to the way the Panthers played down the stretch while winning four of their final seven games as proof that all is not lost. “They fought until the end and represented this university with toughness,” Greene said. “Effort alone is not enough. We must be better going forward. I know it. Jeff knows it.” Mar. 12 Syracuse introduces Bryan Blair as new AD Syracuse University hired Bryan Blair as its athletic director on Thursday, at a time the ACC school is searching to regain relevance and with its once-proud men’s basketball program in transition. The 40-year-old Blair takes over after spending the past four years holding the same job at Toledo, where in 2022 he was nation’s youngest AD. And Syracuse is counting on Blair’s youth and familiarity with the NCAA’s changing revenue landscape to guide Orange athletics into the future. “Bryan Blair is the athletics leader for this moment and for the future of Syracuse University,” Syracuse chancellor-elect Michael Haynie said in a release. “He is a fierce competitor who knows how to build winning programs, a visionary who approaches the business of college athletics with genuine creativity and ingenuity.” He will be replacing John Wildhack, who had previously announced his retirement in July following a 10-year tenure. One of Wildhack’s final decisions was firing men’s basketball coach Adrian Autry on Wednesday. Autry was fired after three largely unsuccessful seasons in which he struggled in replacing Jim Boeheim. Anderson slips, injured on Big 12 tournament glass floor Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson strained a muscle while slipping on the new glass floor at the Big 12 Tournament, leaving the all-conference player to watch from the bench as No. 7 Iowa State beat the No. 16 Red Raiders 75-53 on Thursday. Anderson was hurt on an inbounds pass when his foot slipped near his own free throw line with about 8 and a half minutes remaining in the game. He immediately grabbed at his groin area while Iowa State proceeded to score a basket and play was stopped. Anderson limped over to the end of the Texas Tech bench, was examined by a trainer and spent the rest of the game there. “I’m feeling good,” Anderson said afterward. “Obviously the floor is a bit slippery, so I think I just kind of misstepped or did a movement that caused me to slip and kind of ended up in a little unnatural position. That’s what it was.” The innovative glass surface has drawn mixed reviews during the Big 12 women’s tournament last week and the first two days of the men’s tournament this week. It has been praised by coaches and players alike for its glitzy ability to display graphics and hype up the fans, but numerous players in both of the events have complained about its relatively slick nature. Mar. 11 Arizona State parts with Bobby Hurley The Sun Devils will be pivoting in another direction as Bobby Hurley’s coaching tenure at ASU has finished after 11 seasons, according to Chris Karpman. He will be sent on paid administrative leave for the rest of his contract in June. Previously an NBA player, Hurley took his talents to the whiteboard in 2010, assisting his brother at Wagner College, 12 years after his time in the league. He then transitioned to a head coaching position at the University of Buffalo in 2013, before taking his most recent gig with the Arizona State Sun Devils in 2015. With the Sun Devils, Hurley went 185-167 overall and held a conference game record of 90-115. Syracuse fires Adrian Autry The Orange are turning the page at head coach, as they’ve fired Autry after three seasons at the helm, according to CBS Sports. Syracuse lost to SMU in the first round of the ACC Tournament on Tuesday night, 86-69. This season, they went 15-17 overall and 6-12 in ACC play, good for 14th in the conference. Over Autry’s three seasons at Syracuse, the Orange went a combined 49-48. Autry, who played four seasons at Syracuse (1990-91 season to 1993-94 season) and was a two-time All-Big East honoree, was an assistant coach at Syracuse under Jim Boeheim for 13 seasons before succeeding his former head coach in 2023. Mar. 10 Injuries rock Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer revealed that junior guard Caleb Foster suffered a fracture in his right foot and is out for the foreseeable future following recent surgery for the matter, per ESPN. Scheyer also announced that sophomore center Patrick Ngongba II will miss this week’s ACC Tournament due to foot soreness. This season, Foster is averaging 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, while shooting 44.2/40.2/58.5. Meanwhile, Ngongba is averaging 10.7 points, six rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game, while shooting 60.2% from the field. Duke (29-2, 17-1) is the No. 1 seed in the ACC. Mar. 6 North Carolina star Caleb Wilson’s season is over UNC’s star freshman forward broke his right thumb in a non-contact drill at practice on Thursday and will need surgery. As a result, Wilson’s season is officially over. Wilson previously sustained a fractured left hand during the team’s loss to Miami (Fla.) on Feb. 10. Through 24 games this season, Wilson averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game, while shooting 57.8% from the field. Mar. 3 Tennessee Tech fires coach John Pelphrey Pelphrey is out after his seventh consecutive losing season ended with the Golden Eagles failing to qualify for the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. Pelphrey, 55, posted a 79-138 record that included a 13-18 mark this season. Tennessee Tech was the third head coaching stop for Pelphrey, who owns an overall record of 228-264 in 16 seasons. He posted an 80-67 record at South Alabama (2002-07) and went 69-59 at Arkansas (2007-11) before his seven-year run at Tennessee Tech. Pelphrey reached the NCAA Tournament with South Alabama in ’06 and with Arkansas in ’08. Michigan considers options at point guard Michigan lost the best backup point guard in college basketball, according to coach Dusty May, when L.J. Cason tore a knee ligament as the team clinched an outright Big Ten title with a win at then-No. 10 Illinois. The Wolverines will certainly miss the smooth-shooting sophomore, who averaged 8.4 points and more than one 3-pointer per game, but May said the injury will give guards an opportunity to play larger roles. Starting point guard Elliot Cadeau plays about 25 minutes a game, a number that may increase if he can avoid foul trouble. Freshman Trey McKenney, sixth-year player Nimari Burnett and senior Roddy Gayle each average about 20 minutes a game — and all of them will have a chance to be on the court more without Cason. Rutgers fires women’s basketball coach Coquese Washington is out after Rutgers ended the season with 11 consecutive losses and failed to win 10 games for the second time in three years. Rutgers was 9-20 this season; its 1-17 Big Ten record was the worst in program history in conference play. Washington succeeded Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame coach C. Vivian Stringer, who retired in 2022. A national search for a new head coach will begin immediately, Keli Zinn, Rutgers’ athletic director, said. Mar. 1 USC, Chad Baker-Mazara part ways The USC men’s basketball team announced that guard Baker-Mazara is no longer a member of the program on Sunday. He sustained an injury during the Trojans’ loss to Nebraska. It was USC’s fifth consecutive loss as it continues to fall off the NCAA Tournament bubble. Baker-Mazara dealt with multiple injuries this season. He sustained a knee injury in a Feb. 3 game against Indiana, which kept him out three games. He returned for USC’s games against Oregon and UCLA before getting re-injured against Nebraska and parting ways with the team. That said, there’s no specific reason — injury or otherwise — that’s been released as the cause of his departure. Baker-Mazara was a fifth-year senior, so this could mean the end of his college basketball career. His journey included multiple different spots — Duquense, San Diego State, Auburn and one season at the junior college level. Feb. 27 Tarleton State coach Billy Gillispie won’t return Gillispie, who has been away from the bench for more than a month because of medical issues, won’t return next season, the school announced Friday. Glenn Cyprien was named acting head coach on Jan. 30, about two weeks after Gillispie stepped away. The 66-year-old Gillispie said earlier this month that he was dealing with heart and blood-pressure issues that have plagued him for years. The former Kentucky coach had a kidney transplant in 2018. Feb. 18 Texas Tech star JT Toppin has torn ACL Toppin was doing his usual work in the paint Tuesday night, pouring in buckets and grabbing rebounds against Arizona State in a tough road environment. Then, late in the second half, the junior forward drove to the basket before going down in a heap, holding his right leg. Toppin stayed down for a few minutes before needing assistance to gingerly limp off the court. The school announced on Feb. 18 that Toppin suffered a torn ACL, ending his season. Toppin finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four blocks, and the Red Raiders were obviously shaken when he left the floor. He sat on the bench for a brief period before going back to the locker room. Texas Tech was trailing 61-56 at the time of the injury and fell behind 67-56 over the next few minutes. The Red Raiders regrouped and pulled to 70-67 in the final seconds, but Christian Anderson turned the ball over, costing them a chance to tie the game with a 3-pointer. San Diego fires Steve Lavin Lavin is out as the Toreros’ head coach after three-plus seasons. In four combined seasons, San Diego went 46-79 under Lavin, including 11-17 this season. He had previous head-coaching stints at UCLA and St. John’s. Feb. 16 Gonzaga forward Braden Huff injury update Huff will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 regular-season because of a left knee injury sustained in practice on Jan. 14. He was given an original timeline of 4-to-8 weeks, which meant there was a chance he’d return before the end of the regular season. However, on Feb. 16, Bulldogs coach Mark Few said that his return will likely be at least eight weeks, meaning he won’t return until after the West Coast Conference Tournament concludes. Feb. 15 Kansas State fires coach Jerome Tang K-State fired Tang on Sunday “for cause,” per the athletic department, citing Tang’s “public comments and conduct, in addition to the program’s overall direction.” Moreso, athletic director Gene Taylor filed this statement as a reason to fire Tang for cause: “There’s language in his contract that addresses certain things that can potentially bring embarrassment,” Taylor said. “Basically, his comments about the student-athletes and the negative reaction to those comments from a lot of sources, both nationally and locally, is where I thought we needed to make the decision.” After K-State’s 91-62 loss to Cincinnati on Feb. 11, Tang said his players “do not deserve to wear this uniform.” “There will be very few of them in it next year,” Tang added. “I’m embarrassed for the university, and I’m embarrassed for our fans, our student section. It is just ridiculous. We’ve got practice at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning, and we will get this thing right. I have no answer and no words. … Right now, I’m like pissed.” Tang defended those comments in a statement. “I am deeply disappointed with the university’s decision and strongly disagree with the characterization of my termination,” he wrote. “I have always acted with integrity and faithfully fulfilled my responsibilities as head coach.” Tang coached at K-State for the better part of four seasons. He led the Wildcats to the Elite Eight in 2023, his first season. Following that year, Kansas State rewarded him with a seven-year contract extension, starting with a $3.6 million base salary, including a $100,000 increase each year, and an $18.7 million buyout. The Wildcats were 10-15 overall at the time of Tang’s for-cause firing. Feb. 14 BYU forward Richie Saunders sustains season-ending injury Saunders sustained a torn ACL during the Cougars’ win against Colorado on Valentine’s Day. The injury effectively ends the senior’s college basketball career. He has played all four seasons at BYU and leads the team with 64 made 3-point shots this season. The Cougars had dropped four of their past five games previous to a 90-86 overtime victory against Colorado. They had also lost senior guard Dawson Baker to a season-ending ACL injury earlier this season. Saunders’ injury is another obstacle contributing to BYU’s dwindling national championship chances. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
College Basketball 2025-2026 Buzz: Jeremy Fears Jr. Returns To Spartans
Feb 16, 2026 | 7:52 PM
