by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 4/6/2026 Graphic by Hoops HQ Tonight will crown another National Champion in College Basketball between the Michigan Wolverines and Connecticut Huskies. The Wolverines are 7-point favorites as of the morning of the game even though the Huskies will be competing for their 3rd Championship in the last 4 years; having won in 2023 and 2024. Michigan Michigan has been rolling since the First Round and all the way through the Final Four when they beat

by Joel Piton Sportz Nation - 4/3/2026 Photo: Michael Conroy/AP Another year, another champion—but in women’s college basketball, the path to the top has looked a little different. While the chaos and unpredictability of March are still very real, the last decade has been defined more by sustained excellence rather than surprise runs. Powerhouses have stayed powerful, dynasties have taken shape, and the sport’s biggest names have consistently delivered on the biggest stage ju

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 3/30/2026 Photo by Patrick Smith/ Getty Imgaes UConn vs Illinois (Ill -130) After one of the greatest buzzer beaters in NCAA Tournament history, (And that's saying something...) the Connecticut Huskies are making their 3rd Final Four appearance in 4 years to face Illinois. Illinois is making their first Final Four appearance since 2005 when they lost in the National Championship. They are also in the middle of their 6th straight Tournament run

by Joel Piton Sportz Nation - 3/27/2026 Photo: Greg Dunes/GettyImages What happens to someone who peaks at the collegiate level? Every college basketball season produces a scoring king—a player who can’t be stopped, filling it up night after night and etching their name at the top of the NCAA leaderboard. But do each of these guys go on to have successful pro careers? For some players, college is a springboard to NBA stardom. For others, the journey takes an unexpected turn a

by Joel Piton Sportz Nation - 3/24/2026 Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer/AP This year's NCAA basketball season was flanked by high scoring guards—and we're seeing a lot these guys dominate in March Madness play. Overflowing with limitless potential, you have to think where these kids could end up as the NBA Draft draws closer. All eyes are on these floor generals who control the tempo, create opportunities, and deliver in the biggest moments. If we had to break down ten particular p

by Joel Piton Sportz Nation - 3/20/2026 Photo: Vincent Carchietta/ImagnImages March Madness has never been kind to assumptions. Programs like Duke, Arizona, and Michigan State may dominate the headlines every year, but what makes the tournament hype is the reliance on unpredictability. Just last season, Florida reminded the college basketball world that a hot streak at the right time can outweigh months of expectations. In a single-elimination format, reputations won't win ga

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 3/19/26 We're FINALLY here! Before the first round starts today at 12:15 between Ohio State and TCU lets dive into the bracket as a whole and even some of the more exciting matchups! The tightest matchups are of course between the closest seeds, with 8 Utah State - 9 Villanova and 7 Miami - 10 Missouri having the closest spreads with Utah State -1.5. In total, 3 of the 8-9 matchups, 3 of the 7-10 matchups and 2 of the 6-11 matchups have a sprea

by Zak Drapeau, Matt Hylen, Joel Piton and Elias Meredith Sportz Nation - 3/18/2026 Graphic by NCAA.com Zak Drapeau - Winner: Duke Final Four: Duke , Purdue , Houston , Virginia It should be noted that I'm not an expert in college basketball and more or less hadn't paid attention to the sport besides some NBA Draft prospects until late February. Duke is the clear favorite to win it all but will have to contend with the strongest quarter of the bracket in the East to even make

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 3/18/26 All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook as of 3/17 Photo by Ethan Hymen/ Yahoo Sports To Win NCAA Championship : 1. Duke +300 2. Arizona +350 3. Michigan +370 4. Florida +700 5. Houston +1100 6. Iowa State +1600 7. Purdue +2000 8. Illinois +2200 9. UConn +2200 I have Duke winning this year and by a comfortable margin. I really like Houston, Purdue and Arizona as well after their runs in their respective confer

by Joel Piton Sportz Nation - 3/17/26 Photo: Devin Stewart/AP It's that time. March Madness is gearing up, and we've got a lofty list of combo guards ready to sway fans and analysts alike. From elite shot creators to lockdown perimeter defenders, the two-guard spot is stacked this year with talent capable of swinging games in a nanosecond. Headlining the group is phenom Darryn Peterson, whose scoring ability, confidence, and NBA-ready offensive arsenal have scouts ready to t

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 3/17/26 Photo by Jarod C. Tilton/ Getty Images 16 UMBC vs 16 Howard to face 1 Michigan Tuesday at 6:40 pm One of the only 2 teams to ever win a March Madness game with a #16-ranking, UMBC faces off against Howard in the first First Four game. As a slight favorite vs Howard, UMBC is led by their back court pairing of Jah'Likai King and Ace Valentine who together average 27-7.5-5.5 on 44% shooting. Together with some great role playing from forwar

By Elias Meredith Sportz Nation - 3/13/26 Photo by Nell Redmond/AP Photo Thursday night, the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils traveled 141 miles southwest to face the Florida State Seminoles at the Spectrum to kick off ACC Tournament play. A game where Duke were 16 point favorites came down to the last shot. Senior guard Robert McCray V missed a game-winning three point attempt as time expired, as Duke escaped with an 80-79 win. The first half was filled with ties and lead changes. Bot

Photo: Kaylin Cartell/Getty Headlined by AJ Dybantsa, the 2026 NBA Draft is projected to have a handful of wings fall somewhere within the first two rounds. As we know, March Madness will continue to be the biggest proving ground for college basketball’s brightest stars, and this year’s group of small forwards is loaded with talent looking to seize the spotlight. With size and athleticism, these versatile players are the modern blueprint for NBA teams: long, skilled, and capa

Photo: Jessica Hill/AP March Madness makes or breaks your reputation—and this year, frontcourt talent is hard to ignore. The number of talented power forwards across the country has flooded mock drafts and the 2026 NBA Draft is shaping up to feature an influx of forward-wing hybrids projected to land in the lottery, and the depth at the position is noticeable. Many of the names on this list are carrying their programs and proving they can thrive under pressure. In a college l

by Joel Piton Sportz Nation - 2/17/2026 Photo: Ben Mckeown/Duke The center position has flown under the radar throughout this college basketball season. Unlike recent years—there's no Zach Edey or Khaman Maluach dominating and commanding national attention, there hasn’t been a singular, NIL-driven superstar big man defining the conversation. That doesn’t mean the paint has been soft. Across the country, a new wave of centers have been anchoring winning programs, producing at

Scoring in college basketball has been harder to come by than ever this season. With tighter defensive schemes, fewer freebies at the rim, and little margin for error, there are no easy buckets—every point has to be earned. Yet even in a league where offense feels suffocated, a handful of blue-chip studs have found ways to force the issue, bending defenses and stuffing stat sheets night after night. Some are household names living up to the hype; others are unexpected standou

NCAA basketball tips off soon, and each year a new crop of college hoopers rise from relative obscurity to national buzz: this season’s class is no different. These kids aren’t just playing for campus buzz or clout—they’re hungry and coming for the NBA. With confidence, skill, and pro-level talent, these prospects have shown flashes of greatness at the high school level and could shake up the 2026 draft and beyond. If you haven’t tapped into their play yet, it’s time. They me

Greensboro, NC- The ACC Network will televise virtual press conferences with coaches for the upcoming Women's Basketball season. With...