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 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 Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 3/26/2026 Photo by Ericka Apolskis/ Onward State 1. Olaivavega Ioane 6'4" - 320 lbs Penn State Big Board Rank: 16 Pro Comparison: Robert Hunt "Vega" Ioane is the best run blocker of the class while also having the technical ability and physical traits to be a future All-Pro. At 6'4" and 320+ pounds, Vega is a bit rigid and it will show sometime when having to battle more finesse rushers, but his pass blocking is still solid if not very good. Ve

Photo credit to Sports Seriously via USA Today With the first two rounds of the 2026 NCAAWB Tournament in the books, we have had our fair share of dominance as well as upsets. Intriguing matchups fill the brackets, with the unpredictability of each game shining through in its own unique way. Yet, who are the biggest teams to watch? Who is on upset alert? Here are the five teams I will be watching closely with a trip to the Elite 8 on the line. Virginia Cavaliers Photo credi

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 3/25/2026 Photo by Mark J. Terrill/ Associated Press 1 Duke vs 5 St. John's Prediction: Duke Duke has been underwhelming at best this tournament and now come head-to-head with their toughest opponent. St John's struggled against Darryn Peterson and Kansas on Sunday and now will have to contend with an even better offense headlined by Cameron Boozer who's averaging 21 and 12 so far in the tournament. Duke is favored by 6.5 which I'd love to bet

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 Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 3/22/2026 Photo by Christine Tannous/ IndyStar 2 Miami vs 7 Purdue Prediction: Purdue Purdue is still my favorite to make it out of the West and after rolling on Queens in the first round and Miami barely making it past Missouri, this one should be in the 90-70 range for the Boilermakers. 2 Iowa State vs 7 Kentucky Prediction: Iowa State The Cyclones had an easy First Round but will have to deal with Otega Oweh and Mouhamed Dioubate this time

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 3/21/2026 Photo by Brynn Anderson/ Associated Press 1 Duke vs 9 TCU Prediction: Duke Duke may have came out flat against Siena but they came out in the 2nd half and looked like they have all year. Watch for them to come out against TCU on fire. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 6 Louisville vs 3 Michigan St   Prediction: Michigan St Michigan State has been one of my favorite teams for this tournament and I see no reason to change cour

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 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

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

March Madness is approaching and the spotlight on women’s basketball is growing brighter. A new wave of elite scorers is beginning to separate itself from the pack. Some are rising stars ready to make the leap from McDonald's All-Americans to collegiate standouts. Others are seasoned bucket-getters who have been putting it on for their university's program for years and are legitimate WNBA draft prospects. Whether it’s a short burst of consecutive explosive scoring nights or

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