All articles tagged with #sports college basketball
LSU coach Will Wade is pursuing an aggressive roster build, signing former pro RJ Luis Jr. for the 2026–27 season and reportedly planning a lawsuit to overturn NCAA eligibility rules that bar players who sign NBA contracts from returning to college. The move, along with LSU’s pursuit of other European pros, could prompt scrutiny and potentially upend how eligibility and rosters are handled in the NIL era.
Jeff Goodman publicly challenged Seth Greenberg’s support for expanding the NCAA Tournament to 76 teams, arguing that Greenberg’s own Hokies tenure—marked by bubble-era near-misses and only one NCAA appearance in his final 17 seasons—undermines the case for expansion. The piece notes the proposal is polarizing and could dilute the magic of March Madness, while mentioning talk of an extra play-in round for 12th-place Big Ten/SEC teams.
Wisconsin transfer guard John Blackwell, ranked No. 5 in On3's 2026 Transfer Portal, canceled his Louisville visit after a Monday Duke campus visit, fueling predictions he’ll join the Blue Devils. Duke has already landed Belmont transfer Drew Scharnowski and plans to rely on returning guards Cayden Boozer and Patrick Ngongba II, potentially forming a dangerous backcourt. Blackwell, who has one year of eligibility left, averaged 19.1 points per game last season in Wisconsin and accumulated 105 games with 72 starts in three seasons. The NCAA Transfer Portal window runs April 7–21, with athletes not required to commit by the deadline; On3 notes Duke’s No.1 incoming class and other top prospects in the mix.
Chris Washington Jr., a 6-foot-8, 185-pound four-star forward ranked No. 49 in Rivals’ 2026 class, committed to Tennessee on Thursday after visiting campus, flipping from Alabama. He chose the Vols over Auburn, Ole Miss, Villanova and USC and becomes the fourth member of Tennessee’s 2026 class, joining Ralph Scott, Manny Green and Marquis Clark. The program is also adding transfer portal players to bolster the roster for the 2026-27 season.
Missouri announced the commitment of Jaylen Carey, a 6-foot-8 forward and former Tennessee and Vanderbilt player, via the transfer portal. Known for physicality, elite offensive rebounding, and a rim-oriented game, Carey should bolster the Tigers’ frontcourt and rebounding as coach Dennis Gates reshapes the roster.
UNC secured Virginia Tech’s Neoklis Avdalas, the first transfer addition for new coach Michael Malone. The 6-foot-9 Greek wing averaged 12.1 points, 4.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds last season and flashed a 33-point game vs. Providence, projecting as an oversized guard who can drive and create in ball screens. UNC will weigh keeping Henri Veesaar and Jarin Stevenson as it pursues more perimeter targets while Malone builds his roster.
As the NCAA transfer portal opens (April 7–21), Michigan is lining up potential additions to replace departures and injured players, with a running list of targets and rumors. Key departures include Yaxel Lendeborg, Roddy Gayle Jr., Nimari Burnett and Will Tschetter, and L.J. Cason’s season-long absence. Michigan has already landed J.P. Estrella and remains connected to guards and big men such as Juke Harris, Flory Bidunga, Andrew McKeever, Neoklis Avdalas, Kameron Taylor, John Blackwell and Aiden Sherrell, among others. The tracker updates with visits and shifting interest after Estrella’s commitment, offering a live feed of Michigan’s 2026–27 roster-building landscape.
Kansas freshman Bryson Tiller has entered the transfer portal, with Missouri, Michigan, Arizona and Miami among his top choices. He started 31 games last season for KU, averaging 7.9 points and 6.1 rebounds, but his late-season production dipped and he was benched in the Big 12 semifinal. Kansas staff had projected NBA potential and wanted more physicality, and Tiller is weighing a move that could land him at a rival such as Missouri.
Friday’s NCAA men’s Sweet 16 features four marquee bets: No. 1 Duke vs No. 5 St. John’s (7:10 p.m. ET) where Duke’s defense aims to slow St. John’s hot shooting; No. 1 Michigan vs No. 4 Alabama (7:30 p.m. ET) pitting Michigan’s balanced attack against Alabama’s high-octane scoring; No. 2 UConn vs No. 3 Michigan State (9:45 p.m. ET) a clash of size/experience versus playmaking in East Lansing; and No. 2 Iowa State vs No. 6 Tennessee (10:10 p.m. ET) a potential back-and-forth featuring Tennessee’s offense against Iowa State’s efficiency. Key storylines include injury/status notes (e.g., Duke’s Ngongba and Tennessee’s Joshua Jefferson) and depth rotations, plus up to 23 players from The Athletic’s top 100 prospects potentially suiting up as teams chase a spot in the Elite Eight.
Will Wade is leaving NC State after one season to return to LSU as head coach, a move that, if confirmed, would lead LSU to fire Matt McMahon. Wade’s return comes amid his controversial LSU tenure and sanctions history, while his lone year in Raleigh produced a 20-14 record and barely earned an NCAA Tournament berth; NC State’s buyout drops to $3 million on April 1 and could be settled.
Insider Jon Rothstein claims LSU is set to fire Matt McMahon and hire Will Wade, reuniting Wade with the Tigers; the report suggests Wade is the likely next LSU coach barring unforeseen developments, with Heath Schroyer tied to an administrative role, while McMahon’s tenure has been marked by limited NCAA Tournament success.
Creighton coach Greg McDermott retires after 16 seasons and will be succeeded by longtime assistant Alan Huss. Huss, a former Creighton player who later led High Point to its first NCAA Tournament appearance, takes over as McDermott leaves with a 365-188 Creighton record and Elite Eight runs; the Bluejays enter the Crown tournament at 15-17 as Huss prepares to take the helm.
Michigan’s length anchored a defense-first second round victory over Saint Louis, while late-game drama and standout performances—like Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner’s 27 before a near-miss—highlighted the night. Illinois produced a rim-rocking, high-energy showing; Iowa, under Ben McCollum’s leadership, edged Florida in a bruising grind; Kansas suffered a shocking exit to St. John’s as Bill Self faces a program in transition; Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. erupted for 36 to push High Point aside, and Cinderella stories appear to be fading as power programs advance toward the Sweet 16.
As portal season nears, NC State is expected to bring back at most two players from this year’s roster. Seniors Copeland, Lubin, Williams, Holloman, and Ebube won’t return, while Allen Breed’s eligibility remains unclear. The clear priority is Paul McNeil Jr, viewed as a future star and the staff’s top return target; Matt Able seems unlikely due to McNeil’s rise and the addition of Cole Cloer; Zymicah Wilkins has about a 60% chance to stay, Alyn Breed’s status is uncertain, and Colt Langdon could move to a lower level for minutes. Deng, Arceneaux, and Musa are not expected to stick without significant pay cuts. NC State plans to add at least five players via the portal to rebuild a more versatile guard-driven roster and culture under head coach Will Wade.
ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg revealed his top five players for the 2026 Men’s March Madness, highlighting Cameron Boozer (Duke), Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas), AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Keaton Wagler (Illinois), and Darryn Peterson (Kansas) as potential game-changers with elite scoring, versatility and NBA upside, while noting questions about fit, health, and how well they’ll carry their teams through the tournament.