m Page 681 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

VCU rides strong backcourt into encounter vs. BYU
DENVER -- Virginia Commonwealth likely is most remembered for its surprising appearance in the Final Four in 2011.,The No. 11 Rams are looking to take the first step toward another deep run in this year's NCAA Tournament when they face sixth-seeded BYU in the first round of the East Region on Thursd...

Vikings agree to terms with CB Jeff Okudah, WR Tim Jones
The Minnesota Vikings agreed Tuesday to terms on a contract with former first-round cornerback Jeff Okudah.,Terms of the deal were not disclosed by the Vikings, however ESPN reported that agent Kevin Conner, the CEO of Universal Sports and Management, said it was a one-year contract. No financial te...

Chase Hunter, Clemson aim to erase doubt vs. McNeese
For the second straight March, there's a sense that Midwest Region fifth seed Clemson is undervalued.,For the second consecutive March, the Tigers have drawn a first-round opponent many think will defeat them. They will face 12th-seeded McNeese on Thursday in the NCAA Tournament in Providence, R.I.,...

Cooper Flagg, Johni Broome lead AP All-America team
Duke freshman Cooper Flagg and Auburn senior Johni Broome were selected unanimously as first-team selections on the Associated Press All-America squad.,The first team, announced Tuesday, also is made up of Mark Sears of Alabama, Braden Smith of Purdue and Walter Clayton Jr. of Florida. ,Broome, sele...

Purdue wobbled, bids to get back on track vs. High Point
Purdue's eight consecutive years as a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament is now the longest active streak in the country. ,As Matt Painter knows, winning games once you get there is another matter.,The Boilermakers are a No. 4 seed in the Midwest Region and streaking 13th-seeded High Point arrives...

Purdue wary of upset-minded tourney rookies High Point
Purdue's eight consecutive years as a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament is now the longest active streak in the country. ,As Matt Painter knows, winning games once you get there is another matter.,The Boilermakers are a No. 4 seed in the Midwest Region and streaking 13th-seeded High Point arrives...

Eagles DE Brandon Graham retires: 'No regrets'
Two-time Super Bowl champion Brandon Graham announced his retirement Tuesday after a franchise-record 206 regular-season games over 15 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.,The 36-year-old defensive end became a Philadelphia icon, returning from a torn triceps to play in last month's Super Bowl LIX ...

Surprising 8 seed Louisville set for new chapter, studies up for Creighton
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- It will be a short trip across the Bluegrass State for eighth-seeded Louisville when it looks to continue a storybook revival season against ninth-seeded Creighton on Thursday in a South Region first-round contest.,The Cardinals (27-7) are in the midst of one of the biggest turnaro...

Wisconsin packs long-range firepower, shifts focus to Montana
DENVER -- Before they can survive and advance, the Wisconsin Badgers have precious few days to adapt.,East Region No. 3 seed Wisconsin insists it already turned the page from a disappointing loss in the Big Ten tournament championship game and focused on reaching new heights -- at altitude -- in the...

Boogie back, Arkansas dances with familiar Kansas in Providence
There are two primary reasons the informed public believes No. 7 seed Kansas and No. 10 Arkansas stand a chance to make a run in the NCAA Tournament, despite a combined 25 losses this season: Bill Self and John Calipari.,A marquee coaching matchup in the first-round Thursday in Providence, R.I., fea...
Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry: The NBA’s New Foul Merchants
Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry are turning foul-drawing into an art form—and the Golden State Warriors are cashing in despite this being what's wrong with the NBA....
Top Potential 2025 NCAA Tournament First Round Upsets & Bracket Busters
As March Madness gets ready to tipoff, you should be aware of these top upset candidates and bracket busters that could shock the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament....
Three Bold Predictions for the 2025 NCAA Tournament
The NCAA Tournament is known to get crazy, that's why they call it March Madness, so here are three bold predictions for the 2025 tournament....

Texas Tech looks to avoid early exit vs. UNC Wilmington
Texas Tech was sent packing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament by eventual Final Four team North Carolina State last season.,Red Raiders coach Grant McCasland is expecting a longer stay this year, and the journey begins when third-seeded Texas Tech (25-8) faces 14th-seeded UNC Wilmington (27-...

Gonzaga rides strong finish into first-round clash vs. Georgia
Gonzaga wasn't looking so powerful when it lost consecutive games to Oregon State and Santa Clara in mid-January.,But a strong finish helped restore order and the eighth-seeded Zags (25-8) are in solid form entering Thursday's clash against ninth-seeded Georgia (20-12) in Midwest Region first-round ...

Top-seeded Houston keeps guard up against SIU Edwardsville
Top-seeded Houston is not the type of team that overlooks a first-round NCAA Tournament foe.,Veteran coach Kelvin Sampson simply won't allow it and he seems genuinely offended when it is suggested that his Cougars (30-4) are about to play an overmatched opponent when they face 16th-seed SIU Edwardsv...

Familiar foes face off in First Four as American tests Mount St. Mary's
DAYTON, Ohio -- Two very familiar head coaches will get their first taste of NCAA Tournament action against each other when No. 16 American battles No. 16 Mount Saint Mary's on Wednesday night in a First Four contest., ,The winner advances to play No. 1 seed Duke in an East Region first-round game o...

Slumping Flames hope to regain form against Rangers
The New York Rangers and Calgary Flames share similar point totals in their bids to secure a wild-card playoff spot.,The difference is that the Flames are competing with fewer opponents while the Rangers are dealing with a massively crowded field heading into the teams' Tuesday contest in New York.,...

Obi Toppin's late-OT trey pushes Pacers past Wolves
Obi Toppin scored 34 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds remaining in overtime, while leading the Indiana Pacers to a 132-130 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday in Minneapolis.,Toppin made 7 of 10 shots and tied his season-best point total for Indiana (38-29), which ...

Auston Matthews' 2-goal game powers Leafs past Flames
Auston Matthews had two goals and an assist as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the visiting Calgary Flames 6-2 on Monday night.,William Nylander added a goal and two assists for the Maple Leafs (40-24-3, 83 points), who won for the second time in seven games (2-4-1).,Toronto's Max Domi had a goal a...