No. 1 Michigan secured a 101-80 victory over No. 16 Howard in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Morez Johnson Jr. led Michigan with 21 points and 10 rebounds. The Wolverines shot 67.3% from the field.
Luciano Darderi, ranked No. 18, is set to face No. 151 Martin Landaluce in the Miami Open Round of 64. Darderi has -130 odds to win against Landaluce, who has +100 odds.
The Denver Nuggets defeated the Toronto Raptors 121-115. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 23 points for the Nuggets, shooting 7 of 10 from 3-point range. Nikola Jokic made a go-ahead jumper with 45 seconds left to help seal the victory.
Tarris Reed is considered one of UConn’s most impactful players when he is on form. Braden Smith is nearing a record for all-time assists. Zuby Ejiofor has also been recognised, earning Big East honours.
Braylon Mullins, the UConn star, is projected to be a first-round pick in the upcoming NBA draft. The Big East All-Freshman wing is shooting 37.1 percent on 3-pointers since moving into the starting lineup. He is a useful off-ball threat, which gives him an immediately practical role at the next level.
UConn head coach Dan Hurley, who led UConn to back-to-back national championships in 2023 and 2024, has a history of clashing with officials during games as March Madness begins. Earlier this month, Hurley angrily confronted referee John Gaffney and appeared to bump into him. The UConn head coach was later fined $25,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct.
The Toronto Raptors will try to continue a three-game winning streak when they visit the Denver Nuggets on March 20, 2026, at Ball Arena. Peyton Watson is out with a hamstring injury. Aaron Gordon is day-to-day due to rest.
The Portland Trail Blazers face a dilemma the Washington Wizards proactively avoided by trading Deni Avdija. Washington’s President, Michael Winger, cited Avdija’s age as a reason behind the trade, adding that he didn’t fit the age curve of their rebuilding roster. The Blazers now face the challenge of constructing a contender-calibre roster around Avdija.
UConn men’s basketball begins its NCAA Tournament journey against Furman. The Huskies are aiming for their third national title in four seasons. Silas Demary Jr. and Jaylin Stewart are out for UConn.
The Florida Gators are set to face Prairie View A&M in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Florida, the SEC regular-season champions, enter the tournament with a 26-7 record. Prairie View A&M, fresh off a First Four victory, finished their conference play at 9-9.