Sports
Auburn, Tulsa look to cap off postseason runs with NIT championship
Mar 12, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Tahaad Pettiford (0) reacts after a made three point basketagainst the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images Auburn did not let the disappointment of missing the NCAA Tournament field get in the way of playing good postseason basketball.
The Southeastern Conference school will seek its first NIT championship when it battles with Tulsa in the title game Sunday night in Indianapolis.
The Tigers (21-16) will bring an explosive offense led by top scorer Keyshawn Hall (19.5 points per game) and guard Tahaad Pettiford (15.2 points, 3.7 assists) into the game against the Golden Hurricane (30-7).
First-year Auburn coach Steven Pearl likes his squad’s approach so far, especially after starting center KeShawn Murphy opted out.
Over four NIT victories, the team has averaged 83 points per game and had spurts of fiery offense.
Overall, the Tigers have made 117 of 236 field goals (49.6%) and canned 43 of 115 (37.4%) from outside the arc in the NIT.
The team has rediscovered some happiness along the way.
“I just thought that it was an opportunity to get valuable reps for our players,” said Pearl. “I thought we’ve played with purpose. They’ve found some joy in playing the game, which has been really, really cool to see, and they’re locked in and engaged.”
The club lost nine of its final 12 SEC games including the tournament and was 7-11 in the league, but that appears to be old news to the remaining players.
“That’s all we’ve been talking about recently: Just coming in here, handling business, and finishing the season off right,” said Elyjah Freeman, who appeared to hurt his knee late in Thursday’s tilt but said he was feeling better Friday.
Owning NIT championships in 1981 and 2001, Tulsa has marched its way to the second 30-win season in program history thanks to its extended run to the championship.
Current Kansas coach Bill Self led the 1999-00 Tulsa team to a 32-5 mark and an appearance in the Elite Eight while playing in the Western Athletic Conference.
In Thursday’s 74-69 win over New Mexico, the American Conference squad turned to Tylen Riley.
The junior guard netted nine of his 10 points in the game’s final 4:16. He also produced six rebounds and five assists in a balanced approach.
Riley said his teammates’ reliability on one another is a major strength.
“These are a great group of guys,” said the Las Vegas native, who averages 14.8 points. “When one guy is down, everybody else is going. That’s what happens when you have a great team (and) two starting fives. You’ve always got somebody going even when somebody’s off.”
David Green paces the Golden Hurricane at 15.7 points, while Miles Barnstable and Ade Popoola put in 14.7 and 10.8, respectively.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Amaka Agugua-Hamilton no longer coach at Virginia
Feb 22, 2026; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Virginia Cavaliers head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton calls out instructions during the second half against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC Yum! Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images Virginia parted ways with Amaka Agugua-Hamilton as its head women’s basketball coach after four seasons.
The university announced the news Saturday about Agugua-Hamilton, who helped the Cavaliers become the initial First Four team to advance to the Sweet 16 of the Women’s NCAA Tournament after defeating seventh-seeded Georgia 82-73 in overtime in the first round, then upsetting second-seeded Iowa 83-75 in double overtime in the second round.
Virginia’s season came to an end after dropping a 79-69 decision to third-seeded TCU on March 28.
The Cavaliers, who finished 20-12 this season, posted a 70-58 record with a 29-42 mark in ACC play under Agugua-Hamilton.
The university issued a brief statement on Saturday, saying only that she will not return to the role and that a national search will begin immediately.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Kelly Morrone named women's basketball coach at Albany
Dec 10, 2022; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Merrimack Warriors head coach Kelly Morrone at the end of the first quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Purcell Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images Albany announced the hiring of Kelly Morrone as the next women’s basketball head coach.
Morrone spent the past six seasons as the head coach at Merrimack, a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. She was named 2026 MAAC Coach of the Year after the Warriors finished 19-13 (15-5 MAAC) and was selected to the women’s NIT. Merrimack lost to NJIT in the first round.
“I am incredibly honored and excited to accept the position of head women’s basketball coach at the University at Albany,” she said Saturday in a statement. “I’ve long admired the tradition and pride of the Great Danes, and I am deeply grateful to be entrusted with this important opportunity. It is a privilege to lead a program with such strong institutional support and a clear commitment to excellence.”
Her record at Merrimack was 74-92. During her tenure, Merrimack made the transition from Division II to Division I.
She also won 117 games at John Carroll, a Division III program in University Heights, Ohio.
Morrone played at South Carolina and was a three-year captain, her career ending with a second-round loss in the Women’s NCAA Tournament in 2003. She began her coaching career as an assistant coach at Buffalo (2005-08), followed by stops at Davidson (2008-10), Rhode Island (2010-12) and William & Mary (2012-13) before John Carroll.
At Albany, she replaces Colleen Mullen, who recently accepted the same job at Rhode Island. Mullen led the Great Danes to one NCAA Tournament berth in eight seasons, but before her arrival, Albany was a consistent winner in the America East.
The Great Danes appeared in the NCAA Tournament six consecutive seasons between 2012-17.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cubs place RHP Cade Horton (forearm) on 15-day IL
Mar 28, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Cade Horton (22) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images The Chicago Cubs placed right-handed starter Cade Horton on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a right forearm strain.
The move is retroactive to Saturday for Horton, who exited Friday’s start against the host Cleveland Guardians after one-plus inning and 17 pitches.
Horton retired the side in order in the first inning before walking Kyle Manzardo on five pitches to open the second. He left the game with the Cubs’ head trainer. The Guardians went on to win 4-1.
“I had some tightness in my wrist and as the game went on, it went into my forearm,” Horton said on Friday. “I wanted to err on the cautious side and not hurt anything else. I just wanted to be smart about it and make a smart decision.”
Horton lowered his ERA to 2.45 on Friday after he yielded two runs in 6 1/3 innings in the Cubs’ 10-2 win over the Washington Nationals on March 28. It is the 24-year-old’s second season in the major leagues.
He was 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA in his rookie season.
Also on Sunday, the Cubs recalled left-hander Riley Martin from Triple-A Iowa and tabbed right-hander Ethan Roberts as the 27th man for Sunday’s doubleheader against the Guardians.
Martin, 28, has yet to pitch in a major league game. He is 24-13 with a 3.76 ERA in 174 career appearances (three starts) in the minors.
–Field Level Media
Amaka Agugua-Hamilton no longer coach at Virginia
Kelly Morrone named women's basketball coach at Albany
