Sports
Caleb Foster's surprise lift propels Duke against UConn in Elite Eight
Mar 27, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Caleb Foster (1) dribbles the ball past St. John’s Red Storm guard Joson Sanon (3) in the first half during a Sweet Sixteen game of the East Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images WASHINGTON — After proving their mental fortitude in the Sweet 16, Cameron Boozer’s No. 1 seeded Duke Blue Devils will try to defeat this decade’s most successful program when they meet the No. 2 UConn Huskies in Sunday’s NCAA East Regional final.
Boozer has posted double-doubles in all three tournament games for Duke (35-2) to continue a season that has made the freshman forward the Naismith Award favorite.
Meanwhile, his Blue Devils teammates have gotten healthier.
In Friday’s 80-75 victory over St. John’s, junior guard Caleb Foster willed himself back to action 20 days after sustaining a right foot fracture and scored all 11 of his points after halftime to help his team overcome a 10-point deficit.
“First time playing in a few weeks, he’s sore and recovering like you would expect, but nothing concerning,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said. “We want him to just continue to be himself, his leadership, his ability to get downhill, just making plays himself and really more of what he did yesterday.”
Center Patrick Ngonba II has also been able to provide minutes off the bench in the last two games after he missed about three weeks with right foot soreness.
At a program that frequently re-loads with NBA Draft Lottery-bound talent like Boozer, that duo provides precious experience from last year’s Final Four squad. So does sophomore guard Isaiah Evans, who had his best game of the tournament with 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting to lead Duke’s rally against the Red Storm.
“Just being able to insert our names in history definitely means a lot,” said Evans of possibly reaching consecutive Final Fours. “Like you said, a lot of people haven’t done that. With Duke having the history it has, to be one of the people that did something different, it means a lot to me.”
As impressive as Scheyer’s three consecutive Elite Eight appearances are in four seasons as Mike Krzyzewski’s successor, it’s Dan Hurley’s Huskies (32-5) who are seeking a third national title in four years.
And to limit Boozer, Hurley will lean on senior center Tarris Reed Jr., who has stepped up a level this tournament.
“I think with Tarris or any player, I think just at some point you hope that the light switch comes on in time,” Hurley said. “Maybe it’s the life or death urgency to this time of year. … When he plays at the level that he’s capable of playing at, we can beat any team in the country, and he’s as good as any center in the country.”
Reed posted double-doubles in both games of the opening weekend, including career bests with 31 points and 27 rebounds in a first-round win over Furman. It was the first time a player had 30-plus points and 25-plus rebounds in the same NCAA Tournament game since Houston legend Elvin Hayes in 1968.
Against Michigan State, Reed was more clutch than dominant, scoring 20 points and sinking four consecutive late free throws to ice the contest, but making less of a rebounding impact against a Spartans team that dominated the glass.
On Sunday, it may be more about limiting Boozer rather than outplaying him.
“Be disciplined, stay long, and make him stay over the length,” Reed said.” Make it as difficult as possible for him to score in the post.”
–Ian Nicholas Quillen, Field Level Media
Sports
Iowa-Illinois interrupted for 11 minutes due to horn
Mar 28, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood talks with an official in the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes during an Elite Eight game of the South Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images HOUSTON — The NCAA Tournament South Region final between ninth-seeded Iowa and third-seeded Illinois on Saturday experienced an extended delay when the horn stuck with 7:43 remaining in the first half and the Hawkeyes leading 22-20.
The delay lasted more than 10 minutes, and when the game resumed, the center-hung scoreboard was no longer operational.
The Iowa-Illinois winner will advance to the Final Four in Indianapolis next weekend.
–MK Bower, Field Level Media
Sports
Gary Woodland nearing 1st victory since 2019 at Texas Children’s Houston Open
Mar 28, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Gary Woodland reacts after putting on the green on the 18th hole during the third round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images Now it’s about finishing the task for Gary Woodland in the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
He shot 5-under-par 65 on Saturday to maintain the lead through three rounds as he seeks his first victory in nearly seven years in Houston.
“I’m here, I put myself in this position for a reason, so take a deep breath and maintain what I’m doing,” Woodland said.
Woodland is at 18-under despite his highest score of the tournament Saturday.
Hard-charging Nicolai Hojgaard of Denmark posted the best round of the day with a 63, so he’s one stroke back going into Sunday’s final round at Memorial Park Golf Course.
“There’s still a lot of players in the field that can win the tournament,” Hojgaard said. “But, obviously, Gary and I have a good chance. I’m going to go out, try to build up the round like I did today.”
Hojgaard has never won on the PGA Tour in 62 previous tournaments. His last international tournament title came in 2023.
Woodland tied for second place in the tournament a year ago. The galleries have been supportive this week, and he has noticed.
“Crowd (has) been amazing,” Woodland said. “Energy was so good. Definitely helped me. Something I fed off of and hopefully that’s the same (Sunday).”
Woodland had four birdies on a six-hole stretch on the backside to maintain the lead. The last three of those birdies came with putts inside of 7 feet.
“Once I settled in, I hit some great shots on the back nine,” Woodland said. “It was a good fight, for sure.”
Hojgaard also was 4-under on that same six-hole stretch, with a 14-foot putt his longest birdie among those holes.
Both golfers had pars on No. 18.
“The course is playing into my strengths,” Hojgaard said. “Good driving length off the tee and approach play, and then I felt like I had good pace with the putter all day.”
Defending champion Min Woo Lee of Australia shot 67 to sit at 12-under, joined by Michael Thorbjornsen (66). Lee might be a long shot to make up enough ground, but he hasn’t dismissed that from happening.
“Just got to stick to the process and hopefully make a lot of birdies,” Lee said. “You’ll probably need help from them to come backwards. I think I’m in the final group, so I’ll have a nice show (Sunday).”
As one of the highlights from Saturday, Lee took a bunker shot on one knee on No. 17, rolling the ball close enough for a birdie putt.
“It wasn’t the most pleasing lie when I first got there,” Lee said. “It was nearly very unplayable because it was on such a steep hill. Luckily, I’m somewhat flexible and I can get low and, yeah, play that shot.”
Combined with the 16th hole, that gave Lee birdies on consecutive holes for the second time during the round.
Thorbjornsen said he has been encouraged by his play this week.
“I think we’re just trying to play smart golf, play to the numbers, just whatever will produce the best score on average,” Thorbjornsen said. “That’s kind of the strategy we’re going to take.”
Sam Stevens (67) and Australia’s Jason Day (68) are at 11-under.
First-round leader Paul Waring of England moved back into contention by shooting 66. He’s at 10-under with Sahith Theegala (66) and Canada’s Sudarshan Yellamaraju (65).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Owen Caissie delivers as Marlins knock out Rockies
Mar 28, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins relief pitcher Pete Fairbanks (29) pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the ninth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images Rookie Owen Caissie drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, and Liam Hicks posted three RBIs as the host Miami Marlins rallied to defeat the Colorado Rockies 4-3 on Saturday afternoon.
Pete Fairbanks, acquired as an offseason free agent, earned his second save in two games for the Marlins.
Caissie, acquired in January from the Cubs as part of the package for Edward Cabrera, went 3-for-4 with a double, a steal and one RBI. Hicks had a two-run homer and a sacrifice fly.
Colorado hit a pair of homers: a two-run shot by Ezequiel Tovar and TJ Rumfield’s solo blast. Rumfield’s homer was the first of his major-league career in just his second game.
Neither starting pitcher earned a decision, although Miami’s Eury Perez delivered a quality start by allowed three runs, five hits and one walk in seven innings. He struck out eight.
Colorado’s Michael Lorenzen allowed three runs, seven hits and no walks with four strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
Calvin Faucher (1-0) earned the win with one inning of scoreless relief.
Jaden Hill (0-1) took the loss, allowing one run and two hits in 1 2/3 innings.
The Rockies opened the scoring in the second inning as Rumfield pulled a 98-mph fastball over the fence at right, a shot estimated at 423 feet.
Colorado somehow escaped a jam in the bottom of the second as Miami put runners on second and third with one out. Catcher Hunter Goodman saved a run with a stellar pitch block before Lorenzen struck out Griffin Conine. After a hit-by-pitch, Rumfield made a nice fielding play at first base to end the inning.
The Marlins tied the score 1-1 in the third as Xavier Edwards singled and went to third on Agustin Ramirez’s single. Edwards scored on Hicks’ sacrifice fly.
Colorado surged ahead in the fourth as Willi Castro singled, and Tovar blasted his 401-foot homer.
Miami tied the score again, this time in the fifth as Ramirez singled, and Hicks pulled a two-run homer to right to make it 3.
In the eighth, Otto Lopez singled, stole second and scored on Caissie’s single, giving the Marlins their second straight one-run win to start the season.
–Field Level Media
Iowa-Illinois interrupted for 11 minutes due to horn
Gary Woodland nearing 1st victory since 2019 at Texas Children’s Houston Open
