Sports
Duke shrugs off health issues, sets sights on Siena
Mar 14, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) and guard Cayden Boozer (2) react in the second half during the men’s ACC Conference Tournament Championship at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images GREENVILLE, S.C. — Duke enters the 2026 NCAA Tournament with a familiar goal and matching expectations as the No. 1 overall seed.
The Atlantic Coast Conference champion during the regular season and last week’s tournament, Duke (32-2) earned a No. 1 seed in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2010-11. The road to Indianapolis and the Final Four starts for the Blue Devils on Thursday afternoon with No. 16 Siena. The winner of the 8-9 matchup between Ohio State and TCU gets the winner of Duke-Siena on Saturday in the East Region.
Duke does stroll into the game with questions, none bigger than health. Injured starters Patrick Ngongba and Caleb Foster did not play in the ACC tournament.
Foster (8.5 points per game) suffered a fractured right foot in the regular-season finale against North Carolina on March 7. Duke coach Jon Scheyer noted the junior guard is “still going to be a little while,” but no hard timeline was shared.
Closer to returning is Ngongba, a sophomore averaging 10.7 points and six rebounds in 29 games (28 starts). The 6-foot-11 center hasn’t played since March 2 with a right foot injury.
“Obviously, Pat means so much for us,” Scheyer said. “When you think about winning, he’s been one of the 10 most impactful players in the country. The rim protection he provides for our team, his passing, his scoring.”
But Scheyer told reporters on Wednesday that he doesn’t expect Ngongba to take the court against the Saints.
“I think it’s very unlikely that he plays [Thursday],” Scheyer said. “We’re going to keep taking it day by day. And again, he’s itching to play, but we’re not quite there.”
Of course, these are blueblood problems relative to the concerns Siena carries into the game.
Duke can still rely on ACC Player of the Year and the nation’s ninth-leading scorer, Cameron Boozer, who was named first-team All-American this week. The son of Carlos Boozer — a national champion with the Blue Devils in 2001 — Cameron Boozer leads Duke in averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.
His twin brother, Cayden Boozer, happens to be playing his best basketball of the season. Cayden Boozer had a season-high 16 points in both Duke’s ACC semifinal and championship wins over Clemson and Virginia. A starter in just seven games, his contributions will be magnified for the banged-up Blue Devils.
“I’m just super proud of him,” Cameron said of Cayden. “I’ve seen all the work he puts in. I know how great of a player he is. For him to come in with two guys down and really step up for us, I think it’s going to give him tremendous confidence going into the tournament.”
Siena (23-11), from just outside Albany, N.Y., travels to Greenville attempting to do the unthinkable as a nearly 30-point underdog. The Saints understand what they’re up against. Still, head coach Gerry McNamara’s team has fulfilled a dream season to this point, appearing in the bracket for the first time since 2010.
“I guarantee you every one of our players has had a lifelong dream of either playing for Duke or playing against them,” McNamara said. “Just really, really happy for our guys. It’s a great opportunity and a great experience for my group.”
Scheyer won a national championship at Duke in 2010 as a player, and McNamara was a standout on Syracuse’s 2003 title team. Leading the Saints to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance in just his second season has made McNamara a hot name in the coaching cycle — something far from the top of his mind.
“I’ve ignored just about everything and anything on the outside,” McNamara said. “My most important focus right now is trying to get my team prepared mentally and physically for Duke.”
The Saints are led by Gavin Doty at 17.9 points per game, followed by Justice Shoats (13.2) and Francis Folefac (11.1).
–Jack Batten, 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
