Sports
From First Four to Sweet 16: No. 11 Texas stuns No. 3 Gonzaga
Mar 21, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Graham Ike (15) passes against Texas Longhorns forward Camden Heide (5) in the first half during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images PORTLAND, Ore. — Matas Vokietaitis and Jordan Pope scored 17 points apiece and Camden Heide came off the bench to hit a key 3-pointer with 14.7 seconds left to lift No. 11 seed Texas to a 74-68 victory in second round of the NCAA West Region on Saturday.
With the Longhorns leading by one after a dunk by Gonzaga’s Graham Ike, Texas called a time out with 32 seconds left and inserted Heide, whose 3-pointer from the right corner pushed the lead to 72-68.
Mario Saint-Supery missed a desperation Gonzaga 3-pointer and Vokietaitis hit a layup to close the scoring.
West Coast Conference Player of the Year Ike had 25 points and Jaden Warley had 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Saint-Supery had nine points and five assists.
Texas is the first First Four winner to win at least three games in the tournament since 11th seeded UCLA won five straight to reach the 2021 Final Four.
The Longhorns (21-114 face a potential SEC rematch in the Sweet Sixteen in San Jose on Thursday, where they will face the winner of the Arkansas-High Point game to be played later Saturday.
Gonzaga (31-4), the first No. 3 seed to lose in the tourney, had won at least two games in the NCAAs in nine of the previous 10 seasons. The Bulldogs were making their 27th straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
Ike played with four fouls in the final six minutes. He picked up his fourth on a Nic Codie on a put-back attempt. Codie’s two free throws made it 59-56, and after an Ike miss, Pope made a 3-pointer to give the Longhorns their largest lead to that point, 62-56.
Ike brought Gonzaga within 66-64 when he followed his own miss with three minutes left. Pope followed with his third three to make it 69-64.
Saint-Supery made two free throws and Ike’s dunk with 40.3 seconds remaining brought Gonzaga within one, 69-68.
Codie had 12 points and Dailyn Swain had 11 points, six rebounds and six assists. Vokietaitis had nine rebounds.
–Jack Magruder, Field Level Media
Sports
Pitt hires Charleston's Robin Harmony as head coach
Dec 9, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; General view of the court before the Pittsburgh Panthers host the West Virginia Mountaineers at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Pitt named Pennsylvania native Robin Harmony as head coach of the women’s team on Monday.
Harmony, 64, has spent the past seven seasons at the College of Charleston and led the Cougars to a 27-6 record and their first NCAA Tournament appearance this season.
“We are thrilled to welcome Robin Harmony to Pitt,” athletic director Allen Greene said. “Throughout this process, it was important for us to find someone who understands the value of connection with our student-athletes, with our alumni, and with the broader Pitt community. Coach Harmony has built a reputation on forming meaningful relationships with student-athletes and leading with an athlete-centered philosophy that prioritizes their growth both on and off the court.”
A Hershey, Pa., native, Harmony has compiled a 369-198 record as a head coach at St. Thomas (Fla.) (2005-13), Lamar (2013-19) and Charleston (2019-26).
A new chapter begins at Pitt ??
Welcome to Oakland, Coach Harmony!
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— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_WBB) March 23, 2026
Harmony was named the 2025-26 Coastal Athletic Association’s Coach of the Year and guided Charleston to its first CAA tournament championship. Her 14th-seeded Cougars lost 81-64 to No. 3 seed Duke in the first round of the Women’s NCAA Tournament last Friday.
“I look forward to recruiting exceptional student-athletes to one of the nation’s leading academic institutions with a proud athletic tradition; young women who will succeed in the classroom and compete at the highest level in the ACC. My promise to Pitt fans is to build a team that reflects the spirit of the University and the City of Pittsburgh with grit, determination and teamwork,” Harmony said.
Harmony replaces Tory Verdi, who was fired following an 8-23 campaign that included a 1-17 record in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Panthers have not been to the Women’s NCAA Tournament since 2015.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Oklahoma LB Owen Heinecke sues NCAA for '26 eligibility
Dec 19, 2025; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Owen Heinecke (38) against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the CFP National Playoff First Round at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke filed a lawsuit against the NCAA on Monday as he seeks an additional season of eligibility.
Heinecke, who participated in last month’s NFL Scouting Combine after his waiver request and appeal were denied by the NCAA, is seeking an injunction before the NFL draft begins on April 23.
An emergency hearing for the case has been scheduled for April 16 in Oklahoma’s Cleveland County Court.
“We’re not giving up,” Oklahoma general manager Jim Nagy said of Heinecke’s case earlier this month. “Owen is just a guy you want to fight for.”
Heinecke was ruled by the NCAA to be out of collegiate eligibility due to playing in three lacrosse games at Ohio State in 2021 before transferring to Oklahoma’s football program as a walk-on. He redshirted in 2022 before playing 39 games over the last three seasons.
He had just 11 total tackles from 2023-24 but broke out last season with 74 tackles (second on the team), 12 tackles for loss and three sacks, earning recognition on the All-SEC second team.
“OU fully supports Owen and his pursuit of a fair opportunity to continue playing the game he loves,” Oklahoma athletic director Roger Denny said in a statement. “We’ll stand firmly beside him as he works to do just that.”
Heinecke joins a growing list of college football players suing the NCAA for extra eligibility this offseason to mixed results.
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was granted a preliminary injunction to play in 2026 by a Mississippi state court last month, while Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar had his injunction denied. The NCAA has appealed Chambliss’ case.
Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris is also suing the NCAA in an attempt to be granted a seventh year of eligibility.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Louisville outlasts Alabama, advances to Sweet 16
Louisville Cardinals forward Elif Istanbulluoglu (11) gestures as the Cards get the ball on a turnover against Alabama during the 2026 NCAA Women’s March Madness Second Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Kentucky. March 23, 2026. Elif Istanbulluoglu and Tajianna Roberts had 18 points apiece and third-seeded Louisville survived sixth-seeded Alabama for a 69-68 win to advance to the Sweet 16 from Regional 3 in Louisville on Monday.
Trailing by four, Alabama’s Karly Weathers scored with 9.4 seconds left and Louisville’s Imari Berry made both free throws before Weathers hit another 3 to make it 69-68 with four seconds on the clock. But after Reyna Scott missed two fouls shots, Alabama didn’t have time to advance the ball for the potential game-winner.
Istanbulluoglu got the second of two free throws to go down with 2:52 to play and Louisville (29-7) corralled Essence Cody’s missed layup a minute later to send Mackenly Randolph to the line. She made a pair to extend the lead to 65-61, then Roberts’ steal of a Cody pass led to a Louisville timeout.
Scott’s clutch running floater from the left elbow to beat the shot clock and add to Alabama’s deficit with one minute to go gave Louisville breathing room.
Weathers had 11 of her 13 points in the fourth quarter. She canned a pair of 3s to put the Crimson Tide (24-11) in front 59-57 as part of an 11-4 run earlier in the quarter. Istanbulluoglu answered with a 3 off of an offensive rebound and Louisville snuck back in front by one as the clock ticked under the 5-minute mark.
Alabama’s Diana Collins made 4 of 5 from 3-point range and the Crimson Tide shot 46.2% (12 of 26) from 3 but only 45.6% overall (26 of 57).
Ace Austin led Alabama with 17 points. She hit her fifth 3 to keep Alabama in striking distance, 52-49, with 1:22 left in the third.
Istanbulluoglu, who also had 11 rebounds, drilled a long 3 and Roberts hit another on the next possession midway through the third quarter to put Louisville up 50-46. It was Louisville’s largest lead of the game at that point since 13-6 in the first.
Louisville survived woeful 7-of-26 shooting from long range with 14 offensive rebounds and 24 points in the pant. Alabama was outrebounded 41-24.
–Field Level Media
Pitt hires Charleston's Robin Harmony as head coach
Oklahoma LB Owen Heinecke sues NCAA for '26 eligibility
