TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama guard Aden Holloway has been arrested on a felony drug charge just days before the start of the NCAA Tournament. A Tuscaloosa County police spokesperson says the 21-year-old Holloway was arrested Monday after agents with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force searched a residence near Alabama’s campus and recovered more than a pound of marijuana, paraphernalia and cash. The Crimson Tide’s No. 2 scorer, Holloway was arrested on a first-degree charge of marijuana possession. The charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $15,000. The university says it’s aware of the allegations and Holloway has been removed from campus pending further investigation.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Defending national champion Florida landed a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament despite getting thumped by Vanderbilt in the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament. The Gators got punched in the mouth early and never responded. It was a disappointing — some might call it eye-opening — showing before the Big Dance. Coach Todd Golden is hoping the 17-point setback serves as a wake-up call for a team that had won 12 in a row up to that point. The Gators begin their repeat bid Friday night in nearby Tampa against the winner of a play-in game between Lehigh and Prairie View A&M.
UNDATED (AP) — Teams coming off long runs in their league tournaments have a short window to regroup ahead of March Madness. Bigger conferences after waves of expansion have led to longer runs through league tournaments on the eve of the NCAA Tournament. Now it's common to see teams having to play four games in four days in conference tournaments. Then they have a few days for players to recover and recharge ahead of the NCAAs. Big Ten champion Purdue faces that challenge after playing four games in four days to win that title.
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — March Madness tips off with the First Four, featuring one of this season’s best stories in Miami (Ohio) and a matchup of formerly embattled head coaches in Texas’ Sean Miller and NC State’s Will Wade. Coming off their only loss of the season, the RedHawks have a chance to silence some skeptics against fellow No. 11 seed SMU (20-13) on Wednesday night. The RedHawks, who are back in the tournament for the first time since 2007, were rewarded with a game in Dayton, roughly 43 miles from campus. There are two games Tuesday night to open the tournament.
UNDATED (AP) — There's nothing quite like March Madness to remind people of what college sports is all about. Yes, the 2025-26 season contained its share of headlines about money, pro players returning to college and coaches behaving badly. But now, the payoff. A three-week, 68-team hoops celebration where anything from a Miami (Ohio) miracle to a dominating Duke performance could happen. At its best, the NCAA Tournament is a needed reminder about what's right in a rapidly changing landscape.
UNDATED (AP) — UConn looks like the safest pick to win the women’s NCAA tournament, but the real key in bracket pools is nailing early upsets. Brackets start to match by the second weekend, since lower seeds rarely reach the Sweet 16. For those looking to find some dangerous No. 11 seeds: Fairfield faces Notre Dame, Rhode Island plays Alabama, and South Dakota State meets Washington. But in the end, it's hard to not think the No. 1 seeds get to the Final Four.
UNDATED (AP) — There was a time when the NCAA men’s tournament was wildly unpredictable. Hard as it may seem to believe, there was one season where a No. 4 seed, two No. 5 seeds and a No. 9 seed all reached the Final Four. And a year later, a No. 11 seed got to the national semifinals as well. Ah, 2023 and 2024 feel so long ago. Last year's tournament saw four No. 1 seeds get to the Final Four and the way this bracket looks, it's not hard to envision the same thing happening this year. That's good news for Michigan, Duke, Florida and Arizona.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas Longhorns roll into the women’s NCAA Tournament with a No. 1 seed and a familiar and friendly road map for a return trip to the Final Four. They aren’t the overall No. 1 seed for March Madness. That’s UConn. But with a standout duo of Madison Booker and Rori Harmon, an emerging star in Justice Carlton, and the momentum of a romp through the SEC tournament, the Longhorns can make a solid argument they’re the team to beat as they chase the program’s first national title in 40 years.
