#elite-eight

#elite-eight

You'd have to catch me off the record to answer that question. The implication was clear: Now that every school can pay players -- either through direct revenue share or name, image and likeness dollars -- Big Ten schools are no longer disadvantaged in recruiting by everything from booster bag men to shoe company AAU connections.

Rick Pitino has signed a new deal with St. John's University, extending his contract through the 2029-30 season and receiving a significant pay increase. His leadership has transformed the program, leading to a 20-13 record in his first season and a remarkable 31-5 record in 2024-25, which included winning both the regular season and Big East Tournament titles.

Just tried to be a voice and resource. Talking to the staff, I talked to Jon every other day. Players on the team would reach out. Just being an extended resource to the team and the guys that had any questions.

UConn won its 18th straight game played in the Sweet 16 or later when it mounted a most improbable comeback to rally from 19 points down to beat Duke 73-72 on Braylon Mullins' last-second 3-pointer.

UConn is outscoring opponents by 37.8 points per game with a +1435 scoring differential overall. It puts up 87.9 points per game, second in college basketball, and gives up 50.1 per contest, first in college basketball.

TCU opened the second half on an 11-point scoring streak and kept its foot on the gas for the remainder of the game. Virginia's defense was unable to contain TCU's Olivia Miles and Marta Suarez, who went off for a combined 61 points.

"You play, what, 36 games, and you try to put yourself in this situation as often as you can. I think every team that's here knows that this weekend is probably the biggest weekend of the year."

UConn was selected as the Fort Worth 1 Region champion by all 22 voters. No other team was a unanimous Final Four pick, but the 1-seeds received a clear majority. South Carolina received 21 votes, Texas had 19 and UCLA 15.