EDDIE PELLS
Connecticut head coach Dan Hurley celebrates during the net cutting after the men's national championship college basketball game against San Diego State in the NCAA Tournament on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
UConn March Madness steamroller could be start of a new era

By Eddie Pells Apr. 04, 2023 04:17 AM EDT
HOUSTON (AP) — There was a short list of believers in the potential of a rebuilt

San Diego State guard Lamont Butler, left, and Connecticut guard Andre Jackson Jr. vie for a loose ball during the first half of the men's national championship college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
UConn wins March Madness with 76-59 smothering of SDSU

By Eddie Pells Apr. 03, 2023 11:41 PM EDT
HOUSTON (AP) — After six games and 240 minutes of pure dominance that ran through

Connecticut guard Tristen Newton celebrates after scoring against Miami during the first half of a Final Four college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, April 1, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
UConn puts Final Four beatdown on Miami 72-59

By Eddie Pells Apr. 01, 2023 11:24 PM EDT
HOUSTON (AP) — Nobody was guarding UConn’s best player. So Adama Sanogo spun the ball

UConn guard Andrew Hurley celebrates in the locker room after the 82-54 win against Gonzaga of an Elite 8 college basketball game in the West Region final of the NCAA Tournament, Saturday, March 25, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Final Four: Last year's bluebloods are this year's no-names

By Eddie Pells Mar. 30, 2023 10:53 AM EDT
HOUSTON (AP) — One short year ago, college basketball was getting ready for the game

San Diego State forward Aguek Arop (33) celebrates victory against Creighton in the second half of a Elite 8 college basketball game in the South Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 26, 2023, in Louisville, Ky. San Diego State won 57-56.(AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Final Four newcomers: Grab your name tag at the door

By Eddie Pells Mar. 26, 2023 05:28 PM EDT
Everyone's heard of UConn. All these other guys? They'll need name tags at the Final

Gonzaga forward Drew Timme gestures to fans as time runs out in the second half of a second-round college basketball game against TCU in the men's NCAA tournament Saturday March 19, 2023 in Denver. (AP Photo/John Leyba)
Gonzaga, Timme move to Sweet 16 with 84-81 win over TCU

By Eddie Pells Mar. 20, 2023 12:15 AM EDT
DENVER (AP) — Drew Timme added something new to his twisting, turning, head-faking,

St. Mary's head coach Randy Bennett works the bench in the first half of a first-round college basketball game against Virginia Commonwealth in the NCAA Tournament, Friday, March 17, 2023, in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Zags, Saint Mary's keep West Coast Conference front & center

By Eddie Pells Mar. 18, 2023 06:31 PM EDT
DENVER (AP) — It's no secret that bigger conferences are always looking at Gonzaga,

FILE - In this April 4, 1983, file photo, North Carolina State coach Jim Valvano, center with fist raised, celebrates after the team's win over Houston to win the NCAA men's college basketball tournament championship in Albuquerque, N.M. Forty years ago as a teenager, North Carolina State's athletic director Boo Corrigan was there to see the Wolfpack finish off one of college basketball's most electric and unexpected runs, win the national title and officially embed the word “Cinderella” into the NCAA Tournament playbook. (AP Photo, File)
NC State looks for another surprise, 40 years later

By Eddie Pells Mar. 16, 2023 05:59 PM EDT
DENVER (AP) — If you let the video run long enough — past the Lorenzo Charles dunk

The parking spot for Greg Heiar, former New Mexico State University men's basketball coach, shows a reserved sign outside the Pan American Center, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, in Las Cruces, N.M. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
At New Mexico St, a meltdown that runs beyond basketball

By Eddie Pells Mar. 02, 2023 11:07 AM EST
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Of all the troubling video made public over a year of crisis

The basketball court of the Pan American Center at New Mexico State University is pictured Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, in Las Cruces, N.M. Chancellor Dan Arvizu said at a news conference that he was confident the behavior that led to the cancellation of the men's basketball season and firing of Heiar was not reflective of the athletic department or the school overall. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
N Mexico St AD gets vote of confidence after hoops shutdown

By Eddie Pells Feb. 15, 2023 01:21 PM EST
New Mexico State's chancellor expressed his confidence in athletic director Mario

FILE - Then-LSU assistant coach Greg Heiar, center, shouts from the sideline during the team's NCAA men's college basketball tournament game against Yale in Jacksonville, Fla., March 21, 2019. New Mexico State suspended operations of its men's basketball program indefinitely Friday night, Feb. 10, 2023, and placed its coaching staff, including Heiar, on paid administrative leave. ( AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton, File)
New Mexico State fires coach in wake of hazing allegations

By Eddie Pells Feb. 14, 2023 08:38 PM EST
New Mexico State fired basketball coach Greg Heiar on Tuesday in the wake of hazing

FILE - New Mexico State's Ivan Aurrecoechea shoots against New Mexico during an NCAA college basketball game Nov. 21, 2019, in Las Cruces, N.M. New Mexico State indefinitely suspended its men's basketball program Friday night, Feb. 10, 2023. The school also placed first-year coach Greg Heiar and his staff on administrative leave for what it said were violations of university policy. (Nathan J. Fish/The Las Cruces Sun News via AP, File)
New Mex St cancels season after sex, harassment allegations

By Eddie Pells Feb. 12, 2023 06:33 PM EST
New Mexico State's men's basketball season came to an abrupt halt Sunday after the

FILE - New Mexico State's Ivan Aurrecoechea shoots against New Mexico during an NCAA college basketball game Nov. 21, 2019, in Las Cruces, N.M. New Mexico State indefinitely suspended its men's basketball program Friday night, Feb. 10, 2023. The school also placed first-year coach Greg Heiar and his staff on administrative leave for what it said were violations of university policy. (Nathan J. Fish/The Las Cruces Sun News via AP, File)
2 New Mexico State players quit day after program suspended

By Eddie Pells Feb. 11, 2023 08:51 PM EST
Two New Mexico State basketball players quit the team Saturday, less than 24 hours

FILE - New Mexico State's Ivan Aurrecoechea shoots against New Mexico during an NCAA college basketball game Nov. 21, 2019, in Las Cruces, N.M. New Mexico State indefinitely suspended its men's basketball program Friday night, Feb. 10, 2023. The school also placed first-year coach Greg Heiar and his staff on administrative leave for what it said were violations of university policy. (Nathan J. Fish/The Las Cruces Sun News via AP, File)
New Mexico St. suspends operations of men's basketball team

By Eddie Pells Feb. 10, 2023 09:49 PM EST
New Mexico State indefinitely suspended its men's basketball program Friday night in

FILE - Jackson State celebrates after winning an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament against Alabama State, Saturday, March 12, 2022, at Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Ala. In basketball, whether a team wins a conference regular-season title, a conference tournament title or no conference title at all has very little bearing on what the final verdict will be. (AP Photo/Julie Bennett, File)
March Madness a bedrock in ever-changing college landscape

By Eddie Pells Oct. 31, 2022 08:21 AM EDT
If the latest spasm of conference realignment in college sports was supposed to spell

Kansas players celebrate after a college basketball game against North Carolina in the finals of the Men's Final Four NCAA tournament, Monday, April 4, 2022, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Kansas comes back, wins NCAA title 3 years in the making

By Eddie Pells Apr. 05, 2022 03:20 AM EDT
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Great Kansas Comeback, as it will forever be known in the

North Carolina forward Armando Bacot shoots over Kansas forward Jalen Wilson during the first half of a college basketball game in the finals of the Men's Final Four NCAA tournament, Monday, April 4, 2022, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Jayhawks rally, rock North Carolina 72-69 to win NCAA title

By Eddie Pells Apr. 04, 2022 11:54 PM EDT
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Best. Comeback. Ever. Sounds pretty good next to Rock Chalk,

North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis speaks during a news conference about the Men's Final Four NCAA basketball tournament, Sunday, April 3, 2022, in New Orleans. North Carolina will face Kansas in the final game on Monday. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Out of the (Carolina) blue, Tar Heels go for title vs Kansas

By Eddie Pells Apr. 03, 2022 05:20 PM EDT
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — It should come as no shock that North Carolina and Kansas are

North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis reacts to a play during the first half of a college basketball game against Duke in the semifinal round of the Men's Final Four NCAA tournament, Saturday, April 2, 2022, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Krzyzewski K-O'd: North Carolina takes out coach, Duke 81-77

By Eddie Pells Apr. 02, 2022 11:19 PM EDT
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — For the 48th time over 47 years of unparalleled coaching, Duke’s

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski watches during practice for the men's Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, April 1, 2022, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Coach K on an NCAA revamp: 'Time to look at the whole thing'

By Eddie Pells Apr. 01, 2022 05:26 PM EDT
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The sport Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is leaving is run by an