The 12th hole at Augusta has been a place where plenty of Masters dreams go to die.  Seven years ...

<p>The 12th hole at Augusta has been a place where plenty of Masters dreams go to die.</p><p>Seven years ago we watched contender after contender wilt on the short par-3 as Tiger Woods shot to the lead courtesy of a routine par. Ten years ago, Jordan Spieth's quest for a second straight Masters win was doused not once, but twice by Rae's Creek.</p><p>"Buddy, it seems like we're collapsing," Spieth <a href="https://golfweek.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/majors/masters/2026/04/10/2026-masters-jordan-spieth-collapse-2016-green-jacket/89548519007/">famously said</a> to his caddie Michael Greller in the moment.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Collapse at Augusta is something we've seen from Rory McIlroy over his career, but Sunday's trip to the historic hole wouldn't just end up being positive: it was arguably the most important shot he hit in the final round.</p><p>McIlroy walked onto the tee box clinging to a one-shot lead on four players, with Scottie Scheffler among those just two behind. As if the challenge wasn't hard enough, the wind started to gust as he approached his ball.</p><p>He backed off multiple times to judge the conditions, a move he learned during his first trip to the Masters.</p><p>"I played a practice round with Tom Watson in 2009 and he said to me on the 12th tee, he always waited until he felt where the wind should be, and then just hit it," McIlory said <a href="https://asaptext.com/asap_media/media/1079/1207/transcripts/166506.html">afterwards</a>. "Just hit it as soon as you can, and that's what I did on 12."</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">McIlroy reaches 12 under par with a birdie on No. 12. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/themasters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#themasters</a> <a href="https://t.co/3dYecCog2V">pic.twitter.com/3dYecCog2V</a></p>— The Masters (@TheMasters) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMasters/status/2043440186063737238?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The 9-iron soared over the bunker, cutting through the wind before bouncing toward the flag upon landing. It ended up just 6-feet-11 inches from the hole, the closest shot of the entire field on the day.</p><p>"I aimed it at the middle of the bunker, probably didn't anticipate it to drift as far right as it did, but that's why you give yourself a little margin for error," McIlroy admitted. "That was a really good golf shot at the right time and probably a golf shot I wouldn't have been able to hit yesterday if I didn't go to the range, and try to figure a few things out and neutralize the ball flight a little bit. Absolutely huge shot in the tournament."</p><p>What made the execution even more impressive is what we watched for 18 holes from McIlroy on Saturday. The defending champ saw a six-shot lead evaporate with some shockingly poor irons, finishing the day 53rd of 54 players in strokes gained: approach. A left miss was on repeat - including a wedge on 12 that eventually led to a bogey.</p><p>The emergency range session late Saturday night got his swing back on plane, and he executed some excellent iron shots to close the opening nine Sunday, and carded comfortable pars on the 10th and 11th to start the finishing stretch.</p><p>However, the 12th is a different beast given its place in Masters history, and almost every champion is required to rise to the occasion on their final trip to the 155-yard challenge. McIlroy did exactly that, and drilled the ensuing putt to reach 12-under and move two clear of the chase pack.</p><p>That total ended up being the winning number for McIlroy, as he became just the fourth man to ever win back-to-back Masters.</p>

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The shot that won Rory the Masters

The encore didn't end up being better than the original, but it sure came pretty close.  Rory McI...

<p>The encore didn't end up being better than the original, but it sure came pretty close.</p><p>Rory McIlroy with a lead on Sunday at the Masters has turned into <strong><em>the </em></strong>appointment viewing event on the golfing calendar every year, with the 36-year-old once again winning at Augusta National in dramatic fashion.</p><p>"I don't make it easy," McIlroy admitted <a href="https://x.com/TheMasters/status/2043472664673628430?s=20">afterwards</a>. "I used to make it easy back in my early 20s when I was winning these things by eight shots. It's hard, it's hard to win golf tournaments, especially around here." </p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>It certainly was not easy for McIlroy, who entered the final day as a co-leader after he lost his six-shot edge with a 1-over 73 on Saturday. That co-lead didn't last long, with a double-bogey on the 5th hole dropping him two behind Cameron Young.</p><p>However, McIlroy once again showed he's as resilient as any athlete on the planet, pouring in birdies on 7 and 8, and two more on 12 and 13 to flip the board and push ahead of Young, Justin Rose, Scottie Scheffler, and the rest of the pack.</p><p>With a one-shot victory to defend his crown, McIlroy joins Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods as the only men to win the Masters in back-to-back years.</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Position</th>
<th>Player</th>
<th>Round 4 score</th>
<th>Total to par</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Rory McIlroy</td>
<td>71</td>
<td>-12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Scottie Scheffler</td>
<td>68</td>
<td>-11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T3</td>
<td>Tyrrell Hatton</td>
<td>66</td>
<td>-10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T3</td>
<td>Russell Henley</td>
<td>68</td>
<td>-10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T3</td>
<td>Justin Rose</td>
<td>70</td>
<td>-10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T3</td>
<td>Cameron Young</td>
<td>73</td>
<td>-10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T7</td>
<td>Collin Morikawa</td>
<td>68</td>
<td>-9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T7</td>
<td>Sam Burns</td>
<td>73</td>
<td>-9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T9</td>
<td>Max Homa</td>
<td>67</td>
<td>-8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T9</td>
<td>Xander Schauffele</td>
<td>68</td>
<td>-8</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Sunday's action came close to matching the roller-coaster ride McIlroy took the world on during last year's final round. A shocking three-putt from five feet saw a double-bogey hit the card and identified his playing partner, Young, as the early threat.</p><p>That threat didn't last long, with McIlroy's birdies on 7 and 8 sending him past Young. However, a familiar foe was lurking to throw up a roadblock towards a second green jacket. One year removed from losing to McIlroy in a playoff, it was once again Justin Rose making the charge to put the tournament in flux. Rose took a two-stroke lead to the 11th hole this time around and looked to be firmly in control.</p><p>As McIlroy knows all too well, though, control doesn't exist at the iconic layout on Sundays. Rose quickly faltered with bogeys on 11 and 12, opening the door for McIlroy to make his run. McIlroy seized the moment with a brilliant approach to set up a birdie on 12 and another on 13 to rocket past Rose and into the lead.</p><p>That ended up being enough, as McIlroy stood his ground with clutch up-and-downs on 16 and 17 to take a two-stroke edge to the final hole. Of course, it wouldn't be a McIlroy victory without a nervy moment at the end, and a wayward drive into the woods on 18 put the celebration on hold for the moment.</p><p>McIlroy was able to find the greenside bunker with his approach, and splashed out to 15 feet where he simply needed two putts to secure the title.</p><p>While the result looked done by Friday night when McIlroy's six-shot lead broke the 36-hole record at Augusta, his path to victory was anything but routine. And though the weekend delivered plenty of drama, the best golfer of the week was the one left standing.</p>

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 12: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland lifts the Masters trophy during the Green Jacket Ceremony after winning the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.

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McIlroy becomes 4th back-to-back winner in Masters history

A runaway Rory McIlroy win at the Masters quickly turned into a wide-open Sunday after Cameron Yo...

<p>A runaway Rory McIlroy win at the Masters quickly turned into a wide-open Sunday after Cameron Young chased down the 36-hole leader with an incredible third-round 65.</p><p>Young entered the day eight shots off the pace, but made eight birdies against just one bogey to make a charge up the leaderboard. That was enough to see him pull level with McIlroy after the defending champion struggled to a one-over 73. That duo - who played together in the opening two rounds - will form the last group of the 2026 Masters off at 2:25 p.m. ET.</p><p>Sam Burns and Shane Lowry form the penultimate group at 2:14 p.m., with Justin Rose and Jason Day in the third-to-last group.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Round 4 tee times (ET)</h3><p><strong>9:06 a.m. -</strong> Aaron Rai, Charl Schwartzel</p><p><strong>9:17 a.m. -</strong> Gary Woodland, Kurt Kitayama</p><p><strong>9:28 a.m. -</strong> Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia</p><p><strong>9:39 a.m. -</strong> Si Woo Kim, Rasmus Hojgaard</p><p><strong>9:50 a.m. -</strong> Keegan Bradley, Dustin Johnson</p><p><strong>10:01 a.m. -</strong> Matt McCarty, Corey Conners</p><p><strong>10:12 a.m. -</strong> Viktor Hovland, Justin Thomas</p><p><strong>10:23 a.m. -</strong> Alex Noren, Maverick McNealy</p><p><strong>10:45 a.m. -</strong> Adam Scott, Marco Penge</p><p><strong>10:56 a.m. - </strong>Harris English, Sam Stevens</p><p><strong>11:07 a.m. -</strong> Brian Harman, Jordan Spieth</p><p><strong>11:18 a.m. -</strong> Sungjae Im, Hideki Matsuyama</p><p><strong>11:29 a.m. -</strong> Sepp Straka, Jacob Bridgeman</p><p><strong>11:40 a.m. -</strong> Chris Gotterup, Kristoffer Reitan</p><p><strong>11:51 a.m. -</strong> Max Homa, Michael Brennan</p><p><strong>12:13 p.m. -</strong> Matthew Fitzpatrick, Nick Taylor</p><p><strong>12:24 p.m. -</strong> Ludvig Aberg, Brian Campbell</p><p><strong>12:35 p.m. -</strong> Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton</p><p><strong>12:46 p.m. -</strong> Brooks Koepka, Wyndham Clark</p><p><strong>12:57 p.m. -</strong> Ryan Gerard, Xander Schauffele</p><p><strong>1:08 p.m. -</strong> Jake Knapp, Ben Griffin</p><p><strong>1:30 p.m. -</strong> Patrick Reed, Collin Morikawa</p><p><strong>1:41 p.m. -</strong> Patrick Cantlay, Russell Henley</p><p><strong>1:52 p.m. -</strong> Scottie Scheffler, Haotong Li</p><p><strong>2:03 p.m. - </strong>Jason Day, Justin Rose</p><p><strong>2:14 p.m. -</strong> Shane Lowry, Sam Burns</p><p><strong>2:25 p.m. -</strong> Cameron Young, Rory McIlroy</p>

Masters champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland shakes hands with Cameron Young of the United States on the No. 18 hole during the second round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Friday, April 10, 2026.

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Young, McIlroy out last in Round 4 tee times

Some people go skydiving or bungee jumping for an adrenaline rush. While those can do the trick, ...

<p>Some people go skydiving or bungee jumping for an adrenaline rush. While those can do the trick, we suggest simply watching Rory McIlroy try to hang on to a lead at the Masters.</p><p>One year after taking the golfing world on perhaps the wildest Sunday roller coaster in the sport's history, McIlroy provided an encore Saturday, losing a six-shot lead to sit tied with Cameron Young heading to the final 18 holes at Augusta National.</p><p>Any longtime golf fan will tell you McIlroy is far from a sure thing at the iconic course, but losing a six-shot advantage in just a few hours' time is still stunning.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Here's how it happened.</p><h3>Driver woes bled into approach</h3><p>McIlroy built his enormous lead despite posting one of the most jarring stats in recent memory. The 36-year-old has long been revered as the best driver in golf, but he entered Saturday ranked 90th out of 91 players in the field in fairways hit this week. Although his tee shots were going all over the yard, McIlroy time and again managed to stay out of trouble in the pine straw and rough around Augusta National. Well, the luck of the Irish ran out Saturday, and the disease of the wayward driver spread to his approach game.</p><p>McIlroy actually hit eight fairways with the big stick, but his irons looked nothing like they did in the opening two rounds. He finished Saturday's round sitting 53rd of the 54 players who made the cut in strokes gained: approach, seemingly tugging every iron shot to the left. He'd been top 10 in that statistic over the first two rounds of play.</p><h3>Terrible decision at 11</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/830348/cropped_GettyImages-2270390845.jpg?ts=1775950503" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/830348/w220xh124_GettyImages-2270390845.jpg?ts=1775950503 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/830348/w320xh180_GettyImages-2270390845.jpg?ts=1775950503 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/830348/w640xh360_GettyImages-2270390845.jpg?ts=1775950503 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/830348/w768xh432_GettyImages-2270390845.jpg?ts=1775950503 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/830348/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2270390845.jpg?ts=1775950503 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">David Cannon / David Cannon Collection / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Earlier in the week, McIlroy revealed that Jack Nicklaus gave him some simple advice for repeating as champion.</p><p>"'No f-ing double-bogeys,'" McIlroy recounted to <a href="https://x.com/SportsonPrime/status/2042660661482680353?s=20">CBS Sports' Amanda Balionis</a> with a laugh.</p><p>McIlroy overcame four double-bogeys last year - including two in the final round - to claim his first green jacket. He followed that advice to perfection through 46 holes of action this week before disaster struck on the lengthy par-4 11th.</p><p>After his tee shot hit a tree, McIlroy was left with 222 yards to the green for his approach. He opted to try to sling a draw into the pin - a risky decision with water looming just to the left. He overhooked the shot and it found a watery grave, provoking gasps from the patrons at Amen Corner. He then hit a brilliant pitch from the drop zone but failed to make the bogey putt and carded his first double-bogey of the week.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rory's approach is wet on No. 11 😲 <br><br>Inside Amen Corner is LIVE, only on <a href="https://twitter.com/PrimeVideo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrimeVideo</a>. <a href="https://t.co/oVjlcYnkxe">pic.twitter.com/oVjlcYnkxe</a></p>— Sports on Prime (@SportsonPrime) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsonPrime/status/2043079284198162903?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>A double-bogey is painful on its own, but the timing of McIlroy's worst decision of the week added to the misery. Cameron Young birdied No. 16 roughly five minutes after McIlroy's mess to grab the solo lead.</p><h3>Houdini act wears off</h3><p>McIlroy's otherworldly long game gets the headlines, but he's quietly become a wizard around the greens, and that was on full display in the opening two rounds. The five-time major champion pulled off Houdini acts from outrageous positions. He led the field both days in strokes gained: around the green, highlighted by his remarkable pitch for birdie Friday at the 17th.</p><p>While the golfing world revelled in McIlroy's short-game show, it was also tempting to wonder whether it was sustainable. Not quite, as it turns out. He still hit a number of incredible pitch shots around Augusta on Saturday but failed on numerous occasions to pay them off with a clutch putt. He finished the day 40th in strokes gained: putting - not nearly good enough when his approach game was already below standard.</p><h3>Young got hot - and lucky</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/830349/cropped_GettyImages-2270901087.jpg?ts=1775950550" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/830349/w220xh124_GettyImages-2270901087.jpg?ts=1775950550 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/830349/w320xh180_GettyImages-2270901087.jpg?ts=1775950550 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/830349/w640xh360_GettyImages-2270901087.jpg?ts=1775950550 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/830349/w768xh432_GettyImages-2270901087.jpg?ts=1775950550 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/830349/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2270901087.jpg?ts=1775950550 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Any memorable collapse usually also requires somebody to make a heroic, red-hot charge, and Young was more than willing to play that role Saturday. The Players champ had played with McIlroy the opening two rounds, giving him a front-row seat to the record-setting 36-hole lead. Clearly Young was a quick study, because he brought a very scorable Augusta to its knees.</p><p>Young scattered eight birdies against just one bogey on the day, riding a hot putter and moving from eight shots back to level. He also frequently provided proof of the old adage, "You have to be good to be lucky." The best example of Young's good fortune came on No. 13 when he hooked his drive well into the trees and penalty area, only to have to it strike a tree and drop right into the fairway. Given a second chance, Young took full advantage with a birdie on the par-5, the second of four he posted on the closing nine.</p>

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How Rory lost his lead at Augusta

It's Rory McIlroy at Augusta National: Of course it wasn't going to be a casual stroll to a secon...

<p>It's Rory McIlroy at Augusta National: Of course it wasn't going to be a casual stroll to a second green jacket.</p><p>It took the defending champion 36 holes to build a record-setting six-shot lead at the Masters and just 11 to see that lead washed away Saturday by a combination of some loose iron play and a brilliant display from Cameron Young.</p><p>McIlroy made three bogeys and a double en route to a puzzling 73, while Young poured in eight birdies to put up a sizzling 65 and grab a share of the lead heading to Sunday.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>While those two will form the final group, the season's first major is far from a two-man race. Sam Burns sits just one off the pace, with Shane Lowry two back thanks to an ace on the par-3 seventh hole. Justin Rose, Jason Day, and Scottie Scheffler are also firmly in the mix.</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Position</th>
<th>Player</th>
<th>Round 3 score</th>
<th>Total to par</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>T1</td>
<td>Rory McIlroy</td>
<td>73</td>
<td>-11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T1</td>
<td>Cameron Young</td>
<td>65</td>
<td>-11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Sam Burns</td>
<td>68</td>
<td>-10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Shane Lowry</td>
<td>68</td>
<td>-9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T5</td>
<td>Jason Day</td>
<td>68</td>
<td>-8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T5</td>
<td>Justin Rose</td>
<td>69</td>
<td>-8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T7</td>
<td>Scottie Scheffler</td>
<td>65</td>
<td>-7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T7</td>
<td>Haotong Li</td>
<td>69</td>
<td>-7</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Ideal scoring conditions at Augusta yielded plenty of low scoring early, but McIlroy initially had no part in the birdie fest. He bogeyed his opening hole, and his lead shrank to two shots heading to the closing stretch. After righting the ship momentarily with a birdie on No. 10, McIlroy brought all the drama back to the tournament with a stunning decision on the par-4 11th.</p><p>The 36-year-old tried to draw a 7-iron into a tucked left pin - even though that side of the green is framed by water and marks the final resting place of many Masters dreams over the years. McIlroy over-hooked his approach and helplessly watched it slip into the water while the patrons groaned. He failed to get up-and-down from the drop zone and walked to the 12th tee tied for the lead as Young laid waste to Augusta with a birdie barrage.</p><p>"I felt like I hit a pretty good second shot on 11," McIlroy <a href="https://asaptext.com/asap_media/media/1079/1207/transcripts/166464.html">said</a> after the round. "It just drifted on the wind a little bit and went in the water. Those two holes weren't great."</p><p>The share didn't last long. McIlroy bogeyed the 12th, and Young's eighth birdie of the day on 16 gave him the outright lead. But, again, this is Rory McIlroy at Augusta National: For all the bad, there's always going to be some quality golf.</p><p>Birdies on 14 and 15 put McIlroy back in front. However, a wayward drive doomed him to another bogey on 17 and left him in a tie with Young heading to Sunday.</p><p>It will be a familiar final pairing as the pair played together in the opening two rounds this week, something Young talked about after his day.</p><p>"If you had said on Thursday at about noon that I was going to be within a couple of the lead going into Sunday, I would have taken it in a heartbeat, especially given the fact that I was watching Rory play," Young <a href="https://asaptext.com/asap_media/media/1079/1207/transcripts/166460.html">said</a>. "We saw today a slow start and a hot start can erase a lot. It's just a matter of keeping myself in it tomorrow and doing the best I can to stay around the lead for as long as possible."</p>

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 11: Cameron Young of the United States reacts on the 17th green during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.

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Young chases down Rory to grab share of Masters lead

The opening-round co-leaders will form the final pairing Saturday at Augusta, as Rory McIlroy ent...

<p>The opening-round co-leaders will form the final pairing Saturday at Augusta, as Rory McIlroy enters the day with a record-breaking lead at the Masters.</p><p>McIlroy charged up the leaderboard by posting a 65 on Friday, grabbing a six-stroke advantage to set the all-time mark for the largest 36-hole edge in tournament history. He'll look to build on that lead when he tees off with Sam Burns at 2:50 p.m. ET. Saturday.</p><p>Patrick Reed and Justin Rose form the penultimate pairing, while Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood are in the third-to-last group.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Round 3 tee times (ET)</h3><p>9:31 a.m. - Kurt Kitayama, Alex Noren</p><p>9:42 a.m. - Charl Schwartzel, Rasmus Hojgaard</p><p>9:53 a.m. - Jon Rahm, Si Woo Kim</p><p>10:04 a.m. - Brian Harman, Corey Conners</p><p>10:15 a.m. - Sergio Garcia, Maverick McNealy</p><p>10:26 a.m. - Keegan Bradley, Viktor Hovland</p><p>10:37 a.m. - Justin Thomas, Gary Woodland</p><p>10:48 a.m. - Sam Stevens, Adam Scott</p><p>11:10 a.m. - Marco Penge, Matt McCarty</p><p>11:21 a.m. - Jordan Spieth, Sepp Straka</p><p>11:32 a.m. - Aaron Rai, Jacob Bridgeman</p><p>11:43 a.m. - Patrick Cantlay, Sungjae Im</p><p>11:54 a.m. - Dustin Johnson, Russell Henley</p><p>12:05 p.m. - Harris English, Ryan Gerard</p><p>12:16 p.m. - Ludvig Aberg, Scottie Scheffler</p><p>12:38 p.m. - Collin Morikawa, Brian Campbell</p><p>12:49 p.m. - Nick Taylor, Matthew Fitzpatrick</p><p>1:00 p.m. - Hideki Matsuyama, Michael Brennan</p><p>1:11 p.m. - Jake Knapp, Xander Schauffele</p><p>1:22 p.m. - Ben Griffin, Max Homa</p><p>1:33 p.m. - Chris Gotterup, Brooks Koepka</p><p>1:55 p.m. - Jason Day, Cameron Young</p><p>2:06 p.m. - Haotong Li, Kristoffer Reitan</p><p>2:17 p.m. - Wyndham Clark, Tyrrell Hatton</p><p>2:28 p.m. - Shane Lowry, Tommy Fleetwood</p><p>2:39 p.m. - Patrick Reed, Justin Rose</p><p>2:50 p.m. - Rory McIlroy, Sam Burns</p>

CASTLE ROCK, CO - AUGUST 24: PGA golfers Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns talk while waiting on the first tee during the third round of the PGA FedExCup BMW Championship on August 24th, 2024, at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado.

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McIlroy gets Burns in final pairing for Round 3 tee times

Rory McIlroy is turning Augusta National into his own personal playground.   The 2026 Masters is ...

<p>Rory McIlroy is turning Augusta National into his own personal playground. </p><p>The 2026 Masters is unfolding like last year's event, with McIlroy again asserting his dominance over the field and the iconic course.</p><p>After claiming a green jacket and completing the career grand slam, McIlroy is doing his best to replicate his finish from 2025.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The five-time major champ rode one of the most absurd heaters in Masters history Friday, birdieing six of his final seven holes to turn a packed leaderboard into another emphatic chapter of the Rory story.</p><p>The blitz vaulted McIlroy to a Masters record six-shot lead after 36 holes, pulling one clear of a mark previously matched five times.</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Position</th>
<th>Player</th>
<th>Round 2 score</th>
<th>Total to par</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Rory McIlroy</td>
<td>65</td>
<td>-12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T2</td>
<td>Patrick Reed</td>
<td>69</td>
<td>-6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T2</td>
<td>Sam Burns</td>
<td>71</td>
<td>-6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T4</td>
<td>Tommy Fleetwood</td>
<td>68</td>
<td>-5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T4</td>
<td>Justin Rose</td>
<td>69</td>
<td>-5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T4</td>
<td>Shane Lowry</td>
<td>69</td>
<td>-5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T7</td>
<td>Cameron Young</td>
<td>67</td>
<td>-4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T7</td>
<td>Wyndham Clark</td>
<td>68</td>
<td>-4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T7</td>
<td>Tyrrell Hatton</td>
<td>66</td>
<td>-4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T7</td>
<td>Jason Day</td>
<td>71</td>
<td>-4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T7</td>
<td>Haotong Li</td>
<td>69</td>
<td>-4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T7</td>
<td>Kristoffer Reitan</td>
<td>68</td>
<td>-4</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Six birdies in his final seven holes suggest McIlroy was in full flight around Augusta. While there's some truth to that fact, he hasn't been firing on all cylinders. Through the opening two rounds, McIlroy ranks 90th of 91 players in driving accuracy and has failed to hit a fairway in eight chances on par 5s. However, that hasn't affected his scoring, as McIlroy has used his veteran experience to keep his ball out of trouble.</p><p>"The only way I can describe it is everything that you see or any situation that you come across, you can find a positive in it," McIlroy <a href="https://asaptext.com/asap_media/media/1079/1207/transcripts/166434.html">said</a>. "Then you see birdies, and you can see ways to make birdies. So hit it in the trees at 13, fine, I can make a birdie doing it this way. Hit it in the trees at 15, same thing.</p><p>"Then you get your spots where you can attack, like the 16th, and feed it in there. Yeah, I think that's the best way I can describe it. You reel off some birdies, and even when you find yourself out of position, you can still somehow see yourself make a birdie some way."</p><p>The explosive end to the day took plenty of steam out of a valiant charge by several players, including 2018 winner Patrick Reed, who posted a 3-under 69. Reed tied the lead at one point on the second nine before McIlroy hit the gas and sped away from his former rival.</p><p>Reed sits alongside first-round co-leader Sam Burns, who utilized a strong finish to flip a negative day into a positive. Burns birdied three of his last four holes to scoot into the tie for second.</p><p>Tommy Fleetwood made two eagles during his push Friday, flying into a tie with Augusta stalwart Justin Rose. Both sit tied with Shane Lowry at 5-under.</p><p>But for all the quality golf played at Augusta, there were also plenty of shaky moments. Scottie Scheffler essentially dominated the leaderboard at Augusta the last three years, but he faltered Friday with shockingly poor play. Although the 29-year-old has struggled with putting before, his approach game used to be considered his biggest guarantee. However, Scheffler ranks 54th out of 91 players in that area at this year's Masters, finding the water with his second shot on both the par 5s on the second nine.</p><p>Add in a tough day on the greens in which he sits 81st in putting, and not even the World No. 1 can put up a solid score with that combo. By the time the dust cleared, Scheffler sat in 24th place and will see his streak of consecutive rounds in the top 10 at the Masters end at 10.</p><p>For as bad as Scheffler looked, his issues paled in comparison to Bryson DeChambeau. The LIV superstar crashed out of the event in dramatic fashion with a triple-bogey on the 18th hole to miss the cut by two. DeChambeau would've played the weekend with a bogey on the closer, but he left his third shot in the bunker and then missed the green with his fourth. It's his first missed cut at Augusta in three years after top-6 finishes in the past two Masters.</p><p>However, this day will only be remembered for McIlroy's brilliance. The 36-year-old said he'll try not to watch the leaderboard over the weekend with such a large lead, a stark contrast to the heart-stopping action during last year's win.</p><p>"I think the next two days for me are really about focusing on myself," McIlroy said. "It's hard to avoid those big leaderboards out there, but I know that I've got a lead. So I don't need to keep checking it all the time. So for me, just really focusing on myself and staying in my own little world out there is the best thing."</p>

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 10: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts on the 18th green during the second round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.

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Rory sets record for largest 36-hole lead in Masters history

It wouldn't be a major without a referendum on how LIV Golf prepares its top players for golf's b...

<p>It wouldn't be a major without a referendum on how LIV Golf prepares its top players for golf's biggest events, and so far, the Masters is no different.</p><p>None of the 10 men from the LIV contingent broke par in Thursday's opening round, with Sergio Garcia leading the way at even for the tournament. The most shocking Day 1 score was Jon Rahm's 6-over 78 - the worst round of his entire Masters career.</p><p>Rahm rebounded with a 2-under 70 on Friday to likely make the cut, but he remains well back of the leaders with the afternoon wave on the course. The Spaniard has been red-hot on LIV this year, with a victory and three runner-up finishes in five events.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>After his early struggles at Augusta, Rahm was asked what adjustments are necessary when teeing it up in the majors.</p><p>"None. Golf is golf," Rahm <a href="https://asaptext.com/asap_media/media/1079/1207/transcripts/166403.html">said</a>, adding that the LIV schedule offers the same level of preparation "as any other golf tournament in the world."</p><p>LIV's last event ended March 22 in South Africa, and the league hasn't played in the United States since last summer. Rahm's early-season schedule has also taken him to Saudi Arabia, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore.</p><p>Rahm remains one of the top players in the world and has been a factor in a number of majors over the past few years. However, his play has slipped at Augusta of late. His worst finish ever was a tie for 45th two years ago, and while he rebounded to post a 14th-place showing last year, he once again finds himself outside the top 40 at the Masters.</p><p>"Just one of the things where it's golf. I felt really good all year besides yesterday. Actually felt pretty good today as well," Rahm said. "Yesterday was just an anomaly where everything that could go wrong went wrong."</p><p>Rahm's biggest issue Thursday was putting, as the two-time major winner finished 89th of 91 players on the greens. He improved significantly to sit 30th in putting for Round 2 on the slippery greens.</p><p>While he's set to play the weekend and keep his streak of never missing the Masters cut alive, he'll need a miracle to get back into contention for a second green jacket.</p>

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 10: Jon Rahm of Spain reacts on the 18th green during the second round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.

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Rahm on adjustment from LIV to majors: 'None. Golf is golf'

Rory McIlroy doesn't seem ready to relinquish his title as reigning Masters champion.  Last year'...

<p>Rory McIlroy doesn't seem ready to relinquish his title as reigning Masters champion.</p><p>Last year's winner is once again atop the leaderboard at Augusta National after firing an opening-round 67, McIlroy's lowest Thursday score since 2011. That mark leaves him tied with Sam Burns and two shots clear of Patrick Reed, Jason Day, and Kurt Kitayama.</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Position</th>
<th>Player</th>
<th>Score to par</th>
<th>Total</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>T1</td>
<td>Rory McIlroy</td>
<td>-5</td>
<td>67</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T1</td>
<td>Sam Burns</td>
<td>-5</td>
<td>67</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T3</td>
<td>Patrick Reed</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>69</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T3</td>
<td>Jason Day</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>69</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T3</td>
<td>Kurt Kitayama</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>69</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T6</td>
<td>Justin Rose</td>
<td>-2</td>
<td>70</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T6</td>
<td>Scottie Scheffler</td>
<td>-2</td>
<td>70</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T6</td>
<td>Xander Schauffele</td>
<td>-2</td>
<td>70</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T6</td>
<td>Shane Lowry</td>
<td>-2</td>
<td>70</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>McIlroy and Burns, who each made just one bogey, looked comfortable despite facing firm conditions. Burns' 67, in particular, was somewhat surprising, considering he's never finished inside the top 25 at the event.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The same can't be said of McIlroy, who seems to have figured out Augusta's challenges. He made six birdies on the day, including three in a row on holes 13-15 to skyrocket up the leaderboard. His final tally marks just the sixth time in Masters history that the defending champion has opened with a 67 or better, according to <a href="https://x.com/JustinRayGolf/status/2042329130142674952?s=20">Justin Ray of the Twenty First Group</a>.</p><p>McIlroy holding onto a share of the top spot isn't the only familiar sight at this year's Masters, as the rest of the first page is littered with players who annually threaten to win the event. Reed, the 2018 champion, finished third last year and picked up where he left off with an eagle-birdie combo on the second and third holes, respectively. He added another eagle on the par-5 8th to become the second player ever to eagle two of his first nine holes in a Masters Tournament.</p><p>It wouldn't be a Masters without Scottie Scheffler heavily involved, and the two-time winner is once again in the mix after a 2-under 70. It's now the fifth straight year that the World No. 1 is top 6 or better after 18 holes at Augusta. He has some elite company alongside, with last year's runner-up Justin Rose, and two-time major champ Xander Schauffele, part of the group tied for sixth.</p><p>If you're looking for LIV Golf's biggest stars on the leaderboard, get your scrolling thumb ready because it's going to be a while. Both Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm struggled around Augusta on Thursday, with neither cracking the top 50.</p><p>DeChambeau was cruising along before taking three shots to exit a greenside bunker on the 11th en route to a triple-bogey 7. That sent him crashing down the leaderboard to sit 4-over after the opening round.</p><p>Rahm was even worse, failing to make a birdie as he posted a 6-over 78, his worst score in 37 rounds at Augusta. The 2023 winner entered as one of the pre-tournament favorites but was a disaster on the challenging greens over the entire day. Rahm lost 3.62 strokes putting over 18 holes to sit 89th of the 91 players in the field.</p><p>Conditions were already quite firm Thursday, making the greens nearly impossible to hold if you missed your spot. With no rain in the forecast for the rest of the week, the stage is set for what could be one of the most challenging Masters in recent memory.</p>

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 06: Sam Burns of the United States shakes hands with Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland on the 18th green during the first round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 06, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia.

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McIlroy, Burns share lead after Round 1 at the Masters

One year removed from his iconic Masters victory, Rory McIlroy once again finds himself atop the ...

<p>One year removed from his iconic Masters victory, Rory McIlroy once again finds himself atop the leaderboard at the season's first major.</p><p>The 36-year-old launched his title defense at Augusta National with a sizzling opening round Thursday, making three birdies in a row on the closing stretch to tie Sam Burns for the clubhouse lead at 5-under.</p><p>McIlroy began to pick up steam on the par-5 8th, where he utilized a fairway wood to move from 261 yards to 24 feet for a comfortable two-putt birdie. He followed that up with another birdie on the ninth hole to turn at 2-under.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"I didn't drive the ball particularly well, especially on the front nine, but I was able to make pars and scramble well," McIlroy said afterward on ESPN. "From the eighth hole, that second shot up the hill, I was able to string a few good swings together. I played the last 11 holes in 5-under par. Proud of how I hung in there the first few holes when I didn't quite have it."</p><p>McIlroy birdied both par 5s on the second nine despite being forced to lay up after wayward drives put him in trouble. Those sandwiched another birdie at No. 14. In the end, he shot a 33.</p><p>Thursday's 67 marked the second-best opening-round score of McIlroy's Masters career and his lowest since posting a 7-under 65 in 2011. While the number is impressive in itself, the manner in which he plotted his way around a firm Augusta National is perhaps more notable.</p><p>Outside of a three-putt bogey on the third hole, he never really put himself in danger of leaving a big number on the board. Despite battling a balky driver early, McIlroy seemed comfortable, unlike the roller-coaster ride he's experienced at the Masters over the years.</p><p>"I think the thing for me over the last 10 years here - I was chasing trying to win the Masters, but I was also chasing the Grand Slam," McIlroy said. "To tee it up on the first tee today and not have that - I still felt nerves, still felt the anxiety that I always feel when I tee it up here. I just feel like I settled into the round really nicely. When I hit it in the trees a few times on the front nine, I was like, 'You know what, it's okay. I'll figure it out. Make a par and move on.'"</p><p>There hasn't been a repeat champion at the Masters since Tiger Woods claimed the green jacket in 2001 and '02. Thursday's performance puts McIlroy in a much better position to win the event than he was last year, when he sat seven strokes off the pace after 18 holes.</p>

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 09: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after a birdie on the 15th green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.

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New year, same Rory: McIlroy sizzles on Day 1 with 67

The first Masters since 1994 that doesn't include either Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson tees off T...

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Ranking the Masters: 1 sentence for all 91 players in the field

Another incredible college basketball season has concluded, with Michigan proving its dominance f...

<p><em>Another incredible college basketball season has concluded, with Michigan proving its dominance from start to finish to emerge as the last team standing.</em> <em>theScore highlights key takeaways from the Wolverines' 69-63 win over UConn in the NCAA Tournament championship game.</em></p><h3>Michigan's fine with a rock fight</h3><p>Michigan spent the entire NCAA Tournament breaking scoreboards with explosive offensive performances, becoming the first team ever to score at least 90 points in each of its first five tourney games. However, Monday's victory showed the Wolverines are far from a one-trick pony and can beat anybody in college basketball at their own game if needed.</p><p>Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but few neutral observers would claim the national championship as a work of art. That was by design, with Dan Hurley admitting in the first half that the rock fight was how the Huskies viewed their path to victory.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"We're kind of dragging them into the only type of game that we could probably have a chance to win."<br><br>- <a href="https://twitter.com/UConnMBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UConnMBB</a>'s Dan Hurley checks in w/ <a href="https://twitter.com/tracywolfson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tracywolfson</a> <a href="https://t.co/nol1J4TzRX">pic.twitter.com/nol1J4TzRX</a></p>— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsCBB/status/2041326254356308040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Michigan didn't even make its first triple of the contest until almost midway through the second half, yet its lead was up to 11 points when that shot swished through the hoop. Do you know how good you have to be in today's college basketball world to have a double-digit second-half lead with essentially no triples?</p><p>The Wolverines are KenPom's No. 1 defense for a reason, and UConn provided clear evidence of why. The Huskies connected on just 30% of their shots from the floor and made only nine of their 33 attempts from beyond the arc. Add 11 turnovers to the mix, and that's how Michigan got the job done without its offense firing on all cylinders.</p><p>Well, that and the presence of Aday Mara.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Michigan finishes 1st in defensive eFG% (44.8) &amp; adjusted efficiency (91.7), largely in part to Aday Mara.<br><br>Mara’s 7.7 D-BPM ranks 5th (!) in NCAA history — one of the most impactful defenders we’ve ever seen at the collegiate level and now, an NCAA champion! <a href="https://t.co/Z4gWz53Rbq">pic.twitter.com/Z4gWz53Rbq</a></p>— Mohamed (@mcfNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/mcfNBA/status/2041355545681051662?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Blueprint for modern college hoops</h3><p>You can't go two minutes talking about college basketball today without mentioning the transfer portal, which opens Tuesday. Michigan's victory is a prime example of the portal's impact, as the Wolverines aggressively built their roster through transfers. Dusty May's outfit became the first team in NCAA history to win the national championship with a starting lineup comprised entirely of transfers.</p><p>Four of those starters - Yaxel Lendeborg, Elliot Cadeau, Morez Johnson Jr., and Mara - weren't even on Michigan's team last year. Their immediate impact turned the Wolverines into an absolute juggernaut, with a title now the payoff.</p><p>However, Michigan isn't strictly a portal haven without an eye on player development. Trey McKenney - the 20th-ranked high school recruit in the nation last year - canned one of the biggest shots of the night for the champions and tallied nine points with eight rebounds in 29 minutes.</p><p>Gone are the days when new coaches get time to flip a roster with big results expected in Year 3 or 4. We're in a society of immediate gratification, and that's made its way to college basketball. May's success at Michigan this season demonstrated that there are no more excuses for well-funded programs across the country.</p><h3>UConn couldn't guard without fouling</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/829732/cropped_GettyImages-2270140911.jpg?ts=1775535723" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/829732/w220xh124_GettyImages-2270140911.jpg?ts=1775535723 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/829732/w320xh180_GettyImages-2270140911.jpg?ts=1775535723 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/829732/w640xh360_GettyImages-2270140911.jpg?ts=1775535723 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/829732/w768xh432_GettyImages-2270140911.jpg?ts=1775535723 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/829732/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2270140911.jpg?ts=1775535723 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Michael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>While playing physical, gritty defense is an outstanding strategy against a more talented team, the plan goes up in flames if the referees aren't afraid to blow their whistles early and often. That proved to be the case Monday, leading to UConn's downfall.</p><p>The Huskies' 22 fouls probably leaned closer to 20 before a couple in the dying seconds, but the discrepancy would've still been large regardless. As a result, Michigan took a whopping 28 free-throw attempts. That's where we need to heap more praise on the Wolverines, because the champs converted an eye-popping 25 of those chances - a massive jump from the 75% shooting they entered with.</p><p>Perhaps the more pressing issue was who couldn't stay on the floor without fouling. The starting backcourt of Solo Ball and Silas Demary Jr. was under heavy watch from the officials throughout the contest. Demary fouled out in only 21 minutes, while Ball ended with four fouls in 17 minutes of action.</p><p>The pair's absence forced Malachi Smith and Jayden Ross into extended minutes. Although both performed well, you aren't taking down the top team in the country when your bench is forced to play expanded roles.</p><h3>Hurley deserves his flowers</h3><p>It didn't end with a third NCAA title in four years, but Hurley can walk away from Monday's game knowing his team executed the game plan. We covered earlier that the veteran coach knew UConn had just one path to victory: a rock fight. He achieved that by keeping the Michigan sports car stuck in traffic the entire game. The Wolverines finished with only two fast-break points all night.</p><p>The Huskies also won the rebounding battle and held the Wolverines to just two triples after they made 12 against Arizona in the Final Four. Michigan's 69 points marked its third-lowest output of the season.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">In the NCAA Tournament, teams are 1-50 all-time when:<br><br>- scoring under 70 points<br>- shooting under 40.0% from the field<br>- shooting under 15.0% from three on 15+ attempts<br>- getting outrebounded<br><br>The one win was by Michigan tonight. <a href="https://t.co/7i7v3F09we">pic.twitter.com/7i7v3F09we</a></p>— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaSTATS/status/2041377553554796653?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>However, UConn couldn't guard without fouling or make enough shots to win. We covered the fouling issues above, but the brick house that went up Monday was an all-timer. According to <a href="https://x.com/JoshDubowAP/status/2041361603455803699?s=20">Josh Dubow of the Associated Press</a>, the Huskies' 30.9% field-goal percentage was the fourth-worst ever recorded in the NCAA Tournament championship.</p><p>While that can largely be attributed to Michigan's elite defense, UConn still had plenty of open looks that just didn't drop. That's ultimately the difference between a third title for Hurley and a runner-up finish.</p>

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Title game takeaways: Michigan thrives in rock fight

After 68 teams started, only four remain with the national semifinals taking place Saturday in In...

<p><em>After 68 teams started, only four remain with the national semifinals taking place Saturday in Indianapolis. theScore highlights key takeaways from the Final Four and what the results mean moving into Monday's title game.</em></p><h3>Michigan by first-round knockout</h3><p>If the No. 1 vs. No. 1 showdown between Michigan and Arizona was a massive heavyweight fight, consider the Wolverines the victors by a stunning 1st-round knockout. Michigan has laid waste to just about anybody in its path this year with 11 wins by at least 30 points and seven by 40-plus. But this was Arizona, a team that has left a similar trail of destruction throughout the season. Michigan couldn't do it again, right?</p><p>That thought lasted roughly 5 minutes into the game, with the Wolverines racing out to a 16-5 lead. That got stretched to a 16-point halftime edge despite the fact Michigan's star Yaxel Lendeborg only played five minutes due to foul trouble and injury. Add the Elite Eight blowout win over Tennessee to Saturday's early brilliance and the Wolverines became the first team with halftime leads of at least 15 points in both the regional final and national semifinal since 1968, according to <a href="https://x.com/MattNorlander/status/2040616902397964499?s=20">Matt Norlander of CBS Sports</a>.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The most alarming thing about the first half is the fact the Wolverines didn't even look great on offense in building that massive lead. Eight offensive rebounds and nine forced turnovers gave them countless extra possessions that helped them stack up points to stretch their advantage. If Michigan looked that dominant without its best showing on offense, how scary would it be if the shots started to drop?</p><p>We didn't have to wait long to get that answer and it was utterly terrifying. The Wolverines torched the nets to begin the second half, making seven triples to just seven total baskets for Arizona in the opening 8 minutes. That pushed the lead to 30 and allowed the entirety of media row to finish their game stories by the final tip. The 91-point total ensured a new record for the Wolverines as they became the first team to ever score at least 90 in each of the first five games of an NCAA Tournament.</p><p>We may have scoffed at the time, but Lendeborg wasn't kidding when he told the nation exactly who Michigan was.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg: "Today was about putting the world on notice that we’re the best team in the nation."</p>— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattNorlander/status/1993910343937196386?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>This runaway train simply cannot be beaten if the 3-pointers are falling. That will make Monday's title game matchup incredibly intriguing given UConn's elite performance at limiting Illinois' shooting Saturday.</p><h3>Arizona buried from the jump</h3><p>Look, we're not here to say that Arizona's coaching staff might've been a bit distracted this week by the Tommy Lloyd to North Carolina rumors. However, if they had been, Arizona's performance against Michigan is exactly how that might look.</p><p>Lloyd signed a new deal to stay at Arizona on Friday, one that will <a href="https://thescore.com/news/3514031">reportedly</a> see his annual salary rise to $7.5 million and ensure he no longer reports to the school's athletic director. Just over 24 hours later, his Wildcats' title hopes were essentially dashed after 20 minutes of dismal offensive basketball. Arizona looked entirely unprepared to face the Wolverines' swarming defense, turning the ball over nine times in the opening half. The result was the largest halftime deficit of the season for the Wildcats. And it only got worse.</p><p>We've praised Arizona in the past for the ability to light up a scoreboard without relying on the 3-pointer. That's an exceptional quality to have, but if the other team is raining triples like a torrential downpour, the simple math tells us you aren't going to have a good time. The final number saw Michigan make six more triples than Arizona in the contest to make the final margin 18 points - the exact number the Wildcats ended up losing by.</p><p>The overall view is that this was a highly successful season for Arizona that brought the program back to the national powerhouse conversation. However, the ending will certainly leave a bitter taste in Wildcats' fans mouths - especially with an expected NBA exodus from the roster.</p><h3>Hurley's got the Illinois blueprint</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/829417/cropped_GettyImages-2269845831.jpg?ts=1775351873" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/829417/w220xh124_GettyImages-2269845831.jpg?ts=1775351873 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/829417/w320xh180_GettyImages-2269845831.jpg?ts=1775351873 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/829417/w640xh360_GettyImages-2269845831.jpg?ts=1775351873 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/829417/w768xh432_GettyImages-2269845831.jpg?ts=1775351873 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/829417/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2269845831.jpg?ts=1775351873 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Michael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>If you believe the KenPom numbers, Illinois entered Saturday with not only the best offense this season, but the No. 1 all-time since his efficiency rankings first dropped in 1997.</p><p>It's probably a safe bet Dan Hurley doesn't buy those stats. Illinois has now played 37 total games on the season and failed to score more than 62 points just twice. The opponent in each? You guessed it: UConn.</p><p>Illinois averaged 46% shooting from the floor this season with a 34% clip from beyond the arc. In two games against Hurley's Huskies, the bricks got laid to the tune of 32.6% from the floor and an eye-popping 22% from deep.</p><p>The Illini's electric offense relies heavily on floor spacing with almost every player on the roster capable of knocking down triples. That puts great pressure on the defense when helping, often leading to wide-open looks from all over the floor. That type of approach had Illinois averaging 14.5 assists per game as a team. However, UConn is arguably the best team in the country at on-ball defense, a skill that heavily limits the need to help. Without wide-open looks to put the scoreboard to work, Illinois finished with only 3 assists on the night.</p><p>You can even trace Hurley's dominance over Brad Underwood and Illinois back to the 2024 NCAA Tournament when UConn held the Illini to a season-low 52 points.</p><p>The defensive masterclass is just the latest feather in the cap of the outrageous March Madness resume Hurley is building. He doesn't have the longevity of the all-time greats, but his NCAA Tournament winning percentage is virtually unmatched among coaches with at least 15 games experience.</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Coach</th>
<th>Record</th>
<th>Win%</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>John Wooden</td>
<td>47-10</td>
<td>82.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Dan Hurley</td>
<td>20-5</td>
<td>80%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Mike Krzyzewski</td>
<td>101-31</td>
<td>76.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T4</td>
<td>Roy Williams</td>
<td>79-27</td>
<td>74.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T4</td>
<td>Billy Donovan</td>
<td>35-12</td>
<td>74.5%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Hurley's numbers get even more impressive when looking at the betting line. According to <a href="https://x.com/EvanHAbrams/status/2040586153565241444?s=20">Evan Abrams of The Action Network</a>, the UConn coach is now a perfect 11-0 against the spread in the Sweet 16 of later. </p><p>The next achievement for Hurley on the all-time list will put him in rarefied air. A third title in four years would put UConn alongside the likes of UCLA and Kentucky as the only programs to do so historically, and give the program seven national championships - trailing only the Bruins and Wildcats.</p><h3>No task too tall for Reed</h3><p>We've already compared Tarris Reed Jr.'s NCAA Tournament performance this year to peak-Shaquille O'Neal, but surely the UConn center would struggle against an Illinois team that is the tallest in Division I, right?</p><p>The answer would be an emphatic no. Big or small, short or tall, Reed kept cooking to put up another dominant showing. His final line of 17 points and 11 rebounds now gives him 104 and 65 for the entire tournament. If those sound like significant totals - well, they are.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tarris Reed Jr. has 104 points and 65 rebounds in this tournament. Only others to reach those marks in last 50 years:<br>Zach Edey, 2024 Purdue<br>Nick Collison, 2003 Kansas<br>Chris Webber, 1993 Michigan<br>Larry Johnson, 1990 UNLV<br>Larry Bird, 1979 Indiana State</p>— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshDubowAP/status/2040586703057154230?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Reed roasted Illinois in the opening half with 11 and 6 by the break, but foul trouble and some questionable offensive sets saw him take just two shots in the first 15 minutes of the second half. That was certainly one of the reasons the Illini cut the lead to just 4 with five minutes to play.</p><p>An immediate touch on offense after that for Reed led to an easy bucket and he added two free throws two minutes later to help UConn stave off the comeback.</p><p>Both Arizona and Michigan roll out massive frontcourts with plenty of bodies to throw at Reed in the title game. However, we'd be foolish to think that's going to cause the UConn star any issues given how he's balled out all tournament thus far.</p>

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Final Four takeaways: Michigan KOs Arizona, Hurley's legend grows

After an electric finish to the Elite Eight, the Final Four is officially set. theScore highlight...

<p><em>After an electric finish to the Elite Eight, the Final Four is officially set. theScore highlights key takeaways from the weekend and what the results mean moving into the national semifinals.</em></p><h3>Mullins grabs March Madness hero status</h3><p>Braylon Mullins is likely heading to the NBA after one season in college, but you'll see his image in almost every March Madness montage for the rest of time. The standout freshman put himself into the NCAA history books Sunday with a stunning 36-foot game-winning triple to take down No. 1 Duke and send UConn to the Final Four. It's the first-ever game-winning 3-pointer in the final second of action to send a team to that round.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here is every game-winning shot in the final second in the history of the Elite Eight, per CBS Sports research.<br><br>Mullins' 3 was the first ever to send a team to the Final Four. <a href="https://t.co/WQjywbqOnn">pic.twitter.com/WQjywbqOnn</a></p>— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattNorlander/status/2038401213583020149?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The outrageous winner capped one of the most improbable comebacks in the history of the NCAA tourney. UConn trailed by 19 points in the first half, 15 at the break, and 11 with 8 minutes left in the contest. Thanks to a swarming defense that forced 3 turnovers in the final 3:45, the Huskies got back into a position to have a shot in the final seconds.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>We'll get to the mind-boggling turnover by Duke in the final seconds shortly, but let's focus on Mullins' winner. Yes, he's a projected first-round pick, but neither he - nor UConn - were doing much from beyond the arc. Mullins' last made 3-pointer came at the 16:11 mark of the second half ... in the Sweet 16. He'd gone 56:01 of game action without connecting from deep. The Huskies, as a whole, were 1-for-17 from 3-point range at one point Sunday. So yeah, an unconscious logo triple with a shot at the Final Four on the line wasn't exactly in the cards.</p><p>However, that's the magic of March, and Mullins erased every previous miss from his mind and hit the ice-cold winner. </p><h3>Duke, we've got some questions</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/828639/cropped_GettyImages-2268976483.jpg?ts=1774831205" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/828639/w220xh124_GettyImages-2268976483.jpg?ts=1774831205 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/828639/w320xh180_GettyImages-2268976483.jpg?ts=1774831205 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/828639/w640xh360_GettyImages-2268976483.jpg?ts=1774831205 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/828639/w768xh432_GettyImages-2268976483.jpg?ts=1774831205 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/828639/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2268976483.jpg?ts=1774831205 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Emilee Chinn / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Mullins' winner will undoubtedly be what most people remember from this thriller, but every good comeback requires an epic collapse, and Duke was more than willing to oblige. Three turnovers, two missed layups, and a crucial free-throw miss in the last five minutes all made the drama possible, but it's the final sequence that will live on in infamy.</p><p>Our investigation asks three questions:</p><ul>
<li>Why did Cayden Boozer rush to get the ball over half?</li>
<li>Why did Duke spread its two frontcourt players out on each sideline?</li>
<li>Why is Dame Sarr - a 50% free-throw shooter - inbounding the ball?</li>
</ul><p>Duke took the ball out with 10 seconds left on the clock, the exact amount of time permitted to get the ball over half. Cayden Boozer - who is the second-best free-throw shooter on the team - could have held the ball waiting to be fouled, but instead opted to rush a pass over a double-team to an open frontcourt teammate. That was mistake No. 1.</p><p>The second error saw two Duke players across half essentially standing on opposing sidelines. Spacing is vitally important, but someone needed to react and give Boozer a much closer outlet when he received the ball from Sarr. Sarr's spot on the play also was puzzling given he's one of the worst free-throw shooters on the team.</p><p>The collapse saw Duke become the first No. 1 seed to ever lose after leading by at least 15 points, breaking a previous 134-game streak, according to <a href="https://x.com/JoshDubowAP/status/2038396929844158689?s=20">Josh Dubow of the Associated Press</a>. </p><p>And now why final question for Duke: Why does this keep happening?</p><p>Blue Devils fans might actually be the best group in the country to handle a loss like this given their experience in the matter. This blowup will certainly sting, but it probably isn't on the same level as last year's Final Four loss to Houston. Duke blew a 14-point lead in the final 8 minutes of that contest to fall by three. </p><p>Add the last two Blue Devils' regular-season losses as well, and there's a disturbing trend developing under Jon Scheyer's watch.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Duke’s peak in-game win probability in its last four losses: <br><br>2025 Final Four vs Houston: 97.5%<br>December 2025 vs. Texas Tech: 97.8%<br>February 2026 vs UNC: 95.1%<br><br>Today vs. UConn: 98.7%, per ESPN<br><br>🤯🤯🤯</p>— Kevin Sweeney (@CBB_Central) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBB_Central/status/2038398338135884113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Michigan is a wagon again</h3><p>CBS probably should have aired a parental advisory warning for Tennessee fans during Sunday's broadcast. Nobody on Rocky Top needed to be subjected to watching what Michigan did in the opening half of the Elite Eight game.</p><p>The Wolverines took any chance of an upset and stuffed it into a locker early, ripping off a 34-10 run to end the half, which built a 22-point edge. The most stunning thing about the performance is that it kind of flattered Tennessee. The Volunteers pulled down 11 offensive rebounds in the first half, leading to 10 second-chance points. That's really the only thing that kept the deficit from being 30 at the break.</p><p>But it only got worse for Tennessee in the second as Michigan finished off a 33-point blowout - the biggest in the Elite Eight since 1989.</p><p>The Wolverines made earning double-digit victories look incredibly easy all season, a theme that helped them rise to the top spot in the AP Poll. Sixteen of their 19 conference wins came by at least 10 points. However, that dominance dried up in the Big Ten tourney, where Michigan beat Ohio State by four and Wisconsin by three before falling to Purdue in the conference title game. Had the other top teams in the country caught up?</p><p>Absolutely not. </p><p>The Wolverines' performance in the NCAA Tournament thus far has squashed that notion. They're now flying into the Final Four with a ridiculous 22.5-point average margin of victory over four outings. Michigan is the first team to score at least 90 points in the first four games of a tournament since 1995.</p><p>Up next is one of the most anticipated NCAA Tournament games in recent memory: No. 1 seed Michigan vs. No. 1 seed Arizona for a spot in the national title game.</p><p>Get your popcorn ready.</p><h3>Elite Eight once again a roadblock for Barnes</h3><p>With 861 wins in his 39-year career, Rick Barnes is undoubtedly one of the best coaches in college basketball ... just not in the Elite Eight. Barnes' teams making the regional final has become as much a guarantee as anything in the sport, as Tennessee has reached that round each of the last three years. But that's where the fun ends. Michigan's blowout win Sunday makes three straight losses for Tennessee when there's a Final Four berth on the line.</p><p>Barnes aiming for the Final Four has become akin to Charlie Brown <a href="https://tenor.com/omWDY30T49l.gif">attempting to kick a football</a>.</p><p>The consistent defeats are one thing, but the last two years, Tennessee hasn't even been competitive when the chance to win a region dawns. In 2025, the Volunteers scored just 15 points in the opening half of their Elite Eight matchup with Houston, creating a 19-point deficit. This time out, it was somehow worse, with a 22-point deficit staring them in the face as they retreated to the locker room.</p><p>Tennessee once again looked completely unprepared after a quick turnaround and seemed overwhelmed in almost every facet of the game. Its offense made a dreadful 31.8% of its field-goal attempts on the day, with almost zero easy looks to be found. And its defense simply couldn't stop Michigan without fouling, resulting in 37 free-throw attempts for the Wolverines.</p><p>Barnes is thriving in the NIL and transfer portal era, and Tennessee has plenty to be excited about in the near future. But that won't lessen the blow of Sunday's shortcomings. If once is random and twice is a coincidence, then the Volunteers' third straight Elite Eight loss is indicative of a troubling trend.</p><p><strong>Saturday games</strong></p><h3>Big bad Illinois owns 2nd half</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/827033/cropped_GettyImages-2255836098.jpg?ts=1773847417" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/827033/w220xh124_GettyImages-2255836098.jpg?ts=1773847417 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/827033/w320xh180_GettyImages-2255836098.jpg?ts=1773847417 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/827033/w640xh360_GettyImages-2255836098.jpg?ts=1773847417 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/827033/w768xh432_GettyImages-2255836098.jpg?ts=1773847417 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/827033/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2255836098.jpg?ts=1773847417 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>For as complex as basketball can be, sometimes it just comes down to which team has giants on the court and which doesn't. Brad Underwood unleashed Illinois' giants Saturday, and it led the program to its first Final Four berth since 2005.</p><p>Five Illini players saw at least 12 minutes of action in the second half, with the shortest being 6-foot-6 Keaton Wagler. Underwood leaned heavily on his team's size advantage, opting to play Andrej Stojakovic at shooting guard for most of the frame. The result: an outrageous 24-2 edge in points in the paint during that 20-minute session.</p><p>Illinois made its last 10 2-point attempts, going the final 14:02 without missing a shot inside the arc. Iowa simply had no answer for the Illini's interior presence.</p><h3>Wagler shows why he's lottery bound</h3><p>Wagler might be the sixth or seventh most notable name among this year's elite freshman class, but the Illinois star may end up being the last one standing in the NCAA Tournament. The point guard unleashed his full bag of tricks versus the Hawkeyes as part of a 25-point effort.</p><p>Wagler's tight handle and elite outside shooting make for a vicious combo; just ask Iowa's Isaia Howard, who slid about 12 feet on this absurd step-back triple.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">brb gonna watch this Keaton Wagler stepback for a while <a href="https://t.co/vptIQOJ1kj">pic.twitter.com/vptIQOJ1kj</a></p>— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsCBB/status/2038041257306472942?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Although Wagler is right-handed and likes to predominantly drive on that side of the basket, he's got enough juice going left to keep the defense honest.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">SCOOP-AND-SCORE! <br><br>What a finish from Wagler. <a href="https://t.co/WChGFsKwBf">pic.twitter.com/WChGFsKwBf</a></p>— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsCBB/status/2038038194470388213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The game was a halfcourt battle throughout, as the teams combined for just six fast-break points in the entire contest. Wagler played nearly the whole game, only sitting for a brief two-minute stretch, and he had the ball in his hands virtually every possession. Despite the considerable usage, he turned the ball over just two times.</p><p>The win is certainly the most important thing to Wagler, but he surely made some NBA money with Saturday's performance.</p><h3>Iowa almost did it again</h3><p>We discussed Iowa's narrow path to victory earlier this week, and somehow Ben McCollum's team almost pulled it off once again. The Hawkeyes' glacial pace ranks 361st out of 365 Division I teams. That's no secret, and every opponent knows that going into the contest. Yet, McCollum consistently puts Iowa in position to dictate games on its own terms. That was the case once again in the opening half versus Illinois.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">In each of Iowa's first three NCAA tournament games, the Hawkeyes have forced opponents into their slowest-tempo game of the season. 54 possessions were Clemson's fewest, 61 was Florida's fewest, 60 tied for Nebraska's fewest.<br><br>Illinois now on track for its fewest possessions.</p>— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) <a href="https://twitter.com/jeffborzello/status/2038030772381089861?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Yes, the dream may have died in the second half as a result of Illinois' incredibly efficient offense, but you have to applaud the Hawkeyes for making the heavily favored Illini play their way.</p><p>McCollum should undoubtedly be mentioned among the top coaches in the country following Iowa's unlikely tournament run in his first season with the team. Its wins over Florida and Nebraska showed that he can maximize his roster as well as anyone.</p><p>Expect McCollum to be a staple of March Madness going forward, regardless of who makes up his roster year over year.</p><h3>Arizona joins paint party</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/828534/cropped_GettyImages-2268379873.jpg?ts=1774757598" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/828534/w220xh124_GettyImages-2268379873.jpg?ts=1774757598 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/828534/w320xh180_GettyImages-2268379873.jpg?ts=1774757598 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/828534/w640xh360_GettyImages-2268379873.jpg?ts=1774757598 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/828534/w768xh432_GettyImages-2268379873.jpg?ts=1774757598 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/828534/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2268379873.jpg?ts=1774757598 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Bob Drebin / NCAA Photos / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Saturday's paint party wasn't exclusive to the South Region; Arizona joined Illinois in the club with a dominant interior performance of its own versus Purdue. But despite the Wildcats' 40-22 edge in points in the paint eventually resulting in a comfortable victory, it was far from a relaxing evening in the West Region.</p><p>An eight-point deficit at halftime of an NCAA Tournament game shouldn't be cause for concern for a program as talented as Arizona. Yet, the Wildcats had never won a tournament game when trailing by more than six at half. Armed with that knowledge, many would have panicked at the 38-31 deficit through 20 minutes Saturday.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Arizona trails 38-31 at the half. Wildcats are 2-14 all-time when losing by 5+ at half in NCAA Tournament. The wins:<br>93-77 vs Duke 2011 Sweet 16 (down 6)<br>79-67 vs South Florida 1990 R1 (down 5)</p>— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshDubowAP/status/2038075403282338083?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Tommy Lloyd was not one of those people. At halftime, the Arizona coach <a href="https://x.com/TNTSportsUS/status/2038092986504876540?s=20">told</a> his players, "We're fine." That proved to be the understatement of the tournament thus far. Like a rocket ship leaving its launch pad, the Wildcats took off in the second half, outscoring Purdue by 22 points en route to their first Final Four since 2001.</p><p>Arizona's ability to deliver elite offensive performances without relying on 3-pointers makes it an incredibly tough team to beat in March. On Thursday, the Wildcats exploded for 109 points versus Arkansas despite making just five triples. To put up triple digits in a 40-minute game without more than a handful of 3-pointers is almost unfathomable in modern basketball. Only 20% of Arizona's points on the season have come from deep. That percentage ranks 360th among 365 teams.</p><h3>Fouls doom Purdue</h3><p>Fouls are almost always a hot topic around Purdue - especially with the added scrutiny of the NCAA Tournament - and Trey Kaufman-Renn usually plays a part in those conversations. The senior forward is one of the hardest frontcourt players to guard, largely because of his physicality and ability to get calls. He once again earned whistles Saturday, but they mostly went against him as he struggled with Arizona's size.</p><p>One of the major turning points in the contest was Kaufman-Renn's disastrous start to the second half. He was called for his third foul while battling for the ball 90 feet from the basket, forcing him to sit down for a four-minute break. An immediate 11-4 run for Arizona ensued.</p><p>Kaufman-Renn had to be careful the rest of the way, tiptoeing around potential fouls on the defensive end. While it's unlikely anybody could have stopped the Wildcats' paint attack, the Boilermakers being limited by one of their bigs avoiding contact certainly didn't help.</p><p>The senior star played just 23 minutes due to the foul issues, a significant drop from the previous two rounds when he saw 36 and 35 minutes of action, respectively.</p>

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Elite Eight takeaways: Mullins the hero after epic Duke collapse

An electric Sweet 16 has made way for a very intriguing Elite Eight, which includes a healthy mix...

<p>An electric Sweet 16 has made way for a very intriguing Elite Eight, which includes a healthy mix of powerhouse programs and surprise squads.</p><p>An all-Big Ten affair gets the round going at 6:09 p.m. ET on Saturday when No. 9 seed Iowa faces No. 3 seed Illinois. The night cap promises to be a high-scoring affair, with the electric offensive attacks of 2-seed Purdue and 1-seed Arizona facing off.</p><p>The Sunday doubleheader will feature two different top seeds eyeing a spot in the Final Four. No. 1 seed Michigan will battle with No. 6 seed Tennessee, while 1-seed Duke gets the late game against 2-seed UConn.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Saturday tip times (ET)</h3><p><em><strong>9</strong></em> Iowa vs. <em><strong>3 </strong></em>Illinois - 6:09 p.m.<br><em><strong>2</strong></em> Purdue vs. <em><strong>1</strong></em> Arizona - 8:49 p.m.</p><h3>Sunday tip times (ET)</h3><p><strong><em>6</em></strong> Tennessee vs. <strong><em>1</em></strong> Michigan - 2:15 p.m.<br><em><strong>2</strong></em> UConn vs. <strong><em>1</em></strong> Duke - 5:05 p.m.</p>

IOWA CITY, IA - JANUARY 11: Guard Andrej Stojakovic #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini talks with guard Bennett Stirtz #14 of the Iowa Hawkeyes as they walk off the court following their match-up on January 11, 2026 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, in Iowa City, Iowa.

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Elite Eight tip times set: Iowa-Illinois leads regional finals 

The race to the NCAA Tournament championship has hit the Sweet 16. Follow along as theScore highl...

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Sweet 16 takeaways: Duke's zone works, Hurley is Mr. March

The stage is set for the Sweet 16 after a dramatic Sunday finished off an exciting opening four d...

<p><em>The stage is set for the Sweet 16 after a dramatic Sunday finished off an exciting opening four days of action in the NCAA Tournament. Now that we've had a couple of days to digest the early results, it's time to re-rank the remaining teams before the regional semifinals tip off.</em></p><h3>16. Texas</h3><p>Texas became just the sixth team ever to go from the First Four to the Sweet 16, and the team had to travel from Dayton, Ohio, to Portland, Oregon. However, we need to pour some cold water on the achievement based on the Longhorns' opposition:</p><ul>
<li>NC State, which was 2-8 in its last 10</li>
<li>A BYU squad that was 4-5 since losing Richie Saunders</li>
<li>The worst 3-point shooting team Mark Few's ever had at Gonzaga</li>
</ul><p>Texas' run has been impressive, but the jump in competition to No. 2 Purdue on Thursday might be too steep.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>15. Iowa</h3><p>Fresh off a stunning upset of Florida, Iowa sits at No. 15 in the Sweet 16. Some may take that as a sign of disrespect, but instead consider it a shoutout to Ben McCollum's incredible coaching versus the Gators. Yes, Florida's ridiculous strategy and execution at the finish may have helped his cause, but McCollum's Hawkeyes had the defending champs off guard the entire game.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Iowa held Florida to nine transition points, its third-lowest of the entire season. Iowa also held Florida to 30 points at the rim, its third-lowest mark in 2026.<br><br>Florida is No. 3 nationally in rim points and No. 18 in transition points.<br><br>A true Ben McCollum special. <a href="https://t.co/MlWveTvde6">https://t.co/MlWveTvde6</a></p>— Matthew Winick (@matthewwinick) <a href="https://twitter.com/matthewwinick/status/2036102121292964052?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Don't be shocked if McCollum's group books an Elite Eight spot - they've already beaten Sweet 16 foe Nebraska this season.</p><h3>14. Tennessee</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/827635/cropped_GettyImages-2267496776.jpg?ts=1774225705" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/827635/w220xh124_GettyImages-2267496776.jpg?ts=1774225705 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/827635/w320xh180_GettyImages-2267496776.jpg?ts=1774225705 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/827635/w640xh360_GettyImages-2267496776.jpg?ts=1774225705 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/827635/w768xh432_GettyImages-2267496776.jpg?ts=1774225705 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/827635/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2267496776.jpg?ts=1774225705 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Ben Solomon / NCAA Photos / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>After stomping out the upset chances of America's darling, Miami (Ohio), in the opening round, Tennessee's backcourt led the way to oust No. 3 Virginia on Sunday. Ja'Kobi Gillespie and Bishop Boswell combined for 34 points, 15 assists, and just three turnovers in the win. That duo will need to be even better in the 40 minutes of hell that is any game versus the swarming Iowa State defense.</p><h3>13. Nebraska</h3><p>Nebraska might have been the story of opening weekend with arguably the loudest fans we've seen so far in the tournament. The Cornhuskers finally won the first NCAA Tournament game in the program's lengthy history and added a Sweet 16 berth with a victory over Vanderbilt. Sure, the Cornhuskers got a major assist from perhaps the cruelest rim in the world - which denied the Commodores' Tyler Tanner and his potential 65-foot winner - but Fred Hoiberg's team just needs a victory over familiar foe Iowa to reach the Elite Eight.</p><h3>12. Arkansas</h3><p>Arkansas will go as far as Darius Acuff Jr. takes it. Perhaps no player left in the tournament plays a larger role for his team. The electric point guard is averaging 30 points and 6.5 rebounds in the tourney so far. Whether he can maintain that pace against a significant jump in competition is the biggest question facing John Calipari. The Razorbacks' path thus far has been as smooth as it gets, giving them matchups with No. 13 Hawaii and No. 12 High Point - both outside the top 80 in KenPom. Now, it's No. 1 Arizona's turn to try to slow down Acuff and take out Arkansas.</p><h3>11. UConn</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/826409/cropped_GettyImages-2266540045.jpg?ts=1774406076" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/826409/w220xh124_GettyImages-2266540045.jpg?ts=1774406076 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/826409/w320xh180_GettyImages-2266540045.jpg?ts=1774406076 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/826409/w640xh360_GettyImages-2266540045.jpg?ts=1774406076 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/826409/w768xh432_GettyImages-2266540045.jpg?ts=1774406076 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/826409/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2266540045.jpg?ts=1774406076 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Sarah Stier / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Death, taxes, and UConn making a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. Dan Hurley has become as much of a March staple as St. Patrick's Day. The Huskies are in the Sweet 16 essentially because of an outrageous two-game performance by Tarris Reed Jr. and the sharpshooting of Alex Karaban.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tarris Reed Jr. ends up with 41 points and 40 rebounds this weekend in Philadelphia—the first player to go 40-40 the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament since Tim Duncan in 1997.</p>— Jared Berson (@JaredBerson) <a href="https://twitter.com/JaredBerson/status/2035921601464533382?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Unfortunately for UConn, everyone on the roster besides Karaban is ice-cold from beyond the arc, shooting just 15.2% from distance. Reed has been able to grab the board on a high number of those misses, but that will become significantly harder against the nation's third-best rebounding team, Michigan State.</p><h3>10. Alabama</h3><p>No Aden Holloway, no problem. Alabama hasn't missed a beat without its second-leading scorer; in fact, points have been the furthest thing from the issue for the Crimson Tide. The 3-pointer might as well have been a layup for Alabama in the Round of 32 as the Tide hit 19 in the win - the third-most threes all time in an NCAA Tournament game. That will be difficult to replicate against Michigan and the nation's 30th-ranked 3-point defense. The Wolverines also hold a major size advantage, so Alabama likely needs another lights-out shooting performance to advance.</p><h3>9. St. John's</h3><p>A buzzer-beater put St. John's in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999, but the Red Storm were fairly dominant in 75 of their 80 minutes of action this tournament. While a late-game collapse versus Kansas made the dramatic winner necessary, Rick Pitino must be fairly pleased with his team on the whole. The challenge doesn't get easier in the Sweet 16 with Duke on deck, although the Blue Devils look vulnerable without Caleb Foster.</p><h3>8. Michigan State</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/824880/cropped_GettyImages-2263754857.jpg?ts=1772769007" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/824880/w220xh124_GettyImages-2263754857.jpg?ts=1772769007 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/824880/w320xh180_GettyImages-2263754857.jpg?ts=1772769007 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/824880/w640xh360_GettyImages-2263754857.jpg?ts=1772769007 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/824880/w768xh432_GettyImages-2263754857.jpg?ts=1772769007 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/824880/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2263754857.jpg?ts=1772769007 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Michael Hickey / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Spartans' brand of basketball isn't always pretty, but Michigan State's toughness has once again made it a difficult opponent in March. The main question is whether the Spartans can score enough to handle a top opponent. Coen Carr took care of that in the Round of 32, pouring in 21 points to fall just one shy of his career best. The vast majority of those points came on passes from Jeremy Fears Jr., who surpassed Magic Johnson for most assists in a tourney game for Michigan State. That duo will need to carry the load once again versus UConn.</p><h3>7. Purdue</h3><p>Purdue managed to overcome an eight-turnover showing by star guard Braden Smith in the Round of 32, mainly thanks to an absurd 57% shooting performance from deep. That's likely not sustainable, but it's also almost unfathomable that Smith would be so careless with the ball again. The bracket's been very favorable for the Boilermakers, giving them a Sweet 16 date with No. 11 Texas.</p><h3>6. Duke</h3><p>Yes, we've put the No. 1 overall seed in the entire tournament in the sixth slot. While full-strength Duke is a No. 1 seed, the version without Caleb Foster isn't the same. The Blue Devils pulled away from TCU in a strong second half over the weekend, but for three of four periods of basketball this tournament, they've severely underwhelmed. If they do that again versus St. John's, Jon Scheyer's team will make an early exit.</p><h3>5. Illinois</h3><p>Illinois has enjoyed a fairly stress-free experience through two rounds with No. 14 Penn and No. 11 VCU not providing much resistance. However, a Sweet 16 matchup against No. 2 Houston in an essential home game is going to hit like a sucker punch from behind. The Fighting Illini's offense is as efficient as it gets, with endless options that can beat opponents both in the paint and from the outside. But can Illinois handle the intense physicality Houston brings on a possession-by-possession basis?</p><h3>4. Iowa State</h3><p>Iowa State has been one of the best teams through two rounds of March Madness, and that's without star Joshua Jefferson. The Cyclones won their first two games by an average of 26.5 points and held Kentucky to just 63 in the last round. Jefferson looks likely to return to the lineup against Tennessee, but even if he doesn't, this team is more than capable of winning it all.</p><h3>3. Arizona</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/826605/cropped_GettyImages-2245843806.jpg?ts=1773627597" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/826605/w220xh124_GettyImages-2245843806.jpg?ts=1773627597 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/826605/w320xh180_GettyImages-2245843806.jpg?ts=1773627597 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/826605/w640xh360_GettyImages-2245843806.jpg?ts=1773627597 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/826605/w768xh432_GettyImages-2245843806.jpg?ts=1773627597 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/826605/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2245843806.jpg?ts=1773627597 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Arizona's second-round win over Utah State happened at roughly the same time Iowa was stunning Florida, so the Wildcats' advance has been fairly quiet. Their defense has been particularly stout through two rounds, holding both opponents below 70 points. That will be much harder to do with Acuff and Arkansas on tap, but the Wildcats' supreme depth should be able to wear the Razorbacks' star down.</p><h3>2. Houston</h3><p>Kelvin Sampson is reminding us that nobody bullies an opponent like his Houston squad.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Houston is the 4th team since 1985 expansion to win by 30+ points in the Round of 64 and Round of 32, joining 2008 UNC, 1999 Duke, and 1998 Arizona.<br><br>The Cougars have now posted 30+ wins in each of the last 5 seasons, tied for the longest streak in Division I history.</p>— Jared Berson (@JaredBerson) <a href="https://twitter.com/JaredBerson/status/2035516661894160849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The Cougars' reward for two blowout wins is the friendliest setting for any team in the second weekend. Houston gets virtual home games in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, with the city hosting the regional semis and finals at the Rockets' arena just 4 miles from campus. That raucous atmosphere will be helpful as the swarming defense looks to slow down the electric Illinois offense.</p><h3>1. Michigan</h3><p>Michigan looked like the best team in the country for most of the season, so it's no surprise the Wolverines enter the Sweet 16 in our No. 1 spot. Dusty May's offense is rolling, putting up an average of 98 points per game through two rounds. That's likely to continue in a Sweet 16 matchup versus Alabama and the second-worst defense left in the tournament.</p>

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Sweet 16 rankings: Duke drops, Houston rises

North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis will not return next season, the school announced Tuesday....

<p>North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis will not return next season, the school announced Tuesday. </p><p>Davis informed his team of his departure on Tuesday night, sources told <a href="https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/48300016/source-hubert-davis-fired-north-carolina-hoops-coach">ESPN's Pete Thamel</a>. The 55-year-old reportedly has around $5.3 million of guaranteed money left on his contract.</p><p>"We appreciate all that Hubert has done for Carolina as a player, assistant coach, head coach and community leader – he has helped make special memories we will never forget," North Carolina's athletic director Bubba Cunningham said in a <a href="https://goheels.com/news/2026/3/24/carolina-athletics-announces-leadership-change-in-mens-basketball-program">statement</a>. </p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"This was not an easy decision because of Hubert's tremendous character and all he has given to the program, but we must move forward in a way that allows our team to compete more consistently at an elite level."</p><p>The change comes five days after the 6-seed Tar Heels blew a 19-point second-half lead and eventually fell to No. 11 seed VCU in the opening round. The result marks the second straight season that North Carolina exited the NCAA Tournament in the Round of 64.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you for everything Coach Davis, one of the best men and coaches in my life.</p>— Caleb Wilson (@CalebWilson2025) <a href="https://twitter.com/CalebWilson2025/status/2036618518397923423?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Davis' tenure began in explosive fashion as North Carolina stormed through the tournament to reach the 2022 national championship game before losing to Kansas.</p><p>However, that would be the Tar Heels' peak in five years under Davis. They entered the 2022-23 campaign ranked No. 1 in the preseason AP Poll but ended up missing the tournament entirely, becoming the first program to do so.</p><p>North Carolina rebounded the following year en route to snagging a No. 1 seed, though it wound up losing in the Sweet 16. The team then posted a combined 47-23 mark over the past two seasons.</p><p>While Davis' coaching record alone may not warrant his departure, the manner in which North Carolina suffered significant losses was alarming, as his teams struggled mightily to hold leads. The program is 48-2 all time in the NCAA Tournament when leading by at least 10 points at half, with both defeats coming under Davis.</p><p>The Tar Heels will do an open search and plan to actively pursue candidates outside of the program, according to <a href="https://x.com/JonRothstein/status/2036609538254581910?s=20">CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein</a>. This would end a 74-year period of hiring coaches who were previously on the staff, which spans the tenures of Frank McGuire, Dean Smith, Bill Guthridge, Matt Doherty, and Roy Williams.</p>

CHAPEL HILL, NC - JANUARY 15: North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis adjusts his jacket during the college basketball game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the California Golden Bears on January 15, 2025 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, NC.

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Hubert Davis won't return as North Carolina's coach

"Gonzaga! The slipper still fits!"  For college basketball fans over the age of 30, Gus Johnson s...

<p>"<a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/7V9c7Hqj7uE?si=LSl2HWATF4JH0mkV">Gonzaga! The slipper still fits!</a>"</p><p>For college basketball fans over the age of 30, Gus Johnson screaming those words as Gonzaga upset Florida in 1999 likely cemented your fandom of the NCAA Tournament.</p><p>One of the main draws of the annual event is the possibility of underdog teams comprised of future insurance salesmen and financial analysts knocking off one of the nation's top programs. Sure, it's great watching eventual NBA lottery picks drop 25 points in the postseason, but that pales in comparison to fans falling in love with dudes like Ali Farokhmanesh, T.J. Sorrentine, and Jack Gohlke.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>However, the clock has seemingly struck midnight for Cinderella at the NCAA Tournament, as this year's chalk-heavy results mark two consecutive opening rounds in which the underdogs have lacked serious bite.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The top four seeds in each region went 4-0 in the round of 64 for the second straight year and for the seventh time since expansion in 1985. The other times were 1994, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2017 and 2025.</p>— David Worlock (@DavidWorlock) <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidWorlock/status/2035216016339325117?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>This year, the top seeds didn't just win in the first round. They put the mid-majors in a headlock and little brother'd them for 40 minutes. The average margin of victory in the Round of 64 was 17.4 points per game - the highest since the tournament expanded in 1985, according to <a href="https://x.com/JoshDubowAP/status/2035374644283494493?s=20">Josh Dubow of the Associated Press</a>. The second-largest margin? Last year.</p><p>For the second tournament in a row, not a single team seeded 13-16 won its opening-round game. That only happened once between 2008 and 2024, but it's now become the norm.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is only the second time in NCAA tournament history where the Sweet 16 is made up entirely of teams from major conferences.<br><br>The only other time? Last year. <a href="https://t.co/v8gwFtJk5o">https://t.co/v8gwFtJk5o</a></p>— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) <a href="https://twitter.com/jeffborzello/status/2035935148336611786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The shortage of upsets has left Texas - the nation's most valuable athletic department - to play the role of plucky underdog as the only double-digit seed remaining.</p><p>The only other option comes in the form of Iowa after the 9th-seeded Hawkeyes stunned No. 1 Florida on Sunday. However, Iowa hails from the Big Ten and is playing in its 8th NCAA Tournament in the last 13 years. Not exactly the resume of past tourney darlings.</p><p>So, what happened to Cinderella?</p><p>There are a number of reasons for the underdog's downfall: NIL, the transfer portal, conference realignment, and evolution in the style of play as major programs lean on size. They've blended together to make life as a mid-major harder than ever.</p><p>Larger programs that are backed by a significant bankroll essentially pluck promising players from their smaller counterparts at a moment's notice.</p><p>Donovan Dent, for example, put up 17 points and eight assists to lead New Mexico past UCLA in November 2024. This year, he guided the Bruins to the tournament after transferring in the offseason. Most of us would gladly take more money to perform the same job elsewhere, so why not do so in the land of college basketball?</p><p>Many former Cinderellas, such as George Mason, Butler, and Loyola Chicago, opted to switch conferences soon after making a deep tournament run, and the heightened competition has since resulted in consistent tournament absences for each. Even Florida Atlantic has dropped off substantially after its stunning Final Four run in 2023. The Owls, who, by then, had already announced their impending move to the American Conference, lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament the following season and are barely .500 over the last two years.</p><p>Those moves haven't just weakened the teams who fled. They've also diminished the quality of their former conferences, which are now sending less-skilled teams to March Madness as their respective league champions.</p><p>Florida won the national title last year by relying heavily on its massive frontcourt, a trend that's become more popular among the top programs in recent years.</p><p>"When you have the opportunity to recruit bigger, stronger, faster athletes and play a style that allows you to raise your floor with high two-point field-goal percentage and get on the glass, that just gives you a better chance to be consistently successful," Gators coach Todd Golden told <a href="https://www.si.com/college-basketball/is-this-the-end-of-cinderella-in-mens-march-madness">Kevin Sweeney of Sports Illustrated</a>. </p><p>OK, so we're all bummed that Cinderella is an endangered species, but the underdog's downfall isn't <em>all</em> bad. The trade-off of losing some early-round upsets is the possibility of incredible basketball happening as the tournament progresses.</p><p>The dirty little secret with Cinderellas is that the longer they stick around, the greater chance there is that you'll eventually get a stinker when they come crashing back down to earth. As more high-level teams make it through the early portions of the tournament, the subsequent rounds stand to feature a serious dose of talent.</p><p>Last year's tourney was filled with bangers from the Sweet 16 and onward, as five contests ended up being one-possession games, including the enthralling national championship between Florida and Houston.</p><p>With those atop the KenPom rankings taking most of the spots in the Sweet 16 once again, we're set for another blockbuster finish to a tournament that killed Cinderella early.</p><p>This may not be the NCAA Tournament we grew up with, but it remains one of the best events on the sports calendar every single year.</p>

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