Top-seeded UConn, the defending NCAA champion, secured their spot in the Elite Eight with a commanding 82-52 victory over San Diego State. Stephon Castle had a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Cam Spencer scored 18 and Tristen Newton added 17 points and seven rebounds for the Huskies. They will face off against No. 3 Illinois on Saturday for a chance to make it to the Final Four in Glendale, Arizona. Alabama also secured their place in the Elite Eight with a thrilling 89-87 win over top-seeded North Carolina, thanks to Grant Nelson’s season-high 24 points. They will take on sixth-seeded Clemson in the next round. In another exciting match, Illinois defeated Iowa State 72-69 to reach the Elite Eight for the first time since 2005. They will face defending champion UConn on Saturday for a chance to advance to the Final Four. Clemson also advanced to the Elite Eight with a 77-72 victory over Arizona, setting up a showdown with Alabama.
On the women’s side, the NCAA Women’s Regional tournament in Albany is set to begin with teams like Notre Dame, Oregon State, Indiana, South Carolina, UCLA, Colorado, and Iowa competing. The games are already sold out, with fans eager to see undefeated South Carolina, defending champion LSU, and Iowa led by Caitlin Clark. NBA action saw Juan Soto make a spectacular debut for the New York Yankees with an excellent throw to secure a 5-4 comeback win over the Houston Astros. Tyler O’Neill set a major league record by homering in his fifth consecutive opening day game as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Seattle Mariners 6-4. Furthermore, the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied to beat the Miami Marlins 6-5, the Texas Rangers secured a thrilling 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs in extra innings, and the Baltimore Orioles began their season with an 11-3 rout of the Los Angeles Angels. Lastly, the Minnesota Twins started their defense of the AL Central crown with a 4-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals, while the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 8-2 with strong performances from George Springer, Cavan Biggio, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
