There's nothing quite like March Madness to remind people of what college sports is all about. Yes, the 2025-26 season contained its share of headlines about money, pro players returning to college and coaches behaving badly. But now, the payoff.
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Here's how to do itAfter an Iranian drone strike, a photographer captures this quiet human momentOffshore wind project targeted by Trump administration starts sending power to the New England gridFlu vaccines didn't work that well in the US, officials findSome people tape their mouths shut at night. Doctors wish they wouldn'tRage, suspicion, fear: Why Laurel’s residents want to stop a new state psychiatric facilityYoung people are turning to old-school hobbies to get off their phonesPope escalates call for ceasefire in Iran by addressing those responsible for the warTeherán dice que EEUU lo atacó desde los Emiratos Árabes Unidos Here's how to do itAfter an Iranian drone strike, a photographer captures this quiet human momentOffshore wind project targeted by Trump administration starts sending power to the New England gridFlu vaccines didn't work that well in the US, officials findSome people tape their mouths shut at night. Doctors wish they wouldn'tRage, suspicion, fear: Why Laurel’s residents want to stop a new state psychiatric facilityYoung people are turning to old-school hobbies to get off their phonesPope escalates call for ceasefire in Iran by addressing those responsible for the warTeherán dice que EEUU lo atacó desde los Emiratos Árabes UnidosUCLA head coach Mick Cronin, left, directs guard Eric Freeny during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Purdue in the semifinals of the Big 10 Conference tournament, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Chicago. Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang, center left, reacts on the sideline during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Houston, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Houston. Akron guard Shammah Scott cries after hugging his mother, Anaija Scott, rear, after Akron defeated Toledo in an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Mid-American Conference tournament, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Cleveland. Kansas guard Darryn Peterson was all smiles after a dunk against Kansas State during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lawrence, Kan., Saturday, March 7, 2026. UConn forward Alex Karaban smiles at the end of an NCAA college basketball game against Seton Hall, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in Storrs, Conn. UCLA head coach Mick Cronin, left, directs guard Eric Freeny during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Purdue in the semifinals of the Big 10 Conference tournament, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Chicago. UCLA head coach Mick Cronin, left, directs guard Eric Freeny during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Purdue in the semifinals of the Big 10 Conference tournament, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Chicago. Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang, center left, reacts on the sideline during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Houston, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Houston. Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang, center left, reacts on the sideline during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Houston, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Houston. Akron guard Shammah Scott cries after hugging his mother, Anaija Scott, rear, after Akron defeated Toledo in an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Mid-American Conference tournament, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Cleveland. Akron guard Shammah Scott cries after hugging his mother, Anaija Scott, rear, after Akron defeated Toledo in an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Mid-American Conference tournament, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Cleveland. Kansas guard Darryn Peterson was all smiles after a dunk against Kansas State during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lawrence, Kan., Saturday, March 7, 2026. Kansas guard Darryn Peterson was all smiles after a dunk against Kansas State during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lawrence, Kan., Saturday, March 7, 2026. UConn forward Alex Karaban smiles at the end of an NCAA college basketball game against Seton Hall, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in Storrs, Conn. UConn forward Alex Karaban smiles at the end of an NCAA college basketball game against Seton Hall, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in Storrs, Conn. that reminds us why all the boardroom deals and million-dollar paydays that shape this changing and sometimes-tawdry industry might just be worth it.Nothing quite brings sports — real sports, not the business of sports — back to top of mind like a chance for bracket bragging rights, the prospect of a heave-ho for a buzzer beater, a “developing situation” resulting in an Though March is when most fans and non-fans alike start paying attention, college basketball season began way back in November.captured the biggest on-the-court headlines, there were, as always, plenty of off-the-court machinations – some understandable, some unseemly, some par for the course. It’s been only two months, after all, since more than a dozen players were accused by federal prosecutors of He was or is a professonal basketball player, having spent three years in the NBA’s developmental G League before deciding he wanted to come back to college and play again at Alabama. A judge granted him clearance and he actually played five games for the Tide before another judge sent Bediako back to the sideline while his challenge goes on against NCAA regulations. That’s right, it’s not over. As a bonus, former UCLA star Amari Bailey, who played 10 games for the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, wants back in and is exploring options, which could include a spot with Grand Canyon University for next season. The perfect antidote: Without Bediako, the high-scoring Tide, a No. 4 seed, makes a run to its second Final Four in three years, proving the players they’re paying are faring just fine without adding a pro back in the mix.The headline: According to Auburn, there wasn’t anything against the rules about one of its assistants, Ian Borders, attending the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament to watch a game involving its eventual champion, Queens University . What was unusual was Queens coach Grant Leonard not sitting there and taking it. Instead, he said Borders crossed a line by buying a courtside seat to “get ahead” in recruiting of one of his players. “We have to police ourselves,” Leonard said of the coaching profession. “And this is a road I don’t think we as coaches want to go down.” Of course, there’s no stopping good players on an underdog tournament team from being poached by bigger schools in the era of NIL and liberal transfer rules. Still, this was as good an illustration as any of how awkward the whole thing can look and don’t forget thatthe Big Ten asked the NCAA toThe antidote: Auburn misses the tournament , and Leonard parlays Queens’ first March Madness appearance into a trip to the Sweet 16 and a crusade for “doing what’s right” in a sport losing its bearings.The headline: UCLA coach Mick Cronin, who often refers to himself as the man who sits in legendary Coach John Wooden’s seat, Jamerson fouled Carson Cooper hard at the end of a contest that had gotten out of control and Cronin sent the forward straight to the locker room. He explained Jamerson was a good kid, “but if you want to be a tough guy, you need to do it during the game, for a blockout, for a rebound.” Cronin later apologized to Jamerson and jokingly said the player “asked me for $10,000 more in NIL because of that.” The antidote: With half the team in foul trouble, the lightly used Jamerson goes off for 22 points and 10 rebounds in a Sweet 16 win over Michigan State next week.in February after Tang said his players didn’t deserve to wear the Wildcats uniform and were an embarrassment to the university following a blowout loss to Cincinnati. Surprised? Don’t be: The athletic department canned Tang “for cause,” saying he violated his contract by bringing “public disrepute, embarrassment, ridicule” to the university. This way, Kansas State won’t owe the coach more than $18 millon left on his contract. Tang, whose outburst ranked at about a 2 on the Bob Knight scale of inappropriate postgame comments, has said he strongly disagrees with the “characterization of my termination.” The antidote: Tang takes the issue to court and gets the money back, but not the job. But he goes on to take over at, say, Arizona State and leads the Sun Devils to the Final Four in 2027 with six ex-Wildcats on the roster.The headline: Dick Vitale, a legend and one of the most positive college hoops personalities alive, joined a long line of observers, fans and boosters who didn’t like what they saw out of Kentucky this season. The Wildcats spent a reported $22 million in NIL for a roster that enters the tournament with a No. 7 seed and a 21-13 record. “I’ve done several now Kentucky games,” Vitale said during the telecast of a Wildcats’ loss to Florida. “Win or lose, $22 million this team in terms of the NIL for their players. I think in $22 million, they could have put together a better roster than they did. I really do.” The antidote: Kentucky wins the Midwest Regional in Chicago and the Wildcats call Vitale onto the court to cut the last strand of the net. March Madness should be about happy endings, after all.
Charles Bediako College Sports NCAA Mens Division I Basketball Championship Basketball College Basketball Mens College Basketball Kentucky Wildcats Kentucky Wildcats Mens Basketball March Madness NCAA Tournament NCAA Mens Bracket Miami Redhawks Sports Steven Jamerson II UCLA Bruins Amari Bailey Grant Leonard Charlotte Hornets Mick Cronin Grand Canyon Antelopes Carson Cooper Michigan State Spartans Kansas State Wildcats John Wooden Jerome Tang
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