College Sports

Otto Schellhamer, an eighth-grader who has the only perfect bracket after the opening weekend of the men’s and women’s NCAA college basketball tournaments, poses in his backyard in Plum Borough, Pa., on March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

An 8th grader from Pittsburgh is all alone with a perfect women’s NCAA Tournament bracket

By Dave Skretta

March 26, 2026 at 2:12 p.m.

The only perfect bracket left after the opening weekend of the men’s and women’s NCAA...

North Carolina States’ Reed Vial, left, and Patrick Stacy, center, watch a replay during the first half against Duke in Raleigh, N.C., on March 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

NCAA Tournament meets the iPad era: How coaches’ challenges are changing the game

By Maura Carey

March 26, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.

This season is the first where college basketball coaches are allowed to challenge certain calls...

Bulls coach Billy Donovan shouts instructions from the sideline against the Trail Blazers on Feb. 26, 2026, at the United Center. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)

Billy Donovan remains committed to Bulls amid North Carolina rumors — but change could be nearing in Chicago

By Julia Poe

March 26, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.

A blue-blood college program fired its coach. And Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan is one...

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley leads her team in waving to supporters after defeating USC in the second round on March 23, 2026, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

SEC surge takes over NCAA Tournament with 6 teams in the women’s Sweet 16

By Doug Feinberg

March 24, 2026 at 7:28 a.m.

The women's Sweet 16 will have a definite SEC feel with six teams advancing from...

Iowa's Cooper Koch celebrates a three-point shot during the second half of a second-round game against Florida on March 22, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Column: After Big Ten’s big weekend, can the conference send multiple teams to the Final Four?

By Paul Sullivan

March 24, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.

The Big Ten walked the walk on the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, which...

Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg dunks over Saint Louis' Quentin Jones during the second half Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Yaxel Lendeborg — ‘The Dominican LeBron’ — finally finds the spotlight in leading Michigan to Sweet 16 berth

By John Wawrow

March 24, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.

Yaxel Lendeborg was a force in leading the Midwest Region’s top seed to two overwhelming...

Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg celebrates during the final minute of the game against Vanderbilt in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on March 21, 2026, in Oklahoma City. The Cornhuskers won 74-72 to advance to the Sweet 16. (Stacy Revere/Getty)

16 numbers to know about the Sweet 16, including some surprise teams — and chalk favorites

By Eric Olson

March 24, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.

The Sweet 16 is up next in the NCAA Tournament. The fun re-starts Thursday, and...

Sister Jean smiles after she's surprised with an NCAA Final Four ring before the Loyola Ramblers play Nevada at Gentile Arena on Nov. 27, 2018. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Today in Chicago History: Loyola heads to the Final Four — and busts Sister Jean’s NCAA bracket

By Kori Rumore

March 24, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on March 24, according...

UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) drives to the basket as Oklahoma State guard Stailee Heard, bottom right, watches during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

NCAA Tournament: Lauren Betts erupts for career-high 35 as UCLA rolls past Oklahoma State into the Sweet 16

By Beth Harris

March 23, 2026 at 11:42 p.m.

UCLA advanced to play fourth-seeded Minnesota in a matchup of Big Ten opponents Friday in...

South Carolina forward Joyce Edwards (8) looks to shoot against Southern California guard Kara Dunn during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

NCAA Tournament: Top-seeded South Carolina powers into the Sweet 16 with a 101-61 victory over USC

By Pete Iacobelli

March 23, 2026 at 10:31 p.m.

Top-seeded South Carolina advanced to its 12th straight Sweet 16 with a 101-61 victory over...

Illinois guard Destiny Jackson (2) passes the ball past Vanderbilt forward Sacha Washington (35) and guard Jada Brown (2) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Monday, March 23, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

NCAA Tournament: Season ends for Illinois women with a 75-57 loss to No. 2 seed Vanderbilt

By Teresa M. Walker

March 23, 2026 at 8:32 p.m.

Seventh-seeded Illinois came in with the youngest team in this tournament after having to replace...

Virginia guard Paris Clark fights for a loose ball with Iowa guard Chazadi Wright, left, during the first half of a second-round NCAA Tournament game Monday, March 23, 2026, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

NCAA Tournament: Virginia upsets Iowa in 2 OTs to become 1st First Four women’s team to reach the Sweet 16

By John Bohnenkamp

March 23, 2026 at 6:36 p.m.

No. 10 seed Virginia won three games in five days, capped by an 83-75 double-overtime...

Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo (3) celebrates with head coach Niele Ivey, left, after defeating Ohio State in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)

NCAA Tournament: Hannah Hidalgo and Notre Dame beat Ohio State to move into the Sweet 16

By Joe Reedy

March 23, 2026 at 8:03 p.m.

Hannah Hidalgo put together another dominant performance with 26 points, 13 rebounds and eight steals...