Arizona Wildcats forward Koa Peat acknowledges the crowd after beating the Purdue Boilmakers at the Elite 8 at the SAP Center in San Jose on Sat Mar 28, 2026 (AP News photo)
Final Four NCAA podcast Michael Roberson:
#1 Why is Arizona considered the favorite heading into the 2026 Final Four despite strong competition from Michigan, Illinois, and UConn?
#2 How did UConn’s dramatic comeback win over Duke shape expectations for their Final Four matchup against Illinois?
#What makes the Illinois vs. UConn semifinal such a compelling matchup in terms of star players and team strengths?
How has Michigan’s defense and tempo contrasted with Arizona’s balanced style heading into their Final Four showdown?
What factors have contributed to Illinois’ breakthrough run to its first Final Four since 2005 under coach Brad Underwood?
UCLA Bruins center Lauren Betts (right) battles in the paint with Duke Blue Devils center Adrianna Robertson (20) at the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Arena Sacarmento on Sun Mar 29, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Michael Roberson
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The #1 ranked UCLA Bruins (25-1) are headed to their second consecutive Final Four, after a 70-58 comeback victory over the #4 Duke Blue Devils (27-9) inside the Golden 1 Center.
The Bruins opened the game with a basket to take their only lead of the first half. The Blue Devils responded with a push of their own and had a lead as high as eight, the first 10 minutes of the game. They managed to end the quarter, 21-17.
Duke continued to control the flow and tempo during the second stanza of the contest. An upset was on the horizon; however, there was a whole other half of play to come. Both teams shot over 50% from the field in the first two quarters, but not so well from beyond the arc.
After 20 minutes of Elite 8 action, Duke held an eight-point lead, 39-31. This was despite both teams shooting a horrible 0% from 3-point territory. That would be a factor in the second half of the tournament clash.
At recess, only Duke presented players with double-digit scoring. Senior guard Taina Mair scored 12 points, while redshirt-sophomore Riley Nelson chipped in 11 points. Loren Betts was close, for the Bruins, with her points after 20 minutes.
In the second half, the Bruins overcame the eight points deific at the 2:40 mark of the third quarter. Senior guard Gianna Kneepkens launched a three-pointer that put the Bruins in front (47-45) for the first time since they led 2-0 to start the game. That was a huge momentum shift that Duke would have a hard time recovering from.
As the third quarter ended, UCLA had made a 12-point turnaround in the 10 minutes of the block.. After three, the Bruins were up four, 51-47. The Blue Devils were discombobulated at that point in time, and so were their faithful fans. It would only get worse in the final stanza.
In the fourth quarter, UCLA led by as much as 12 points, and was in total control of the game.. With that largest margin score, they completed a 20-point turnaround after returning from the locker room. The 12-point advantage would be the same at the final horn, UCLA was the winner 70-58 for the #2 Sacramento Regional.
Loren Betts led all players with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Her teammate Angela Dugalic tallied 15 points and 6 rebounds. Duke put forward four players with 10+ points scored. Taina Mair led with 21 points and 7 rebounds, while Riley Nelson (13), Delaney Thomas (12), and Toby Fournier (10) all added their share for the Blue Devils.
The Bruins are heading to Phoenix, and and will face the winner of the #3 Fort Worth Region (Michigan/Texas). Friday, April 3 at TBD.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
Arizona Wildcats forward Koa Peat (10) slam dunks against the Purdue Boilermakers defense in the second half of the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament at SAP Center in San Jose on Sat Mar 28, 2026 (AP News photo)
March Madness NCAA podcast Daniel Dullum:
#1 What key adjustments did Arizona make in the second half to turn a halftime deficit into a dominant win? (Arizona outscored Purdue heavily after halftime and took control defensively.)
#2 How did Purdue’s offensive struggles—especially shooting efficiency—impact the outcome of the game? (Purdue had difficulty scoring consistently, particularly in the second half.)
#3 Which players had the biggest impact on Arizona’s victory, and how did their performances compare to Purdue’s top contributors? (Freshmen like Koa Peat and Ivan Kharchenkov played major roles.)
#4 How did the contrasting play styles (Arizona’s interior dominance vs. Purdue’s perimeter shooting) shape the flow of the game? (Arizona focused on inside scoring and defense, while Purdue relied more on outside shots.)
#5 What does this result reveal about each team’s strengths and weaknesses heading into future tournaments or seasons?
UCLA Bruins center Lauren Betts (51) blocks Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Amaya Battle (3) in the first half of the women’s Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Arena in Sacramento on Fri Mar 27, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Michael Roberson
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Both the University of California – Los Angeles (34-1) and the Duke Blue Devils (27-8) won their respective Sweet 16 games in the Western Regional #2 in Northern California.
UCLA took care of their half of the doubleheader by dominating their Big Ten foe, the Minnesota Golden Gophers by 24 points, 80-56 at Golden 1 Center. The #1 Bruins led from wire to wire and ended the game with their largest lead of the contest.
They shot 53% from the floor , while holding the rodents from the Land of 10,000 Lakes to a lowly 38%. Despite being outscored by Minnesota in the second quarter, UCLA was never in danger or losing the lead of game.
The Bruins presented four players with double-digits scoring. Senior guard Kiki Rice led her squad with 21 points. Senior center Loren Betts gave the Bruins 16 points and five rebounds, while senior guard Angela Dugalic had a double-double (13 points and 10 rebounds) and senior guard Gabriela Jaquez contributed 10 points and five rebounds.
The golden Gophers had two players reach the 10+ plateau. Grace Grocholski scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds. Sophie Hart tallied 11 points.
The Bruins will take on the Duke Blue Devils in Elite action Sunday, March 29 at Noon PT & # PM ET.
Th Duke Blue Devils garnered a buzzer-beating three pointer, ended the LSU Tigers tournament hopes. The two combatants had a very competitive battle that came down to the last seconds of the game.
LSU started the game with two made free throws. That was their only lead in the first half. Duke followed those two FTs with a 9-0 run. They led by five after one and by seven at recess.
LSU made a serious push in the second half, and actually took the lead for the first time, since the beginning of the game. The third quarter had five ties and seven lead changes. However, Duke did survive the onslaught at the 3/4 mark of the NCAA battle, and led by two, 67-65.
The Final stanza added two more ties and one lead change. Both teams had large runs in the fourth quarter. Duke ran off an 11-0 run, but LSU pulled off a 10-0 one themselves. Then the dramatic final seconds came into play.
Duke seemingly had the game in control with approximately 20 seconds left on the clock, with a 1-point lead, and two free throws to be shot. Duke senior guard Ashlon Jackson unexpectedly missed both free throws, and gave LSU another chance to win.
LSU junior guard Mikayla Williams drew a foul on the other end with a little more than 9 seconds left in regulation. She promptly converted both gifts from the Charity Stripe, and put her Tigers up by one, 85-84.
Jackson had less than 10 seconds to redeem herself, or someone bail her out of “goat-dom.” Jackson not only made up for her errors, but pulled off a historic NCAA miracle. She pulled and hit a dagger three pointer at the buzzer to advance to the next round. The crowd was ecstatic with the finish, at least most of them. Duke was the victor, 87-85 over LSU.
Jackson finished with 19 points and 5 assists, while two teammates, Toby Fournier (9 rebounds) and Taina Mair (5 rebounds) scored 22 points.
LSU was led by junior guard MiLaysia Fulwiley’s 28 points, while fellow junior guard Mikaylah Williams scored 22 points and senior guard and rapper, Flau’jae Johnson chipped in 13 points for the Tigers.
UCLA and Duke are set to fight for a Final Four bid in Phoenix.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
Duke Blue Devils Cameron Boozer (12) handles the ball against the Syracuse Orange William Kyle III (42) in the second half in Durham NC on Mon Feb 16, 2026 (AP News file)
NCAA Sunday Selections podcast Daniel Dullum:
#1 Which teams received the most surprising seedings in this year’s NCAA tournament Sunday selection?
#2 How did the selection committee handle teams from mid-major conferences versus power conferences?
#3 Were there any notable bubble teams that were left out, and what were the main reasons?
#4 How do the matchups in the first round set up potential Cinderella stories this year?
#5 Are there any geographic or regional trends in team placements that could impact travel and fan attendance?
Stanford Cardinal guard Ebuka Okorie (1) takes a shot over the Duke Blue Devils guard Dame Sarr (7) in the second half at Maples Pavilion Palo Alto on Sat Jan 17, 2026 (AP News photo)
Stanford Cardinal podcast Daniel Dullum:
#1 Ebuka Okorie was a major factor in Stanford’s offense with his scoring and playmaking — how did his game-planning from the start affect UNC’s defensive approach, and what adjustments did he make when he started heating up?
#2 Jeremy Dent-Smith and Ryan Agarwal knocked down key three-pointers late in the previous matchup to help seal the win — what did those clutch shots say about Stanford’s confidence and the team’s execution in crucial moments?
#3 How important was it to contain Stanford’s shooters like Benny Gealer and Benny Agarwal rotation offensively, and were there any specific looks they wanted to take or avoid during crunch time?
#4 With Chisom Okpara’s status fluctuating due to injury this season, did his availability Saturday night change how the Cardinal structured its lineup, and how did that impact effect the Cardinal defensive matchups?
#5 Stanford’s depth includes Oskar Giltay and versatile wings — how did those role players influence the flow of the game, especially in rebounding and spacing, compared to the Cardinal scouting report?
Stanford Cardinal forward AJ Rohosy (4) gets the rebound against the Duke Blue Devils guard Cayden Boozer (2) in the second half at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto on Sat Jan 17, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Michael Robeson
STANFORD, Calif. — The battle of the ACC freshmen was one-sided, as Ebuka Okorie’s Stanford Cardinal (14-5, 3-3 ACC) lost to Cameron Boozer’s sixth ranked Duke Blue Devils (17-1, 6-0 ACC) 80-50, inside a packed Maples Pavilion.
Duke opened the game on a Cameron Boozer 6-0 run, and he did not stop there. The freshman phenom and his twin brother Cayden combined for 37 points and 15 rebounds. Although Cameron garnered the bulk of those numbers. The twins are the offspring of former NBA player Carlos Boozer, and have created a stir in Durham, similar to last year with Cooper Flagg.
The Cardinal was present too, but had a tough time shooting and scoring in the first half. They shot 29% from the field and @3% from Three. The Blue Devils defense held them to 19 points in the first 20 minutes of game action. As a matter of fact, Stanford did not score until 4:03 had elapsed off the clock.
To further that point, their high scoring and high flying freshman sensation was not off to an early and explosive start as he did in the previous game and others prior to that one. By the time the game reached the midway point, Stanford had no player with at least 10 points, while the aforementioned Boozer had 20 points and 9 rebounds.
At recess, the visitors from North Carolina led by 16 points, 35-19. The Blue Devils shot nearly 52% from the field, while beyond the arc was putrid (17%). Maples had a buzz with a solid fan base from both schools. Both Duke and North Carolina fans and alumni traveled well to the Bay Area or are based locally. A terrific ACC atmosphere was present at Maples, and possibly at Haas pavilion too, because of the two blue-blood schools from back East.
The second half had Stanford scoring first, but Duke had multiple runs and led by as many as 32 points during the final half. Boozer had a steady second half, while a couple of teammates joined him in double-figure scoring. On the Cardinal side, Jeremy Dent-Smith managed to eclipse that plateau, as he put up 18 points for the home team.
After 40 minutes of ACC action, the Duke Blue Devils emerged from the Stanford campus with a 30-point blowout victory, 80-50. and a sweep of the Bay (Cal) conference squads.
Dent-Smith led the Cardinal with his 18 points and huge efforts to keep his team in reach. Cameron Boozer ended up with 30 points and 14 rebounds, while his teammates Isaiah Evans (15) and Patrick Ngongba (13) both did their part for the victory.
Stanford will next be in action Saturday, January 24 at Maples, hosting Cal, for part 1 of the Battle of the Bay (ACC Style) at % PM PT on the ACC Network. Duke flies back to Durham to host Wake Forest on the same date, at 5:45 PM ET on The CW Network.
Duke Blue Devils guard Caleb Foster (1) takes a shot over Cal Bears Semetri Carr (3) in the first half at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Wed Jan 14, 2026 (AP News photo)
Cal Bears podcast Michael Villanueva:
#1 Dai Dai Ames had a significant role in his offensive flow tonight — how did you see his shot selection and decision-making impacted Cal’s ability to stay competitive with Duke?”
#2 Considering Justin Pippin’s role as a primary playmaker, what adjustments did Cal try to make when Duke pressure heated up, and how do you think they worked?
#3 Lee Dort one of the team’s leading rebounders — how did Dort approach the paint against Duke’s size and athleticism, and what could the Bears have done differently on the boards?
#4 Cal has a mix of veteran and younger pieces — how did they balance experience and energy to try to sustain runs in games like this, and what did you learn from Wednesday night’s matchup?
#5 There were a number of three minute dry spells for Cal that was crucial in them falling behind in the 71-56 loss to Duke.
California Golden Bear forward Lee Dort #34, throws down a dunk to cut the lead to 6 points, 25-19, with 5 minutes remaining in the 1st half on January 14th, 2026, in Haas Pavilion. (Photo Credits by Lezleigh Maldonado – Sports Radio Services)
By Michael Villanueva
BERKELEY – The California Golden Bears fell to No. 6 Duke Blue Devils, 71–56, on Wednesday night at Haas Pavilion, one of Cal Berkeley’s first sell out games, marking the first ACC matchup between the two programs this season.
Both teams entered the contest trending in opposite directions in conference play, with Duke sitting in first place in the ACC and Cal ranked 13th, looking to bounce back after losing two straight road games against Virginia and Virginia Tech. The Golden Bears also hoped to turn the tide in the all-time series, having dropped their last three meetings with Duke and not beaten the Blue Devils since an 82–77 victory on March 20, 1993, in Rosemont, Illinois. Cal was also chasing a rare milestone, as the Bears’ last win over an AP Top-10 opponent came on Feb. 1, 2014, when they upset No. 1 Arizona at Haas Pavilion.
California opened the game with its starting five of guards Dai Dai Ames, Justin Pippen, forwards John Camden, Chris Bell, and Lee Dort, with Ames leading the Bears at 17.8 points per game. Duke countered with guards Caleb Foster, Isaiah Evans, Dame Sarr, forwards Cameron Boozer, and Patrick Ngongba II, led by Cameron Boozer’s 22.9 points per game coming into the night.
Chris Bell got the game started by drilling a three-pointer off a Duke turnover, giving Cal early energy and getting the Haas Pavilion crowd involved. Cal came out firing, taking 11 shots in the first five minutes, but the Bears struggled to convert, making just three for 27 percent shooting. Duke also had trouble settling in early, committing four turnovers while shooting 2-of-5 (40 percent) during that stretch. Cal capitalized on those mistakes, scoring five points off Duke turnovers to stay in the early running.
With 8:00 left in the first half, Caleb Foster knocked down a three-pointer to give Duke its first lead at 17–15. The Blue Devils then got a lift from Patrick Ngongba II, who finished the night with six points on 3-of-5 shooting and grabbed six rebounds, helping stabilize Duke’s offense.
Cal responded with a 12–2 run over three minutes to retake control at 27–21, sparked by Lee Dort’s back-to-back alley-oop dunks that energized the crowd. But Duke closed the half on a 13–0 run, taking advantage of a three-minute scoring drought by the Bears and heading into the locker room with a 37–30 lead.
The Golden Bears opened the second half with a 7–0 scoring run, cutting the deficit to 41–39 thanks to Justin Pippen drawing fouls and converting three of four free throws and Dai Dai Ames knocking down key baskets. However, Cal struggled to sustain offense, going another three minutes without a field goal, while Duke went 5-of-5 from the field to extend its lead to 60–48 with seven minutes remaining.
Down the stretch, Duke took control, going 8-of-9 from the field in the final six minutes as Cal continued to struggle with shooting and accumulated a high foul count. Lee Dort led the way for Cal with 14 points and nine rebounds, while John Camden added 11 points, including 3-of-5 from three-point range, and grabbed two rebounds. Ultimately, three bears were able to finish with double-digits: Lee Dort , Justin Pippen, and John Camden
With two minutes remaining, Duke held a 19-point advantage, showcasing their ability to shoot, play, and handle the hostile “Haas of Pain”. The Blue Devils went on to defeat Cal 71–56. Ultimately, Cal digged their own defeat as the team saw multiple scoring droughts that just weren’t helping and making the Bears not golden at home.
The Golden Bears will look to bounce back at home on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 1 p.m., against No. 14/15 North Carolina Tar Heels (14-3, 2-2 ACC).
Cal cornerback Hezekiah Masses could not prevent Duke’s Cooper Barkate from catching a touchdown pass. / D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
Cal Bears podcast Morris Phillips:
#1 How did Duke manage to erase Cal’s early 21‑7 lead and dominate the rest of the game?
#2 What role did turnovers and sacks play in the outcome, and which players were most responsible on both sides?
#3 How effective was Cal’s freshman quarterback Jaron Keawe‑Sagapolutele early versus later in the game, and what changed?
#4 Which Duke offensive players made the biggest impact, and how did Cal’s defense struggle to contain them?
#5 Cal hosts UNC head coach Bill Belichick and the UNC Tar Heels and it’s a winnable game for Cal who have home field. The Tar Heels have been struggling losing their last two games and are 2-3 how do you see this match up between UNC and Cal in Berkeley on Fri Oct 17 a 7:30pm PT kickoff.
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