The 2026 NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship will return to Hutchinson Sports Arena from Saturday, March 21 through Saturday, March 28, bringing the nation’s top junior college programs back to the Sunflower State.

Sixteen district champions have already secured automatic bids to the 24-team national tournament, with the remaining eight at-large bids to be announced during the selection show on Monday at 5 p.m. via the <a href="https://www.njcaa.org/network/landing/index">NJCAA Network</a>. The selection show will also reveal the full bracket and seeds, with the top eight seeds earning first-round byes into the second round.

Automatic qualifiers (district champions):

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773263665833.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy NJCAA" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy NJCAA</figcaption>
 </figure>The 2026 NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship will return to Hutchinson Sports Arena from Saturday, March 21 through Saturday, March 28, bringing the nation’s top junior college programs back to the Sunflower State. Sixteen district champions have already secured automatic bids to the 24-team national tournament, with the remaining eight at-large bids to be announced during the selection show on Monday at 5 p.m. via the <a href="https://www.njcaa.org/network/landing/index">NJCAA Network</a>. The selection show will also reveal the full bracket and seeds, with the top eight seeds earning first-round byes into the second round.Automatic qualifiers (district champions):<ol>
 <li>Monroe University (East District, Region 15) – 27-4
</li><li>Walters State Community College (Appalachian District, Region 7) – 30-1
</li><li>Jones College (Gulf District, Region 23) – 25-9
</li><li>Vincennes University (Central District, Region 24) – 31-2
</li><li>Brunswick Community College (Atlantic District, Region 10) – 28-5
</li><li>Mineral Area College (Midwest District, Region 16) – 21-11
</li><li>Trinity Valley Community College (Mid-South District, Region 14) – 28-5
</li><li>Indian Hills Community College (North Central District, Region 11) – 30-2
</li><li>Trinidad State College (Northwest Plains District, Region 9) – 17-16
</li><li>Butler Community College (Plains District, Region 6) – 24-9
</li><li>Bishop State Community College (South District, Region 22) – 17-15
</li><li>Chipola College (South Atlantic District, Region 8) – 26-7
</li><li>Northern Oklahoma College-Enid (South Central District, Region 2) – 20-13
</li><li>South Georgia State College (Southeast District, Region 17) – 23-10
</li><li>Howard College (Southwest District, Region 5) – 29-4
</li><li>College of Southern Idaho (West District, Region 18) – 31-2</li>
 </ol><div>2026 NJCAA DI Men&rsquo;s Basketball Championship schedule (Hutchinson Sports Arena):
Saturday, March 21
<ol data-start="1890" data-end="2048">
<li data-section-id="i33d5g" data-start="1890" data-end="1928">
Game 1 &ndash; First Round &ndash; 12 p.m. CT
</li>
<li data-section-id="2o7rmk" data-start="1929" data-end="1969">
Game 2 &ndash; First Round &ndash; 2:30 p.m. CT
</li>
<li data-section-id="1sg0tbv" data-start="1970" data-end="2010">
Game 3 &ndash; First Round &ndash; 5:30 p.m. CT
</li>
<li data-section-id="16n2van" data-start="2011" data-end="2048">
Game 4 &ndash; First Round &ndash; 8 p.m. CT
</li>
</ol>
Sunday, March 22 5. Game 5 &ndash; First Round &ndash; 12 p.m. CT 6. Game 6 &ndash; First Round &ndash; 2:30 p.m. CT 7. Game 7 &ndash; First Round &ndash; 5:30 p.m. CT 8. Game 8 &ndash; First Round &ndash; 8 p.m. CT
Monday, March 23 9. Game 9 &ndash; Second Round &ndash; 12 p.m. CT 10. Game 10 &ndash; Second Round &ndash; 2:30 p.m. CT 11. Game 11 &ndash; Second Round &ndash; 5:30 p.m. CT 12. Game 12 &ndash; Second Round &ndash; 8 p.m. CT
Tuesday, March 24 13. Game 13 &ndash; Second Round &ndash; 12 p.m. CT 14. Game 14 &ndash; Second Round &ndash; 2:30 p.m. CT 15. Game 15 &ndash; Second Round &ndash; 5:30 p.m. CT 16. Game 16 &ndash; Second Round &ndash; 8 p.m. CT
Wednesday, March 25 17. Game 17 &ndash; Quarterfinal &ndash; 12 p.m. CT 18. Game 18 &ndash; Quarterfinal &ndash; 2:30 p.m. CT 19. Game 19 &ndash; Quarterfinal &ndash; 5:30 p.m. CT 20. Game 20 &ndash; Quarterfinal &ndash; 8 p.m. CT
Friday, March 27 21. Game 21 &ndash; Semifinal &ndash; 5:30 p.m. CT 22. Game 22 &ndash; Semifinal &ndash; 8 p.m. CT
Saturday, March 28 23. Game 23 &ndash; Championship &ndash; 3 p.m. CT</div>

🏀 16 auto bids secured for national tournament, 8 at-large spots to be announced Monday

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas Jayhawks have received an at-large bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament as the No. 4 seed in the East Region. The 68-team tournament bracket was announced Sunday evening.

Making its 53rd all-time appearance in the tournament, Kansas will face No. 13 seed Cal Baptist in the first round on Friday, March 20, in San Diego, California. Tip from Viejas Arena will be at 8:45 p.m. CT and the game will be televised on CBS. The first-round matchup will be the first-ever meeting between Kansas and CBU.

Kansas enters the Big Dance with a record of 23-10, and the Jayhawks tied for third place in the Big 12 Conference during the regular season with a 12-6 league mark. KU has appeared in each NCAA Tournament contested since 1990, with the 2026 event marking its 36th consecutive tournament appearance. Kansas has an all-time record of 113-50 in the tournament, with 15 Final Four appearances and four NCAA Tournament titles, most recently in 2022.

The Jayhawks have four players scoring in double figures and they are led by a trio of All-Big 12 honorees. Flory Bidunga is the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and an All-Big 12 First Team selection, while Melvin Council Jr. is the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and earned all-league honorable mention. Freshman guard Darryn Peterson is an All-Big 12 Second Team selection, and KU's leading scorer at 19.8 points per game.

Head coach Bill Self is leading the Jayhawks to the NCAA Tournament for the 22nd time. Under his guidance, Kansas has a record of 43-19 in the tournament with national championships in 2008 and 2022.

From Riverside, California, the Cal Baptist Lancers are making their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance as the champions of the Western Athletic Conference. CBU enters the tournament with a 25-8 record after defeating Utah Valley 63-61 in the WAC Championship game on Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Kansas earns a No. 4 seed in the tournament for the seventh time and first since 2024, when the Jayhawks defeated No. 13 Samford, 93-89, in the first round before falling to No. 5 Gonzaga. Kansas is 9-6 all-time when competing in the NCAA Tournament as a No. 4 seed.

The 2026 NCAA Tournament tips off in Dayton, Ohio, with the First Four on Tuesday-Wednesday, March 17-18. The first weekend of competition will then include the first round on Thursday-Friday, March 19-20, followed by second-round play on Saturday-Sunday, March 21-22.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773624438886.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas AthleticsLAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas Jayhawks have received an at-large bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament as the No. 4 seed in the East Region. The 68-team tournament bracket was announced Sunday evening.Making its 53rd all-time appearance in the tournament, Kansas will face No. 13 seed Cal Baptist in the first round on Friday, March 20, in San Diego, California. Tip from Viejas Arena will be at 8:45 p.m. CT and the game will be televised on CBS. The first-round matchup will be the first-ever meeting between Kansas and CBU.Kansas enters the Big Dance with a record of 23-10, and the Jayhawks tied for third place in the Big 12 Conference during the regular season with a 12-6 league mark. KU has appeared in each NCAA Tournament contested since 1990, with the 2026 event marking its 36th consecutive tournament appearance. Kansas has an all-time record of 113-50 in the tournament, with 15 Final Four appearances and four NCAA Tournament titles, most recently in 2022.The Jayhawks have four players scoring in double figures and they are led by a trio of All-Big 12 honorees. Flory Bidunga is the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and an All-Big 12 First Team selection, while Melvin Council Jr. is the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and earned all-league honorable mention. Freshman guard Darryn Peterson is an All-Big 12 Second Team selection, and KU's leading scorer at 19.8 points per game.Head coach Bill Self is leading the Jayhawks to the NCAA Tournament for the 22nd time. Under his guidance, Kansas has a record of 43-19 in the tournament with national championships in 2008 and 2022.From Riverside, California, the Cal Baptist Lancers are making their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance as the champions of the Western Athletic Conference. CBU enters the tournament with a 25-8 record after defeating Utah Valley 63-61 in the WAC Championship game on Saturday night in Las Vegas.Kansas earns a No. 4 seed in the tournament for the seventh time and first since 2024, when the Jayhawks defeated No. 13 Samford, 93-89, in the first round before falling to No. 5 Gonzaga. Kansas is 9-6 all-time when competing in the NCAA Tournament as a No. 4 seed.The 2026 NCAA Tournament tips off in Dayton, Ohio, with the First Four on Tuesday-Wednesday, March 17-18. The first weekend of competition will then include the first round on Thursday-Friday, March 19-20, followed by second-round play on Saturday-Sunday, March 21-22.

🏀 KU earns No. 4 seed in East Regional

2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament schedule (Central Time)

Thursday, March 26
Sweet 16 (South and West regions)

Friday, March 27
Sweet 16 (East and Midwest regions)

Saturday, March 28
Elite Eight (South and West regions)

Sunday, March 29
Elite Eight (East and Midwest regions)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741021637501.jpeg" alt="FILE - March Madness branding is displayed (AP Photo/Michael Caterina, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - March Madness branding is displayed (AP Photo/Michael Caterina, File)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament schedule (Central Time)</h2>Tuesday, March 17
First Four<ol>
 <li>Midwest Region: No. 16 UMBC vs. No. 16 Howard, 5:40 p.m., truTV
</li><li>West Region: No. 11 Texas vs. No. 11 NC State, 8:15 p.m., truTV
</li>
 </ol>Wednesday, March 18
First Four<ol>
 <li>South Region: No. 16 Prairie View A&amp;M vs. No. 16 Lehigh, 5:40 p.m., truTV
</li><li>Midwest Region: No. 11 Miami (Ohio) vs. No. 11 SMU, 8:10 p.m., truTV
</li>
 </ol>Thursday, March 19
Round of 64<ol>
 <li>East Region: No. 8 Ohio State (21-12) vs. No. 9 TCU (22-11), 11:15 a.m., CBS
</li><li>South Region: No. 4 Nebraska (26-6) vs. No. 13 Troy (22-11), 11:40 a.m., truTV
</li><li>East Region: No. 6 Louisville (23-10) vs. No. 11 South Florida (25-8), 12:30 p.m., TNT
</li><li>West Region: No. 5 Wisconsin (24-10) vs. No. 12 High Point (30-4), 12:50 p.m., TBS
</li><li>East Region: No. 1 Duke (32-2) vs. No. 16 Siena (23-11), 1:50 p.m., CBS
</li><li>South Region: No. 5 Vanderbilt (26-8) vs. No. 12 McNeese (28-5), 2:15 p.m., truTV
</li><li>East Region: No. 3 Michigan State (25-7) vs. No. 14 North Dakota State (27-7), 3:05 p.m., TNT
</li><li>West Region: No. 4 Arkansas (26-8) vs. No. 13 Hawai’i (24-8), 3:25 p.m., TBS
</li><li>South Region: No. 6 North Carolina (24-8) vs. No. 11 VCU (27-7), 5:50 p.m., TNT
</li><li>Midwest Region: No. 1 Michigan (31-3) vs. No. 16 UMBC/Howard, 6:10 p.m., CBS
</li><li>West Region: No. 6 BYU (23-11) vs. No. 11 Texas/NC State, 6:25 p.m., TBS
</li><li>South Region: No. 7 Saint Mary’s (27-5) vs. No. 10 Texas A&amp;M (21-11), 6:35 p.m., truTV
</li><li>South Region: No. 3 Illinois (24-8) vs. No. 14 Penn (18-11), 8:25 p.m., TNT
</li><li>Midwest Region: No. 8 Georgia (22-10) vs. No. 9 Saint Louis (28-5), 8:45 p.m., CBS
</li><li>West Region: No. 3 Gonzaga (30-3) vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State (21-13), 9 p.m., TBS
</li><li>South Region: No. 2 Houston (28-6) vs. No. 15 Idaho (21-14), 9:10 p.m., truTV
</li>
 </ol>Friday, March 20
Round of 64<ol>
 <li>Midwest Region: No. 7 Kentucky (21-13) vs. No. 10 Santa Clara (26-8), 11:15 a.m., CBS
</li><li>Midwest Region: No. 5 Texas Tech (22-10) vs. No. 12 Akron (29-5), 11:40 a.m., truTV
</li><li>West Region: No. 1 Arizona (32-2) vs. No. 16 LIU (24-10), 12:35 p.m., TNT
</li><li>Midwest Region: No. 3 Virginia (29-5) vs. No. 14 Wright State (23-11), 12:50 p.m., TBS
</li><li>Midwest Region: No. 2 Iowa State (27-7) vs. No. 15 Tennessee State (23-9), 1:50 p.m., CBS
</li><li>Midwest Region: No. 4 Alabama (23-9) vs. No. 13 Hofstra (24-10), 2:15 p.m., truTV
</li><li>West Region: No. 8 Villanova (24-8) vs. No. 9 Utah State (28-6), 3:10 p.m., TNT
</li><li>Midwest Region: No. 6 Tennessee (22-11) vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio)/SMU, 3:25 p.m., TBS
</li><li>South Region: No. 8 Clemson (24-10) vs. No. 9 Iowa (21-12), 5:50 p.m., TNT
</li><li>East Region: No. 5 St. John’s (28-6) vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa (23-12), 6:10 p.m., CBS
</li><li>East Region: No. 7 UCLA (23-11) vs. No. 10 UCF (21-11), 6:25 p.m., TBS
</li><li>West Region: No. 2 Purdue (27-8) vs. No. 15 Queens (21-13), 6:35 p.m., truTV
</li><li>South Region: No. 1 Florida (26-7) vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&amp;M/Lehigh, 8:25 p.m., TNT
</li><li>East Region: No. 4 Kansas (23-10) vs. No. 13 Cal Baptist (25-8), 8:45 p.m., CBS
</li><li>East Region: No. 2 UConn (29-5) vs. No. 15 Furman (22-12), 9 p.m., TBS
</li><li>West Region: No. 7 Miami (25-8) vs. No. 10 Missouri (20-12), 9:10 p.m., truTV
</li>
 </ol>Saturday, March 21
Round of 32<ol>
 <li>Games and TV assignments TBD
</li>
 </ol>Sunday, March 22
Round of 32<ol>
 <li>Games and TV assignments TBD
</li>
 </ol>Thursday, March 26
Sweet 16 (South and West regions)<ol>
 <li>Games and TV assignments TBD
</li>
 </ol>Friday, March 27
Sweet 16 (East and Midwest regions)<ol>
 <li>Games and TV assignments TBD
</li>
 </ol>Saturday, March 28
Elite Eight (South and West regions)<ol>
 <li>Games and TV assignments TBD
</li>
 </ol>Sunday, March 29
Elite Eight (East and Midwest regions)<ol>
 <li>Games and TV assignments TBD
</li>
 </ol>Saturday, April 4
Final Four<ol>
 <li>National semifinal No. 1, 5 p.m., TBS
</li><li>National semifinal No. 2, 8 p.m., TBS (assuming traditional staggered start; your source lists both at 6 p.m. Eastern, which would conflict)
</li>
 </ol>Monday, April 6
National Championship<ol>
 <li>National championship game, 7:30 p.m., TBS</li>
 </ol>

🏀 March Madness 2026: NCAA men’s tournament tip times and TV

GREAT BEND, Kan. — Top-seeded Butler used a dominant middle stretch Saturday to deny Hutchinson a Region 6 Tournament title, defeating the No. 13-ranked Blue Dragons 57-47 in the championship game at Fleske Fieldhouse.

With the victory, the No. 2-ranked Grizzlies earned the automatic berth to the NJCAA Division I Women’s Basketball National Tournament and improved to 32-1. Butler also extended its winning streak to 23 games.

Hutchinson, the tournament’s No. 3 seed, fell to 27-6 and saw its 12-game winning streak come to an end. The Blue Dragons will now wait to learn whether they receive one of the tournament’s eight at-large berths when the national selection show is held at 4 p.m. Monday. The 24-team national field includes 16 automatic bids from region champions and eight at-large selections.

The Blue Dragons were even with Butler after one quarter, but a disastrous second period proved to be the difference.

Hutchinson managed only three points in the second quarter as Butler outscored the Blue Dragons 24-3 over the 10-minute stretch to take a 37-16 halftime lead. The Grizzlies then pushed their advantage to 49-26 by the end of the third quarter and led by as many as 25 points early in the fourth.

Hutchinson made a late push with a 21-point fourth quarter, trimming the final margin to 10, but the Blue Dragons could not fully recover from their prolonged offensive drought.

KaMyra Barber led Hutchinson with 14 points and four rebounds, while Kaia Smith added 13 points, eight rebounds and three 3-pointers. Delora Pricop scored six points off the bench, and Noelle Anthon finished with five rebounds.

Katie Duncan, Hutchinson’s top scorer this season, was held scoreless on 0-of-10 shooting, including 0 of 8 from beyond the arc. As a team, the Blue Dragons shot just 28.8% from the field and 11.5% from 3-point range, going 3 of 26 from long distance.

Butler shot 41.5% overall and hit 6 of 14 from beyond the arc. Keegan Yarick led all scorers with 20 points, seven rebounds and three 3-pointers. Kenzie Galliart added 11 points and nine rebounds, Ashley Singhateh had nine points and six assists, and Elina Syniakova scored nine off the bench.

The opening quarter was tightly contested. Butler scored the first points of the game on a 3-pointer from Yarick, but Hutchinson answered and eventually grabbed its largest lead at 9-5 after a layup by Pricop with 3:12 remaining in the first. The teams were tied 13-13 at the end of the quarter after Whitney Brown scored on a jumper in the closing second.

Yarick sparked the second-quarter surge with a 3-pointer that put the Grizzlies ahead 16-13 with 7:51 left before halftime. Butler’s pressure defense and efficient offense took over from there. The Grizzlies forced repeated Hutchinson turnovers, converted in transition and closed the half on a 24-3 run, capped by a Syniakova layup in the final seconds for a 21-point lead.

Hutchinson never got closer than 20 points in the third quarter as Butler continued to keep the Blue Dragons out of rhythm offensively.

The Blue Dragons showed more life in the final period. Jamya McPherson and Barber helped spark an early fourth-quarter push, and Smith connected on a pair of late 3-pointers as Hutchinson chipped away. Smith also scored five points in the final 2:09, and Barber converted a layup in the closing seconds to account for the final score.

Butler finished with a 41-38 rebounding edge and 15 assists to Hutchinson’s seven. The Blue Dragons did force 18 turnovers, but committed 16 of their own and could not overcome their shooting struggles.

Hutchinson now turns its attention to Monday’s selection show, hoping its 27-win season and late surge into the region final will be enough to extend its postseason.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773540383582.jpeg" alt="Hutch Post Photo/Sean Boston" />
 <figcaption>Hutch Post Photo/Sean Boston</figcaption>
 </figure>GREAT BEND, Kan. — Top-seeded Butler used a dominant middle stretch Saturday to deny Hutchinson a Region 6 Tournament title, defeating the No. 13-ranked Blue Dragons 57-47 in the championship game at Fleske Fieldhouse.With the victory, the No. 2-ranked Grizzlies earned the automatic berth to the NJCAA Division I Women’s Basketball National Tournament and improved to 32-1. Butler also extended its winning streak to 23 games.Hutchinson, the tournament’s No. 3 seed, fell to 27-6 and saw its 12-game winning streak come to an end. The Blue Dragons will now wait to learn whether they receive one of the tournament’s eight at-large berths when the national selection show is held at 4 p.m. Monday. The 24-team national field includes 16 automatic bids from region champions and eight at-large selections.The Blue Dragons were even with Butler after one quarter, but a disastrous second period proved to be the difference.Hutchinson managed only three points in the second quarter as Butler outscored the Blue Dragons 24-3 over the 10-minute stretch to take a 37-16 halftime lead. The Grizzlies then pushed their advantage to 49-26 by the end of the third quarter and led by as many as 25 points early in the fourth.Hutchinson made a late push with a 21-point fourth quarter, trimming the final margin to 10, but the Blue Dragons could not fully recover from their prolonged offensive drought.KaMyra Barber led Hutchinson with 14 points and four rebounds, while Kaia Smith added 13 points, eight rebounds and three 3-pointers. Delora Pricop scored six points off the bench, and Noelle Anthon finished with five rebounds.Katie Duncan, Hutchinson’s top scorer this season, was held scoreless on 0-of-10 shooting, including 0 of 8 from beyond the arc. As a team, the Blue Dragons shot just 28.8% from the field and 11.5% from 3-point range, going 3 of 26 from long distance.Butler shot 41.5% overall and hit 6 of 14 from beyond the arc. Keegan Yarick led all scorers with 20 points, seven rebounds and three 3-pointers. Kenzie Galliart added 11 points and nine rebounds, Ashley Singhateh had nine points and six assists, and Elina Syniakova scored nine off the bench.The opening quarter was tightly contested. Butler scored the first points of the game on a 3-pointer from Yarick, but Hutchinson answered and eventually grabbed its largest lead at 9-5 after a layup by Pricop with 3:12 remaining in the first. The teams were tied 13-13 at the end of the quarter after Whitney Brown scored on a jumper in the closing second.That was when Butler seized control.Yarick sparked the second-quarter surge with a 3-pointer that put the Grizzlies ahead 16-13 with 7:51 left before halftime. Butler’s pressure defense and efficient offense took over from there. The Grizzlies forced repeated Hutchinson turnovers, converted in transition and closed the half on a 24-3 run, capped by a Syniakova layup in the final seconds for a 21-point lead.Hutchinson never got closer than 20 points in the third quarter as Butler continued to keep the Blue Dragons out of rhythm offensively.The Blue Dragons showed more life in the final period. Jamya McPherson and Barber helped spark an early fourth-quarter push, and Smith connected on a pair of late 3-pointers as Hutchinson chipped away. Smith also scored five points in the final 2:09, and Barber converted a layup in the closing seconds to account for the final score.Butler finished with a 41-38 rebounding edge and 15 assists to Hutchinson’s seven. The Blue Dragons did force 18 turnovers, but committed 16 of their own and could not overcome their shooting struggles.Hutchinson now turns its attention to Monday’s selection show, hoping its 27-win season and late surge into the region final will be enough to extend its postseason.

🏀 Hutchinson falls to Butler in Region 6 final, awaits national tournament fate

2026 KSHSAA State Basketball Tournament Results

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1772985349325.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy KSHSAA" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy KSHSAA</figcaption>
 </figure>2026 KSHSAA State Basketball Tournament Results<div>GIRLS
Class 6A Third place Wichita East 59, Derby 51 Championship SM South 57, BV Northwest 45
Class 5A Third place Andover 71, Shawnee Heights 55 Championship St. James Academy 49, Hays 48
Class 4A Third place Rock Creek 66, Wellington 48 Championship Topeka Hayden 57, Bishop Miege 52
Class 3A Third place Halstead 56, Holcomb 43 Championship Silver Lake 60, Osage City 44
Class 2A Third place Eureka 61, Moundridge 49 Championship Salina Sacred Heart 43, Ellinwood 34
Class 1A Division I Third place Centralia 76, Pretty Prairie 16 Championship Little River 59, Wabaunsee 24
Class 1A Division II Third place Bucklin 54, Hutchinson Central Christian 35 Championship Linn 57, Hanover 50
BOYS
Class 6A Third place Mill Valley 69, Wichita Heights 61 Championship Olathe North 67, SM South 50
Class 5A Third place Topeka Seaman 66, Topeka West 50 Championship Bonner Springs 53, Kapaun Mt. Carmel 50
Class 4A Third place Hugoton 69, Atchison 53 Championship Baldwin 66, Rock Creek 60
Class 3A Third place Silver Lake 61, Hesston 45 Championship Wichita Collegiate 55, Burlington 42
Class 2A Third place St. Marys 85, Pittsburg St. Mary&rsquo;s Colgan 73 Championship Sterling 59, Berean Academy 49
Class 1A Division I Third place Norwich 62, Central Plains 52 Championship St. John&rsquo;s/Tipton Catholic 57, South Central 53
Class 1A Division II Third place Lebo 65, Cunningham 64 Championship Hanover 66, Axtell 60</div>

🏀 KSHSAA state tournament scores from Saturday

Region 6 Tournament (Championship) Location: Fleske Fieldhouse; Great Bend Pregame: 2:45 p.m. Tipoff: 3 p.m. Station(s): KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) Play-by-Play: Sean Boston; Analyst: Dan "Coach Nac" Naccarato

<a href="https://streamdb5web.securenetsystems.net/v5/KHUT">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN LIVE</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773517322967.jpeg" alt="Hutch Post Photo/Sean Boston" />
 <figcaption>Hutch Post Photo/Sean Boston</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>No. 13 HutchCC women vs. No. 2 Butler</h2>Region 6 Tournament (Championship) Location: Fleske Fieldhouse; Great Bend Pregame: 2:45 p.m. Tipoff: 3 p.m. Station(s): KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) Play-by-Play: Sean Boston; Analyst: Dan "Coach Nac" Naccarato<a href="https://streamdb5web.securenetsystems.net/v5/KHUT">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN LIVE</a>

🎧🏀 LISTEN LIVE: HutchCC women vs. Butler (Region 6 Championship)

The Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball team goes in search of the Blue Dragons’ 10th overall Region 6 Tournament championship on Saturday.

The No. 3-seed and 13th-ranked Blue Dragons (27-5) will meet the tournament’s top seed and No. 2 team in the latest NJCAA Rankings, the Butler Grizzlies (31-1) in the 2026 Region 6 Tournament championship game at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Fleske Fieldhouse in Great Bend.

The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and on sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) beginning at 2:45 p.m. with Sean Boston (PBP) and Dan Naccarato (color) calling the action.

The game will be streamed on the KJCCC Network at 2:55 p.m. That stream is pay-per-view.

The Dragons play in the regional championship game for the 12th time. Hutchinson is 9-2 in Region 6 championship games.

The matchup between Hutchinson and Butler will be the sixth all-time postseason meeting between the two rivals and the third meeting in the championship game. The Blue Dragons won championship game meetings in both 2014 and 2024.

The Blue Dragons advanced to the championship game with a 69-57 semifinal victory over No. 9 Dodge City on Friday. Noelle Anthon posted her third career double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Blue Dragons.

Butler had to rally from a nine-point first-half deficit to defeat fourth-seeded Coffeyville 65-62 in Friday’s first semifinal. Keegan Yarrick had 26 points to lead the Grizzlies.

Two long winning streaks will be on the line Saturday. The Blue Dragons are riding a 12-game winning streak, while the Grizzlies have won 22 consecutive games.

Butler swept the regular-season series with Hutchinson for the first time since the 2022-23 season. The Blue Dragons lost 56-44 to No. 14 Butler on November 22 in El Dorado. Hutchinson then fell in a tight 56-52 battle to No. 8 Butler on January 26 at the Sports Arena.

Over the Blue Dragons’ 12-game win streak, they are averaging 71.2 points offensively, shooting 41.1 percent overall and 31.1 percent from 3-point range. Defensively, Hutchinson is allowing 52.4 points over the course of the streak, with opponents shooting 33.8 percent. The Dragons are a plus-11.0 in rebound margin. The Blue Dragons are the top team in the KJCCC over that span in rebounding.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773496542948.jpeg" alt="Noelle Anthon posts a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds in the Blue Dragons' 69-57 Region 6 Tournament semifinal victory over Dodge City on Friday in Great Bend. (Sydney Holzrichter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)" />
 <figcaption>Noelle Anthon posts a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds in the Blue Dragons' 69-57 Region 6 Tournament semifinal victory over Dodge City on Friday in Great Bend. (Sydney Holzrichter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)</figcaption>
 </figure>Hutchinson CC Sports InformationThe Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball team goes in search of the Blue Dragons’ 10th overall Region 6 Tournament championship on Saturday.The No. 3-seed and 13th-ranked Blue Dragons (27-5) will meet the tournament’s top seed and No. 2 team in the latest NJCAA Rankings, the Butler Grizzlies (31-1) in the 2026 Region 6 Tournament championship game at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Fleske Fieldhouse in Great Bend.The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and on sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) beginning at 2:45 p.m. with Sean Boston (PBP) and Dan Naccarato (color) calling the action.The game will be streamed on the KJCCC Network at 2:55 p.m. That stream is pay-per-view.The Dragons play in the regional championship game for the 12th time. Hutchinson is 9-2 in Region 6 championship games.The matchup between Hutchinson and Butler will be the sixth all-time postseason meeting between the two rivals and the third meeting in the championship game. The Blue Dragons won championship game meetings in both 2014 and 2024.The Blue Dragons advanced to the championship game with a 69-57 semifinal victory over No. 9 Dodge City on Friday. Noelle Anthon posted her third career double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Blue Dragons.Butler had to rally from a nine-point first-half deficit to defeat fourth-seeded Coffeyville 65-62 in Friday’s first semifinal. Keegan Yarrick had 26 points to lead the Grizzlies.Two long winning streaks will be on the line Saturday. The Blue Dragons are riding a 12-game winning streak, while the Grizzlies have won 22 consecutive games.Butler swept the regular-season series with Hutchinson for the first time since the 2022-23 season. The Blue Dragons lost 56-44 to No. 14 Butler on November 22 in El Dorado. Hutchinson then fell in a tight 56-52 battle to No. 8 Butler on January 26 at the Sports Arena.Over the Blue Dragons’ 12-game win streak, they are averaging 71.2 points offensively, shooting 41.1 percent overall and 31.1 percent from 3-point range. Defensively, Hutchinson is allowing 52.4 points over the course of the streak, with opponents shooting 33.8 percent. The Dragons are a plus-11.0 in rebound margin. The Blue Dragons are the top team in the KJCCC over that span in rebounding.

🏀 Blue Dragons to battle Butler in Region 6 title game

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kingston Flemings scored 21 points, fellow freshman Chris Cenac Jr. had 17 points and 14 rebounds, and fifth-ranked Houston rolled past poor-shooting and lackluster No. 14 Kansas 69-47 in the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament on Friday night.

The second-seeded Cougars (28-5) held the third-seeded Jayhawks without a field goal for more than 10 minutes at point in the game, ultimately breezing into another championship matchup with second-ranked Arizona on Saturday night.

Houston beat the Wildcats 72-64 last year for its first Big 12 Tournament title.

Darryn Peterson had 14 points to lead the Jayhawks (23-10), who had beaten the Cougars in their only regular-season matchup. But the Jayhawks were a whole lot better that night in Allen Fieldhouse than they were at T-Mobile Center, where they were 6 for 31 from the field in the second half and shot 24.6% overall in their lowest-scoring game of the season.

With the relentless defense that's become a hallmark of coach Kelvin Sampson, the Cougars controlled the game right from the start, making things especially difficult for Kansas big men Flory Bidunga and Bryson Tiller in the paint.

Most of the Jayhawks' offense came from Peterson, the potential No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. He had 12 at the break.

Things really unraveled for Kansas in the second half, though.

Houston forced Bill Self's team into missing its first 16 shots while going on a 22-2 run of its own spanning halftime. Even the bucket that mercifully ended the drought, a dunk by Bidunga with 10:42 to go, nearly rattled its way back out of the basket.

Houston led 51-31 at that point before coasting into its second consecutive championship game.

Houston lost to the No. 1 seed Wildcats at home on Feb. 21 in their only meeting of the regular season.

Kansas will likely be a No. 4 seed when the NCAA Tournament is revealed on Sunday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773456668540.png" alt="Photo Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kingston Flemings scored 21 points, fellow freshman Chris Cenac Jr. had 17 points and 14 rebounds, and fifth-ranked Houston rolled past poor-shooting and lackluster No. 14 Kansas 69-47 in the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament on Friday night.The second-seeded Cougars (28-5) held the third-seeded Jayhawks without a field goal for more than 10 minutes at point in the game, ultimately breezing into another championship matchup with second-ranked Arizona on Saturday night.Houston beat the Wildcats 72-64 last year for its first Big 12 Tournament title.Darryn Peterson had 14 points to lead the Jayhawks (23-10), who had beaten the Cougars in their only regular-season matchup. But the Jayhawks were a whole lot better that night in Allen Fieldhouse than they were at T-Mobile Center, where they were 6 for 31 from the field in the second half and shot 24.6% overall in their lowest-scoring game of the season.With the relentless defense that's become a hallmark of coach Kelvin Sampson, the Cougars controlled the game right from the start, making things especially difficult for Kansas big men Flory Bidunga and Bryson Tiller in the paint.Most of the Jayhawks' offense came from Peterson, the potential No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. He had 12 at the break.Things really unraveled for Kansas in the second half, though.Houston forced Bill Self's team into missing its first 16 shots while going on a 22-2 run of its own spanning halftime. Even the bucket that mercifully ended the drought, a dunk by Bidunga with 10:42 to go, nearly rattled its way back out of the basket.Houston led 51-31 at that point before coasting into its second consecutive championship game.<h2>Up next</h2>Houston lost to the No. 1 seed Wildcats at home on Feb. 21 in their only meeting of the regular season.Kansas will likely be a No. 4 seed when the NCAA Tournament is revealed on Sunday.

🏀  Houston routs KU to set up another Big 12 title game with Arizona

FINAL: No. 13 Hutchinson 69, No. 9 Dodge City 57

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773457202437.jpeg" alt="Hutch Post Photo/Sean Boston" />
 <figcaption>Hutch Post Photo/Sean Boston</figcaption>
 </figure>FINAL: No. 13 Hutchinson 69, No. 9 Dodge City 57<div><iframe title="Blue Dragon Rewind: HutchCC WBB vs. Dodge City in Region 6 Tournament Semifinal (March 13, 2026)" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=nsipj-1a6e211-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

🎧🏀 Blue Dragon Rewind: HutchCC women vs. Dodge City (Region 6 Tournament - Semifinal)

GREAT BEND, Kan. — Third-seeded Hutchinson continued its postseason surge Friday night, knocking off second-seeded Dodge City 69-57 in the Region 6 Tournament semifinals at Fleske Fieldhouse to advance to the championship game for the 12th time in program history.

The No. 13-ranked Blue Dragons improved to 27-5, won their 12th consecutive game and moved within one victory of a Region 6 Tournament title. Hutchinson will face top-seeded Butler at 3 p.m. Saturday at Fleske Fieldhouse. The Grizzlies, ranked No. 2 nationally, enter the title game on a 22-game winning streak and have not lost since early December.

Dodge City, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, fell to 26-5.

Hutchinson never trailed, controlling the game from the opening minutes behind a dominant effort from sophomore post Noelle Anthon, who produced her fourth career double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Anthon went 8 of 15 from the field and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line, helping the Blue Dragons establish the tone inside while also finishing key possessions late.

The Blue Dragons built their advantage with balance, rebounding and depth.

Katie Duncan added 15 points and seven rebounds while knocking down three 3-pointers. KaMyra Barber finished with 10 points and five rebounds, and Jamya McPherson gave Hutchinson an important lift off the bench with 10 points in 12 minutes. Whitney Brown scored five points but helped direct the offense with eight assists as Hutchinson assisted on 17 of its 25 field goals.

That all-around production helped Hutchinson overcome a huge individual night from Dodge City’s Savi Mi, who poured in 29 points and hit six 3-pointers. No other Conquistador scored more than 12 points.

Barber opened the scoring with a 3-pointer, and the Blue Dragons used an 8-0 burst to build an early cushion. Anthon scored eight first-quarter points as Hutchinson limited Dodge City to 3-of-15 shooting in the opening period and carried a 16-8 lead into the second quarter.

The Blue Dragons pushed the margin to 12 midway through the second after Anthon converted a three-point play and Duncan hit two free throws, making it 23-11. Dodge City briefly found momentum after a technical foul on Hutchinson contributed to a four-point possession that trimmed the lead to seven, but the Blue Dragons answered again.

Duncan drilled a 3-pointer, Delora Pricop added a second-chance basket and Jaden Wilson scored twice in the quarter as Hutchinson rebuilt its control and took a 32-23 lead into halftime.

Hutchinson’s work on the glass and in the paint was a major factor throughout the night. The Blue Dragons outrebounded Dodge City 44-33, including a 15-11 edge on the offensive glass, and turned those extra opportunities into a 14-4 advantage in second-chance points. Hutchinson also outscored Dodge City 32-24 in the paint.

Dodge City made its strongest push in the third quarter behind Mi, who scored 22 of her 29 points after halftime.

After Duncan opened the second half with a 3-pointer to put Hutchinson up 35-23, the Conquistadors chipped away. Mi buried back-to-back 3-pointers and later completed a three-point play, pulling Dodge City within 39-36 with 5:13 left in the third.

Each time Dodge City threatened, Hutchinson responded.

Anthon scored on back-to-back interior baskets to steady the Blue Dragons, Duncan answered with another 3-pointer, and McPherson came through with a key 3 of her own as Hutchinson rebuilt the lead. Even after Mi hit a late 3-pointer to cut the margin to 51-45 at the end of the third, Hutchinson still had control.

The Blue Dragons delivered the decisive answer in the fourth.

McPherson opened the quarter with a 3-pointer after an offensive rebound, stretching the lead to 54-47. After Dodge City closed within 59-55 with 4:21 remaining, Hutchinson put together the sequence that finally broke the game open.

Duncan scored on a driving layup to push the lead back to six. Then, after a defensive stop and timeout, Barber knocked down a 3-pointer from the wing off a Brown assist for a 64-55 advantage with 2:35 remaining.

From there, Hutchinson closed it out at the free-throw line and on the defensive end. Anthon hit two free throws with 1:35 left, and the Blue Dragons held Dodge City scoreless from the field over a crucial stretch while forcing late empty possessions. Anthon added the final basket with seven seconds left to seal the 12-point win.

The Blue Dragons shot 39.7 percent from the floor, made 8 of 24 from 3-point range and converted 11 of 14 free throws. They committed only nine turnovers and held Dodge City to 35.7 percent shooting overall and 24.1 percent from beyond the arc.

Hutchinson’s bench also made a significant difference, outscoring Dodge City’s reserves 16-4.

Now the Blue Dragons turn their attention to another challenge Saturday afternoon against Butler, the tournament’s top seed and one of the nation’s hottest teams. Hutchinson will try to carry its own momentum into that matchup after another sharp performance extended one of the best stretches of its season.&nbsp;

You can hear Saturday's championship game on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and on sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) beginning at 2:45 p.m. with Sean Boston (PBP) and Dan Naccarato (color) calling the action.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773457202437.jpeg" alt="Hutch Post Photo/Sean Boston" />
 <figcaption>Hutch Post Photo/Sean Boston</figcaption>
 </figure>GREAT BEND, Kan. — Third-seeded Hutchinson continued its postseason surge Friday night, knocking off second-seeded Dodge City 69-57 in the Region 6 Tournament semifinals at Fleske Fieldhouse to advance to the championship game for the 12th time in program history.The No. 13-ranked Blue Dragons improved to 27-5, won their 12th consecutive game and moved within one victory of a Region 6 Tournament title. Hutchinson will face top-seeded Butler at 3 p.m. Saturday at Fleske Fieldhouse. The Grizzlies, ranked No. 2 nationally, enter the title game on a 22-game winning streak and have not lost since early December.Dodge City, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, fell to 26-5.Hutchinson never trailed, controlling the game from the opening minutes behind a dominant effort from sophomore post Noelle Anthon, who produced her fourth career double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Anthon went 8 of 15 from the field and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line, helping the Blue Dragons establish the tone inside while also finishing key possessions late.The Blue Dragons built their advantage with balance, rebounding and depth.Katie Duncan added 15 points and seven rebounds while knocking down three 3-pointers. KaMyra Barber finished with 10 points and five rebounds, and Jamya McPherson gave Hutchinson an important lift off the bench with 10 points in 12 minutes. Whitney Brown scored five points but helped direct the offense with eight assists as Hutchinson assisted on 17 of its 25 field goals.That all-around production helped Hutchinson overcome a huge individual night from Dodge City’s Savi Mi, who poured in 29 points and hit six 3-pointers. No other Conquistador scored more than 12 points.Hutchinson set the tone early.Barber opened the scoring with a 3-pointer, and the Blue Dragons used an 8-0 burst to build an early cushion. Anthon scored eight first-quarter points as Hutchinson limited Dodge City to 3-of-15 shooting in the opening period and carried a 16-8 lead into the second quarter.The Blue Dragons pushed the margin to 12 midway through the second after Anthon converted a three-point play and Duncan hit two free throws, making it 23-11. Dodge City briefly found momentum after a technical foul on Hutchinson contributed to a four-point possession that trimmed the lead to seven, but the Blue Dragons answered again.Duncan drilled a 3-pointer, Delora Pricop added a second-chance basket and Jaden Wilson scored twice in the quarter as Hutchinson rebuilt its control and took a 32-23 lead into halftime.Hutchinson’s work on the glass and in the paint was a major factor throughout the night. The Blue Dragons outrebounded Dodge City 44-33, including a 15-11 edge on the offensive glass, and turned those extra opportunities into a 14-4 advantage in second-chance points. Hutchinson also outscored Dodge City 32-24 in the paint.Dodge City made its strongest push in the third quarter behind Mi, who scored 22 of her 29 points after halftime.After Duncan opened the second half with a 3-pointer to put Hutchinson up 35-23, the Conquistadors chipped away. Mi buried back-to-back 3-pointers and later completed a three-point play, pulling Dodge City within 39-36 with 5:13 left in the third.Each time Dodge City threatened, Hutchinson responded.Anthon scored on back-to-back interior baskets to steady the Blue Dragons, Duncan answered with another 3-pointer, and McPherson came through with a key 3 of her own as Hutchinson rebuilt the lead. Even after Mi hit a late 3-pointer to cut the margin to 51-45 at the end of the third, Hutchinson still had control.The Blue Dragons delivered the decisive answer in the fourth.McPherson opened the quarter with a 3-pointer after an offensive rebound, stretching the lead to 54-47. After Dodge City closed within 59-55 with 4:21 remaining, Hutchinson put together the sequence that finally broke the game open.Duncan scored on a driving layup to push the lead back to six. Then, after a defensive stop and timeout, Barber knocked down a 3-pointer from the wing off a Brown assist for a 64-55 advantage with 2:35 remaining.From there, Hutchinson closed it out at the free-throw line and on the defensive end. Anthon hit two free throws with 1:35 left, and the Blue Dragons held Dodge City scoreless from the field over a crucial stretch while forcing late empty possessions. Anthon added the final basket with seven seconds left to seal the 12-point win.The Blue Dragons shot 39.7 percent from the floor, made 8 of 24 from 3-point range and converted 11 of 14 free throws. They committed only nine turnovers and held Dodge City to 35.7 percent shooting overall and 24.1 percent from beyond the arc.Hutchinson’s bench also made a significant difference, outscoring Dodge City’s reserves 16-4.Now the Blue Dragons turn their attention to another challenge Saturday afternoon against Butler, the tournament’s top seed and one of the nation’s hottest teams. Hutchinson will try to carry its own momentum into that matchup after another sharp performance extended one of the best stretches of its season.&nbsp;You can hear Saturday's championship game on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and on sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) beginning at 2:45 p.m. with Sean Boston (PBP) and Dan Naccarato (color) calling the action.

🏀 Blue Dragons win 12th straight, advance to Region 6 championship against Butler

No. 13 HutchCC women vs. No. 9 Dodge City

Region 6 Tournament (Semifinal) Location: Fleske Fieldhouse; Great Bend Pregame: 5:15 p.m. Tipoff: 5:30 p.m. Station(s): KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) Play-by-Play: Sean Boston; Analyst: Dan "Coach Nac" Naccarato

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762665656970.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>No. 13 HutchCC women vs. No. 9 Dodge City</h2>Region 6 Tournament (Semifinal) Location: Fleske Fieldhouse; Great Bend Pregame: 5:15 p.m. Tipoff: 5:30 p.m. Station(s): KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) Play-by-Play: Sean Boston; Analyst: Dan "Coach Nac" Naccarato<a href="https://streamdb5web.securenetsystems.net/v5/KHUT">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN LIVE</a>

🎧🏀 LISTEN LIVE: HutchCC women vs. Dodge City (Region 6 Semifinal)

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Kansas State has hired Belmont coach Casey Alexander as its next men's basketball coach, the school announced Friday.

Alexander, 53, agreed to a five-year contract approved by the K-State Athletics, Inc., Board of Directors and university president Richard Linton. He will make $3.3 million in 2026-27, with annual raises of $50,000 that increase the deal to $3.5 million by 2030-31.

Alexander becomes the 27th head coach in program history after leading Belmont to 166 wins and four conference titles in seven seasons, including the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference championship.

"I’m incredibly excited to join the team at K-State and can’t wait to get the journey started," Alexander said in a statement. "K-State has such a rich tradition and a wildly passionate fan base and I’m grateful for the opportunity provided by Gene Taylor to be a part of it."

A date and time for Alexander’s introductory news conference have not yet been announced. The event will be streamed on ESPN+ and K-State’s Facebook Live page and carried on the K-State Sports Network.

Alexander has compiled a 303-180 record in 15 seasons as a head coach, with stops at Stetson, Lipscomb and Belmont. His teams have won six conference championships and reached the postseason three times, including an NCAA Tournament appearance with Lipscomb in 2018 and NIT appearances in 2019 and 2022.

His 2019-20 Belmont team also earned an automatic NCAA Tournament berth before the event was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This season’s Belmont team secured another postseason berth after winning the Missouri Valley regular-season title.

"We couldn’t be more excited to announce Casey Alexander as the next head men’s basketball coach at K-State," athletic director Gene Taylor said in a statement. "He is known nationally as a tremendous evaluator of talent and one of the best offensive minds in the college game."

Alexander has posted 10 straight 20-win seasons and has guided Belmont to a 166-60 overall record since taking over for longtime coach Rick Byrd in 2019. The Bruins went 102-33 in conference play during his tenure.

Before becoming a head coach, Alexander spent 16 seasons as an assistant at Belmont under Byrd after playing point guard for the Bruins from 1991-95. He later revived the program at Lipscomb, leading the Bison to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018.

K-State is coming off a 12-20 season in 2025-26, including a 3-15 record in Big 12 play.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773417404555.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan. — Kansas State has hired Belmont coach Casey Alexander as its next men's basketball coach, the school announced Friday.Alexander, 53, agreed to a five-year contract approved by the K-State Athletics, Inc., Board of Directors and university president Richard Linton. He will make $3.3 million in 2026-27, with annual raises of $50,000 that increase the deal to $3.5 million by 2030-31.Alexander becomes the 27th head coach in program history after leading Belmont to 166 wins and four conference titles in seven seasons, including the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference championship."I’m incredibly excited to join the team at K-State and can’t wait to get the journey started," Alexander said in a statement. "K-State has such a rich tradition and a wildly passionate fan base and I’m grateful for the opportunity provided by Gene Taylor to be a part of it."A date and time for Alexander’s introductory news conference have not yet been announced. The event will be streamed on ESPN+ and K-State’s Facebook Live page and carried on the K-State Sports Network.Alexander has compiled a 303-180 record in 15 seasons as a head coach, with stops at Stetson, Lipscomb and Belmont. His teams have won six conference championships and reached the postseason three times, including an NCAA Tournament appearance with Lipscomb in 2018 and NIT appearances in 2019 and 2022.His 2019-20 Belmont team also earned an automatic NCAA Tournament berth before the event was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This season’s Belmont team secured another postseason berth after winning the Missouri Valley regular-season title."We couldn’t be more excited to announce Casey Alexander as the next head men’s basketball coach at K-State," athletic director Gene Taylor said in a statement. "He is known nationally as a tremendous evaluator of talent and one of the best offensive minds in the college game."Alexander has posted 10 straight 20-win seasons and has guided Belmont to a 166-60 overall record since taking over for longtime coach Rick Byrd in 2019. The Bruins went 102-33 in conference play during his tenure.Before becoming a head coach, Alexander spent 16 seasons as an assistant at Belmont under Byrd after playing point guard for the Bruins from 1991-95. He later revived the program at Lipscomb, leading the Bison to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018.K-State is coming off a 12-20 season in 2025-26, including a 3-15 record in Big 12 play.

🏀 K-State announces Casey Alexander as men’s basketball coach

The Kansas City Royals announced Friday their 2026 regular-season television schedule, with all 162 games set to air either regionally or nationally.

Royals.TV will carry 149 regular-season games. The remaining 13 games are scheduled as part of Major League Baseball’s national television package, though all games remain subject to change.

Nationally televised games for the Royals in 2026 include:

Four games will air as co-exist telecasts on both Royals.TV and FS1:

Ten home games also will be simulcast on Royals.TV and Gray Media’s KCTV5/KSMO:

The Royals’ full broadcast team returns for the 2026 season, with Ryan Lefebvre and Jake Eisenberg handling play-by-play duties and Rex Hudler and Jeremy Guthrie returning as analysts. Joel Goldberg and Royals Hall of Famer Jeff Montgomery will continue hosting pregame and postgame coverage. Eric Hosmer and Bridget Howard also will join the broadcast crew this season.

The Royals’ spring training game against Arizona on Friday night at 8:05 p.m. Central will stream free on Royals.TV with no credit card required.

The club announced in February that local broadcasts would be produced and distributed by Major League Baseball on Royals.TV. Games will be available on cable and satellite television, as well as through the MLB app.

Fans inside the Royals’ home television territory can purchase the in-market Royals.TV streaming package through MLB.com or the MLB app for $99.99 per year. Out-of-market fans can watch Royals games through an MLB.TV subscription for $149.99 annually.

For more information, visit <a href="http://royals.com/watch">royals.com/watch</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754387891633.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas City Royals announced Friday their 2026 regular-season television schedule, with all 162 games set to air either regionally or nationally.Royals.TV will carry 149 regular-season games. The remaining 13 games are scheduled as part of Major League Baseball’s national television package, though all games remain subject to change.Nationally televised games for the Royals in 2026 include:<ol>
 <li>March 28 at Atlanta (FOX)
</li><li>April 3 vs. Milwaukee (Apple TV)
</li><li>April 26 vs. Los Angeles Angels (Peacock)
</li><li>May 1 at Seattle (Apple TV)
</li><li>May 10 vs. Detroit (Peacock)
</li><li>May 25 vs. New York Yankees (ESPN)
</li><li>June 5 at Minnesota (Apple TV)
</li><li>June 13 vs. Houston (FOX)
</li><li>June 19 vs. St. Louis (Apple TV)
</li><li>July 5 vs. Philadelphia (Peacock)
</li><li>Aug. 22 vs. Detroit (FOX)
</li><li>Sept. 6 vs. Toronto (Peacock)
</li><li>Sept. 17 at Houston (FOX)
</li>
 </ol>Four games will air as co-exist telecasts on both Royals.TV and FS1:<ol>
 <li>April 4 vs. Milwaukee
</li><li>April 20 vs. Baltimore
</li><li>May 23 vs. Seattle
</li><li>May 30 at Texas
</li>
 </ol>Ten home games also will be simulcast on Royals.TV and Gray Media’s KCTV5/KSMO:<ol>
 <li>March 30 vs. Minnesota
</li><li>April 24 vs. Los Angeles Angels
</li><li>May 22 vs. Seattle
</li><li>June 12 vs. Houston
</li><li>June 18 vs. St. Louis
</li><li>July 17 vs. San Diego
</li><li>Aug. 7 vs. Chicago Cubs
</li><li>Aug. 21 vs. Detroit
</li><li>Sept. 4 vs. Toronto
</li><li>Sept. 7 vs. Arizona
</li>
 </ol>The Royals’ full broadcast team returns for the 2026 season, with Ryan Lefebvre and Jake Eisenberg handling play-by-play duties and Rex Hudler and Jeremy Guthrie returning as analysts. Joel Goldberg and Royals Hall of Famer Jeff Montgomery will continue hosting pregame and postgame coverage. Eric Hosmer and Bridget Howard also will join the broadcast crew this season.The Royals’ spring training game against Arizona on Friday night at 8:05 p.m. Central will stream free on Royals.TV with no credit card required.The club announced in February that local broadcasts would be produced and distributed by Major League Baseball on Royals.TV. Games will be available on cable and satellite television, as well as through the MLB app.Fans inside the Royals’ home television territory can purchase the in-market Royals.TV streaming package through MLB.com or the MLB app for $99.99 per year. Out-of-market fans can watch Royals games through an MLB.TV subscription for $149.99 annually.For more information, visit <a href="http://royals.com/watch">royals.com/watch</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

⚾ Royals announce 2026 TV schedule, all 162 games to air on Royals.TV or national broadcasts

🎧🏀 KSHSAA state update; 🏀 KU beats TCU; 🏀 HutchCC women in Region 6 semi

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Big 12 Conference is ditching its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/big-12-mens-basketball-tournament-glass-floor-c4fbbe18db01e02d08f1bbeb45a4c942">slippery new glass floor</a>&nbsp;for a hardwood court for the final two days of the tournament.

“After consultation with the coaches of our four semifinal teams, I have decided that in order to provide our student-athletes with the greatest level of comfort on a huge stage this weekend, we will transition to a hardwood court for the remainder of the tournament,” Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark said in a statement Thursday night. “We look forward to a great semifinals and championship game.”

Numerous players have slipped when trying to plant. On Thursday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/glass-floor-texas-tech-big-12-08ba686fd84543f9a2629deff11850b9">Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson strained a muscle</a>&nbsp;slipping in the No. 16 Red Raiders’ 75-63 loss to No. 7 Iowa State.

“Obviously, the floor is a bit slippery,” Anderson said. “I think I just kind of mis-stepped or did a movement that caused me to slip,”

The Big 12 announced last month that it would play the men’s and women’s tournaments on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-glass-basketball-courts-7658baf23c38dfe4180bbd8d0a477046">ASB GlassFloor-made court</a>&nbsp;that has been used at the NBA All-Star Game and in Europe but never before during an official U.S. competition.

“I personally didn’t have any involvement (in the decision to go to hardwood),” Kansas coach Bill Self after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tcu-kansas-big-12-tournament-peterson-49639ddf70504ae15755595b1f640c45">No. 14 Jayhawks beat TCU 78-73</a>&nbsp;on Thursday night in the last game played on the glass floor. “If the other coaches are doing it, (they) have juice and they got more than I got. Because I didn’t have any any involvement with that at all.”

Then he added, “I think it’s the right thing to do.”

The glass floor has an aluminum and steel spring-action design that is supposed to mimic the flexibility of hardwood. The LED panels, which display everything from data-driven graphics to advertising, have ceramic coating and little dots etched into the glass that are supposed to create grip that is consistent with traditional surfaces.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1770840451702.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Big 12 Conference" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Big 12 Conference</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Big 12 Conference is ditching its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/big-12-mens-basketball-tournament-glass-floor-c4fbbe18db01e02d08f1bbeb45a4c942">slippery new glass floor</a>&nbsp;for a hardwood court for the final two days of the tournament.“After consultation with the coaches of our four semifinal teams, I have decided that in order to provide our student-athletes with the greatest level of comfort on a huge stage this weekend, we will transition to a hardwood court for the remainder of the tournament,” Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark said in a statement Thursday night. “We look forward to a great semifinals and championship game.”Numerous players have slipped when trying to plant. On Thursday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/glass-floor-texas-tech-big-12-08ba686fd84543f9a2629deff11850b9">Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson strained a muscle</a>&nbsp;slipping in the No. 16 Red Raiders’ 75-63 loss to No. 7 Iowa State.“Obviously, the floor is a bit slippery,” Anderson said. “I think I just kind of mis-stepped or did a movement that caused me to slip,”The Big 12 announced last month that it would play the men’s and women’s tournaments on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-glass-basketball-courts-7658baf23c38dfe4180bbd8d0a477046">ASB GlassFloor-made court</a>&nbsp;that has been used at the NBA All-Star Game and in Europe but never before during an official U.S. competition.“I personally didn’t have any involvement (in the decision to go to hardwood),” Kansas coach Bill Self after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tcu-kansas-big-12-tournament-peterson-49639ddf70504ae15755595b1f640c45">No. 14 Jayhawks beat TCU 78-73</a>&nbsp;on Thursday night in the last game played on the glass floor. “If the other coaches are doing it, (they) have juice and they got more than I got. Because I didn’t have any any involvement with that at all.”Then he added, “I think it’s the right thing to do.”The glass floor has an aluminum and steel spring-action design that is supposed to mimic the flexibility of hardwood. The LED panels, which display everything from data-driven graphics to advertising, have ceramic coating and little dots etched into the glass that are supposed to create grip that is consistent with traditional surfaces.

🏀 Big 12 ditching slippery glass floor for hardwood for rest of tournament

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Darryn Peterson scored 24 points in a season-high 37 minutes and No. 14 Kansas beat TCU 78-73 in the last quarterfinal of the Big 12 tournament Thursday night at T-Mobile Center.

The Jayhawks will face No. 5 Houston, which defeated BYU 73-66 in the quarterfinals, in the second semifinal Friday night.

Peterson struggled from the floor, missing 12 of his 17 shots, including a breakaway two-handed dunk with the Jayhawks leading 68-63 with just over four minutes left. But he made up for it from the line, going 13 for 16.

Flory Bidunga added 13 points and 10 rebounds for Kansas (23-9), while Bryson Tiller and Elmarko Jackson also had 13 points.

David Punch scored 24 points for TCU (22-11). Liutauras Lelevicius had 14 and Jayden Pierre added 11.

The Jayhawks are 13-7 this season with Peterson in the lineup. They were 10-2 without him.

Bidunga was in foul trouble most of the night. He picked up two fouls in the first half, and picked up his fourth with 6:29 left in the game.

Kansas opened the second half with an 8-0 run after trailing by three. TCU answered with runs of 8-1 and 13-2 to retake the lead.

The score was tied at 61-all when Trey White hit a 3-pointer from the corner with 5:34 left. The Jayhawks never trailed again, but neither team led by more than six points until Tiller threw down a dunk to make the score 70-63 with 3:22 left.

The first half was filled with spurts. TCU grabbed its largest lead at 23-16 thanks to an 8-0 run, but Kansas responded with a 12-0 surge to regain the lead. The teams traded the lead back and forth before the Horned Frogs took a 34-31 lead into the locker room.

The No. 3-seeded Jayhawks face the second-seeded Cougars.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773394956200.png" alt="Photo Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Darryn Peterson scored 24 points in a season-high 37 minutes and No. 14 Kansas beat TCU 78-73 in the last quarterfinal of the Big 12 tournament Thursday night at T-Mobile Center.The Jayhawks will face No. 5 Houston, which defeated BYU 73-66 in the quarterfinals, in the second semifinal Friday night.Peterson struggled from the floor, missing 12 of his 17 shots, including a breakaway two-handed dunk with the Jayhawks leading 68-63 with just over four minutes left. But he made up for it from the line, going 13 for 16.Flory Bidunga added 13 points and 10 rebounds for Kansas (23-9), while Bryson Tiller and Elmarko Jackson also had 13 points.David Punch scored 24 points for TCU (22-11). Liutauras Lelevicius had 14 and Jayden Pierre added 11.The Jayhawks are 13-7 this season with Peterson in the lineup. They were 10-2 without him.Bidunga was in foul trouble most of the night. He picked up two fouls in the first half, and picked up his fourth with 6:29 left in the game.Kansas opened the second half with an 8-0 run after trailing by three. TCU answered with runs of 8-1 and 13-2 to retake the lead.The score was tied at 61-all when Trey White hit a 3-pointer from the corner with 5:34 left. The Jayhawks never trailed again, but neither team led by more than six points until Tiller threw down a dunk to make the score 70-63 with 3:22 left.The first half was filled with spurts. TCU grabbed its largest lead at 23-16 thanks to an 8-0 run, but Kansas responded with a 12-0 surge to regain the lead. The teams traded the lead back and forth before the Horned Frogs took a 34-31 lead into the locker room.<h2>Up next</h2>The No. 3-seeded Jayhawks face the second-seeded Cougars.

🏀 Peterson scores 24 to lead KU past TCU in the Big 12 quarterfinals

(8) Blue Valley Northwest 54, (4) Wichita East 49 (3) Shawnee Mission South 69, (2) Derby 57

(1) Kapaun Mt. Carmel 54, (5) Topeka Seaman 52 (2) Bonner Springs 76, (3) Topeka West 61

(4) Topeka Hayden 48, (1) Wellington 45 (6) Bishop Miege 59, (2) Rock Creek 43

(1) Wichita Collegiate 57, (5) Silver Lake 43 (3) Burlington 77, (2) Hesston 76 (3 OT)

(1) Ellinwood 50, (4) Eureka 47 (6) Salina Sacred Heart 69, (2) Moundridge 56

1A-I Boys (United Wireless Arena, Dodge City)

(4) South Central 49, (1) Central Plains 30 (2) Beloit-St. John's/Tipton 61, (3) Norwich 53

(1) Axtell 84, (4) Cunningham 40 (2) Hanover 94, (3) Lebo 42

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1772985349325.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy KSHSAA" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy KSHSAA</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>6A Girls (Koch Arena, Wichita)</h2>(8) Blue Valley Northwest 54, (4) Wichita East 49 (3) Shawnee Mission South 69, (2) Derby 57<h2>5A Boys (Koch Arena, Wichita)</h2>(1) Kapaun Mt. Carmel 54, (5) Topeka Seaman 52 (2) Bonner Springs 76, (3) Topeka West 61<h2>4A Girls (Hutchinson Sports Arena)</h2>(4) Topeka Hayden 48, (1) Wellington 45 (6) Bishop Miege 59, (2) Rock Creek 43<h2>3A Boys (Hutchinson Sports Arena)</h2>(1) Wichita Collegiate 57, (5) Silver Lake 43 (3) Burlington 77, (2) Hesston 76 (3 OT)<h2>2A Girls (White Auditorium, Emporia)</h2>(1) Ellinwood 50, (4) Eureka 47 (6) Salina Sacred Heart 69, (2) Moundridge 56<h2>1A-I Boys (United Wireless Arena, Dodge City)</h2>(4) South Central 49, (1) Central Plains 30 (2) Beloit-St. John's/Tipton 61, (3) Norwich 53<h2>1A-II Boys (White Auditorium, Emporia)</h2>(1) Axtell 84, (4) Cunningham 40 (2) Hanover 94, (3) Lebo 42

🏀 Thursday's KSHSAA state semifinal scores

Kansas State is close to hiring it's next head men's basketball coach, according to multiple reports.

Casey Alexander, the head coach at Belmont University is the main target.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773371802638.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Belmont University Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Belmont University Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas State is close to hiring it's next head men's basketball coach, according to multiple reports.Casey Alexander, the head coach at Belmont University is the main target.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sources: Kansas State has zeroed in on Belmont&#39;s Casey Alexander to be its next head basketball coach. Nothing is done, but the two sides are now working through a deal that will make Alexander the Wildcats&#39; next head coach.&mdash; Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/2032290368838939077?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🏀 K-State reportedly closing in on head coaching hire

Sand Creek Station Golf Course in Newton will again serve as a national championship venue after the National Junior College Athletic Association announced Thursday that the course will host the NJCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship in 2028 and 2030.

The NJCAA said the 2027 and 2029 championships will be played at Hardscrabble Country Club in Fort Smith, Arkansas, while Sand Creek Station will welcome the event back to Kansas in alternating years through 2030.

Sand Creek Station has previously hosted the national tournament four times and was selected once again as part of the NJCAA’s long-term championship rotation.

“Sand Creek Station is honored to be selected once again to host the Men’s Division I National Championship in 2028 and 2030,” general manager Dustin Housh said in a statement. “This prestigious event is one we have proudly hosted four times, and it continues to be a true showcase of the championship-level quality of our golf course and the strong partnership of the City of Newton and the NJCAA.”

NJCAA Division I Men’s Golf Committee chair Josh Gooch said both sites will provide strong championship tests for the nation’s top junior college golfers.

“The Division I Men’s Golf Committee is proud to have secured two great golf courses to host the Men’s Division I Golf Championships through 2030,” Gooch said. “Sand Creek Station in Newton, Kansas, and Hardscrabble Country Club in Fort Smith, Arkansas, will be great tests for the best in NJCAA Men’s Division I Golf.”

Located in Newton, Sand Creek Station is known as one of Kansas’ premier public golf facilities. The course stretches beyond 7,200 yards from the back tees and features multiple holes along Sand Creek, with natural water features, tree-lined fairways and varying wind conditions that create a demanding championship layout.

The NJCAA, founded in 1938, is the national governing body for two-year collegiate athletics and oversees more than 500 member schools, 3,400 teams and 57 national championships and invitationals annually.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703867172069.jpeg" alt="Sand Creek Station" />
 <figcaption>Sand Creek Station</figcaption>
 </figure>Sand Creek Station Golf Course in Newton will again serve as a national championship venue after the National Junior College Athletic Association announced Thursday that the course will host the NJCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship in 2028 and 2030.The NJCAA said the 2027 and 2029 championships will be played at Hardscrabble Country Club in Fort Smith, Arkansas, while Sand Creek Station will welcome the event back to Kansas in alternating years through 2030.Sand Creek Station has previously hosted the national tournament four times and was selected once again as part of the NJCAA’s long-term championship rotation.“Sand Creek Station is honored to be selected once again to host the Men’s Division I National Championship in 2028 and 2030,” general manager Dustin Housh said in a statement. “This prestigious event is one we have proudly hosted four times, and it continues to be a true showcase of the championship-level quality of our golf course and the strong partnership of the City of Newton and the NJCAA.”NJCAA Division I Men’s Golf Committee chair Josh Gooch said both sites will provide strong championship tests for the nation’s top junior college golfers.“The Division I Men’s Golf Committee is proud to have secured two great golf courses to host the Men’s Division I Golf Championships through 2030,” Gooch said. “Sand Creek Station in Newton, Kansas, and Hardscrabble Country Club in Fort Smith, Arkansas, will be great tests for the best in NJCAA Men’s Division I Golf.”Located in Newton, Sand Creek Station is known as one of Kansas’ premier public golf facilities. The course stretches beyond 7,200 yards from the back tees and features multiple holes along Sand Creek, with natural water features, tree-lined fairways and varying wind conditions that create a demanding championship layout.The NJCAA, founded in 1938, is the national governing body for two-year collegiate athletics and oversees more than 500 member schools, 3,400 teams and 57 national championships and invitationals annually.

⛳ Newton to host NJCAA DI Men’s Golf Championships in 2028, 2030

Vinnie Pasquantino had the World Baseball Classic’s first three-homer game, leading Italy over Mexico 9-1 on Wednesday night to win Pool B and advance the United States to the quarterfinals as group’s second-place team.

Italy’s victory ended a day of uncertainty for the Americans, who needed help to reach the quarterfinals after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohtani-japan-wbc-czech-republic-43ea69457b1a8d4f7cc3980624ea2074">losing to Italy 8-6</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday night.

Pasquantino, who opened the tournament 0 for 12, homered leading off the second, sixth and eighth innings to propel Italy to the quarterfinals for a third time and the second tournament in a row. Jon Berti also homered for Italy to help build a big lead early.

The Italians will face Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals in Houston on Saturday, a day after the U.S. plays Canada, which advanced past the first round for the first time.

Mexico’s loss eliminated it from qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, a disappointment for a team that finished third in the 2023 WBC, losing to eventual champion Japan in the semifinals.

Italy went 4-0 in pool play after no other European team had won more than two WBC games in a row.

Pasquantino celebrated with an espresso shot from the dugout machine after each homer, Italy’s fitting celebration after home runs.

He tried to bunt on his first pitch, then homered to the first row of the right-field seats off Javier Assad in the second inning. Berti’s shot to to left doubled the lead in the fourth.

Dante Nori’s run-scoring sacrifice bunt extended the lead in a three-run fifth capped by Jakob Marsee’s two-run single for a 5-0 lead.

Pasquantino homered starting the sixth against Daniel Duarte and again off Robert Garcia in the eighth.

Winner Aaron Nola allowed four hits and struck out five in five scoreless innings. Assad took the loss, permitting four runs and four hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Mexico loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh but managed just one run on a groundout by Alek Thomas.

Canada advances past World Baseball Classic first round for first time, beats Cuba 7-2

Canada advanced past the first round of the World Baseball Classic for the first time, beating Cuba 7-2 Wednesday in a winner-take-all game at San Juan, Puerto Rico, behind Abraham Toro’s homer and Otto Lopez’s two-run single.

Brothers Bo Naylor and Josh Naylor drove in runs, Owen Caissie had two RBIs and reliever James Paxton struck out six over 2 2/3 scoreless innings for Canada (3-1), which eliminated the Cubans (2-2) and won Group A over Puerto Rico (3-1). Cuba was knocked out in the first round for the first time.

Canada and Puerto Rico will play quarterfinals in Houston this weekend.

Cuba finished with three errors, and left fielder Ariel Martinez allowed Toro’s catchable fly starting the seventh to fall for a double. The Canadians broke open the game with a three-run sixth inning that included a dropped popup, a foul pop that fell, a wild pickoff throw and a catcher’s interference call on Andrys Perez, whose passed ball led to Canada’s first run.

Later Wednesday, Mexico and Italy were to play at Houston in a Group B game that will determine whether the U.S. advances.

Cuba escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first when Matt Davidson hit an inning-ending popout off loser Livan Moinelo, but Canada went ahead in the third on Caissie’s sacrifice fly. Toro homered in the fifth on a splitter from Yariel Rodríguez, a 420-foot drive to right.

Cuba scored in the bottom half on Yoelkis Guibert’s run-scoring groundout off winner Cal Quantrill, who allowed an unearned run and two hits over five innings.

Canada opened a 3-1 lead in the sixth on Bo Naylor’s RBI double.

Martinez drove in a run in the bottom half with his third hit and Josh Naylor had an RBI single in the seventh on a soft fly to left that popped up of the glove of Martinez, who tried for a sliding catch.

Cuba went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position. Adam Macko escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth when Yiddi Cappe swung over a curveball and James Paxton struck out Moncada in the seventh to leave runners at the corners.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773284953845.png" alt="Italy first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino hits a home run in the second inning of a World Baseball Classic game against Mexico, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)" />
 <figcaption>Italy first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino hits a home run in the second inning of a World Baseball Classic game against Mexico, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)</figcaption>
 </figure>Vinnie Pasquantino had the World Baseball Classic’s first three-homer game, leading Italy over Mexico 9-1 on Wednesday night to win Pool B and advance the United States to the quarterfinals as group’s second-place team.Italy’s victory ended a day of uncertainty for the Americans, who needed help to reach the quarterfinals after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohtani-japan-wbc-czech-republic-43ea69457b1a8d4f7cc3980624ea2074">losing to Italy 8-6</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday night.Pasquantino, who opened the tournament 0 for 12, homered leading off the second, sixth and eighth innings to propel Italy to the quarterfinals for a third time and the second tournament in a row. Jon Berti also homered for Italy to help build a big lead early.The Italians will face Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals in Houston on Saturday, a day after the U.S. plays Canada, which advanced past the first round for the first time.Mexico’s loss eliminated it from qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, a disappointment for a team that finished third in the 2023 WBC, losing to eventual champion Japan in the semifinals.Italy went 4-0 in pool play after no other European team had won more than two WBC games in a row.Pasquantino celebrated with an espresso shot from the dugout machine after each homer, Italy’s fitting celebration after home runs.He tried to bunt on his first pitch, then homered to the first row of the right-field seats off Javier Assad in the second inning. Berti’s shot to to left doubled the lead in the fourth.Dante Nori’s run-scoring sacrifice bunt extended the lead in a three-run fifth capped by Jakob Marsee’s two-run single for a 5-0 lead.Pasquantino homered starting the sixth against Daniel Duarte and again off Robert Garcia in the eighth.Winner Aaron Nola allowed four hits and struck out five in five scoreless innings. Assad took the loss, permitting four runs and four hits in 4 1/3 innings.Mexico loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh but managed just one run on a groundout by Alek Thomas.<h2>Canada advances past World Baseball Classic first round for first time, beats Cuba 7-2</h2>Canada advanced past the first round of the World Baseball Classic for the first time, beating Cuba 7-2 Wednesday in a winner-take-all game at San Juan, Puerto Rico, behind Abraham Toro’s homer and Otto Lopez’s two-run single.Brothers Bo Naylor and Josh Naylor drove in runs, Owen Caissie had two RBIs and reliever James Paxton struck out six over 2 2/3 scoreless innings for Canada (3-1), which eliminated the Cubans (2-2) and won Group A over Puerto Rico (3-1). Cuba was knocked out in the first round for the first time.Canada and Puerto Rico will play quarterfinals in Houston this weekend.Cuba finished with three errors, and left fielder Ariel Martinez allowed Toro’s catchable fly starting the seventh to fall for a double. The Canadians broke open the game with a three-run sixth inning that included a dropped popup, a foul pop that fell, a wild pickoff throw and a catcher’s interference call on Andrys Perez, whose passed ball led to Canada’s first run.Later Wednesday, Mexico and Italy were to play at Houston in a Group B game that will determine whether the U.S. advances.Cuba escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first when Matt Davidson hit an inning-ending popout off loser Livan Moinelo, but Canada went ahead in the third on Caissie’s sacrifice fly. Toro homered in the fifth on a splitter from Yariel Rodríguez, a 420-foot drive to right.Cuba scored in the bottom half on Yoelkis Guibert’s run-scoring groundout off winner Cal Quantrill, who allowed an unearned run and two hits over five innings.Canada opened a 3-1 lead in the sixth on Bo Naylor’s RBI double.Martinez drove in a run in the bottom half with his third hit and Josh Naylor had an RBI single in the seventh on a soft fly to left that popped up of the glove of Martinez, who tried for a sliding catch.Cuba went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position. Adam Macko escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth when Yiddi Cappe swung over a curveball and James Paxton struck out Moncada in the seventh to leave runners at the corners.