RALPH D. RUSSO
Florida State's Terance Mann (14) celebrates a basket during the second half of a second round men's college basketball game against Murray State in the NCAA tournament, Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
Inspired by grieving friend, Florida State rolls to Sweet 16

By Ralph D. Russo Mar. 23, 2019 08:29 PM EDT
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Scribbled in black marker on Terance Mann's left shoe was all

Purdue's head coach Matt Painter smiles during a news conference at the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament, Friday, March 22, 2019, in Hartford, Conn. Purdue will play Villanova on Saturday. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
South Region: In 'rebuilding' years, Purdue, 'Nova excel

By Ralph D. Russo Mar. 22, 2019 08:49 PM EDT
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Villanova lost four players off last season's NCAA

Murray State's Ja Morant listens to a question during a news conference at the men's college basketball NCAA Tournament, Friday, March 22, 2019, in Hartford, Conn. Murray State will play Florida State in the second round on Saturday. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Making Morant: Shooting Js, pumping iron, studying film

By Ralph D. Russo Mar. 22, 2019 06:51 PM EDT
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Murray State coaches knew they had something special with Ja

Old Dominion's Kalu Ezikpe (22) blocks a shot by Purdue's Carsen Edwards (3) as Purdue's Grady Eifert (24) and Old Dominion's B.J. Stith (3) look on during the first half of a first-round game in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament Thursday, March 21, 2019, in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Edwards leads Purdue past ODU 61-48 in 1st round of NCAA

By Ralph D. Russo Mar. 22, 2019 12:25 AM EDT
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — If this is what a slump looks like for Carsen Edwards, Purdue

Murray State's Ja Morant (12) reacts during the first half of a first round men's college basketball game against Marquette in the NCAA tournament, Thursday, March 21, 2019, in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
Morant's triple-double leads Murray St upset over Marquette

By Ralph D. Russo Mar. 21, 2019 07:22 PM EDT
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The game was in hand for Murray State and sensational point

Seton Hall guard Myles Cale (22) and Villanova guard Phil Booth (5) compete for a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Big East Conference tournament, Saturday, March 16, 2019, in New York. Villanova won 74-72. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Defending champ Villanova enters NCAAs from different angle

By Ralph D. Russo Mar. 20, 2019 07:34 PM EDT
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Villanova is coming into the NCAA Tournament this year from an

FILE - In this Friday, March 15, 2019, file photo, Marquette guard Markus Howard (0) drives past Seton Hall guard Quincy McKnight (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball in the Big East Conference tournament in New York. Murray State point guard Ja Morant is future NBA lottery pick. Marquette point guard Markus Howard is the Big East player of the year. Two of the top-10 scorers in the country meet in a 5-12 NCAA Tournament game in the West Region. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
Star guards Howard and Morant headline Marquette-Murray St

By Ralph D. Russo Mar. 20, 2019 04:42 PM EDT
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Murray State's Ja Morant and Marquette's Markus Howard have

Saint Louis guard Fred Thatch Jr. (20) goes up to shoot against St. Bonaventure center Amadi Ikpeze (32) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball final game in the Atlantic 10 men's tournament, Sunday, March 17, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Saint Louis rallies past Bonnies 55-53 for A-10 title

By Ralph D. Russo Mar. 17, 2019 03:43 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — Saint Louis coach Travis Ford could feel a shift about eight minutes

Isaiah Kennedy, left, of Rahway, N.J., throws confetti with Villanova cheerleaders after Villanova defeated Seton Hall 74-72 in an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Big East Conference tournament, Saturday, March 16, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
'Nova edges Seton Hall 74-72 for 3rd straight Big East title

By Ralph D. Russo Mar. 16, 2019 09:12 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — Phil Booth entered the New York Knicks' locker room — only the best

Marquette guard Markus Howard (0) goes up for a shot against Seton Hall guard Quincy McKnight (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball semifinal game in the Big East men's tournament, Friday, March 15, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Seton Hall beats Marquette 81-79 to reach Big East final

By Ralph D. Russo Mar. 16, 2019 01:41 AM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — Instead of a showdown between the Big East's top two scorers, Seton

Seton Hall guard Myles Powell (13) drives against Georgetown guard Jagan Mosely (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Big East men's tournament, Thursday, March 14, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Powell goes off in 1st half, Seton Hall beats G'Town 73-57

By Ralph D. Russo Mar. 15, 2019 12:16 AM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — Myles Powell was working the crowd and working over Georgetown in a

Xavier's Kyle Castlin (2) celebrates in front of Creighton's Mitch Ballock (24) after making a three-point basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Big East men's tournament Thursday, March 14, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Xavier advances to Big East semis, beats Creighton 63-61

By Ralph D. Russo Mar. 14, 2019 05:06 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — This time last year, Zach Hankins was leading Ferris State to a

St. John's forward Marvin Clark II (13) goes up for a shot against DePaul guard Max Strus (31) and forward Femi Olujobi during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Big East men's tournament Wednesday, March 13, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Ponds, St. John's snap skid, 82-74 vs DePaul in Big East

By Ralph D. Russo Mar. 13, 2019 11:56 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — Facing the possibility of taking a four-game losing streak into

Marquette's Howard and Nova's Wright honored by Big East

By Ralph D. Russo Mar. 13, 2019 06:09 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — Marquette guard Markus Howard is the Big East player of the year

FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2019, file photo, Duke's Zion Williamson (1) dunks during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Clemson, in Durham, N.C. Williamson was named both The Associated Press ACC player and newcomer of the year, Tuesday, March 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
AP Top 25 Podcast: Talkin' basketball_ March Madness edition

By Ralph D. Russo Mar. 13, 2019 01:25 PM EDT
The madness of March has already begun with conference tournaments in full swing and

NCAA Tournament selection on CBS to show bracket 1st again

By Ralph D. Russo Mar. 12, 2019 10:18 AM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — The NCAA Tournament selection show is returning to CBS and its

FILE - In this March 21, 2013, file photo taken with a fisheye lens, the NCAA logo is displayed at mid-court before Albany's practice for a second-round game of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Philadelphia. A judge has ruled against the NCAA in a federal antitrust lawsuit, saying football and basketball players should be permitted to receive more compensation from schools but only if the benefits are tied to education. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
Judge rules against NCAA in federal antitrust lawsuit

By Ralph D. Russo Mar. 08, 2019 10:55 PM EST
A judge ruled against the NCAA on Friday night in a federal antitrust lawsuit, saying

FILE - In this Nov. 20, 2012, file photo, Big Ten Conference Commissioner Jim Delany answers a question during a news conference, at Rutgers University in Piscataway, N.J. Delany, one of the most influential figures in college athletics for three decades, will step down as Big Ten commissioner when his contract expires June 30, 2020. The Big Ten announced Delany’s plans on Monday, March 4, 2019. The 71-year-old has been commissioner since 1989. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)
Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany will step down in June 2020

By Ralph D. Russo Mar. 04, 2019 04:38 PM EST
Jim Delany helped the Big Ten grow to 14 schools, launched the first athletic

A-10 men's tournament to DC in '22, Brooklyn in 2023, '24

By Ralph D. Russo Feb. 05, 2019 09:00 AM EST
NEW YORK (AP) — The Atlantic 10 Conference men's basketball tournament will return to

Alabama head coach Nick Saban and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney pose with the trophy at a news conference for the NCAA college football playoff championship game Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Alabama-Clemson IV: Can Saban's dynasty reach new heights?

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 06, 2019 04:23 PM EST
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Alabama coach Nick Saban and Clemson coach Dabo Swinney went