Iona Gaels
In this 2019 photo provided by UCLA Athletics, Hep Cronin, left, sits with his son UCLA men's basketball coach Mick Cronin, right, at the Wooden's booth at VIP's Cafe in the Tarzana section of Los Angeles where legendary UCLA coach John Wooden used to have breakfast every morning. Mike's dad has become an unlikely celebrity during the Bruins' run to the Final Four in his son's second season in Westwood. (UCLA Athletics via AP)
Father Hep: Cronin's dad relishes UCLA's run to Final Four

By Joe Reedy Apr. 02, 2021 07:19 PM EDT

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Apr. 01, 2021 01:00 PM EDT
April 7 1940 — Jimmy Demaret wins the Masters with a four-stroke triumph over Lloyd Mangrum. Mangrum shoots an opening round 64, a course...

Siena extends men's hoops coach Maciariello 3 years

Mar. 26, 2021 07:24 PM EDT
LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. (AP) — Siena men’s basketball coach Carmen Maciariello has signed a three-year contract extension, the school announced Friday. ...

Alabama's Herbert Jones (1) Alabama's Jordan Bruner (2) celebrate a teammate's score against Maryland during the second half of a college basketball game in the second round of the NCAA tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis Monday, March 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Shackelford, Alabama roll past Maryland and into Sweet 16

By Gary B. Graves Mar. 22, 2021 11:11 PM EDT

Ohio players celebrate on the court after defeating Virginia in a first-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 20, 2021, at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Coronavirus doesn't care that it's the NCAA Tournament

By Jim Litke Mar. 21, 2021 02:25 AM EDT

Georgetown head coach Patrick Ewing yells to his team as they plays against against Colorado in the first half of a first-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Colorado, Bama, LSU advance in East; Ewing, Pitino go home

By Bernie Wilson Mar. 20, 2021 08:59 PM EDT

Iona head coach Rick Pitino gestures as his team plays against Alabama in the first half of a first-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Dressed down: Alabama rolls over Pitino, Iona 68-55

By Eddie Pells Mar. 20, 2021 06:21 PM EDT

Purdue's Trevion Williams (50) reacts with Jaden Ivey (23) after a dunk during the second half of a first-round game against North Texas in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium, Friday, March 19, 2021, in Indianapolis. Williams was fouled on the play. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Syracuse Orange at West Virginia Mountaineers 3/21/2021

Mar. 19, 2021 10:26 PM EDT

FILE - Kansas head coach Les Miles is shown before an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., in this Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, file photo. LSU's former athletic director recommended in 2013 that Les Miles be fired as Tigers football coach because of his behavior with female student workers. Then-Athletic Director Joe Alleva's recommendation to former LSU President F. King Alexander is detailed in a newly released report into how the university handled sexual misconduct complaints. The report was released Friday, March 5, 2021, by the Husch Blackwell law firm. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Column: Sports always provides a conduit to forgiveness

By Paul Newberry Mar. 19, 2021 04:05 PM EDT

FILE - Iona head coach Rick Pitino celebrates after Iona won an NCAA college basketball game against Fairfield during the finals of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament in Atlantic City, N.J., in this Saturday, March 13, 2021, file photo.Rick Pitino survived sex scandals and FBI investigations , won national championships , and when his coaching options seemingly dried up , he left for Greece. Somehow , the winding road of his career took him to Iona - and back in the NCAA Tournament. The last stop - he swears it’s true - of his career. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
Pitino rises from ashes of scandal for rebirth at Iona

By Dan Gelston Mar. 18, 2021 06:11 PM EDT

FILE - Louisville coach Rick Pitino and this team celebrate at the trophy ceremony after winning the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against Michigan in Atlanta, in this Monday, April 8, 2013, file photo. Rick Pitino survived sex scandals and FBI investigations , won national championships , and when his coaching options seemingly dried up , he left for Greece. Somehow , the winding road of his career took him to Iona - and back in the NCAA Tournament. The last stop - he swears it’s true - of his career. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)
NCAA Final Four

Mar. 18, 2021 03:28 PM EDT

Baylor's Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua (23) and Mark Vital (11), along with Kansas State's DaJuan Gordon (3), battle for a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the second round of the Big 12 Conference tournament in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, March 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
NBA Academy alums lining up for NCAA Tournament

By Ken Maguire Mar. 18, 2021 12:04 PM EDT

Oklahoma State's Cade Cunningham (2) passes over Baylor's MaCio Teague during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, March 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
NCAA teams hit by COVID pauses take hope from antibodies

By Dave Skretta Mar. 17, 2021 02:50 PM EDT

Oakland and Cleveland State play at Farmers Coliseum during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the men's Horizon League conference tournament championship game, Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Indianapolis. The coliseum is one of six venues hosting NCAA Tournament games later this week.(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
6 officials out of NCAA Tournament after 1 tests positive

By Eddie Pells And Steve Megargee Mar. 16, 2021 01:14 PM EDT

Minnesota head coach Richard Pitino watches his team play against Rutgers in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 6, 2021, in Minneapolis. Rutgers won 77-70 in overtime. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
New Mexico hires Pitino, as Minnesota aims higher once again

By Dave Campbell Mar. 16, 2021 12:44 PM EDT

Minnesota head coach Richard Pitino watches during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Northwestern at the Big Ten Conference tournament, Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Minnesota fires coach Richard Pitino after 8 seasons

By Dave Campbell Mar. 15, 2021 10:25 PM EDT

Gonzaga celebrates after defeating BYU in an NCAA college basketball game for the West Coast Conference men's tournament championship Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
68 teams punch their ticket. Now comes the hard part

By Eddie Pells Mar. 15, 2021 02:28 AM EDT

Iona head coach Rick Pitino, from left, Isaiah Ross and Dylan van Eyck pose with the trophy after winning an NCAA college basketball game against Fairfield during the finals of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament, Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Atlantic City, N.J. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Pitino in NCAA Tournament, Kentucky out after chaotic season

By John Marshall Mar. 14, 2021 10:27 PM EDT

Colgate players celebrate beating Loyola (Md.), in an NCAA college basketball game in the finals of the Patriot League tournament, Sunday, March 14, 2021, in Hamilton, N.Y. (AP Photo/John Munson)
The Latest on Selection Sunday: NCAAs start with SWAC vs NEC

By The Associated Press Mar. 14, 2021 07:54 PM EDT

Georgetown's Dante Harris celebrates while holding the Most Outstanding Player trophy after an NCAA college basketball game against Creighton in the championship of the Big East Conference tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Life on the bubble: Brackets set for return of March Madness

By Eddie Pells Mar. 14, 2021 06:30 PM EDT