Post

USWNT vs. Colombia: Starting XI and Lineup Notes for March 7 Match The U.S. Women’s National Team will face Colombia in a crucial SheBelieves Cup match on Saturday, March 7, at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey. Kickoff is set for 3:37 p.m. ET, with the game broadcast on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max in English, and Universo and Peacock in Spanish. Radio coverage will be available on Westwood One in English and Futból de Primera in Spanish. The U.S. squad, led by captain Naomi Girma, has named a Starting XI that includes 11 players with 47.5 combined caps, marking the most experienced lineup since October 2025. Head coach Emma Hayes made two adjustments to the lineup, replacing Claire Hutton with Lily Yohannes and Gisele Thompson with Avery Patterson. The Starting XI features six players with FIFA Women’s World Cup or Olympic experience, including Rose Lavelle, Emily Sonnett, Emily Fox, Girma, Trinity Rodman, and Sam Coffey. Phallon Tullis-Joyce earns her sixth cap and second consecutive start in her first SheBelieves Cup tournament. The 29-year-old, who recently returned from a break, will play her first international match with the team. Rose Lavelle, the most capped player in the Starting XI, will make her 118th appearance and 98th start, surpassing Emily Sonnett’s 115 caps. Sonnett, who has competed in all 11 SheBelieves Cups, holds the record for the most individual tournament wins with seven. Emily Fox, the Arsenal right back, will make her 73rd cap and 62nd start, having contributed to a clean sheet in the previous match. Naomi Girma, the 25-year-old captain, will lead the team for the fifth time, having reached 50 caps on December 1, 2025. Trinity Rodman, at 23, will earn her 52nd cap and 32nd start, becoming the 22nd fastest player to reach 50 caps.#shebelieves_cup #colombia #uswnt #naomi_girma #sports_illustrated_stadium

USA 2-0 Argentina in SheBelieves Cup Opener The United States women’s national team secured a dominant 2-0 victory over Argentina in the opening match of the 2026 SheBelieves Cup on Sunday, March 1. The win extended the Americans’ streak of consecutive shutouts to six games and marked their first win in the tournament since the round-robin format was introduced. Lindsey Heaps and Jaedyn Shaw led the charge for the U.S., with Heaps scoring the opening goal in the 19th minute and adding an assist. Heaps received a pass from Emma Sears on the left wing, then converted the opportunity with a left-footed strike from just outside the penalty area. The goal marked Heaps’ 39th international goal, the highest total among current U.S. players. Shaw doubled the lead in the 56th minute with a right-footed shot that curved toward the left post. The goal was her 10th international tally, showcasing her growing impact for the team. After Shaw’s goal, Lilly Reale was substituted due to a right leg injury, with Emily Fox coming on in her place. Argentina’s Milagros Martín received a yellow card in stoppage time for shoving Trinity Rodman from behind. Rodman was treated on the field during the second half but did not return for the final minutes of the match. The U.S. controlled the game’s tempo, holding 67.7% possession and recording three shots on target. Argentina managed only one shot on goal against U.S. goalkeeper Claudia Dickey. The SheBelieves Cup, featuring teams from the U.S., Canada, Argentina, and Colombia, will move to Columbus, Ohio, on March 4, where the U.S. will face Canada. Canada opened the tournament with a 4-1 win over Colombia, with Vanessa Gilles, Janine Sonis, Sydney Collins, and Nichelle Prince scoring. The U.S.#shebelieves_cup #argentina #usa_wnt #lindsey_heaps #jaedyn_shaw

USWNT vs. Colombia: SheBelieves Cup Final Set for Saturday The U.S. women’s national team will face Colombia in the final match of the 2026 SheBelieves Cup on Saturday, March 7, at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey. The game, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET, marks a critical opportunity for the U.S. to reclaim the tournament title after their five-game winning streak was ended by Japan in 2025. A win or draw would secure their first SheBelieves Cup victory under head coach Emma Hayes, who took over the team in June 2024. The U.S. squad, led by Hayes, enters the final with momentum following a 1-0 victory over Canada on Wednesday. This win solidified their position at the top of the tournament table with six points, giving them a strong foundation for the final. The team’s experience and depth will be key as they face a Colombia side that, despite missing several key players, remains a formidable opponent. Colombia, coached by Angelo Marsiglia, has been inconsistent in the tournament. Their opening match against Canada ended in a 4-1 loss, though they narrowly defeated Argentina 1-0. The squad, which includes players like Linda Caicedo and Greicy Landazury, will be tested by the U.S. team’s tactical approach and defensive organization. Forward Ally Sentnor, who scored the game-winning goal against Canada, is expected to play a pivotal role in the final. Sentnor, who previously competed in the 2025 SheBelieves Cup, has adapted to her role as a forward after playing in different positions during her youth club days. She emphasized her willingness to contribute in any capacity, highlighting her speed and agility as assets to the team. Defenders Giselle Thompson and Avery Patterson may also see increased playing time, with Thompson starting consecutive games for the first time under Hayes’ tenure.#shebelieves_cup #colombia #uswnt #emma_hayes #angelo_marsiglia

2026 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament Bracket: Updated Seeds and Matchups as of March 6, 2026 The Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament is set to begin on March 10, with the event hosted in Kansas City, Missouri, at the T-Mobile Center. The conference, known for its competitive talent, features four teams ranked in the nation’s top 10. Recent developments, such as West Virginia’s victory over UCF, have added unpredictability to the tournament landscape. Arizona remains the conference’s top-ranked team, though several squads have seen notable shifts in their standings. Below is the latest seeding and projected matchups for the tournament. The updated seedings include Kansas State at No. 2 with a 3-14 record, Baylor at No. 3 with a 5-12 record, and Oklahoma State at No. 4 with a 6-11 record. Arizona State and Colorado are tied at No. 5 with identical 7-10 records, while West Virginia is listed at No. 9 with a 9-9 record. Cincinnati and TCU follow at No. 10 and No. 11, respectively, with records of 9-8 and 10-7. Iowa State and Kansas share the No. 12 spot with 11-6 records, and Texas Tech is at No. 14 with a 12-5 record. Houston and Arizona round out the list at No. 15 and No. 16, with records of 13-4 and 15-2. The tournament’s first round is scheduled for Tuesday, March 10, with four games set to take place. No. 12 Arizona State will face No. 13 Oklahoma State at 11:30 AM CT on ESPN+. No. 9 UCF will challenge No. 16 Utah at 2:00 PM CT, while No. 10 BYU will meet No. 15 Kansas State at 6:00 PM CT. The final first-round matchup will see No. 11 Colorado take on No. 14 Baylor at 8:30 PM CT. The second round begins on Wednesday, March 11, with No. 5 Iowa State facing the winner of Game 1 at 11:30 AM CT. No. 8 West Virginia will play the winner of Game 2 at 2:00 PM CT, followed by No.#big_12 #t_mobile_center #kansas_city #kansas_state #baylor

Kansas City no longer a slam dunk for Big 12 basketball tournament The Big 12 Conference has long relied on Kansas City’s T-Mobile Arena for its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, a decision that has now come under scrutiny. Commissioner Brett Yormark extended the contract for the event through 2031 last year, but the arrangement is increasingly seen as outdated given the conference’s expanded geographic reach. The Big 12, once a Midwest-centric league, now spans nearly 2,000 miles from east to west, making Kansas City an impractical hub for fans in Arizona, Utah, and other western states. The decision to keep the tournament in Kansas City has drawn criticism for its limited appeal. While the venue works for schools like Kansas, Iowa State, and Kansas State, it poses significant travel challenges for fans in Colorado, Arizona, and Utah. For example, a trip from Colorado’s campus to Kansas City is over 600 miles, and mid-March Kansas City is not a typical destination for most Big 12 fans. The article highlights the need for a more geographically diverse rotation to accommodate the league’s growing footprint. Comparisons to the Pac-12’s approach to its tournament provide a blueprint for change. Former Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott moved the event from Los Angeles to Las Vegas in 2013, transforming it into a major destination for fans. The shift allowed for broader regional access and created a more engaging experience for attendees. Similarly, the Big 12 could adopt a rotating schedule to ensure accessibility for all member schools. Proposed locations for future tournaments include Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, Denver, Dallas, and Salt Lake City. This rotation would provide fans in different regions with more affordable and convenient options to attend the event.#t_mobile_arena #las_vegas #big_12_conference #brett_yormark #pac_12

Cincinnati Men's Basketball Concludes Regular Season Against TCU Saturday The Cincinnati men’s basketball team aims to finish its regular season with seven wins in its final eight games as it faces TCU at 2 p.m. ET Saturday at Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth. The matchup will be televised on TNT and broadcast on 700 WLW and the TuneIn app. The game marks the Bearcats’ final regular-season contest, offering a chance to solidify their position in the Big 12 standings. The 2025-26 season represents the 125th year of competition for Cincinnati men’s basketball, a milestone the program will celebrate throughout the year. The Bearcats, recognized as a top-10 program in college basketball history by the Associated Press, have a storied legacy including 44 All-Americans, 41 conference titles, six Final Four appearances, and back-to-back national championships dating back to the 1901-02 season. This season, the team has maintained a strong defensive presence, ranking 10th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency according to KenPom. They also lead the Big 12 in 3-point attempts per game and rank among the top teams in scoring defense, assists per game, and field goal percentage defense. Senior forward Baba Miller has emerged as a standout performer, tying for 22nd nationally and ranking second in the Big 12 in double-doubles with 12. He leads the conference in defensive rebounds per game at 7.68 and is among the top rebounders in the nation with 10.0 total rebounds per contest. Miller’s contributions have been critical to the team’s success, as he averages 13.8 points, 10.0 boards, and 3.6 assists per game, joining a select group of players in college basketball averaging at least 13-10-3 for a full season.#cincinnati_men_s_basketball #tcu #schollmaier_arena #big_12 #baba_miller

Cincinnati Bearcats Basketball Slight Betting Underdogs Ahead of Regular-Season Finale At TCU The Cincinnati Bearcats are slight underdogs in their upcoming regular-season finale against the TCU Horned Frogs, set for Saturday. The game, scheduled for 2 p.m. ET, will be broadcast on TNT and HBO Max. TCU is favored by 2.5 points on the consensus betting line, with the total points projected at 138.5. Cincinnati enters the matchup with a strong 17-13 record overall and a 14-16 mark against the spread. The Bearcats have won six of their past seven games, including a recent victory over BYU that sparked discussions about their NCAA Tournament prospects. However, they remain a slight underdog against TCU, which carries a 20-10 straight-up record and a 17-13 ATS (against the spread) mark. The underdog status could influence the game, as Cincinnati has struggled with the over in 18 of 29 games this season, while TCU has a 8-11 record at home. However, the Bearcats have shown improved offensive efficiency in their last six contests, scoring over 1.2 points per possession in five of those games. This surge has helped them rise from the NCAA Tournament “death zone,” a term used to describe teams with uncertain postseason chances. Coach Wes Miller emphasized that his team’s focus remains on winning each game rather than chasing tournament hype. “We talked about it after the Kansas game, because I knew that would create some of the NCAA Tournament talk,” Miller said. “We agreed as a team that we weren’t going to get caught up in the things that are put out there for clicks and for interest.” He noted that while media attention has shifted to the tournament earlier this season, the team’s priority is simply playing with joy and competing.#ncaa_tournament #cincinnati_bearcats #tcu_horned_frogs #wes_miller #tnt

Miami (Ohio) Athletic Director David Sayler Calls for Disclaimer on Bruce Pearl’s NCAA Tournament Comments Miami (Ohio) athletic director David Sayler has publicly criticized former Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl, urging television networks to add a disclaimer when Pearl discusses NCAA Tournament eligibility. The dispute erupted after Pearl criticized Miami’s chances of making the postseason, suggesting the Redhawks must win their MAC tournament to qualify. Sayler, who has long advocated for mid-major programs, argued that Pearl’s remarks reflect bias and lack of objectivity. Pearl, appearing on TNT’s college basketball show, questioned Miami’s credentials, stating that the team’s lack of high-profile wins against ranked opponents makes it an unlikely candidate for at-large selection. “If we’re selecting the 68 best teams, then Miami (Ohio) is going to have to win their tournament to qualify as a champion,” Pearl said, emphasizing that the Redhawks are not among the nation’s elite. His comments sparked backlash, with many fans and analysts defending Miami’s season, which includes a perfect 30-0 record. Sayler, however, took issue with Pearl’s approach, particularly his use of the word “we” when discussing Auburn’s tournament prospects. “He shouldn’t be on a TV screen giving advice or opinions on the NCAA Tournament when he’s clearly biased,” Sayler told OutKick. “There should be a disclaimer on the bottom of the screen or something. That’s clearly what he’s doing.” The controversy gained traction as Pearl’s son, Steven, coaches Auburn’s struggling team, which is also on the NCAA Tournament bubble. While Pearl has publicly supported his son’s chances, critics argue his criticism of Miami may be influenced by Auburn’s own postseason struggles.#ncaa_tournament #mac_tournament #miami_ohio #david_sayler #bruce_pearl

Miami's undefeated regular season makes it an NCAA Tournament lock Miami University's 31-0 record in the regular season has solidified its place in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, as no Division I men's basketball team has ever missed the tournament after finishing its regular season undefeated. The RedHawks, led by coach Travis Steele, are guaranteed an at-large bid regardless of their performance in the MAC Tournament, with the selection committee facing immense pressure to include them if they fall short. Despite a strength of schedule ranking 344th nationally, Miami's undefeated run has been a dominant force in the MAC. The team's schedule, which included several high-profile matchups, was shaped by their consistent success, as returning four of the top five scorers from a 25-win season gave them an edge over other programs reluctant to face them. However, the low strength of schedule has sparked debate, with critics arguing it undermines their credentials. Yet, the RedHawks' perfect record remains a defining factor in their NCAA Tournament inclusion. Miami currently sits at No. 19 in the CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 rankings, with Duke holding the No. 1 spot for the 14th consecutive day. The Blue Devils, along with Michigan and Arizona, have already secured No. 1 seeds in the tournament. The fourth No. 1 seed is expected to be among Florida, UConn, Houston, or Michigan. The rankings section highlights individual performances from top teams, including Cameron Boozer's 26-point game for North Carolina State, Yaxel Lendeborg's 16-point effort for Iowa, and Jaden Bradley's 17-point contribution for Kansas. These stats reflect the competitive landscape as teams prepare for their final regular-season games.#miami_university #travis_steele #ncaa_tournament #mac_tournament #cbs_sports

South Carolina Men's Basketball Concludes Regular Season at Ole Miss South Carolina men’s basketball will wrap up its regular season on Saturday as the Gamecocks face Ole Miss at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion. The game is set for 1 p.m. ET on the SEC Network, with play-by-play commentator Mike Morgan and analyst Rodney Terry providing coverage. The matchup marks the Gamecocks’ fourth consecutive visit to Oxford, where they have secured three straight victories since a 77-74 overtime win on February 15, 2022. The Gamecocks, currently 12-18 overall and 3-14 in the SEC, aim to build momentum ahead of the SEC Tournament after a three-game losing streak. Their recent loss to No. 23/25 Tennessee on Senior Night highlighted a challenging stretch, but they remain optimistic. Meechie Johnson led the team with 20 points, four assists, two rebounds, and a steal, while Nordin Kapic contributed 13 points off the bench. Mike Sharavjamts surpassed 1,000 career points in the game, joining Kobe Knox and Myles Stute as players to achieve this milestone this season. Johnson’s performance has been standout, with a career-best 12 games scoring 20 or more points, 10 of which came in SEC action. This places him tied for third in the league with Auburn’s Keyshawn Hall. Since 2004-05, only Devan Downey (2010) and Sindarius Thornwell (2017) have matched this feat. Johnson’s 19.8 points per game in SEC contests rank him among the top four players in the conference in scoring and assists. His 17.3 points per game overall position him as a potential candidate to become just the 12th player in program history to average 17.0 points per game in a season. South Carolina’s free throw shooting has been a key strength, with the team shooting 78.6% (508-of-646) through 30 games.#ole_miss #south_carolina_mens_basketball #meechie_johnson #mike_sharavjamts #kobe_knox