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    South Carolina comes into its Sweet 16 matchup with No. 4 seed Indiana in Albany on Friday four wins from becoming just the 10th team in NCAA women's basketball history to put up a perfect season. South Carolina would join UConn (which has done it six times), Tennessee (1997-98), Baylor(2011-12) and Texas (1985-86). The Gamecocks (34-0) are 105-3 over the last three seasons and 21-1 against ranked opponents over that time. Defense is expected to be the focus in other half of the Albany 1 regional where Notre Dame faces Oregon State on Friday. The Irish (28-6) have been giving up an average of 57.5 points during their current 10-game winning streak. Oregon State (26-7) is allowing opponents just 59.3 points this season.

      The NCAA transfer portal not only challenges college basketball programs to find the right players to fill roster vacancies but also keep that vast talent pool from becoming deeper with their own players. Smaller schools from lower-profile conferences face an even tougher task in convincing players to stay as bigger schools offer greener pastures -- with name, image and likeness (NIL) endorsement opportunities sweetening the pot in a way they can't. Programs such as Morehead State and Montana State have made it work on the men's side. Drake and top-ranked South Carolina have done so on the women's side.

        For most teams, facing a 7-foot-4, 300-pound force of nature like Zach Edey is uncharted territory. Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, Edey is no mystery to them. Twice over the past 16 months, the Zags have faced Edey and Purdue, and twice they have lost by double digits. Gonzaga's third try at toppling the big man comes Friday in the Sweet 16. The winner will face either Creighton or Tennessee with a trip to the Final Four at stake.

        ORLANDO, Fla. — To all of those “exploited” college athletes and to the many critics of the NCAA who are lauding the recent landmark decision by the Dartmouth basketball team to unionize so they can be considered employees of the university, just remember this: Be careful what you wish for. You may think you are fighting for the future of college athletes everywhere, but more likely you will ...

        SEATTLE — And ... we have a winner. Well, the Washington men's basketball program has a winner. And I don't mean simply that the university picked a new coach to replace Mike Hopkins a few weeks after his firing. I just mean that Danny Sprinkle — the new head Husky — wins everywhere he goes. That's what the university should have been looking for seven years ago, but this time it did it right. ...

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        The UConn Huskies pretty much wrecked every team they faced in the NCAA Tournament on the way to last year's championship and the first two games this March Madness look awfully familiar. Up next is a wrinkle. They have a rematch with a San Diego State team that was outclassed in the title game a year ago and remembers it. The Aztecs think this year's outcome can be different, but know how tough that will be, especially with Thursday night's East Region semifinal game being played in Boston. The site is about an 85-mile drive from UConn's campus.

        Women's college athletes across the United States no longer have to count on a professional contract to earn real money. Basketball players like Caitlin Clark of Iowa and Angel Reese of LSU having some of the top endorsement valuations in college. Both expect their sponsors to stay with them when they turn pro. The perennially popular U.S. women's soccer team, the growth of women's professional soccer and hockey, the wild popularity of volleyball and college softball — and simply more exposure on TV — have all laid a foundation for fans to find what they want to see.

        Caitlin Clark has reshaped women's college basketball and the perception of it. The Iowa star has made a name for herself by breaking records and stretching the range of shooting possibilities to the midcourt logo. Up-and-coming players have taken notice, working to extend their range to be like Caitlin. Clark also has a superb all-around game and deep work ethic, something coaches can harp on with young players. Clark also has opened the door to what's possible financially through NIL deals through hard work and projecting the right image.

        Deion Sanders shook up college football in Boulder and beyond last year when he and his Colorado program announced, “We comin’.” His message this week to the NFL: “We ain’t.” Not Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, anyway. Not unless the city or franchise makes the cut. Dallas does, in case you were wondering. Prime Time Jr. would be right up Jerry Jones’ alley. On a recent “Million Dollaz ...

        RALEIGH, N.C. — Aziaha James scored 22 points and No. 3 seed North Carolina State blew nearly all of a 20-point lead before holding off No. 6 seed Tennessee 79-72 in Monday's second round of the NCAA Tournament, sending the Wolfpack back to the Sweet 16.

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