The New York Yankees had a big offensive outing Saturday afternoon to improve to 2-0 after its opening series against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Aaron Judge led the Yankees in the 20-9 victory, having gone 4-for-6 at the plate while hitting three home runs and bringing in eight runs.

The Yankees started the game with three consecutive home runs with each coming on one of the first three pitches of the game. The team also set a new franchise record, finishing the game with nine home runs. 

Despite the offensive outing, the team’s newly designed bats may be the biggest takeaway from the day.

New York Yankees’ new bat design explained

Several of the Yankees players were spotted wielding a uniquely designed bat on Saturday.

The Yankees’ longtime broadcaster and play-by-play announcer, Michael Kay, spent time during the game explaining the bats in question while Anthony Volpe was at the plate with one in his hands.

‘The Yankees front office’s analytics department did a study on (Volpe),” Kay said. “Every single ball it seemed like he hit on the label, he didn’t hit any on the barrel, so they had bats made up where they moved a lot of the wood into the label so that the harder part of the bat is going to strike the ball.”

Reaction to Yankees’ newly designed bats

The superstar UConn women’s basketball guard dropped a career-high 40 points in an 82-59 win over Oklahoma to get the Huskies to the Elite Eight for the second consecutive season, the 18th time in the last 19 seasons and the 29th time in program history.

‘I felt not so great in the first half, felt a lot better in the second half,’ Bueckers, who recorded 11 first-half points, said postgame. ‘We knew shots would fall. We thought we did well defensively besides a couple mental mistakes that we made as a team, that I made individually.

‘But just sticking with it, sticking to our habits and sticking to what we do. Getting the same shots and trusting that they are going to fall. We work extremely hard as a team and just trusting that and continuing to play our game.’

Bueckers was subbed out with about 3 minutes left, getting a thunderous ovation from the entire crowd in Spokane, Washington.

USA TODAY Sports brought you live updates, scores, highlights and analysis throughout the game. Check it out below.

Paige Bueckers stats, points today

Paige Bueckers scored 40 points against Oklahoma — a new career high and a record for most points by a UConn player in an NCAA Tournament game. She went 16-of-27 shooting (including 6-of-8 from 3) and has 6 boards, an assist, 3 steals, 2 blocks and 3 turnovers.

Who does UConn women’s basketball play next in Elite Eight?

The Huskies will play No. 1 USC on Monday at 9 p.m. ET. Here is an early preview of UConn vs. USC women’s basketball.

Paige Bueckers career-high points

The UConn guard’s career-high in a game is now 40 points. Her previous career-high was 34 points, achieved twice: Most recently in the second round against South Dakota State and for the first time against Arkansas in November 2021.

UConn women’s basketball scoring leaders

Paige Bueckers (2,375) moved into third on the list after a 40-point performance in the Sweet 16. Maya Moore (3,036), Breanna Stewart (2,676) and Napheesa Collier (2,401) lead the list.

Paige Bueckers scoring in NCAA Tournament

Paige Bueckers’ opened the game against Oklahoma with a 3-pointer, which moved her up the all-time scoring list in the NCAA Tournament. She sits in ninth, ahead of Seimone Augustus and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (374) and just behind Bridgette Gordon (388).

UConn women’s basketball national championships 

Paige Bueckers hometown

Paige Bueckers is from Hopkins, Minnesota.

What year is Paige Bueckers? 

Bueckers is a fifth-year senior. 

How old is Paige Bueckers? 

Paige Bueckers is 23 years old. 

Paige Bueckers height

The UConn guard is 6 feet tall. 

Paige Bueckers pronunciation

Paige Bueckers pronounces her name BECK-ers, according to the UConn 2024-25 media guide.

UConn vs. Oklahoma score after 3Q

Paige Bueckers fueled the Huskies to a 59-46 lead after three quarters. UConn, which was down 36-32 at the half, outscored Oklahoma 27-10 in the third.

Bueckers scored 8 of the Huskies’ first 10 points in the quarter, bringing her to 21 on the day. Sarah Strong has been stuffing the stat sheet, posting a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds to go along with 3 assists, 2 steals and a block. Azzi Fudd has 8 points, and Ashlynn Shade has 12 off the bench.

UConn vs. Oklahoma score at halftime

The Sooners led 36-32 at halftime. Oklahoma outscored UConn 24-15 in the second quarter.

Paige Bueckers recorded 11 points for UConn, and Azzi Fudd scored 6. Ashlynn Shade and KK Arnold came off the bench to add 8 and 3, respectively.

It was balanced offensive attack in the first two quarters for Oklahoma with all five starters on the score sheet. Payton Verhulst had 13 points, Renya Scott had 8, Raegan Beers had 5, Sahara Williams had 6 and Skylar Vann had 2.

UConn women’s basketball score vs. Oklahoma after 1Q

The Huskies went on an 11-0 run to take a 17-12 after the first quarter.

Paige Bueckers led UConn with 11 points in the frame. Azzi Fudd added 3 points. KK Arnold nabbed two steals and assisted Ashlynn Shade on a layup.

Oklahoma women’s basketball coach

Jennie Baranczyk (pronounced bah-RON-check) has led the Sooners since 2021 and has them in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2013. Oklahoma went 74-26 in her first three seasons and sits at 27-7 going into today’s game against UConn.

UConn women’s basketball roster 

The Huskies score 81.7 points per game (ninth in the country) and shoot 51.3% from the floor, tops in women’s college basketball. In addition to touting Paige Bueckers and her 19.2 points per game, the Huskies get 16.1 points from Sarah Strong and 13.4 points from Azzi Fudd per game. Here is the full UConn women’s basketball roster. 

Oklahoma women’s basketball roster 

The Sooners average 85.4 points per game (fifth in the country) and shoot 45.8% from the floor, including 32.3% from 3. Center Raegen Beers leads the attack, her 64.5% shooting good for fifth in the country. In addition to Beers’ 17.5 points per game, three other Oklahoma players average double digits in scoring: Payton Verhulst (14.9), Sahara Williams (10.4) and Skylar Vann (10.0). Here is the full Oklahoma women’s basketball roster. 

UConn women’s basketball vs. Oklahoma starting lineups

Oklahoma: Reyna Scott, Payton Verhulst, Zya Vann, Sahara Williams, Raegan Beers
UConn: Paige Bueckers, Jana El Alfy, Kaitlyn Chen, Sarah Strong, Azzi Fudd

Azzi Fudd stats

Azzi Fudd’s collegiate career won’t end following the 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament. Fudd, who played just two games during the 2023-24 season due to a torn ACL, has averaged 13.4 points on 48.6% shooting, two rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game in 30 games, including 26 starts, this year

During the NCAA Tournament, Fudd posted 27 points on 10 of 13 shooting, seven assists and six steals in a first-round victory over Arkansas State. Fudd then recorded 17 points and two steals in the 91-57 win over South Dakota State in the second round.

UConn vs. Oklahoma women’s basketball predictions 

Nancy Armour, USA TODAY: UConn
Cora Hall, Knoxville News-Sentinel: UConn
Meghan L. Hall, For The Win: UConn
Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY: UConn
Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY: UConn
Cory Diaz, Lafayette Advertiser: UConn
Maxwell Donaldson, The Gadsden Times: UConn 

WNBA mock draft 2025

As the women’s NCAA tournament in disarray weeks ahead of the 2025 WNBA Draft. So as March Madness push for a national championship continues, let’s review Meghan L. Hall’s latest WNBA mock draft from For The Win to see who has helped their stock during the first two rounds of March Madness.

March Madness women’s schedule

Here is the schedule for the remainder of the tournament.

Elite Eight

Sunday, March 30

No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 2 Duke, 1 p.m. on ABC
No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 3 LSU, 3 p.m. on ABC

Monday, March 31

No. 2 TCU vs. No. 1 Texas, 7 p.m. on ESPN
No. 1 USC vs. No. 2 UConn, 9 p.m. on ESPN

Both Final Four games on are Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m. ET and 9:30 p.m. ET. ESPN will air the contests. The national championship game is Sunday, April 6 at 3 p.m. ABC will carry the game.

Is Paige Bueckers entering WNBA draft? 

Yes. She said as much on Friday. The 2025 WNBA draft isn’t called the Paige Bueckers sweepstakes for nothing. Bueckers burst onto the scene in 2021 with a breakout freshman campaign that earned her AP Player of the Year and Naismith College Player of the Year honors. Although a string of injuries forced Bueckers to miss significant time, including the entire 2022-23 season with an ACL tear, the fifth-year senior guard has returned to form and is looking to lead the Huskies to the Final Four for the fourth time in her career. Bueckers is currently UConn women’s basketball’s sixth all-time leading scorer with 2,290 points and is widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick of the draft. — Cydney Henderson

The first ticket to the Final Four has been secured, and it belongs to No. 1 seed Florida.

Behind an impressive 18-4 run in the final 2:50 of the second half, Todd Golden, Walter Clayton Jr. and the No. 1 seed Gators booked their plane ticket to San Antonio and the Final Four with an 84-79 win over No. 3 seed Texas Tech in the Elite Eight of the West Region in San Francisco.

The Gators, winners of the SEC tournament, are back in the Final Four for the first time since 2014. Golden becomes the first head coach under the age of 40 to lead a team to that stage of March Madness since Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens led VCU and Butler, respectively, to the 2011 Final Four.

Watch Florida vs Texas Tech basketball live with Sling TV

Walter Clayton Jr. and Tommy Haugh took over the game down the stretch for the Gators, who were trailing by 10 points at the 6:18 mark of the second half, with clutch shots. The two combined for 50 points in Saturday’s win.

‘They did it all year. They are incredibly resilient. They stayed the course. Never too high. Never too low,’ Golden told CBS’ Lauren Shehadi after the game on why Florida was able to pull the come-from-behind win off. ‘We were down nine going into that last media (timeout). We just had to dig in and get some stops.’

Florida will face the winner of the East Region in the national semifinals on Saturday, April 5 in San Antonio.

USA TODAY Sports followed all the action from Saturday’s game. Follow here for a recap of scores, highlights and analysis from Florida’s massive win:

Florida basketball score vs Texas Tech

Florida defeated Texas Tech 84-79 in the Elite Eight of the West Region to advance to the Final Four of the men’s NCAA Tournament thanks to a 18-4 run over the last 2:50 to end the game. The Gators hit three of their last four 3-pointers down the stretch.

The Gators are advancing to their first Final Four under Todd Golden, and the first one in program history since 2014.

Florida vs Texas Tech Elite Eight highlights

Here’s a look at some highlights from Saturday’s Elite Eight game between Florida and Texas Tech:

Florida secures ticket to Final Four

The Gators didn’t wait long to celebrate their Elite Eight win, as they received the West Regional trophy on the court at Chase Center shortly after the final buzzer.

‘How about those Gators, baby!’ Golden said as he hoisted the trophy.

Walter Clayton Jr. points today

After just having eight points in the first half, the Gators’ leading scorer took over in the second half as he scored 22 points on 4-of-8 shooting in the second half alone. He gave Florida its first lead since the 19:49 mark of the second half with 59 seconds remaining in the contest on a 3-pointer.

Tommy Haugh points today

Tommy Haugh was a walking bucket for Florida in its Elite Eight win against No. 3 seed Texas Tech, as he finished with 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting with 11 rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal. He led the Gators in the first half with 12 points.

Haugh’s 20 points tie a season high for the 6-foot-9 sophomore forward.

Walter Clayton Jr. puts Florida ahead

WALTER. CLAYTON. JR.

The Gators’ leading scorer hits a massive 3-pointer to give Florida a 78-77 lead with 59 seconds remaining in the second half. Once trailing by 10 points at the 6:18 mark of the second half, Florida has gone on a 12-2 run over the last 2:29 to retake the lead.

Florida ties the games

The Gators aren’t going out without a fight!

Walter Clayton Jr. hits a 3-pointer in transition to tie the game at 75-75 with 1:23 remaining in the second half against Texas Tech. The Gators are currently on a 9-0 run over the last 1:32.

Texas Tech pulling away

The Red Raiders are starting to break away from the Gators in the second half of Saturday’s Sweet 16 game, as they lead 71-61 with 6:30 remaining in the game. Texas Tech has hit four of its last five shots from the field.

Florida basketball coach age

Florida’s men’s basketball coach, Todd Golden, is 39 years old. He was born on July 7, 1985.

Florida vs Texas Tech halftime score

Florida leads Texas Tech 40-37 at halftime in San Francisco. The Gators bounced back nicely in the final minutes of the first half after going through an over-six-minute stretch where they didn’t get a shot to fall in from the field.

Walter Clayton Jr. took over down the stretch for the Gators on both ends of the court, as he scored six of his eight first-half points in the final five minutes. On top of winning the rebound battle 20-17, a reason for Florida’s halftime lead can be pointed to its perfect 10-of-10 shooting from the free-throw line.

Thomas Haugh points today

Thomas Haugh continues to have a breakout West Regional for Florida, as he leads the Gators with 12 points on 3-of-6 shooting after the first half vs. Texas Tech. He is 2 of 3 from beyond the arc with six rebounds, two assists and a steal.

Texas Tech basketball coach

Grant McCasland is in his second season as the head coach at Texas Tech and has led the Red Raiders to the men’s NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons. He entered Saturday’s game vs. Florida with a 51-19 overall record.

Before being hired at Texas Tech ahead of the 2023-24 season, McCasland spent six seasons at North Texas in Conference USA.

Walter Clayton Jr. points today

The Gators’ leading scorer is off to a rough start in Saturday’s Elite Eight game, as he only has two points at the under-eight media timeout of the first half on 0 for 2 shooting from the field with an assist. Both of Clayton Jr.’s points have come from the charity stripes.

Lowest seed to win men’s March Madness

The lowest seed to win the men’s NCAA Tournament is No. 8 seed Villanova in 1985, as the Wildcats defeated their Big East foe Georgetown 66-64 for their first national championship title in program history.

The Wildcats’ record won’t be beaten this year, as the lowest seed left in the field of 68 is No. 3 Texas Tech.

Florida 7-9 player

Though he likely won’t play in Saturday’s game for Florida, TBS cameras may pan to the Gators’ sideline, where one player will tower over the rest: 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux, the tallest player in men’s college basketball history.

Florida basketball coach

Todd Golden is in his third season as the head coach of the Florida basketball program. He entered Saturday’s Elite Eight game vs. Texas Tech with a 77-33 record in Gainesville.

In his third season with the Gators, Golden has led Florida to a historic season, as highlighted by its No. 1 seed in the men’s NCAA Tournament and SEC tournament title. Golden has also made some history for himself this year, as he led Florida to three top-10 road wins in the regular season, which set a new program record for a head coach in a single season.

He played college basketball for Saint Mary’s and coached at the University of San Francisco before taking the job at Florida ahead of the 2022-23 season.

Florida takes lead with extended run

The Gators get their first lead of the night thanks to a 3-pointer from Thomas Haugh. It’s an 8-0 run over the last 2:28 for Florida.

Texas Tech controlling rebounds

Texas Tech has controlled the paint in the first 4:38, as the Red Raiders are narrowly out-rebounding the Gators 5-3 at the under-16 media timeout. If Texas Tech wants to advance to the Final Four and knock off top-seeded Florida, the Red Raiders will need to continue winning the rebound battle.

Kerwin Walton starts hot from 3-point land

After not hitting a single 3-pointer in the last two games vs. Drake and Arkansas, Texas Tech’s Kerwin Walton is feeling it early in Saturday’s Elite Eight game vs. Florida as he hits back-to-back 3-pointer to open the game.

Florida vs Texas Tech underway

Away we go in San Francisco! Florida and Texas Tech are underway at the Chase Center in the first of four Elite Eight games in the men’s NCAA Tournament. After winning the tip-off, the Red Raiders are the first to get on the board thanks to a 3-pointer from Kerwin Walton on a second-chance bucket.

Walter Clayton Jr. stats

Clayton Jr. enters Saturday’s Elite Eight game leading Florida in scoring with 17.9 points per game while shooting 44.4% from the field. He also leads the Gators in assists at 4.4 helpers per game.

JT Toppin stats

Toppin enters Saturday’s Elite Eight game leading Texas Tech in both points per game and rebounds per game at 18.2 and 9.3, respectively.

The sophomore forward has been on a tear in the men’s NCAA Tournament, as he is averaging 19.0 points, 10.7 rebounds and three blocks in three March Madness games while shooting a scorching 69.2% from the field.

Florida starting lineup

Here’s the starting lineup for Florida vs. Texas Tech in the Elite Eight on Saturday:

Walter Clayton Jr., Guard
Will Richard, Guard
Alijah Martin, Guard
Alex Condon, Forward
Rueben Chinyelu, Center

Texas Tech starting lineup

Here’s the starting lineup for Texas Tech vs. Florida in the Elite Eight on Saturday:

Elijah Hawkins, Guard
Christian Anderson, Guard
Kerwin Walton, Guard
Darrion Williams, Forward
JT Toppin, Forward

Chance McMillian injury update

According to Fox Sports’ John Fanta, Texas Tech will have back Chance McMillian for Saturday’s Elite Eight game vs. No. 1 seed Florida. McMillian has missed the last five games for the Red Raiders with an upper-body injury.

Florida vs Texas Tech men’s basketball betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Saturday, March 29

Spread: Florida -7.5
Over/under: 158.5
Moneyline: Florida (-375) | Texas Tech (+290)

Florida vs Texas Tech picks and predictions

Here’s a look at who the USA TODAY Network’s experts have winning Saturday’s Elite Eight game:

Kevin Brockway: Florida 84, Texas Tech 73
Jordan Mendoza: Florida
Nathan Giese: Texas Tech 81, Florida 80

When was the last time Florida made the Final Four?

A win for Florida would send the Gators to the Final Four for the first time since 2014, and would mark the sixth Final Four appearance in program history.

To get to the Elite Eight, Florida defeated No. 16 seed Norfolk State in the first round, No. 8 seed UConn in the second round and No. 4 seed Maryland in the Sweet 16.

Texas Tech injury report

Texas Tech has been without second-team All-Big 12 selection Chance McMillian for the last four games, though there is a chance he could return to action on Saturday vs. Florida after dealing with a strained oblique.

When was the last time Texas Tech made the Final Four?

A win for Texas Tech would send the Red Raiders to the Final Four for the second time in program history, and the first time since 2019.

To get to the Elite Eight, Texas Tech defeated No. 14 seed UNC Wilmington in the first round, No. 11 seed Drake in the second round and No. 10 seed Arkansas in the Sweet 16.

What time is Florida vs Texas Tech?

Date: Saturday, March 29
Time: 6:09 p.m. ET

Florida and Texas Tech will tip off at 6:09 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 29 in the Elite Eight of the West Region at the Chase Center in San Francisco.

Where to watch Florida vs Texas Tech?

TV Channels: TBS | truTV
Live Stream Options: March Madness Live app | Sling TV

TBS will nationally broadcast Florida vs. Texas Tech in the Elite Eight on Saturday, with a simulcast airing on truTV. Streaming options for the game include the March Madness Live app (with a TV login) and Sling TV.

Still part of the team.

USC players honored their fallen star, JuJu Watkins, by wearing Nike shirts with her face and signature bun on the front.

The players were greeted by the school’s marching band and cheerleaders as No. 1 USC departed its hotel and boarded a bus for its women’s March Madness Sweet 16 matchup against No. 5 Kansas State. ESPN will broadcast the 8:30 p.m. ET game.

‘It just was a team decision that we love her, and we know she’s watching at home,’ said USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb, who also donned a shirt. ‘We got her back. We know her imprints are all over this program and we are going to channel her energy today and fight for USC.’

The Trojans rallied to win the game 96-59, led by senior forward Kiki Iriafen’s 36 points, and advance to the Sweet 16.

The JuJu Watkins Nike collaboration shirt can be purchased on the Nike website.

Walter Clayton Jr. and No. 1 seed Florida basketball are going up against JT Toppin and No. 3 seed Texas Tech in the Elite Eight of the West Region right now in San Francisco, with a trip to the Final Four and San Antonio on the line.

The Gators, winners of the SEC tournament, are looking for their first trip to the Final Four under coach Todd Golden, and the program’s first trip to the national semifinals of the men’s NCAA Tournament since 2014. Clayton Jr., who was named a first-team All-America selection this season, is averaging 19.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in three March Madness games this season.

Watch Florida vs Texas Tech basketball live with Sling TV

Texas Tech advanced to the Elite Eight in thrilling fashion, as Darrian Williams got one to bounce in off the glass with 7.3 seconds remaining in overtime to keep the Red Raiders from being upset by No. 10 seed Arkansas in the Sweet 16.

USA TODAY Sports has you covered with live updates, scores, highlights and analysis throughout the game. Follow here:

Florida basketball score vs Texas Tech

The Gators are advancing to their first Final Four under Todd Golden, and the first one in program history since 2014.

Walter Clayton Jr. puts Florida ahead

WALTER. CLAYTON. JR.

The Gators’ leading scorer hits a massive 3-pointer to give Florida a 78-77 lead with 59 seconds remaining in the second half. Once trailing by 10 points at the 6:18 mark of the second half, Florida has gone on a 12-2 run over the last 2:29 to retake the lead.

Florida ties the games

The Gators aren’t going out without a fight!

Walter Clayton Jr. hits a 3-pointer in transition to tie the game at 75-75 with 1:23 remaining in the second half against Texas Tech. The Gators are currently on a 9-0 run over the last 1:32.

Texas Tech pulling away

The Red Raiders are starting to break away from the Gators in the second half of Saturday’s Sweet 16 game, as they lead 71-61 with 6:30 remaining in the game. Texas Tech has hit four of its last five shots from the field.

Florida basketball coach age

Florida’s men’s basketball coach, Todd Golden, is 39 years old. He was born on July 7, 1985.

Florida vs Texas Tech halftime score

Florida leads Texas Tech 40-37 at halftime in San Francisco. The Gators bounced back nicely in the final minutes of the first half after going through an over-six-minute stretch where they didn’t get a shot to fall in from the field.

Walter Clayton Jr. took over down the stretch for the Gators on both ends of the court, as he scored six of his eight first-half points in the final five minutes. On top of winning the rebound battle 20-17, a reason for Florida’s halftime lead can be pointed to its perfect 10-of-10 shooting from the free-throw line.

Thomas Haugh points today

Thomas Haugh continues to have a breakout West Regional for Florida, as he leads the Gators with 12 points on 3-of-6 shooting after the first half vs. Texas Tech. He is 2 of 3 from beyond the arc with six rebounds, two assists and a steal.

Texas Tech basketball coach

Grant McCasland is in his second season as the head coach at Texas Tech and has led the Red Raiders to the men’s NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons. He entered Saturday’s game vs. Florida with a 51-19 overall record.

Before being hired at Texas Tech ahead of the 2023-24 season, McCasland spent six seasons at North Texas in Conference USA.

Walter Clayton Jr. points today

The Gators leading scorer is off to a rough start in Saturday’s Elite Eight game, as he only has two points at the under-eight media timeout of the first half on 0 for 2 shooting from the field with an assist. Both of Clayton Jr.’s points have come from the charity stripes.

Lowest seed to win men’s March Madness

The lowest seed to win the men’s NCAA Tournament is No. 8 seed Villanova in 1985, as the Wildcats defeated their Big East foe Georgetown 66-64 for their first national championship title in program history.

The Wildcats’ record won’t be beaten this year, as the lowest seed left in the field of 68 is No. 3 Texas Tech.

Florida 7-9 player

Though he likely won’t play in Saturday’s game for Florida, TBS cameras may pan to the Gators’ sideline, where one player will tower over the rest: 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux, the tallest player in men’s college basketball history.

Florida basketball coach

Todd Golden is in his third season as the head coach of the Florida basketball program. He entered Saturday’s Elite Eight game vs. Texas Tech with a 77-33 record in Gainesville.

In his third season with the Gators, Golden has led Florida to a historic season, as highlighted by its No. 1 seed in the men’s NCAA Tournament and SEC tournament title. Golden has also made some history for himself this year, as he led Florida to three top-10 road wins in the regular season, which set a new program record for a head coach in a single season.

He played college basketball for Saint Mary’s and coached at the University of San Francisco before taking the job at Florida ahead of the 2022-23 season.

Florida takes lead with extended run

The Gators get their first lead of the night thanks to a 3-pointer from Thomas Haugh. It’s an 8-0 run over the last 2:28 for Florida.

Texas Tech controlling rebounds

Texas Tech has controlled the paint in the first 4:38, as the Red Raiders are narrowly out-rebounding the Gators 5-3 at the under-16 media timeout. If Texas Tech wants to advance to the Final Four and knock off top-seeded Florida, the Red Raiders will need to continue winning the rebound battle.

Kerwin Walton starts hot from 3-point land

After not hitting a single 3-pointer in the last two games vs. Drake and Arkansas, Texas Tech’s Kerwin Walton is feeling it early in Saturday’s Elite Eight game vs. Floirida as he hits back-to-back 3-pointer to open the game.

Florida vs Texas Tech underway

Away we go in San Francisco! Florida and Texas Tech are underway at the Chase Center in the first of four Elite Eight games in the men’s NCAA Tournament. After winning the tip-off, the Red Raiders are the first to get on the board thanks to a 3-pointer from Kerwin Walton on a second-chance bucket.

Walter Clayton Jr. stats

Clayton Jr. enters Saturday’s Elite Eight game leading Florida in scoring with 17.9 points per game while shooting 44.4% from the field. He also leads the Gators in assists at 4.4 helpers per game.

JT Toppin stats

Toppin enters Saturday’s Elite Eight game leading Texas Tech in both points per game and rebounds per game at 18.2 and 9.3, respectively.

The sophomore forward has been on a tear in the men’s NCAA Tournament, as he is averaging 19.0 points, 10.7 rebounds and three blocks in three March Madness games while shooting a scorching 69.2% from the field.

Florida starting lineup

Here’s the starting lineup for Florida vs. Texas Tech in the Elite Eight on Saturday:

Walter Clayton Jr., Guard
Will Richard, Guard
Alijah Martin, Guard
Alex Condon, Forward
Rueben Chinyelu, Center

Texas Tech starting lineup

Here’s the starting lineup for Texas Tech vs. Florida in the Elite Eight on Saturday:

Elijah Hawkins, Guard
Christian Anderson, Guard
Kerwin Walton, Guard
Darrion Williams, Forward
JT Toppin, Forward

Chance McMillian injury update

According to Fox Sports’ John Fanta, Texas Tech will have back Chance McMillian for Saturday’s Elite Eight game vs. No. 1 seed Florida. McMillian has missed the last five games for the Red Raiders with an upper-body injury.

Florida vs Texas Tech men’s basketball betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Saturday, March 29

Spread: Florida -7.5
Over/under: 158.5
Moneyline: Florida (-375) | Texas Tech (+290)

Florida vs Texas Tech picks and predictions

Here’s a look at who the USA TODAY Network’s experts have winning Saturday’s Elite Eight game:

Kevin Brockway: Florida 84, Texas Tech 73
Jordan Mendoza: Florida
Nathan Giese: Texas Tech 81, Florida 80

When was the last time Florida made the Final Four?

A win for Florida would send the Gators to the Final Four for the first time since 2014, and would mark the sixth Final Four appearance in program history.

To get to the Elite Eight, Florida defeated No. 16 seed Norfolk State in the first round, No. 8 seed UConn in the second round and No. 4 seed Maryland in the Sweet 16.

Texas Tech injury report

Texas Tech has been without second-team All-Big 12 selection Chance McMillian for the last four games, though there is a chance he could return to action on Saturday vs. Florida after dealing with a strained oblique.

When was the last time Texas Tech made the Final Four?

A win for Texas Tech would send the Red Raiders to the Final Four for the second time in program history, and the first time since 2019.

To get to the Elite Eight, Texas Tech defeated No. 14 seed UNC Wilmington in the first round, No. 11 seed Drake in the second round and No. 10 seed Arkansas in the Sweet 16.

What time is Florida vs Texas Tech?

Date: Saturday, March 29
Time: 6:09 p.m. ET

Florida and Texas Tech will tip off at 6:09 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 29 in the Elite Eight of the West Region at the Chase Center in San Francisco.

Where to watch Florida vs Texas Tech?

TV Channels: TBS | truTV
Live Stream Options: March Madness Live app | Sling TV

TBS will nationally broadcast Florida vs. Texas Tech in the Elite Eight on Saturday, with a simulcast airing on truTV. Streaming options for the game include the March Madness Live app (with a TV login) and Sling TV.

Hitting four home runs in the first inning on Saturday was just the beginning for the New York Yankees.

After starting the game with back-to-back-to-back homers off Milwaukee Brewers starter Nestor Cortes, the Yankees continued their onslaught with eight through the first four innings, ultimately setting a franchise record with nine home runs in eventual 20-9 win.

Reigning MVP Aaron Judge was responsible for three of the team’s first eight homers, the second of which was a grand slam in the third inning. Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger homered opening frame, the first 2025 longball for each of the sluggers who joined the Yankees in the offseason.

Austin Wells (first inning), Anthony Volpe (second), Jazz Chisholm (third) and Oswald Peraza (seventh) also hit home runs in the team’s record-setting performance.

While the Yankees’ offense was doing big things, the team was badly struggling defensively on Saturday, committing five errors in the first five innings. Starter Max Fried, making his Yankees debut after signing a $218 million free agent deal, lasted 4 ⅔ innings and was charged with six runs (two earned), but was himself responsible for one of the errors.

MLB record for most home runs in a game

The MLB team record for home runs in a game is 10, accomplished by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1987.

Prior to the Yankees on Saturday, the Cincinnati Reds were the only other team to hit nine homers in a game on Sept. 4, 1999. Current Yankees manager Aaron Boone hit one of the Reds’ nine home runs that day.

Yankees hit back-to-back-to-back home runs

The Yankees didn’t welcome Nestor Cortes back to the Bronx very kindly.

Making his Brewers debut at Yankee Stadium after an offseason trade, the former All-Star gave up back-to-back-to-back home runs to Goldschmidt, Bellinger and Judge – on three pitches – to start the first inning on Saturday. After finally getting two outs in the frame, Cortes surrendered his fourth home run of the inning to catcher Austin Wells.

Aaron Judge grand slam

Judge followed his home run off Cortes in the first with a grand slam in the third and a solo shot in the fourth, both against Milwaukee reliever Connor Thomas. The 26-year-old lefty surrendered eight runs in two innings of work, coming on for Cortes who also gave up eight runs in two innings.

Judge narrowly missed a record-tying fourth homer in the sixth inning, settling for an RBI double off the wall in right field.

Aaron Judge stats today

Aaron Judge was 4-for-6 with three home runs, a double and eight RBI on Saturday against the Brewers, scoring four runs and accumulating 14 total bases.

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BOSTON — In the early part of their skating careers, Madison Chock and Evan Bates got to train in Michigan alongside some of the legends of U.S. ice dance: Meryl Davis. Charlie White. Tanith Belbin. Ben Agosto.

‘I just remember being in awe,’ Bates told NBC Sports last year. ‘Being a teenager and getting to share the ice with your idols is the most motivating thing you could possibly imagine.’

Yet on Saturday in Boston, Chock and Bates achieved something that even their idols never did.

The veteran ice dancers − and recently-married couple − clinched their third consecutive world championship with a magnificent free skate at TD Garden, capping their jazz-themed performance with a mesmerizing step sequence that prompted roars from the home crowd.

They entered the day with a lead of more than three points over the rest of the field, which is a healthy margin in ice dance. And their free skate was more than good enough to seal the victory, giving them a total score of 222.06.

Moments later, Agosto − who is working as an in-arena host at these world championships − congratulated Chock and Bates as they sat in the kiss-and-cry area near the side of the rink.

‘Coming from Ben Agosto, it’s something extra special,’ Bates replied. ‘Tanith and Ben. Meryl and Charlie. The American teams who paved the way showed us what it means to be champions.’

Chock and Bates’ longtime rivals, Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Canada, turned in a strong performance of their own Saturday but had to settle for silver with a score of 216.54. Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson of Great Britain (207.11) took bronze.

The other American ice dance teams − Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko, and Caroline Green and Michael Parsons − placed fifth and ninth, respectively.

Chock and Bates, who now train in Montreal, have now won three consecutive world championships entering the 2025-26 season, which they’ve indicated will be their last. They are likely to be the favorites at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina in February.

‘This one definitely feels extra special,’ Chock said. ‘To do it in front of a home crowd and to have two of our best skates of the season. I don’t think we could’ve done anything better than that.’

Chock and Bates have long been one of the stalwart pairs in ice dance, which has become one of the more consistent figure skating disciplines for Team USA since Belbin and Agosto won Olympic silver at the 2006 Turin Games. The Michigan natives have competed together since 2011 and also been in a romantic relationship since 2017. This season has been their first as a married couple. They’ve indicated that next season could be their last of competition.

‘I would say never say never, but at this point we’re putting all of our chips on the table for next season,’ Bates said during a conference call last week. ‘We have been so focused on just absolutely maximizing our potential for Boston, for the next 12 months. We’re going to treat it like its our last shot.’

With Saturday’s win, Chock and Bates have now won six world medals, in addition to a team gold at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. And they could very well add an individual Olympic medal next year.

Yet, when asked about their standing in their discipline, they also talked about the strong performances of the other American teams and their reverence for the teams that came before them. The U.S. has had at least one ice dance team on the podium in 15 of the past 16 world championships.

‘I’ve always looked up to Tanith and Ben and Meryl and Charlie,’ Chock said. ‘And I still look up to them.’

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on social media @tomschad.bsky.social.

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Duke put up a whopping 100 points to beat Arizona in the Sweet 16, and it will still be Thursday’s second-most prolific team, points-wise, in Sunday’s second Elite Eight matchup.

That honor goes to Alabama, which entered the record books with a staggering 25 3-pointers made against BYU in its last game en route to a 113-88 win over the Cougars. The win positions the Crimson Tide just one game away from their second straight Final Four appearance, after making their first ever last season.

Watch Duke vs Alabama on Sling TV

That stands in stark contrast to a Duke team that is blueblood as blueblood gets in the basketball realm. Led by Cooper Flagg, Duke is seeking its 18th Final Four appearance and first under Jon Scheyer. Flagg put up 30 points in Duke’s win over Arizona, his second highest-total of the season. Flagg may need to take over in a similar way to beat Mark Sears, who scored 34 in Alabama’s rainstorm against BYU.

The USA TODAY Network is tracking the action live. Follow along below.

Duke vs Alabama score updates

Duke vs Alabama live updates

This section will be updated

What conference is Duke in?

Duke hails from the ACC, and is the conference’s lone representative in the Elite Eight. The SEC leads all Elite Eight teams with four teams (Florida, Alabama, Auburn and Tennessee), followed by the Big 12 (Houston and Texas Tech), Big Ten (Michigan State) and ACC.

What channel is the Duke game on?

TV Channel: TBS/truTV
Stream:Sling TV | Max

Duke vs Alabama will stream on TBS and truTV. Viewers and cord-cutters can find the game on Sling TV, which carries the Warner Bros. Discovery family of networks, or Max, which is airing March Madness games live.

Duke vs Alabama betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Saturday, March 29

Spread: Duke (-7.5)
O/U: 174.5
Moneyline: Duke -325 | Alabama +260

Duke vs Alabama expert predictions

Emilee Smarr, Tuscaloosa News: Alabama 89, Duke 81: The Crimson Tide has never taken down the Blue Devils, but there’s a first time for everything, and another 25-for-51 performance from 3 could do it. Another night like that would be nice against a team of Blue Devils that’s shooting over 38% from 3 while limiting opponents to about 30% around the perimeter, just like Alabama’s defense. …
Rodd Baxley, The Fayetteville Observer: Duke 85, Alabama 79: Both teams have elite bucket-getters, but the Blue Devils are far better at stacking stops. As it has for most of the season, Duke’s defense will be the difference. Jon Scheyer’s Devils will beat the Crimson Tide and cut down the nets in Jersey.

What time is Duke vs Alabama today?

8:49 p.m. ET

Duke and Alabama are in the late slot Saturday, getting an 8:49 p.m. tip-off time from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. However, the game could be delayed if the first game of the night, Florida-Texas Tech, runs long.

NCAA basketball schedule today

There are two Elite Eight games taking place in the 2025 NCAA men’s basketball tournament on Saturday, with the final two matchups of the national quarterfinals being held on Sunday.

West Region: No. 1 seed Florida vs. No. 3 seed Texas Tech, 6:09 p.m. ET
East Region: No. 1 seed Duke vs. No. 2 seed Alabama, 8:49 p.m. ET

No. 1 seed Texas got the best of its SEC foe with a 67-59 Sweet 16 win over No. 5 seed Tennessee on Saturday.

SEC Player of the Year Madison Booker led the way with 17 points, six rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block. Taylor Jones and Bryanna Preston added 13 and 11 points off the bench, respectively. Texas advanced to the Elite eight for the fourth time in five years. The Longhorns will face No. 2 seed TCU in the Elite Eight after the Horned Frogs beat No. 3 seed Notre Dame earlier Saturday. 

Texas and Tennessee entered the fourth quarter tied 50-50, but the Longhorns’ defense forced the Lady Vols into nine turnovers in the fourth quarter, the same amount of points they had, and they were unable to recover. The Longhorns beat the Lady Vols 80-76 in another close matchup earlier this season.

The No. 1-seeded Longhorns bounced back from a rough SEC tournament loss to South Carolina to underline their title credentials at the Big Dance. A 44-point first-round win over William & Mary saw Texas dominate from start to finish, while Madison Booker and Co. held Illinois to a meager six points in the second quarter en route to a 68-45 win to gain a place in the Sweet 16.

The Volunteers, who were given the No. 5 seed in Region 3, lost three of their final four games before joining the 68-team field in this year’s bracket. However, Tennessee regrouped. A 101-66 rout of South Florida was followed by a smothering defensive performance that sparked a confident win over Ohio State in the second round.

Scroll below for a recap and highlights of the game:

Texas vs. Tennessee final score

The No. 1 seeded Texas Longhorns defeated the No. 5 seeded Tennessee Lady Vols 67-59 in an all-SEC Sweet 16 matchup Saturday in Birmingham, Alabama. SEC Player of the Year Madison Booker led the way with 17 points, six rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block. Texas advances to the Elite Eight for an all-Texas matchup against TCU on Monday.

Texas vs. Tennessee highlights

No. 1 seed Texas beat No. 5 seed Tennessee in the Sweet 16 Saturday to send the Longhorns to the Elite Eight. Watch the video for highlights from the game.

Tennessee turnovers adding up vs. Texas

Texas has turned up the defensive pressure, resulting in eight Tennessee turnovers in the fourth quarter alone. Eight of Texas’ 13 points in the fourth quarter were scored off turnovers. Tennessee trails 63-59 with 1:47 remaining. 

End 3Q: Texas 50, Tennessee 50

No. 5 Tennessee outscored No. 1 Texas 20-16 in the third quarter to tie it up 50-50 heading into the fourth. The stakes are high for both teams. Texas is looking to advance to the Elite Eight for the fourth time in five years, while Tennessee is looking to return for the first time since 2016. 

The Lady Vols were able to capitalize on five Texas turnovers in the third quarter and knocked down three 3-pointers. Tennessee is still only shooting 38.9% from the field and 5-of-22 from three. Ruby Whitehorn leads the Lady Vols with 14 points, while  Zee Spearman added 11 points off the bench. Sophomore guard Talaysia Cooper was held scoreless in the third quarter and remains at five points. 

Meanwhile, Texas is shooting 51.2% from the field and 3-of-6 from three. Madison Booker and Taylor Jones have a team-high 10 points. 

Halftime: Texas 34, Tennessee 30

Despite No. 5 Tennessee shooting 38.2% from the field in the first half, the Lady Vols only found themselves down four points against No. 1 Texas at halftime. Tennessee struggled from beyond the arc, shooting 2-of-14 from three in the first two quarters despite averaging 10.2 threes a game, which is second best in the nation.

Ruby Whitehorn leads the Lady Vols with nine points, while Talaysia Cooper added five points. Tennessee has a slight edge on the boards, with 19 rebounds (eight offensive), compared to Texas’ 17.

Texas has had balanced scoring. Madison Booker, Taylor Jones, Rori Harmon and Bryanna Preston each have six points for the Longhorns. Texas is shooting 55.6% from the field and 1-of-3 from three. 

Talaysia Cooper stats

Sophomore guard Talaysia Cooper is averaging 16.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game this season. She had seven steals in the Lady Vols’ 82-67 second-round win over No. 4 Ohio State, moving her to seventh all-time in single-season steals at Tennessee. Cooper started her collegiate career at South Carolina (2022-23), before transferring to Tennessee. She redshirted the 2023-24 season after transferring after the portal closed.

Who is Tennessee’s coach? Meet Kim Caldwell

Kim Caldwell is in her first season at Tennessee. Caldwell previously coached at her alma mater Glenville State (2016–2023) and Marshall (2023–2024), where she led the Thundering Herd to its first March Madness appearance since 1997. She was named the head coach of Tennessee in April 2024, becoming the Lady Vols’ first non-alumni head coach since Pat Summitt.

Caldwell welcomed son Conor Scott Caldwell in January 2025 during Tennessee’s season with husband Justin Caldwell, the player development coordinator for the men’s Tennessee basketball team.

Who is Texas’ head coach? Meet Vic Shaefer

Vic Schaefer had led Texas to the women’s NCAA Tournament in each of his five seasons with the Longhorns. Texas has advanced to the Elite Eight three times, most recently last season.

Texas women’s basketball assistant coaches

In addition to head coach Vic Shaefer, Texas’ coaching staff includes:

Elena Lovato, Associate Head Coach
Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton, Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
Blair Schaefer, Assistant Coach
Sydney Carter, Assistant Coach/Director of Player Personnel
Zack Zillner, Sports Performance Coach

Where to watch Tennessee vs. Texas: TV channel, time, live stream

Game Day: Saturday, March 29, 2025
Game Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Legacy Arena at BJCC (Birmingham, Alabama)
TV Channel: ABC
Live Stream: Fubo

Watch Tennessee vs. Texas live on Fubo