BATON ROUGE, La. – LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey entered the Tigers’ second-round matchup against Florida State in a shimmering outfit.

Mulkey’s look on Monday night consists of white slacks underneath a cerulean blue suit jacket. The jacket is adorned with ombre crystals that fade out around the top of her chest. She’s wearing a simple white blouse underneath and her shoes are shiny silver stilettos. 

Kim Mulkey outfit

Mulkey and the Tigers took care of business in the first round of the tournament, defeating No. 14 San Diego State 103-48 on Saturday night. During that game, she wore a powder blue pantsuit with matching blue heels. The pantsuit had a sash of blue flowers sewn on. 

Fashion has been a popular topic surrounding Mulkey. She often sports bold outfits with a lot of color and sparkles. 

Mulkey started coaching at LSU in 2021. She has taken the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament all four years and led the team to a national championship in 2023. She is the fastest coach in NCAA Division I basketball history to reach both the 600- and 700-win marks. Earlier this season, she won her 750th game and is on track to be the fastest coach to win 800 games.

Should the Tigers win, viewers can expect more eye-catching looks from Mulkey during the tournament.

Tatum Esparza is a student in the University of Georgia’s Sports Media Certificate program.

March tamed its usual dose of madness throughout the men’s NCAA Tournament’s first week. Cinderella went into hiding. This tournament spoiled us with such a barrage of upsets the past several years, and so a pair of No. 12 seeds winning in the first round felt like a low dose of chaos.

No. 10 Arkansas is the lowest-seeded team left standing in the Sweet 16. The Razorbacks hardly qualify as an all-time underdog story, not after hiring John Calipari and investing in a quality roster built with transfers.

As chalk prevails, here are five burning thoughts and predictions, while we wait for the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16:

1985 Big East will maintain its Final Four record

The SEC struggled throughout the first leg of its final exam. After qualiying a record 14 teams for the tournament, six SEC qualifiers departed before the second round. Another bowed out in Saturday’s second round. By comparison, the Big Ten went 8-0 in first-round games.

The good news for the SEC? It retains prime positioning for a Final Four takeover. The SEC’s sheer volume of qualifiers proves difficult to wipe out. Seven SEC members persist into the Sweet 16. No. 1 Auburn, No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Alabama and No. 2 Tennessee remain in the bracket, in four different regions, setting up the possibility for a conference to claim every Final Four spot for the first time ever. No. 3 Kentucky, No. 6 Ole Miss and Arkansas offer reinforcements.

Considering seeding, volume, and bracket layout, the SEC retains a better chance for more Final Four teams than the Big Ten.

But, multiple snares remain to trap the SEC’s top teams. I predict the SEC advances two teams into the Final Four. That would mean the Big East would maintain its 1985 record of three Final Four qualifiers. Dwayne McClain, Patrick Ewing and Chris Mullin can’t celebrate their record continuing just yet, but put the champagne on ice.

Best of March Madness still to come

In some years, the tournament’s beginning rounds are much more memorable than the ending. Consider the 2023 tournament. In that upset-filled year, No. 15 Princeton reached the Sweet 16 and No. 9 Florida Atlantic crashed the Final Four. It was thrilling – until the finish line, when UConn clubbed San Diego State in the championship.

This year, a Sweet 16 devoid of underdogs creates the opportunity for elite play, competitive matchups and, maybe, if we’re lucky, some buzzer-beating finishes.

This iteration of the tournament won’t be remembered for its first-round entertainment value, but an epic Final Four could be brewing.

Sweet 16 upset special: No. 6 BYU beats No. 2 Alabama

He’s no Jimmer Fredette, but Brigham Young’s Richie Saunders is a headache for opposing defenses. Saunders powered the Cougars into a Sweet 16 date with Alabama.

No. 6 BYU and No. 2 Alabama are two of the nation’s best offensive teams. They’re not so good on defense.

First team to 95 points wins?

Alabama allowed 81 points to Robert Morris in the first round. That defense leaves the Tide vulnerable against a BYU team that drilled 12 3-pointers in a second-round takedown of Wisconsin.

Final Four picks: Good to be a No. 1 seed

Hours after the bracket came out, I picked three No. 1 seeds – Florida, Duke and Houston – plus No. 3 Iowa State to make the Final Four. Ole Miss bounced the Cyclones on Sunday, so my Final Four picks require a vision. I’m sliding in No. 1 Auburn.

Not exactly a bold prediction, I admit. That would mean four No. 1 seeds reaching the Final Four for just the second time. It previously occurred in 2008, when Kansas, North Carolina, Memphis and UCLA made history by turning the Final Four into a party exclusive to 1-seeds. Like that 2008 season, no weak link exists on the 1-seed line.

The South region’s stoutness gave me some initial hesitation with Auburn, but the Tigers survived a tough second-round matchup with No. 9 Creighton. More difficult matchups await, including No. 5 Michigan’s twin towers Vladislav Goldin and Danny Wolf. They’ll team up to try to corral Johni Broome in the Sweet 16.

Any of the South’s four remaining teams is good enough to reach the Final Four, but Auburn played like the nation’s best team throughout most of the season, and after struggling toward the end of the season, the Tigers earned back some trust by handling Creighton.

As for Houston, Florida and Duke, nobody is playing better right now than those No. 1 seeds.

National championship pick: Houston beats Florida

No alterations here. I’m sticking with my initial pick after the Cougars advanced to the Sweet 16 for the sixth straight tournament under Kelvin Sampson.

Houston remains incredibly balanced. It’s dependable on offense and defense. A veteran-filled lineup offers several candidates to reach double figures scoring. The Cougars are lethal from 3-point range, and L.J. Cryer is that linchpin guard championship teams need.

Blake Toppmeyer is a columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer. Subscribe to read all of his columns.

No. 3 seed Oklahoma surged into the Sweet 16 Monday, cruising to a 96-62 win over No. 6 seed Iowa Monday in the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

The Sooners dominated the second half to make it out of the second round for the first time in 12 years and for the first time under fourth-year head coach Jennie Baranczyk.

Oklahoma had five players reach double figures in scoring against the Hawkeyes and turned an 11-point halftime lead into a 34-point blowout. Senior forward Skylar Vann led the way with 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals, while shooting 6-for-9 from the floor and 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.

The Sooners were coming off of a first-round win against No. 14 Florida Gulf Coast. Oklahoma’s 81-58 victory was by a significantly greater margin than their last clash with FGCU: a 73-70 win almost exactly one year ago in the first round of last year’s tournament. Junior center and Oregon State transfer Raegan Beers scored 25 points and tallied 18 rebounds in her first tournament game with the Sooners.

Iowa got off to a hot start in its first-round game as well. The Hawkeyes dropped 92 points and held No. 11 Murray State to 57 in their first NCAA Tournament game in the post-Caitlin Clark era. Senior guard and Villanova transfer Lucy Olsen finished the matchup with a double-double (12 points and 12 assists).

Final: Oklahoma 96, Iowa 62

After a slow start, in which Iowa jumped out to a 10-4 lead, Oklahoma found its groove midway through the first quarter before taking a 20-11 lead into the second. While the Hawkeyes battled valiantly in the second quarter, the Sooners kept control before dominating the third quarter to put the game out of reach.

Beers put together her second consecutive double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds to go along with four blocks and two steals, despite getting hit in the face in the third quarter and getting tended to by Oklahoma’s medical staff. Payton Verhulst tallied 16 points and seven rebounds, Sahara Williams had 13 points and nine rebounds, and Liz Scott came off the bench to add 11 points and seven rebounds.

Olson led Iowa for the second consecutive game, recording 20 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals, while draining four 3-pointers. Kylie Feuerbach added 14 points and six rebounds and made four of her six 3-point attempts.

Oklahoma vs. Iowa highlights

Oklahoma’s Sahara Williams lands awkwardly

Something to monitor: Oklahoma’s Sahara Williams landed awkwardly after attempting to block a shot with 2:50 remaining in the third quarter. She limped over to the bench, where team personnel checked out her knee. Williams heads to the bench with 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal.

Raegan Beers heads back to locker room after elbow to face

Oklahoma center Reagan Beers checked out of the game in the third quarter and retreated to the locker room after taking an elbow to the face from Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke. The incident happened under the basket as Beers attempted to defend Stuelke’s layup with 8:52 remaining in the third. Beers immediately went down holding her face and was helped to the bench, before heading to the locker room. Beers returned and checked back into the game with 6:40 remaining.

Halftime: Oklahoma 38, Iowa 27

The Sooners have a double-digit lead heading into halftime, thanks to leading scorer Sahara Williams, who is flirting with a double-double with 13 points, eight rebounds, 2 blocks and one steal. Despite scoring 38 first-half points, Oklahoma is only shooting 36.2% from the field and 2-of-18 from three. Iowa is shooting 32.3% from the field and 5-of-11 from three, but are getting outscored 26-8 in the paint. Lucy Olsen has 15 of the Hawkeyes 27 points.

Where to watch Oklahoma vs. Iowa: Time, TV channel

Game Day: Monday, March 24
Game Time: 4 p.m. ET
Location: Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Oklahoma
TV Channel: ESPN
Live Stream: Fubo – Watch Now!

Watch Oklahoma vs. Iowa on Fubo (free trial)

Oklahoma vs. Iowa odds

Odds via BetMGM as of Sunday, March 23.

Spread: Oklahoma -4.5
Moneyline Favorite: Oklahoma -200
Moneyline Underdog: Iowa +165
O/U: 158.5 points

It didn’t matter what Caitlin Clark was doing, she always had to be the best.

Even on Halloween.

In a teaser from an upcoming episode of Netflix’s ‘My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman,’ the Indiana Fever star told Letterman that when she was a child she would abandon her dad in her haste to get the most candy.

‘When we trick-or-treated in Des Moines growing up, I would be like, so sweaty under my costume because I was in a dead sprint from house to house,” Clark said. “I had to have the most candy. That’s how I operated.”

Clark said her dad had trouble finding her and would sometimes come home without her.

‘My mom would get pissed at my dad because it’s like, ‘Why did you lose our daughter? Why is she running through the neighborhood by herself?” Clark said. ‘But it was just because I was trying to beat everybody.’

The clip also included Clark talking about other instances of her competitive streak, including how her family would be mad at her after card games on Christmas.

‘Then everybody hates me by the end of the night and I’m like, ‘Oh, great. I ruined Christmas!” Clark said.

The episode will air April 8.

It turns out the saying, ‘Let Paige Bueckers cook,’ has an entirely different meaning this month.

The UConn women’s basketball star has taken a significant responsibility to assist a teammate off the court during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Bueckers cooks breakfast for teammate Jana El Alfy in the mornings while El Alfy, who is from Cairo, Egypt, fasts during the 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament.

Muslims observe a fast from sunrise to sundown during Ramadan ― from Feb. 28 to March 29 this year. The ninth month of the Islamic calendar is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community.

During the fasting hours, Muslims do not eat or drink, even water.

Bueckers has taken on the responsibility of preparing breakfast for her teammate to eat before sunrise, called Suhoor (or Sehri). El Alfy ― who has been fasting since she was 11 ― said Bueckers walked into their apartment with two grocery bags and offered her support through the month.

‘That was really, really sweet of her,’ El Alfy said to the CT Insider. ‘And it meant a lot because obviously, being away from home, that’s tough, and my teammates made it so much easier for me.’

Teammates Caroline Ducharme and Allie Ziebell also join El Alfy for her early morning breakfast before sunrise. KK Arnold has already offered to help El Alfy next season when Bueckers is likely off to the WNBA.

Sometimes, Bueckers has to serve as the cook and the alarm clock for El Alfy to make sure she can have her meal in the morning and has the energy to get through the rest of the day. On Sunday, Bueckers had to bang on El Alfy’s door before UConn’s second-round game vs. South Dakota State.

‘I was like, ‘Jana, wake up! I didn’t make these scrambled eggs for nothing!,” Bueckers said.

‘She makes really good scrambled eggs,’ El Alfy added.

El Alfy, a 6-foot-5 Huskie center, said she used to spend Ramadan with her family. Usually, the breaking of the fast right after sunset ― called iftar ― would be done as large family gatherings. While she cannot be with family during the basketball season and March Madness, El Alfy will FaceTime her family, even with a six-hour time difference.

El Alfy missed all of last season with an Achilles injury. This is the first year the Huskies’ redshirt freshman is fasting while dealing with the demands of playing in March Madness.

‘It’s definitely tough. It’s an important month for me,’ El Alfy said. ‘I try as much as I can to fuel whenever it’s time to eat and manage it with playing. Obviously, it’s hard. It wasn’t easy at all. But my teammates really helped with that, and the staff, they were all supportive.

‘I feel like I’m blessed and grateful to be surrounded with this group. It’s a really, really special group, and they’re always asking questions, and they’re always like, ‘Oh, how are you feeling?’ or ‘I can’t imagine doing that.’ … I think I wouldn’t have done it or made it this far if it wasn’t for my teammates.’

Geno Auriemma, Paige Bueckers and the No. 2 UConn women’s basketball team host No. 10 South Dakota State in the second round of Women’s March Madness tonight with a spot in the Sweet 16 on the line. 

Auriemma and UConn are looking to get back to the Sweet 16 for the fifth consecutive season and 32nd time overall. Bueckers, who is averaging 18.7 points per game, has powered the Huskies to the Final Four three times: 2021, 2022, 2024.  

Meanwhile, Jackrabbits head coach Aaron Johnston is vying to get the program back to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019 and the second time ever. South Dakota State is riding the longest active winning streak in the country at 20 games, led by Brooklyn Meyer (17.4 ppg) and Paige Meyer (12.2 ppg). 

USA TODAY Sports is bringing you live updates, scores, highlights and analysis throughout the game. Follow along. 

Watch UConn vs. South Dakota State on Fubo (free trial)

What time is UConn women’s basketball game today? 

Time: 8 p.m. ET 

Where to watch UConn women’s basketball

TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN app, Fubo 

Jana El Alfy is fasting during Ramadan, and Paige Bueckers is cooking her breakfast

It turns out the saying, ‘Let Paige Bueckers cook,’ has an entirely different meaning during March Madness. The UConn women’s basketball star has taken a significant responsibility to assist a teammate off the court during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Bueckers cooks breakfast for teammate Jana El Alfy in the mornings while El Alfy, who is from Cairo, Egypt, fasts during the 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament. — Ehsan Kassim

UConn women’s basketball stats

The Huskies are the ninth-highest scoring offense in the country at 81.5 points per game. They shoot 51.09% from the floor, best in the country, and 38% from 3, fifth-best in the country.

Paige Bueckers stats 

Bueckers, one of the top candidates for national player of the year this season, is averaging a team-leading 18.7 points with 4.8 assists per game this season. She is shooting 53.6% from the floor and 40.4% from 3. She wasn’t needed much in the Huskies’ 103-34 win over Arkansas State in the first round, scoring 11 points. Instead, it was Azzi Fudd who dropped 27 points for UConn in the blowout win. Bueckers will look to have a bigger impact against the Jackrabbits in this women’s NCAA Tournament game. — Austin Curtright 

UConn women’s basketball score prediction

South Dakota State hasn’t lost a game in three months, but that changes when it faces the Huskies, who take care of business and head to the Sweet 16. UConn 80, South Dakota State 56. — Austin Curtright 

South Dakota State women’s basketball roster

The Jackrabbits are led by head coach Aaron Johnston, junior forward Brooklyn Meyer and senior point guard Paige Meyer. Johnston has been at the helm since 1999. Here is the full Jackrabbits’ roster.

UConn vs South Dakota State odds 

Odds from BetMGM as of Sunday, March 23 

Spread: UConn (-26.5)
Over/under: 136.5 

When does Paige Bueckers play next? 

Paige Bueckers and UConn women’s basketball look to reach the Sweet 16 with a second-round matchup against South Dakota State in the women’s NCAA Tournament on Monday. 

Who’s booking a ticket to the Sweet 16?

That’s what’s on the line for No. 3 Oklahoma and No. 6 Iowa as the two programs square off in the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

The Sooners are favored in the matchup coming off of their first-round win against No. 14 Florida Gulf Coast. Oklahoma’s 81-58 victory was by a significantly greater margin than their last clash with FGCU: a 73-70 win almost exactly one year ago in the first round of last year’s tournament.

Junior center and Oregon State transfer Raegan Beers scored 25 points and tallied 18 rebounds in her first tournament game with the Sooners.

Iowa got off to a hot start in its first-round game as well. The Hawkeyes dropped 92 points and held No. 11 Murray State to 57 in their first NCAA Tournament game in the post-Caitlin Clark era. Senior guard and Villanova transfer Lucy Olsen finished the matchup with a double-double (12 points and 12 assists).

Here’s everything to know about Oklahoma vs. Iowa:

Oklahoma’s Sahara Williams lands awkwardly

Something to monitor: Oklahoma’s Sahara Williams landed awkwardly after attempting to block a shot with 2:50 remaining in the third quarter. She limped over to the bench, where team personnel checked out her knee. Williams heads to the bench with 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal.

Raegan Beers heads back to locker room after elbow to face

Oklahoma center Reagan Beers checked out of the game in the third quarter and retreated to the locker room after taking an elbow to the face from Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke. The incident happened under the basket as Beers attempted to defend Stuelke’s layup with 8:52 remaining in the third. Beers immediately went down holding her face and was helped to the bench, before heading to the locker room. Beers returned and checked back into the game with 6:40 remaining.

Halftime: Oklahoma 38, Iowa 27

The Sooners have a double-digit lead heading into halftime, thanks to leading scorer Sahara Williams, who is flirting with a double-double with 13 points, eight rebounds, 2 blocks and one steal. Despite scoring 38 first-half points, Oklahoma is only shooting 36.2% from the field and 2-of-18 from three. Iowa is shooting 32.3% from the field and 5-of-11 from three, but are getting outscored 26-8 in the paint. Lucy Olsen has 15 of the Hawkeyes 27 points.

Where to watch Oklahoma vs. Iowa: Time, TV channel

Game Day: Monday, March 24
Game Time: 4 p.m. ET
Location: Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Oklahoma
TV Channel: ESPN
Live Stream: Fubo – Watch Now!

Watch Oklahoma vs. Iowa on Fubo (free trial)

Oklahoma vs. Iowa odds

Odds via BetMGM as of Sunday, March 23.

Spread: Oklahoma -4.5
Moneyline Favorite: Oklahoma -200
Moneyline Underdog: Iowa +165
O/U: 158.5 points

March appears to be more tame this year.

The first weekend of the 2025 men’s NCAA Tournament is in the books and the madness was few and far between as we knocked the field down from 68 to 16. It’s not all bad news, though.

While Cinderella opted to skip this year’s festivities, it opens the door for the cream to rise to the top. The Sweet 16 features some of the best teams in college basketball this season, with future NBA lottery picks and more on full display.

In a perfect world, each team comes into the round with a 6.25% chance of cutting down the nets.

However, the world is not perfect and the betting odds is how we’ll make up for that. There are the favorites like the Duke Blue Devils and Florida Gators. There are the long shots like the Arkansas Razorbacks and Ole Miss Rebels. Then there are the teams in between like the Tennessee Volunteers and Alabama Crimson Tide.

Each team’s price of admission comes with a varying prize, but only one team will climb the ladder to cut down the nets as the confetti falls.

With plenty of quality squads left, it makes for an exciting ride to the finish. Here’s a look at the betting odds, courtesy of BetMGM, for this year’s men’s NCAA Tournament national championship.

2025 March Madness power rankings by NCAA championship odds

BetMGM odds as of Monday, March 24

Dark horse teams

Arkansas (+10000)
Ole Miss (+8000)
Michigan (+6600)
BYU (+6600)
Purdue (+6600)
Kentucky (+5500)
Arizona (+4000)
Maryland (+3300)

The top contenders

Texas Tech (+2000)
Michigan State (+2000)
Alabama (+1800)
Tennessee (+1600)
Auburn (+525)
Houston (+500)

The favorites

Florida (+350)
Duke (+225)

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Standings watch is under the microscope as the NBA approaches the end of the 2024-25 regular season.

First place in the NBA’s Western Conference is locked up. The No. 1 seed belongs to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Cleveland Cavaliers just about have the No. 1 seed in the East secured, and the Boston Celtics are headed for the No. 2 seed, and the New York Knicks the No. 3 seed in the East.

After that, playoff seeds in both conferences are up for grabs, including the No. 2 seed in the West. Just 2½ games separate second-place Houston from fifth-place Memphis as the week begins. Just 3½ games separate the fourth-place Los Angeles Lakers from the eighth-place Los Angeles Clippers.

In the East, just two games separate fourth-place Indiana from sixth-place Detroit. Here are the must-see games to watch in the NBA this week:

Monday, March 24

Minnesota Timberwolves at Indiana Pacers, 7 p.m. ET, League Pass

Both these teams have been playing better recently, and both need every win they can get to try to inch up the standings.

Chicago Bulls at Denver Nuggets, 9 p.m. ET, League Pass

The Nuggets are in a heated contest for the No. 2 seed in the West, and the ninth-place Bulls see a path to the eighth seed in the East.

Milwaukee Bucks at Phoenix Suns, 10 p.m. ET, NBA TV

Both teams need victories – the Bucks to obtain home-court advantage in the first round and the Suns to hold off Dallas for the final play-in game spot (10th place) in the West.

Tuesday, March 25

Golden State Warriors at Miami Heat, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT, truTV, Max

Miami — losers of 10 of its last 11 games — is in something of a tailspin, but the Heat still are fighting for a play-in spot and this marks the return of Jimmy Butler to Miami.

Oklahoma City Thunder at Sacramento Kings, 10 p.m. ET, TNT, truTV, Max

The Thunder have the No. 1 seed in the West locked up, but the slumping Kings are trying to hold onto a spot in the play-in game format.

Wednesday, March 26

Los Angeles Lakers at Indiana Pacers, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Indiana has a pretty daunting stretch of its schedule coming up, so it cannot afford to lose games.

Los Angeles Clippers at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. ET, League Pass

The Clippers start the week half a game back of the six seed in the West, the final spot with a guaranteed playoff berth.

Milwaukee Bucks at Denver Nuggets, 9 p.m. ET, League Pass

Giannis Antetokounmpo. Nikola Jokic. They have won five of the past six MVPs. Playoff seeding on the line.

Boston Celtics at Phoenix Suns, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN

It’s a tough week for the Suns, playing four games against four postseason-bound teams. Is this their make-or-break week?

Thursday, March 27

Atlanta Hawks at Miami Heat, 7:30 p.m. ET, League Pass

This, admittedly isn’t the most intriguing game, but it could be a preview of the first play-in game, with both teams currently in line to face each other.

Memphis Grizzlies at Oklahoma City Thunder , 8 p.m. ET, League Pass

This could easily be a second-round matchup – regardless, this should be a fun game and a test for the Grizzlies.

Friday, March 28

Cleveland Cavaliers at Detroit Pistons, 7 p.m. ET, League Pass

Both these teams are pretty secure in their spots in the standings, but this game presents an interesting test for this young Pistons team.

New York Knicks at Milwaukee Bucks, 8 p.m. ET, League Pass

If the Bucks — currently the five-seed — are to catch the Knicks — currently the three-seed — this is a must-win game.

Phoenix Suns at Minnesota Timberwolves, 8 p.m. ET, NBA TV

These two teams could meet in the play-in game format.

Saturday, March 29

Los Angeles Lakers at Memphis, 8 p.m. ET, League Pass

This could also be a 4-5 matchup in the West playoffs, and yes, we welcome such a series.

Sunday, March 30

Detroit Pistons at Minnesota Timberwolves, 7 p.m. ET, League Pass

The Pistons, who are headed for a plus-.500 record for the first time since 2016, still have a shot at the No. 4 seed.