Providence transfer Bryce Hopkins has committed to Big East rival St. John's, coach Rick Pitino confirmed Monday.

• "We are so excited to have Bryce Hopkins part of our family," Pitino tweeted Monday. "He epitomizes everything I love in a basketball player; Passionate, Hungry, and Driven. Can't wait to work with him! Will become a great one for St John's."

  The forward spent three seasons at Providence after playing his freshman year at Kentucky. However, knee injury issues have limited him to 17 total games over the past two seasons.

  Hopkins tore the ACL in his left knee during a game on Jan. 3, 2024. He missed the rest of that campaign and the start of 2024-25. After returning on Dec. 3 and scoring 16, 16 and 19 points in three games, he suffered a bone bruise in the same knee.

  In 50 games at Providence (all starts), he averaged 15.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 44.2 percent from the field.

  Hopkins is already the second transfer to sign with St. John's, which was a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament but bowed out against Arkansas in the Round of 32. Joson Sanon, a guard from Arizona State who averaged 11.9 ppg as a freshman, previously committed to the Red Storm.

  --Field Level Media

Ja'Kobi Gillespie and Rodney Rice, two starters for Maryland's Sweet 16 team, reportedly entered the transfer portal Monday in the wake of coach Kevin Willard bolting the program for Villanova.

• Both guards played a single season for the Terrapins; Gillespie transferred from Belmont last spring and Rice joined the Terps from Virginia Tech after sitting out 2023-24.

  Gillespie averaged 14.7 points, 4.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game in 36 starts for Maryland. He shot 45.3 percent from the field and 40.7 percent from 3-point range.

  Rice put up 13.8 points per game in 36 games (32 starts) for the Terrapins, shooting 43.4 percent overall and 37.4 percent from 3-point range.

  Maryland, a No. 4 seed, beat Grand Canyon and Colorado State in the NCAA Tournament before falling to No. 1 seed Florida in the Sweet 16.

  --North Carolina guard Elliot Cadeau announced on Instagram that he is transferring to Michigan.

  A former five-star high school recruit, Cadeau averaged 9.4 points, 6.2 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game in 37 games (all starts) for the Tar Heels in his sophomore season. He also gave up 3.1 turnovers per contest.

  Cadeau was a 33.7 percent shooter from 3-point range as he helped North Carolina reach the NCAA Tournament, where it defeated San Diego State in the First Four before falling to No. 6 seed Ole Miss. Cadeau had 12 assists against the Aztecs and eight against the Rebels.

  In 74 games (68 starts) across two seasons in Chapel Hill, Cadeau has averaged 8.3 points, 5.1 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game.

  --Kennesaw State guard Adrian Wooley is headed to Louisville, he revealed on Instagram.

  Wooley averaged 18.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game in 33 games (32 starts) as a freshman at Kennesaw State. He earned Conference-USA Freshman of the Year and first-team All-CUSA honors.

  Wooley was considered a top-five transfer currently in the portal by 247Sports and On3.

  --Nijel Pack is entering the transfer portal out of Miami, several reports said.

  Pack spent three seasons at Miami after two at Kansas State. However, he only played in nine games for the Hurricanes in 2024-25 due to an ankle injury and was expected to apply for a medical redshirt.

  Before his season's premature end, Pack averaged 13.9 points, 4.3 assists and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 45.4 percent overall and 38.6 percent from 3. In 122 career games (121 starts), Pack has put up 14.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game; he is a career 40.3 percent 3-point shooter.

  --Arkansas big man Zvonimir Ivisic is entering the portal, his agent told ESPN.

  Ivisic followed coach John Calipari from Kentucky to Arkansas after coming over from his native Croatia in 2023.

  After appearing in 15 games off the bench at Kentucky, he became a part-time starter for the Razorbacks and averaged 8.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game in 35 games (19 starts).

  --UAB star forward Yaxel Lendeborg announced on social media that he is entering the portal.

  Lendeborg played two seasons with the Blazers and was named the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year both years. He also led the conference in rebounding both years (10.6 per game as a freshman, 11.4 per game as a sophomore).

  Lendeborg averaged 17.7 points per game on 52.2 percent shooting in 2024-25 and has career marks of 15.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.9 blocks per game in 72 games (68 starts).

  --Field Level Media

Rutgers guard Dylan Harper, widely projected to be the No. 2 pick after Duke's Cooper Flagg, officially declared for the 2025 NBA Draft on Monday.

• Harper made his intentions known on ESPN's "NBA Today," but he was always expected to spend a single season in college before moving on to the pros.

  A New Jersey native and brother of former Rutgers forward Ron Harper Jr., Dylan Harper chose the Scarlet Knights over Auburn, Duke, Indiana and Kansas.

  Harper played in 29 games (28 starts), missing time in January due to illness and an ankle injury. He averaged team highs of 19.4 points, 4.0 assists and 1.4 steals along with 4.6 rebounds and was named third-team All-Big Ten.

  "NBA teams saw I am an all-around player," Harper said on ESPN. "I can do whatever it takes to win. Whether it's score, defend or facilitate. Anything Coach needs me to do."

  Rutgers went 15-17 and missed the NCAA Tournament despite having Harper and another projected lottery pick, guard/forward Ace Bailey.

  Harper is 6-foot-6 combo guard and the son of former NBA standout Ron Harper.

  --Field Level Media

The Southeastern Conference will earn a whopping $70 million payout from the NCAA Tournament after sending a record 14 of its 16 schools to the Big Dance.

• Two of those programs, No. 1 seeds Auburn and Florida, are still alive and will meet in the Final Four on Saturday in San Antonio.

  The NCAA pays conferences one "unit" -- worth roughly $2 million each by Sportico's calculations -- for every game their members play in the tournament. The SEC will play 35 games before Monday's final, earning 35 units to get to the $70 million estimate.

  That shatters the previous record of 25 units the Atlantic Coast Conference won in 2016.

  The Big Ten earned 21 units ($42 million) during this year's tournament and the Big 12 finished third with 20 units ($20 million). The Big East and ACC were next with nine units each ($18 million).

  "In the SEC, we believe the financial results follow the underlying work, and we remain laser focused on our work," SEC associate commissioner of men's basketball, Garth Glissman, told Front Office Sports.

  Earnings are distributed to conferences over a six-year basis.

  No. 1 seeds Duke and Houston meet in the other national semifinal on Saturday, with the winners playing for the national championship on Monday night.

  --Field Level Media

Kentucky guard Kerr Kriisa entered the transfer portal on Monday with one season of eligibility remaining.

• "To Coach (Mark) Pope and the UK coaching staff - it has been an absolute dream to play for the University of Kentucky. Thank you for your continued support," he posted on social media.

  Kriisa was limited to just nine games (one start) in his lone season in Lexington before sustaining a season-ending foot injury in December that required surgery. He averaged 4.4 points, 3.8 assists and 2.4 rebounds.

  Kriisa is familiar with the portal, having started his career at Arizona (2020-23) before spending the 2023-24 season at West Virginia. The Estonia native has career averages of 9.3 points, 4.6 assists and 2.3 rebounds in 108 games (94 starts).

  Kentucky's season ended Friday with a 78-65 loss to Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in Indianapolis.

  "To my teammates -- I am so thankful for the relationships we've formed during my time at Kentucky, and I will keep those friendships for a lifetime," Kriisa wrote.

  "To BBN (Big Blue Nation) -- your unending support of me and my team has been amazing. Playing at Rupp Arena in front of huge crowds has been a dream come true.

  "I will always cherish my time in the Blue Grass State, and I wish Kentucky basketball all the best in the future."

  --Field Level Media

North Dakota transfer guard Treysen Eaglestaff committed to South Carolina.

• He shared the news on Instagram on Sunday.

  Last season, Eaglestaff averaged 18.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game as a junior. He was third in the Summit League in 3-point shooting, and he hit eight 3-pointers against South Dakota State on March 7 when he scored 51 points.

  The 6-foot-6 North Dakota native had been pursued by other programs but chose the Gamecocks, who are coming off a disappointing 12-20 season, a year after finishing 26-8 and earning a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

  The Gamecocks were 2-16 in Southeastern Conference play, losing 13 consecutive SEC games from Jan. 4-Feb. 18.

  Eaglestaff marks the program's second transfer commit of the offseason. Christ Essandoko, a 7-footer who previously played at Providence, announced his transfer on social media on Saturday.

  --Field Level Media

Eric Olen is leaving UC San Diego and will become the head basketball coach at New Mexico, the school announced Sunday.

• ESPN reported Olen agreed to a five-year contract to replace Richard Pitino, who resigned Wednesday to accept the same job at Xavier.

  "I am honored to be the next head coach of New Mexico men's basketball," Olen said in a university release. "I want to thank president (Garnett) Stokes, (director of athletics) Fernando Lovo, and the UNM leadership team for this opportunity. This is one of the most special programs in college basketball, and my family and I are thrilled to be a part of Lobo Nation! I can't wait to get to work and write the next great chapter in New Mexico basketball history."

  Olen, 44, has been the head coach of the Tritons since Oct. 1, 2013, promoted following nine seasons as an assistant coach. He oversaw the program's transition to Division I, leading the Tritons to the NCAA Tournament this season in their first year of postseason eligibility at that level.

  After 12 seasons, Olen is now the all-time winningest coach in UC San Diego history with a 240-119 record.

  The Tritons finished the season with a 30-5 overall record and were 18-2 in the Big West, winning regular season and tournament titles. He was named the Big West Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.

  UC San Diego was the No. 12 seed in the South Region and narrowly lost to No. 5 Michigan, 68-65, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

  "We're thrilled to welcome Eric Olen as the new head coach of Lobo men's basketball," Lovo said. "Eric is a proven winner with an incredible track record. Beyond the accolades and success on the court, he is a values-driven leader who puts student-athletes first. We're confident he'll bring tremendous energy and vision to our program."

  As a Division I member the past five seasons, the Tritons are 81-63 under Olen.

  In Division II, he had a 159-56 record and won three California Collegiate Athletic Association regular-season titles and four conference tournament crowns in seven seasons.

  New Mexico finished the 2024-25 season with a 27-8 record and a regular-season Mountain West championship. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, 10th-seeded New Mexico upset Marquette 75-66 before losing 71-63 to No. 2 seed Michigan State in the second round of play in the South Region.

  --Field Level Media

Villanova named Kevin Willard as its head basketball coach on Sunday.

• Contract terms were not announced.

  Willard guided Maryland to a 27-9 record this season before falling to top-seeded Florida in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. He posted a 65-39 mark with two tournament appearances during his three seasons with the Terrapins.

  Willard's time in Maryland appeared to be running short, however, when he openly griped about the program prior to the start of the NCAA Tournament.

  "I need to make fundamental changes to the program," Willard said at the time. "That's what I'm focused on right now. That's why probably a deal hasn't got done (to stay with the program) because I want to see, I need to see fundamental changes done. I want this program to be great. I want it to be the best in the country. I want to win a national championship, but there's things that need to change."

  In a statement released Sunday morning, Maryland officials said attempts were made to keep Willard with the university.

  "We took a very proactive and aggressive approach to retain Coach Willard, offering a significant contract extension and salary increase, new staff, and one of the highest revenue-share budgets in the [Big Ten] Conference," the statement read.

  "We had long and thoughtful conversations about the program and shared the same vision for Maryland Basketball. In the end, he made the choice that he felt was best for him and his family. On behalf of all of Terrapin Nation, we thank Coach Willard and his family for their service and wish them well."

  Maryland said a national search for a coach has started.

  At Villanova, Willard replaces Kyle Neptune, who was fired March 15 after struggling during his three seasons in charge following the retirement of Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright. The Wildcats' season ended with a 73-56 loss to UConn in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament, and they finished with a 19-14 record (11-9 Big East).

  "Coach Willard is an outstanding leader of young men and brings extensive experience and success as a head coach to Villanova," athletic director Eric Roedl said. "We are excited about the future of Villanova basketball under his leadership."

  Willard, 49, said that he and his family are happy to be welcomed by the Villanova community.

  "Villanova basketball has a deep tradition of excellence and a culture that is second to none in college basketball," he said. "We are thrilled to be a part of it and join the Villanova community."

  Willard returns to the Big East after spending 12 seasons as the head coach at Seton Hall. He led the Pirates to five NCAA Tournament appearances and a share of the Big East regular-season title in 2020.

  Willard owns a 335-249 record as the head coach at Iona (2007-10), Seton Hall (2010-22) and Maryland (2022-25).

  --Field Level Media

Donovan Dent, who won the Mountain West Player of the Year award with New Mexico this season, is transferring to UCLA.

• The 247Sports transfer portal listing confirmed the move on Saturday. He was ranked as the No. 2 player in the portal.

  Dent led the Mountain West with an average of 20.4 points and added 6.4 assists. He shot 49 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from 3-point range.

  He announced he was entering the transfer portal after New Mexico's 71-63 second-round loss in the South Region of the NCAA Tournament to No. 2 seed Michigan State.

  It's a homecoming for Dent, who played in high school at Centennial in Corona, about 65 miles from the UCLA campus. Coming out of high school, 247Sports ranked him as the No. 20 point guard in the nation in the 2022 class.

  Dent appeared in 104 games (72 starts) over three seasons with New Mexico, scoring 1,400 total points for an average of 13.5 points per game.

  --Field Level Media

St. John's star forward RJ Luis Jr. is declaring for the 2025 NBA Draft and entering the transfer portal, multiple media outlets reported Saturday.

• Luis has one season of college eligibility remaining.

  Named the Big East Player of the Year, Luis averaged 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds in 35 games (32 starts) this season.

  Luis also earned Big East Tournament MVP honors. However, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, with St. John's as the No. 2 seed in the West Region, he made just 3 of 17 shots from the floor and sat out the final 4:56 of the second half in a 75-66 setback to No. 10 Arkansas on March 22.

  Luis, a Miami native, began his college career with one season at Massachusetts before transferring to St. John's prior to the 2023-24 campaign.

  --Field Level Media

Milos Uzan dropped in a game-winning layup and No. 1 Houston grabbed the final Elite Eight spot in a 62-60 thriller over No. 4 Purdue in the late-night Midwest Region semifinal on Friday in Indianapolis.

• With the game tied at 60, Houston began its final possession with 2.8 seconds left and the ball out of bounds to the right of the basket. Uzan inbounded to Joseph Tugler in the lane and stepped in to catch a return pass and lay it in with the clock reading 0.9.

  Braden Smith caught Purdue's subsequent inbounds pass, moving from left to right on the Boilermakers' side of halfcourt, but a final heave fell short. Houston won despite blowing a 10-point lead in the last eight minutes.

  Uzan had 22 points and six assists for the Cougars (33-4), and Emanuel Sharp scored 17 points. Houston will play second-seeded Tennessee on Sunday afternoon in the regional final. Fletcher Loyer paced the Boilermakers (24-12) with 16 points.

  No. 2 Tennessee 78, No. 3. Kentucky 65

  Zakai Zeigler and the Volunteers booked a spot in the Elite Eight with a win over the Wildcats in the Midwest Region in Indianapolis, avenging a pair of regular-season losses to their Southeastern Conference rivals.

  Chaz Lanier scored 17 points and Jordan Gainey added 16 for Tennessee (30-7), which will face No. 1 Houston on Sunday with a Final Four berth on the line.

  Lamont Butler led Kentucky (24-12) with 18 points and hit four of the Wildcats' six 3-pointers.

  South Region

  No. 1 Auburn 78, No. 5 Michigan 65

  Johni Broome recorded a game-high 22 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Tigers past the Wolverines in the regional semifinal in Atlanta.

  Denver Jones and Tahaad Pettiford added 20 points apiece for Auburn (31-5), which rallied from a nine-point, second-half deficit en route to the program's third Elite Eight. The Tigers will face No. 2 seed Michigan State on Sunday for a spot in the Final Four.

  Danny Wolf scored 20 points to lead Michigan (27-10), while Vladislav Goldin chipped in 10 points and nine rebounds and Nimari Burnett also had 10 points, paired with seven boards.

  No. 2 Michigan State 73, No. 6 Ole Miss 70

  Freshman Jase Richardson scored a team-high 20 points to lead the Spartans to a win over the Rebels in the other semifinal in Atlanta.

  Coen Carr added 15 points and Jaden Akins scored 13 for Michigan State (30-6), which is headed to the program's 15th Elite Eight. The Spartans rallied from a 10-point first-half deficit and earned the right to face top-overall seed Auburn on Sunday for a chance to reach the Final Four.

  Sean Pedulla scored 24 points to lead Ole Miss (24-12), and Matthew Murrell added 13. Malik Dia chipped in with 11 points for the Rebels, who were playing in just their second Sweet 16.

  --Field Level Media

Point guard Donovan Dent, the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year who led New Mexico to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, is transferring to UCLA.

• Multiple media outlets reported the news Friday night.

  ESPN ranked Dent as the top player in the transfer portal, while 247 Sports listed him at No. 2. Earlier reports indicated he was headed to Kentucky before he settled on UCLA, close to his hometown of Corona, Calif.

  Dent put up 20.4 points, 6.4 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game this season as the Lobos went 27-8. Tenth-seeded New Mexico beat No. 7 Marquette 75-66 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament behind 21 points and six assists from Dent. He finished with 14 points and six assists in the Lobos' 71-63 second-round loss to second-seeded Michigan State.

  The 6-foot-2 Dent played 104 games and started 72 across three seasons for New Mexico, averaging 13.5 points, 4.7 assists and 2.3 boards.

  At UCLA, he will become an instant starter at point guard. The Bruins' incumbent at the position, Dylan Andrews, announced this week that he was entering the transfer portal.

  --Field Level Media

Fordham is finalizing a deal to hire UC Riverside's Mike Magpayo as its new head basketball coach, ESPN reported Friday.

• Magpayo, 45, coached the Highlanders to a 21-13 record and a berth in the NIT in 2024-25.

  Fordham fired Keith Urgo last week after three seasons, including a 12-21 campaign in 2024-25.

  Magpayo was the Big West Coach of the Year in 2022-23 and is 89-63 in five seasons at UC Riverside.

  He previously was an assistant at UC Riverside (2018-20), Campbell (2014-17) and Columbia (2010-14).

  --Field Level Media

Former Tulane wing Kam Williams announced Friday he is transferring to Kentucky.

• The 6-foot-8 freshman averaged 9.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in 33 games (28 starts) for the Green Wave this season.

  "Not many people get opportunities like this, so I wanted to pull the trigger fast," Williams told ESPN. "More people are waiting to fill that spot, so I had to take advantage."

  Williams chose coach Mark Pope's Wildcats over Baylor, Florida, Louisville, Texas Tech, Texas, LSU, Arkansas and other programs interested in his shooting and defensive skills.

  Williams shot 41.5 percent from 3-point range and 48.5 percent overall during his lone campaign at Tulane.

  Williams did not get an opportunity to visit Kentucky, which will face Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 on Friday night in Indianapolis.

  "My dream is to play in the NBA," Williams told ESPN. "Kentucky's culture and background shows that they care about their players, especially developing them into the best players they can be."

  Williams was a three-star recruit in the Class of 2024 out of Lafayette Christian Academy in Lafayette, La.

  --Field Level Media

Mark Sears led a historic 3-point barrage with 10-of-16 accuracy from deep, racking up 34 points to power No. 2 seed Alabama to a 113-88 victory over No. 6 seed BYU in an East Region Sweet 16 matchup Thursday in Newark, N.J.

• Alabama (28-8) made 25 3-pointers on 51 attempts, breaking NCAA Tournament records with both marks. The Crimson Tide are looking for their second straight Final Four berth.

  Sears added eight assists and came one 3-pointer shy of tying the individual tournament record (Jeff Fryer, 1990 Loyola Marymount). Aden Holloway joined in with 23 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the arc.

  Richie Saunders paced BYU (26-10) with 25 points and Egor Demin contributed 15 points and seven assists. The Cougars outscored the Crimson Tide 50-16 in the paint but went 6-for-30 (20 percent) on 3-point tries.

  No. 1 Duke 100, No. 4 Arizona 93

  Freshman star Cooper Flagg tallied 30 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three blocks as the Blue Devils survived the Wildcats in Newark.

  The Blue Devils (34-3) made 13 consecutive shots from the floor, including their first nine of the second half, to leap ahead before fending off a valiant Arizona comeback spearheaded by Caleb Love's season-high 35 points.

  Kon Knueppel scored 20 points and Sion James 16 for Duke. Jaden Bradley contributed 15 and Henri Veesaar added 13 for the Wildcats (24-13), who couldn't keep up despite making 12 3-pointers.

  WEST

  No. 1 Florida 87, No. 4 Maryland 71

  Will Richard scored 15 points to pace six players in double figures, and the Gators defeated the Terrapins in San Francisco.

  Alijah Martin added 14 points and Walter Clayton Jr. had 13 for Florida, which held a 29-3 advantage in bench scoring. The Gators (33-4) also outrebounded the Terrapins 42-20.

  Maryland freshman Derik Queen, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and potential NBA draft lottery pick, scored 27 points for Maryland (27-9). Guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie added 17 points.

  No. 3 Texas Tech 85, No. 10 Arkansas 83

  Darrion Williams' driving layup with seven seconds left in overtime completed a dramatic comeback for the Red Raiders and salvaged an otherwise off night for Williams against the Razorbacks in San Francisco.

  Williams also hit a 3-pointer from well beyond the top of the arc with nine seconds left in regulation to force the extra period. In the first half, he was only 2 of 12 from the floor.

  Christian Anderson led Texas Tech (28-8) with 22 points while JT Toppin added 20. Kevin Overton had 12 off the bench. Arkansas (22-14), which led 61-45 midway through the second half, got a game-high 30 points from Johnell Davis and 20 from Karter Knox.

  --Field Level Media

INDIANAPOLIS -- Tennessee coach Rick Barnes left open the possibility his next loss could be his final game on the sideline as the Vols prepare to face Kentucky in the Sweet 16 on Friday night.

• Barnes said at Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday afternoon he is following faith to decide whether to continue coaching as rumors swirl he informed the university of his plans to retire.

  "I think God will make it perfectly clear when he wants me to step down and my time will be up. But it's not now," Barnes said. "If it is, I don't feel that. But I love coaching basketball. I love being around it. I know right now how hard we're working right now. We've already had a young man on campus after we got back Saturday, Sunday, we had a young man on campus that committed to us. We're already planning to have a team next year. I fully plan to be a part of it."

  Barnes has Tennessee in the Sweet 16 for the third consecutive year. He has 835 coaching wins.

  Barnes said he made a comment to senior point guard Zakai Zeigler after an initial report of his imminent retirement that it would be "hard coaching without a guy like that."

  "I meant that, but I could have said that about my first point guard at George Mason 30 some years ago Amp Davis. I loved coaching him," Barnes said. "And I think after that, people thought because I'm a young guy now, that it might be my last year. But the fact is, I've put it all in God's hands. I'll know because he'll make it clear to me."

  --Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media

Five-star forward Koa Peat committed to Arizona's 2025 recruiting class on Thursday.

• The 6-foot-8, 235-pound senior from Gilbert, Ariz., is ranked No. 8 nationally by the 247 Sports composite.

  "I chose Arizona, head coach Tommy Lloyd and his staff because I know I will be pushed," Peat told ESPN. "It's a winning program, and all I want to do is win."

  Peat, who made his announcement on "The Pat McAfee Show," chose the Wildcats over Arizona State, Baylor, Houston and Texas.

  He is the third top-50 commitment in Arizona's 2024 class, along with forward Dwayne Aristode and guard Bryce James, the son of NBA superstar LeBron James.

  It is a big day for the Arizona program. The fourth-seeded Wildcats face No. 1 Duke on Thursday night in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on Newark, N.J.

  --Field Level Media

Fran McCaffery's official homecoming began on Thursday morning after he was named as the head coach at Penn, his alma mater.

• McCaffery, 65, played for the Quakers from 1979-82 and served as an assistant coach for the program for one season after graduating from Penn's Wharton School.

  "I am excited and honored to return to my alma mater and the city of Philadelphia to lead the Penn men's basketball program," McCaffery said. "It is a program that I have fond memories of from my previous time there as a student-athlete and assistant coach. My vision is to return Penn to prominence in the Ivy League and beyond and bring an exciting style of play to The Palestra. ... I relish the challenge and look forward to getting started."

  McCaffery spent the past 15 seasons at Iowa and is the winningest coach in the history of that program, with 297 wins. He was dismissed on March 14 after the Hawkeyes were eliminated in the second round of the Big Ten tournament.

  McCaffery owns a 548-384 overall head coaching record with Lehigh (1985-88), UNC Greensboro (1999-2005), Siena (2005-10) and Iowa (2010-25).

  "I am thrilled to bring Fran back to Penn and Philadelphia as our next head men's basketball coach," athletic director Alanna Wren said. "Fran has had success at every level of Division I and is passionate about restoring our program to glory. His energy and enthusiasm for leading young men was apparent throughout the process and he has proven to be committed to player development and relationship-building with his student-athletes throughout his storied career."

  McCaffery takes over for Steve Donahue, who was fired by Penn on March 10 after going 8-19 in 2024-25. Donahue owned a 131-130 record during his nine seasons with the Quakers.

  --Field Level Media

Owen Freeman, the 2024 Big Ten Freshman of the Year at Iowa, is transferring to Creighton.

• The 6-foot-10-inch forward averaged 16.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game as a sophomore with the Hawkeyes this past season. He was limited to 19 games due to a finger injury.

  Freeman was rated as the top center in the transfer portal. The 20-year-old entered the portal one day after head coach Fran McCaffery was dismissed.

  "With the recent coaching change, my family and I have decided it would be in my best interests to enter the transfer portal," Freeman said in a statement on March 15.

  Freeman will move to the Big East, joining a successful Creighton program. The Bluejays are coming off a 25-11 campaign, which included an upset of Louisville in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Creighton lost to top-seeded Auburn in the round of 32.

  --Field Level Media

Colorado State promoted lead assistant Ali Farokhmanesh to head coach on Wednesday to replace the departed Niko Medved.

• Farokhmanesh was on the Rams' staff for all seven seasons of the Medved era. Medved exited for the Minnesota job after Colorado State sustained a last-second setback to Maryland in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

  The Rams were 143-85 with three NCAA Tournament appearances and an NIT Final Four appearance in those seven seasons. They were 26-10 this season.

  "Serving under Coach Medved has been a privilege, and I will forever be grateful to him for bringing me to Fort Collins," Farokhmanesh said in a news release. "This university and state are special because of the great people. I am grateful for all who have been so welcoming and supportive of me and my family during our time here and look forward to continuing to grow those bonds in our community.

  "I can't wait to continue to build off the championship foundation our players have established and push it to greater heights."

  Farokhmanesh, 36, is a March Madness legend for the ages, stemming from his performance in the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

  In the first round, he buried a 3-pointer from the left wing with 4.9 seconds left to give Northern Iowa a 69-66 victory over UNLV.

  Two days later, he played a major role in helping Northern Iowa defeat top-seeded Kansas 69-67 to reach the Sweet 16. He received a pass on a fast break with his team leading by one and stopped on the right flank and sank a dagger 3-pointer with 34 seconds left.

  Now the guy famous for hitting big shots gets his shot to run a Division I program.

  "I am thrilled that Ali will continue leading our men's basketball program, now as head coach," Rams athletic director John Weber said in the news release. "Ali has a relentless attitude that he attacks each day with, which was important to us as we looked for the next leader of our men's basketball program.

  "After an extremely comprehensive and competitive national search, Ali's continued leadership of this program is important and really excites me. His ability to connect with people has made him successful throughout his career."

  Farokhmanesh made 152 3-pointers and averaged 9.7 points over his two seasons at Northern Iowa.

  --Field Level Media

VCU filled its coaching vacancy with the hiring of Bryant coach Phil Martelli Jr. on Wednesday.

• Martelli went 43-25 in two seasons at Bryant and guided the Bulldogs into the NCAA Tournament this season. Bryant, a No. 15 seed, lost 87-62 to No. 2 seed Michigan State in the first round.

  Martelli replaces Ryan Odom, who departed to take the Virginia job after VCU's NCAA Tournament appearance. The 11th-seeded Rams (28-7) lost to sixth-seeded BYU 80-71 in the first round.

  Martelli, 43, said he wants to build on the success.

  "VCU has long been a dream job for me because of the high standards of excellence and national brand," Martelli said. "I am excited to help carry on the legacy that has been set here and help elevate it to the next level."

  Martelli is the son of Phil Martelli, who made seven NCAA Tournament appearances in his 24-season stint at St. Joseph's.

  VCU athletic director Ed McLaughlin said Martelli is a good fit for VCU.

  "Phil has proven himself as a winner throughout his career," McLaughlin said. "He helped engineer a historic turnaround at Bryant seven years ago and led the program to unprecedented success the past two seasons as head coach. He has clearly lived his entire life amid college basketball legends but has made his own path and paid his dues through hard work, good character and a devotion to developing young men into the best versions of themselves through sport."

  --Field Level Media

McNeese has hired Bill Armstrong as its new coach to replace Will Wade, who left to be the new coach at North Carolina State.

• Armstrong has close ties to Wade, having been on the latter's staff at LSU from 2017-22.

  Both Wade and Armstrong were dismissed from LSU in relation to alleged recruiting violations, partly stemming from Wade's comments on an FBI investigation wiretap in 2017.

  Armstrong was an assistant coach at Baylor this past season.

  "I couldn't be happier for McNeese or the (Southwest Louisiana) community," Wade said in a statement. "They're getting a great coach in Bill Armstrong. ... The players are going to love playing for him and I have no doubt he will build on the success of the past two years."

  McNeese went 28-7 this season in Wade's second campaign. The 12th-seeded Cowboys upset fifth-seeded Clemson in the first round before losing to fourth-seeded Purdue in the second.

  This will mark Armstrong's first college head-coaching post but athletic director Heath Schroyer feels like he has the right guy.

  "I'm thrilled to have Bill Armstrong take over the reins of our men's basketball program," Schroyer said. "We've built a successful model over the last two years and Bill fully understands that model and embraces the championship expectations we have at McNeese."

  --Field Level Media

Kansas senior forward KJ Adams, who was injured in the NCAA Tournament first-round loss to Arkansas, had surgery on his torn Achilles on Wednesday, Jayhawks coach Bill Self announced.

• Adams had grabbed a defensive rebound, landed on his left leg and tried to dribble to start a fast break but fell and lost possession of the ball with 3:14 remaining in the fourth quarter. Seventh-seeded Kansas, which led 67-64 at the time, went on to lose to 10th-seeded Arkansas, 79-72 in Providence, R.I.

  "KJ had successful surgery this morning to repair his torn Achilles," Self said in a social media post on Wednesday. "He is in good spirits. Although this is a big setback, he'll attack his rehab with his patented toughness and be back on the court as strong as ever."

  Self told The Kansas City Star on Sunday that Adams likely will need 9 to 10 months to recover.

  "It is terrible. It's an awful way to end a really good (college) career," Self said in the interview. "The thing that is most frustrating and the saddest thing is it probably delays a year in what he'll do with his future (in pro basketball).

  "I anticipate him sticking around (at KU) and we'll find something for him to do until he gets healthy."

  Adams, a 6-foot-7, 235-pound forward from Austin, Texas, averaged 9.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 31 games (29 starts) this season.

  He played four seasons at Kansas and averaged 8.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 23.4 minutes in 138 games (98 starts). He was All-Big 12 honorable mention in 2023 and 2024, the conference's most improved player in 2023 and on the all-freshman team in 2022.

  --Field Level Media

West Virginia and North Texas coach Ross Hodge are in agreement on a five-year deal that would bring him to Morgantown at the conclusion of the Mean Green's season, CBS Sports reported Wednesday.

• UNT (27-8) still is competing in the NIT, having defeated Oklahoma State on Tuesday night to advance to the semifinals.

  Hodge is 46-23 in two seasons as head coach of the Mean Green, having replaced Grant McCasland ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. His tenure in Denton, Texas, marked his first as a head coach at the D-I level; he was a head coach at the junior college level from 2006-11.

  Hodge would replace Darian DeVries, who was hired by Indiana after one season coaching the Mountaineers.

  Hodge has ties to West Virginia athletic director Wren Baker, who also was at UNT until taking the Mountaineers post in late 2022.

  West Virginia declined an invitation to the NIT after being left out of the NCAA Tournament.

  --Field Level Media

Fran McCaffery is nearing a deal to become the next head coach at Penn, CBS Sports reported on Wednesday.

• McCaffery, who is a Penn alum and played for the Quakers from 1979-82, spent the past 15 seasons at Iowa and is the winningest coach in the history of the program, with 297 wins. He was dismissed on March 14 after the Hawkeyes were eliminated in the second round of the Big Ten tournament.

  McCaffery, 65, served as an assistant coach for the Quakers for one season after graduating from Penn's Wharton School. He later became an assistant at Lehigh before taking over as the program's head coach in 1985.

  McCaffery owns a 548-384 overall head coaching record with Lehigh (1985-88), UNC Greensboro (1999-2005), Siena (2005-10) and Iowa (2010-25).

  McCaffery will take over for Steve Donahue, who was fired by Penn on March 10 after going 8-19 in 2024-25. Donahue owned a 131-130 record during his nine seasons with the Quakers.

  --Field Level Media