NCAA

The Basketball Power Index gives 13th-seeded Idaho a 1.9% chance to advance to the round of 32 against fourth-seeded Oklahoma on the Sooners’ home court Friday.

MINNEAPOLIS – It’s no secret what could be the Gonzaga women’s basketball team’s undoing at the NCAA Tournament.

MINNEAPOLIS – In 32 of 33 games this season, the Gonzaga women’s basketball team has had the same starting lineup.

PORTLAND – Any little thing can help when you're a No. 15 seed trying to upset a No. 2 seed at the NCAA Tournament.

PORTLAND – If Wally Szczerbiak didn’t already know about Gonzaga’s story by the time he was selected with the sixth overall pick of the 1999 NBA draft, he became quickly acquainted by the end of his sixth season with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

PORTLAND – Gonzaga was still coming to grips with the fact it wouldn’t have Braden Huff for at least four weeks when it traveled to Washington State on Jan. 15, less than 24 hours after the forward sustained a left knee injury during practice back home in Spokane.

PORTLAND – It didn’t take Antoine Pettway long to phone a friend after Kennesaw State learned who it would be playing in the first round of the program’s second-ever NCAA Tournament.

PORTLAND – For context, John Stockton played 107 games at Gonzaga.

PORTLAND – After two weeks, Braden Huff was homesick.

For Blassingame and 15th-seeded Idaho, the hope is that history repeats itself when the Vandals (21-14) take on second-seeded Houston (28-6) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at 7:10 p.m. (PST) Thursday at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City (TruTV).

Vandals coach Alex Pribble noted Wednesday that Monson's legacy has been important for him to soak in during his three years at Idaho, and knows the history of successful coaches in the Palouse sets a high standard.

Fact: People who have accidents tend to become safer drivers. I’m applying that theory to Gonzaga men’s basketball team’s 2026 NCAA Tournament prospects.

Lisa Fortier had an inkling of the kind of basketball team she had when players gathered for preseason practices in late September. What developed the last five months has her as proud of any team she’s had in her 12 years as head coach.

As college basketball teams continue to score more and look for more opportunities, Houston (28-6) plays at one of the slowest paces in the country. The Cougars average just 67.2 offensive possessions per game, ranking 328th out of 365 Division I teams.

After the UI men face Houston on Thursday in OKC, the Vandals women will get down to business in their own first-round game Friday at the Lloyd Noble Center on the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman.

PULLMAN – The first offseason departure has arrived at Washington State.

The stack of All-American plaques and certificates Graham Ike could return home to this weekend grew even larger .

PORTLAND – Braedan Lue has tackled many of the top defensive assignments this season for a Kennesaw State team that’s making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2023.

It’s around 8 p.m., and Jalen Warley is still the main attraction for autograph seekers 30 or so minutes after eighth-ranked Gonzaga sweated out a 68-66 victory over San Francisco.