Michigan Blows Out Tennessee 95-62, Advancing Wolverines To A Ninth Final Four
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(BCSNN) — Michigan is heading back to the Final Four — and it got there with one of the most overwhelming Elite Eight performances in program history.
Add a commentA Dominant Second-Half Pushes Arizona MBB Past Purdue As Wildcats Reach the Final Four
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(BCSNN) — Arizona saved its most complete half of basketball for the biggest moment of its season — and produced a second‑half avalanche that carried the Wildcats back to the Final Four for the first time in 25 years.
Add a commentIllinois Powers Past Iowa Putting The Illini Back In The Final Four Thanks To Wagler’s 25‑Point Performance
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(BCSNN) — Illinois is headed back to the Final Four for the first time in more than two decades, riding a dominant closing stretch and a breakout performance from its All‑American freshman to claim a 71–59 win over Iowa on Saturday night in the Elite Eight.
Add a commentVanderbilt Extends Head Coach Mark Byington After Back‑To‑Back NCAA Tournament Appearances
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(BCSNN) — Vanderbilt is doubling down on the architect of its fastest rise in modern program history. Head coach Mark Byington, the first Commodores coach to win 20 or more games in each of his first two seasons, has agreed to a contract extension, the university announced Saturday.
The deal comes on the heels of back‑to‑back NCAA Tournament appearances — Vanderbilt’s first in nearly a decade — and a 27‑9 season that fell just one win shy of the school’s single‑season record. The Commodores also opened the year with a 16‑game winning streak, matching the best start in program history.
“Under Mark Byington, our men’s basketball team embodies the energy and confidence fueling growth across the university,” said Chancellor Daniel Diermeier. “We are committed to doing what it takes to win at the highest level while holding fast to our values. Mark has shown that those values are a blueprint for historic success.”
Byington’s impact has been felt well beyond the win column. His fast‑paced, team‑first style has energized the Vanderbilt community, drawing nearly 150,000 fans to Memorial Gymnasium this season and boosting average attendance by nearly 40 percent since his arrival.
After an 11‑game turnaround in his first season — one of the nation’s most dramatic improvements — Byington’s 2025–26 squad reached new heights. Sophomore Tyler Tanner earned consensus first‑team All‑SEC honors and was a finalist for the Lute Olson National Player of the Year Award. Graduate transfer Duke Miles became one of the country’s top defensive playmakers, averaging 2.6 steals per game.
“First, I am deeply grateful to Chancellor Diermeier and Vice Chancellor Lee for their leadership and trust in me and what our staff and student-athletes are committed to achieving,” said the excited Byington. “From the start, we shared a vision for what Vanderbilt men’s basketball could be as one of the nation’s elite programs and a plan for how to get there, including amazing facilities like the Huber Center. And from making me feel welcome in Nashville to stepping up to support this program in meaningful ways at a time in our game when that has never been more important, Commodore Nation has made it clear they believe in what we’re building. I can’t thank them enough for making Vanderbilt home.”
Byington is also the reigning Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award winner, honoring Division I coaches who pair on‑court success with integrity and leadership.
The extension signals Vanderbilt’s confidence in the trajectory of the program as it continues its climb in the SEC — and its belief that Byington is the coach to lead the Commodores into a new era of sustained national relevance.
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