Tournament

The Big 12 men's basketball tournament switched courts mid-event after a Texas Tech player suffered a serious ankle injury during a game, prompting safety concerns. Officials halted play and moved to a backup court to ensure player welfare. Texas Tech coach Mark Adams said, 'Safety comes first; we're praying for our player's recovery.' The change delayed semifinals by 45 minutes but allowed games to resume without further incidents, highlighting venue preparedness issues.

The Saint Louis Billikens defeated George Washington 78-65 in the Atlantic 10 Tournament quarterfinals on Friday in Pittsburgh, led by Gibson Jimerson's 22 points and six assists. The heavily favored Billikens pulled away in the second half with a 15-2 run, securing a semifinal matchup against the Dayton-VCU winner on Saturday. This victory positions Saint Louis for a potential deep NCAA Tournament run as a projected at-large bid. Next, they face a tough semifinal challenge amid March Madness preparations.

The Florida Gators take on Vanderbilt Commodores in the SEC Tournament semifinals on March 14, 2026, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, with Florida favored by 6.5 points and a total set at 160.5. Florida enters hot, winning four straight including 71-63 over Kentucky, led by Tyler Tanner's 19.2 PPG average. Vanderbilt seeks an upset after beating Tennessee 75-68, with odds at +258. A Gators win advances them toward the title game against Auburn or Alabama, impacting NCAA Tournament seeding.

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark ordered an unprecedented mid-tournament change to the playing surface at the men's basketball event after noticing increased court slippage during Texas Tech's loss to Iowa State on Thursday, where guard Christian Anderson was injured midway through the second half. Similar slips occurred in Houston's win over BYU the same day. The decision highlights Yormark's flexibility in addressing safety issues during the high-stakes conference tournament in Kansas City. This rare move in college athletics prioritizes player welfare as March Madness approaches, with no further disruptions reported yet.

Multiple college basketball conference tournaments advanced to quarterfinals and semifinals on Friday, including Southeastern Tournament matchups like TBD vs. Florida in Nashville at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Big Ten Tournament saw TBD vs. Illinois in Chicago, while Atlantic 10 featured Dayton and VCU games in Pittsburgh. These results determine automatic NCAA bids amid surging betting interest, with the American Gaming Association noting 73.6% of wagers from legal-age adults. Selection Sunday approaches on March 15, heightening stakes for bubble teams.