Utah State coach Jerrod Calhoun is returning to Cincinnati to lead the Bearcats after his March Madness run came to an end.
Utah State made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament as a No. 9 seed but fell to No. 1 seed Arizona, ending their season. That loss also ended Jerrod Calhoun’s time as coach of the Aggies.
Calhoun has agreed to a six-year deal to become the next coach at Cincinnati, according to Matt Norlander of CBS Sports. The 44-year-old coach guided Utah State to back-to-back appearances in March Madness, but has been rumored to be interested in the job at his alma mater for weeks.
Calhoun began his career as a student assistant at Cincinnati under former coach Bob Huggins, and this wasn’t an opportunity he could pass up. He went 55-15 in two seasons at Utah State and continued the trend of jumping from mid-major programs to the power conferences, joining arguably the best conference in college basketball with the Big 12.
The Bearcats fired Wes Miller two weeks ago after Cincinnati failed to make the NCAA tournament in each of his five seasons leading the program. Calhoun’s resume and connection to the school made him instantly the top candidate for the job. The Bearcats haven’t made the tournament since 2019, when current UCLA coach Mick Cronin was leading the charge.
Kansas State was also in the running for Calhoun, but when he didn’t engage with the offer, it became clear where he was going next. Calhoun’s experience at Youngstown State and Utah State gives him a record of 173-121 as a Division I coach. His buyout is believed to be around $4 million to leave Utah State.
Cincinnati is preparing to increase its NIL pool to more than $8 million before next season, according to Norlander, giving Calhoun plenty of resources to start a rebuild and hopefully make it back to the tournament soon.
Utah’s 13 National Park Service sites saw 1.5 million less visitors from 2024 to 2025. Utah’s “Mighty 5” saw only around 500,000 less visitors last year compared to 2024, with Bryce Canyon National …
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Utah’s 13 National Park Service sites saw 1.5 million less visitors from 2024 to 2025.
Utah’s “Mighty 5” saw only around 500,000 less visitors last year compared to 2024, with Bryce Canyon National Park making up the vast majority of that decline. The difference here has a caveat, though, as prior to 2025, the park determined visitation figures based on total boardings of park shuttle buses.
Because some visitors boarded shuttles multiple times during their visit, this approach overestimated the actual number of visitors. In their new approach, the park only counts unique passengers entering via shuttle.
The rest of Utah’s Mighty 5 remained steady, each park showing differences of thousands to tens of thousands year over year. Arches National Park was the only one that showed an increase in visitors, attracting an additional 45,000 visitors in 2025.
So what caused the nearly one million less visitors at Utah’s National Park sites?
Glen Canyon National Park saw a decline of 996,108 visitors from 2024 to 2025. And it’s no mystery why — the park offers huge opportunity for water-based recreation, a sector of the recreation industry that took a major hit last year due to low water levels.
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As of late Feb. 2026, the water elevation at Lake Powell, Glen Canyon’s major water recreation hub, is at 3531 feet — a 32-foot decline from its 3,563 feet of water elevation recorded the same time in 2025.
The 2026 data shows it’s the lowest average water elevation since 1964, according to the Bureau of Reclamation.
Despite the lower water levels, Glen Canyon and National Park Service staff are taking action to sustain visitor access, securing funding and planning long-term ramp projects at Antelope Point Public, Stanton Creek at Bullfrog, and Hite North. While those ramps won’t be completed before summer 2026, they will be designed to function at lower lake elevations.
Aramark and Antelope Point Holdings, who handle some operations at Lake Powell, are reportedly also developing contingency plans for potential marina and infrastructure adjustments. If you plan on visiting Glen Canyon, you can check water elevation levels and see which launch ramps are open here.
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Additionally, the Great Salt Lake saw its third-lowest water year on record in 2025, highlighting the urgent need for a solution to uphold Utah’s indispensable natural resource.
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After advancing through the first round, Utah State faces Arizona on Sunday in the 2026 NCAA Tournament with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line. MORE: 5 bold March Madness predictions for 2026 NCAA …
After advancing through the first round, Utah State faces Arizona on Sunday in the 2026 NCAA Tournament with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.
The NCAA Tournament continues on Sunday, as teams look to advance to the Sweet 16, setting the stage for another day of dramatic finishes. With eyes set on a national title, the tournament always promises the chaos and excitement that make March Madness one of the best events to follow in sports.
In a West Region second-round battle, No. 1 Arizona comes off a 92–58 rout of Long Island, dominating from start to finish with efficient shooting and interior control, while No. 9 Utah State advanced with an 86–76 upset of Villanova, fueled by balanced scoring and clutch late-game execution.
Arizona’s elite offense and top-seed pedigree meet Utah State’s scrappy, momentum-driven play, creating a dynamic matchup where defensive stops, rebounding, and late-game composure will likely determine which team moves on to the Sweet 16.
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Despite finding themselves down by 18 points early in the second half of Sunday night’s second-round game against No. 1 seed Arizona, Utah State clawed its way back into the game with its defense and …
SAN DIEGO — For a few brief moments, the ninth-seeded Aggies caught a glimpse of advancing to the Sweet Sixteen next weekend up the road in San Jose.
Despite finding themselves down by 18 points early in the second half of Sunday night’s second-round game against No. 1 seed Arizona, Utah State clawed its way back into the game with its defense and managed to close the gap to just four points on three occasions.
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But each time the Aggies got to within a couple of scores, the feisty Wildcats scored on their subsequent possessions to keep their opponents at bay and eventually ended Utah State’s season with a 78-66 victory at Viejas Arena.
“It hurts. I don’t want to take the uniform off,” USU graduate guard Drake Allen said quietly. “Knowing it’s going to be my last time wearing it means so much. And it really feels like a family. Everybody in Logan feels like one big family.”
Utah State (29-7) might have been able to get over the hump were not for a brutal performance from the 3-point line. But after going 1 for 12 from long distance in the first half, the Aggies finished just 8 for 32 from beyond the 3-point arc.
“When you can’t find it — the ball won’t go in from 3 — you’ve got to get to the rim,” USU head coach Jerrod Calhoun said. “And I was really proud of our effort around the rim. I thought we were pretty efficient.
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“But to beat a No. 1 seed when you’re a No. 9 seed, you’ve got to make those 3s. And our guys knew that.”
The Aggies knew that going up against the significantly larger Wildcats (34-2) was going to be a challenge, but Calhoun’s crew still ended up with three more field goals than Arizona and Utah State (39.1%) notched an overall field goal percentage that was nearly identical to that of the Cats (39.3%).
But in addition to a rough night from 3-point range, the Aggies were outrebounded by a stunning 54-26 margin, and the Wildcats also shot 28 more free throws.
“So far, they’re 2-0 in this tournament, and they live in the paint,” Calhoun said of Arizona. “They chew the paint up. They play ’80s, ’90s basketball. The number of physical plays in the game — we haven’t seen that all year.
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“… But our guys did a tremendous job, I thought, the last nine minutes of really locking in on some of those details. You’ve got to be at least eight or 10 difference in the rebounding. It can’t be 28. And if you’re not going to rebound, you’ve got to make shots. So, it was just a couple of margins that we couldn’t overcome.”
Utah State guard Mj Collins (2) attempts to steal the ball from Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Mark J. Terrill
Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (13) reacts after a play against Utah State during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Marcio Jose Sanchez
Utah State guard Mason Falslev (12) and Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (13) scramble for the ball during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Marcio Jose Sanchez
Utah State players react on the bench as they trail Arizona during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Mark J. Terrill
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) shoots around Utah State forward Garry Clark (11) during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Mark J. Terrill
Arizona forward Koa Peat (10), and Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) celebrate as their team leads Utah State during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Mark J. Terrill
Utah State guard Elijah Perryman (1) reacts after a play against Arizona during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Mark J. Terrill
Utah State head coach Jerrod Calhoun walks off the court after his team lost to Arizona in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Marcio Jose Sanchez
Arizona forward Koa Peat (10) shoots against Utah State during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Marcio Jose Sanchez
Arizona guard Brayden Burries (5) shoots over Utah State forward Karson Templin (22) during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Marcio Jose Sanchez
Utah State forward Garry Clark (11) shoots around Arizona forward Koa Peat (10) during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Marcio Jose Sanchez
Utah State forward Karson Templin (22) reacts after a play against Arizona during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Mark J. Terrill
Arizona guard Brayden Burries (5) celebrates after a play against Utah State during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Mark J. Terrill
Utah State forward Karson Templin (22) reaches for the ball against Villanova guard Tyler Perkins during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 20, 2026, in San Diego. | Mark J. Terrill
Utah State forward Garry Clark (11) shoots against Arizona forward Koa Peat (10) during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Mark J. Terrill
Utah State forward Karson Templin, left, and Arizona guard Anthony Dell’orso (3) scramble for the ball during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Marcio Jose Sanchez
Utah State guard Kolby King (7) shoots around Arizona forward Koa Peat (10) during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Mark J. Terrill
Utah State guard Mj Collins (2) shoots around Arizona forward Ivan Kharchenkov (8) during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Mark J. Terrill
Arizona forward Koa Peat (10) shoots over Utah State forward Garry Clark (11) during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Mark J. Terrill
Utah State forward Zach Keller (32) shoots over Arizona during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Marcio Jose Sanchez
Utah State guard Mason Falslev (12) and Arizona forward Tobe Awaka (30) battle for the ball during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Mark J. Terrill
Utah State guard Mason Falslev (12) keeps the ball in bounds against Arizona forward Ivan Kharchenkov (8) during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Mark J. Terrill
Arizona guard Anthony Dell’orso (3) drives against Utah State forward Adlan Elamin (35) during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Mark J. Terrill
Utah State forward Zach Keller (32) and Utah State guard Mj Collins (2) battle Arizona for a rebound during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Mark J. Terrill
Utah State forward Garry Clark (11) shoots over Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (13) during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Marcio Jose Sanchez
Senior forward Garry Clark came off the bench to give the Aggies a huge lift, going 6 of 8 from the field, scoring 13 points and snagging six rebounds in just 18 minutes. Senior guard MJ Collins Jr. (12 points) and Allen (11 points) were the only other USU players to score in double figures.
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The Aggies’ one-two scoring punch of Collins and junior guard Mason Falslev (8 points) went a combined 7 of 26 from the field and 4 of 15 from 3-point range in the loss.
Thanks to Clark, Utah State’s bench outscored Arizona’s 27-10. But then, the Wildcats’ starters totaled 68 points by themselves, with guards Jaden Bradley (18 points) and Brayden Burries (16 points) leading the way.
Burries also delivered one of the biggest blows to the Aggies’ chances of an upset with 2:18 left and Utah State still within six points. The freshman guard buried a 3-pointer with 6-foot-9 USU wing Adlan Elamin closing in on him, extending Arizona’s advantage to 73-64.
“Obviously, Burries’ 3 was a dagger,” Calhoun declared. “I thought we played that possession really well. It was just a six-point game. … There’s a lot of plays through a 40-minute game that could impact it. And I thought that 3 by him was just a big-time shot in a big moment, and that kind of carried Arizona to the win.”
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Burries ended up going 3 of 3 from 3-point range while the rest of the Wildcats went 4 of 13 from long range.
“I think Brayden’s a winner, and he has ultimate confidence,” Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd said. “It’s been a joy to coach him. … He’s a laid-back, kind-of-unassuming guy, but he has a killer in him. And that’s a beautiful attribute.”
The Wildcats, who have won 11 straight games, also got 14 points from freshman forward Koa Peat, and 11 points and 14 rebounds from junior Motiejust Krivas. The 7–foot-2 center blocked three shots, caused the Aggies’ offense and all sorts of problems and went 7 of 8 from the free-throw line to help Arizona advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the fourth time in Lloyd’s five seasons in Tucson.
Conversely, Utah State still hasn’t won two games in the same NCAA Tournament since 1970. But despite never holding the lead — Burries buried a 3-pointer just 24 seconds into the game — trailing 33-24 at halftime and falling behind by 18 points early in the second half, the Aggies still gave their fans hope.
After a 10-foot jumpier by Burries forced Calhoun into calling a timeout with his team trailing 51-33 with 14:43 left, Utah State turned up the intensity defensively, holding Arizona without a field goal for over seven minutes while creating turnovers with its full-court defense.
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Two free throws by Elamin pulled the Aggies to within 56-51 at the 7:22 mark, and a 3-pointer by Allen closed the gap to just four points a minute later. But a putback by Krivas — one of Arizona’s 21 offensive rebounds — stretched the Cats’ lead back to 60-54.
Two more free throws from Elamin got USU back to four points once again, but those two points were offset when Arizona finally broke the Aggies’ press, leading to a 3-point play by Bradley. Following a missed 3-pointer by USU forward Karson Templin, Falslev came up with one of his three steals, which led to the Aggies getting back to within four points for a third and final time.
Allen enjoyed the moment, turning towards the Aggies’ fan section to celebrate Utah State getting back to 63-59 with just over five minutes to go. But his joy was short-lived, and USU’s momentum soon disappeared when Bradley scored the next three points of the game.
Although Allen did managed to slice through Arizona’s big men for a layup that left Utah State down 66-61, four free throws by Krivas and Burries’ clutch 3-pointer carried Arizona to the victory and brought Utah State’s spectacular season to an end.
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“I think it’s very hard for a season to end anytime; it just comes abruptly,” Calhoun noted. “Its one of those things that you don’t ever want to end. You just want to coach these guys another day, another game.
“We wanted to get to San Jose, but we weren’t able to do it.”
Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley scored 12 of his 18 points in the 2nd half, leading top seed Arizona past Utah State 78-66 and into Sweet 16 …
Jaden Bradley scored 12 of his 18 points in the second half to lead Arizona past Utah State.
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jaden Bradley scored 12 of his 18 points in the second half, Motiejus Krivas had 11 points and 14 rebounds and top-seeded Arizona beat No. 9-seeded Utah State 78-66 on Sunday to advance to the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in five seasons under coach Tommy Lloyd.
The Wildcats (34-2) take an 11-game winning streak into Thursday’s game against No. 4-seeded Arkansas in the West Region in San Jose.
The Wildcats will be looking to reach the Elite Eight for the first time since doing so in both 2014 and 2015. They began their March Madness run by breezing to an opening 92-58 victory over Long Island on Friday.
Arizona, which won the Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles, led the whole way in front of a loud, red-clad contingent of fans that made it feel like a home game some 400 miles from campus.
But the Aggies (29-7), who won the Mountain West regular-season and tournament championships, didn’t fold despite trailing 51-33 five minutes into the second half after giving up a 9-0 run.
The Wildcats then went cold from the field and the Aggies pulled to 58-54 on a 3-pointer by Drake Allen.
It was 60-56 when Bradley, the Big 12 player of the year, finished a fast break with a high bank shot, was fouled and converted the three-point play for a seven-point lead.
Allen hit a 3-pointer for the Aggies before Bradley answered with a jumper and a free throw on consecutive possessions.
Brayden Burries had 16 points and nine rebounds for Arizona, while Koa Peat had 14 points and 10 boards.
Led by the 7-foot-2 Krivas, the Wildcats outrebounded the Aggies 54-26.
Garry Clark scored 13 for Utah State, MJ Collins had 12 and Allen 11. Mason Falslev, the Mountain West player of the year, was held to eight points.
It was a valiant effort from the Utah State Aggies to keep up with Arizona in the second round of the Men’s NCAA Tournament, but ultimately they were spinning their wheels.
Arizona won 78-66 in a score that doesn’t reflect just how hard Utah State fought, with the Wildcats ultimately gaining the edge through a rebounding advantage of 45-23, a free throw disparity of 39-11, and good old-fashioned hoopers.
Brayden Burries proved that his name isn’t a name. It’s a sentence. He hit the dagger in a 70-64 game in the second half on a stepback 3-pointer in the face of an Aggie defender. Despite some early foul trouble, he ended up with 16 points, just two back of team leader Jaden Bradley.
Arizona will now head to Tommy Lloyd’s sworn enemy: The Sweet 16. It has seen three of its past four seasons end at this point in the bracket, including in each of the past two seasons. It will look for a different result against John Calipari and Arkansas, which has been on a tear since winning the SEC Tournament.
Here’s what you need to know about today’s game.
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Arizona vs Utah State final score
TEAMS
1H
2H
F
Utah State
24
42
66
Arizona
33
45
78
Arizona vs Utah State live updates
Arizona defeats Utah State to advance to Sweet 16
The game was sweaty, but never especially close. Arizona holds off No. 9 Utah State to make the Sweet 16 for the third straight season, where it will hope to change the narrative around Tommy Lloyd’s Wildcats after losing there in each of the past two years. Jaden Bradley led the team with 18 points, while Brayden Burries finished with 16 in a strong showing.
Hope slipping away for Aggies
Brayden Burries is serious. He hits an incredible shot from beyond the arc to bring the Arizona lead to nine, and it looks like Arizona will come out of this with a win. He splits two free throws to make it 74-64, and a Utah State air ball with 1:03 left may be the death rattle.
Arizona trying to hold off Utah State
This has been a slog for Utah State, but it is very much in the thick of things. Arizona has outrebounded Utah State 40-22 and it has 20 more free throw attempts, but it’s still just 68-61 with 3:24 left in the game. Part of that is six 3s from Utah State in the second half, in conjunction with some shooting struggles for Arizona.
Utah State still clawing its way back
The Aggies have been on the right side of a few breaks, including a missed 3-pointer at the end of the shot clock that was rebounded and put back up for an And-1. It’s now 56-49 with 7:27 left, and Utah State is going to the line to make this a ballgame.
Utah State showing signs of life
One. Possession. At. A. Time. Utah State has scored six unanswered, as it tries to cut into Arizona’s lead. Nothing has come easy, but it’s 51-39 with 11:48 left in the half.
Arizona pouring it on
Things are going south for Utah State, and Arizona has opened up an 18-point lead. The net looks wide open for the Wildcats right now, and they’re capitalizing. It’s 51-33 with 14:41 left in the second half.
Arizona-Utah State back underway
We’re back underway, and Arizona has a bucket out of the break to make it 35-24. Utah State will try to find a way to crack this Arizona defense.
Arizona takes lead into halftime
Arizona takes a 33-24 lead into the half, as both teams struggle at times to sustain offensive momentum. Koa Peat is leading the way with 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting and 5-of-7 from the line, with six rebounds to boot. Jaden Bradley has put up six for the Wildcats. For the Aggies, Garry Clark is the leader with six points. They’ve only been to the line twice, with Drake Allen going 1-of-2. Expect a more aggressive plan to challenge the Wildcats at the basket, as they’re 1-of-12 from 3 in the first half.
Tempo is cratering in Arizona vs Utah State
Neither of these teams are moving the ball super well right now, and both sides are in a bit of a drought. Wildcats lead 30-22 with under two minutes in the half, as they capitalize on a few Utah State mistakes.
Arizona goes on another run
The Wildcats are going to be a tough out for anyone, and they’re showing it here. After Utah State draws to within three, Arizona goes on an 8-0 run to make it 27-16 with 6 minutes left in the first half.
Brayden Burries in early foul trouble
Tommy Lloyd says Brayden Burries will play again in the first half, but he’s on the bench now with two fouls. The Wildcats are showing good rotation right now, but Lloyd says he feels they’re shooting too many 3s early. Nevertheless, Arizona leads 19-16 with 8:35 left in the half.
Utah State battling early
After the initial Arizona onslaught, Utah State strings some buckets together. However, Arizona answers back and the lead is up to seven as approach the halfway point in the first half.
Arizona all over Utah State early
Arizona has jumped out to a 10-4 lead over Utah State, as Koa Peat has an early four. The Wildcats are moving the ball well against the Aggies, as they look to keep their momentum rolling.
What time is Arizona vs Utah State?
Time: 7:50 p.m. ET, Sunday.
What channel is Arizona vs Utah State? How to watch, streaming info
The Wildcats are seeking their first Final Four appearance since 2001. They will get one step closer with a win over Utah State, although it won’t come quite as easily as the win over Long Island.
John Leuzzi: Arizona
Jordan Mendoza: Arizona
Ehsan Kassim: Arizona
Blake Schuster: Arizona
Moneyline: Arizona (-800); Utah State (+550)
Spread: Arizona (-11.5)
Over/ under total: 153.5
Who is Jerrod Calhoun? What to know about Utah State coach and Aggies offense?
“This guy is an offensive genius,” CBS commentator and former NBA coach Stan Van Gundy said of Calhoun during Utah State’s first round win over Villanova.
CBS Sports analyst Jamal Mashburn, who played 11 NBA seasons, also had high praise for Calhoun and what he’s done with the Aggies program.
“Just a masterful job of what he’s been able to do,” Mashburn said. “Teach these kids how to play that way, and also put them in a position to be aggressive and not be afraid to make mistakes.”
Even TNT Sports host Adam Lefkoe had to admire Calhoun’s coaching prowess.
“Many of you have not seen Utah State. But we sat here and went, ‘Coaches around the country need to steal their plays.’ Hopefully they don’t steal their players,” Lefkoe said. “Utah State’s offense was phenomenal. … Let’s look at the highlights because almost every play you see is a masterclass from coach Calhoun.”
Is Jerrod Calhoun a candidate for Cincinnati coach job?
Calhoun, who’s in his second season as head coach at Utah State, is being linked with a number of power conference openings, including Cincinnati.
An Ohio native, Calhoun got his start in coaching as a student assistant on the Bearcats staff in 2003-04. He spent seven years as head coach at Ohio’s Youngstown State before heading to USU.
“Calhoun is going to be great walking the sidelines at UC,” former Bearcat great Nick Van Exel tweeted after Calhoun’s Aggies defeated Villanova. “Offense is great. Lots of ball/body movement and paint touches. And he gets the history of the program and understands that the UC vs X is a rivalry and not just another game.”
Koa Peat 2026 NBA Draft, mock draft prediction
No. 19 overall to Miami Heat
Kalbrosky’s Analysis:
The Miami Heat have drafted several prospects known for their athleticism, which means a player like Arizona forward Koa Peat will probably have some appeal to their organization. Peat is an ideal match for this franchise given his versatility as a playmaking forward. The All-Big 12 forward just needs a jumper to carve out regular minutes as a high-impact pro. Arizona plays at a significantly faster pace (4.6 extra possessions) when Peat is on the floor relative to when he is not, per CBB Analytics, which would fit very well with Miamis fastest-paced offense in the NBA.
Brayden Burries 2026 NBA Draft, mock draft prediction
No. 10 overall to Milwaukee Bucks.
Kalbrosky’s Analysis:
Arizona freshman Brayden Burries had two breakout games in January, which helped solidify his draft stock. But the All-Big 12 guard has continued to display his tantalizing talent, scoring 31 points with seven rebounds and five steals against Colorado on March 7 and 20 points with 12 rebounds and five assists during a victory against No. 14 Kansas on Feb. 28. Burries has proven productivity and that he is able to defend, relocate, move the ball and make 3-pointers off the dribble.
SportsLine’s model simulated Arizona Wildcats vs. Utah State Aggies and revealed its college basketball picks for this NCAA Tournament 2026 second-round matchup on Sunday …
SportsLine’s model simulated Arizona Wildcats vs. Utah State Aggies and revealed its college basketball picks for this NCAA Tournament 2026 second-round matchup on Sunday …
March Madness 2026 NCAA tournament second round play rolls on with the Arizona-Utah State game tonight. Start time, how to watch, odds, predictions, and more.
March 22, 2026, 8:01 a.m. ET
The Arizona Wildcats will face the Utah State Aggies in the second round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
The game is scheduled for Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 7:50 p.m. ET.
Viewers can watch the matchup on truTV or stream it via Paramount+ and SlingTV.
Arizona enters the game with a 33-2 record, while Utah State holds a 29-6 record.
What channel is Arizona Wildcats vs Utah State Aggies game on TV Sunday, March 22? How to watch Utah State-Arizona March Madness 2026 NCAA tournament second round game live
What time is Utah State Aggies vs Arizona Wildcats game start Sunday, March 22? When is Arizona-Utah State March Madness 2026 NCAA tournament second round game live
Here is a complete guide to watching Arizona vs. Utah State, including the start time, TV schedule and live stream information for the 2026 NCAA Tournament game.
The second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament continues Sunday as No. 1 seed Arizona takes on No. 9 Utah State.
The top seed would normally expect to see the No. 8 seed in the second round, but this year, all four No. 9 seeds won their opening round matchups.
Arizona enters this game with a 33-2 record. The Wildcats dominated No. 16 Long Island University 92-58 in the first round. Arizona is led by guard Brayden Burries, who has averaged 16 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
Utah State (29-6) qualified for this year’s tournament after winning the Mountain West conference tournament and beat Villanova 86-76 in the first round. The Aggies’ top scorer is guard MJ Collins Jr., who averaged 17.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 35 games this season.
Here’s what you need to know about Sunday’s matchup between Arizona and Utah State, including broadcast information and start time.
Arizona vs. Utah State will air on truTV. The game will be called by Kevin Harlan, Robbie Hummel, Stan Van Gundy. Lauren Shehadi will serve as the sideline reporter.
Fans looking to stream Arizona vs. Utah State can watch live on DIRECTV.
Catch every game of March Madness – try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live Soccer, MLB, and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.
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What time is Arizona vs. Utah State today?
Date: Sunday, March 22
Time: 7:50 p.m. ET | 5:50 p.m. MT | 4:50 p.m. PT
The NCAA tournament game between Arizona and Utah State is set to tip off at 7:50 p.m. ET from Viejas Arena in San Diego, California.
Arizona is looking for a win that will send it back to the Sweet 16. If the Wildcats beat the Aggies, they will reach the Sweet 16 for the third consecutive year, and for the fifth time in their last seven tournaments.
Utah State has already tied its best NCAA Tournament finish in school history, win or lose. The Aggies have made it to the second round for the third time, and have so far never made it to the Sweet 16.
Arizona vs. Utah State radio coverage
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The 2026 Men’s Final Four is set for April 4 and 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The semifinals will be played Saturday night and the national championship game is set for Monday night.
The home of the Indianapolis Colts previously hosted the event in 2010, 2015 and 2021 and is set to host again in 2029. Indianapolis previously hosted the Final Four at other facilities in 1980, 1991, 1997, 2000 and 2006.
Only Kansas City has been home to the Final Four more often (10 times), but the last one held there was in 1988.
March Madness tournament schedule 2026
Here is the round-by-round schedule for the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament:
Utah opened the meet with a 49.375 on vault, which was a solid foundation to build from. Makenna Smith led the way on the event, as she hammered home a beautiful stuck vault to record a 9.95 that …
Another day, another conference championship.
Utah’s gymnastics team is really good at winning conference titles and added another trophy to its case Saturday as its championship streak in the Big 12 moved to two in a row since joining the league.
While this title wasn’t the easiest to win, it seemed fitting to be part of a season that hasn’t been the easiest for the Red Rocks either.
Final results saw No. 12 Utah on top with a 197.675, followed by No. 23 Denver at 196.575, No. 24 BYU with 196.175 and Arizona at 194.725 in the second session.
“Super proud of this team tonight. Winning the conference championships is not something you could take for granted, and this team fought the entire night to stay in the meet,” said Red Rocks coach Carly Dockendorf.
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Red Rocks’ Avery Neff celebrates winning gymnast of the year in the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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The top finishers in floor pose with their medals at the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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The top finishers in all-around performance pose with their medals at the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Avery Neff receives first place in all-around performance in the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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The top finishers in all-around performance pose with their medals at the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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The Red Rocks celebrate after winning the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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The Red Rocks celebrate after winning the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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The Red Rocks celebrate after winning the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Denver’s Shyla Bhatia celebrates after winning Newcomer of the Year in the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Fans cheer for the Red Rocks in the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Ana Padauri celebrates winning Specialist of the Year in the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Makenna Smith reacts before receiving her first place medal in vault at the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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University of Arizona’s Gianna Lenczner celebrates after winning Scholar Athlete of the Year in the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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The top finishers in vault pose with their medals at the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Avery Neff celebrates winning gymnast of the year in the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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The top finishers in uneven bars pose with their medals at the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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The top finishers in the beam pose with their medals at the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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University of Arizona’s Delaney Mead competes on the floor during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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University of Arizona’s Elizabeth LaRusso competes on the floor during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Camie Winger reacts after competing in the vault during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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The University of Arizona’s gymnastics team waves to fans before competing in the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU’s Alilah Alvarado competes in the uneven bars during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU’s gymnastics team waves to fans before competing in the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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University of Arizona’s Tirzah Wise competes in the vault during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Makenna Smith reacts after competing in the uneven bars during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Ashley Glynn competes in the uneven bars during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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University of Arizona’s Elizabeth LaRusso competes on the floor during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Makenna Smith reacts after competing in the vault during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Ella Zirbes competes in the uneven bars during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Ella Zirbes competes in the uneven bars during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks gymnasts prepare for the uneven bars during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Avery Neff competes in the uneven bars during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Avery Neff reacts after competing in the uneven bars during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU’s Daisy Stephenson reacts after competing on the floor during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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University of Denver’s Cecilia Cooley reacts after competing on the floor during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU’s Kylie Eaquinto competes on the beam during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Abbi Ryssman competes on the beam during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU’s Brynlee Andersen-Broekman competes on the floor during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Avery Neff competes on the beam during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU’s Brynlee Andersen-Broekman reacts after competing on the floor during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Camie Winger reacts after competing in the beam during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Camie Winger competes in the beam during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Camie Winger, left, hugs head coach Carly Dockendorf after competing in the beam during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU’s Zoe Hale competes on the floor during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Zoe Johnson high-fives teammates after competing on the floor during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Avery Neff competes on the floor during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Ashley Glynn competes on the floor during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Avery Neff competes on the floor during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Avery Neff reacts after competing on the floor during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU’s Deb Silva reacts after competing in the vault during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Ella Zirbes reacts after competing on the floor during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Ella Zirbes competes on the floor during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Sage Curtis reacts after competing on the floor during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Sage Curtis reacts after competing on the floor during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks’ Sage Curtis, center, reacts with teammates after competing on the floor to tie for second place on the floor during the Big 12 gymnastics championships at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Utah opened the meet with a 49.375 on vault, which was a solid foundation to build from. Makenna Smith led the way on the event, as she hammered home a beautiful stuck vault to record a 9.95 that eventually earned her the event title.
Unlike recent meets, the Red Rocks were unable to carry over momentum and fell a bit flat on bars (49.05), which is usually one of their best events.
The judges weren’t much help either in what proved a tightly scored event all night. It wasn’t a bad rotation, but Avery Neff was the only Utah gymnast to go 9.9 or higher, while stalwart Ana Padurariu fell and didn’t finish.
“(Padurariu) is fine,” Dockendorf said. “I think it was the adrenaline, the lights and the noise, and there was no point in her finishing it because she was a little bit lightheaded, but she’s fine.”
Meanwhile, Denver put together a strong floor set to catapult from third to first after two rotations. The Pioneers led the Red Rocks 98.475-98.425 with Utah rotating to beam.
For the Red Rocks, beam has been up and down this season with recent meets not finding the usual success. But that didn’t happen Saturday as Utah strung together a beautiful set that earned it a 49.525 to take back and build out a strong lead at 147.95-147.475.
The beam set was a pressure set considering the Red Rocks were behind and they were without Padurariu. Neff and Camie Winger highlighted the set, with Neff recording a 9.925 before Winger hit a stunning routine for a 9.975 in the anchor position after all of her teammates hit.
The score earned her a beam title.
“I was just kind of like, ‘OK, there’s not really that much pressure. Everyone did their job and now it’s just time for me to do mine,’ and I just went out there and just did the best I could,” Winger said.
Utah rolled from there, finishing up floor with a 49.725, which proved their second-best event total of the season (the best was a 49.75 on bars).
No score below 9.9 counted, and that was Zoe Johnson’s, who returned to her routine from last season and hit after Ashley Glynn fell in the leadoff spot.
Utah didn’t balk at the fall, and after Johnson, Neff tallied a 9.975, while Ella Zirbes, Smith and Sage Curtis added 9.95s.
Floor has been a roller coaster for Utah this season, with some big wins and some lower team scores.
“That’s the confidence we definitely needed on floor. Like, we can do anything we put our mind to on floor, and we are all that good on floor,” Neff said. “There’s no reason to be doubting ourselves, really on any event.”
Neff finished the night by winning the all-around, bars and floor.
BYU
The Cougars did not get the start they wanted, sitting in fourth after bars and beam to start the meet, but they posted their second-best floor set of the season with a 49.475 and finished strong on vault at 49.025 to move into third.
Scarlett Sonnenberg (9.925) and Daisy Stephenson (9.925) hit career-bests, while Brynlee Andersen-Broekman tied hers at 9.9 in the first half of BYU’s floor lineup.
Sonnenberg’s effort helped her tie for second overall on the event, and Andersen-Broekman also added a 9.9 on beam to lead BYU.
“I saw on bars and beam there was just a lot of fight,” said BYU coach Guard Young. “They weren’t giving up, but it just wasn’t flowing and we needed to turn that fight and grit into fire.
“That’s what I told them in the huddle, and then it was a floor party, and you know, a great end.”
Big 12 awards
Neff was named Big 12 Gymnast of the Year, while Padurariu earned Event Specialist of the Year. Both have been dominant in events this season, pushing each other to big scores.
Denver’s Shyla Bhatia is Newcomer of the Year, and Arizona’s Gianna Lenczner is Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
BYU’s Young was recognized as Coach of the Year.
“It’s just a tremendous honor because that’s a voting thing from your peers,” Young said. “It’s an award that’s not a head coaches award but a coaching staff award, so I couldn’t do it without Natalie (Broekman) and Brogan (Evanson).
“They’ve been by my side for 11 years now. The support staff and BYU administration have all been great, and new coach McKenna Giles (who competed collegiately at Utah) has been such a great addition.”
Team finishes
First — Utah; 197.675.
Second — Denver; 196.575.
Third — BYU; 196.175.
Fourth — Arizona State; 195.225.
Fifth — Arizona; 194.725.
Sixth — West Virginia; 194.250.
Event winners
All-Around — Avery Neff (Utah); 39.70.
Vault — Makenna Smith (Utah); 9.95.
Bars — Avery Neff (Utah); 9.9.
Beam — Camie Winger (Utah); 9.975.
Floor — Avery Neff (Utah); 9.975.
Next up
The Red Rocks and Cougars, along with other qualifiers, will find out their regional destinations Monday, with regional competitions beginning April 1.
