Williams Named AAC Pitcher-Of-The-Week … No. 11 Pirates set for UNC matchup, busy week… Jayden Gardner entering transfer portal, will leave ECU men’s basketball team … FINAL FOUR BOUND! Houston Tops Oregon State in Regional Final … Baylor broils No. 3 Razorbacks, ready for even bigger game … Joey Logano wins historic NASCAR dirt race at Bristol Motor Speedway … On Opening Day, MLB will begin another pandemic season and keep hoping for better days

Pirate Press: ECU Headlines

Williams Named AAC Pitcher-Of-The-Week ecupirates.com

ECU men’s basketball player Jayden Gardner enters transfer portal The East Carolinian

WNCT 9

• Jayden Gardner entering transfer portal, will leave ECU men’s basketball team
• ECU’s Williams named AAC Pitcher of the Week

BREAKING: ECU basketball star Jayden Gardner enters NCAA transfer portal WITN 7

JAYDEN GARDNER EXITS ECU  Rivals.com

247 Sports

• Jayden Gardner announces he’s entering the transfer portal
• Emergency Podcast: Jayden Gardner exits ECU’s program
• Miles James enters NCAA transfer portal
• Where ECU is ranked in this week’s Top 25 polls: March 29

No. 11 Pirates set for UNC matchup, busy week Greenville Daily Reflector (sub req’d)

Around the American Athletic Conference

American Athletic Conference

• FINAL FOUR BOUND! Houston Tops Oregon State in Regional Final
• Wichita State’s Wallace, East Carolina’s Williams Earn Weekly Baseball Honors
• Katrina Merriweather named Memphis Women’s Basketball Head Coach
• Wichita State’s McKinney, USF’s Corrick Named Softball Week Seven Top Players
• UCF’s Watson, Temple’s Davenport Claim Season’s Final Volleyball Weekly Awards
• Cincinnati, Memphis, Temple Earn Weekly Women’s Soccer Awards

The Associated Press

• Houston tops Oregon State, reaches 1st Final Four since ’84
• Sampson savors magical moment by reflecting on Heathcote
• Oregon State’s dream NCAA tourney run ends in crushing loss
• Penny wise: Memphis wins NIT title, has bigger goals for ’22

Houston Chronicle

• UH holds on against Oregon State, advances to Final Four
• Smith: All UH does is win, win, win
• What the world was like last time UH reached the Final Four
• Social media reaction to UH advancing to Final Four
• Hundreds of UH fans celebrate win as Coogs advance to Final Four

Kelvin Sampson’s road back to Final Four with Houston more daunting than most Sporting News

Houston Hangs On and Reaches the Final Four New York Times

‘DUDE ALERT’: UCF’s offensive line brings depth, experience for new coach Herb Hand Orlando Sentinel

Bright spot: Freshman catcher Bennett Lee establishing himself as force for Tulane baseball NOLA.com

SMU basketball forward Feron Hunt wants to show he’s capable of more in NBA draft process  Dallas Morning News

Memphis Commercial Appeal

•  Merriweather will be next Memphis women’s basketball coach
•  5 things to know about Katrina Merriweather
•  Tigers’ Svoboda candidate to be hired at Alabama, per report

Transfer news: One Wichita State men’s basketball player to return, two are leaving  Wichita Eagle

 

Regional Headlines: The Carolinas and beyond

Will top seeds Gonzaga and Michigan join Houston and Baylor in the Final Four? ESPN

Raleigh News and Observer

• Former NC State linemen slim down for Pro Day, with eyes on the NFL
• UNC football pro day another step in the right direction

Winston Salem Journal

• Appalachian State’s Baer Hunter, a West Forsyth grad, has one more challenge to take on
• Wide receiver who transferred to Wake Forest on the move again
• Gonzaga covering all their spreads and totals

Developing weapons around QB Brennan Armstrong, building experienced leaders on defense among U.Va.’s spring priorities Norfolk Virginian Pilot

Fayetteville Observer

• Loss of father led NC State’s Poole to an unexpected family
•  NC State trio ready for Tuesday’s pro day

Charleston Post Courier

• Staley, Gamecocks face familiar coach when they play Texas in Elite Eight
• Should The Citadel end its football season as Chattanooga opts out due to COVID protocols?
• Uncertainty still swirls around Gamecock basketball after legislative involvement
• Gamecocks get closer look from 4-star quarterback prospect

Charlotte Observer

• Alabama’s Nick Saban on why he believes Mac Jones will be successful at the next level
• Former Davidson star Kellan Grady transferring to SEC basketball powerhouse
• It’s not just weight rooms. NCAA is holding women’s athletes back from making millions

Atlanta Journal Constitution

• Georgia baseball coach Scott Stricklin will miss Clemson game
• Bulldogs snag another blue-chip recruit to cap a great week

Baylor advances to first Final Four of modern era Houston Chronicle

Washington Post

• Houston and Kelvin Sampson get back to the Final Four by holding off Oregon State
• Baylor men stake first Final Four claim since 1950 with win over Arkansas
• Final Four weekend gets first entrants with Houston and Baylor men, and Connecticut and Arizona women, advancing
• Complete men’s bracket
• Connecticut roars back to beat Baylor and advance to 13th straight Final Four
• Complete women’s bracket
• Maryland’s season ends in the Sweet 16 with a stunning loss to Texas

The Associated Press

• Baylor broils No. 3 Razorbacks, ready for even bigger game
• Baylor beats Arkansas 81-72 for first Final Four in 71 years
• Arkansas can’t overcome another deficit, falls to Baylor