College Hoops Knowledge

UConn and Jim Calhoun show they're back, while Ohio State flexes Final Fourpower as Selection Sunday looms

UConn coach Jim Calhoun

Hoop Thoughts
John Shurna of Northwestern, which is reading for the Big Dance for the firsttime ever.

Photo by Joshua Beckman/Flickr

Championship Week is fun for hoops fans because it’s a chance for all of the smaller conferences to get their chance in the spotlight. But this week is also important because the major conference tournament showdowns will go a long way toward determining the field of 68.

And the seeding in it.

Here is a look at some of the top storylines for the six BCS conferences as everyone starts jostling for New Orleans and the Final Four in earnest.

ACC

Duke and North Carolina split their regular season meetings so far, and a rematch in the ACC final could determine a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Don’t discount Florida State though, which defeated both of those teams and just missed out on a share of the league title.

North Carolina State and Miami are the two bubble teams to watch. Neither can afford a first-round loss to inferior opponents. For either team to definitely play itself in, two wins are required.

BIG EAST

The story here is that this will be the last Big East tournament in the conference’s familiar configuration, so emotions will be running high. All eyes will be on defending national champion Connecticut.

Coach Jim Calhoun is back from back surgery and the Huskies look like they're back too, blitzing DePaul 81-67 in the first round Tuesday afternoon. A similar win last season started UConn on its legendary run to that NCAA title — won in Houston.

South Florida and West Virginia are also sweating it out. Meanwhile Syracuse might still have a No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed even if it loses its first game.

BIG 12

Kansas and Missouri potentially could meet up for a third time in the championship game. Considering their first two contests, that would be something, especially with a potential No. 1 NCAA seed up for grabs.

Five teams seem like sure tourney things, especially after Iowa State got another huge resume win over Baylor last weekend. Texas seems to be on the wrong side of the bubble as we speak, but a win over Iowa State in its first Big 12 tourney game could change that.

BIG TEN

Many people feel like the Big Ten is the best league in the nation this year, and, after a three-way tie for the regular-season title, the tourney is up for grabs. Ohio State’s clutch win on Sunday over Michigan State will have the Buckeyes' confidence brimming for a Final Four run.

Will this be the year that Northwestern makes the Big Dance for the first time in history? The Wildcats have to beat Minnesota in their first Big Ten Tournament game, and, considering their 8-10 conference record, probably need a second-round win over Michigan as well.

PAC 12

It’s hard to fathom, but the once-proud Pac 12 is staring at the distinct possibility that only the tournament winner will make the field of 68. Who deserves at-large consideration?

Washington backed into the league's regular season title but its RPI is a weak 57. California has the league’s best RPI, but like most of the other conference members, its record is terrible against quality opponents.

As tumultuous as things have been for UCLA this season, the Bruins' win Saturday over Washington has them dreaming of the postseason.

SEC

Other than Kentucky’s dominance, there has been nothing remotely predictable about the SEC this season. Tennessee grabbed the No. 2 seed in the conference tourney despite an RPI in the seventies. Alabama’s rollercoaster season seemed to have been going in the right direction until the Crimson Tide tanked at Mississippi last weekend.

And Mississippi State, which is loaded with talent, is trying to claw its way back from a five-game losing streak in February.

It should be fun to watch, so enjoy it. When next we talk, we’ll know who’s in the field of 68.

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NHL taps Houston billionaire to launch new Texas hockey franchise

Photo by Morris Molina

Houston has been without a pro hockey team since the Aeros folded.

Hockey fans in either Houston or Austin may have a new opportunity to root for the home team. The NHL has committed to adding a 33rd team in the Lone Star State, according to multiple media reports.

As part of those plans, the NHL has reached an agreement with Pursuit Sports, an arm of the Houston-based Friedkin family. Per the agreement, the NHL has granted The Friedkin Family, led by Houston billionaire Dan Friedkin, the exclusive rights to own the future franchise. Pursuit Sports, the family’s company that owns three European soccer franchises, will evaluate both Houston and Austin as potential homes for the team.

The family issued the following statement about the NHL’s decision. It reads in part:

Each city brings unique attributes that would make a new team a huge success — both have the infrastructure, passionate fan bases, and economic strength needed to support a championship-caliber franchise for years to come.

We have wanted for some time to bring an NHL team to Texas, and we are excited that the process has now begun. Selecting a new market for an NHL franchise is a special and important responsibility, and we are grateful to the league for their faith in us and their support. Working with Commissioner Bettman and the NHL, we will undertake a principled, disciplined, and methodical process to ensure we find the right long-term home for this new franchise.

Houston has been without a professional hockey team since the Houston Aeros folded in 2013.

With a net worth of $11.4 billion, Dan Friedkin ranks No. 279 on the 2026 edition of the Forbes World’s Billionaires List. That’s good for Houston’s third richest resident, behind only Kinder Morgan chairman Richard Kinder (No. 232, $13 billion) and Landry’s owner Tilman Fertitta (No. 268, $11.7 billion).

His wealth primarily stems from his ownership of Gulf States Toyota, which has the exclusive rights to sell Toyota vehicles in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. The company sold more than $13 billion worth of Toyotas in 2025 alone, Forbes reports.

The Friedkin family launched Pursuit Sports last summer. It currently owns three European soccer clubs — A.S. Roma (Italian Serie A), A.S. Cannes (French Championnat National 2), and Everton F.C. (English Premier League).