UNC Reveals New 'Brickin' For Chicken' Free Throw Promotion Ahead of 2026-27 CBB Season Opener
North Carolina basketball just gave its fans another reason to get loud while opponents shoot free throws.
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North Carolina basketball just gave its fans another reason to get loud while opponents shoot free throws.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers women’s basketball team opens the 2026‑27 season Sunday at 5 PM against Harvard, aiming to repeat a Sweet 16 run for the first time since 2005. Coach Lindsay Whalen must replace six major departures, including All‑Big Ten guard Amaya Battle and center Sophie Hart, while coping with a season‑ending leg injury to star guard Tori McKinney, who led the team with 12.7 PPG and earned All‑Big Ten honors. Eight players return, but only five were regulars last year, forcing depth players to step up. New transfers and a deep roster will be key to filling the scoring void.
Maryland cut the lead to six points with 42 seconds left, forcing South Carolina to survive a furious fourth-quarter rally. Head coach Dawn Staley was excited for the season-opening challenge against one of the top 25 teams in the country. For her, the matchup could help her measure how good her team was at the […] The post South Carolina Runs Riot as Jerzy Robinson’s Happy Accident Helps Gamecocks Limit Maryland’s Comeback in Season Opener in Paris appeared first on EssentiallySports .
Marking Sports Media Watch’s 20‑year anniversary, the blog reflects on how the sports‑media landscape has shifted since 2006. That year the World Series drew a low 15.81 million viewers, the NBA faced claims of decline, college football debuted the BCS championship, and the NFL launched Thursday Night Football under Roger Goodell. Fast‑forward to 2026: the WNBA’s viewership has tripled since its 2006 finals, women’s college basketball hit record numbers with the 2024 title game, and UFC has become mainstream. Meanwhile, cable’s dominance has waned—Turner Sports now sits with CBS after multiple sales—highlighting the persistence of old trends amid new media realities.
Fox Sports drops the iconic ‘Roundball Rock’ theme after its licensing deal expired in November 2026 and rolls out a new college basketball soundtrack. The fresh tune debuted during the Notre Dame‑Villanova doubleheader at the Eternal City Tip‑Off in Rome, keeping Fox’s graphics and score bug unchanged. Although the new music sounds similar to the John Tesh classic, a Tesh representative confirms it isn’t one of his tracks, suggesting a knock‑off. Meanwhile, ‘Roundball Rock’ returns to its rightful home on NBA broadcasts.
The No. 2 UConn Huskies open their 2026‑27 women's basketball season against the Cornell Big Red on Monday, Nov. 2, at 5 p.m. ET. UConn, fresh off a 38‑1 run last year and a Final Four loss to South Carolina, features National Player of the Year Sarah Strong (18.4 ppg last season). Cornell, coming off a 9‑18 campaign and a 78‑53 win over Dartmouth, returns senior scorer Rachel Kaus and forward Clarke Jackson. The game airs on NBCSN Extra 2 and streams live on Fubo (free trial available).
Tulane Green Wave head coach Ron Hunter has seen the game of basketball change significantly throughout his coaching career. Going into his 40th year as a coach, he looks forward to continuing his evolution as one who has persevered throughout different periods of the sport. “Longevity is generally not something that you see a lot […] The post Exclusive: How Ron Hunter’s 40-year ‘chip on shoulder’ will drive Tulane’s underdog bid for NCAA Tournament appeared first on ClutchPoints .
South Carolina opened its season with a 101-93 win over Maryland in Paris, dominating inside before surviving a dramatic second-half comeback.
Arizona opens its 2026‑27 women’s basketball season with a commanding 84‑69 victory over Stanford at T‑Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Transfer forward Breanna Williams scores 23 points and grabs nine rebounds off the bench, the most points in a UA debut since 2009‑10. The Wildcats shoot 46.3% and force 30 Stanford turnovers, including 15 steals, while five players hit double figures. It marks the Wildcats’ 12th straight season‑opener win and their largest margin over the Cardinal since 2003. Arizona will return to Tucson next Sunday for its home opener against Iona.
Georgia Women's Basketball faces West Georgia to tip-off the 2026-27 season. Check out the game program.
Big Ten power rankings for the 2026-27 women's college basketball season.
Ohio State women’s basketball kicks off its 2026-27 season with a hopeful return of redshirt sophomore forward Kylee Kitts. After posting 7.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and a 43.2% field‑goal rate as a freshman, Kitts suffered a shoulder injury on MLK Day that limited her to 4.0 points and 3.2 rebounds in her final games. Now fully healed and wearing a brace in practice, she could reclaim a starting role, leveraging her 6‑ft‑4 frame, finesse inside, and deep‑range shooting to become a consistent double‑double threat alongside teammate Elsa Lemmilä. Fans will watch to see if the Buckeyes regain rebounding strength and interior firepower.
Full Circle: Jerome Carter's career evening against FSU was personal
Bill Belichick sidesteps TMZ’s claim that he and Jordon Hudson split, replying, “Do you work for a tablet now?” as his North Carolina Tar Heels match last season’s win total and nearly upset No. 1 Miami. While the on‑field momentum builds, the off‑field drama remains unresolved, with sources disputing the breakup rumors. Belichick vows to keep his personal life private, but Hudson’s active social media presence suggests the story may continue.
TCU men’s basketball secures its first 2027 recruit as 6‑foot‑9, 220‑lb four‑star center Nick Welch Jr. commits to the Horned Frogs, choosing TCU over Stanford, Cal, Virginia Tech, Pepperdine and others. The San Pedro, California native, a Rolling Hills Prep senior, signs with coach Jamie Dixon after an offer on Sept. 17, becoming the inaugural class‑2027 signing. Scouts praise his strong, physical post play, footwork and two‑handed finishing ability. Welch Jr.’s father, Nick Welch Sr., was the 2003‑04 Co‑Mountain West Player of the Year at Air Force.
Nebraska opens its 2026‑27 women’s basketball season with a dominant 81‑54 victory over San Jose State. Veteran Britt Prince leads the way, scoring 23 points and nearing the 1,000‑point career mark, while returning players Natalie Potts (8 points) and Allison Weidner contribute solidly. Freshmen make an impact, with Edessa Noyan grabbing five rebounds and Kennadi Williams driving the defense that forces multiple turnovers. Nebraska builds a 37‑21 halftime lead and maintains control despite shooting just 36% overall, while holding SJSU to 29%. The Huskers’ balanced attack and aggressive defense set an upbeat tone for the year.
Sophomore Addi Mack erupts for 33 points in the second half, but No. 20 Maryland falls 101-93 to top‑seed South Carolina in Paris. Maryland trails by 31 early in the third, rallies to within six with a 9‑for‑15 three‑point splash, yet the Gamecocks dominate the paint (52‑34) and out‑rebound 44‑36. Coach Brenda Frese caps her 25th season with a gritty comeback that highlights Maryland’s need to improve interior play and capitalize on their fast‑tempo style.
Women’s Basketball | Happy Halloween! 🎃 We hope you have a spooky day👻
Kentucky remains the frontrunner to land 7‑foot‑5, 250‑lb West African center Cherif Millogo, despite his recent visits to BYU and USC. Recruiting analyst Joe Tipton says the Wildcats have kept their lead, and Millogo, a 4‑star recruit ranked No. 11 by Rivals (as high as No. 8 by ESPN), shared a video from his official Kentucky visit in early October. Conversely, 4‑star power forward Paul Osaruyi, once a Kentucky favorite, now appears headed to Mississippi State, according to Tipton. Kentucky’s 2027 class may hinge on Millogo and fellow prospect Ryan Hampton.
Hartford was one of 38 student-athletes named to the midseason watch list. The winner will be announced Dec. 30, 2026.
The No. 19 Ole Miss Lady Rebels kick off the 2026 season with a decisive 80-38 victory over Alcorn State, improving to 1-0 and reaffirming their top‑25 hype. Jaida Civil tops the box score with 17 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Jade Tillman and Jada Richard each add 14. Ole Miss dominates the boards, out‑rebounding the Braves by 20 and extends Coach Yolett McPhee‑McCuin’s perfect 23-0 SWAC record (20-1 all‑time vs. Alcorn). After a modest 10-6 first quarter, the Rebels surged, winning each subsequent quarter by 20+ points. Their next test comes against North Alabama on Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.
Projecting where Wisconsin could land in the Big 10 prior to the season kicking off and highlighting how they could improve
Mizzou men’s basketball opens its season Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Cleveland State without Jaylen Carey, who is suspended indefinitely, and Luke Northweather, who’s injured. Coach Dennis Gates says the Tigers used preseason exhibitions to pinpoint growth areas, especially transition defense, and praises 5‑star freshman Jason Crowe Jr. for his scoring impact. Senior captain Trent Pierce echoes the need to improve on the break while expressing confidence in the team’s talent. Gates also notes the personal tie to Cleveland State’s coach Rob Summers and warns that the Vikings’ size, physicality and early‑shot‑clock offense will test Mizzou.
Eric Konkol is coming off his best regular season with the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, recording 30 wins for the first time in his head coaching career. Expectations may be high on the program with the NCAA Tournament being the next objective for them as the American Conference preseason poll ranked them high, but the head […] The post Exclusive: Tulsa’s Eric Konkol fires back at ‘meaningless’ preseason polls as quest for NCAA Tournament begins appeared first on ClutchPoints .
Dennis Gates' Mizzou team won't have its transfer forward for an indefinite period after he was suspended on the eve of the first game. The post Dennis Gates announces ‘indefinite suspension’ for transfer forward appeared first on Saturday Down South .