(BIG TEN) – Four Big Ten Conference programs are still in the midst of postseason play as the second week tips off Thursday with Wisconsin hosting Harvard in the quarterfinals of the WBIT at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
- Wisconsin is on its first appearance in the WBIT, which is in its third year. The 32-team postseason single-elimination tournament has been dominated the Big Ten since its inception. Illinois won the inaugural event in 2024 for its first-ever postseason crown with a 71-57 victory over Villanova and Minnesota defeated Belmont, 75-63, to take home the title in 2025.
- For the sixth consecutive year, the Big Ten Conference has sent at least two teams to the NCAA Sweet 16 as Michigan, Minnesota and UCLA are set to take part this year. The Big Ten tied a conference record with four Sweet 16 participants in 2021 and 2022 and has sent at least three teams to the third round on nine occasions (2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 and 2026).
- The Big Ten set a new conference record with 11 teams reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The previous record (10) was set last season.
- For the fifth time in the last six years, the Big Ten has collected double-digit wins in the NCAA Tournament and has set a conference record with 15 victories through the first two rounds (11 in 2004; 10 in 2005; 13 in 2023 and 2025).
- Michigan is back in the Sweet 16 for the third time in program history under the guidance of head coach Kim Barnes Arico. The Wolverines, the No. 2 seed in the Fort Worth 3 Region, hosted the first two rounds at Crisler Center and topped Holy Cross and NC State. Michigan is seeking its first Elite Eight appearance since 2022.
- Minnesota is headed to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 21 years and fourth time in program history. As the No. 4 seed in the Sacramento 2 Region, the Gophers earned the right to play at home in first two rounds and battled past Green Bay and Ole Miss at Williams Arena. Minnesota has only made one trip to the Elite Eight back in 2004.
- UCLA is on its fourth consecutive trip to the Sweet 16 and seventh overall under head coach Cori Close. The Bruins, who earned a No. 1 seed, played host to the first two rounds at Pauley Pavilion as part of the Sacramento 2 Region and defeated Cal Baptist and Oklahoma State. A victory would push UCLA through to the Elite Eight in back-to-back seasons.
- USC rookie Jazzy Davidson won the 2026 Tamika Catchings National Freshman Player of the Year Award on Wednesday, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association announced. She is the second Trojan in program history to earn the honor, joining teammate JuJu Watkins (2024). Davidson wrapped the season leading USC outright in every major statistical category including points (17.9), rebounds (5.6), assists (4.1), steals (2.0) and blocks per game (2.0), making her the only Division I player to accomplish that feat this year. The guard joins Watkins, Sarah Strong, Maya Moore, Cheryl Miller, and Candace Parker as the only freshmen in women’s college basketball history to record 500+ points, 150+ rebounds, 100+ assists, 50+ steals and 50+ blocks. Davidson was also chosen as The Athletic’s National Freshman of the Year on March 6.
- UCLA’s Lauren Betts was named as a finalist for the 2026 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Women’s Player of the Year and 2026 Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year Awards, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Wednesday. Betts repeated as an Associated Press First Team All-American, the first Bruin to earn the honor in consecutive seasons, and is averaging 16.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.
- Bruin head coach Cori Close was selected as a finalist for the 2026 Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year Award on Wednesday. The 2026 Big Ten Coach of the Year has guided UCLA to the Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Close, who received the award in 2025, led the Bruins to a perfect 18-0 record in conference play as the fourth team in Big Ten history to go unbeaten in league action.
- Penn State welcomed back four-year letterwinner Tanisha Wright as the seventh head coach of the Lady Lion basketball program. Wright returns to Happy Valley following a five-year stint coaching in the WNBA, including three seasons as the head coach for the Atlanta Dream. This will be the first NCAA head coaching role for the 19-year WNBA veteran.
- Rutgers hired Gary Redus II to lead the Scarlet Knights’ women’s basketball program. Redus is stepping into his first head coaching position after serving as an assistant coach at LSU for the past four seasons, which included the program’s first national championship in 2023.
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