2026 NBA Draft Preview: HoopsHD interviews Iona F Toby Harris

Posted on May 22, 2026 by Jon Teitel

The NBA Finals have not even begun but it is already time for most of the league to start preparing for next season. The lottery was held on May 10th, the final deadline for NCAA players to withdraw is May 27th, and the draft will begin on June 23rd. We will spend the months ahead interviewing as many members of this year’s draft class as possible. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage by chatting with Iona F Toby Harris about being a sensational shooter and what it would mean to him to get drafted.

You are from Chapel Hill, NC: how big is the Duke-UNC rivalry for someone who has never experienced it in person? It is hard to put into words. When you grow up there you get a lot of flak from the other side: I think it is the best rivalry in all of sports. I have only been to 1 Duke-UNC game: it was in 2020 when Tre Jones made a last-second shot in regulation that lead to an OT win over the Tar Heels (www.youtube.com/watch?v=saSyZiV_45E). There are definitely some fighting words between the 2 schools.

You began your college career at Brandeis University: what impact did COVID have on your decision to not start out at a D-1 school? It played a huge role. COVID hit at the end of my junior year and also impacted my senior year. It was a little harmful because colleges could not come see me play in person, so a handful of schools reached out and suggested that I go to prep school. Being from North Carolina, all you hear about are the D-1 schools like Duke/UNC, but my dad and I drove around to tour some smaller schools. I wanted to go somewhere where I was wanted so it was an easy decision at the end of the day.

You only played 3 games as a junior before suffering a season-ending injury: how bad was it, and how were you able to get back onto the court? I had been hurting ever since the previous summer so something had been going on during the entire preseason. I tore the labrum in my right hip and just could not play through it anymore. After a game against Babson I could barely walk: it was selfish for me to keep playing and I was out for 9 months with no basketball. It was hard mentally, but in the long run it benefited me because I ended up loving the game even more.

In 2025 you were named a D-3 All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It meant a lot. The competitor in me was disappointed that we did not have the season that we thought we could have, but it did show that my hard work paid off. The biggest thing for me was to put Brandeis on the map a little bit. In D-3 there can be a lot of politics when it comes to awards, but I wish we could have won some more games because there were some other players on my team who deserved some recognition as well.

Why did you decide to transfer last year, and what made you choose Iona? I got a medical redshirt during the year I got hurt but I am loyal so I wanted the chance to do something special at Brandeis. After my senior year I wanted the opportunity to get another year of school, and my coach was supportive because he was like a father-figure to me. When I put my name in the portal it was like a whirlwind for me: it was a little stressful to have a bunch of D-1 schools reach out to me. Iona reached out before Coach Tobin Anderson was fired and their style did not seem like a good fit for me, but even after Coach Dan Geriot was hired they kept up their communication with me. We had a great Zoom call, I took a great official college visit (my 1st-ever), and I committed the next day. They felt that I could play professionally and laid out a plan for me, so it was a no-brainer.

Last January you scored 9 PTS including the game-winning 3-PT shot in the final seconds of a 1-PT win over Merrimack (www.reddit.com/r/CollegeBasketball/comments/1qkgasb/toby_harris_with_the_dagger_to_win_it_for_iona): did you think the shot was going in, and where does that rank among the highlights of your career so far? We would not have even been in that game were it not for Denver Anglin (who scored 22 PTS). I remember that game very well because I played so badly in the 1st half (0-7 FG), but the team had confidence in me and told me to keep shooting. Merrimack missed a FT and I ran down the court to the corner: I was not 100% sure that it was going in after my 1st half, but it did. As far as my career it rankes way up there: to do it at that level, against the best team in our conference, and the way the team reacted, it is definitely top-5.

You made 26 of your 1st 27 FTs last year and finished the season top-4 in the conference with 90 3PM/41.1 3P%: what is the secret to being a great shooter? Just repetition. I give a lot of credit to my dad: he taught me from a young age to shoot the right way, and would not let me take threes unless I could reach the rim with proper form. He told me that if I react too much after a shot then it might affect my next shot, so it is more about muscle memory. I think that my percentages could have been even higher last year.

You are listed at 6’8”: what position did you play in college, and what position would you feel most comfortable at in the pros? In high school I was a PG, but at Iona I played the 2/3/4, maybe even a 5 at times in a small-ball lineup. My shooting allows any team to slot me into a bunch of different positions. I am taking time to perfect the things I need to perfect, but I would feel really comfortable at the 2/3/4. Shooting can translate to any level and I can guard any of those positions.

Last month you had a workout with the Knicks: how did it go? When you 1st get the text it is kind of surreal: nobody from Brandeis has ever made the jump to the NBA. I feel like I did well enough at my workout: once you get over the feeling of “I cannot believe this is happening”, you realize that the opportunity is right there and it motivated me even more so I have kept pushing for more. It was a tremendous experience and it has been fun to see the Knicks have so much success this spring.

What would it mean to you to get drafted, and what is the plan if you do not get drafted? It would mean the world to me and my family: I would be 1 of the 1st Iona players to get drafted and the 1st-ever from Brandeis. I have pushed through so much adversity, but if I do not get drafted it is fine. I will continue to work and it will not hinder my motivation, but just add more fuel to the fire as I push for a spot in the Summer League/G League. It is right back to the grind because I believe in myself and have people around me who believe in me.

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Hoops HD Hardball Championship Week – Thursday Edition

Posted on May 22, 2026 by John Stalica

Despite Mother Nature bringing a deluge to parts of the country, action is starting to heat up in advance of Selection Monday:

AMERICA EAST (SEMIFINAL ROUND) – ESPN+

Binghamton and Maine advanced to the semifinal round; UMBC defeated UMass-Lowell to advance in the losers’ bracket and will play the loser of Binghamton/Maine to advance to the conference championship on Saturday.

AMERICAN (QUARTERFINAL ROUND) – ESPN+

Both Rice and Memphis advanced to the quarterfinals; UAB and Wichita State will play the losers of the morning games in the losers’ bracket portion of the quarterfinals later this afternoon/evening.

ACC (QUARTERFINAL ROUND) – ACC Network

The top half of the ACC Bracket took the field yesterday; Georgia Tech began their quest for the #1 overall seed with a 16-10 win over Virginia and the Miami Hurricanes defeated Boston College to advance to the semis tomorrow.

ATLANTIC SUN (SEMIFINAL ROUND) – ESPN+

North Alabama upset top seeded North Florida to advance to the semifinals; they will take on Lipscomb after the Bisons defeated Florida Gulf Coast. Both North Florida and FGCU potentially need to win 2 games to advance to the conference championship out of the losers’ bracket.

ATLANTIC 10 (MULTIPLE ROUNDS) – ESPN+

The Puppet may get a quintuple header in the A-10 today; following George Mason’s win over Davidson to advance in the loser’s bracket, Rhode Island’s defeated top-seeded Saint Joe’s to advance to the semifinal round. VCU was leading Richmond 4-1 in the 6th inning before play was suspended. George Mason will play the loser of VCU/Richmond and the winner of that game will play Saint Joe’s to advance in the loser’s bracket. Rhode Island will play the winner of VCU/Richmond around 2:30 PM this afternoon.

BIG EAST (SEMIFINAL ROUND) – ESPN+

The Big East got underway with both St. John’s and Xavier winning their opening round games to advance to the semifinals; that game will be played at 9 AM this morning as they try to get ahead of the rain that is forecast to last throughout the afternoon and evening. The loser of that game will play Creighton on Saturday; the Bluejays eliminated UConn in the nightcap last night.

UPDATE: Game has been postponed to tomorrow. They will now reschedule for tomorrow along with the subsequent elimination game; game times TBD.

BIG SOUTH (MULTIPLE ROUNDS) – ESPN+

USC-Upstate defeated Winthrop to advance to the semifinals; High Point led Charleston 3-2 in the top of the 2nd before play was suspended. While the winner will play Upstate in the semifinals, Longwood won yesterday to advance in the losers’ bracket and will play the lower seed of either Winthrop or Charleston Southern in the next round of the losers’ bracket.

B1G (QUARTERFINAL ROUND) – B1G Network

Purdue and Michigan won their games last night to clinch the final 2 spots in the single-elimination 8-team bracket in Omaha. Washington (#11) and Michigan State (#12) were the only lower-seeded teams that already advanced to the quarterfinals; all 4 games are scheduled for today.

BIG 12 (SEMIFINAL ROUND) – ESPN+

Oklahoma State was the only lower seeded team to advance to the semifinals; they will face Kansas in the first semifinal game today. West Virginia will play Arizona State in the nightcap.

BIG WEST (SEMIFINAL ROUND) – ESPN+

UC-Santa Barbara and Cal Poly advanced to the semifinal round with wins yesterday; Cal State-Fullerton and UC-San Diego will play each other in the losers’ bracket and will play the loser of UCSB/Cal Poly to try to advance to the Big West championship round.

CAA (MULTIPLE ROUNDS) – FloSports

Campbell and Hofstra won yesterday’s games to advance to the semifinals; Monmouth eliminated Charleston and will play UNC-Wilmington in the loser’s bracket. The winner of that game will play Northeastern to advance to the semifinal round out of the losers’ bracket.

CONFERENCE USA (POOL PLAY) – ESPN+

Sam Houston failed to sweep their pool; their -5 run differential makes it very unlikely that they will advance any further. Jacksonville State will play Western Kentucky in Pool A and Missouri State will play Dallas Baptist in Pool C with both winners advancing to the single elimination semifinal round. Liberty is in the driver’s seat in Pool B and can advance with a win over Louisiana Tech today. Whichever 1-1 team wins the tiebreaker will be the fourth team to advance to the semifinals.

HORIZON LEAGUE (SEMIFINAL ROUND) – ESPN+

Wright State edged Oakland and Milwaukee blew out NKU to advance to the semifinal round; Oakland beat NKU in the loser’s bracket and will play the WSU/Milwaukee loser later this afternoon (weather permitting).

METRO ATLANTIC (SEMIFINAL ROUND) – ESPN+

Rider and Fairfield advanced to the semifinals in the winner’s bracket; Marist has survived two games in the losers’ bracket and now has to play Niagara with the winner of that game playing the Rider/Fairfield loser in the second semifinal.

MAC (MULTIPLE ROUNDS) – ESPN+

Both Northern Illinois and Toledo pulled off upsets to advance to the semifinal round; this relegated the top seeds Mother Miami and Kent State down to the losers’ bracket. Both teams play at 10 AM today in what is essentially an NCAA Tournament elimination game. The winner will play Western Michigan right after that game.

MISSOURI VALLEY (MULTIPLE ROUNDS) – ESPN+

Illinois-Chicago advanced via mercy rule to the semifinal round and will play Murray State at noon today. The loser will play the winner of the Indiana State/Southern Illinois game in the losers’ bracket.

MOUNTAIN WEST (2ND ROUND) – Mountain West Network

Air Force and New Mexico won their tournament openers yesterday; they both advance to the 4-team double elimination bracket and will take on San Diego State and Washington State today.

NEC (MULTIPLE ROUNDS) – ESPN+

Long Island and Fairleigh Dickinson won their opening round games; both teams will play for the first spot in the NEC Championship Round. Le Moyne will play Wagner in the first game in the losers’ bracket.

OHIO VALLEY (MULTIPLE ROUNDS) – ESPN+

Both the top 2 seeds SIU-Edwardsville and Eastern Illinois advanced to the semifinals; the winner will advance to the championship round on Saturday. Southern Indiana and Little Rock both won in the losers’ bracket and will play each other in today’s first game. The winner will play the SIUE/EIU loser in today’s nightcap.

SEC (QUARTERFINAL ROUND) – SEC Network

Georgia and Florida won the first two SEC quarterfinal games and will play each other tomorrow in the semifinals. Today, Texas and Texas A&M each play their openers against Arkansas and Auburn, respectively.

SOUTHERN (SEMIFINAL ROUND) – ESPN+

In the top bracket, The Citadel continued their possible Cinderella run and beat top-seeded Mercer to advance to today’s semifinal round. Mercer survived against Wofford and must beat Citadel twice to advance to tomorrow’s championship game. Samford beat second-seeded Western Carolina and only needs to beat the Catamounts one more time to advance to the single elimination championship game to be played tomorrow.

SOUTHLAND (CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND) – ESPN+

Lamar defeated McNeese 9-3 in Game 1 of the best-of-3 championship series; the Cardinals can wrap up an auto bid with a win today.

SUMMIT (SEMIFINAL ROUND) – Summit Sports Network

South Dakota State defeated Northern Colorado to advance to the championship round to be played tomorrow. Top seed Oral Roberts staved off elimination with a 9-0 win against Omaha; they will play Northern Colorado for the right to play South Dakota State in the championship on Saturday.

SUN BELT (MULTIPLE ROUNDS) – ESPN+

Texas State defeated Louisiana to advance to the semifinals; they will get a day to rest as there are 3 other games to be played today. Southern Miss and Troy will play for a semifinal spot in the top bracket; the loser will play South Alabama for another semifinal spot. In the bottom bracket, Coastal Carolina (a likely at-large NCAA Tournament team) will play Louisiana for a spot in the semifinal round.

SWAC (MULTIPLE ROUNDS) – SWAC TV

Weather is also dragging out the schedule in SWAC play; the Pine Bluff-Alabama State quarterfinal game will be played at 10 AM (Eastern Time). The loser will play Bethune-Cookman in the top half of the losers’ bracket. Florida A&M beat Southern to advance to the semifinals; they will play the winner of the Southern/Texas Southern game in the bottom half of the bracket at around 7 PM tonight.

WEST COAST (SEMIFINAL ROUND) – ESPN+

Saint Mary’s and Pacific advanced to the semifinal round; top seeded Gonzaga will play San Francisco in the losers’ bracket. This likely means Gonzaga will now need the auto bid to be assured of qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.

WAC (SEMIFINAL ROUND) – ESPN+

The game of the day was California Baptist beating Utah Tech in a 10-7 game that lasted 14 innings; the Lancers will play Tarleton for the first spot into the WAC Championship. Utah Tech did survive in one elimination game against Abilene Christian; they will have to beat Sacramento State and the loser of the Cal Baptist/Utah Tech game if they wish to advance to the WAC Championship game.

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2026 NBA Draft Preview: HoopsHD interviews Dartmouth F Brandon Mitchell-Day

Posted on May 21, 2026 by Jon Teitel

The NBA Finals have not even begun but it is already time for most of the league to start preparing for next season. The lottery was held on May 10th, the final deadline for NCAA players to withdraw is May 27th, and the draft will begin on June 23rd. We will spend the months ahead interviewing as many members of this year’s draft class as possible. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage by chatting with Dartmouth F Brandon Mitchell-Day about being a remarkable rebounder and what it would mean to him to get drafted.

You were born/raised in St. Louis: what made you choose Dartmouth? Prior to playing competitive basketball I had never even heard of Dartmouth, but academics were big in my family. When some of the Ivy teams started recruiting me, I started thinking about it as a place that could set me up for after basketball and where I could help make a name for myself and my school. Dartmouth was the best place to do that.

You played in 25 games as a freshman: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? A big reason I was recruited was my motor. I knew that I had to do something to stick out as a freshman and my aggressiveness helped me get more playing time. I tried to do all the little things: rebounding/defense/being a pest. A lot of coaches believed that I could bring that to the table, and everything I do is high-intensity.

After starting only 2 games as a freshman you started all but 2 games as a sophomore: what is the biggest difference between being a starter vs. coming off the bench? There is definitely a higher expectation when you are a starter because the coaching staff trusts you to set the tone for the entire team. I was inexperienced as a freshman so the coaches did not trust me at 1st, but after getting extra film work and setting the tone at practice, I was able to hit a 180 in terms of playing time.

As a junior you had 23 PTS/20 REB in a win over Brown and became the 1st Ivy player to post a 20-20 game against a D-1 opponent since the turn of the century: where does that rank among the best all-around games of your career? It is probably the best all-around game of my college career. As hard to do as it may sound, I was in a flow state so nothing felt forced. I was playing free and the 20 REB is just a testament to how hard I played. I wanted to show people what I could do day in and day out and I take great pride in that because all my hard work showed that day. That game felt easy: I remember getting back to the locker room afterward and when my teammates told me that I had 20 REB I thought they were joking!

Last year you led the conference with 244 REB and were #7 in the nation with 7.19 defensive RPG: what is the secret to being a great rebounder? For me the secret goes back to my motor. You never know when a shot goes up if it will be missed, so you have to get good position or run to a spot. It goes back to doing the little things as a freshman: even if I could not score, getting an offensive REB put me in a better position to score. It is not 1 of the flashiest things but it is 1 of the most important things. I do not have the craziest highlights but all the intangible things I do help a team win: that is my calling card.

Your 3-PT shooting increased during each of the past 4 years: how were you able to keep improving every single year? It was about confidence. I could shoot the 3 in high school but I was more of a slasher with shooters around me who had a higher percentage. Since I knew that I could do it, and as my role on the team expanded, I knew that making threes would make the game easier for me. I work on it all the time and my teammates trust me from behind the arc. I got the correct reps each summer and it is about the hard work I put in.

You were named All-Ivy Honorable Mention last year: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It means everything. The Ivy League is 1 of the most up-and-coming conferences with great players both in the NBA (like Bez Mbeng) and in college (like TJ Power). People overlook our conference because it is academically-oriented, but I take great pride in that award: it is always nice to see your hard work pay off.

You are listed at 6’8”: what position did you play in college, and what position would you feel most comfortable at in the pros? When I was in high school I started as a PG…and then 1 summer I grew 7”! I already had the guard skills, but as 1 of the tallest guys on my team I had to learn how to play in the post. It will be an advantage at the next level because I have a mix of both guard skills and big man skills, which makes me a versatile threat. I can do so many things because I have been exposed to so many situations.

Any thoughts on the recent news that the NCAA tourney will expand to 76 teams next year? Some people argue that it makes the NCAA tourney easier to get into, but I would argue that it makes it harder to win. By expanding the field they make it that much more valuable if you can win it. I see the positives and negatives, but it will still be fun to watch.

What would it mean to you to get drafted, and what is the plan if you do not get drafted? It would mean everything. This is something I have dreamed of since 1st picking up a basketball. If I do not get drafted then the work does not stop. I will continue to find opportunities to showcase my talents whether it is in the G League or overseas. I will trust in my work and hope it all works out.

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Hoops HD Hardball Championship Week – Wednesday Edition

Posted on May 21, 2026 by John Stalica

AMERICA EAST (2ND ROUND) – ESPN+

UMass-Lowell and Maine won yesterday to advance to the double-elimination portion of the bracket.

AMERICAN (2ND ROUND) – ESPN+

Memphis and Wichita State won yesterday to advance to the double-elimination portion of the bracket. Our good friend Rocco Miller is also in Clearwater, Florida watching the American Tournament; you can follow him HERE to follow for live updates.

ACC (QUARTERFINAL ROUND) – ACC Network

Pittsburgh is still alive trying to win 5 games in 5 days to clinch the auto bid, but now face a major challenge today as Florida State begins their postseason run. It was Virginia Tech’s turn to win a 17-10 shootout over Notre Dame.

ATLANTIC SUN (2ND AND 3RD ROUND) – ESPN+

North Alabama beat Jacksonville in the only game that was able to be played yesterday; Florida Gulf Coast will play Central Arkansas to complete the 2nd round today. After this game, the double elimination rounds will begin at approximately 1 PM today, weather permitting.

ATLANTIC 10 (2ND AND 3RD ROUND) – ESPN+

Rhode Island and VCU won the opening games in the A-10 Tournament yesterday; George Mason will start today’s quadruple header with the first elimination game.

BIG EAST (1ST AND 2ND ROUND) – ESPN+

Both of the opening round games were rained out yesterday; the opening round will start at noon today and there will be an 8 PM elimination game tonight. Friday and Saturday are very much in flux with rain in the forecast for both days.

BIG SOUTH (2ND AND 3RD ROUND) – ESPN+

Charleston Southern and USC-Upstate advanced to the winners’ bracket; Radford and Longwood will play in the first elimination game in the losers’ bracket this morning at 9 AM.

B1G (3RD ROUND) – B1G Network

Michigan State and Washington both advanced to the single elimination quarterfinal round that begins tomorrow. Iowa will play Purdue and Michigan will play Ohio State to decide the final two quarterfinal spots this afternoon.

BIG 12 (QUARTERFINAL ROUND) – ESPN+

All remaining 8 teams will be in action today; this includes a Kansas team that won their first regular season title in 80 years! While Kansas does figure to be a regional host, playing for a super regional host site may be a bit of a long shot.

BIG WEST (2ND ROUND) – ESPN+

Cal State-Fullerton won the lone game yesterday against Hawai’i; they advance to the double elimination round today as they take on regular season champion UC-Santa Barbara.

COASTAL (2ND AND 3RD ROUNDS) – ESPN+

UNC-Wilmington and Hofstra won their openers yesterday; Charleston and Monmouth will play this morning in the first elimination game in the CAA.

CONFERENCE USA (POOL PLAY, DAY 2) – ESPN+

Western Kentucky, Sam Houston and Dallas Baptist were the winners yesterday; Sam Houston has a chance to win their pool today while the other two teams are idle today until pool play wraps up tomorrow.

HORIZON LEAGUE (2ND AND 3RD ROUND) – ESPN+

Oakland defeated Youngstown State to advance to the double elimination round today. There will be one elimination game played tonight after the 2nd round is complete.

METRO ATLANTIC (2ND AND 3RD ROUND) – ESPN+

Merrimack and Fairfield won to advance in the winners’ bracket; Marist defeated Canisius to advance in the losers’ bracket.

MID-AMERICAN (2ND AND 3RD ROUND) – ESPN+

Northern Illinois and Toledo advanced to the winners’ bracket with their wins yesterday; the first elimination game will pit Ball State against Western Michigan. Per our colleague Rocco Miller, keep an eye on Kent State as they are another possible at-large candidate for the NCAA Tournament field.

MISSOURI VALLEY (2ND AND 3RD ROUND) – ESPN+

Murray State and Southern Illinois advanced in the winners’ bracket yesterday; today’s first elimination game will pit Evansville against Illinois State.

MOUNTAIN WEST (Hybrid, 6-team bracket) – Mountain West Network

The Mountain West gets underway today with a pair of single elimination games in the first round. The tournament will then revert to a 4-team double elimination round beginning tomorrow. Note that Oregon State does not play in the Mountain West for baseball as they are an independent this season (but Washington State does play in the Mountain West this season).

NEC (Double elimination, 4-team bracket) – ESPN+

The Northeast Conference finally gets underway today with a 4-team double elimination bracket. Should Le Moyne win the conference tournament, the other team that advances to the championship game will clinch the auto bid since the Dolphins are not eligible as a transitional team.

OHIO VALLEY (2ND AND 3RD ROUND) – ESPN+

Yesterday, Little Rock and SE Missouri State advanced in the winners’ bracket; Southern Indiana and Lindenwood were relegated to the losers’ bracket and await the losers of the SIUE-Little Rock and Eastern Illinois-SEMO games.

PATRIOT LEAGUE

Congratulations to the Holy Cross Crusaders on winning the second auto bid to the NCAA Tournament; they defeated Bucknell 14-11 to go to the NCAA Tournament for the 2nd straight season.

SEC (QUARTERFINAL ROUND) – SEC Network

The waiting game begins for both Vanderbilt and LSU as both teams were eliminated from the SEC Tournament. Kind of a rarity here as the top 8 seeds have all advanced to the quarterfinal round.

SOUTHERN (3RD ROUND) – ESPN+

Both Samford and The Citadel won yesterday to advance in the winners’ bracket; there will also be 2 elimination games played later today after Mercer and Western Carolina also begin tournament play.

SOUTHLAND (CHAMPIONSHIP, BEST-OF-3) – ESPN+

The Southland Conference Championship Series gets underway as Lamar hosts McNeese in a best-of-3 series to determine the auto bid winner.

SUMMIT (2ND ROUND) – Summit League Network

South Dakota State and Northern Colorado won their openers, meaning that the top two seeds in the Summit will face off today in an elimination game to start the day.

SUN BELT (2ND AND 3RD ROUND) – ESPN+

There were a pair of upsets in the bottom bracket; Texas State and Louisiana both won which means the #2 seed Coastal Carolina and #3 seed Appalachian State face off in an elimination game this afternoon.

SWAC (2ND AND 3RD ROUND) – SWAC TV

Chalk has held so far with the top 4 seeds (Bethune-Cookman, Alabama State, Southern and Florida A&M) advancing to the winners’ bracket.

WEST COAST (2ND ROUND) – ESPN+

Saint Mary’s and San Francisco both advanced to the double elimination portion of the bracket with their wins last night.

WAC (2ND AND 3RD ROUND) – ESPN+

Sacramento State and Utah Tech advanced to the winners’ bracket with their wins yesterday; UT-Arlington defeated Abilene Christian in the first elimination game of the bracket.

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Hoops HD Hardball Championship Week – Tuesday Edition

Posted on May 20, 2026 by John Stalica

ACC – 2ND ROUND (Single elimination)

A large number of conference baseball tournaments got underway yesterday, and all but two of the conferences will have begun as of today. In the ACC, Pittsburgh kept their faint chances of an at-large NCAA Tournament bid alive with a 16-8 win against Louisville yesterday. Duke also won a 21-12 slugfest against NC State yesterday despite being the #16 seed in the bracket.

ATLANTIC SUN – 2ND ROUND (Single elimination round)

Jacksonville and Austin Peay won their respective first round games today; both teams need a win today if they are to advance to the double elimination portion of the A-Sun bracket that begins on Thursday.

B1G – 2ND ROUND (Double elimination round)

On a surprisingly cool day in Omaha, the B1G got underway in the double elimination portion of their bracket with 4 teams advancing to potentially qualify for the 8-team single elimination quarterfinal round. Michigan did make quick work of Rutgers with a 10-0 mercy rule win in 7 innings. The Michigan State/Iowa and Michigan/Washington winners advance to the quarterfinal round; the losers will fight the winners of the Purdue/Illinois and Rutgers/Ohio State consolation games fighting for the two final quarterfinal spots.

Big 12 2ND ROUND (Single elimination)

Only a couple of games were played yesterday; BYU and Kansas State advanced to play for the right to play the top two seeds in the quarterfinal round on Thursday. (And no, we do not believe that the tournament is being played on an LED field like the basketball tournament was for the early rounds).

OHIO VALLEY 2ND ROUND (Double elimination)

Southern Indiana and Lindenwood won yesterday to advance to the 6-team double elimination portion of the bracket. The top 2 seeds SIU-Edwardsville and Eastern Illinois have byes into the 3rd round that begins tomorrow.

PATRIOT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

Bucknell defeated Holy Cross 9-5 to stave off elimination; both teams will play at 2 PM today for the Patriot League auto bid.

SEC – 2ND ROUND (Single elimination)

Missouri had a rare win in the SEC Tournament yesterday; it was only the 2nd one in program history and may have cost Ole Miss a shot at being a regional host when the bracket is announced on Monday. Vandy is still alive for NCAA Tournament contention after defeating Kentucky.

SUN BELT – 2ND ROUND (Double elimination)

Both games yesterday ended in 7 innings due to the 10-run mercy rule; Louisiana and Georgia State move on to the double elimination portion of the bracket.

And now we have the other conferences starting today:

AMERICA EAST (Hybrid, 6-team bracket)

Today’s first round will be single elimination; the 2 winners advance to a 4-team double elimination bracket that begins tomorrow. The tournament will be played at top-seeded Binghamton’s home field and all games will be televised on ESPN+.

AMERICAN (Hybrid, 8-team bracket)

The American begins with a pair of single elimination games today; the winners move on to a 6-team double elimination bracket that begins on Thursday. All games will be played at a neutral park in Clearwater, Florida and will have all games through the semifinals aired on ESPN+. The championship game on Sunday will be aired on ESPNews.

ATLANTIC 10 (Double elimination, 6-team bracket)

The A-10 kicks off today at Capital One Park in Tysons, Virginia (at the corporate headquarters of Capital One Bank). The winners get to avoid an extended losers’ bracket that gets underway tomorrow. All games will be aired on ESPN+.

BIG EAST (Double elimination, 4-team bracket)

This may be the most wide open bracket this weekend with St. John’s, UConn and Xavier finishing in a 3-way tie for first place. While Xavier is hosting the event at Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio – keep in mind they’ve only won the Big East Tournament once since the tournament moved to Mason in 2019. All games will be aired on ESPN+ and are one of the few events where admission AND concessions are free for everybody.

BIG SOUTH (Double elimination, 6-team bracket)

The setup is the same as the A-10 bracketwise; the top two seeds High Point and Winthrop begin on Thursday. All games will be aired on ESPN+; we will also notify you if we get the baseball edition of the Winwood Cup tomorrow between Winthrop and Longwood.

BIG WEST (Hybrid, 5-team bracket)

There is one single elimination opening round game that will be played tonight before the 4-team double elimination bracket begins tomorrow. UC-Irvine is hosting the tournament and all games will be played on ESPN+.

COASTAL (Double elimination, 6-team bracket)

Campbell and Northeastern are the top two seeds in this tournament being played at Wilmington, North Carolina; all games will be aired on FloSports since they have the media rights to the CAA.

CONFERENCE USA (Hybrid, 9-team bracket)

This tournament begins with 3 pools of 3 teams apiece. The winners of each pool along with the best 2nd place team advance to the 4-team single elimination semifinals that begin on Saturday. Games through Saturday will be aired on ESPN+ and the Sunday championship game will be aired on CBS Sports Network.

HORIZON LEAGUE (Hybrid, 5-team bracket)

Wright State is hosting the tournament by virtue of their regular season championship; the tournament has a single elimination opening round before the 4-team double elimination bracket begins tomorrow. All games will be aired on ESPN+.

METRO ATLANTIC (Double elimination, 6-team bracket)

This bracket gets underway in suburban Wappingers Falls, New York; Rider and Niagara get byes into the 2nd round by virtue of clinching the top two seeds in the regular season. All games will be aired on ESPN+.

MAC (Double elimination, 6-team bracket)

There is some intrigue in this tournament with Mother Miami having an RPI in the 30s going into the tournament. Should the Redhawks win, it’s plausible that they could be in contention for a top 32 national seed (meaning they’d be a 2-seed in their regional), but it’s also plausible that they’d miss the NCAA Tournament should they not win this tournament. All games will be played in Avon, Ohio (outside of Cleveland) and will be aired on ESPN+.

MISSOURI VALLEY (Double elimination, 6-team bracket)

Murray State, coming off of a Cinderella appearance in the College World Series last year, is the predetermined host for the tournament (despite being only the #3 seed). All games will be aired on ESPN+.

SOUTHERN (Hybrid, 8-team bracket)

The tournament begins with 2 single elimination games; the bracket then changes to a pair of 3-team double elimination pods through the semifinals. The winners of the two pods will face off in a single elimination championship game on Saturday. The early rounds will air on ESPN+; the championship game will air on ESPNU.

SUMMIT (Double elimination, 4-team bracket)

The format is the same as the Big East; the tournament will be played in Minneapolis (with St. Thomas with all games being aired on the Summit League Digital Network. Also note that Northern Colorado plays in the Summit League since the Big Sky does not sponsor baseball.

SWAC (Hybrid, 8-team bracket)

This tournament is broken down into 2 4-team double elimination pods; the winners of each of the pods will face off in a single elimination championship game. All of the games will air on SWAC TV.

WEST COAST (Hybrid, 6-team bracket)

The opening round will consist of two single elimination games; the remaining four teams will advance to the double elimination portion of the bracket. All games through the semifinals will air on ESPN+ with the first game of the championship round airing on ESPNU. Should a winner-take-all game be necessary on Championship Saturday, that game would air on ESPN+.

WAC (Double elimination, 6-team bracket)

There have been some wild brackets in this conference in prior years, but this is more of a conventional double elimination bracket that’s similar in style to the Metro Atlantic this season. Tarleton and California Baptist are the top two seeds in what will be the final event in the storied history of the WAC. All games will be aired on ESPN+.

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What can Blue do for Drew? HoopsHD interviews Duke transfer F Drew Scharnowski

Posted on May 19, 2026 by Jon Teitel

Michigan’s victory in the NCAA title game last month might have closed the window on the 2025-26 season, but it also opened up the doors to the transfer portal. More than 2,500 players decided to test the waters and see if the grass was greener elsewhere, and 1 of the schools who took the opportunity to bring in some new talent was Duke. In addition to Wisconsin G John Blackwell and Loyola MD G Jacob Theodosiou, the Blue Devils signed Belmont F Drew Scharnowski to pair with returners such as Cayden Boozer/Patrick Ngongba II and incoming freshmen like Deron Rippey Jr./Cameron Williams. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Drew about his decision to transfer and his thoughts on NCAA tourney expansion.

You were born/raised in Illinois: how did you end up at Belmont to start your college career? I was actually born in Minnesota but I did grow up in Illinois. I was heavily recruited by the MVC schools but the Belmont staff had an emphasis on faith. I was raised a Christian and we both felt that the same things were important. I also liked the fact that Nashville is such a great city.

You entered the transfer portal last month: was it as insane as it sounds with schools just calling/texting you non-stop in an attempt to get you to play for them? I would say so. It is like nothing I could ever imagine but I was super-blessed to be in a position where so many schools wanted me. The only thing I can compare it to was my high school recruitment, which was 2 years long: the portal was like shrinking that into 2 weeks on steroids!

What made you choose Duke last month? They have a reputation for winning and I think they are the best program in the nation. They are bringing in a lot of talent and I think the other players will challenge me each day and help prepare me to play at the next level.

You wore #11 at Belmont: are you going to ask Bobby Hurley if you can bring his old # out of retirement?! No way! I will be wearing #8. I read a book last season called, “The Miracle of St. Anthony” by Adrian Wojnarowski about Bobby’s dad Bob Sr. and his high school program in New Jersey. It was a good insight into their lives.

Last January you had 19 PTS/11 REB/9 AST/2 BLK in a 17-PT win over Murray State: where does that near-triple-double rank among the best all-around games of your career? I remember that game. I probably had some better performances in high school against lesser opponents, but we played really well that night as a team and took it to Murray State.

Last year you were named to the All-MVC 1st-Team and the MVC All-Defensive Team: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? It was pretty cool and a testament not only to the hard work I put in but also to the awesome support system around me that pushed me to be better. My coaches/family care about me not just as a player on the court but also how I am growing as a young man off the court.

You were top-15 in the conference in several categories (RPG/APG/BPG) but not FT shooting (43.6%): do you think the biggest factor is mental/physical/other, and can you fix it? I think it is a combination of both mental/physical. Building confidence takes repetitions in the gym. I am getting them in during my workouts every single day and try to simulate what it is like to shoot them during games.

Your brother Max played basketball at Alabama and your father Haug played pro basketball in Germany: who is the best athlete in the family? I am biased so of course I will say myself. I have the height/wingspan advantage over them but have never seen my dad play: I should dig up some of his old clips! I also give Max credit because he is so scrappy…but he is not as athletic as I am.

The Blue Devils’ 1st neutral-site game scheduled for this fall is on November 10th against Michigan State: how many friends/family will you have in attendance at the United Center? I have no clue. My parents moved from Illinois after I graduated high school, and a lot of my friends are in college elsewhere, but hopefully some of my high school/AAU coaches can get out there. Max lives in New York City so he wants me to hook him up with some tickets to our game against Michigan on December 21st.

Earlier this month the NCAA announced that the tourney will be expanding to 76 teams next March: what was your reaction to the news? Tourney expansion is cool in theory, but I cannot tell if it will benefit the teams or just give more money to the NCAA. Coming from Belmont, we had to win the MVC tourney to get into the NCAA tourney. I think 64 teams was good enough…but nobody was asking my opinion.

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