Arizona Overpowers UCF in Big 12 Quarterfinal Victory

March 12, 2026

convert (24) — Photo Cred: Arizona Wildcats

The Arizona Wildcats (30–2) played their first game in the Big 12 Conference Tournament in a quarterfinal matchup against the UCF Knights (21–11). The Knights were rewarded with a first-round bye, allowing them an extra day of rest before taking on the Cincinnati Bearcats on Wednesday. UCF scraped by with a comeback victory despite an eight-point deficit with under two minutes remaining. After the overtime thriller, the Golden Knights had to get right back to business to prepare for the No. 2-ranked team in the nation.

Arizona men's basketball vs. UCF final score: Wildcats cruise to Big 12 quarterfinal win over Knights | Arizona Desert Swarm

Photo Cred: Arizona Deseret Swarm

It was apparent from tip-off that the Wildcats entered T-Mobile Arena with unmatched energy. UCF missed its first five shots, allowing Arizona to surge to a 14–2 lead within five minutes. The Wildcats’ momentum snowballed as the Knights’ offensive system fell stagnant against a tight, pressure-heavy paint defense. On the other end, Arizona created shots at will from all areas of the floor, led by future lottery pick Braden Burries. Their early fury continued as a 15–0 run midway through the first half and gave the Wildcats their largest lead of 27 with 7:38 remaining until halftime.

At that point, UCF was shooting 3-for-17 from the field compared to Arizona’s 12-for-17, with three players shooting 100% on four shot attempts. After making several necessary adjustments, the Knights finally managed to slow the pace and settle into their game plan, pushing an 18–7 run and ending the half with Arizona leading 46–30. UCF’s biggest hindrances in the first half were its cold perimeter shooting and limited production from senior guard Riley Kugel. The Knights hit just one of 11 attempts from beyond the arc while shooting 12-for-33 from the field in the half.

One factor in their lack of offensive firepower was Kugel’s early foul trouble. Prior to this quarterfinal matchup, Kugel had averaged nearly 19 points per game over the last four contests and had emerged as another potent perimeter threat for UCF. Unfortunately, two quick fouls kept him out for the majority of the half, and when he checked back in during the final minutes, he picked up his third. As a result, he logged only seven minutes in the first half, shooting 0-for-3 from the field. In contrast, Arizona spread the ball and scored efficiently across all three levels, making it difficult for UCF to create meaningful defensive adjustments.

3 KEY Observations After Arizona's Win Over UCF

Photo Cred: SI

Freshman guard Braden Burries ran the show, hitting his first four shots and setting up big men Tobe Awaka and Motiejus Krivas in the paint. The Wildcats exploited the high-low game, expanding their offensive spacing and drawing fouls that led to 12 free-throw attempts. Arizona also took advantage of the extra space to generate open three-point looks, going 4-for-8 from deep. Their momentum was scorching early, though it began to fizzle near the end of the half as UCF trimmed the deficit to 16.

The second half was not much different from the first, as Arizona continued to capitalize on its dominance in the paint and ability to draw fouls. Kugel returned to the floor to start the half and scored six consecutive points for UCF before picking up his fourth foul, which sent him back to the bench for much of the remainder of the game. After a brief lull from the Wildcats, the lead was cut to 12 following a 9–2 burst over five minutes that brought UCF back into the game, although the momentum didn’t last long.

At that point, Arizona was determined to attack the rim by any means necessary, drawing fouls and getting to the line on multiple possessions. Their only issue was converting those opportunities. In the second half, the Wildcats attempted 19 free throws but made just nine. Despite the inefficiency, Arizona drew 11 fouls with over eight minutes remaining, leaving many of UCF’s starters in foul trouble and unable to play with their usual level of physicality.

From there, both squads traded short runs, but the Knights were never able to cut the lead to fewer than 12 points. The game closed with Braden Burries scoring seven consecutive points before Arizona emptied its bench. The final score was 81–59 in favor of the Wildcats, sending them on to face Iowa State. Arizona dominated the rematch and built the momentum it needed heading into its battle with Iowa State.

Fortunately for UCF, the Knights appear to be a tournament lock and should be seen again in March Madness. However, if they hope to make a deep run, there is still work to be done. Arizona was extremely effective on the glass, outrebounding the Knights throughout the game, and John Bol’s second-half injury proved to be a significant blow to UCF’s momentum. With the NCAA Tournament set to begin on March 19, Bol’s recovery will be vital as the Knights look ahead to the rest of their season.

Baltimore Bets Big on Defense with Maxx Crosby Trade

James McCaffrey

March 8, 2026

The Baltimore Ravens have traded two first-round draft picks to the Las Vegas Raiders for superstar defensive end Maxx Crosby less than a week prior to the start of free agency. Baltimore has built its sustained success by having elite defenses on an annual basis for the last twenty-five years, but that identity has not been maintained over the previous two seasons. In 2024, the Ravens were among the worst defenses in the league during the first half of the year before making some adjustments and transforming into one of the best units in the league during the second half of that season.

Maxx Crosby bids emotional farewell to Raiders fans, eyes Super Bowl with Ravens - Newsday

Photo Cred: News Day

Some thought this would be the case again in 2025 after another terrible start, but their struggles lasted the entire season, which was a heavy contributor to them missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021. This resulted in Baltimore firing head coach John Harbaugh, who had been in that position since the 2008 season. The Ravens were familiar with the man they hired as his replacement, Jesse Minter, the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers. Minter was on the Ravens staff for four seasons spanning 2017 to 2020.

He was able to turn a consistently terrible Chargers defense around immediately, finishing with the number three and number eleven defenses in 2024 and 2025 despite not having elite talent to work with. Baltimore’s front office made a statement by acquiring future Hall of Famer Crosby, trading a first-round pick for a player for the first time in their 31-year franchise history. Unlike Harbaugh, Minter will actually call the plays defensively and should be able to turn the defense around in short order just as he did with the Chargers.

Roundtable Reactions: Ravens trade for Maxx Crosby - Yahoo Sports

Photo Cred: Yahoo Sports

Despite what was considered a disastrous season by their standards and expectations last year, Baltimore had an opportunity to make the playoffs had they won their final regular season game in Pittsburgh against the Pittsburgh Steelers. A 44-yard missed field goal by rookie kicker Tyler Loop as time expired dropped the Ravens to 8–9 and out of the playoffs, but they realistically should have been in. With their defense expected to return to elite form, and better health at quarterback with Lamar Jackson, the Ravens should be AFC contenders once again this season.

Rutgers University Launches Scarlet Knight Enterprises, Inc.

Stephen Patrick

March 3, 2026

Photo Cred: 1000 Logos

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers University announced the formation of Scarlet Knight Enterprises, Inc., a dedicated corporate enterprise created to lead multimedia rights, corporate partnerships, ticketing strategy and NIL initiatives that will support the long-term success and growth of Rutgers Athletics. Rutgers also announced that nationally respected sports executive Oliver Luck will serve as Chairman of the enterprise’s inaugural Board of Directors.

Scarlet Knight Enterprises represents a bold evolution of the traditional college athletics model, transforming Rutgers’ commercial operations into an integrated, forward-thinking organization built to unlock new growth, maximize market opportunity and deliver meaningful resources directly to Scarlet Knight student-athletes.

Spearheaded by Director of Athletics Keli Zinn, Scarlet Knight Enterprises centralizes the athletic department’s most valuable commercial assets into a single, purpose-driven entity that will accelerate decision-making, cultivate regional and national partnerships and position Rutgers as a leader in the rapidly changing landscape of college athletics.

“The creation of Scarlet Knight Enterprises is a pivotal step for Rutgers Athletics,” said Zinn. “College athletics is evolving rapidly, and we have a responsibility to be proactive in how we structure our business operations to grow and diversify our revenue. We are building a modern, innovative business model that allows us to maximize opportunities, compete aggressively in the marketplace and generate new resources that directly benefit our student-athletes and fans.”

Scarlet Knight Enterprises will absorb the existing organizational structure of Scarlet Assets Management Company (SAMCO) LLC, and a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will be appointed to lead the organization. The Board of Directors will include accomplished leaders with experience at the highest levels of the sports and entertainment industry, bringing deep industry expertise and strategic insight to guide the enterprise’s growth.

The appointment of Luck as Chairman of the Board positions Scarlet Knight Enterprises with nationally recognized leadership credibility and institutional experience at the highest tiers of intercollegiate and professional sports.

“I am excited to partner with Keli Zinn and the Rutgers leadership team as they position the university to thrive in today’s evolving college athletics landscape,” said Luck. “Scarlet Knight Enterprises reflects a forward-looking, strategic approach to the business of college athletics, one designed to drive growth, strengthen partnerships, and generate meaningful support for student-athletes. With strong leadership from Director Zinn and President Tate, Rutgers is building a model that will deliver long-term sustainability and success.”

“Oliver’s appointment as Chairman and an inaugural board member speaks directly to the momentum and competitive focus behind Scarlet Knight Enterprises,” said Zinn. “His leadership across professional and collegiate sports in building modern revenue models positions Rutgers to elevate our trajectory in a rapidly evolving landscape. I’m grateful he is helping lead this effort from the very beginning.”

Luck, a distinguished executive with leadership experience across the NFL, NCAA and professional sports organizations, has served in transformative roles shaping league operations, media rights strategy and long-term revenue growth initiatives. His career spans executive leadership in major professional leagues and athletic administration, giving him a comprehensive perspective on the evolving commercial structure of modern sports.

Luck brings unparalleled strategic insight, governance experience and national influence that will help position Scarlet Knight Enterprises as a model for innovation and commercial growth within the Big Ten and across the country. His involvement reinforces Rutgers’ commitment to building a modern enterprise aligned with the scale and ambition of the nation’s premier athletic programs.

Additional board members will be announced at a later date.

Scarlet Knight Enterprises consolidates the department’s commercial assets into a unified structure, designed to identify new corporate partners, maximize marketing opportunities and expand engagement across digital, broadcast and in-venue platforms. Scarlet Knight Enterprises will also function as a full-service marketing agency, developing original content, brand storytelling and premium NIL opportunities that elevate Rutgers student-athletes on a national stage. The organization will connect student-athletes with leading companies and brands while leveraging the expansive reach of Rutgers Athletics across broadcast, digital, social and live-event platforms.

Under its multimedia rights portfolio, Scarlet Knight Enterprises will manage traditional and emerging inventory, from digital and broadcast assets to in-venue signage, experiential marketing, naming rights, game day experiences and premium assets. It will identify new platforms and innovations that expand how fans and partners engage with the Rutgers brand. There are previously unlocked sales and marketing opportunities to promote partner relationships that Scarlet Knight Enterprises will work to monetize in the everchanging world of college athletics.

Scarlet Knight Enterprises reflects a commitment to aligning the department’s commercial strategy with the scale of opportunity available in the Big Ten and its position in the nation’s No. 1 media market. Home to the world’s most influential brands and audiences, Rutgers Athletics boasts a powerful network with unparalleled partnership opportunities.

Core functions of Scarlet Knight Enterprises, Inc.

Manage Multimedia and Naming Rights: Scarlet Knight Enterprises will oversee Rutgers multimedia rights portfolio and naming rights opportunities across digital, broadcast and physical inventory.
Drive Strategic Partnerships: Build and enhance corporate sponsorships across multiple channels and platforms. Scarlet Knight Enterprises will collaborate with established partners to enhance national reach, while expanding into new areas of commercial growth.
NIL Marketing Agency: Scarlet Knight Enterprises will operate as a full-service media agency, providing student-athletes with the support to maximize their brands through original content and impactful storytelling. Scarlet Knight Enterprises will leverage its position in the Big Ten and the No. 1 media market in the world to expand its reach into a location that boasts more than 120 Fortune 500 companies.
Expand Commercial Revenue Streams: Develop new revenue initiatives, premium offerings and fan engagement experiences that strengthen the Rutgers brand. Scarlet Knight Enterprises will identify opportunities to enhance the game day atmosphere across all Rutgers sporting events.

About Rutgers Athletics

The Rutgers Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (Rutgers Athletics), comprised of 24 men’s and women’s varsity sports serving more than 730 student-athletes, is a member of the Big Ten Conference and governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Rutgers is the Birthplace of College Football, hosting the first-ever collegiate matchup on Nov. 6, 1869, a 6-4 victory over Princeton. Rutgers Athletics is uniquely positioned in the nation’s largest media market with over seven million television households, along with access to Big Ten Network and its nearly 60 million homes across the U.S. and Canada. Established in 1766, Rutgers University is the State University of New Jersey and eighth oldest higher education institution in the country. As a premier academic institution, Rutgers is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for all of the latest news and updates. Also visit ScarletKnights.com for additional information on Rutgers Athletics.

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Club	Player	Pos.	College	First Refusal/ Compensation
Buffalo	Van Demark, Ryan	T	Connecticut	ROFR

Cleveland	Hickman, Ronnie	DB	Ohio State	ROFR

Dallas	Aubrey, Brandon	K	Notre Dame	2nd
	Bass, T.J.	G	Oregon	2nd

Denver	McMillian, Ja’Quan	CB	East Carolina	2nd

Las Vegas	Booker, Thomas	DT	Stanford	5th
	Meredith, Jordan	C	Western Kentucky	ROFR

Minnesota	Pace, Ivan	LB	Cincinnati	ROFR

San Francisco	Okuayinonu, Sam	DE	Maryland	ROFR
	Tonges, Jake	TE	California	ROFR

Seattle	Bobo, Jake	WR	UCLA	ROFR

Tampa Bay	Tucker, Sean	RB	Syracuse	ROFR

Club	Player	Pos.	College
Atlanta	Pitts, Kyle	TE	Florida

Dallas	Pickens, George	WR	Georgia

NY Jets	Hall, Breece	RB	Iowa State

Club	Player	Pos.	College
Indianapolis	Jones, Daniel	QB	Duke

Club	Player	Pos.	College
Arizona	Demercado, Emari	RB	Texas Christian
	Knight, Zonovan	RB	North Carolina State
	Ryland, Chad	K	Maryland
	Thomas, Starling	DB	Alabama-Birmingham
	Vokolek, Travis	TE	Nebraska

Atlanta	Gwyn, Jovaughn	C	South Carolina
	Heath, Malik	WR	Mississippi
	London, Lacale	DT	Western Illinois
	Roberts, Sam	DT	Northwest Missouri State
	Sills, David	WR	West Virginia
	Wheatley, Tyrone	T	Morgan State

Baltimore	Mitchell, Keaton	RB	East Carolina

Buffalo	Spector, Baylon	LB	Clemson

Carolina	Cherelus, Claudin	LB	Alcorn State
	Mitchell, James	TE	Virginia Tech

Cincinnati	Browning, Jake	QB	Washington

Cleveland	Diabate, Mohamoud	LB	Utah
	Kamara, Sam	DT	Stony Brook
	Kendall, Anthony	DB	Baldwin-Wallace
	Webb, Sam	DB	Missouri Western
	Whiteheart, Blake	TE	Wake Forest

Dallas	Hoffman, Brock	C	Virginia Tech
	Thomas, Juanyeh	DB	Georgia Tech

Denver	Krull, Lucas	TE	Pittsburgh
	McLaughlin, Jaleel	RB	Youngstown State

Detroit	Kennedy, Tom	WR	Bryant
	Nowaske, Trevor	LB	Saginaw Valley State
	Wheat, Tyrus	DE	Mississippi State

Green Bay	Anderson, Zayne	DB	Brigham Young
	Mosby, Arron	DE	Fresno State
	Smith, Lecitus	C	Virginia Tech
	Wilson, Emanuel	RB	Fort Valley State

Indianapolis	Goodson, Tyler	RB	Iowa
	Mitchell, Cameron	CB	Northwestern
	Montgomery, D.J.	WR	Austin Peay
	Olubi, Segun	OLB	San Diego State
	Tenuta, Luke	T	Virginia Tech

Jacksonville	Cephus, Joshua	WR	Texas-San Antonio

Kansas City	Caliendo, Mike	G	Western Michigan
	Ingram, Keaontay Scott, Eric	RB DB	Southern California Southern Mississippi

Las Vegas	Kelly, Kyu Blu	DB	Stanford

LA Chargers	Deculus, Austin	T	Louisiana State
	Fisk, Tucker	TE	Stanford

LA Rams	Hampton, Nick	LB	Appalachian State
	Thomas, Keir	LB	Florida State

Miami	Butler, Matthew	DT	Tennessee
	Eze, Obinna	T	Texas Christian
	Hill, Julian	TE	Campbell

Minnesota	Sims, Ben	TE	Baylor

New England	Austin, Alex	DB	Oregon State
	Durant, Yasir	G	Missouri
	Gibbens, Jack	LB	Minnesota
	Iton, Isaiah	DT	Rutgers
	Prince, Deneric	RB	Tulsa
	Roy, Jaquelin	NT	Louisiana State

New Orleans	Pline, Mason	TE	Furman

NY Giants	Barnes, Zaire	LB	Western Michigan
	Ford-Wheaton, Bryce	WR	West Virginia
	Fox, Tomon	LB	North Carolina

NY Jets	Hooker, Hendon	QB	Tennessee
	Jones, Cam	LB	Indiana
	Metchie, John	WR	Alabama
	Newman-Johnson, Xavier	G	Baylor

Philadelphia	VanSumeren, Ben	FB	Michigan State

Pittsburgh	McCollum, Ryan	C	Texas A&M
	Moon, Jeremiah	LB	Florida
	Otomewo, Esezi	DE	Minnesota
	Slade, Jacob	DT	Michigan State
	Waitman, Corliss	P	South Alabama

San Francisco	Beal, Robert	DE	Georgia
	Davis, Kalia	DT	Central Florida
	Jackson, Tarron	LB	Coastal Carolina
	Lucas, Chase	DB	Arizona State

Seattle	Finley, A.J.	DB	Mississippi
	Pili, Brandon	DT	Southern California
	Russell, Brady	RB	Colorado
	Stoll, Chris	LS	Penn State
	Thomas, Drake	LB	North Carolina State
	White, Cody	WR	Michigan State

Tampa Bay	Izien, Christian	DB	Rutgers
	Watts, Markees	LB	North Carolina-Charlotte
Tennessee	Baker, Darrell	DB	Georgia Southern
	Brown, Mike	DB	Miami, O.
	Hall, Kemon	DB	North Texas
	Orji, Anfernee	LB	Vanderbilt
	Reed, Jerrick	DB	New Mexico

Washington	Jackson, Tyree	TE	Buffalo
	Moody, Jake	K	Michigan
	Rodriguez, Chris	RB	Kentucky

Club	Player	Pos.	College
Arizona	Beachum, Kelvin	T	Southern Methodist
	Brewer, Aaron	LS	San Diego State
	Brown, Pharaoh	TE	Oregon
	Campbell, Calais	DT	Miami
	Carter, Michael	RB	North Carolina
	Collier, L.J.	DE	Texas Christian
	Deguara, Josiah	TE	Cincinnati
	Dortch, Greg	WR	Wake Forest
	Fehoko, Simi	WR	Stanford
	Gillikin, Blake	P	Penn State
	Haack, Matt	P	Arizona State
	Hall, Darren	DB	San Diego State
	Hernandez, Will	G	Texas-El Paso
	Jones, Zay	WR	East Carolina
	Russell, J.J.	LB	Memphis
	Thompson, Jalen	DB	Washington State
	Tindall, Channing	LB	Georgia
	Williams, Jonah	T	Alabama

Atlanta	Alford, Dee	DB	Tusculum
	Allgeier, Tyler	RB	Brigham Young
	Ebiketie, Arnold	LB	Penn State
	Elliss, Kaden	LB	Idaho
	Floyd, Leonard	DE	Georgia
	Franks, Feleipe	TE	Arkansas
	Gonzalez, Zane	K	Arizona State

Atlanta	Harrison, Ronnie	LB	Alabama
	Kareem, Khalid	DE	Notre Dame
	Malone, DeAngelo	LB	Western Kentucky
	Onyemata, David	DT	Manitoba, Can.
	Pinion, Bradley	P	Clemson
	Quitoriano, Teagan	TE	Oregon State
	Stick, Easton	QB	North Dakota State
	Street, Kentavius	DT	North Carolina State
	Wilkinson, Elijah	T	Massachusetts
	Woods, Josh	LB	Maryland

Baltimore	Awuzie, Chidobe	DB	Colorado

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