NCAA

The college basketball world is busy looking for solutions after teams like West Virginia and Indiana were left out of the Big Dance in favor of North Carolina ... and Dan Dakich gave TMZ Sports his fix for the selection process -- let Las Vegas decide!!

Babcock spoke with Dakich, host of Outkick's "Don't @ Me," on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs nightly on FS1) after the Selection Sunday drama ... and he said the Tar Heels getting in over the Mountaineers and the Hoosiers is "shady."

"I have always thought that there has been nefarious things because it is adults, there's money involved," he said. "Anytime you get adults with money, there's an opportunity for stupidity and corruption."

Bubba Cunningham -- University of North Carolina athletic director and chairman of the NCAA selection committee -- is responding to backlash over the Tar Heels sneaking into March Madness after a tough 2025 season ... claiming he had nothing to do with it!!

Cunningham and the vice chair of the selection committee -- Keith Gill -- spoke with CBS Sports after the 2025 bracket came out ... and he said there was no funny business going on when UNC got its number called to go dancing ... despite a 22-13 record and an unimpressive resume overall.

"I was not in the room for any of that," Cunningham said.

The West Virginia men's basketball team was left out of the NCAA Tournament field, and the Mountaineers squad is "heartbroken" over the perceived snub, saying they're flat-out better than some teams who made the cut!

WVU, after finishing the season 19-13 (with a 10-10 record in the Big 12), hoped -- maybe even expected -- to hear their names called during the Selection Show on Sunday, but it didn't happen, and they're crushed.

"Heartbroken for @WVUhoops," AD Wren Baker said after the show. "I can’t comprehend this team being left out."

2:59 PM PT -- Mitch Voit is expressing regret over his viral celebration ... saying his actions do not reflect how he was raised, his character or the school.

"I made an immature decision in the heat of the moment," Voit said in a statement.

"I take full responsibility for what I did, and I am truly sorry to all those who I have negatively impacted by doing this."

Mitch Voit gave a whole 'nother meaning to "line" drive during Sunday's USC vs. Michigan baseball game ... after he hit a big RBI triple, he appeared to pretend to snort cocaine!!

The wild scene all unfolded during the second inning of the Wolverines' tilt with the Trojans in Ann Arbor, after Voit roped a pitch to center field.

He rounded second and slid head-first into third ... and when he realized his bat just plated three runs for his Michigan squad, he put his nose to the nearby chalk line and took a big sniff.

Flau'jae Johnson ain't just getting LSU wins with her skills on the court ... Mikaylah Williams tells TMZ Sports her music's helping fuel the Tigers' postseason run too!

Kim Mulkey's sophomore guard sat down with us on Monday while working a ceremonial shift at a Raising Cane's in Baton Rouge ... and she made it clear, Flau'jae's tunes are a big part of LSU's success this season.

She told us the Tigers bump Johnson's music in the locker room regularly -- and get this, she says it's played so often, they know all the lyrics!!

Bill Belichick's proving he can be a sweet boyfriend ... showering his love Jordon Hudson in delicious desserts -- though he may be a little late on the celebration.

The legendary head coach's girlfriend shared a picture from their anniversary dinner Friday night ... featuring a chocolate cake with "Happy Anniversary" written in white frosting.

The plate's got a candle and a few other goodies on it ... and, Jordon added her own twist by writing in brown script text on the photo "better late than never" with a matching heart after it.

Patrick Mahomes didn't have much to celebrate after the Super Bowl, but he was back to being in good spirits at the Texas Tech basketball game on Monday ... losing his mind after a fan nailed a full-court putt!!

The Kansas City Chiefs superstar -- sporting a fresh cut -- and his wife, Brittany, had courtside seats to check out his alma mater's matchup against Houston ... and during a break in the action, one guy showed off his impressive golf game in an on-court promotion.

The fan hit the shot from the opposite baseline and through a hole in a board to win a pair of AirPods Max ... and everyone in the arena lost their minds -- including the three-time champion.

Alex Rodriguez proved he's a baller on the baseball diamond and the hardwood ... 'cause he tossed up a shot Sunday from halfcourt and made it -- helping out one lucky student in the process.

The former Yankees third baseman was in attendance to watch Army take on Bucknell University Saturday afternoon in basketball ... and, during halftime he was invited to take a huge shot from the middle of the floor.

Check out the vid ... A-Rod -- clad in a bright orange Bucknell t-shirt -- tosses the ball up, hits the backboard and the ball goes straight through the hoop.

Gilbert Arenas' son, Alijah, a five-star high school basketball recruit, has officially decided on his future ... announcing his commitment to the USC Trojans!!

The 6'6" guard revealed his choice on Thursday during his dad's "Gil's Arena" podcast ... by calling his future coach, Eric Musselman, to let him know he's joining the program.

Alijah then removed his jacket to show off his new Trojans jersey ... solidifying his spot as Coach Musselman's highest-ranked recruit at USC.

A 57-year-old man watching his son compete at a track meet was tragically killed when he was struck with a hammer during an event.

The terrible accident happened at the University of Colorado At Colorado Springs (UCCS) campus on Sunday morning, where high school track and field athletes from across the state were competing.

During the hammer throw event, competitors throw a weighted ball (usually weighing 12 lbs. for boys in H.S.) attached to a grip with wire, as far as possible.

Duke men's basketball star Khaman Maluach didn't have a turnover Monday night, but his stomach sure did ... as he threw up all over the floor during the Blue Devils' home tilt with N.C. State.

The gross moment happened with about four and a half minutes left in the contest ... as Duke was trying to extend its 63-62 lead.

Maluach was down in the low post waiting to make a play ... when suddenly, he emptied the contents of his stomach right underneath the basket.

Jeremiah Smith's freshman season was so impressive, Ohio State legend Archie Griffin believes not one, but TWO Heismans could be in his trophy case by the end of his college football career ... telling TMZ Sports it's a "great possibility!!"

19-year-old Smith wasted no time making his presence known in the program ... erupting with 15 touchdowns and 1,315 yards on the season -- and a stellar outing in the national championship against Notre Dame.

We caught up with Griffin -- the only two-time Heisman winner in college football history -- fresh off the Bucks' big win ... and he couldn't say enough great things about the young superstar.

A California high school basketball player gave new meaning to stuffing the stat sheet on Thursday ... scoring a whopping 102 POINTS in a game -- and the accomplishment got LeBron James' attention.

The unbelievable feat happened during Mesrobian High School's 119-25 win over Waverly High School .... when Nick Khatchikian went 48-60 from the field in just 22 minutes of action.

The young hooper had 40 points in the first, 79 by halftime and had his entire 102 with over two minutes left in the third ... when he was finally benched.

Nebraska football standout Calvin Jones -- who went on to play several seasons in the NFL -- was found dead in his Omaha home this week. He was 54 years old.

According to an incident report, Omaha Police responded to the residence around 8:30 PM on Wednesday ... and upon arrival, discovered Jones' body in the basement.

Officials tell TMZ Sports a gas generator was located inside the home and "signs of carbon monoxide poisoning" were evident ... but an official cause of death will be announced after an autopsy is completed.

Ohio State fans wouldn't let freezing temps stop them from celebrating another national championship ... 'cause Buckeye Nation went absolutely bonkers in the streets of Columbus -- AND at the Horseshoe -- after their beloved team beat Notre Dame!!

The Buckeyes held off the Fighting Irish's late-game comeback to secure the 34-23 win and the College Football Playoff crown on Monday night ... and even though the game was in Atlanta, the fans back home didn't seem to mind.

Hundreds of supporters braved the cold and took their party public after the dub ... targeting stop signs, waving OSU flags and shooting fireworks.

There was at least one hiccup on an otherwise perfect night for Ohio State on Monday ... a golf cart carrying Ryan Day and a few star players crashed into a wall -- and the collision was so rough, a bystander had to ask if everyone was all right.

It happened just after the Buckeyes beat Notre Dame, 34-23, in the College Football Playoff National Championship ... when Day, Will Howard and Cody Simon were all getting a lift to their locker room.

Video shot by someone in the bowels of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta shows a woman tried to make a three-point turn in the cart ... but couldn't complete it -- and smashed the front end of the vehicle into a concrete wall.