paper basketball make

Mini Paper Basketball Hoop

Introduction: Mini Paper Basketball Hoop

Mini paper basketball hoop great for a constant distraction from homework and other things and can take less than a minute to make.

Step 1: Materials

All you need is a 2 pieces of regular printer paper to make the hoop and the paper basketballs.

Step 2: Step 1

Fold the Top right corner down to form a triangle, with a small rectangle below it.

Step 3: Part 2

Now do the opposite and fold the Top left corner down to form a triangle, with a rectangle below it.

Step 4: Part 3

The next part is slightly tricky, you have to pinch the center of where the 4 triangle meets above the rectangle and then push the top down.

Step 5: Creating the Hoop

Now to form the hoop you have the triangle and you stick one end into the other forming a hole, push them in tight so they hold together and create a stable hoop.

Step 6: Creating the Stand Part 1

Now to form the stand theres the end of triangle in the back and you take those ends that are out to the side and you bring them to the center then crease the side of the paper.

Step 7: Creating the Stand Part 2

Now do the same thing with the other side and then the stand will be done.

Step 8: Paper Basketballs

Simply take a small piece of torn papr and crumbl into a ball.

Step 9: Finished Product

Now you have your 5 minute distraction during school and other things uninteresting.

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Easy Origami Basketball Paper Toy

Know someone that LOVES basketball? Looking for a fun and easy basketball craft to make with them? Check out our easy Origami Basketball Toy – the perfect paper toy to make quickly and easily. These would be great for March Madness or for anyone hosting a Basketball Party! See all our Basketball Crafts here. We love easy origami for kids !

Easy Origami Basketball Toy

Paper Basketball Craft for March Madness – Materials

• White paper (one A4 sheet cut down into 2 15 x 15 cm squares – we like using scrap paper to be honest!)
• Orange paper for the basketball (though you can make a pom pom as well – info below)
• Pen & Ruler
• String or baker’s twine to attach the basketball to the hoop

Printable instructions available for $2 here – perfect for use in a classroom environment!

How to make an Origami Basketball Toy – a great Basketball Party Craft

You can watch the Basketball Toy Video tutorial here or scroll down for the step-by-step instructions!

You may also enjoy our Frankenstein Paper Cup game on YouTube .

Making an Origami Paper Cup Step By Step Tutorial

Fold your square piece of paper along the diagonal to make a triangle.

Neaten the creases and rotate so the long edge runs along the bottom.

Take the far right corner and bring it over to touch the side on the left. As you fold, it should create a PARALLEL line with the bottom edge.

Neaten down the folds!

Repeat with the left side – again make sure you have a pararrel line.

Neaten down the folds.

Take on of the top flaps and fold down.

Flip over the origami and fold down the bag side. Make a neat crease.

Fold it back up and then turn inside the paper cup.

Finished! Your easy origami paper cup is finished!

Decorating your paper origami cup into a Basketball Hoop

Now turn your simple paper cup into Basketball Hoop.

Give the hoop a little orange outline at the top.

Using a black pen and a ruler, draw the basketball hoop stripes. Draw them first one way, flip the basketball hoop over and draw your lines the other way!

NOTE: our stripes are PARALLEL to the edges of your paper cup. This makes it much easier to create neat lines!

To make it “3d”, pop two fingers inside the cup, with the other hand squeeze down the bottom of the cup to shape.

To make your simple paper basketball

Take some string, tie a knot one end and tape to the centre of a piece of scrap orange paper.

Wrap the paper around it and scrunch it into a ball.

Add some tape to the other end of the string (knot this first and place the tape just above the knot to help secure it in place).

Tape to the inside of origami paper cup.

You can now play with your Paper Cup and Ball Game! Good luck!

Oh! And don’t forget to add a cute kawaii face to give your little basketball craft some extra character!!! Have fun with positioning the face!

Making a pom pom basketball

You can watch the pom pom video tutorial here:

You can of course also make a pom pom basketball! This is done super quickly with the 2 finger pom pom making technique! If you are looking for more pom pom making techniques to check out our further resources .

Place some THIN baker’s twine between your index and middle finger. We used thin bakers twine here, as it is strong but also the thinness will allow you to tie the pom pom better.

Start wrapping yarn around you two fingers (only two fingers, if you use three or four fingers, you will get a much bigger pom pom).

When you feel you have enough yarn (it is a guess, see my images for guidance), pull the baker’s twine up and into place. See images.

Carefully knot – slide off your fingers and make sure the knot is super tight – but also centred in the middle.

Cut open the loops using a sharp pair of scissors. Your pom pom will look oblong and messy.

You will need to trim your pom pom!

Done! Save the scraps for toy stuffing.

Now you have two ball and cup games for March Madness! Such a fun and easy paper basketball toy to make!

See all our basketball crafts here:

Similarly, we have lots more wonderful Easy Origami For Kids here:

• All Crafts / Origami / Origami For Kids / Origami Toys / Paper Crafts

How to make Mini Basketball from Paper | Easy Tutorial | DIY Origami project | Easy Paper Crafts

by Turbo Fun Crafts

Greetings, all! 🙂 Today we would like to invite you on a journey into the world of origami toys and introduce you to an easy-to-follow tutorial of how to make Mini Basketball from Paper 🙂

With just a few sheets of paper and simple folds, you can make your very own Origami Mini basketball – a Moving Paper Toy that will surely impress your friends. This step-by-step tutorial is prepared to guide you through each step in detail so that even those who are new to Origami Paper Crafts can successfully create them!

Please scroll down for a step-by-step tutorial of how to make a Mini Basketball from Paper

HERE IS THE TUTORIAL:

To make this easy paper craft, you will need a sheet of colored paper measuring 21 by 21 cm, a small piece of paper of any size, an alcohol marker, and your patience 🙂, step 1 of how to make mini basketball from paper.

Take a colored square paper sheet measuring 21 by 21 cm.

Choose the color you like the most 🙂

Fold the sheet in half and meet the right edge with the left edge.

This is shown in the images below.

Unfold the sheet to its original position.

Fold the sheet as shown in the images below.

Let the right edge meet the middle of the sheet.

Make the same action with the left edge.

Fold it in the same way.

This is how it should look like.

Rotate the sheet by 90 degrees.

Fold the bottom edge with the middle of the sheet.

Make the same action with the remaining edge.

STEP 2 of how to make Mini Basketball from Paper

Fold the sheet in half and let the bottom edge meet the top edge.

Fold the bottom edge as shown in the images below.

Let the bottom edge meet the middle of the sheet.

Make the same action with the top edge.

You may also like: How to make Moving Paper Puppet | Easy Tutorial of making Living Puppets Out of Paper | Anime Paper Puppet | Easy Paper Crafts

STEP 3 of how to make Mini Basketball from Paper

Unfold the sheet as shown in the image below.

Fold the top right corner as shown in the images below.

Fold the top left corner in the same way.

Fold the top corner downwards as shown in the image below.

Return the sheet to its previous position.

Unfold the corners as shown in the picture below.

Slightly open the top edge of the sheet from the inside.

Fold the top edge as shown in the images below.

STEP 4 of how to make Mini Basketball from Paper

Rotate the sheet by 180 degrees.

Unfold the corner to its original position and make the same action with the left corner.

Unfold the corner to its original position.

Fold the top edge of the sheet as shown in the image below.

Unfold the edge to its previous position.

STEP 5 of how to make Mini Basketball from Paper

Fold the edge as shown in the images below.

Fold the edge one more time.

Make the same action with another side of the edge.

Now, it’s time to add the finishing touches to the Origami Mini Basketball!

Make a ball using a small piece of paper of any size.

So, Origami Mini Basketball from Paper is now ready!

Experiment with colors and impress your friends with this Mini Basketball from Paper 🙂

You may also like other ORIGAMI crafts from our collection 🙂

It’s time to start playing!

WELL DONE! 🙂

I love this game! 🙂

In addition, Origami has long been cherished as an art form that combines creativity and precision, and now you can bring that joy to the world of sports with Origami Mini Basketball. This simple and enjoyable paper craft is perfect for individuals of all ages, offering a delightful way to spend your time.

Moreover, creating an Origami Mini Basketball requires minimal materials, making it an accessible craft for anyone interested in the world of paper folding. With just a sheet of paper and a few simple folds, you can transform a plain sheet into a charming miniature basketball that actually moves!

If you experienced difficulties with some steps, you can watch the video instruction of how to make Mini Basketball from Paper

Please scroll down for the video tutorial 🙂.

Engaging in do-it-yourself (DIY) projects is a fantastic way to explore your creativity and enhance your cognitive skills. Origami Mini Basketball serves as an excellent introduction to the world of paper crafts and moving paper toys. It is an ideal activity for individuals looking to spend quality time alone or engage in a fun group project.

One of the best aspects of this craft is its simplicity. The step-by-step tutorial guides you through the folding process, ensuring that even beginners can follow along effortlessly. You don’t need any specialized tools or previous experience – just your enthusiasm and a desire to try something new.

Once you’ve mastered the art of creating an Origami Mini Basketball, you’ll have a beautiful handmade toy that you can customize and decorate. Let your imagination soar as you experiment with different paper colors and patterns, allowing your mini basketball to reflect your unique style and personality.

In conclusion, with Origami Mini Basketball, the possibilities are endless. Whether you’re an avid sports enthusiast, an art lover, or simply seeking a fun and engaging hobby, this paper craft is sure to bring a smile to your face. Start folding and experience the magic of turning a flat sheet of paper into a charming, interactive basketball that will undoubtedly leave an impression.

You can also watch a video tutorial  of how to make Mini Basketball from Paper

Tags: crafts with a4 sheets diy origami game diy origami sports craft diy paper craft tutorial diy paper game diy sports game easy origami easy origami basketball instructions easy paper craft ideas easy paper craft tutorial easy paper toy tutorial easy to make tutorial handmade paper toy tutorial how to make mini basketball how to make mini basketball easy how to make mini basketball from paper how to make mini basketball game how to make mini basketball game out of paper how to make paper basketball moving paper toys origami origami basketball for kids origami craft project origami crafts origami paper toy paper basketball easy tutorial paper crafts paper toys simple origami project for beginners turbo fun crafts

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Triple Threat Tactics | Everything Basketball

How To Make A Basketball Hoop Out Of Paper

If you're a basketball enthusiast, you know the joy that comes with making a basket and the thrill of watching your team score a win. But what if you want to bring a bit of that excitement into your home in a creative, crafty way? Making a basketball hoop out of paper is a fun and surprisingly easy project that can provide hours of entertainment. Plus, it's an excellent way to recycle and reuse materials you may already have lying around the house. In this article, we'll show you step-by-step how to create your own paper basketball hoop and share some tips on making the most out of your new DIY masterpiece.

Materials You Will Need

• Cardboard or thick paper (for the backboard)
• Construction paper or cardstock (for the rim and net)
• Glue or tape
• Markers, crayons, or colored pencils (optional, for decorating)
• A ball (paper, foam, or any other lightweight material)

Creating the Backboard

• Choose a piece of cardboard or thick paper for your backboard. This will provide the necessary stability and support for your rim and net.
• Cut the backboard to your desired size. A standard backboard is rectangular, but you can get creative with the shape if you'd like.
• Optional: Decorate the backboard with your favorite team's logo, colors, or any other creative designs using markers, crayons, or colored pencils.

Making the Rim

• Select a piece of construction paper or cardstock for the rim. We recommend using a color that contrasts with your backboard for added visual appeal.
• Cut a strip of paper approximately 1 inch wide and 12 inches long. The length may vary depending on the size of your backboard, so adjust as necessary.
• Form the strip of paper into a circle, overlapping the ends and securing with glue or tape. This will serve as your hoop's rim.

Constructing the Net

• Choose a piece of construction paper or cardstock for your net. Traditional basketball nets are white, but feel free to choose any color that you like.
• Cut a rectangle approximately 4 inches wide and 12 inches long.
• Fold the rectangle in half lengthwise, so it now measures 2 inches wide and 12 inches long.
• Cut slits along the folded side, about 1 inch apart and stopping about 1 inch from the opposite edge. This will create the net's loops.
• Unfold the paper, and use glue or tape to attach the top edge of the net (the side without slits) to the inside of the rim, aligning the loops with the rim's edge.

Attaching the Rim and Net to the Backboard

• Use glue or tape to attach the top edge of the rim to the backboard, positioning it slightly below the top edge.
• Optional: For added stability, create two small paper brackets and attach them to the back of the backboard and the back of the rim.

How To Make A Basketball Hoop Out Of Paper Example:

And there you have it! Your very own paper basketball hoop is complete and ready for action. Not only have you created an enjoyable way to practice your basketball skills indoors, but you've also tapped into your creative side and transformed everyday materials into a fun DIY project. Don't forget to share your creation with friends and family or even challenge them to a friendly game of paper basketball. If you've enjoyed this guide and want to explore more ideas and tips on everything basketball-related, be sure to check out Triple Threat Tactics for more content that will help you become the ultimate basketball aficionado.

Author Coach Alex

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Easy origami basketball hoop.

Made this origami? Comment and Submit your photo using the comment box at the end of this page!

Easy Origami Basketball Hoop Step 1: Start with a rectangle A4 paper. Sturdier and thicker paper is better for this origami. We used cardstock (scrapbook) paper.

Make 2 diagonal folds as indicated below. Crease well and unfold.

Easy Origami Basketball Hoop Step 2: Make a horizontal mountain fold.

Easy Origami Basketball Hoop Step 3: With the folds we made in the previous two steps, we can now easily collapse the paper. This is like collapsing the paper into a waterbomb base.

Easy Origami Basketball Hoop Step 4: Bring the right and left tips of the paper to the center and insert one into the other.

Here's a closer look.....

Easy Origami Basketball Hoop Step 5: Make 2 vertical folds. Crease well and unfold halfway.

and your easy origami basketball hoop is complete!

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How to Make an Origami Paper Basket

Last Updated: May 9, 2022

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 31 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 211,683 times. Learn more...

This simple little basket can be made from something as simple as a sheet of paper . Use it to hold sweets, loose change, or anything light and small.

Community Q&A

• Be careful of paper cuts; these are about the only danger in making this basket. Thanks Helpful 24 Not Helpful 10

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Homemade Papier-Mâché Basketball Piñata

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.  #GameForBasketball   #CollectiveBias This post is not medical advice.

Plus, it is another activity that I know they would not only love helping to make, but would also love the finished product.

Making a Papier-Mâché Basketball Piñata

Blow up a balloon to the size you want the piñata to be. You will also want to cut some strips of newspaper into approximately two inch strips.

Making the papier-mâché paste is actually really easy. In a large bowl, mix equal parts flour and water (3 cups water and 3 cups flour is what I used). Mix to a thick paste.

Next, using scissors cut a small slit in the balloon to deflate it. Pull the balloon out.

Sometimes, all these activities with the kids can lead to aches and pains the next day. That’s why I always keep a container of Advil on hand. Nothing’s stronger, longer lasting or better on your touch aches and pains than Advil.* (*Among OTC brands). Be sure to ask a doctor before use if you have a history of stomach problems, such as heartburn.

Whether I am enjoying a day on the playground or watching the big game with the kids, I know that with Advil I can enjoy the moment without having to worry about the pain. Plus, without having to worry about pain, I have more time to worry about who is winning the big game!

Be sure to download Pfizer’s coupons for Advil and so you are sure to stay stocked up.

Comment On: What activities do you do with your kids that requires Advil the next day.

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Wow, I never realized it was so easy to make a pinata! What a great way to keep the smaller kids entertained while watching the games! #client

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🏀 Women's Tournament

🎟️ First 2 Final Four spots clinched

🐺 (3) NC St. over (1) Texas

🐔 (1) S. Carolina over (3) Oregon St.

👀 See bracket

Check your bracket

Daniel Wilco | NCAA.com | March 31, 2024

The lowest seeds to make the men's final four, elite eight and sweet 16.

Only seven teams with double-digit seeds have made the March Madness Final Four since the men's tournament field expanded to 64 teams in 1985, including the 2023-24 season when No. 11 seed NC State completed a stunning coup on the South regional crown.

Here's the TL/DR version of some March Madness men's seed history:

• 8 is the lowest seed to win a national championship (Villanova in 1985)
• 11 is the lowest seed to make the Final Four (LSU 1986; George Mason 2006; VCU 2011; Loyola Chicago 2018; UCLA 2021; NC State 2024).
• 15 is the lowest seed to make the men's Elite Eight (Saint Peter's 2022)
• 15 is the lowest seed to make the men's Sweet 16 (Princeton 2023; Saint Peter's 2022; Oral Roberts 2021; Florida Golf Coast 2013)

Along with those six No. 11 seeds to make the Final Four, Syracuse in 2016 reached the Final Four as a No. 10 seed — so seven double-digit seeds have advanced to the national semifinals.

The highest seed to ever make the championship is a No. 8, which has happened four times. The first came in the first NCAA tournament under the modern format, when No. 8 Villanova beat powerhouse No. 1 Georgetown for the 1985 championship. It also happened in 2011 (Butler), 2014 (Kentucky) and 2022 (North Carolina). Villanova is the only one from that group to win the title.

That 2014 final also gave us the highest total seed value for a championship game as No. 7 UConn took down No. 8 Kentucky for the title.

DII men's basketball programs with the most NCAA DII national championships

How the NCAA DII men’s basketball tournament works: History, important dates, and FAQs

Transfer success stories adds meaning to Purdue vs. Tennessee Elite Eight matchup

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• 🗓️ 2024 March Madness schedule, dates
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Di men's basketball news.

• 2024 March Madness: Men's NCAA tournament schedule, dates
• Latest bracket, schedule and scores for 2024 NCAA men's tournament
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• 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship Final Four Tips Off Saturday, April 6, on TBS, TNT and truTV
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• CBS Sports and TNT Sports Announce Tip Times and Commentators for Regional Finals on Sunday, March 31
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Follow NCAA March Madness

NC State women upset No. 1 seed Texas, 76-66, to make Final Four

The Wolfpack women’s basketball team planned to get matching tattoos – even if some were temporary – if it made the Final Four. It’s time to book an appointment.

No. 3 seed N.C. State (30-7) defeated No. 1 seed Texas (34-4), 76-66, in the Elite Eight on Sunday afternoon after an elite – pun intended – performance in every area. It was arguably the team’s best performance all season as it held the Longhorns to one of their lowest-scoring outings of the season.

The shooting found a rhythm. The defense competed with desperation, even though it was often competing against larger bodies, and drew four charges. Zoe Brooks and Maddie Cox went diving onto the floor for loose balls, refusing to allow Texas to gain possession uncontested.

It also made great reads on offense. Just look at the number of assists. It recorded six on the first seven made shots. Those dropped in the second quarter, when Texas forced N.C. State to play one-on-one.

Even when the ball went cold in the third and Texas made a run, the Wolfpack kept making clutch shots. It finished with 16 fast-break points.

“I think if we can get into [transition] early, that will help us. I feel like transition, it’s our bread and butter,” Saniya Rivers said on Saturday. “I feel like we’re a really fast team. We can get it out. Anybody can push. Anybody can score. I think that’s definitely going to be the key.”

The Wolfpack compared Texas’ defense to Duke, noting its ability to force turnovers and force opponents out of their offensive rhythms.

“When you’re trying to run a set or get the ball to a certain player, they make it tough,” coach Wes Moore said before the game. “If you’re not careful, you’ll end up continuing to retreat to get the ball, and now you’re catching it near half court. And you don’t score near half court. You’ve got to really make sure you’re doing backdoor cuts and you’re attacking the pressure.”

Texas rolled into Sunday’s regional final having won 15 of its previous 16 games, including seven straight. It averaged a 17.9-point margin of victory during that stretch and routed Gonzaga, 69-47, to advance to the Elite Eight.

The Longhorns disrupted N.C. State for a few stretches, including at the end of the first half, but the Pack had little problem with it. N.C. State found its shot in every area of the floor and put together three stretches with four straight baskets.

Aziaha James led all scorers with 27 points, including 21 in the first half. She started 5 of 5 from the perimeter and finished with seven triples. Four other Pack players notched double figures, with River Baldwin scoring all of her 16 points in the second half.

On the defensive end, N.C. State finished with seven blocks and six steals. Zoe Brooks contributed three, plus two straight deflections early in the fourth that don’t show up on the stat sheet.

The Wolfpack pulled off the victory, despite the game being somewhat overshadowed by the discovery that the distances of the 3-point lines were different. No changes were made to the court during the regional, and it was not noticed until Sunday.

N.C. State will play No. 1 overall seed South Carolina on Friday in Cleveland, Ohio. Rivers transferred to N.C. State from the Gamecocks’ program, where she won a national title in 2022. This is the second Final Four appearance in program history, with the first taking place in 1998.

(1) South Carolina 70: (3) Oregon State 58: Red, blue, orange, white and navy confetti fell on coach Dawn Staley’s head then spilled onto the floor.

Players crouched down, scooped up the excess pieces and threw them back in the air again, watching the colorful flecks of tissue paper float in the air through widened eyes. They made confetti angels and stored handfuls of it into their “Final Four” ball caps.

The Gamecocks celebrated with family, chosen and otherwise, after a 70-58 victory over Oregon State in the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight game. Behind their wide smiles and bright eyes, though, they’re already thinking about the task ahead. Yes, they’re Final Four bound again (for the fourth year in a row), but they didn’t come this far just to come this far.

They came here to win it all.

Two. More. Games.

“We don’t wanna get too excited, because last year we got too excited, and look what happened. Somebody hit us in the hole,” Raven Johnson, the nomenclator of this South Carolina team’s “revenge season,” said after Sunday’s regional finals game. “So we have unfinished business.”

“We’re trying to savor it,” sophomore Chloe Kitts said, “but we’re just so excited for the next step.”

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After Utah women’s basketball team subjected to racism, could NCAA make changes?

• Updated: Mar. 27, 2024, 8:21 p.m. |
• Published: Mar. 27, 2024, 2:57 p.m.

FILE - Lynn Holzman, NCAA vice president for women's basketball, speaks during a news conference Wednesday, March 30, 2022, in Minneapolis. The NCAA women's basketball tournament has so far been the most successful its ever been in regards to attendance and viewership. Still a few problems have arisen off the court that have taken away a bit from the success. (Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune via AP, File) AP

• Doug Feinberg | AP Basketball Writer

The NCAA women’s basketball tournament has so far been the most successful it has ever been when it comes to viewership and attendance, driven by crowds flocking to see their teams play first- and second-round games at home in hopes of advancing to the Sweet 16.

An ugly incident involving the Utah women’s basketball team last week has raised questions about how the NCAA selects those early-round sites, which are not locked in until Selection Sunday, while the men’s sites — at neutral locations — are chosen years in advance.

The Utes players and their traveling party faced racism near their hotel in Idaho and ultimately changed locations. The team was staying in Idaho, 30 miles away from their game site, because of lack of hotel availability in Spokane.

NCAA Vice President for Women’s Basketball Lynn Holzman spoke with The Associated Press about the logistics and whether changes could be in store.

Why are the first two rounds played at campus sites?

The NCAA has tried a few different formats for the opening rounds of the tournament and the most successful has been the current one where the top 16 seeds host games. The NCAA went to that format in 2015 after having pre-determined sites at schools for the first two rounds before that.

The format has seen a huge rise in attendance the past three seasons after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, mirroring increased interest in the game, and it rewards the top teams for their regular-season performance.

“Home sites are a great reward for teams that have earned them throughout the season, and the prospect of hosting really ignites the local fan bases as they try and earn the host site,” said North Carolina coach Courtney Banghart, who is president of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. “But, this is only true if the seeding all the way through the 64 is right, based on the team and its qualifications, and never on geographical location.”

This year, there was a record 292,456 fans in attendance for the first two rounds, shattering the previous mark by over 60,000 set last season.

“We saw a 27% increase of attendance,” Holzman said. “There were several sellouts in the first and second round and the secondary market demand was reflective of that increase.”

Viewership also had record numbers for the first and second rounds. The first round was up over 83% from last year and the second round had a 121% increase from 2023. An average of 1.5 million viewers watched the second round, according to ESPN.

Would the NCAA consider changing site selection?

Holzman told the AP that the selection committee was slated to review the championship format after the 2025 tournament. She has been pushing for some time to move the review up to this year.

“That review would include the First Four, first and second rounds and also an evaluation of the two-site regional format,” Holzman said. “We want to look at the preliminary rounds of the championship and, with the growth we’ve had the last few years, I think we should move up that review to start in 2024.”

The NCAA thought the switch last season to two regional sites worked well and expects this year’s sites — in Albany, New York, and Portland — to continue that.

Can the women’s early-round sites be locked in earlier?

Holzman said the bid process to host the opening two rounds starts in July and goes into the fall. This past year, 40 schools were considered, with an eye toward which teams could crack the top 16 seeds chosen by the NCAA selection committee.

“Teams drop off on their own accord,” she said. “When we get into Selection Sunday there are 20-25 bids that are completely ready and sitting there in case they get the top seed. This year we had 27 that we were ready to act on.”

There is a specific requirement around the number of hotels, rooms, the level of service and other important factors.

“We’ve done everything we can to mitigate circumstances,” Holzman said. “In the real world, unfortunately, despite all the pre-bid work with schools and having a contract, a hotel without knowledge to us violated the terms of the contract and released all the rooms.”

Holzman wouldn’t say where this occurred, but that the site was able to get another hotel and it wasn’t an issue.

More College Basketball

• N.C. State and its 2 DJs headed to 1st Final Four since 1983 after 76-64 win over Duke
• Oregon women’s basketball guard Priscilla Williams enters transfer portal
• Oregon State first-half foul trouble has Beavers playing cautious against South Carolina’s inside power
• Bill Oram: Was Elite Eight loss the end of Oregon State’s run ... or just the beginning?
• Zach Edey goes big and sends Purdue to first Final Four since 1980 with a 72-66 win over Tennessee

How far is too far?

The NCAA requires host sites to have hotels be within reasonable distance from the venue and approximately a 30-minute drive at the most.

Utah, South Dakota State and UC Irvine were staying at hotels in Idaho, with Gonzaga as the host school, because of a lack of hotel space in the Spokane area. Last weekend, the city was also a host site for first and second rounds of the men’s NCAA Tournament — a choice made several years ago — and there was also a large youth volleyball tournament in the area.

Gonzaga had arranged for a police escort for the three teams to make the 30-mile drive to the arena from Idaho to cut down on the travel time. The school also arranged for a gym near their hotels for the teams to practice.

Gonzaga wasn’t the only place that had teams staying miles from the venue. In Connecticut, some teams stayed in Hartford, which is roughly a 30-minute drive to Storrs without traffic but can take up to an hour on a busy day.

-- Doug Feinberg | AP Basketball Writer

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FINAL: Gamecocks Make Offensive Shots, Defensive Stops Needed Late To Clinch A Spot In Final Four!

• Author: Andrew Lyon

Dawn Staley and South Carolina's women's basketball team entered their Easter Sunday matchup against Oregon State looking to advance to their sixth Final Four in program history. Although they were forced to play a slower and much more methodical game than usual, the Gamecocks got the job done at the end of the day.

In the first few minutes of the game, South Carolina made it a point to get the ball to Kamilla Cardoso on the low block on the offensive end, which got Oregon State star Raegan Beers her first foul within the first two minutes of the game. This allowed the Gamecocks to play more inside-out, and get some more shots in the midrange and three-point areas. On defense, Carolina was aggressive in their on-ball defense on the Beavers' primary ball-handlers, which forced a couple of jump balls and four turnovers for Oregon State by the end of the first quarter.

The reason why Staley's team entered the locker room at halftime only up four points was due to the three-point shooting of the Beavers, particularly Lily Hansford and Donovyn Hunter , who made five collectively in the first 20 minutes. I also didn't help the Gamecocks that they missed six layups on the offensive end, struggling to finish through contact. However, one huge development on Oregon State's side was the fouls their frontcourt had accumulated, as Beers and Timea Gardiner both ended the first half with three fouls each.

In the third quarter, South Carolina would finally find the run that they were looking for, a 12-0 run between the 6:08 and 1:09 marks. This run was spurred by a couple of three-point makes from Raven Johnson and Tessa Johnson , and the Gamecocks being able to run out in transition offensively due to the Beavers going through a cold spell shooting the basketball. Late in the game, Oregon State would string together a 10-2 run of their own, thanks to two three-pointers on offense, and Carolina's offense becoming extremely stagnant with little ball movement. This led to the Gamecocks' lead being cut down to as low as four points, but thanks to the offensive aggressiveness from Tessa Johnson and collective team effort on defense, Dawn's team would slam the door shut in the final moments and come out on top.

The Gamecocks will play the winner of the Elite 8 matchup between Texas and NC State this coming Friday in Cleveland.

You Might Also Like:

• MiLaysia Fulwiley Adds Another Major NIL Deal
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Join the community:

• Follow Andrew Lyon on Twitter:  @ALyon_SC
• Follow Joseph Griffin on Twitter:  @JosephGriffinJG
• Follow Locked On Gamecocks  on Youtube  or  wherever you get your podcasts

You can follow us for future coverage by clicking "Follow" on the top right-hand corner of the page. Also, be sure to follow us on X at  @GamecocksDigest   and  our page on Facebook!

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Kentucky basketball roster 2024-25 watch: Latest on John Calipari's team for next season

LEXINGTON — One of the most dramatic offseasons of John Calipari's  tenure with the Kentucky basketball program  is underway.

With fan unrest reaching a boiling point after another opening-weekend loss for UK in the NCAA Tournament , athletics director Mitch Barnhart stood behind Calipari , who will return for his 16th season with the Wildcats in 2024-25.

Calipari said he plans to make next season's roster older and more physical, with an eye toward accomplishing those goals via the transfer portal . His strategy hasn't gotten off to a stellar start, as a player who possessed all those attributes — forward Adou Thiero — entered the transfer portal Thursday. Thiero later clarified his status, issuing a statement about his plans Saturday morning : He will test the NBA draft waters but left open the possibility to be part of Kentucky's team next season.

Bookmark this page as  The Courier Journal  tracks offseason news related to UK's 2024-25 roster.

Which Kentucky basketball players entered NCAA transfer portal?

F Adou Thiero (6-foot-8, 222 pounds, So.):  After playing sparingly as a freshman in 2022-23, Thiero established himself as a starter last season, in the lineup for 19 of his 25 appearances. He averaged 7.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, with  a standout showing versus then-No. 1 Kansas  at the  Champions Classic  in Chicago on Nov. 14, when Thiero set single-game personal bests in points (16) and rebounds (13). While he missed seven games in the middle of the season, he returned to start 11 of the Wildcats' final 14 outings. Expected to take on an even larger role for Kentucky in 2024-25, Thiero was the first player to reveal his intentions for next season, entering the transfer portal Thursday . If he does not remain in the 2024 NBA Draft , UK hopes it can convince Thiero to return to Lexington.

This story will be updated as more Kentucky players make announcements about their plans for the 2024-25 season.

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball 2024-25 roster updates for John Calipari's program

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The Athletic has live coverage of Clemson vs. Alabama in men’s March Madness Elite 8 play.

LOS ANGELES — Once again, it’s Alabama vs. Clemson in the College Football Pla …

Oh, wait. Take two: it’s Alabama vs. Clemson in the Elite Eight — two traditional football powerhouses instead meeting on the cusp of hoops history. Combined, the two schools have accounted for five of the last nine national college football championships … but in men’s basketball? They’ve got one prior Elite Eight appearance each: Alabama 20 years ago, and Clemson even farther back, in 1980.

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But more importantly, as it pertains to Saturday’s matchup?

Neither has ever made the Final Four.

“Alabama and Clemson playing in LA, most people would think we’re out here playing in the Rose Bowl,” Alabama coach Nate Oats joked Friday. “The basketball Rose Bowl.”

It is an impossible comparison to ignore. Consider this: NBA analyst Charles Barkley picked Arizona to win the national title, but in congratulating Clemson on national television Thursday for its Sweet 16 win over the Wildcats, the coach he shouted out was … Dabo Swinney, Clemson’s football coach. None of the other handsomely-paid analysts on the TNT set flinched.

“The first thing you better realize — I’m sure Nate feels the same way — if you’re the head basketball coach at Clemson or Alabama, you’re not going to become a basketball school,” Clemson coach Brad Brownell said. “You’re going to be a football school. You better embrace that early on.”

Brownell has a leg up in that department, at least in terms of longevity. Now in his 14th season with the Tigers , Brownell is already the winningest coach in program history … and yet, given the high-profile success of Swinney’s program, there have been calls in recent years for his job. “You know, football has had a lot of success over the years,” said Clemson guard Chase Hunter , who hit the game-deciding and-1 against Arizona, “and we really haven’t had much.” Which means, deservedly or not, plenty of ire ends up at Brownell’s feet.

It is, in some ways, a blessing and a curse. Swinney’s program — which made six consecutive CFP appearances from 2015-2020 — casts a mighty wide shadow. That brings expectations for other teams on campus, yes … but also shade. Coverage. Brownell’s had six 20-win seasons and now four NCAA Tournament teams, but what about the four seasons with a losing ACC record? It’s a little easier to hide, regroup, and start anew when everyone’s attention is trained on a football program with a rocket-like trajectory.

As for Oats, it’s a little bit of a different beast. Alabama hired him from Buffalo in 2019 to be the Crimson Tide’s tide-riser, part of an SEC-wide initiative to improve the league’s men’s basketball standing. Oats has made four straight NCAA Tournaments, won two SEC regular-season and tournament championships, earned the No. 1 overall seed last season, produced a starting five’s worth of NBA players — and now, has Alabama 40 minutes from history.

“This would be the biggest win in the history of Alabama basketball if we can pull it off,” Oats said. “The athletic department as a whole is a championship-level athletic department. We need to get men’s basketball up to the level that a lot of other sports are at.”

Dancing to the Elite 8 🕺 #RollTide | #BlueCollarBasketball pic.twitter.com/9LZGDlK0zm — Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) March 29, 2024

It is one thing for these coaches — with their decades of experience and long-term roots in their respective college towns — to accept the football-basketball discrepancy. (Especially amidst conference realignment, where the pursuit of high-profile football — and profits — is the end-all, be-all.) But for the players? For the ones whose peers are idolized, and who perhaps only now are getting their due shine?

Mark Sears — Alabama’s All-America guard, who outdueled UNC’s R.J. Davis in the Sweet 16 — was asked Friday about the reaction he’s experienced to the Crimson Tide’s upset win a day earlier. He grinned, then mentioned social media clips he’d seen and heard of a fully-packed Strip, the local Tuscaloosa thoroughfare with bars and restaurants

“It sounded,” Sears said proudly, “like a home football game.”

Sears, an Alabama native, can appreciate that as much as anyone on Oats’ roster. Sears grew up going to Crimson Tide games and still remembers when undefeated Kentucky — with Karl-Anthony Towns, Devin Booker, and the like — visited in 2015. “I was, like, in awe because it was very packed. Sold out,” Sears said. “That day, I knew I wanted to be a part of something like this.” Sears took a detour to get here, via two seasons at Ohio, but he’s now a linchpin for the most successful two-year sprint in Alabama basketball history.

Stories like this abound on both sides. Clemson star PJ Hall grew up in nearby Spartanburg, S.C. — about an hour east of Clemson’s campus — but wasn’t much of a sports viewer when he was little. One of his best friends, though, was a diehard Clemson football fan … and Hall liked getting under his skin. “Then once they were really good, I was like, oh, I’m just gonna cheer for (South) Carolina,” Hall said Friday. “When I eventually committed to Clemson, it was pretty ironic.” He’s become an All-ACC forward, one of the best big men in the nation and a projected future NBA draftee.

Maybe the most interesting case, though — the player in this game with the best understanding of the dichotomy between football and basketball schools — is Clemson guard Joe Girard, who transferred south this summer after four seasons at Syracuse. Girard, a former high school state championship-winning quarterback, has been a Clemson football fan longer than he’s been a Tiger. “My high school coach took the ‘All In’ slogan from Dabo,” Girard said, “so I obviously just followed Clemson football because I heard about it all the time.” But Girard chose Syracuse out of high school: a national championship hoops pedigree, and in Jim Boeheim, a Hall of Fame coach.

And for that, he … went to one Sweet 16 in four seasons.

Girard has nothing but good things to say about his time in Syracuse, and says that Boeheim — whose retirement last offseason was a factor in his transfer decision — remains one of his biggest supporters. The thing he appreciated most about Boeheim, both as a high schooler and once he was actually with the Orange, was the Hall of Famer’s competitiveness. He wanted the same in his next coach. “I saw how competitive Coach Boeheim was,” Girard said, “but I also heard and saw how competitive Coach Brownell was.”

When Girard first got on campus, he knew what support would be like for Clemson football. He’d just lived it. “Syracuse basketball is Clemson football,” Girard said. “It’s obviously the biggest thing on campus, what everybody’s talking about.” But for hoops? He was unsure. Then, his first weekend in South Carolina, Clemson was hosting a NCAA baseball regional and sold out the stadium.

“That was the biggest difference for me,” Girard said. “Just seeing how much they really enjoy all their sports, and support (them).”

Littlejohn Loud!! Student watch party was incredible! 🧡 pic.twitter.com/MPKWDt4tuV — Clemson Basketball (@ClemsonMBB) March 29, 2024

Girard knows basketball is not at the same interest level, nor will it probably ever be, as football. Oats knows it. Brownell knows it.

But here’s the thing:

That football success does not disqualify men’s basketball from having its moment, too — and right now, both the Tide and the Tigers are.

“Certainly we’re known as a football school and will be one forever, and we’re all really proud of that,” Brownell said. “But I’m just doing the best I can to make our program as good as it can be. And I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish the last 14 years — and certainly this year has been really special.”

For ticket information on all tournament games, click  here .

(Photo of Clemson’s Chase Hunter and Alabama’s Sam Walters and Nick Pringle from November: Gary Cosby Jr. / USA Today)

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Brendan Marks covers Duke and North Carolina basketball for The Athletic. He previously worked at The Charlotte Observer as a Carolina Panthers beat reporter, and his writing has also appeared in Sports Illustrated, The Boston Globe and The Baltimore Sun. He's a native of Raleigh, N.C.

Brownell, Clemson make their case

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‘Total Disgrace’: Anger, Frustration as Mass Heating Failures Across Russia Leave Thousands in the Cold

P ODOLSK, Moscow region – Residents throughout Russia affected by unprecedented winter heating outages in recent days have expressed their frustration and urged local authorities to restore heating in their homes.

In Podolsk, a town some 30 kilometers south of the capital Moscow, at least 149,000 residents — nearly half of its population — were left without heating when a heating main burst at a nearby private ammunition plant.

“It’s a total disgrace. There is no heating and no hot water. We have to sleep in sleeping bags,” Yuri, a local resident, told The Moscow Times.

“I have no words to describe how bad the situation is," said Yuri, who declined to provide his surname. "We have had no heating for almost six days."

Heating issues have affected residents in the Moscow region, where temperatures have plunged to as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius in the past week, as well as people in the Far East Primorye region , the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg , Penza , the southern Voronezh and Volgograd regions and more.

In the Tver region, a group of residents filmed an appeal to President Vladimir Putin, saying that they “are freezing from the cold” in the village of Novozavidovsky.

“We're literally being killed by the cold,” a woman in the video said, adding that they have been sending requests to local authorities since September after their houses were connected to a boiler room whose power was reportedly insufficient.

“This is some kind of torture and extermination of the population 100 kilometers from Moscow,” she added.

Residents of the Moscow region town of Elektrostal lit a fire in the street to draw the authorities’ attention to the heating problem.

“It’s impossible to stay in our houses. We're freezing!” a group of women in the video said.

Suffering from subzero temperatures, residents are placing the blame on local authorities and utility services for failing to take necessary precautions and not taking action to resolve the situation.

“We are sending complaints everywhere but no one listens to us. We have portable heaters working in every room, but the temperature inside is still 10 degrees Celsius,” Yelena from Podolsk said.

“There is a clinic and a hospital, as well as kindergartens, where there is no heating. And we have no answers, no assistance, no explanation,” Yelena added.

Podolsk authorities opened temporary heating centers and declared a state of emergency.

Local authorities linked the heating problems to the fact that the town is heated by a boiler plant owned by the Klimovsk Specialized Ammunition Plant, a private ammunition factory and one of the largest weapon cartridge production enterprises in the country.

“The facility is under tight security conditions, which limits our ability to oversee winter preparations,” the Moscow region’s Vice Governor Yevgeny Khromushin said last week. “We were unaware of the problem for nearly a day.”

An unidentified Moscow region official and two senior executives at the plant were arrested on suspicion of providing unsafe services, Russia’s Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, said in a statement Tuesday.

Investigators said that Podolsk’s deputy mayor was accused of misusing authority by issuing a readiness certificate for the boiler house at the plant.

In the neighboring Tver region, the authorities opened a criminal case over the laundering of over 84 million rubles ($938,993) in heating bills paid by residents, the Astra Telegram channel reported this week, citing unidentified sources. According to investigators, the heads of the local water intake and boiler house misappropriated the heating payments for personal use.

Reacting to the heating failures, Putin on Tuesday asked Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov to provide heat and electricity to the affected residents.

The outages appear to be the latest effect of several decades of crumbling infrastructure in Russia which have been linked to endemic corruption and mismanagement.

The overall decay of Russia's municipal infrastructure surpassed 70% in 2022, the pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia reported .

According to Sergei Pakhomov, head of the State Duma’s Construction, Housing and Utilities Committee, water pipes that were 90 years old or even older were still in use as recently as two years ago in some cases.

Housing, utilities and communal services are a common source of problems for Russians during the winter.

In St. Petersburg, residents regularly complain about extensive ice coverage on city streets and sidewalks, with many people ending up in the hospital over the years due to slipping and falling accidents.

In the Siberian republic of Khakassia, two villages were left without electricity last month due to apparent issues with outdated communication systems.

In the winter of 2020, five people in the Perm region were killed after a pipe burst.

When asked about the latest heating outages, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the problems and linked them to poor municipal infrastructure, saying that people “had to endure a lot of inconvenience in the cold and without electricity.”

"Despite all the titanic efforts to update all housing and communal services systems, there's still a certain part that remains considerably deteriorated. These programs will continue, but it is impossible to update all pipes and all housing and communal services systems in 10-15 years,” Peskov said.

As for now, residents affected by heating issues appear to lack optimism that the problems will be solved efficiently.

"It's been a week since we've had heating, and the temperature in my apartment is around 11 degrees Celsius,” Podolsk resident Lidiya told The Moscow Times.

“Unfortunately, no one knows when it will be repaired,” she added.