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Golden Bears creatively spin Cal's success story with music video

SPOKANE, Wash. -- With just days to go before Selection Monday, Cal senior guard Eliza Pierre and several of her teammates approached their head coach with an intriguing proposal.

The Golden Bears were 28-3 at the time, coming off a loss to UCLA in the Pac-12 tournament semifinal. They’d captured a slice of the regular-season conference title (along with Stanford), in a season that was riddled with accomplishment. Still, something wasn’t quite right.

Reflection: Inspired Louisville pulls off the biggest women's upset ever

PHOTO GALLERY

Today is April 1, which is a bit ironic this morning, just hours after the mighty No. 1-seeded Baylor Bears were toppled by Louisville, 82-81. Though it might seem like an April Fool's joke, it's definitely no laughing matter in Waco.

Officiating: It's in the eye of the beholder

Coaches for both combatants in Sunday's Sweet 16 upset of top-ranked Baylor by fifth-seeded upstart Louisville had a lot to say about the officiating -- both during the game, when they filled the referees' ears with reactions to virtually every call and non-call, cavorting on the sidelines until one coach was called for a technical that could have cost his team the game, and the other probably should have been -- and in the presser afterward.

Analysis: Cardinals use two-step approach to topple reigning champs

OKLAHOMA CITY -- As the Baylor-versus-Louisville Sweet 16 matchup tipped off, nearly half the press corps was still in the post-game interview room listening to Tennessee coach Holly Warlick lay out her game plan for what nearly everyone assumed would be a Tennessee-Baylor Elite Eight rematch.

Cardinals stun the Bears - Louisville was just better

Baylor didn't have a bad game.

The Bears scored 81 points against Louisville Sunday, shooting respectably from the field and the line. They controlled the boards. They forced 20 turnovers. They mounted an amazing comeback, worthy of any champion.

And they even got lucky. Jeff Walz drew an incredibly dumb technical foul with 2:01 left and his team up six. The Cardinals turned the ball over with 15 seconds left to set up two more clutch Odyssey Sims’ throws.

And yet … and yet.

Ieshia Small set to announce at McDonald's All-American Game

Full Court has confirmed that unsigned senior Ieshia Small has narrowed her list of schools to Baylor and South Carolina and will officially announce her decision during the television broadcast of the McDonald's All-American game on April 3 at the United Center in Chicago.  The game will air at 7p.m. ET on ESPNU.

Clarendon, Boyd continue pushing Cal into new territory

SPOKANE, Wash. - Tied 26-26 with sixth-seeded LSU at halftime of Saturday night’s Sweet 16 game at the Spokane Arena, Cal head coach Lindsay Gottlieb kept her locker room speech succinct.

The Golden Bears had to play to their strengths, which had propelled them to a 30-3 record and No. 2 seed in the tournament.

That meant playing fast, pushing the tempo, locking in on defense, sharing the basketball and being versatile — exactly the staples that Gottlieb had outlined during Friday’s press conference.

Jasmine James guides Bulldogs to upset of No. 1 seed Stanford

SPOKANE, Wash. — With her team clinging to a two-point lead with just 23 seconds to play, Georgia senior point guard Jasmine James headed to the foul line for two crucial free throws. Well, almost.

James cast a look to her left, toward the first rows of the stands, mere feet beyond the sideline.

There sat her parents — Greg and Janine — who’d flown almost six hours and endured a lengthy layover to watch their daughter in the regional semifinal against No. 1-seeded Stanford.

Norfolk welcomes home Elizabeth Williams and Duke Blue Devils

NORFOLK, Va. – Elizabeth Williams’ McDonald’s All-American uniform never looked so baggy.

On the 5-foot-6 Jenna Frush, the jersey hung like a queen-size bed sheet, the brilliant red shorts hung down to her ankles, and the No. 15 jersey resembled a nightgown.

It was just one of the treasures the Duke Blue Devils found while rummaging through their sophomore teammate’s bedroom, all thanks to the NCAA Tournament coming to Williams’ hometown.

Delle Donne back in Husky territory for Sweet 16

NEWARK, Del. – The word “irony” is being tossed around a lot this week considering the impending close of the collegiate career of Delaware sensation Elena Delle Donne.

Soon after the sixth-seeded Blue Hens rallied from an early 10-point deficit in the second half Tuesday night to finish their 78-69 upset of third-seeded North Carolina (29-7), Delle Donne was asked if it was ironic that Delaware (32-3), in moving on to its first-ever Sweet 16 in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament this weekend, would be heading to the state of Connecticut.