College Basketball

The Latest: Texas A&M off to quick start against Sooners

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 1:53 a.m. ET

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The Latest on the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, with games Thursday night in Anaheim, California, and Louisville, Kentucky (all times Eastern):

7:50 p.m.

Third-seeded Texas A&M has opened fast against No. 2 Oklahoma, taking a 13-6 lead thanks to two 3-point shots by Jalen Jones and one by Anthony Collins.

Oklahoma's Buddy Hield, one of the nation's most lethal shooters from behind the arc, missed two 3-pointers in one possession, including an air ball from the left side.

--Bernie Wilson reporting from Anaheim, Calilfornia.

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7:45 p.m.

More 3s, please.

So far, Villanova and Miami have combined to go 10 for 12 from 3-point range.

Leading the way: Miami's Sheldon McClellan at 3 for 3 and Villanova guard Ryan Arcidiacono who has is 2 of 3.

--Teresa M. Walker reporting from Louisville.

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7:35 p.m.

Most basketball fans either love Duke or hate Duke. As for Oregon, the Blue Devils' opponent in tonight's NCAA Tournament game, it's a little of both.

''I always hated Duke because my older brother, he always loved Duke,'' Ducks forward Jordan Bell said. ''I was the opposite, whatever he loved, I hated.''

Freshman Tyler Dorsey doesn't understand all the hate. He was a huge fan of Kyrie Irving growing up.

''I did watch Duke,'' Dorsey said. ''I like their game, and I like Coach K and the way he runs things. Growing up and watching them, they had some pretty huge teams. Kyrie Irving comes to mind, but that wasn't that long ago.''

-- Abbey Mastracco reporting from Anaheim, California

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7:25 p.m.

Foul trouble landed Villanova's leading scorer, Josh Hart, on the bench within the first 3 minutes of the Wildcats' South Regional semifinal against Miami.

The junior guard leads Villanova with 15.4 points per game. He picked up his first foul with 17:46 left, then got his second five seconds later and sat down.

He left with Villanova up 8-0 after hitting three of its first five shots.

The winner of this game plays either top-seeded Kansas or No. 5 seed Maryland on Saturday.

--Teresa M. Walker reporting in Louisville, Kentucky.

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7:20 p.m.

The Virginia Cavaliers aren't the only ones looking marvelous this March Madness.

According to Vogue, Cavaliers coach Tony Bennett looks pretty good, too. The magazine called him the ''George Clooney of March Madness.''

One passage in that story read, ''If there were brackets for dangerously good looks and impeccable poise, Bennett would already be cutting down the nets.'' Another described him as ''a little bit George Clooney, a little bit Kyle Chandler.''

Asked about it Thursday, Bennett shot back, ''I heard you're the Anderson Cooper of journalism. I didn't read the article.''

The coach said he's received his fair share of ribbing. Example: Virginia men's tennis coach Brian Boland texted Bennett to tell him he was ''about to puke.''

''He's always twisting the knife,'' Bennett said. ''But I didn't read it. I didn't read it and am not interested in reading it, really.''

The Cavs play Iowa State in the Midwest Regional on Friday.

--Andrew Seligman reporting from Chicago.

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7:05 p.m.

The second-seeded Villanova Wildcats have a very rich tradition in the NCAA Tournament, as the 1985 champs making their 36th appearance in this event. Only eight teams have played in this tournament more than the Wildcats, who are trying to reach their first Elite Eight since reaching the 2009 Final Four.

Contrast that with their opponent, No. 3 seed Miami.

This is just the eighth NCAA Tournament appearance for the Hurricanes and only their third time in the Sweet 16. Miami is 0-2 in the round of 16, and the Hurricanes are hoping an experienced roster bolstered by three transfers in guard Sheldon McClellan, guard Angel Rodriguez and forward Kamari Murphy along with coach Jim Larranaga provide the winning difference this time around.

''Honestly, we've been hearing about it, that the program has never reached an Elite Eight, so we definitely want to be the first group of guys to do that,'' McClellan said. ''And it will be a big accomplishment for us and the program.''

- Teresa M. Walker reporting from Louisville, Kentucky

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6:40 p.m.

The first South Region semifinal pits two of the top seeds, with third-seeded Miami (27-7) playing No. 2 seed Villanova (31-5). Scanning their common opponents looking for which team might have the edge doesn't provide much help.

Villanova beat Nebraska, Butler (twice), Georgia Tech and La Salle while losing its only game against Virginia.

Miami beat Nebraska (in overtime), Butler, Georgia Tech and La Salle. The Hurricanes won one of three games against Virginia this season.

Looking to the history between these teams doesn't help much either.

This will be their first meeting in the NCAA Tournament and first since March 2004, when both were members of the Big East. Miami has won nine of the last 13 games in this series.

- Teresa M. Walker reporting from Louisville, Kentucky.

6:30 p.m.

When Matt Thomas was a prep star in Wisconsin, he was recruited by Iowa State and Virginia. The 6-foot-4 guard opted for the Cyclones, playing a key role in their run to their second Sweet 16 in three years.

Next up for Thomas and company are ... the Cavaliers, and coach Tony Bennett. The teams meet Friday in the Midwest Regional.

''It was the same thing as Iowa State,'' Thomas said of his recruitment. ''They got on me pretty early, coach Bennett, and I built a real good relationship with them and their coaching staff and I went out there on a visit. But obviously I'm a Cyclone now and that doesn't mean anything to me anymore.''

Thomas, a junior averaging 10.9 points, said proximity to his hometown of Onalaska made a difference in his choice.

''A big difference was just the travel,'' he said. ''It was a little too far. I wanted to be somewhere where my friends and family could come watch me play.''

--Jay Cohen reporting from Chicago

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6 p.m.

Tip-off time for the Sweet 16 is getting close.

There are four games on the schedule Thursday night, starting with the South Regional semifinal between second-seeded Villanova and third-seeded Miami. They tip at 7:10 p.m. Eastern, and when they're done, top seed Kansas will take the floor against fifth-seeded Maryland. The winners meet Saturday for a trip to the Final Four.

In the West, it will be the nation's second-leading scorer, Buddy Hield, leading No. 2 Oklahoma against No. 3 Texas A&M at 7:37 p.m., followed by No. 1 Oregon against the defending national champions, fourth-seeded Duke.

The Midwest and East Regionals are Friday, with North Carolina, Virginia, Gonzaga and Syracuse among those in action.

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