COLLEGE BASKETBALL

After a three-day pause, the madness will resume on Thursday with the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament.

An agent’s brazen demand made on behalf of University of Miami basketball star Isaiah Wong has provided a rare glimpse into the way elite college sports have been transformed by athletes’ rights to be compensated through endorsements.

Although your favorite team may or may not still be dancing, the NCAA Tournament continues on, with Sweet 16 games running through the weekend.

In case you've ever looked at an NCAA Tournament bracket and wondered, "Where the heck is that school located?," we have just the quiz for you.

It’s tournament time, which, for college basketball fans, is the best time of the year.

MIAMI – Jakai Robinson, a 6-foot, 4-inch guard from Ossining, New York, has signed to play for the Miami Hurricanes. Robinson attends Rock Creek Christian Academy in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. He previously played at National Christian Academy in Fort Washington, Maryland, where he led the Capital Beltway League in scoring each of the past two years and twice won league MVP honors. Robinson joins Nisine Poplar of Philadelphia in Miami’s 2021 recruiting class.

But while the world is sad over Thompson’s passing, he at least had 19 more years of living after nearly dying during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. But Rome’s producer, Danny Schwartz, asked that he fly out a day later to accommodate the show’s schedule. Thompson told Schwartz that wouldn’t work and he was unhappy at the suggestion, but after Schwartz insisted, Thompson changed his flight. Ten years after that day, Thompson went on Rome’s radio show to reminisce, starting with a message Thompson’s assistant relayed to him. “Let me tell you something, if you’re ever in Washington, D.C., you look me up,” Thompson told Schwartz.

With one unexpected sentence, Emoni Bates set the basketball world and Twitter on fire Monday afternoon. 1 high school basketball player in the Class of 2022, set off a national reaction of various emotions. Bates played his first two years of high school at Ypsilanti Lincoln High School. Another feeling was elation, particularly for fans of Michigan State basketball, who were understandably jumping for joy over Bates choosing to play for their school/team. pic.twitter.com/WdrG7R5tpc — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 29, 2020Why Emoni Bates is a big dealMany pundits have called Bates the best basketball prodigy to come out of high school since LeBron James.

SUNRISE, Fla. – Sam Merrill scored 21 points Saturday and Utah State held Florida without a field goal for six minutes down the stretch to win 65-62 in the Orange Bowl Classic. Utah State won despite losing hard-luck center Neemias Queta to an injury in the first half. The Gators missed their first 14 shots, and missed seven in a row in the final minutes after taking a 55-54 lead. The Gators outrebounded the tallest team in the nation 41-33 but shot only 32 percent, including 4 for 17 from 3-point range. Justin Bean had 12 points, nine rebounds and four assists for Utah State.

19-ranked Florida State used smothering defense to overcome a 10-point deficit in the final seven minutes and beat South Florida 66-60 Saturday in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic. Florida State forced four shot-clock violations and won despite being outrebounded by 14 and shooting only 40 percent, including 7 for 27 from 3-point range. Florida State (10-2) scored 21 points off turnovers to earn its third win in a row. South Florida (6-6) lost to a ranked team for the 27th consecutive time since 2012. Devin Vassell’s jumper with two minutes left put Florida State in front to stay.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State is so deep at guard and forward that it hasn’t featured its 7-footers much this season. Balsa Koprivica scored 15 points and Dominik Olejniczak added 11 as both set season highs to lead No. 19 Florida State to a 98-81 victory over North Florida. “Neither one of those guys have been feature players on their teams in the past,” Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said. Florida State (9-2) has won 12 straight home games in a streak that dates to last season.

17 Florida State 80-64 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. “Tonight was his night.”After Indiana took a 15-point lead in the first half, the Hoosiers watched Florida State methodically cut into the deficit. Green helped steady the Hoosiers, who extended the margin to 10 with 13:53 left. That’s when Green helped spur the decisive sequence. “Obviously, Devonte Green was special tonight,” Indiana coach Archie Miller said.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State is ranked for the first time this season after victories against No. 17 Tennessee and Purdue in the Emerald Coast Classic. The Seminoles (7-1, 0-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) are ranked No. The Seminoles defeated the previously undefeated Volunteers 60-57 Friday and outlasted the Boilermakers 63-60 in overtime Saturday to win the Emerald Coast Classic championship. Florida State is the fifth ACC team ranked among the top 25, behind new No.

NICEVILLE, Fla. – Devin Vassell scored 13 points and made a key steal and pair of free throws in the final minute as Florida State upended No. Florida State (6-1) started hot, sprinting to a 14-2 lead. Ten players scored for Florida State, but M.J. Walker was the only other Seminole in double figures with 10 points. Trent Forrest made one of two free-throw attempts with 32 seconds left to put Florida State ahead by four before Vassell stole the ball. He then made two free throws to ice the game.

SUNRISE, Fla. – Tipoff times have been set for the doubleheader at this year's Orange Bowl Basketball Classic. Florida State and Florida will return to the BB&T Center in Sunrise for the Dec. 21 games. It will be the 11th time since 1999 that the Seminoles, 8-2 all-time in Sunrise, will participate in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic. Florida is making its 11th consecutive appearance in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic and 21st overall. Both teams were victorious last December, with the Gators beating Florida Gulf Coast 77-56 and the Seminoles defeating St. Louis 81-59.

SUNRISE, Fla. – Fans of the Gators and Seminoles won't have to travel far from home to see their teams on the hardwood this year. Florida and Florida State will return to Sunrise in December for the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic, the schools announced Wednesday. Florida is making its 11th consecutive appearance in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic and 21st overall. Florida State's game against USF will be the eighth consecutive appearance and 11th time since 1999 that the Seminoles will appear in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic. Both teams were victorious last December, with the Gators beating Florida Gulf Coast 77-56 and the Seminoles defeating St. Louis 81-59.

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Keith Stone is coming home. The former Florida forward announced Monday on Twitter that he is transferring to Miami for his senior season. "I'm coming home momma," Stone tweeted, along with a picture of him wearing a Miami uniform. Florida head coach Mike White announced last month that Stone was planning to graduate and transfer to another school for his final season of eligibility. "We are excited to welcome Keith to the Hurricane family," Miami head coach Jim Larranaga said in a statement Tuesday.

Sunday evening will bring one of the most anticipated hours of the entire sports year, as the 68-team field will be announced for the upcoming NCAA men’s basketball tournament. An appointed 10-member committee is tasked with determining the teams and matchups for the tournament. Not only does the committee determine which teams make the field, but also their seeding, which can create favorable matchups. Teams are placed in four regions, with two regions having 16 teams and two having 18 teams. Why is there a selection committee?

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Florida and Miami will participate in the Charleston Classic next season, the schools announced Thursday. Joining the Gators and Hurricanes will be Connecticut, Missouri State, Penn State, Saint Joseph's, Towson and Xavier. The Hurricanes won the 2014 tournament the last time they traveled to Charleston. Previous tournament winners include Temple last year, Villanova in 2016 and Virginia in 2015. Fans can save up to $25 on discounted tickets by signing up on the tournament's website between now and Nov. 25.

SUNRISE, Fla. – Florida and Florida State will once again participate in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic this season. The Orange Bowl Committee announced Tuesday that the Gators and the Seminoles will return to the BB&T Center in Sunrise for a basketball doubleheader Dec. 22. Florida Gulf Coast will face Florida in a rematch of a 2013 NCAA tournament game that the Gators won 62-50. The Gators will make their 10th consecutive appearance in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic and 20th overall, including a 71-69 loss to Clemson last year. Florida State, which advanced to the "Elite Eight" last season, is making its seventh consecutive appearance in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic and 10th overall.

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Yunio Barrueta is this close to becoming a dunk championThe Barry University basketball star is locked in a heated battle to win ESPN's Dark Horse Dunker contest and needs your help to get him over the top. Barrueta cruised past the first three rounds, and is now facing off against Dwaun Anderson of Wagner. With voting coming to a close at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Barrueta trails Anderson by just the narrowest of margins, so he needs your help to make the finals. Let's all vote and turn the tide for Barrueta and Barry!