Women’s tourney rolls out two regional sites

Women’scollege basketball believes it has the makings for a hit reality TV show with star power driving a marketable product that has a growing audience. So they’re taking the ensemble on the road for the Sweet 16.

The NCAA changed the format of the tournament this year, featuring two regional sites instead of the traditional four. The games in Greenville, S.C., and Seattle are the latest step to grow the sport and show the ladies can stand on their own.

The women’s title game will be broadcast on ABC — the first appearance on network television since 1995.

The NCAA is expected to decide by the fall if the women’s tournament will become a separate entity after hiring Endeavor, a consulting firm, to determine how to take championships to market.

West Liberty plays for title

The Division II men’s basketball NCAA tournament national title game will have a local flair to it. Bryce Butler (Latrobe), Ben Sarson (Central Catholic) and Dante Spadafora (Our Lady of Sacred Heart) all contributed in West Liberty’s semifinal 87-82 win against Black Hills State on Thursday.

Butler dropped in 16 points, five boards and three assists, Sarson added five points and eight rebounds and Spadafora chipped in three points and two rebounds for the Hilltoppers (33-3). West Liberty (W.Va.), re-seeded second, will face top-seeded Nova Southeastern, Fla., (35-0) in Saturday’s title game at 3 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.

Providence hires English

Kim English, 34, was named the new Providence men’s basketball coach, ending a fast search by first-year Providence athletic director Steve Napolillo that was created after Ed Cooley left to take the job at Big East rival Georgetown. English was 3429 in two seasons at George Mason, leading the Patriots to a 20-13 record this past season. It was the first time the school reached the 20-win milestone since 2016-17.