Video shows Backstreet Boys star Brian Littrell in heated dispute at Florida home

More details are emerging on an alleged altercation betweenBackstreet Boys member Brian Littrelland a Florida beachgoer.

The"I Want It That Way" singer, 51,reportedly called 911 following the incident on March 22, and later filed a complaint in Walton County, Florida, according toPeopleandABC 13.

Though Littrell sought battery charges against a local man whom he said set up a beach chair on his private property and refused to leave, the prosecutor ultimately declined to pursue the case. Now, a videoreleased by ABC 13is shedding new light on the incident.

In the video, submitted as evidence,Littrellapproached a man, identified by the outlet as Kyle Gallagher. Gallagher was sitting on the beach as Littrell videotaped Gallagher with his phone and came within a few inches of his face. The man pushed Littrell's phone away, and the two began filming each other and hurling expletives.

Kevin Richardson spills secretsbehind Backstreet Boys' stunning Sphere concerts

The boy band member then turned the camera to his own face, laughing and said, "This is what I deal with, people like this," to which the man responded, "You came and shoved your phone in my face, bro." The dispute continued, with both men getting heated, and Littrell at one point saying, "You wanna be gay?"

Gallagher argued that Littrell's property is next to public beach access, while the singer responded, "I can't wait till this gets out, bro."

In statements to authorities, both men offered a different version of events, with Littrell characterizing Gallagher as violent and a disturbance to the peace, while Gallagher said he only batted away the singer's phone out of reflex and being startled.

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Walton County Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney Josh Mitchell declined to pursue charges, citing both a lack of criminal intent and the video backing up Gallagher's version of events, per ABC 13. USA TODAY has reached out to Mitchell's office as well as the Walton County Sheriff.

In a statement sent to USA TODAY on Friday, April 3, Littrell's lawyer alleged he is one of several people in the beachfront neighborhood who are frustrated by trespassers.

"Mr. Littrell enjoys positive relationships with his neighbors. They share a common challenge: repeated trespassing by individuals who deliberately enter private property to provoke confrontation," the singer's attorney, Peter Ticktin, wrote in the statement. "These incidents have affected multiple homeowners in the area and predate Mr. Littrell's purchase of his home."

The statement continued: "A trespasser placed a personal beach chair on Mr. Littrell's private property and refused to leave. When Mr. Littrell approached him calmly, the trespasser became aggressive and struck Mr. Littrell in the face without provocation. This was an act of battery against a homeowner attempting to protect his property."

Ticktin pushed back on "the claim that Mr. Littrell used a homophobic slur," calling it "false."

"The full video of the encounter shows unequivocally that no such language was used. Sexual orientation played no role in this incident, and any suggestion otherwise is knowingly false," Ticktin said.

"Mr. Littrell and his family purchased what they saw as their dream home, only to discover an ongoing pattern of trespassing and harassment targeting private property owners along their and their neighbors' stretch of beach. These actions are not about public access, public beaches exist on both sides of the neighborhood and remain open and uncrowded," Ticktin continued. "Instead, certain individuals appear intent on challenging the very concept of private property rights."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Brian Littrell seen in heated dispute in front of Florida beach home

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April 03, 2026

Video shows Backstreet Boys star Brian Littrell in heated dispute at Florida home

More details are emerging on an alleged altercation betweenBackstreet Boys member Brian Littrelland a Florida beachgoe...

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Inside UConn's secret of chemistry over championships — and still winning both

PHOENIX — The UConn women's basketball team has talked all season about how it isn't worried about stats or individual accolades.

When sophomore forward Sarah Strong was asked ifwinning the Naismith Trophy, given to the best player in women's college basketball, was a dream come true, her answer spoke volumes.

"A dream come true? I wouldn't say that, but I mean, it's definitely a cool side quest," Strong said.

Strong, who has won every individual award in the country this season, is leading the Huskies in scoring (18.6 points per game), rebounds (7.6), steals (3.4) and blocks (1.6). But, like every player on UConn's roster, she is more worried about supporting her teammates and having fun.

"We all enjoy being around each other and are genuinely happy for everyone's success," Strong said. "We just want the team to do well."

More:UConn's Final Four run is steeped in Diana Taurasi's legacy

The Huskies are doing very well, on a 54-game winning streak dating back to last season as defending national champions. UConn has won 12 titles since Geno Auriemma took over as coach 41 years ago, so the expectations are high in Storrs, Connecticut. But his players, at least on this team, are used to the pressure and have learned to manage it together.

"Even in the midst of all the pressure that comes with playing in these games, they are finding ways to have fun," Auriemma said. "These guys just enjoy the whole thing, all of it."

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) named Big East Player Of The Year as they celebrate their Big East Championship win over the Villanova Wildcats at Mohegan Sun Arena on Mar 9, 2026.

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Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

UConn Huskies forwardSarah Strong(21) named Big East Player Of The Year as they celebrate their Big East Championship win over the Villanova Wildcats at Mohegan Sun Arena on Mar 9, 2026.

UConn point guard KK Arnold, who averages 7.1 points and 4.6 assists a contest, said the team spends all of its time together, on and off the court. They love each other's company and thrive on giving each other a hard time.

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"I feel like we're not selfish," Arnold said. "Making sure that everybody's good on this team, everybody checks in on each other, and I feel like that's one thing so unique about this team.

"We all live together and I feel like we're just always bothering each other. We are in each other's apartments. Everybody's like barging in each other's rooms. So I feel like we just have open access to each other 24/7."

Azzi Fudd is an All-American and the team's second-leading scorer, averaging 17.5 points. She is also the Huskies' de facto leader after the graduation of Paige Bueckers, who played her rookie season with the WNBA's Dallas Wings last summer. She knows her career at UConn is coming to an end, but is trying to stay in the moment.

"I feel like I've been kind of in denial thinking about how this is my last weekend," Fudd said. "I know, but I haven't really accepted that yet. I'm really just trying to enjoy every single moment."

Fudd returned for her fifth season instead of going to the WNBA. She hasn't regretted her choice for a second.

"This is a super special group where ... our number one priority, our main goal, is the team over individual stats, individual performances, which is a really special just mindset to have, especially in this day and age," Fudd said. "I feel like it's rare to find a program like this.

"Every single game, it makes everything so much more fun when you're playing for a bigger purpose than yourself."

The purpose this weekend is a 13th championship. And you can bet UConn will celebrate its success together.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:UConn unselfish, unstoppable amid 54-game win streak entering Final Four

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Inside UConn's secret of chemistry over championships — and still winning both

PHOENIX — The UConn women's basketball team has talked all season about how it isn't worried about stats or indiv...

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Where Are Connor and Georgie from “Love on the Spectrum” Now? Inside Their Lives After Their Devastating Split

Connor Tomlinson and Georgie Harris met on a blind date during season 3 of Love on the Spectrum

NEED TO KNOW

• The premiere episode of season 4 saw them still together, but navigating some issues

• The couple ultimately split after a rocky trip to London

Warning:Love on the Spectrumseason 4 spoilers ahead!

It was "whoa" at first sight forConnor Tomlinson and Georgie Harris.

The couple quickly hit it off after meeting on season 3 ofNetflix'sLove on the Spectrum. On their first date, they bonded over their shared role as the oldest siblings in their respective families and their love ofThe Dragon Prince.

Yet the season ended just three dates into their relationship, leaving fans to wonder how things were progressing. Georgie gave fans an update onInstagramin April 2025, writing, "I am happy to finally be able to say that Connor and I are still together and having a great time. I can't wait to see him again soon."

However, season 4 opened with the couple navigating some issues, including Connor feeling distant from her. Ultimately, after a trip to London, they broke up off-camera.

So where areLove on the Spectrum's Connor and Georgie now? Here's everything to know about their lives after their split.

Who are Connor Tomlinson and Georgie Harris?

Connor and Georgie are two Georgia-based romantic hopefuls who saw sparks fly on season 3 ofLove on the Spectrum.

Connor showed symptoms of neurodivergence as early as 2 years old, though he wasn't officially diagnosed with level 1 autism until the age of 5, as his mother Lise Smith told theNew England Center for Children(NECC).

Though Connor has said he initially thought he was "sick," he came to realize that "having level 1 autism grants certain gifts," he explained on a November 2025 episode of theKeep It Alohapodcast. "I'm able to remember things better. I feel like my thinking power is doubled, so I'm able to problem solve."

Before becoming a reality star, he worked at Kroger, bagging groceries, sweeping and retrieving carts. Since appearing on season 2 of the show, Connor was the grand marshal for the State of Georgia's Special Olympics event in May 2024 and a keynote speaker at the upcoming Best Buddies national gala, per the NECC.

Georgie, who is also on the spectrum, has been open about her struggle with self-expression. In April 2025, she wrote onInstagram, "People with autism may have trouble expressing or understanding their feelings which can end up with them shutting down. When we shut down we end up not hearing what people have to say and it takes a while for our brain to recalibrate to function what people are saying."

When did Connor and Georgie first meet?

Connor and Georgie first met on a blind date duringLove on the Spectrumseason 3. Connor was immediately smitten by his new love interest, whom he came to refer to as his "demi-goddess."

"Whoa. Who is that?" he said after meeting her for the first time.

At one point during their second outing, he was captured by cameras talking about his date on the way to the bathroom. "She is something else," he whispered, adding, "Where have you been all my life?"

Are Connor and Georgie still together?

Ultimately, Connor and Georgie dated for a year. They even spent their first Valentine's Day with each other, where they went to Medieval Times, he told PEOPLE in April 2025. Connor upgraded Georgie to the "queen's package," which allowed them to get front row seats to the joust.

However, season 4 saw the couple navigating a series of emotional issues, with Connor expressing difficulty gauging Georgie's interest in the first few episodes. "It almost feels like I'm being rejected," he said on the show.

Though Georgie confirmed that she views Connor romantically, she admitted that she pulls away when he tries to get physically close to her. "I don't mean to make you feel that way," she said. "I think, maybe, 'cause I've never kissed, like, a boy ... I'm still trying to learn that it's okay to kiss you 'cause you are my boyfriend."

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The couple ultimately traveled to London together, where Georgie met Connor's grandfather and visited his late grandmother's grave. However, the trip wasn't easy at times.

"When Georgie and I were in Hyde Park, I was trying to be romantic, but it seemed like she was more transfixed by the honeybees and the ladybugs than she was with me," he told his mom in a conversation recapping the vacation.

When Smith asked him how that made him feel, he replied, "Like I was invisible."

Connor later told PEOPLE in April 2026 that during the trip, he "noticed Georgie didn't seem as hyped by this as I was."

"That made me concerned," he said. "Anyone else would've thought themselves blessed to be here."

The couple ultimately split off-camera, with Connor announcing the news at costarsMadison Marilla and Tyler White's engagement party.

"Georgie and I are no longer together," he told theLove on the Spectrumgroup, though he confirmed that they will remain friends. "We reached an understanding. We're two wonderful people, but two very different people."

He later confessed to Dani Bowman that while he was going through "heartache," he and Georgie weren't "cut out for each other."

Where are Connor and Georgie now?

Despite their breakup, Connor told PEOPLE that the relationship and his experience onLove on the Spectrumhas changed him profoundly.

"I feel like I've grown greatly as both a TV star and as a man," he said. "I never even dated before going on that show. I was always too afraid, too nervous that I'd say the wrong thing and it would derail the whole thing. Now I feel my confidence is soaring."

He continued, "I feel like I can do anything. Now that everyone knows me, I feel like I could make something of myself."

Connor left his job at Kroger in November 2025, marking what he called "the end of a seven-year era."

Since then, he has worked with the Georgia General Assembly to help pass Georgia's Rio's Law, designed to help law enforcement officers identity people with autism or developmental disabilities through a specialty license plate before approaching their vehicles.

The bill was unanimously passed into office on March 25, 2026. "Getting to testify for this bill was one of the greatest honors of my life," Connor wrote onInstagram. "I am so proud to be a voice for my community. The autism and neurodivergent community deserves safety, dignity, and understanding, and today, the state of Georgia agreed. Unanimously."

Meanwhile, Georgie has also continued community outreach, posting about her work with philanthropies likeFoster LoveandTwo Sparrows Villageon Instagram.

In March 2026, Georgie announced the death of her beloved dog, Duke. "We were lucky to have an extra 6 months with Duke," shewrote. "On February 15th, 2026 at 3pm it was time for us to lay Duke to rest and for him to join our Lord in heaven. Below is a video of some of my favorite photos. I hope you enjoy it. If you listen carefully you might hear Duke's howl."

Connor showed his support for his ex-girlfriend, commenting, "So sorry, Georgie I know how much you loved Duke."

Read the original article onPeople

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Where Are Connor and Georgie from “Love on the Spectrum” Now? Inside Their Lives After Their Devastating Split

Connor Tomlinson and Georgie Harris met on a blind date during season 3 of Love on the Spectrum NEED TO KNOW T...

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Greek PM reshuffles cabinet as EU aid farm fraud probe widens

By Renee Maltezou and Angeliki Koutantou

ATHENS, April 3 (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reshuffled his cabinet on Friday, as he seeks to limit the fallout ‌from a growing scandal over alleged fraud related to European Union farm funds.

Last year ‌European prosecutors charged dozens of Greek stockbreeders with faking ownership of pastureland to claim millions of euros in EU ​subsidies, allegedly with the help of state employees and conservative politicians.

The affair had already prompted ministerial resignations and led the European Union last year to impose a hefty fine on the country over mismanagement of the subsidies by its OPEKEPE payment agency.

But in a move that widened the ‌investigation, the European Chief Prosecutor on ⁠Wednesday asked the Greek parliament to lift the immunity of at least 11 lawmakers, including ministers, so they can be investigated over their alleged ⁠roles in the scheme.

The EU prosecutor has not named the lawmakers and ministers, who are protected from prosecution by the constitution unless parliament lifts their immunity. A minister and four senior officials in ​the government ​resigned last year for their alleged role in ​the fraud.

On Friday, Mitsotakis appointed Margaritis ‌Schinas, a former European Commission vice-president for Promoting the European Way of Life, as agriculture minister.

Schinas, a former member of the European Parliament as well as a long-serving Commission official, replaces Kostas Tsiaras.

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Evangelos Tournas, a retired Greek air force officer, was named climate crisis and civil protection minister, replacing Giannis Kefalogiannis. Earlier, a deputy health minister, a party secretary and the government's parliamentary ‌spokesman had resigned.

Mitsotakis' New Democracy party holds 156 seats ​in Greece's 300-seat parliament.

The latest probe concerns alleged crimes ​against the EU's financial interests in ​2021, including instigation of breach of trust, computer fraud and false attestation ‌with the intent to obtain an unlawful ​benefit.

The OPEKEPE agency handles ​more than 2 billion euros ($2.31 billion) in annual EU farm aid.

Opposition parties dismissed the reshuffle and renewed calls for early elections.

"No reshuffle can save a government built around a ​majority of people investigated by ‌the judiciary," the Socialist PASOK party, the main opposition, said in a statement.

The ​new cabinet members will be sworn in on Saturday.

($1 = 0.8662 euros)

(Reporting by Renee ​Maltezou and Angeliki Koutantou; Editing by Ros Russell)

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Greek PM reshuffles cabinet as EU aid farm fraud probe widens

By Renee Maltezou and Angeliki Koutantou ATHENS, April 3 (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ...

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Affiliate of Iranian state TV claims a US pilot ejected from their aircraft over southwestern Iran

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A channel affiliated with Iranian state television claimed Friday that a U.S. fighter pilot ejected from their aircraft oversouthwestern Iran. The U.S. did not respond immediately to requests for comment on the claim.

APTOPIX Iran War

It was not clear what may have happened to the plane, including whether Iran was claiming it was shot down or had another issue. If the claim is confirmed, it could lead to yet another dramatic escalation in the war, nearing the end of its fifth week.

Iran fired on targets across the Mideast on Friday, as Tehran kept the pressure on Israel and its Gulf Arab neighbors, despite U.S. and Israeli insistence thatIran's military capabilitieshave been all but destroyed.

Iran's attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure and itstight grip on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas transits in peacetime, have roiled stock markets, sent oil prices skyrocketing, and threatened to raise the cost of many basic goods, including food.

Television anchor urges residents to hand over pilot

The anchor on the Iranian channel urged residents to hand over any "enemy pilot" to police and promised a reward for anyone who did. The channel is in Kohkilouyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, an intensely rural and mountainous region that spans over 15,500 square kilometers (5,900 square miles).

Authorities also urged the public to search for the pilot in neighboring Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province.

Throughout the war, Iran has made a series of claims about shooting down piloted enemy aircraft that turned out not to be true. Friday was the first time that Iran went on television urging the public to look for a suspected downed pilot.

An on-screen crawl earlier urged the public to "shoot them if you see them," referring to social media footage circulating of what appeared to be U.S. aircraft in the area. The channel showed metal debris in the back of a pickup truck while making the announcement but provided no other immediate details.

Iran targets a desalination plant and a refinery

The claim came after Kuwait's Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery came under Iranian attack, and the state-run Kuwait Petroleum Corp. said firefighters were working to control several blazes.

Kuwait also said an Iranian attack caused "material damage" to a desalination plant. Such plants are responsible for most of the drinking water for Gulf states, and they have become a major target in the war.

Sirens also sounded in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia said it had destroyed several Iranian drones, and Israel reported incoming missiles.

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Authorities in the United Arab Emirates shut down a gas field after a missile interception reportedly rained debris on it and started a fire.

Activists reported strikes around Tehran and the central city of Isfahan, but it wasn't immediately clear what was hit. A day earlier, Iran said the U.S. hit a major bridge, which was still under construction,killing eight people.

In Lebanon, where Israel has launched a ground invasion in its fight with the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militant group, an Israeli drone strike on worshippers leaving Friday prayers near Beirut killed two people, according to the state‑run National News Agency

More than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran since the war began on Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes. In a review released Friday, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, a U.S.-based group, said it found that civilian casualties were clustered around strikes on security and state-linked sites "rather than indiscriminate bombardment" of urban areas.

More than two dozen people have died in Gulf states and the occupied West Bank, 19 have been reported dead in Israel, and 13 U.S.service membershave been killed.

More than 1,300 peoplehave been killedand more than 1 million displaced in Lebanon. Ten Israeli soldiers have also died there.

Iran is keeping a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz

World leadershave struggledto end Iran's stranglehold on the strait, which has had far-reaching consequences for the global economy and has proved to be itsgreatest strategic advantagein the war.The U.N. Security Council wasexpected to take up the matteron Saturday.U.S. President Donald Trump has vacillated on America's role in the strait, alternately threatening Iran if it doesn't open the waterway and telling other nations to "go get your own oil." On Friday, he said in a post on social media that, "With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE."Spot prices of Brent crude, the international standard, were around $109 Friday, up more than 50% since the start of the war, when Iran began restricting traffic through the strait.Iran's former top diplomat suggests terms to end the war

World leadershave struggledto end Iran's stranglehold on the strait, which has had far-reaching consequences for the global economy and has proved to be itsgreatest strategic advantagein the war.

The U.N. Security Council wasexpected to take up the matteron Saturday.

U.S. President Donald Trump has vacillated on America's role in the strait, alternately threatening Iran if it doesn't open the waterway and telling other nations to "go get your own oil." On Friday, he said in a post on social media that, "With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE."

Spot prices of Brent crude, the international standard, were around $109 Friday, up more than 50% since the start of the war, when Iran began restricting traffic through the strait.

Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif — a diplomat with long experience negotiating with the West who remains close to a pragmatic wing of Iran's leadership — wrote on Friday in Foreign Affairs magazine that the time has come to end what he referred to as a stalemate.

The U.S. and Iran have proposed dueling plans, and Zarif's proposal included elements of both in a sign part of Iran's leadership might be willing to negotiate.

Iran "should offer to place limits on its nuclear program and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for an end to all sanctions — a deal Washington wouldn't take before but might accept now," he wrote.

It's not clear how much to read into the proposal from Zarif, who has no official position in Iran's government, but would likely not have published such a piece without at least some authorization from senior leaders.

Rising reported from Bangkok. Associated Press writers Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Sarah El Deeb in Beirut, Tong-hyung Kim in Seoul, South Korea, and Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed to this report.

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April 03, 2026

Affiliate of Iranian state TV claims a US pilot ejected from their aircraft over southwestern Iran

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A channel affiliated with Iranian state television claimed Friday that a U.S. fighter ...

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UNC coaching search looms over Final Four — ask Kansas how that goes

North Carolinaneeded a basketball coach, and it set its sights on one in the Final Four.

Its top target had a good job. A darn good one, and one newspaper columnist felt adamant Roy Williams wouldn't leaveKansas, even if his alma mater tried to call him home to Carolina. Williams already turned down UNC once before, a few years previously.

No way Roy's going to Carolina.

So read the headline ofJoe Posnanski's columnin the Kansas City Star on April 2, 2003. Two weeks later, Posnanski wrote another column about how he got it all wrong. He trusted a coach to have loyalty. Whoops, rookie mistake.

If we've learned one thing in the more than two decades since then, it's to never say never when it comes to these situations, and that a coach's loyalty is the underdog when matched up against his ego.

Now here we are at anotherFinal Four, and UNC's hiring, and it's déjà vu, with stay-or-go questionshovering over the coaches of the two favored teams in Indianapolis.

Iowa State Cyclones fans cheer against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 22, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Nebraska's Berke Buyuktuncel celebrates with fans following a second-round game in the NCAA men's basketball tournament between Nebraska Cornhuskers and Vanderbilt Commodores at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on March 21, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Arkansas Razorbacks cheerleaders in the second half against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Ore.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> A Texas Christian University Horned Frogs cheerleader practices before the game during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.

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See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

Iowa State Cyclones fans cheer against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the second round of the2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournamentat Enterprise Center on March 22, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri.

Tommy Lloyd fuels speculation about UNC job

This time, nobody's writing there's "no way"Tommy Lloyd would leave Arizona for UNC. That doesn't mean Lloyd will definitely bolt, but even he's not saying he won't. Lloyd himself fed into speculation he's a prime option for UNC when he said, "Arizona's going to have another good coach after me, I promise you." And, when will Arizona need to hire its next coach? Will that be next week? Next year? Ten years from now?

No telling. At least, Lloyd's not telling, other than to say he's "present in the moment" and that neither he nor his players are distracted by UNC speculation.

He's probably right about his players, anyway.

Arizona's Brayden Burries, Koa Peat and Motiejus Krivas are projected first-round NBA Draft picks. Wildcats point guard Jaden Bradley is a senior. They're out the door after this Final Four, regardless of Lloyd's decision. A fifth starter, Ivan Kharchenkov, might return for another college season, but thanks to the transfer portal, he could follow his coach if Lloyd decided to leave. No stress. No fuss. No distraction.

Twenty-three years ago, KU star Wayne Simien expressed open frustration when Williams jilted the Jayhawks for North Carolina. Now, athletes better understand it's not personal, it's just business, because players field interest from other high-paying suitors, too, and face business decisions of their own.

Is Dusty May more of a 'Michigan man' than Bill Frieder?

While we're on the subject of déjà vu, here's Michigan with a team that can win it all, but willcoach Dusty Mayprove himself a "Michigan man" or a renegade?

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If UNC would like to have Lloyd, then it shouldloveto have May. He's now a veteran of Final Fours, having led Florida Atlantic there in 2023.

Toppmeyer:Dusty May so good, you almost forget Sherrone Moore — now, UNC needs him

Perhaps, Michigan can breathe slightly easier than Arizona's administration, because at least May isn't talking about how great Michigan's next coach is going to be.

Even if May wouldn't leave Michigan for UNC, the Tar Heels could cause a domino effect that results in May leaving Michigan. Just as the Wolverines lost John Beilein to the Cleveland Cavaliers, May has the goods of a future NBA coach. Andif UNC hires Billy Donovan, well, then the Chicago Bulls will need a coach, won't they?

Michigan knows what it's like for a coach to spurn it. When Bill Frieder accepted the Arizona State job ahead of the 1989 NCAA Tournament, Bo Schembechler promptly booted Frieder and promoted Steve Fisher, explaining his decision with the now-famous line that, "A Michigan man is going to coach Michigan."

The lesson Frieder provided: If you're leaving for another job, maybe don't tell anyone until the NCAA Tournament is finished.

Worked out great for Michigan. Fisher led the Wolverines to a national championship.

Never mind a Michigan man. The Wolverines would do well to keep their Indiana man. May got his start as a student manager under Bob Knight, but Frieder proved a coach's alma mater doesn't mean everything to everyone, even if Mama lured Williams home in 2003.

"I was a Tar Heel born. When I die, I'll be a Tar Heel dead," Williams said after he took the UNC job.

In between, he became a turncoat at Kansas.

We learned then that when North Carolina wants to hire a Final Four coach, it's naïve to think, "no way."

Blake Toppmeyeris a columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him atBToppmeyer@gannett.comand follow him on X@btoppmeyer.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Tommy Lloyd, Dusty May would be great for UNC — if they pull a Roy Williams

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April 03, 2026

UNC coaching search looms over Final Four — ask Kansas how that goes

North Carolinaneeded a basketball coach, and it set its sights on one in the Final Four. Its top target had a ...

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