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

byAlex Forten

in

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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Caltrain could close one-third of stations if it can't find funding

Caltraincould be the next transit system in theSan Francisco Bay Area to experience significant service cutsif it cannot secure additional funding through a potential taxpayer referendum.

The Peninsula Corridor Joint PowersBoard of Directors released a plan on April 2 outlining what service could potentially be cut ifBay Area voters do not approve a 2026 ballot measure,which would create a 14-year regional transportation sales tax that is expected to generate millions annually to support and improvetheBay Area Rapid Transitagency and other local transit systems.

The measure will go before votersin Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara countieson November's ballot.

Like BART, Caltrain is facing an operating cost shortfall. This has left Caltrain with what the company says is a projected "average annual deficit of approximately $75 million" from fiscal years 2027 to 2041 after the transit system experienced a sharp drop in ridership due to the pandemic.

Although Caltrain says it saw an increase in ridership by "47% in 2025," it is struggling to meet its operational costs to maintain its new electric infrastructure and "state-of-the-art fleet."

"Caltrain is delivering more frequent, faster, and more reliable service for riders up and down the Peninsula," said Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard in a press release.

"But, as discussed in today's meeting, we are facing a structural funding challenge that cannot be solved through cuts or efficiencies alone. Without a stable, long-term funding solution, we will be forced to make difficult decisions that would significantly reduce service and impact the communities that rely on Caltrain every day."

Among the potential service cuts, the Caltrain board was presented with the option of closing more than one-third of stations; eliminating all weekend service; reducing train frequency to once an hour; ending service by 9 p.m.; and cutting segments of service.

The potential cuts would not take effect until 2027, initially beginning with the elimination of weekend services and a reduction in train frequency. If Caltrain continues to face funding shortages, it will then evaluate the need for cutting long-term services by closing stations.

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Currently, Caltrain has 31 stations that serve areas between the San Francisco Peninsula and the Santa Clara Valley. The train can reliably take travelers on a 79-mile trip from Oracle Park in San Francisco to Gilroy, California.

Earlier this year,California Gov. Gavin Newsom authorized a $590 million loanto help address a budgetary shortfall that BART would be responsible for repaying over 12 years. However, this funding was strictly for the BART system and did not provide any assistance to Caltrain and other regional transit services.

Caltrain has attempted to implement cost-cutting measures to reduce its overhead costs by pausing new hires, improving crew efficiency, and reducing professional services and other non-labor expenses.

The agency is also attempting to raise funds through other sources that aren't operating costs, such as advertising and naming rights, and by monetizing its real estate.

"The public has made it clear that frequent, reliable service was exactly what they needed to get back on board," said Caltrain Board Chair Rico E. Medina in a press release.

"We are gaining riders and getting people where they need to go, every day. But the reality is that the service that has been such a success will be in jeopardy if our funding picture does not improve this year."

More:BART commuters see fare increases in 2026 as budgetary shortfall looms

Noe Padilla is a Northern California Reporter for USA Today. Contact him atnpadilla@usatodayco.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Caltrain could close one-third of stations if it can't find funding

byAlex Forten

in

April 02, 2026

Caltrain could close one-third of stations if it can't find funding

Caltraincould be the next transit system in theSan Francisco Bay Area to experience significant service cutsif it cannot ...

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Trump fires Pam Bondi as US attorney general, White House official says

By Andrew Goudsward and Nandita Bose

WASHINGTON, April 2 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has removed Attorney General Pam Bondi from her post, a White House official said on Thursday, following mounting frustration with her performance, including her handling of investigative files ‌related to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump had also reportedly grown frustrated that Bondi was not moving quickly enough ‌to prosecute critics and adversaries who he wanted to face criminal charges.

In a social media post, Trump praised Bondi as a "Great American Patriot and a loyal friend" and said she will ​move to a job in the private sector. Trump said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, his former personal lawyer, will lead the Justice Department in the interim.

During her tenure as the top U.S. law enforcement official, Bondi was a combative champion of Trump's agenda and dismantled the Justice Department's longstanding tradition of independence from the White House in its investigations.

But it was repeated criticism over the Epstein files, including from Trump allies and some Republican lawmakers, that came ‌to dominate her tenure. Bondi was accused of covering ⁠up or mismanaging the release of records on the DOJ's sex trafficking investigations into Epstein, a financier who cultivated ties with an array of wealthy and powerful figures.

POLITICAL HEADACHE

The issue created political headaches for Trump and drew renewed scrutiny ⁠of his past friendship with Epstein, which he has said ended decades ago.

Her ouster could lead to a shake-up in strategy at the Justice Department and potentially a renewed push to deploy the U.S. legal system against Trump's targets.

Bondi is the second senior Trump official to be ousted recently. Trump removed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi ​Noem ​on March 5 following criticism of her management of the agency and Trump's immigration ​agenda.

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Bondi, a former Republican state attorney general in Florida, ‌said she worked on restoring the Justice Department's focus on violent crime and rebuilding trust with Trump's supporters after federal prosecutors twice criminally charged Trump during his years out of power.

Bondi also faced criticism over the removal of dozens of career prosecutors who worked on investigations disfavored by Trump, with critics accusing her of abandoning the DOJ's traditional focus on even-handed justice.

Bondi defended the rollout of the Epstein files, saying the Trump administration had been more transparent on the issue than previous presidents and that DOJ lawyers worked on a compressed timeline to review reams of material.

SPARRING WITH LAWMAKERS

During a ‌combative hearing before a House of Representatives panel in January, Bondi responded to criticism ​with political attacks directed at lawmakers. She refused to apologize or look at Epstein victims ​and their relatives who attended the proceedings.

Bondi early last year played ​into fevered speculation about the Epstein files, saying a client list was on her desk for review. But after ‌an initial release included material that had largely already been ​public, the DOJ and FBI declared in ​July that the case was closed and that no further disclosures were warranted.

The move prompted an eruption of criticism and eventually a bipartisan law passed in November requiring the Justice Department to release nearly all of its files.

The release of roughly 3 million pages of ​records still did not quell the controversy, as lawmakers ‌criticized redactions in the files and the disclosure of the identities of some Epstein victims.

The Republican-led House Oversight Committee voted to ​subpoena Bondi and she was set to testify on April 14.

(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward and Nandita Bose, additional reporting by Bhargav ​Acharya, Doina Chiacu, Bo Erickson and Steve Holland; Editing by Michelle Nichols)

byAlex Forten

in

April 02, 2026

Trump fires Pam Bondi as US attorney general, White House official says

By Andrew Goudsward and Nandita Bose WASHINGTON, April 2 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has removed A...

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Stankoven scores twice as Hurricanes beat Blue Jackets 5-1, clinch playoff berth

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Logan Stankoven scored two goals in the first nine minutes, and the Carolina Hurricanes clinched a playoff berth for the eighth season in a row by beating the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-1 on Thursday night.

Blue Jackets Hurricanes Hockey

Alexander Nikishin added a first-period short-handed goal and Jordan Martinook and Andrei Svechnikov also scored as the Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes were on the way to winning for the third time in their last four games. Taylor Hall and Sebastian Aho each had two assists and Frederik Andersen made nine saves.

For Carolina, the 10 shots allowed matched the fewest shots against in franchise history.

The Hurricanes have qualified for the playoffs in each season under coach Rod Brind'Amour, a former team captain.

Denton Mateychuk scored for the Blue Jackets, who are winless in their last five games (0-4-1). Elvis Merzlikins stopped 16 shots.

In the third meeting between the teams in less than 2½ weeks, Stankoven scored 2:27 into the game on a deflection in front of Merzlikins on Carolina's first shot of the game. Stankoven's 17th goal of the season – adding to his career-high total – came at 8:52 when he tapped in a loose puck in the crease.

Nikishin became the franchise's first rookie defenseman to score a short-handed goal.

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By the end of the first period, Carolina had more goals (3) than the Blue Jackets had shots (2).

Mateychuk got Columbus on the board with 8:36 left in the second, but 13 seconds later Martinook scored by sending the puck on net from just inside the blue line.

Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal played in his 1,400th career game.

Stankoven had one goal when Carolina won 5-2 on Tuesday night at Columbus.

Up next

Blue Jackets: Home Saturday vs. Winnipeg

Hurricanes: Home Saturday vs. New York Islanders

AP NHL:https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

byAlex Forten

in

April 02, 2026

Stankoven scores twice as Hurricanes beat Blue Jackets 5-1, clinch playoff berth

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Logan Stankoven scored two goals in the first nine minutes, and the Carolina Hurricanes clinched a p...

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Kane scores pivotal goal as Red Wings beat Flyers 4-2 in a playoff-race swing

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Patrick Kane scored a pivotal goal in the same building where he scored a Stanley Cup Final winner, Alex DeBrincat scored two goals and Lucas Raymond had one to lead the Detroit Red Wings past the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 on Thursday night.

Red Wings Flyers Hockey

The Red Wings snapped a points tie in the chase for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Detroit has 88 points to 86 for the Flyers through 75 games, as both teams entered behind Columbus for eighth.

Kane's Game 6 overtime goal helped Chicago beat the Flyers in 2010 for the Stanley Cup. The Flyers never recovered, winning only three playoff series since and lost a swing matchup in a game that could decide if they return to the postseason.

Travis Konecny scored his 25th goal in the third to make it 3-2 and give the Flyers some needed hope at a comeback.

It just wasn't enough.

The Flyers beat Detroit 5-3 last weekend in a game where Red Wings goalie John Gibson was pulled. Gibson was back in net for this one — his 13th straight start - and rebounded with 32 saves.

DeBrincat scored first for the Red Wings — who entered last in the NHL with only 43 first-period goals — thanks to an assist from Kane.

Tyson Foerster scored the tying goal only 31 seconds into the second and raised the Flyers crowd to their feet.

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Foerster's season was widely considered done following an injury in early December. The 24-year-old Foerster, who had a career-best 25 goals last season, missed the last 49 games but had recovered well enough to the point where the Flyers started to ponder a late-season return.

Foerster had team-high 10 goals at the time of his injury and his lethal shot was considered a boon to the stretch run when he returned to practice about three weeks ago.

Raymond was left alone at the goal line and fired his 25th goal past Samuel Ersson with 1:31 left in the second for the tying goal.

DeBrincat made it 4-2 with his 39th in the third.

Porter Martone, whosigned his entry-level contract on Sunday, made his home debut for the Flyers after playing his first game Tuesday at Washington.

Up next

Red Wings: Play Saturday at the New York Rangers.

Flyers: Play Friday at the New York Islanders.

AP NHL:https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

byAlex Forten

in

April 02, 2026

Kane scores pivotal goal as Red Wings beat Flyers 4-2 in a playoff-race swing

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Patrick Kane scored a pivotal goal in the same building where he scored a Stanley Cup Final winner, A...

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Mickelson pulls out of the Masters, which will be without Lefty and Woods for first time since 1994

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Three-time champion Phil Mickelson withdrew from the Masters on Thursday, citing a personal health matter with his family that kept him out of all but one of the five LIV Golf events this year.

"Unfortunately I will not play in the Masters Tournament next week and will be out for an extended period of time as my family continues to navigate a personal health matter," Mickelsonpostedon social media.

Tiger Woods said Tuesday he was taking an indefinite leaveto seek treatment after his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence in a Feb. 27 crash in Florida.

It will be the first time neither Woods nor Mickelson will be at the Masters since 1994, when Woods was a senior in high school and Mickelson had broken his leg while skiing earlier that year.

Mickelson called the Masters "definitely the most special week of the year," and his record reflects that. He won his first major at Augusta National in 2004, the last player to win the Masters by one shot with a birdie putt on the 72nd hole.

He also won in 2006 and in 2010, one of only eight players to win the Masters at least three times.

Mickelson has not shared details of the personal family matter. He sat out LIV's four events to start the year and returned in South Africa two weeks ago, tying for 48th in the 57-man field.

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"It's just fun to be back playing," he said in South Africa.

The only other time Mickelson missed the Masters was in 2022, when he tooka leave of absence after inflammatory remarks as the Saudi-funded LIV Golf was preparing to launch.

Mickelson accused the PGA Tour of "obnoxious greed" in a Golf Digest interview. In an interview with author Alan Shipnuck for his book on Mickelson, he dismissed Saudi Arabia's human rights record and the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to reshape the PGA Tour.

The remarks cost him corporate sponsorships. Mickelson joined LIV later that year.

The Masters starts April 9 with a 91-man field, with one spot still available if the winner of this week's Texas Open is not already eligible.

AP golf:https://apnews.com/hub/golf

byAlex Forten

in

April 02, 2026

Mickelson pulls out of the Masters, which will be without Lefty and Woods for first time since 1994

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Three-time champion Phil Mickelson withdrew from the Masters on Thursday, citing a personal health ma...

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