The NCAA announced that winter sports athletes will not be given an extra year of college eligibility.

The organization extended the eligibility of spring athletes for another year due to their season getting cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NCAA reasoned that the regular seasons for many winter sports were already completed, thus declining to extend eligibility.

New Iona coach Rick Pitino discussed how his time in Europe changed how he viewed the offensive game.

Pitino wants Iona will "play EuroLeague offense with full-court pressure defense."

"The EuroLeague really helped me develop a total different mindset with offenses. It was a great learning experience for me. I think it’s the best form of basketball there is to be played on offense. Defensively, their standards don’t hold up to the way we play it," said Pitino.

Pitino added that he was influenced by the passing and movement in Europe.

"The passing, the cutting. … They play with a 24-second clock, but they’ll move the basketball sometimes six, seven passes in a span of six, seven seconds, to create movement and good shots. It may end up in a pick-and-roll like we do, but they’ll create all that movement because their defensive rules are just like college. They can sit in the three-second lane."

Kansas finished No. 1 in the final top 25 from The Associated Press.

The Jayhawks closed the season with a 28-3 record.

Bill Self said he didn't want to claim any sort of Championship recognition for this season. 

"That's not the way this is all intended to be," Self said. "Coaches prepare their teams to peak at certain times. I'm proud of how our team prepared all season but especially at the end of the season, we were terrific. We operated under some pressure and dealt with some stuff. From our standpoint, sure, that would be great, but even if that were to occur, there would be a huge asterisk next to it, and I would agree with that."

Gonzaga and Dayton finished second and third in the AP poll, receiving one first-place vote each.

Rick Pitino admitted that he deserved to get fired from Louisville in 2017 due to a lack of leadership, though maintained he had no knowledge of paying recruits.

Pitino was recently named head coach at Iona after a short stint in Greece.

"Looking back on it now, I deserved to be fired by Louisville. Was I innocent of any wrongdoing? Yes I was, but I was the leader and I deserved to be fired. I need to move on and that's what I probably have learned the most," said Pitino.

Pitino was fired following allegations that the basketball program paid $100,000 to the family of a recruit. Pitino said he was not aware of the scheme.

Pitino added that Iona will be his final job, partly due to a large buyout clause.

"I don't have a very large contract with Iona. I think it can be put on one page. But I can tell you right now; the only school that can afford me with my buyout is Fort Knox University. I don't think with the type of buyout that I have and I'm even too embarrassed to tell you the number it's so scary -- Iona is definitely my last stop. I almost laugh at the buyout it's so comical."

Rick Pitino was named the new head basketball coach at Iona.

"I am delighted to welcome Rick Pitino to Gael Nation. Rick is a Hall of Fame coach who has won at the highest levels and he is committed to leading our student-athletes and our program to national prominence. He brings passion and energy and shares our desire to build a winning program that will make our community proud," said Iona Athletic Director Matthew Glovaski.

Pitino replaces Tim Cluess, who stepped down due to health reasons on Friday.

Pitino last coached in college in 2017 before getting fired by Louisville following an FBI investigation.

"My passion in basketball started in New York and will end there at Iona College. Tim Cluess has done a spectacular job creating success and a winning spirit. I wish Tim a speedy recovery and Iona will always cherish his accomplishments. At Iona, I will work with the same passion, hunger and drive that I've had for over forty years. There is a real professionalism in how things are run here and this is a very tight, strong community," said Pitino.