N.C.A.A. hoops powerhouse NYT Crossword Clue

By Emre Parlak / May 31, 2026

Crossword Answer

1 ? U

2 ? N

3 ? C

Hint

Interactive Solver for N.C.A.A. hoops powerhouse Crossword Clue

Drag letters from the pool into “Your Answer”, then reorder them to match the solution.

Your Answer 3 Letter

Current guess: —

Letter Pool

Need a helpful nudge?

Unlock the puzzle's secrets with Daze's progressive hints!

Hint 1

hint

Reveal Hint

Think of a team that's painted the court with shades of blue and white dominance.

Hint 2

meaning

Reveal Hint

??? is an abbreviation for the University of North Carolina, known for its successful basketball program.

Hint 3

explanation

Reveal Hint

The clue refers to a college basketball team known for its strong performance. 'N.C.A.A.' stands for the National Collegiate Athletic Association, and 'hoops' is slang for basketball. 'Powerhouse' suggests a team with a history of success, like the University of North Carolina (???).

Hint 4

another clue

Reveal Hint

Someone giving off old guy vibes, in Gen Z slang, Chapel Hill sch., Tar Heels' school, for short

NYT Crossword May 31 2026 Answers

Tap a cell to show its letter

1 ? I
2 ? N
3 ? C
4 ? A
5 ? S
6 ? A
7 ? H
8 ? A
9 ? B
10 ? J
11 ? O
12 ? C
13 ? K
14 ? S
15 ? O
16 ? S
17 ? T
? E
? M
? P
? E
18 ? H
19 ? C
? E
? N
? A
20 ? E
? U
? R
? O
21 ? S
? Y
? N
? C
22 ? S
? W
? I
? T
? Z
? E
23 ? R
? L
? A
? N
? D
24 ? T
? R
? E
? A
25 ? S
? U
? R
? E
? R
26 ? S
? A
? N
? S
27 ? P
? A
? S
? T
? U
? R
28 ? E
? S
29 ? A
? L
? I
? B
? A
? B
? A
30 ? A
? G
? O
31 ? T
? A
? J
32 ? M
? A
? R
? K
33 ? S
? M
? A
? N
? S
? H
? I
? P
34 ? D
? E
? R
35 ? B
? Y
36 ? A
37 ? T
38 ? F
39 ? P
? R
? I
? U
? S
40 ? G
? I
? S
? T
? S
41 ? A
? R
42 ? C
? H
? E
? R
43 ? Y
44 ? S
? S
? N
45 ? P
? E
? D
46 ? M
47 ? U
? R
? A
? L
48 ? S
? U
? E
49 ? R
50 ? O
? A
? R
? E
51 ? D
52 ? U
? N
? C
53 ? U
54 ? P
? L
? I
? T
55 ? S
56 ? T
? A
? R
? R
57 ? S
? E
58 ? A
59 ? S
60 ? D
? E
? A
61 ? D
? B
? E
? A
? T
62 ? V
? I
? A
63 ? A
? C
64 ? H
65 ? C
? N
? N
66 ? S
? P
? A
? R
? R
? O
? W
67 ? F
68 ? R
? I
? S
? K
69 ? T
? H
? E
70 ? B
? I
? G
? APPLE
71 ? A
? I
? R
72 ? E
? W
? E
73 ? U
? A
? E
74 ? E
75 ? Y
? E
? E
? X
? A
? M
? S
76 ? W
? E
? T
77 ? S
78 ? N
? E
79 ? L
? L
? Y
80 ? P
? A
? E
? S
? E
81 ? G
? U
? T
82 ? H
? E
83 ? R
? E
? S
? Y
84 ? A
? B
? E
85 ? S
86 ? I
? S
? S
? Y
87 ? N
? O
? R
88 ? I
89 ? A
90 ? M
91 ? R
? O
? S
92 ? S
? I
? N
? I
93 ? S
94 ? C
95 ? A
? T
? S
96 ? E
? N
? D
? E
97 ? D
98 ? W
? H
? O
99 ? H
? T
100 ? T
101 ? P
102 ? S
103 ? S
? H
? O
? O
? T
104 ? I
? N
? G
? S
? T
? A
105 ? R
106 ? L
107 ? S
? D
108 ? R
? A
? W
109 ? H
? A
? R
? V
? E
? S
? T
110 ? P
? A
? R
? A
111 ? S
112 ? I
? T
? E
113 ? C
? U
? R
? E
114 ? A
? F
? T
? E
? R
? L
? I
115 ? F
? E
116 ? W
? I
? L
? L
? I
? A
117 ? M
? T
? E
? L
? L
118 ? P
? E
? A
? R
119 ? A
? R
? E
? A
120 ? I
? M
? O
? K
121 ? M
? O
? R
? T
? A
? L
122 ? E
? D
? S
123 ? M
? E
? E
? K
124 ? N
? I
? T
? S
125 ? P
? L
? O
? Y
? S

Across

Sacsayhuamán fortress builders Crossword Clue

Literary forerunner of Captain Hook Crossword Clue

10A

Many an Alpha Beta in “Revenge of the Nerds” Crossword Clue

14A

Help-wanted letters Crossword Clue

17A

Fermented vegan protein Crossword Clue

19A

Wrestler/actor John Crossword Clue

20A

Coin with 12 stars around the border Crossword Clue

21A

Align Crossword Clue

22A

Home of the legendary folk hero at 116-Across Crossword Clue

24A

One involved with checks and balances Crossword Clue

27A

Green spaces Crossword Clue

29A

Hero of Arabian tales Crossword Clue

31A

___ Mahal Crossword Clue

32A

Expertise demonstrated by 116-Across in a fabled feat of precision Crossword Clue

34A

Home Run ___ (annual M.L.B. event) Crossword Clue

36A

D.O.J. agency Crossword Clue

39A

Fuel-efficient Toyota Crossword Clue

40A

Main ideas Crossword Clue

41A

Athletic skill mastered by 116-Across Crossword Clue

44A

W-9 fig. Crossword Clue

45A

Banned substance, in sports lingo Crossword Clue

46A

Diego Rivera project Crossword Clue

48A

Apt name for a lawyer Crossword Clue

49A

Laughed loudly Crossword Clue

52A

N.C.A.A. hoops powerhouse Crossword Clue

53A

Like the Statue of Liberty at night Crossword Clue

55A

Beatle who sang “Yellow Submarine” Crossword Clue

57A

Sailor’s septet Crossword Clue

60A

Go-getter’s opposite Crossword Clue

62A

Through Crossword Clue

63A

“Drat!,” in Dortmund Crossword Clue

65A

“The Situation Room” airer Crossword Clue

66A

Chirruping bird Crossword Clue

67A

Pat down Crossword Clue

69A

City sobriquet that might describe the target for 116-Across, as depicted in this puzzle Crossword Clue

71A

Stuff in a puff Crossword Clue

72A

She-ep? Crossword Clue

73A

Home to the Burj Khalifa, in brief Crossword Clue

74A

Appointments that may lead to better contacts Crossword Clue

76A

Dampens Crossword Clue

78A

“Whoa, ___!” Crossword Clue

80A

Bel ___ cheese Crossword Clue

81A

Instinctive Crossword Clue

82A

Religious dissent Crossword Clue

84A

$5 bill, slangily Crossword Clue

85A

Actress Spacek Crossword Clue

87A

Negative logic gate in electrical engineering Crossword Clue

88A

Cartesian conclusion Crossword Clue

91A

Composer of an overture dedicated to 116-Across Crossword Clue

93A

Gets lost Crossword Clue

96A

Came to a conclusion Crossword Clue

98A

“Doctor ___” Crossword Clue

99A

Start of an encrypted URL Crossword Clue

103A

Streaker in the night sky … or a punny description of 116-Across Crossword Clue

108A

Unprocessed, as data Crossword Clue

109A

Inspiration for many seasonal festivals Crossword Clue

110A

Oscar-winning 2019 film directed by Bong Joon Ho Crossword Clue

113A

Smoke, perhaps Crossword Clue

114A

What may begin at the end Crossword Clue

116A

Legendary figure who’s the subject of this puzzle Crossword Clue

118A

Orchard selection Crossword Clue

119A

Lot calculation Crossword Clue

120A

“All’s well with me” Crossword Clue

121A

Human Crossword Clue

122A

Masthead figs. Crossword Clue

123A

Timid Crossword Clue

124A

Quibbles Crossword Clue

125A

Ruses Crossword Clue

Down

“What a bummer” Crossword Clue

À la Enya Crossword Clue

Key with three flats Crossword Clue

Studios and penthouses: Abbr. Crossword Clue

“___ me!” Crossword Clue

Knee parts, for short Crossword Clue

Part of a track meet Crossword Clue

Per ___ (accounting term) Crossword Clue

Undeserved condemnation Crossword Clue

10D

Watercraft that leave “rooster tails” in their wakes Crossword Clue

11D

“___ home and native land!” Crossword Clue

12D

Absolutely whomps, in sports lingo Crossword Clue

13D

“Bear” that’s not a bear Crossword Clue

14D

Some red wines Crossword Clue

15D

Smallest quantity of digital data Crossword Clue

16D

Abandons, as a project Crossword Clue

18D

Purifying filter acronym Crossword Clue

21D

Eases Crossword Clue

23D

Jasmine’s tiger companion in “Aladdin” Crossword Clue

25D

Big name in sewing machines Crossword Clue

28D

Messes up Crossword Clue

31D

TV host Banks Crossword Clue

33D

Longtime jazz bandleader with an Egyptian-inspired name Crossword Clue

35D

Where Cary Grant orders a Gibson in a classic scene from “North by Northwest” Crossword Clue

37D

Magnetic unit named for an inventor Crossword Clue

38D

Productive … or a punny description of the feat performed by 116-Across? Crossword Clue

42D

Many a liquor license applicant Crossword Clue

43D

As of now Crossword Clue

45D

Board game with ancient origins Crossword Clue

46D

Gooey chocolate dessert Crossword Clue

47D

Discover Crossword Clue

50D

Holds forth Crossword Clue

51D

Tenth, in Latin Crossword Clue

54D

Small flycatchers named for their call, not their size Crossword Clue

55D

Bro kin Crossword Clue

56D

What 116-Across did before and after this puzzle’s feat? Crossword Clue

58D

Dread-full? Crossword Clue

59D

Popular beverage brand Crossword Clue

61D

Dr. ___ Crossword Clue

62D

Compete Crossword Clue

64D

Bad spelling? Crossword Clue

66D

Lead-in to bones or bucks Crossword Clue

68D

Sunbeam Crossword Clue

70D

Abandons a project, slangily Crossword Clue

75D

“Oy!” Crossword Clue

77D

Forwarded Crossword Clue

79D

Full of tall tales Crossword Clue

80D

It’s better than a bogey Crossword Clue

83D

Team lineup Crossword Clue

86D

Like most modern TV broadcasts Crossword Clue

89D

“Money-back guarantee” and “Limited-time offer” Crossword Clue

90D

Self-referential Crossword Clue

92D

Conductor Georg Crossword Clue

93D

Snaky double curve Crossword Clue

94D

Really irritated Crossword Clue

95D

Main lines Crossword Clue

96D

Full Crossword Clue

97D

Australian city named for a scientist Crossword Clue

100D

Closely following Crossword Clue

101D

Gambler’s combo bet Crossword Clue

102D

Waves sought by surfers Crossword Clue

104D

Five Pillars religion Crossword Clue

105D

“Spider-Man” director Sam Crossword Clue

107D

Stitcher’s line Crossword Clue

111D

Tee time or airtime, e.g. Crossword Clue

112D

Sorts Crossword Clue

113D

Corner key Crossword Clue

115D

Toll Crossword Clue

117D

Bucket list item? Crossword Clue

Clue Analysis

The 3-letter answer to “N.C.A.A. hoops powerhouse” in the NYT Crossword May 31 2026 is UNC.

We have got you covered! If you want to test your brain first, use our hint features to reveal letters or have fun with our interactive solver. Otherwise, grab the full answer right here!

Solving the crossword is a blast, but a little help never hurts! We provide lightning-fast answers every day. You can reveal letters one by one or grab the full answer in a hurry. For a fun challenge, try our interactive solver; it’s a game within a game where you unscramble letters to find the word!

Do not forget to dive into our FAQ section, where we explain the “why” behind the answer and track its history in previous puzzles. It is the perfect way to sharpen your crossword skills!

Finished today’s crossword already? Check this link for upcoming puzzles: NYT Crossword Answers Today

You can start solving clues on the official New York Times website, as well as on its mobile apps. Simply install the app on your Android or iOS device. The direct download links are below:

Get It on Google Play Store (Android)
Get It on App Store (iOS)
Play Online on NYT Website

Your Questions, Answered by Experts.

At Daze Puzzle, we understand that every clue is a puzzle within a larger puzzle. Our team of dedicated human experts and puzzle lovers solves these challenges daily to help you succeed. Below, we answer common questions about this specific clue.

A: The most common and recent 3-letter answer for "N.C.A.A. hoops powerhouse" is UNC.

A: The clue refers to a college basketball team known for its strong performance. 'N.C.A.A.' stands for the National Collegiate Athletic Association, and 'hoops' is slang for basketball. 'Powerhouse' suggests a team with a history of success, like the University of North Carolina (UNC).

A: This clue was last seen in the NYT Crossword on May 31, 2026.

A: UNC is an abbreviation for the University of North Carolina, known for its successful basketball program.

A: Someone giving off old guy vibes, in Gen Z slang, Chapel Hill sch., Tar Heels' school, for short

Today's Crossword Answers

Want more help on other popular crossword puzzles? Try it now!

N.C.A.A. hoops powerhouse NYT Crossword Clue

Crossword Answer

Interactive Solver for N.C.A.A. hoops powerhouse Crossword Clue

Unlock the puzzle's secrets with Daze's progressive hints!

Hint 1

Hint 2

Hint 3

Hint 4

Across

Down

Clue Analysis

Your Questions, Answered by Experts.

Q1: What is the most likely answer for the crossword clue "N.C.A.A. hoops powerhouse"?

Q2: Why is "UNC" the answer to the clue "N.C.A.A. hoops powerhouse"?

Q3: In which puzzle was the clue "N.C.A.A. hoops powerhouse" last seen?

Q4: What does the word "UNC" mean in this context?

Q5: What are some other crossword clues that share the same answer?

Today's Crossword Answers

N.C.A.A. hoops powerhouse NYT Crossword Clue

Crossword Answer

Interactive Solver for N.C.A.A. hoops powerhouse Crossword Clue

Unlock the puzzle's secrets with Daze's progressive hints!

Hint 1

Hint 2

Hint 3

Hint 4

NYT Crossword May 31 2026 Answers

Across

Down

Clue Analysis

Your Questions, Answered by Experts.

Q1: What is the most likely answer for the crossword clue "N.C.A.A. hoops powerhouse"?

Q2: Why is "UNC" the answer to the clue "N.C.A.A. hoops powerhouse"?

Q3: In which puzzle was the clue "N.C.A.A. hoops powerhouse" last seen?

Q4: What does the word "UNC" mean in this context?

Q5: What are some other crossword clues that share the same answer?

Today's Crossword Answers

Crossword Clue Solver