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The insanity formally begins right now with a slate of 16 video games within the males’s NCAA Match first spherical and two extra First 4 video games within the girls’s subject tonight.
Among the many featured matchups on the boys’s aspect: No. 1 total seed Gonzaga begins its quest for an elusive championship because it takes on No. 16 Georgia State. Two different prime seeds, Baylor and Kansas, are additionally in motion.
The Bears play Norfolk State in an East Area matchup, and within the Midwest Area, the Jayhawks play within the day’s newest tipoff as they entertain Texas Southern, who gained their First 4 sport towards Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Michigan, which barely squeaked into the 68-team subject, begins off the motion Thursday at 12:15 p.m. ET because it faces a harmful Colorado State workforce and its Mountain West participant of the yr David Roddy.
Different intriguing matchups embrace No. 9 Memphis towards No. 8 Boise State within the West Area and the at all times harmful 5-12 slate, with New Mexico State and Connecticut battling it out.
On the ladies’s aspect, Longwood battles Mount Saint Marry’s in a battle for the No. 16 seed (7 p.m.) whereas Missouri State takes on Florida State for the No. 11 seed.
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Memphis vs. Boise State a ‘most watchable’ matchup
Based on our unofficial “watchability rankings,” the upcoming Memphis-Boise State 8-seed vs. 9-seed sport (1:45 p.m. ET, TNT) is on the prime of the checklist.
Michigan with out prime level guard in opener vs. Colorado State
Michigan’s prime level guard DeVante’ Jones didn’t journey with the workforce to Indianapolis because of a concussion. Jones averaged 10.7 factors, 4.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists per sport this season. Eli Brooks, Frankie Collins and Kobe Bufkin are anticipated to imagine a majority of the ball-handling duties.
– Detroit Free Press
Darkish horses and overrated groups
When filling out your bracket, have in mind there are sure to be many upsets, so remember to take note of these groups, similar to Iowa, which is a stylish choose to make the Remaining 4. Additionally, look out for UCLA, which is making an attempt to repeat its Remaining 4 magic from a yr in the past. The Bruins are beginning to get wholesome on the proper time and may very well be hassle a difficulty for groups that overlook them.
Whereas there are sleepers within the subject, there are additionally groups that both haven’t any enterprise within the match or may discover their manner again dwelling earlier than the primary weekend is gone.
Groups like Houston, Texas, Iowa State, Saint Mary’s and Ohio State earned at-large bids whereas navigating their regular-season schedule, however have not proven why you must pencil them in in the case of advancing via the match.
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Dick Vitale vs. most cancers
School basketball Corridor of Fame broadcaster Dick Vitale often is pumped up for this time of yr, however after being recognized with most cancers and recovering from surgical procedure on his vocal cords to deal with lymphoma, Vitale hasn’t been capable of converse and present his enthusiasm for the sport he loves.
“Not having the ability to talk has me crying my eyes out,” Vitale, 82, instructed USA TODAY Sports activities via textual content messages. “I like talking with folks – at lunch or dinner, with my spouse and household, and particularly with folks in public after they come as much as me for a dialog.”
Vitale was set to have an analysis to examine his voice on March 16 – the day earlier than the primary spherical of the boys’s NCAA Match.
Invoice Self tops checklist of highest-paid in faculty basketball
Kansas coach Invoice Self has guided the Jayhawks to success on the court docket and is handsomely rewarded for his effort to the flip of being one of many highest-paid coaches in faculty basketball. Self is making $10.2 million this season because the Jayhawks have one other workforce able to making a title run.
Every of the highest 5 coaches who earn probably the most have gained at the least one nationwide championship.
On the ladies’s aspect, South Carolina’s Daybreak Staley units the usual as she is making almost $3 million per season.
Notre Dame outlasts Rutgers in double extra time
Notre Dame ahead Paul Atkinson Jr.’s made a putback layup with 1.4 seconds remaining within the second extra time lifting the Combating Irish to a 89-87 win within the remaining First 4 sport in Dayton. The Irish now journey to San Diego in a West Area contest to face No. 6 seed Alabama.
Indiana’s aircraft points
After Indiana beat Wyoming in a First 4 matchup, the Hoosiers had points leaving Dayton. The workforce did not depart the town till 4 a.m. as a result of it needed to swap planes as a result of the one which was ready for them was too small to accommodate everybody.
The aircraft ended up touchdown 5 hours later in Portland, giving Indiana lower than 36 hours earlier than they tackle Saint Mary’s in Thursday’s NCAA match first spherical.
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