Those kids from Harvard are getting a passing grade when it comes to the first game of the NCAA tournament. Ask New Mexico last year. Ask Cincinnati now.
NCAA Tournament
Syracuse guard Trevor Cooney was mired in a shooting slump, and his woes coincided with a late-season swoon by the Orange. Cooney scored 18 points, fellow guard Tyler Ennis had 16, and the Orange defense clamped down in a 77-53 victory over Western Michigan on Thursday in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Talib Zanna helped Pittsburgh jump out to a huge lead and the Panthers cruised the rest of the way. Zanna scored 16 of his 18 points in the opening half and Pitt built a 28-point advantage on the way to a 77-48 rout of Colorado in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Thursday.
Dayton is re-configuring the college basketball map in Ohio. It no longer runs through Columbus after Vee Sanford’s layup with 3.8 seconds left secured 11th-seeded Dayton’s 60-59 victory over sixth-seeded Ohio State in the second round of the of the NCAA tournament on Thursday.
Wisconsin turned its NCAA tournament opener into a red-and-white party. Ben Brust scored 17 points and the Badgers devastated American with a 22-5 run to close the first half in a 75-35 victory Thursday before a friendly crowd in Milwaukee, barely 90 minutes from their home in Madison.
The state of Indiana had 10 chances to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. It went 0-for-10. This is only the second time since 1973 the Hoosier State has not placed a team in the bracket.
Most sports writers won’t admit to cheering for certain teams at the NCAA Tournament. There shall be no cheering from the press box. But if you are watching the Madness unfold in a sports book, it’s OK to pull for certain teams.
March Madness in Las Vegas is a must on every sports fan’s bucket list. For first-time visitors and seasoned veterans alike, watching and betting on the NCAA Tournament at the city’s bevy of sports books is an experience akin to being on a thrill ride.
The best game of the day? It should be Dayton-Ohio State in the South Region. The sixth-seeded Buckeyes are 6-point favorites, but expect the underdog to put up a big fight.
It’s that time of year again. You could say it’s my favorite time of year. It’s 75 degrees and sunny, but I’m missing all the great weather because I’m in my house or at a sports book with my eyes glued to a TV.
For those who don’t remember San Diego State’s last appearance on the March Madness stage, the Aztecs say “Thank you.”
The Review-Journal’s Adam Hill, Kelly Stewart and Matt Youmans compete against handicappers Bruce Marshall, Paul Stone and Ken Thomson in a contest covering NCAA Tournament games today and Friday. Each contestant selects 16 games against the spread, sides or totals, choosing from the 32 second-round games on the betting board. Fifteen of the picks are worth one point, and a Best Bet counts for two points. The national champion pick is the tiebreaker.
Every year, the NCAA Tournament gives employees a reason to goof off at their desks and root for their alma maters. But there’s a growing source of potential headaches for bosses.
“Why wouldn’t you want to be here?” Hank Goldberg asked rhetorically before he, local radio talk show host Brian Blessing and Sunset sports book manager Chuck Esposito held court in front of several dozen bettors looking for some last-second insight before making their wagers on this year’s tournament
