Las Vegas Native Troy Brown Jr. Preparing for NBA
 
Las Vegas Native Troy Brown Jr. Preparing for NBA

Former Centennial High School player Troy Brown Jr., now 18 and one of the most accomplished high school basketball players in the history of Las Vegas, is back in his hometown preparing to play in the NBA. (Madelyn Reese/ Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Aces Host Draft Party
 
Aces Host Draft Party

The Las Vegas Aces host a WNBA draft party at the Mandalay Bay for season-ticket holders, and have the number one overall pick.

Pursuing women’s Sweet 16
 
Pursuing women’s Sweet 16

An idea to bring the women’s Sweet 16 basketball tournament to Las Vegas is still alive. Former UNLV athletic director and men’s NCAA Tournament chairman Jim Livengood has been working on the concept. Livengood’s idea: To play all four NCAA women’s regionals in Las Vegas at the same time. This year’s women’s Final Four was exciting and was played in front of sellout crowds. The four regionals attracted only modest turnouts. The NCAA currently has a rule prohibiting championship events from being played in Las Vegas.

Loyola Chicago’s Sister Jean Says God Likes the NCAA Better than the NBA
 
Loyola Chicago’s Sister Jean Says God Likes the NCAA Better than the NBA

Loyola Chicago’s Sister Jean Says God Likes the NCAA Better than the NBA The nun delivered the burn during her scheduled time with the media on Friday. One of the questions Sister Jean answered was: Is God a basketball fan? “He probably is. And he’s probably more of a basketball fan of the NCAA than the NBA.” “I’ll wager that your viewer audience is very large this time and that if you compare it to the NBA when they’re playing, it’ll be different.” “I say that because these young players are playing with their hearts and not for any financial assistance.” Loyola Chicago’s 98-year-old chaplain has now become an international sensation after her school’s Cinderella run to the NCAA Final Four. 11-seed Loyola Chicago will take on 3-seed Michigan on Saturday on TBS at 6:09 p.m. EST.

Twitter to Host Final Four ‘Watch Parties’ With Live Analysis
 
Twitter to Host Final Four ‘Watch Parties’ With Live Analysis

Twitter to Host Final Four ‘Watch Parties’ With Live Analysis The social media site will also be hosting Watch Parties for the National Championship Game on Monday. Twitter describes them as a “live social-viewing experience,” comprised of analyst commentary, reactions and highlights. The Final Four Watch Parties will stream live on Twitter starting Saturday, March 31, at 6 p.m. ET to coincide with the first game of the evening — Michigan vs. Loyola Chicago. Following the first game of the night, two, No. 1 seeds battle as Kansas takes on Villanova. TBS is broadcasting Saturday’s semifinals and the April 2 National Championship.

Superbook Madness
 
Superbook Madness

By 5 a.m. Thursday, about 150 people had staked out territory in the 400-seat at the sports book at Westgate Las Vegas, ready to watch and bet on the first day of the men’s NCAA Tournment. (Max Michor/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

March Madness bracket breakdown
 
March Madness bracket breakdown

Adam Hill and Ed Graney go over the NCAA Tournament bracket and make their predictions for who will make the Final Four and win the national title.

Las Vegas casino owner bets $363K on first round of NCAA Tournament
 
Las Vegas casino owner bets $363K on first round of NCAA Tournament

Las Vegas casino owner Derek Stevens inadvertently upped the ante during his second annual NCAA Tournament betting binge. For the second straight year, the owner of the D Las Vegas and Golden Gate wagered $11,000 to win $10,000 on each of the 32 opening lines moments after they were posted Sunday during a live show on VSiN.com. But when the stacks of cash settled into the coffers of the South Point and Golden Nugget sports books, Stevens had actually wagered a total of $363,000 — or $11,000 more than the $352,000 he bet last year. “Last year was kind of tough. I had to make every bet within 10 seconds of being told the line,” he said. “To try to do it by yourself is impossible. This year, we had some of our team come down and they kind of helped me out. And we used two books to get all 32 bets in at a little better number.”

NCAA Tournament: Biggest Snubs and Surprises
 
NCAA Tournament: Biggest Snubs and Surprises

NCAA Tournament: Biggest Snubs and Surprises Surprise: Oklahoma (18-13) Snub: Oklahoma St. (19-14) Surprise: Syracuse (20-13) Snub: Saint Mary’s (28-5) Surprise: Arizona St. (20-11) Snub: Notre Dame (20-14) Surprise: UCLA (21-11) Snub: University of Southern California (23-11) The first round of the NCAA Tournament begins on Tuesday, March 13 on TruTV.

UNLV enters Mountain West tournament
 
UNLV enters Mountain West tournament

UNLV basketball coach Marvin Menzies and players Jovan Mooring and Brandon McCoy talk about heading into the Mountain West tournament. (Mark Anderson/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

UNLV enters Mountain West tournament
 
UNLV enters Mountain West tournament

UNLV basketball coach Marvin Menzies and players Jovan Mooring and Brandon McCoy talk about heading into the Mountain West tournament. (Mark Anderson/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

The NCAA March Madness Tournament Explained
 
The NCAA March Madness Tournament Explained

The NCAA March Madness Tournament Explained The NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament is single-elimination, The term March Madness was popularized by an Illinois high school official, Henry V. Porter, in 1939, but it was Brent Musburger who used it during coverage of the 1982 tournament. The winner of the tournament for the 32 Division I conferences receives an automatic bid. The selection committee also decides which school among non-qualifiers has the pedigree to earn an invite to the tournament. Selection Sunday on March 11 March Madness officially begins March 11 and runs through April 2, when the NCAA men’s basketball championship takes place.

Centennial wins 4th straight state title in OT thriller
 
Centennial wins 4th straight state title in OT thriller

Centennial girls basketball rallied from down 15 points in the fourth quarter to force overtime and win 74-65 against Liberty. (Justin Emerson/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

WNBA laying pro basketball groundwork In Las Vegas
 
WNBA laying pro basketball groundwork In Las Vegas

Bill Laimbeer, coach of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, talks about the role the team will play in perhaps bringing an NBA team to Las Vegas. (Ron Kantowski /Las Vegas Review Journal)

UNLV’s Menzies, Juiston on the team’s standing
 
UNLV’s Menzies, Juiston on the team’s standing

UNLV basketball coach Marvin Menzies and forward Shakur Juiston talk about where the team stands. Video by Mark Anderson/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Las Vegas senior Donovan Joyner’s big play propels Wildcats
 
Las Vegas senior Donovan Joyner’s big play propels Wildcats

Las Vegas High School’s Donovan Joyner is averaging 25.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.6 steals for the Wildcats (10-4), who are in the midst of their best season during his three-year varsity tenure. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

D-III hoops at South Point
 
D-III hoops at South Point

Aaron Griess, coach of the Augsburg Auggies from Minnesota, speaks of the charm of NCAA DIvision III basketball at South Point Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Dec. 27. 2017. (Ron Kantowski/Las Vegas Review Journal)