


I thought the only thing that could ruin the magic of March was expanding the NCAA Tournament and minimizing the role of mid-majors.
I now see another threat — the never-ending reviews in the final minutes of games.
Complete accuracy is unattainable (See: Samford’s game-changing block). Entertainment needs to be the priority.
Few coaches handle a one-day prep better than Buzz Williams, who has won his past four trips to the Round of 32 and is one win from taking a third school to the Sweet 16.
The Aggies — who have already upset Tennessee, Iowa State and Kentucky (twice) this season — are coming off their best offensive showing of the season, scoring 98 points against Nebraska’s 31st-ranked defense to earn their sixth win in seven games.
An upset of the top-seeded Cougars wouldn’t be shocking to a group — which struggled shooting in a regular season matchup at Houston, yet lost by four — that leads the nation in offensive rebounds and commits fewer than 10 turnovers per game.

The Dukes deserved better than a 12-seed. Duke will soon find out.
Unlike other double-digit seeds that needed irreplicable shooting performances to advance, James Madison shot below its season average and still controlled a wire-to-wire win over Wisconsin.
James Madison — which opened the season with a win at Michigan State — enters with the nation’s longest winning streak (14 games), a 2-0 mark against the spread against ranked teams and the second-ranked 3-point defense (28.9 percent) in the country.
Few teams looked more impressive in the first round than the Crimson Tide.
Few schools have fared worse in supposed mismatches in the Dance.
As a 2-seed in 2021, Alabama was upset by 11-seed UCLA.
As a 6-seed in 2022, Alabama was upset in the first round.
As the No. 1-overall seed in last year’s Tournament, it couldn’t get past 5-seed San Diego State.
Unlike last year, Nate Oats no longer has balance, with a team ranking 117th in the nation in defensive efficiency and 352nd in scoring defense.
Just two Ivy League teams in the past 43 years have advanced to the Sweet 16.
Don’t bank on it happening in back-to-back years.
Yale’s first-round upset of Auburn was thrilling but also fluky, requiring a career-high 28 points from John Poulakidas and a meltdown by the Tigers — featuring unforced turnovers and missed free throws.
The Aztecs — last year’s tournament runner-up — will relish a matchup with a team that plays at their preferred pace, allowing their top 10-defense to lock down in a half-court contest.
This season: 20-22
2011-23 record: 349-308-12