Tag Archive for: NCAA

March Madness: a closer look at this cultural phenomenon

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Every year during the middle of March, workplace productivity dramatically drops off in the United States. Indeed, sick days are used up, team calls are consistently moved around and lunch breaks are indefinitely prolonged. Why you may ask does this happen at the same time every year? The answer is simple: March Madness. 

Yes, this basketball tournament grabs the attention of Americans like little else does and turns those who aren’t necessarily fans of the sport, into fanatical supporters who live and die by every three-pointer thrown for or against their adopted team.

In short, for three weeks every year, this event has a nation doing nothing else but consuming the steady flow of fixtures over the early part of spring. So, how does March Madness work and why does the narrative around the competition dominate all the latest sports news websites in the build-up?

The format 

March Madness is a single-elimination competition that involves 68 basketball teams from the Division I level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, otherwise known as NCAA. The objective for each team is simple; to do everything they can to get to the championship game.

These ambitions to be crowned national champions, however, can be over before they ever really begin as only 16 teams make it further than the first weekend. These 16 teams, known as the Sweet Sixteen, will then take part in their respective regional semi-finals.

Following that, the eight teams that make it successfully through these high-staked matches – dubbed the Elite Eight – will be tasked with having to win their specific regional finals to make it through to the last four of the nationwide tournament.

The remaining Final Four then compete in the official semi-final games where the eventual winners will get a chance to play in the national championship game.

It wouldn’t be an understatement to say that this is a fixture that is the pinnacle of many players’ lives who don’t go on to make it professionally. After all, millions of people tune in to watch the finale of a tournament that the country has lived and breathed for three weeks.; it’s all on the line and often, this game produces jaw-dropping entertainment.

Past champions

The Kansas Jayhawks were crowned the 2022 champions after they beat North Carolina in a game that will go down in March Madness folklore. Astonishingly, Kansas trailed North Carolina by as many as 15 points at the halftime interval yet came storming back in the second half to win a pulsating encounter 72-69. The enthralling ebb and flow of this particular championship game does give you a better idea of why the public puts their lives on hold when March Madness takes place. 

Historically speaking, the most successful college team of all time comes from the University of California, Los Angeles, with the Bruins having won the March Madness showdown 11 times.

What to expect in 2023 during March Madness?

The expectation in 2023 is much like it is for every other year with a carnival atmosphere predicted to sweep the US when March Madness begins with giveaways and office sweepstakes all on offer to mark the occasion. Notably, many promotions in the sports betting industry are also run during the playing of the tournament. 

This time around, it’s expected that March Madness will coincide with the launch of online sportsbooks in Massachusetts. Bettors in the Bay State will finally have access to online MA sportsbooks and more visibility of the sports betting market in 2023, which could come into effect in the championship in March.

 

Should this be the case and in the absence of the state’s team, UMass Minutemen not qualifying for the event, most of the bets will surely be placed on the two favorites, the Houston Cougars at odds of +650 and the Purdue Boilermakers at a price of +800.

Expect the unexpected

Although it’s always best to expect the unexpected when it comes to March Madness. As the name suggests, there is always a plot twist along the way which will take everyone by surprise. However, keeping on top of the madness that will inevitably unfold will be easy thanks to all the extensive coverage of the tournament, from podcasts to daily articles and regular TV segments dedicated to the event.

Yes, this is a competition like no other and is set once more to bring America to a grinding halt when 68 teams square up for the greatest prize in college basketball.

 

NCAA Basketball Season So Far: Surprises Everywhere

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Basketball is a long-drawn, high-scoring game – and possibly nothing better could give you that adrenalin-rush than a match, given up for lost, suddenly turning around and reversing the result at the end of the buzzer. 

The start of the 2021-22 NCAA Season had much of such drama, with many top-seeded teams unable to justify their ratings against unranked adversaries, except pre-season favourites Gonzaga Bulldogs and Baylor Bears, both of which made it all the way to the finals. 


This season talents have sparked quite some interest worldwide, as seen in the NCAA rising stars overview by Vietnamese sportsbook Vwin99.

If the results of the initial matches were any indication, very few favoured teams from the original list of 64 made it to the sweet 16 roll, some of them waylaid by other college teams given less than favourable chances of victory.  For the first time in 45 years, for example, Duke and Kentucky did not qualify. 

But even the eventual Gonzaga Bulldogs versus Baylor Bears faceoff in the finals was not without its share of drama. The Gonzaga Bulldogs, steered by its long-time, 22nd year head coach Mark Few, whose mentoring reputation was on a downslide after years of lacklustre performance, finished the regular season with a surprising perfect record of 24-0.  The Bulldogs achieved success by mercilessly running roughshod over anyone who got in their way, including 2nd ranked Brigham Young University (BYU) and 4th best Saint Mary’s College.  

The Bulldogs’ one final victory over the Baylor Bears would have completed a perfect sweep and won them the championship.  But this was not meant to be.  The Bears played the spoiler’s role with an emphatic 86-70 clincher over the Bulldogs, to win for the first time the much-coveted 2021 NCAA Season.

The Bears were firmly in command for the most part of the game, leading by as much as 20 points at one stage.  Rising star Jared Butler, who now wears a Utah Jazz uniform in the NBA, led the assault with 22 points and seven assists.  It wasn’t a one-man show though.  MaCio Tague contributed 19 points and Davion Micthell added 15.  Bulldog Jalen Suggs, now playing for the Orlando Magic in the pro league, took the cudgels for Gonzaga with 22 points. 

The Bears were 43.5 percent from the three-point area, while the Bulldogs had a measly 29.4 percent.  The Bears were even more ferocious under the net, gobbling up 16 offensive rebounds against only five by the Bulldogs. 

It was truly a season of surprises.  After all, the 2020 NCAA basketball season was unceremoniously cancelled due to health concerns.  The 2021 version would have also been placed in the backburner for the same reason, except that the organizers were more creative in finding ways to ensure that the event was sealed off from the virus. Even if it meant holding all the games only in the state of Indiana for the first time in NCAA history. 

Aside from the Bears’ historic first NCAA title, the other big winner of the season is the NCAA itself.  

Tournament organizers defied the odds of withdrawals left and right due to health protocols, to successfully hold the competitions and to lay the groundwork for another exciting tournament starting in March this year.    

Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes: Program expected to name Rob Likens as WR coach

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The Miami Hurricanes are going to get a new wide receivers coach. Rob Likens is expected to be named the new wide receivers coach.

The past two seasons, he has been the offensive coordinator at Arizona State. The role of wide receivers coach is not something new for him. He has also served the role at Arizona State and Temple. Arizona State was second in the entire PAC-12 in points last year. The program was also second in first down conversions with 233. Tied with three other teams, Arizona State had a 91% red zone conversion percentage.

Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels ranked fifth in the conference with 245.3 yards per game. Running back  Eno Benjamin also performed well last year. Rushing for 90.3 yards per contest, that ranked him third overall in the conference.

Likens brings experience to Miami Hurricanes

Likens certainly brings with him a bevy of experience to Miami. The Pac-12 as a conference is very fast-paced.  Miami could definitely use that type of offense. The conversion numbers and the amount of points scored by Arizona State is also a positive trend for Likens. Although he will be dealing with entirely different personnel, it bodes well for a Miami Hurricanes team that has reloaded this offseason.

It will be interesting to see if the Miami Hurricanes offense will have a Pac-12 feel to it. They certainly need to improve in many areas. They are taking steps to improve and are heading in the right direction. Just a look at the fact that the D’Eriq King is coming to the program. That says something right there.

The program has been rebuilt in what feels like a matter of weeks. The turnaround has been quite impressive. Now, we’ll have to see if all the pieces are able to form a fluid, cohesive unit on the field next season.

Miami Hurricanes: Ed Reed to join program as Chief of Staff

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A familiar face is coming back to Coral Gables. The Miami Hurricanes have hired Ed Reed as  Chief of Staff for the program.

According to the program’s official press release, Reid will serve in an advisory role to head coach Manny Diaz. Reed will take on duties that include strategic planning, operations, quality control, and player evaluation and development. He also serve in an athletic mentor role and help recruit players as much as the NCAA allows.

A smart move for the Miami Hurricanes

This is certainly an impactful move for the program. Reed was one of the best Miami Hurricanes players of all-time. Playing from 1997-2001, he was part of the most recent golden age for the program. He led the nation with nine interceptions in the 2001 season and was named the 2001 co-Big East defensive player of the year. He was undoubtedly the heart and soul of those great defensive teams. That is certainly saying something when you consider who else was on the roster.

Reed was a  first-team All American in 2000 and 2001. Those Miami Hurricanes teams posted a 23-1 record. They were at the pinnacle of the college football mountain. Some still talk about that 2001 Hurricanes team to this day, and they are continually in the conversation as one of the best college teams of all time.

Having Reed on the recruiting trail would be  tremendous for Miami. When you consider his body of work both at Miami and at the professional level, there is no denying he was successful. A Pro football Hall of Famer in 2019, he has been successful everywhere he has went. His role with the program certainly checks off many boxes. It will be interesting to see where he contributes most.  Just having his name attached to the football program is a huge win for the Miami Hurricanes.

Miami Hurricanes: Jarren Williams to transfer from program

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A member of the Miami Hurricanes is entering the transfer portal. Quarterback Jarren Williams has decided to move on from Miami according to a report from Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated.

,Williams played quite a bit last season. He threw for 2,187 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His best game came against Louisville. In what was a 52-27 win on November 9, Williams went 15-of-22 on the day throwing for 253 yards and six touchdowns. A 67-yard throw was his longest of the afternoon.

Williams finishes his Miami career throwing for 2,204 yards, 19 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

King changed quarterback room for Miami Hurricanes

With D’Eriq King now in the fold, this does not come as much of a surprise. King should figure to be in the starting quarterback conversation when the Hurricanes take on Temple in the season opener on September 5. With the commitment of King, the quarterback room got a lot deeper, and the dynamics changed quite a bit. Based on what he did in Houston last year alone, King certainly looks to be primed for the starting role. Last year for Houston, King threw for 2,982 yards and 14 touchdowns. He rushed for 674 yards and 14 touchdowns.

N’Kosi Perry will also be part of the quarterback room as well. Last season, he threw for 1045 yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions.  There is an option for Miami there as well. However, there is no reason to think that the job would not go to King.

The outlook of Miami’s  offense is certainly a bit different than even a couple of weeks ago. It will be interesting to see how the new-look offense performs during spring ball . As different pieces get adjusted, Miami will certainly have a lot more work with than they did at this time a year ago.

 

 

Miami Hurricanes: Team lands playmaking defensive end in Quincy Roche

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The Miami Hurricanes have been on fire on the recruiting trail lately, and they picked up another commitment on Monday. The team received a commitment from former Temple defensive end Quincy Roche. As a graduate transfer, he has one year of eligibility remaining.

Playing for Temple the past three seasons, Roche had a solid year last year. He recorded 49 tackles and 13 sacks in addition to a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. His best game last year came against Tulane on November 16. In that contest, he recorded 12 tackles and three sacks on the day. For the year, he finished fifth in the nation in sacks per game last season.

It is worth noting his success in 2018 as well. That year, he recorded 57 tackles and six sacks in addition to forcing two fumbles.

As a prospect, he was the 36th overall player in the state of Maryland and the 84th weak-side defensive end in his class per the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

For Miami, this puts the icing on the cake at the defensive end position. Now, they have both Gregory Rousseau and Quincy Roche. Rousseau was second in all of college football with 15.5 sacks in 2019. This brings instant production to Miami’s defensive end position. Furthermore, it stabilizes the position and shores up the defense.

On top of all this, Jaelan Phillips is also eligible to play this year. A former member of the UCLA Bruins, Phillips recorded 12 tackles and a sack in the 2018 season. He should be able to bring an additional boost to the defensive line for the Miami hurricanes.

Miami was sixth in the country with 48 sacks on the season. The addition of Roche will definitely change that number. It will be interesting to see if he can continue to produce. If he can play at a high level consistently, Miami should be in good hands.

Miami Hurricanes: D’Eriq King set to visit Coral Gables this weekend

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The Miami Hurricanes will have a big-time visitor this weekend. Former Houston quarterback D’Eriq King will take a two-day tour at the University of Miami, beginning Friday.

King would be eligible to play right away and that would be great news for Miami. He is just one of three quarterbacks with 35 passing touchdowns and 13 rushing touchdowns in a season.

As noted in a report from Andrew Ivins, a recruiting guru who is a regular contributor to the 5 Rings Canes podcast on the Five Reasons Sports Network, the quarterback has been talking with Miami offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee.

King is exactly what the Miami Hurricanes need

This would be a much-needed upgrade for the Miami Hurricanes. Poor quarterback play has plagued them throughout the last couple of seasons. King would have a chance to add stability to the program for at least two seasons. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.  Perhaps even more exciting, he would be eligible to play right away.

Miami is going to have to compete with other big-time schools for King. LSU, Oregon, Arkansas, and Ole Miss have also been on his radar. The Hurricanes certainly have their work cut out for them when it comes to battling with other teams for King.

This would be a huge get for Miami just in terms of production. The Hurricanes ranked 99th in the country in 2019 with 22.3 points scored per game. They also ranked 103rd in the country with 348.3 yards per game. With 7.2 yards per pass attempt, that ranked 73rd in the country.

King would provide an instant splash to the Miami offense and would electrify a passing game that is struggling at the moment. Not only that, it would be the first big development for Lashlee since joining the staff. It would certainly provide a jolt into the Miami quarterback room, and would make the ACC a lot more interesting come the fall.

Download the 5 Rings Canes podcast for more, wherever you get your podcasts.

Miami Hurricanes won’t bring in Alonzo Highsmith for role

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This is a missed opportunity for the Miami Hurricanes.

Any thoughts about Alonzo Highsmith returning to the Miami Hurricanes football program have been put to bed. According to a tweet from Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the door is closed for a Highsmith-Miami reunion.

Highsmith is currently the director of player personnel with the Cleveland Browns. As Jackson also notes, the University of Miami did not have any interest in hiring him, or anyone for a GM-type of role. The GM-type of role was proposed by a key trustee. Highsmith did talk to Diaz and athletic director Blake James about the potential role. The conversation never left its initial stages.

A stellar career for the Miami Hurricanes

Highsmith played four seasons at the University of Miami from 1983-1986. In total, he carried the ball 387 times for 1,873 yards and 18 touchdowns. His best season came in his sophomore year. He played in 12 games, carrying the ball 146 times for 906 yards and nine touchdowns. As he progressed later into his Miami career, he also became a very adept receiving back. He averaged 13.6 yards per reception in 1985 and 13.9 yards per reception in 1986. He was an extremely talented all-around back.

It’s interesting that an offer was never made. Highsmith could have helped the program. He was definitely a key part of the Miami past. Being a director of player personnel, he could offer a lens that others in the organization probably couldn’t. The fact that talks couldn’t even get off the ground is rather interesting and a little disappointing.

As Miami enters the 2020 season, changes may still need to be made. It will be interesting to see what the program does to make those changes. However, they certainly missed the mark with this one. Hopefully, they can find somebody who will be able to add value and a helpful eye into the program.