Luck Of The Irish
The March Madness tournament is underway and there have been heartbreaking losses but the Cinderella teams live on.
The March Madness tournament is underway and there have been heartbreaking losses but the Cinderella teams live on.
Forget the lucky glass slippers, they’re in Air Jordans,
The Last Night’s Game Team
College Basketball
When no one saw it coming. The Buffalo Bulls (No. 13) routed bracket favorite University of Arizona (No. 4) last night. It was a good old fashion beat down that even basketball fan, former President Obama didn’t predict in his bracket. That loss probably cleared some people out of your office pool. For that, this Buffalo player says "sorry, not sorry." RESULTS
If you’re “nun” the wiser. Loyola Chicago (No. 11) upset Miami (No. 6) in the first round yesterday but the biggest star of the game wasn’t anyone on the court. Loyola’s 98-year-old chaplain, Sister Jean, stole the spotlight with her excitement. She prays with the team before games and also sends them emails with positive messages, and sometimes constructive criticism, between games. Sister Jean is clearly the fan favorite.
How’s your bracket doing? Check it here.
Overtime
The saying “don’t quit your day job” is around for a reason. Actor Susan Sarandon is a longtime New York Rangers fan (NHL - National Hockey League) and because of her celebrity status she was given the rare opportunity to be a guest commentator on TV for a game. It went over like a juice bar at a tailgate party. According to Twitter, fans everywhere turned off their TVs after Sarandon called one of the players “sexy.” Maybe she needs a little Last Night’s Game in her life?
Sideline stat
Team U.S.A. continues to dominate in the Paralympics, leading the medal count. The Men's U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team beat Italy 10-1 in the semifinals and will face Canada in the gold medal game on Sunday. The U.S. Team is seeking its third-straight Paralympic gold medal.
Coaches’ corner
Butler opens their March Madness tournament today against Arkansas but a key member of their team will be missing. Their team spirit and mascot, bulldog Butler Blue III aka Trip, will not be at the game because the NCAA (the governing body for college sports) does not allow live mascots in the arena for the opening round of the tournament due to space constraints. Trip may have had some FOMO when posting on social media but he continued to spread cheer outside the arena. You can’t keep a good (bull)dog down.
Five Things to Know About March Madness
Need a few pointers to pick your NCAA bracket? Then you’ll love today’s Five Things to Know.
Make sure to pick your bracket for the Inaugural Last Night’s Game Tournament Challenge. We’ve submitted our picks and we’re dancing around with anticipation like a leprechaun waiting in line for the bathroom on St. Patrick’s Day.
Doing an Irish jig,
The Last Night’s Game Team
Five things to know about picking your NCAA tournament bracket
- If a team loses once they’re out of the tournament. Teams have to win six games to become champions.
- No #1 team has ever lost to a #16 team.
- The #5 team vs #12 team matchup statistically has the most upsets (i.e. the lower ranked team - #12 - beats the #5 team).
- Many people pick their brackets by colors or mascots. If you pick by color, blue is a good choice as 12 of the last 15 champs had a variation of blue as their main color. If you pick by mascots, Wildcats are a wise selection (Arizona, Kentucky, Weber State, Villanova).
- It’s unusual to have a final four made up of all #1 ranked teams (even though they’re the best teams coming into the tournament). In 2006, not one of the #1 seeds advanced to the Final Four.
The reason March Madness is just that, madness, is because anything can happen. Someone who knows very little about college basketball has just as great of a chance of winning their bracket as someone who researched the crap out of it.
Moral of the story. Give it a whirl. Pick a bracket and see what all of the fuss and excitement is about. Remember to set your Last Night’s Game March Madness bracket before games start on Thursday morning for a chance to win prizes. (Free to participate).
The schedule for all the tournament games can be found here.
Overtime
- Monmouth University was left out of the field of 68 teams for the NCAA tournament but they accepted an invitation to NIT. They’re a team to watch because they have the best choreographed bench in basketball. This highlight reel might give you some new ideas for moves to use at the club. Just saying.
Sideline Stat
- University of Connecticut (UConn) enters the women's NCAA tournament on a 69 game wining streak, having won three straight women's NCAA championships. (A pointer if you’re picking the NCAA women’s tournament bracket…UConn is really good).
Coaches’ Corner
- Should you be completely stumped on how to pick your bracket, here’s another idea. CBS Sports conducted a survey of college basketball head coach’s favorite singer/band.
Notable teams
- #1 ranked Kansas Jayhawks’ coach Bill Self: Luther Vandross
- #1 ranked North Carolina’s coach Roy Williams: Luke Bryant
- #1 ranked University of Virginia’s coach Tony Bennett: Boys II Men
- #1 ranked University of Oregon’s coach Dana Altman: Rolling Stones
Honorable Mention:
- Seton Hall’s Kevin Willard: Beastie Boys
- Green Bay’s Linc Darner: Meat Loaf
- Xavier’s Chris Mack: Kid Rock