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0 left: March Madness upsets end chase for perfect bracket

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:10:15 GMT

By MARK ANDERSON (AP Sports Writer)The chase for the perfect March Madness bracket will have to wait another year. Again.In a men’s tournament that saw a 2 and a 4 seed lose on Day 1, only a relative handful of brackets were still intact in the biggest contests when 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson took the floor against Purdue. The Knights stunned the top-seeded Boilermakers Friday night, sending the remaining perfect brackets into trash cans everywhere.On the CBS Sports site, 0.0003% of brackets were perfect through the eight early Friday games, according to Jared Shanker, the network’s senior director of digital communications. A few hours later, the network tweeted that “ March is for busted brackets ” in describing the goose egg.Consider that 98.7% of CBS brackets selected Purdue to defeat FDU while just 0.4% picked FDU to reach the Sweet 16. The network said 38.4% had Purdue in the Final Four and 8.8% had the Boilermakers winning the national championship.No...

Waubonsie Valley’s Jarron Thompson, an MLB prospect, gets ready to make his pitch. ‘Embrace it and enjoy it.’

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:10:15 GMT

Ever since he knew it was a distinct possibility, Waubonsie Valley senior Jarron Thompson has had goals that were pretty crystal clear. Somehow, some way, it would happen.He was going to find a way to be paid to pitch.“I always told my parents in middle school,” Thompson said. “I never mentioned college until I got my first offer. I wanted to play professional baseball, to pitch in the majors.“I completely forgot about college — that I have to go through that level.”Initially, Thompson committed to Missouri. With an eye on a quicker path to professional baseball, he then switched to Seminole State, a junior college in Florida.That would allow him to be eligible for the MLB draft after one season in college as opposed to three if he went the Division I route.“I wanted more playing time going to junior college,” Thompson said. “It’s a nice guarantee that I will start freshman year. That’s a great opportunity for somebod...

Florida Atlantic Owls take on the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights in second round

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:10:15 GMT

Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (21-15, 10-6 NEC) vs. Florida Atlantic Owls (32-3, 18-2 C-USA)Columbus, Ohio; Sunday, 7:45 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Florida Atlantic -12.5; over/under is 149.5BOTTOM LINE: The No. 25 Florida Atlantic Owls and Fairleigh Dickinson Knights meet in the NCAA Tournament second round.The Owls have gone 18-2 against C-USA opponents, with a 14-1 record in non-conference play. Florida Atlantic ranks second in C-USA in rebounding averaging 35.7 rebounds. Vladislav Goldin leads the Owls with 6.4 boards.The Knights are 10-6 against NEC opponents. Fairleigh Dickinson is third in the NEC with 10.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Heru Bligen averaging 2.1.TOP PERFORMERS: Johnell Davis is averaging 13.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals for the Owls. Alijah Martin is averaging 15.1 points and 5.3 rebounds over the last 10 games for Florida Atlantic.Demetre Roberts is averaging 16.5 points and 4.3 assists for the Knights. Grant Singleton is averaging 12.4 poin...

UConn Huskies take on the Saint Mary’s Gaels in second round

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:10:15 GMT

Saint Mary’s Gaels (27-7, 14-2 WCC) vs. UConn Huskies (26-8, 13-7 Big East)Albany, New York; Sunday, 6:10 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: UConn -3.5; over/under is 129.5BOTTOM LINE: The No. 10 UConn Huskies take on the No. 19 Saint Mary’s Gaels in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.The Huskies are 13-7 against Big East opponents and 13-1 in non-conference play. UConn is 0-4 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.The Gaels are 14-2 against WCC teams. Saint Mary’s (CA) averages 71.1 points and has outscored opponents by 11.2 points per game.TOP PERFORMERS: Adama Sanogo is averaging 17.1 points and 7.4 rebounds for the Huskies.Logan Johnson is averaging 14.6 points, 3.6 assists and 1.5 steals for the Gaels.LAST 10 GAMES: Huskies: 8-2, averaging 77.3 points, 36.7 rebounds, 17.6 assists, 5.8 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 65.5 points per game.Gaels: 7-3, averaging 70.7 points, 30.2 rebounds, 12.5 as...

UAB plays Morehead State in NIT matchup

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:10:15 GMT

Morehead State Eagles (22-11, 14-4 OVC) at UAB Blazers (26-9, 14-6 C-USA)Birmingham, Alabama; Sunday, 3 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: The UAB Blazers and the Morehead State Eagles meet in the National Invitation Tournament.The Blazers are 14-6 against C-USA opponents and 12-3 in non-conference play. UAB is the C-USA leader with 11.7 offensive rebounds per game led by KJ Buffen averaging 2.8.The Eagles are 14-4 against OVC opponents. Morehead State is third in the OVC with 24.7 defensive rebounds per game led by Alex Gross averaging 4.8.TOP PERFORMERS: Eric Gaines is averaging 11.6 points, 4.5 assists and 1.9 steals for the Blazers. Jordan Walker is averaging 23.1 points and four assists over the past 10 games for UAB.Kalil Thomas is shooting 38.4% from beyond the arc with 2.0 made 3-pointers per game for the Eagles, while averaging 7.9 points. Mark Freeman is averaging 13.6 points and four assists over the last 10 games for Morehead State.LAST 10 GAMES: Blazers: 9-1, averaging 81.1 points, 3...

Tarleton State, Radford play in CBI Tournament

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:10:15 GMT

Radford Highlanders (19-14, 12-6 Big South) vs. Tarleton State Texans (17-16, 9-9 WAC)Daytona Beach, Florida; Sunday, 4 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: The Tarleton State Texans take on the Radford Highlanders in the College Basketball Invitational.The Texans are 9-9 against WAC opponents and 8-7 in non-conference play. Tarleton State scores 72.0 points while outscoring opponents by 4.2 points per game.The Highlanders’ record in Big South action is 12-6. Radford has a 4-4 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.TOP PERFORMERS: Lue Williams is scoring 10.7 points per game and averaging 3.1 rebounds for the Texans. Freddy Hicks is averaging 16.3 points and 6.0 rebounds over the last 10 games for Tarleton State.DaQuan Smith is scoring 13.8 points per game with 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists for the Highlanders. Josiah Jeffers is averaging 9.4 points and 3.8 assists over the past 10 games for Radford.LAST 10 GAMES: Texans: 5-5, averaging 73.9 points, 26.0 rebounds, 14.5 assists, 11.1 stea...

San Jose State and Southern Indiana square off in CBI Tournament matchup

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:10:15 GMT

Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles (16-16, 9-9 OVC) vs. San Jose State Spartans (20-13, 10-8 MWC)Daytona Beach, Florida; Saturday, 4 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: The San Jose State Spartans and the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles meet in the College Basketball Invitational.The Spartans have gone 10-8 against MWC opponents, with a 10-5 record in non-conference play. San Jose State is ninth in the MWC scoring 67.5 points while shooting 43.7% from the field.The Screaming Eagles’ record in OVC games is 9-9. Southern Indiana is second in the OVC with 25.0 defensive rebounds per game led by Jacob Polakovich averaging 8.0.TOP PERFORMERS: Omari Moore is averaging 17.5 points and 4.8 assists for the Spartans. Alvaro Cardenas Torre is averaging 8.7 points over the last 10 games for San Jose State.Isaiah Swope is averaging 15.6 points and 3.6 assists for the Screaming Eagles. Polakovich is averaging 12.6 points and 13.6 rebounds while shooting 58.3% over the last 10 games for Southern Indiana.L...

Tennessee and Duke square off in second round of NCAA Tournament

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:10:15 GMT

Duke Blue Devils (27-8, 14-6 ACC) vs. Tennessee Volunteers (24-10, 11-7 SEC)Orlando, Florida; Saturday, 2:40 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Tennessee -3.5; over/under is 128.5BOTTOM LINE: The No. 20 Tennessee Volunteers and No. 12 Duke Blue Devils play in the NCAA Tournament second round.The Volunteers’ record in SEC play is 11-7, and their record is 13-3 in non-conference play. Tennessee is eighth in college basketball with 16.9 assists per game led by Zakai Zeigler averaging 5.4.The Blue Devils’ record in ACC games is 14-6. Duke is 2-0 when it wins the turnover battle and averages 11.4 turnovers per game.TOP PERFORMERS: Santiago Vescovi is shooting 36.7% from beyond the arc with 2.7 made 3-pointers per game for the Volunteers, while averaging 12.6 points and 1.8 steals. Olivier Nkamhoua is averaging 9.5 points over the past 10 games for Tennessee.Dariq Whitehead averages 1.5 made 3-pointers per game for the Blue Devils, scoring 8.3 points while shooting 42.6% from be...

Duquesne, Rice square off in CBI Tournament

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:10:15 GMT

Rice Owls (18-15, 8-12 C-USA) vs. Duquesne Dukes (20-12, 10-8 A-10)Daytona Beach, Florida; Sunday, 1:30 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: The Duquesne Dukes and Rice Owls meet in the College Basketball Invitational.The Dukes are 10-8 against A-10 opponents and 10-4 in non-conference play. Duquesne is second in the A-10 with 15.2 assists per game led by Tevin Brewer averaging 3.3.The Owls are 8-12 in C-USA play. Rice has a 4-1 record in one-possession games.TOP PERFORMERS: Brewer is averaging 7.4 points and 3.3 assists for the Dukes. Dae Dae Grant is averaging 14.5 points over the last 10 games for Duquesne.Quincy Olivari is averaging 18.8 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Owls. Travis Evee is averaging 15.4 points over the last 10 games for Rice.LAST 10 GAMES: Dukes: 6-4, averaging 76.1 points, 30.5 rebounds, 16.2 assists, 9.4 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 71.7 points per game.Owls: 3-7, averaging 72.8 points, 28.9 rebounds, 13.6 ...

Wisconsin squares off against Liberty in NIT matchup

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:10:15 GMT

Liberty Flames (27-8, 15-3 ASUN) at Wisconsin Badgers (18-14, 9-11 Big Ten)Madison, Wisconsin; Sunday, 12 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: The Wisconsin Badgers take on the Liberty Flames in the National Invitation Tournament.The Badgers have gone 9-11 against Big Ten opponents, with a 9-3 record in non-conference play. Wisconsin ranks fifth in the Big Ten in team defense, giving up 63.8 points while holding opponents to 44.4% shooting.The Flames are 15-3 against ASUN teams. Liberty has a 24-3 record in games decided by 10 or more points.TOP PERFORMERS: Connor Essegian averages 2.1 made 3-pointers per game for the Badgers, scoring 12.0 points while shooting 37.1% from beyond the arc. Steven Crowl is shooting 51.5% and averaging 12.7 points over the past 10 games for Wisconsin.Darius McGhee is shooting 39.8% from beyond the arc with 4.5 made 3-pointers per game for the Flames, while averaging 22.6 points and 1.6 steals. Kyle Rode is shooting 48.4% and averaging 12.4 points over the past 10 games...