Last call for March Madness Time to get your picks in
https://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/mens-basketball-bracket/group/61227

March Madness Time to get your picks in
https://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/mens-basketball-bracket/group/61227

After beating us in the College pickems the kid has a commanding lead in the pro pickems. And Bill Belichick to coach UNC. The transfer portal is now open.

Pro Football Pickems
https://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/pickem/32237

Password 27265

College Football Pickems.
https://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/college/9890

Password 27265

Amazing, Congrats!

And UConn wins it all and I won my bracket.

Hey Agreed…

Too long and Cashman is partly to blame.

I Hope You Won Big!

Man it’s been a while since I saw the Yankees! 2009 World Series Forever

And UConn is in as well. I'm the only one in my group that had them both.

I saw the final score. I was at the Yankee game.

Good Call, Purdue Just Won & Going To The Title, Congrats Boilermakers

Indeed Purdue is beating NC State atm with 5 left

NC State & Purdue Game Is A Fun One!

Ok I hear you, I’m pulling for the ACC Go Wolfpack!

I have UConn and Purdue in the finals. But first Purdue needs to get past NCSU. They are having an incredible run.

Thank You, You Too! Final Four Up Next, Exciting!

Congrats and now onto the final 4 with a tough matchup with Uconn.

Big Time

It says something about Alabama to knock off a blue blood of the ACC.

Thanks, That one kid from up north Nelson, on the Alabama squad was really good, performed like a champ… Duke and NC State are in elite 8 too! Great To See

For North Carolina, loss to Alabama in Sweet 16 will be a haunting NCAA Tournament exit

LOS ANGELES — His feet plunged in an NCAA cooler half full of crushed ice, eyes glued to the black carpet inside North Carolina’s locker room, Cormac Ryan tried to answer a simple and simultaneously impossible question:

What are you feeling right now?

“F—ing pissed off, first and foremost,” Ryan said. “Wanted to win that game. We all did.”

Naturally. So in moments like that — not even a half hour after UNC’s season-ending 89-87 loss to Alabama in the Sweet 16 — that’s a logical first reaction. You’re still replaying missed shots and other miscues on a nightmare-like mental loop. The gut, visceral response is frustration, that red-hot fire of having failed.

And then, in real-time, the rest sank in. How once Ryan takes off his jersey, there’s no putting it back on. Season, over. And for him? College basketball career, over. Just like that. Gone forever.

Ryan’s lip quivered. A deep exhale.

“You know, I’m sad,” he continued, much more slowly, “that this is gonna be the last time with this group. Love these guys. Love this university.”

And it was, even despite Thursday’s result at Crypto.com Arena, a special group. No, North Carolina will not fly to Phoenix next weekend for the Final Four, but that disappointment does not (or should not, at least) cancel out this team’s other accomplishments. Winning the ACC regular-season title. Earning the program’s record 18th No. 1 seed. Producing both the player and coach of the year in the conference.

“Getting Carolina,” as RJ Davis said, “back to where it usually is.”

But those things are hard to cling to now, when a team’s lofty dreams just turned to dust. The finality of everything is what makes the NCAA Tournament the best postseason in sports — and quite possibly the most painful. Because one minute, you’re up three with 92 seconds left, an Elite Eight berth in your grasp. And the next, the buzzer blares and you’re on a redeye flight back home.

One locker to Ryan’s right, after Armando Bacot’s 169th and final college basketball contest, UNC’s storied big man tried to put that sentiment into words.

“I’m just shocked. I don’t even really know,” Bacot said. “I’m, like, blank right now. No feeling.”

Shock is also appropriate — especially after those final 92 seconds, which will haunt the Tar Heels for quite some time. They will be talked about like Kendall Marshall’s broken wrist in 2012, like Auburn’s unstoppable shooting in 2019. Like Kris Jenkins in 2016, although obviously not to that level of drama. But in that same, painful vein.

Davis had just hit the second of two free throws to put UNC up three. It was the last point of his personal 6-0 run, one that seemed redemptive after arguably his worst game of the season. For the first time in 37 games, the All-American did not make a single 3-pointer, going 0-of-9 from deep. But that 6-0 run, part of an 8-0 stretch by North Carolina, reclaimed the lead for the Tar Heels and seemed to supersede any earlier wrongs.

And then everything came undone.

It started with Mark Sears, Alabama’s All-America guard, driving for a layup to make it a one-point game. On UNC’s next offensive possession, the Crimson Tide double-teamed Davis as they had all game, and he passed out of it to forward Jae’Lyn Withers on the perimeter. Withers hitched. And then, for only the 20th time all season, a 21 percent 3-point shooter rose up and launched a trey, with Davis behind him clamoring for the ball.

Clank.

“The shot I took was a crucial shot,” Withers said. “I work on it day in and day out, but I think that with the time and score there, I could’ve gotten to the free-throw line there. I could’ve gotten to the basket.”

Instead? Alabama took that defensive rebound and whipped it down the floor to forward Grant Nelson — who scored 19 of his game-high 24 points in the second half — just in time for him to convert an and-1 layup over Withers.

Nelson made the free throw, putting Alabama up two, then spiked Davis’ last-ditch layup attempt volleyball-style on UNC’s do-or-die offensive possession. The Tar Heels didn’t get another attempt off. Shot-clock violation, with 7.7 seconds left.

Ballgame.

And while those futile final possessions will be what haunts North Carolina in the days and weeks to come, that stretch was painfully emblematic of the Tar Heels’ entire evening. Missing 15 of their first 17 shots in the second half. Failing to get Davis, who shot 4-of-20 overall, going in any discernible way. Allowing Nelson, a wiry 26.5 percent 3-point shooter, to get to his spots, over and over again, with no defensive adjustment.

It was a phenomenal coaching job by Alabama’s Nate Oats, flatly refusing to let RJ Davis beat his team single-handedly. And it was the opposite by Hubert Davis, who had plenty of fire on the sideline but few solutions.

In the coach’s postgame locker room, Davis sat with his head in his hand, blankly staring into space. He will have to sit with his result and the role he played in it.

So too will UNC’s hurting players and their stunned families sitting behind UNC’s bench. Bacot’s father, Armando Sr., did not mill around with other parents, discussing what went wrong. He just sat there, his navy North Carolina hoodie pulled over his head, silently patting away his tears with crumpled brown napkins.

That sadness will subside some in the next few days. But next weekend, when either Clemson or Alabama is playing in its first Final Four, it will hurt again. Maybe worse. Because it will become apparent the opportunity North Carolina squandered here, with as readymade a Final Four path as it could’ve hoped for.

Once again, Arizona is left to pick up the pieces

There was no Arizona awaiting in the Elite Eight. No much-discussed meeting against former UNC star Caleb Love — who, like Davis, shot 0-of-9 from 3 in his team’s loss on Thursday. There was Clemson, a team UNC whooped by 10 on the road in January and lost to by four points — despite a 17-2 start — at home amid an obvious Duke hangover. Nothing is guaranteed, clearly, but a No. 16 seed, a No. 9, a No. 4, and a No. 6? To make it to the Final Four?

You take that eight days a week.

“Our goal was to win a national championship,” Ryan said, “and we didn’t do that.”

Another deep breath. His best attempt to swallow the knot in his throat.

“That one really hurts,” he eventually whispered, “and it’ll hurt for the rest of our lives.”

Kentucky’s no-good day

The first day of the men’s NCAA Tournament featured some juicy results. None were as shocking as No. 3 seed Kentucky’s stunning loss to No. 14 seed Oakland:

The Wildcats probably should’ve won this game, but what can you do when a bench player comes in and hits 10 3-pointers the way Jack Gohlke did? The Division II transfer who “looks like a high school history teacher,” per one teammate, saved the game of his life for the big stage. Hard to beat.

Zoom out, and Kentucky coach John Calipari might actually be in trouble. “Previously unfathomable questions have to be asked,” writes Kyle Tucker. The Wildcats’ last four seasons ended like this: missed NCAA Tournament, first-round exit, second-round exit, first-round exit. That’s not good enough at Kentucky.

Calipari’s buyout is $33 million, which may sound cheap to college football fans, but remains financially onerous. That number drops to $27 million after next season. Hm.
Kentucky wasn’t the only upset yesterday, either:

No. 11 seed Duquesne won the Lame Duck Coach title, beating sixth-seeded BYU to extend coach Keith Dambrot’s career (Dambrot is retiring after the season). Long Beach State coach Dan Monson’s post-firing tenure ended after a loss to No. 2 seed Arizona.

Two other No. 11 seeds — Oregon and NC State — won their games yesterday against South Carolina and Texas Tech, respectively. A Clemson loss to New Mexico today would mean all four No. 6 seeds fell in the first round this year.

And Kentucky goes home again.

Since 2019, the Wildcats have won just one NCAA tournament game.
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/39781664/reacting-another-kentucky-upset-loss-first-round-2024-mens-ncaa-tournament-oakland

March Madness
https://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/mens-basketball-bracket/group/70888/invitation?key=b3372db47feeaaac

Notre Dame beats NC State for ACC Tournament title
https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/39701432/notre-dame-beats-nc-state-acc-tournament-title

Caitlin Clark, Iowa rally past Nebraska to win Big Ten title game
https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/39701211/caitlin-clark-iowa-rally-nebraska-win-big-ten-title-game

Good. I don't have time to deal with off topic crap.

And college baseball has started. One of my favorite sports with lots of local teams to see right close by.

ECU plays Duke, NCST and UNC close by.
https://ecupirates.com/sports/baseball/schedule

College player returns to action 2 years after losing leg
East Carolina University's Parker Byrd sparks emotional scene in return
February 16th, 2024
https://www.mlb.com/news/parker-byrd-plays-in-college-game-with-prosthetic-leg

Terrific story about determination to make it all the way back to play again along with a nice post by Jim Abbott.

Well done Parker, nothing can stop you! https://t.co/mW23UUB1hJ

— Jim Abbott (@jabbottum31) February 17, 2024

Sorry to have crossed whatever the line is on your board. I'm gone.

Oh please I'm not making excuses for Jordan. I can't stand the SOB so you can give that a rest.

As for Paterno his asst and "friend" betrayed him in the worst possible way. I do believe he had dementia at the end of his career and his family insulated him from the news of his asst coach. In any event his legacy was destroyed.

In any event it's up to the school how they deal with Paterno. Every school has had issue in the past.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/16/arts/yale-slavery-apology-history.html?searchResultPosition=1

And,
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/56968/speech-friends-romans-countrymen-lend-me-your-ears

You and K2 can debate the subject all you want but do it elsewhere. What happened at PSU was criminal and abhorrent and I'll leave it at that.

Don't make excuses. At the time Jordan was a wrestling Coach- not a politician. There's no difference in the 2 situations.

I guess turning a blind eye to child molestation is okay as long as you have a winning record. I don't know about you but it's not okay with me.

Don't put words in my mouth since I did not say it was ok.

By that token, why would you care anything about any of the big schools' sports teams?

This board is about college sports. And I like college sports.

Jim Jordan is a different animal. He probably knew what was going on at OSU and simply looked the other way. He'll have to live with that decision. But that is what pols do.

As for Paterno I suspect he suffered from dementia / senile and he didn't know what was going on.

Did his long time asst screw him and his rep? Yes.
Was he aware of it? Who knows. I don't.

I didn't go to PSU or OSU or Michigan or Washington so I could care less what PSU does.

128 QBs entered the transfer portal this year. I think that is BS.

You think Gym Jordan should not be held accountable too, then?

No one who abuses or knows of children being abused and does nothing should should ever be "honored".

This is coming from someone who thought a parent shouldn't be held accountable for an unlocked gun her son took to school and shot his teacher?

Please spare us the holier than thou crap. Paterno's dead. I'm sure if you dig him up he'll have regrets.

Now now lets not go pissing on the grave of Paterno.

My best guess is- if they're thinking at all- is that "no one will remember that part, and even if they do, Joe didn't physically take part in it".

I wonder- had one of their kids been a victim, would they still be so sanguine?

We're definitely in sync on that one.
What the hell are they thinking?

I think that would be a terrible idea, but that's just my opinion.

Pedophile State knows no shame...
REPORT: Penn State Quietly Seeking to Name Field After Joe Paterno
PAUL BOIS 15 Feb 2024 2:30
(The downfall of the Big Ten began when they let this school in. It was my safety school BTW.
Paterno was told about Sandusky doing a ten-year-old up the butt in the locker room.
He did NOTHING. McQueary -- the kid who witnessed and reported it -- did NOTHING to stop the attack.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_McQueary
Vile lowlifes. JMO, of course.)

Penn State has reportedly been quietly to name the field at Beaver Stadium after the late head coach Joe Paterno, who became a controversial figure in his latter years due to his involvement in the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal.

Sources close to the situation told Spotlight PA that several Penn State trustees have met with “high-ranking university representatives” to privately discuss the possibility of naming the field after Paterno, which may possibly violate state law, which “requires governing bodies to conduct business in public view, and continue a decadelong pattern of the board convening behind closed doors.” The sources said that trustees have been pushing strongly for Paterno’s name on the field, while university officials have been hesitant.

Paterno was Penn State’s head football coach for 45 years and won two national championships until the board fired him in November 2011 during the Sandusky scandal.

In 2012, Sandusky was convicted on 45 counts of child sex abuse and sentenced to up to 60 years in prison. Former university President Graham Spanier, former athletic director Tim Curley, and former vice president Gary Schultz also served jail time related to the scandal. Spanier was convicted of child endangerment, a misdemeanor. Curley and Schultz pleaded guilty to the same offense.

Paterno was never charged. He died in January 2012.

The board fired Paterno in 2011 in the fallout of Jerry Sandusky, and a statue dedicated to him was removed from the football stadium. He still holds the record for most wins in NCAA football history with 409.

An unnamed Penn State spokesperson wrote in an email to Spotlight PA that the “Administration and the Board of Trustees have embarked on numerous change initiatives based on President Bendapudi’s vision and goals and are focused on these priorities to continue to provide a world-class academic and student experience for years to come.”

Paul Roland Bois directed the award-winning feature film, EXEMPLUM, which can be viewed for FREE on YouTube or Tubi. “Better than Killers of the Flower Moon,” wrote Mark Judge. “You haven’t seen a story like this before,” wrote Christian Toto. A high-quality, ad-free stream can also be purchased on Google Play or Vimeo on Demand. Follow him on Twitter @prolandfilms or Instagram @prolandfilms.

https://www.breitbart.com/sports/2024/02/15/report-penn-state-quietly-seeking-to-name-field-after-joe-paterno/

I'll put it on my calendar. Hope it's on during the late afternoon east coast time.
I'll never stay awake, if it's a nighttime game.
Note to self:: May the outcome not affect my budding friendship with blackcat.
I tend to get too emotionally involved.
Have a good one. I must get on with my day.

Yes, Can we please avoid all major injuries!

Here's our rematch date- plan ahead.
Oct. 5 - home vs. Michigan

Very good. They get a good coach and continuity too. They maybe came out of the musical coach chairs in the best place overall.
I will say for Fisch that he has recruited both of our QBs back out of the portal - that's a pretty major deal.

Harbaugh's move doesn't surprise me at all. He's a mountain-climbing Capricorn.
He reached top of the collegiate football hill with the rebuild of the program culminating in a national championship.
Now, he must reach the NFL peak with the Chargers.
Good luck to him and his family.
California winters are easier to take than the ones in Ann Arbor.
... Unless the predicted torrential rains fall and they all get washed out to sea.
Have a good one.