Category: NCAA Men’s Basketball

UConn absolutely wrecked Illinois with a dominant 30-0 run in the Elite Eight

BREAKING: UConn is good at basketball.

The UConn men’s basketball team found itself on the ropes against Illinois on Saturday late in the first half, tied at 23 with less than two minutes to go to the break of this 2024 Elite Eight battle.

However, you can’t keep a good Husky down. After a slow start, UConn rattled off a staggering 30-0 run to counter the Illinois push, grabbing a whopping 53-23 lead about seven minutes into the second half.

It’s the longest scoring run for the program since 1990 and a great reminder of why nobody (and we mean nobody) wants to play the reigning men’s NCAA tournament champions in March Madness.

The team is a buzzsaw that can explode at will, and it’s easy to see why they’ve got a great chance to repeat as champions.

College basketball fans were in awe of UConn’s dominant run, as outscoring an opponent 30-0 for a stretch of basketball is pretty darn impressive.

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Why Mark Sears’ mom Lameka mimes shooting free throws with Alabama guard

Here’s the story behind this tradition.

It’s the most fun thing to watch as Alabama plays in March Madness: senior guard Mark Sears steps to the free-throw line, and the cameras go to his mom, Lameka, as she mimes his routine with him.

If you’re here, you’re probably wondering: why is that? What’s the story there?

We have an answer! Per the Tuscaloosa News: “As her son shoots free throws, Lameka always stands up and goes through the motions from the stands, too. She’s been doing that since Mark was playing rec league basketball. It just has never drawn the same level of exposure as now; Lameka has gotten frequent TV time throughout a season in which her son put together an effort that earned him consensus second-team All-American recognition.”

She’s always been his No. 1 fan and he can apparently hear her from the crowd during certain games.

Now that UNC’s out, who do you cheer for in the Big Dance?

With UNC recently gone from the NCAA Tournament, who should you be rooting for in the Elite 8?

With no more UNC in the NCAA Tournament, I don’t blame you if you don’t want to watch any more games.

It’s weird watching arguably the most-followed postseason tournament across all sports, only to not see your favorite team in it.

North Carolina faltered down the stretch on Thursday, March 28, allowing Grant Nelson to take over and lead Alabama to an 89-87 upset win. RJ Davis shot 4-of-20 from the field, the Tar Heels’ defense played horribly and Jae’Lyn Withers took a questionable shot late – with UNC having a 1-point lead and plenty of time on the shot clock.

The Elite 8 is all set now: UConn-Illinois, Purdue-Tennessee, Alabama-Clemson and Duke-NC State.

You read that right – THREE ACC teams.

If you’re still interested in watching the Big Dance (I know I will be), but are wondering who to cheer for, we have a couple recommendations for you. Our top one – ANYONE BUT DUKE.

UConn, which is looking to be the first repeat champion since Florida in 2006-2007, has a super-deep, talented roster led by Tristen Newton, Donovan Clingen and Cam Spencer. I like the Huskies a lot, who’ve blown out their first three opponents by an average of 29 points.

Illinois has made fairly easy work of its opponents, but barely squeaked by 2-seed Iowa State (72-69) in the Sweet 16.

If you don’t know about Purdue, they have Zach Edey clogging the paint. Unlike last year, when the Boilermakers suffered complete embarrassment by becoming the second 1-seed to lose to a 16-seed, they have more pieces around Edey.

Tennessee is one of the most exciting offenses to watch, led by SEC Player of the Year Dalton Knecht. The Vols can beat you with their deep guard rotation, then kick it down low to Jonas Aidoo (who can also make threes).

I will not be cheering for Alabama, but the Crimson Tide advancing further would mean beating UNC is no joke. Alabama also has Mark Sears, Aaron Estrada and Rylan Griffen scoring in double-digits.

This Clemson team reminds me a LOT of last year’s UConn squad – started out the year hot, hit a rough patch, then playing its best basketball in the NCAA Tournament. If the Tigers don’t beat you down low with PJ Hall or Ian Schieffelin, they’ll make you pay from outside with Joe Girard or Chase Hunter.

I know I’m not supposed to cheer for NC State, but how can you not love DJ Burns? The big man is leading the Wolfpack’s torrid stretch of eight consecutive victories – which started in the ACC Tournament and included the championship over North Carolina,

Burns has reached double-digits in seven of NC State’s last eight games, plus he’s near-impossible to stop down low. He reminds me a lot of a shorter, lighter Shaq.

Duke is led by Kyle Filipowski, public enemy number one in Chapel Hill, The Blue Devils have the talent to win it all, with all five starters averaging at least 10 points, but they’re young and not very deep.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

College hoops fans think refs weren’t calling Zach Edey fouls, including a blatant sequence vs. Gonzaga

Was Zach Edey really getting the superstar treatment here?

Zach Edey is on to the Elite Eight with Purdue, but some hoops fans think he got some star treatment from referees.

There was one particular play from the March Madness Sweet 16 win over Gonzaga that had folks steaming —  he appeared to get his elbow up high and into a Bulldogs player’s head as he was boxing out for a rebound in the first half. Then, he seemed to go over the back on Ryan Nembhard, before they got tangled up.

On that last one, yeah! Sure looks like a foul. Here are some thoughts from fans as they watched the Purdue win:

Duke players classily dapped up injured Jamal Shead after upsetting Houston

This was all class by Duke.

It was an awful night for Jamal Shead and the Houston Cougars.

The starting guard who was second on the team in scoring and led them in assists and steals per game left with an ankle injury with under seven minutes in the first half — he was seen on crutches after the game, but had to painfully watch as his team lost to Duke 54-51, with the Blue Devils stunned the No. 1 seed.

But there was a classy set of moments after, as Duke players came and dapped him up both on the bench and in the tunnel. That was lovely of them:

 

March Madness: Where to watch, stream and listen to Clemson vs. Alabama

Clemson Basketball in March Madness: Here’s where Clemson Tigers fans can watch, stream and listen to Saturday’s Elite Eight contest vs. the Alabama Crimson Tide in the NCAA Tournament in Los Angeles.

Alabama coach Nate Oats dubbed it “the basketball Rose Bowl.”

No word yet on whether Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney will be there to witness it.

Nevertheless, it’s on to the Elite Eight for No. 6 seed Clemson, which will take on No. 4 seed Alabama in the West Region final of the NCAA Tournament Saturday at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

It will be the second time the Crimson Tide and Tigers have met this season. Clemson defeated Alabama, 85-77, back on November 28 in Tuscaloosa as part of the ACC-SEC Challenge.

With a trip to the Final Four on the line, it’s hard to bet against the Tigers in a rematch.

They survived No. 3 seed Baylor before knocking out No. 2 seed Arizona, 77-72, in Thursday’s Sweet 16 contest. Chase Hunter has been phenomenal throughout the tournament, and he scored another 18 points in the win against Arizona.

Clemson’s defense has held opponents to less than 40 percent shooting in its first three games of the tournament.

Alabama got to the Elite 8 by taking down No. 1 seed North Carolina, 89-87, in a thrilling comeback on Thursday. Grant Nelson scored 24 points to keep the Tide rolling in the Dance after a late-season slump in SEC play threatened to derail Alabama’s season.

The Crimson Tide is the led by senior Mark Sears, who averages 21.4 points per night. Sears totaled 18 points against North Carolina on 7-of-14 shots. ‘Bama’s biggest strength — and subsequently its achilles heel — is its 3-point shooting. When the Tide gets rolling, they have any number of deadly assassins from behind the arc, including Sears and Rylan Griffen (11.2 points per game).

Neither Clemson nor Alabama have ever reached the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament.

Series Notes and History

Clemson leads the all time head to head series, 8-4. The two schools first met in basketball in 1929. The Tigers have won the last three meetings in the series, including its November win in Tuscaloosa. In that game, Hall had 21 points, eight rebounds and four blocks. Hunter and Joe Girard combined for 31 points. Saturday’s game will mark the fifth meeting between the Tigers and Crimson Tide since 2015.

Where To Watch

Here’s where Clemson fans can watch, stream and listen to Saturday’s NCAA Tournament game against Alabama.

Date: Saturday, March 30

Time: 8:49 p.m. EST

Where: Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center)

TV: TBS/truTV

Live Stream: B/R Sports add-on via Max app

Radio: Clemson Athletic Network | Westwood One Sports (national broadcast) | TuneIn App | Varsity App | SiriusXM (Channel 202)

Broadcast Teams

TBS: Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Jim Jackson (analyst), Allie LaForce (sideline)

Clemson Radio: Don Munson, JD Powell

Westwood One Sports: Spero Dedes, Austin Croshere

How to buy Purdue vs. Tennessee 2024 NCAA Men’s Elite Eight tickets

Want to watch No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 2 Tennessee in person? Elite 8 tickets for the Midwest Regional in Detroit still remain for as little as $135.

The final Elite Eight matchup of the 2024 NCAA Men’s Tournament is set.

No. 1 Purdue will take on No. 2 Tennessee on Sunday, March 31, with a trip to the Final Four on the line.

After a Sweet 16 full of upsets, the Midwest Regional Final appears the be the chalky section of this year’s bracket.

SHOP: Purdue vs. Tennessee Elite Eight tickets

No. 5 Gonzaga played a good first 30 minutes against the Boilermakers, but Purdue hit the Bulldogs with a haymaker of a run late in the second half and pulled away, eventually defeating Gonzaga 80-68.

No. 3 Creighton made things interesting late in the game, but the Vols held on to advance to their second Elite Eight by a score of 82-75.

The Boilermakers have looked dominant during their March Madness run, but each round will get more difficult from here, and Tennessee poses a challenge that Purdue has not yet faced in the NCAA Tournament.

Tennessee has never made the Final Four, and Purdue’s last trip to the National Semifinals came all the way back in 1980. Needless to say, everything is on the line come Sunday.

Elite Eight tickets for the Detroit Regional remain, and at the time of publication were available for as little as $135.

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How to buy Purdue vs. Tennessee 2024 NCAA Men’s Elite Eight tickets

Want to watch No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 2 Tennessee in person? Elite 8 tickets for the Midwest Regional in Detroit still remain for as little as $135.

The final Elite Eight matchup of the 2024 NCAA Men’s Tournament is set.

No. 1 Purdue will take on No. 2 Tennessee on Sunday, March 31, with a trip to the Final Four on the line.

After a Sweet 16 full of upsets, the Midwest Regional Final appears the be the chalky section of this year’s bracket.

SHOP: Purdue vs. Tennessee Elite Eight tickets

No. 5 Gonzaga played a good first 30 minutes against the Boilermakers, but Purdue hit the Bulldogs with a haymaker of a run late in the second half and pulled away, eventually defeating Gonzaga 80-68.

No. 3 Creighton made things interesting late in the game, but the Vols held on to advance to their second Elite Eight by a score of 82-75.

The Boilermakers have looked dominant during their March Madness run, but each round will get more difficult from here, and Tennessee poses a challenge that Purdue has not yet faced in the NCAA Tournament.

Tennessee has never made the Final Four, and Purdue’s last trip to the National Semifinals came all the way back in 1980. Needless to say, everything is on the line come Sunday.

Elite Eight tickets for the Detroit Regional remain, and at the time of publication were available for as little as $135.

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How to buy Duke vs. NC State 2024 NCAA Men’s Elite Eight tickets

Want to watch No. 4 Duke vs. No. 11 NC State in person? Elite 8 tickets for the South Regional Final in Dallas still remain for as little as $83.

The third and penultimate Elite Eight matchup of the 2024 NCAA Men’s Tournament is set.

No. 4 Duke will take on No. 11 North Carolina State on Sunday, March 31, with a trip to the Final Four on the line.

Fans are in store for an all-ACC South Regional Final, as we get a decisive rubber match after the Blue Devils and Wolfpack split their two matchups this season.

SHOP: Duke vs. NC State Elite Eight tickets

On Friday, NC State took an early lead over No. 2 Marquette and never looked back as the Wolfpack continued their defensive dominance holding the Golden Eagles to 12.9% from three-point range.

Duke defeated No. 1 Houston in a back-and-forth battle with the Blue Devils hanging on late and advancing by a score of 54-51.

While NC State do not consider themselves to be a cinderella story, an 11 seed making the Elite Eight is closest thing we have in this year’s tournament. Will the story end with a Duke victory, or will the fairytale live on for at least one more upset?

Elite Eight tickets for the Dallas Regional remain, and at the time of publication were available for as little as $83.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop Duke vs. NC State Elite 8 tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/q3qQoPn”]

How to buy Duke vs. NC State 2024 NCAA Men’s Elite Eight tickets

Want to watch No. 4 Duke vs. No. 11 NC State in person? Elite 8 tickets for the South Regional Final in Dallas still remain for as little as $83.

The third and penultimate Elite Eight matchup of the 2024 NCAA Men’s Tournament is set.

No. 4 Duke will take on No. 11 North Carolina State on Sunday, March 31, with a trip to the Final Four on the line.

Fans are in store for an all-ACC South Regional Final, as we get a decisive rubber match after the Blue Devils and Wolfpack split their two matchups this season.

SHOP: Duke vs. NC State Elite Eight tickets

On Friday, NC State took an early lead over No. 2 Marquette and never looked back as the Wolfpack continued their defensive dominance holding the Golden Eagles to 12.9% from three-point range.

Duke defeated No. 1 Houston in a back-and-forth battle with the Blue Devils hanging on late and advancing by a score of 54-51.

While NC State do not consider themselves to be a cinderella story, an 11 seed making the Elite Eight is closest thing we have in this year’s tournament. Will the story end with a Duke victory, or will the fairytale live on for at least one more upset?

Elite Eight tickets for the Dallas Regional remain, and at the time of publication were available for as little as $83.

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