Tag: NCAAM Tournament

LeBron James perfectly explained why women’s college basketball has more star power than men’s

This was a BRILLIANT point from LeBron about the NCAA and one-and-done rules.

Like countless basketball fans around the world, LeBron James is watching both men’s and women’s college basketball tournaments with a close eye.

James, whose son Bronny James played in the NCAA at USC but did not make the tournament, is still tuning into March Madness. The four-time NBA Finals MVP was asked what stands out about the way the style of play in the NCAA.

At first, James talked about the fundamentals of the game on the court. But eventually, he transitioned to discussing the popularity of the game and the way that it is received by the fans.

He highlighted the increasing popularity of NCAA women’s stars such as Angel Reese, JuJu Watkins, Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and others. All of these individuals, he noted, have become icons in the sport:

“I don’t think there is much difference between the men and women games when it comes to college basketball. I think the popularity comes in is the icon’s they have in the women’s game. You look at Angel Reese, you look at JuJu, you look at Caitlin Clark. You look at Paige.”

These players are fantastic, entertaining, talented, and accomplished on and off the court. They deserve all of the attention they are getting now and will continue to receive in the future.

They will continue to have a massive presence when they turn pro.

“You’re able to build a real iconic legacy at a program and that’s what we all love about it. We love the girl’s game because of that moment … That’s what makes the Final Four and the Elite Eight so great. Iowa was a great team but Caitlin Clark is the reason we tuned in. You’re going to watch Purdue because of Zach Edey because he’s a great player … Players, depending on who they are, will drive the attention when it comes to viewership.”

James went on to compliment the way that the women play the game, discussing the way they pass to their teammates and cut to the basket and dive for loose balls.

But eventually he came back to the way that each of the women that he mentioned above have the ability to really grow their brands while they’re in college. It’s not just star power. It’s staying power.

That means that these storylines develop over the years they play, too, which allows for fans to become invested. That is one of the many reasons why the recent game between Iowa and LSU smashed ESPN’s TV ratings.

More fans watched that than any of the men’s games. James speculated why:

“The star power that we have in the women’s game outweighs some of the men, too … It’s hard to keep up with a lot of the guys because of the transfer portal. Guys are moving. It’s hard to keep up with a certain individual. It’s not the JJ Redick’s where he was there at Duke for four years. Or Shane Battier who came back four years or Miles Simon or Mike Bibby in the late 90s when they was playing.”

It is true that the transfer portal is as busy as ever and that makes it hard for fans to latch on to individual players as their favorites. (There are rumors that LeBron’s son, Bronny, could enter the portal from USC if he does not declare for the 2024 NBA Draft.)

Yet the bigger causation, according to LeBron, is the increased prevalence of the one-and-done prospect pipeline from NCAA men’s college basketball into the NBA.

Many players inevitably decide to turn pro as soon as possible in the NBA. ESPN’s latest projections only have two players with multiple years of college experience (Dalton Knecht and Zach Edey) predicted to hear their names in the lottery of the 2024 NBA Draft.

Because that’s not an option in the WNBA, women’s college basketball has bigger names than men’s.

“It’s just a different time between the men and women and men can come out right after their freshman year. If I have a big [expletive] season after my freshman season of college basketball, I’m going to the league … JuJu, she can’t come out. If she could, you think she might? Maybe. But that’s the difference.”

Watkins, as James noted, is a fascinating example of a player who perhaps would consider declaring for the WNBA Draft even though she has played just one year in the NCAA.

Instead, fans will watch her play several more seasons in college basketball. That’s going to give her multiple years to build her brand and by that time she is 22 years old, her popularity among basketball fans will have plenty of eyes on her whenever she steps on the court.

Ironically, LeBron himself is one of the last prep-to-pro high school draftees in the NBA’s history. Now, even before they are ready to contribute impactful minutes, prospects want to turn pro as fast as possible and will only play one year in the NCAA.

That, however, simply limits how often we truly see stars in men’s college basketball. Women’s college basketball, however, has no shortage of players who have created unmatched legacies for themselves in the collegiate game.

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DJ Burns reacts to NFL rumors with a savvy answer on if he would ever consider a football career

Gen-Z Bo had a perfect response to this question.

North Carolina State big man DJ Burns is one of the most exciting players participating in March Madness.

Burns, who has helped lead his team on an exciting run during the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, is playing extraordinarily well on the court. He is getting amazing nicknames and delighting NBA players like Nikola Jokic.

But he is also generating some buzz as an NFL prospect.

During a recent interview while on The Dan Patrick Show, the NCAA tournament darling said that it isn’t surprising people are talking about him playing football because his team is “trending” right now.

He added that his plan is to play in the NBA when he finishes his college career at North Carolina State. However, if a football team really wanted his services, he wouldn’t say no:

“I’d probably explore some other options with basketball first before all of that. But I’m not a closed-minded person.”

That is a great answer from Burns! He  made it clear to basketball teams that he still wants to keep the main thing the main thing without fully shutting the door on football, either.

Patrick noted that Burns could obviously pursue opportunities to play professionally overseas as well if the NBA does not work out. He could try playing in the NBA’s G League, too.

Burns was also asked if he has heard from any football teams about pursuing a career in the NFL.

The big man said that he had not heard directly heard from anyone. Perhaps teams have reached out to people affiliated with him through North Carolina State or otherwise but it seems Burns is more focused on March Madness as of right now.

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Zach Edey was a high school baseball pitcher but this video shows basketball was the right choice

Edey eventually outgrew the sport but he was a sight to behold.

Long before he was absolutely dominating during March Madness, Purdue big man Zach Edey was playing a different sport in high school.

Edey, a 7-foot-4 center who is originally from Canada, was the national collegiate player of the year last season and will likely win it again this year. The big man has led Purdue to the Final Four for the first time since 1980.

But what is especially difficult to believe is that Edey did not even play basketball until he was a sophomore in high school. Before that, he was focused on ice hockey and baseball.

This video is resurfacing of him playing baseball and he was not bad! His fastball needed way more velocity but that is an intimidating presence to bat against.

Edey pitched in Ontario for the travel team Leaside. He was even reportedly scouted to play baseball at the University of Alabama.

He had a “stellar” youth baseball career, per The Athletic, and began his career as a first baseman. Edey was also throwing 70 to 75 miles per hour at 13 years old.

Although he wanted to become the tallest MLB player to ever play, Edey admitted that the sport became a lot harder for him as he grew (via Journal & Courier):

“It was something I really wanted during my childhood. Something I dreamed about,” Edey said. “I kind of outgrew the sport. My shoulder was kind of giving out a little bit. It wasn’t very realistic anymore.”

He elaborated about the difficulties of the growth sport (via Stadium):

“I was growing so much, losing muscle mass, and I couldn’t hit,” Edey said. “I was uncoordinated because of the amount of size I put on. My eye line changed, everything changed. I was still pitching fairly well, but had a lot of arm, shoulder and elbow problems. I was throwing too hard for where my muscle development was at, and I lost a lot of my love for the sport because I felt like I was outgrowing it.”

Even though Edey potentially could have played college baseball in the United States, he now has a chance to become a lottery pick as an NBA player.

We projected that the big man will hear his name called in the first round of our latest 2024 NBA Mock Draft.

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Nikola Jokic couldn’t stop gushing about DJ Burns after NC State made the Final Four

DJ Burns has the attention of the NBA’s best player.

With NC State’s surprising run to the men’s Final Four of March Madness, big man DJ Burns has quickly become the talk of the tournament.

After the forward dropped 29 points, four rebounds, and three assists in a dominating win over Duke in the Elite Eight on Sunday, hoops fans couldn’t get enough of his unique skill. Burns’ performance even created a buzz about his potentially playing in the NFL in the future.

However, amongst the entire Burns-loving crowd, one of the more noteworthy was Denver Nuggets reigning NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokic. Fresh off a superb Easter Sunday performance of his own, the Denver center admitted he was late to his postgame press conference because he was watching Burns’ highlights.

And when asked about the young big man’s talents on the court, Jokic couldn’t stop gushing about him:

Look at that smile on Jokic’s face! That’s a man who’s truly appreciating someone’s unique abilities.

Burns himself loved hearing that Jokic enjoyed watching him play, even saying he likes to emulate the Nuggets center’s impeccable post work:

There you have it, folks. It’s not every day you get a ringing endorsement from the NBA’s best player, but that’s what happens when you play with as much joy as Burns.

Auburn legend Charles Barkley begrudgingly cheered ‘Roll Tide!’ after Alabama made its first men’s Final Four

Look away, Auburn fans.

If there’s anything an Auburn fan never wants to say, it’s the main slogan for Alabama.

Well, Auburn men’s basketball legend and sports broadcaster Charles Barkley had to metaphorically hold his nose as he gave credit to the Crimson Tide after the team punched its first-ever ticket to men’s Final Four.

Alabama’s 89-82 Elite Eight victory over Clemson on Saturday night was a historic one for the program, especially sweet for the rivalry after Auburn won the 2024 SEC title and got bounced earlier in the NCAA tournament.

Well, Barkley begrudgingly let out a “Roll Tide!” cheer to commend Alabama for its incredible accomplishment, surely to the delight of Crimson Tide fans everywhere.

While Auburn fans might want to zap this video from their memories as fast as possible, Barkley was a good sport for ever so briefly letting Bama have its flowers.

We’ll see how Alabama stacks up against UConn during that Final Four battle next weekend, and if Barkley has to keep praising Alabama’s excellence on the court… or can finally rejoice with all Auburn fans in it being eliminated from the tournament.

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Who is Mark Sears? Meet Alabama’s electric Elite Eight hero

Meet Mark Sears, Alabama’s electric Elite Eight hero.

When Alabama needed a spark in its Elite Eight game against Clemson on Saturday night, it found one in senior guard Mark Sears.

Sears played a huge role in helping Alabama men’s basketball reach its first Final Four in school history after its 89-82 Elite Eight victory over the Tigers.

The Muscle Shoals, Alabama, native played started his career with the Ohio University Bobcats in 2020 and played two seasons there. He then joined the Crimson Tide in 2022 and turned into a key member of its starting lineup.

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

He’s now one of Alabama’s 2024 March Madness heroes for its first Final Four run. During the team’s Sweet 16 victory over North Carolina, Sears set Alabama’s single-season record for points scored by a player.

While playing Clemson, Sears nailed a staggering seven 3-point shots when his team needed them the most.

One of those came from a mid-court logo in the second half that wowed everyone in attendance for Saturday’s game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. 

He even hit a massive 3-pointer in the game’s final stretch to help the Crimson Tide inch further away from the Tigers for the victory. He scored 23 points in total during the win.

As the Crimson Tide try to keep this hot streak alive against UConn next weekend, the team will need more stellar play from Sears beyond the arc.

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Dan Hurley shared a heartwarming moment with his son after UConn’s Elite Eight victory

For the Hurleys, March Madness is a family affair.

UConn men’s basketball punched its ticket for the 2024 Final Four on Saturday in a lopsided victory over Illinois in the Elite Eight.

The Huskies are trying to win a second-straight national title under coach Dan Hurley, and making it to the Final Four of the men’s NCAA tournament is just one step closer to the ultimate goal.

Hurley’s son Andrew is a walk-on senior guard for the Huskies, so father and son get to make a second championship push together in this year’s tournament.

After Saturday’s Elite Eight win, the Hurleys shared a really sweet moment with each other on the court as they embraced in a big hug in their celebratory hats.

It’s always neat when somebody gets to play for their dad in any sport, much less one as big as college basketball.

It’s a family affair for the Hurleys, and we’ll see if more celebrating will be in order for this father-son duo as the tournament continues.

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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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NC State’s Sweet 16 win over Marquette triggered an automatic 2-year extension for coach Kevin Keatts

Kevin Keatts isn’t going anywhere after leading the Wolfpack to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1986.

Before the ACC tournament, NC State men’s basketball coach Kevin Keatts found himself at the center of some hot-seat discussions. But a lot can change in a few weeks.

The Wolfpack won five games in five days in Washington, D.C., to win the ACC and swipe an auto-bid to the NCAA tournament. Now, Keatts’ team is heading back to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1986 after a 67-58 win over No. 2-seed Marquette in the Sweet 16.

It’s a safe assumption that Keatts isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and his contract performance bonuses reinforce that. Friday night’s victory earned Keatts a $50,000 bonus — putting him at $250,000 in total bonuses this postseason — and it also automatically triggered a two-year contract extension that will raise his annual salary by $400,000.

Keatts, who is in his seventh season in Raleigh after being hired from UNC Wilmington, has made the NCAA tournament three times during his tenure, most recently last season. But prior to this year, he was still searching for his first victory in the big dance.

No. 11-seeded NC State has easily been the biggest story in the men’s tournament so far, and Keatts’ team will be moving on to face the winner of Friday night’s game between Duke and Houston in the Elite Eight, which will take place in Detroit on Sunday.

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Duke star Jared McCain explained why he paints his nails in his latest TikTok during March Madness

Duke’s Jared McCain doesn’t care if his painted nails offend you.

Duke Blue Devils freshman guard Jared McCain is easily one of the biggest stars of the March Madness tournament so far.

McCain, a former McDonald’s All-American and Mr. California Basketball, was a consensus five-star recruit coming out of high school before eventually committing to play for Duke.

He has had a solid season in college but especially stood out during the early rounds of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The impressive guard had 30 points in a win against James Madison during the Round of 32.

Not only was it a stellar showing but he looked good doing it, too. Some fans have noticed that like Caleb Williams, the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, McCain keeps freshly manicured nails on his fingers.

@jaredmccain24

Y’all have been asking. @Sally Hansen is the GOAT 🐐! There’s no better nail polish in the game 💅💅 #SallyHansenPartner

♬ original sound – Jaredmccain24

RELATED: Caleb Williams has the perfect response to the dumb, offensive talk about his pink phone and nails

When he is not on the court, McCain also keeps an active TikTok profile.

For his latest video, he recently explained why he likes to paint his nails.

“Just do some self-care time. I think everyone should do self-care for themselves. For me, it’s nail painting. I’m sorry if that offends any of you guys.”

The video was a paid partnership with Sally Hansen as part of an NIL.

He continued, adding more context to why he likes the look so much:

“There’s really no crazy reason to it. It helps me not bite my nails. I went to a salon one time and I decided to pick out a color and I thought it looked nice and I know a lot of people disagree. A lot of people don’t like it. I’m just going to be myself and do what I think looks nice. One of the reason why I kept painting my nails is I had a game after I painted my nails and I ended up playing really well. I’m not crazy superstitious but I thought it looked nice and I thought it helped me play better and so far it’s worked so I’m just going to keep doing it.”

We recently projected McCain as a lottery pick in the latest edition of our 2024 NBA Mock Draft.

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