college basketball

No Davidson. No George Mason. No Wisconsin-Milwaukee. No Valparaiso, Chattanooga, Wichita State, Missouri State or Miami-Ohio.
When Siena failed to hold off Louisville, it meant that, for the first time since 1997, no so-called outsider had survived the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

Stanford women's basketball coach Tara VanDerveer believes in the adage that you learn a lot about a person when they are having a tough time.
So what, then, have we learned about Nneka Ogwumike as she has navigated the hills and valleys of her freshman season?
For one thing, the wide-open smile never goes away.

Experiencing Tennessee's run to a national championship last season made Angie Bjorklund wise beyond her years regarding the NCAA basketball tournament.
But it didn't make the Lady Vols sophomore guard any better at conveying her experiences to her teammates.

Courtney Paris looked horrified as the television commentator set up the famous footage.
"Oh, my gosh," she said, eyes wide.
Her national-title promise?
Her money-back guarantee?
Nope.

One of the most fascinating facts about the North Dakota State men's basketball team is that it is the first school in nearly 40 years to qualify for the NCAA Tournament in its first year of eligibility.
The last to do it was Long Beach State in 1970.

Though North Carolina's basketball team can take relief in knowing Ty Lawson will likely be back for Saturday's second-round NCAA Tournament game against Louisiana State, there's still this nagging matter of Danny Green's shooting touch.

Eric Devendorf wants to play the villain.
Syracuse's junior guard - crude, tattooed and often booed - has that rare mix of talent and cockiness that sets opposing fans off.

If anyone knows that great defense can't overcome stagnant offense in the NCAA tournament, it's Pitt coach Jamie Dixon.
Dixon's five previous teams that advanced to the tournament were among the best in the country defensively, but the Panthers were sent home because the offense failed to produce in crunch time.

Saul Phillips was thrilled to see his North Dakota State men's basketball team all over ESPN last week.
"Usually, when Fargo makes it on TV," Phillips said, "it's on The Weather Channel."
Phillips was thrilled to see his adoptive city make the national news, too, "for something other than the wood chipper scene in 'Fargo.'"

Ralph Sampson III and Colton Iverson are only freshmen.
But with their first regular season and conference tournament behind them, they're beginning to sound like veterans.