The NCAA Tournament field of 68 was revealed (despite CBS’ best efforts to delay it as long as possible), and we had another crazy photo finish in NASCAR. Plus, some news from over the weekend about a few bad quarterbacks! We get to all that and much more, here at the Monday Cheat Sheet. Happy bracketing…
The 2016 NCAA Tournament bracket is set
We learned the field of 68 for the 2016 NCAA Tournament on Sunday, although it certainly took much longer than it should’ve, as CBS did an unbelievably disastrous job of handling the Selection Show (and Charles Barkley really had trouble with a touch screen).
It was so bad that many people opted to just go read a bracket that was (somehow) leaked online.
I said on here entering the month that Kansas looked like the team to beat, and nothing has changed as we enter the NCAA Tournament. Kansas is the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed. Joining them as 1-seeds are North Carolina, Virginia, and Oregon.
The Comeback’s Dan Levy has already taken an in-depth look at which No. 1 seed has the toughest road to the Final Four.
It was considered by most to be rather stunning that Michigan State didn’t get a No. 1 seed… especially after they beat Purdue to win the Big Ten Tournament Championship on Sunday.
Michigan State didn’t get a No. 1 seed?!
— The Comeback (@comeback_sports) March 13, 2016
Pretty much the only human or computer ranking that has Oregon > Michigan State is RPI, which is the worst ranking. https://t.co/h7wloTWSfc
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) March 13, 2016
Pro Bettor David Malinsky (@PregamePhD) says Michigan St … favored by 3 over Oregon favored by 1 over Virgina — RJ Bell (@RJinVegas) March 13, 2016
Now, as is always the case, the biggest talk was in regard to the teams that ended up on the right side of the bubble, and the teams that unfortunately ended up on the wrong side of the bubble.
The last four teams to make the field according to the committee (in order) were Tulsa, Wichita State, Michigan, and Vanderbilt.
Pro bettor David Malinsky (@PregamePhD) says 14 TEAMS that did NOT make the tournament would be favored over TULSA!
— RJ Bell (@RJinVegas) March 13, 2016
The last four teams left out of the field (again, in order) were St. Bonaventure, Monmouth, South Carolina, and San Diego State.
People are very angry about St. Bonaventure and Monmouth being left out.
Atlantic 10 commish on the (unfair) omission of St. Bonaventure from NCAA tourney: pic.twitter.com/cchSdcSCzS
— Reid Forgrave (@ReidForgrave) March 14, 2016
St. Bonaventure: Biggest snub by the selection committee. I mean, Tulsa over the Bonnies? Syracuse? Vandy? Please. — Reid Forgrave (@ReidForgrave) March 13, 2016
Monmouth pretty much did everything the committee asks of a mid-major: played tough teams on the road (and won some). Bad look.
— Kami Mattioli (@kmattio) March 13, 2016
Monmouth. Was. Screwed. — Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) March 13, 2016
The Monmouth bench should sit with their legs cross for the entire NIT in protest of getting snubbed.
— Jim Weber (@JimMWeber) March 13, 2016
Click here to see the official NCAA Tournament 1-68 seed list.
Kevin Harvick edges Carl Edwards by 0.01 second in Phoenix
Good lord are the NASCAR finishes (literally) as close as can be this year. We had Denny Hamlin beating Martin Truex Jr. at the Daytona 500 by 0.010 second a few weeks ago, and now Kevin Harvick beating Carl Edwards by 0.01 second on Sunday in Phoenix:
Watch: What. A. Finish!@KevinHarvick and #CarlEdwards battle to the line at @PhoenixRaceway. Wow. #NASCAR https://t.co/6YMaiPjBz2
— FOX SPORTS: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 13, 2016
Johnny Manziel was FINALLY cut by the Cleveland Browns; Mark Sanchez is a Denver Bronco
Johnny Manziel was waived on Friday by the Cleveland Browns. FINALLY. Fox Sports Live with Jay and Dan summarized Manziel’s Browns career beautifully:
On that topic, what are the Browns going to do about quarterback (“probably screw it up” would work as an answer)? They’ve actually been making some progress in talks with the San Francisco 49ers over the last week, about Colin Kaepernick. So you’re probably thinking, “But wouldn’t he rather be with the other team rumored to be in on him, the defending champion Denver Broncos, instead of the dumpster fire that is the Cleveland Browns?”
It turns out he actually wants to be a Cleveland Brown (!!!), per reports. Is Kaepernick living in the bizarro world?
The Browns are reportedly willing to give up a third-round pick for Kaepernick.
Oh, and about those Broncos… they traded a conditional seventh-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for Mark Sanchez! If he’s the starting quarterback in Denver, that’s a problem. But he at least gives them some depth and veteran insurance if they want to, say, draft a Paxton Lynch at the end of the first round. And don’t laugh, but Mark Sanchez may not even be worse than 2015 Peyton Manning. I’m being serious. The problem is that their defense probably isn’t going to be quite as dominant after losing Malik Jackson, Danny Trevathan, etc this offseason. They’re going to need (much) better quarterback production than they got in 2015 if they want to repeat.
Quick Hits
– The Pittsburgh Steelers’ Martavis Bryant — one of the most talented young receivers in the NFL — is facing season-long suspension for repeat violations of the league’s substance abuse policy. Bryant will reportedly check into rehab and undergo evaluation for depression. Best of luck to him.
– More bad news in the Pittsburgh sports world: Star Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin will miss 6-8 weeks with an upper body injury.
– Former Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott was arrested on a DUI charge over the weekend, just a month before the NFL Draft. Prescott has been considered one of the draft’s top-5 (ish) quarterback prospects. Smh.
– Jose Calderon hit a buzzer-beating three to give the Knicks a win over the Lakers on Sunday night:
In that same game, Carmelo Anthony got a delay of game for head-butting the ball.
– Quincy Amarikwa had a ridiculous 40-yard goal for San Jose on Sunday night.
– One NFL scout says he would trade his entire NFL defense for Ohio State’s defense.
– Ben Simmons to sign with LeBron James’ agent.
– Very important: Jose Bautista and The Phillie Phanatic faced off in a fitness contest at Spring Training.
– Watch Conor McGregor beat down Conan O’Brien in the latest ‘Clueless Gamer’.
– Online petition asks Columbus, Ohio to build a Macho Man statue. Get it done.
– Kanye West wants to re-design the Clippers’ new mascot.
– Vince Gilligan says that more Breaking Bad stars could end up on Better Call Saul. Not going to spoil any details, but we’ve already seen our fair share of Bad characters on Saul… which by the way is one of the best shows on television right now.
– Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister on Game of Thrones) is going to host SNL on April 2nd.
– Are you ready for a Where’s Waldo movie with Seth Rogen producing?
One last breath of gratuitous procrastination
No need for a holder when you’re this guy.
