Sports

Power conferences fill this year’s Sweet 16 for the first time ever

Published

14 hours ago

March 25, 2025

Austin Reed

Years of bracket chaos have given way to the year of the power conference.

Cinderella is staying home this time.

The Sweet 16, a popular destination for bracket-busting mid-majors, will be made up entirely of teams from power conferences, a first since the bracket expanded to 64 teams in 1985.

Not a Saint Peter’s or Loyola Chicago in the bunch. Not even a Butler or Gonzaga.

The bracket was set up for this following a chalky first round, when the top four seeds went a combined 16-0 for the sixth time ever. Two No. 12 seeds got through to the second round and one 11.

They all lost.

Highest seed to reach the Sweet 16: No. 10 Arkansas. Everyone else is 6 or higher, with all four No. 1 seeds and three of the four 2s ( sorry St. John’s ).

There will be four conferences represented at regional sties in San Francisco, Newark, Indianapolis and Atlanta. That’s the fewest in NCAA Tournament history and a far cry from the record of 11 (three times)

Speaking of records, the SEC racked up a trio of ‘em.

First, 14 teams made it into the bracket. Record.

Then, six teams lost in the first round. Record.

Now, seven SEC teams are in the Sweet 16. Sweet record.

“We have worked hard as a league to get where we are this year and it’s always tough,”

Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said. “But I would like to think even as fans that we would all have each other’s back this time of year and then we can go back to what we normally do.”

The other conferences — all three — fared fairly well as well.

The Big Ten was the early big bracket winner, becoming the first league to go 8-0 in the first round and stretched it to 10-0 until BYU knocked off Wisconsin. Four teams were bumped out in the second round, but Michigan State, Michigan, Purdue and Maryland are feeling sweet.

The newfangled Big 12 also represented itself well, matching a league record set in 2002 by landing four teams in the Sweet 16.

Arizona is new to the Big 12 while Houston and BYU joined last year, so there were better odds than just a few years ago. Even so, four teams — with Texas Tech — gives the league a chance at three national champions in the past five years.

The Atlantic Coast Conference, maligned by a rough early March start, has one Sweet 16er, and it’s a good one.

Duke and fabulous freshman Cooper Flagg were one of the favorites to win the national championship to open the season and still look that way after toying with its first two NCAA Tournament opponents.

“For us to win by this margin, I think this speaks to the level of killer instinct that our guys have, the competitiveness and the connectivity,” coach Jon Scheyer said after the Blue Devils’ 89-66 win over once-formidable Baylor.

One thing is for certain: There won’t be a three-peat.

The first repeat champion since Florida in 2006-07, UConn kept the dream alive with an opening win over Oklahoma. The bid to join John Wooden’s UCLA teams as college basketball’s only three-peaters came to an emotional end on Sunday with a 77-75 loss to top-seeded Florida.

“We’re a passionate program,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said, twice stopping to compose himself. “The players play with it. I coach with it. You’re always (expletive) drained when it’s over.”

The passion this year has been in the power — conferences.

___

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.

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No. 1 ranked and defending World Series Champs University of Tampa faces St. Leo tonight.

Published

13 hours ago

March 25, 2025

Austin Reed

The #1 University of Tampa Spartans sweep the Embry-Riddle Eagles in a double-header and the weekend series.

Final (Game 1 – 10 Innings): #1 Tampa 4, Embry-Riddle 3

Final (Game 2 – 7 Innings *Run Rule): #1 Tampa 10, Embry-Riddle 0

Records: #1 Tampa (23-4, 9-0 SSC), Embry-Riddle (16-10, 3-6 SSC)

Location: UTampa Baseball Field | Tampa, FL.

All-Time Series: This was the 34^th meeting between these two programs. The Spartans are 22-12 against the Eagles.

GAME ONE

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Brayden Woodburn led the inning off, beating out an infield single to second base. Jhoander Irigoyen would move Woodburn to second with a ground ball to the Eagle’s shortstop. Cole Russo followed with a single up the middle to bring home Woodburn for the game’s first run. Kevin Karstetter followed, reaching base on an error by the Eagle’s first baseman, and Russo would advance to third on the play. Maddox King followed with a fly ball to center field to bring Russo home. End 2 | 2-0 Tampa
With one out and down to their final two outs, Woodburn delivered, launching his second home run of the season. End 9 | 3-3 Tie
Karstetter led the inning off with a single through the left side. Karstetter advanced to second on a King ground out. Jordan Williams was intentionally walked, and Mike Valdez followed with a walk to load the bases up. On a 0-2 off-speed pitch, J.D. Urso delivered with a single over the shortstop’s head to bring home Karstetter to walk it off. Final | 4-3 Tampa

AT THE PLATE:

Woodburn: 2-4 (Game tying home-run), R, & RBI
Karstetter: 2-4 & R
Urso: 1-5 (Walk-off single) & RBI
J. Williams: 1-4, BB, & SB
Russo: 1-4, R, & RBI

ON THE MOUND:

Skylar Gonzalez started on the mound. He threw 6 innings while striking out 3 and giving up 1 run. Gonzalez ended with a no-decision on the afternoon.
Ryan Stefiuk came in relief for Gonzalez. He threw 2.1 innings while striking out 2 and giving up 2 earned runs.
Jacob Fletcher came in relief for Stefiuk. He got 2 outs in the ninth.
Michael Alfonso came in relief for Fletcher. He threw a scoreless tenth while striking out 1. Alfonso picked up the win and improved to 2-1 on the season.

GAME TWO

HOW IT HAPPENED:

With one out, Nico Saladino would double to right field. Urso followed with a single through the 5-6 hole to bring in Saladino for the game’s first run. Saladino would ground out to shortstop; however, Urso would advance to second on the play. Woodburn continued to swing a hot bat singling through the left side to bring home Urso. End 1 | 2-0 Tampa
Karstetter led off the inning, beating out an infield single that the Eagle’s shortstop through into the turf and passed the first baseman, advancing Karstetter to second. Santiago Garavito followed, launching his first home run of the season over the left-field wall. King then reached first on an error by the Eagle’s shortstop, who threw the ball away once again, giving King a free extra 90 feet. J. Williams then perfectly executed a bunt single to the pitcher to advance King to third. J. Williams then stole second base. Saladino then hit a fly ball to left field to bring home King. Bot 2 | 5-0 Tampa
Russo led off the inning with a walk. Karstetter followed with a single through the right side to set the Spartans up in business with first and second and nobody out. Russo and Karstetter would advance to second and third on a wild pitch, and King would walk to give the Spartans the bases loaded with nobody out. J. Williams doubled to the right field to bring Karstetter and Russo home and advance King to third. King would come into score, and J. Williams would advance to third on a wild pitch. Urso would bring in J. Williams, grounding out to second base. End 5 | 9-0 Tampa
Woodburn would lead off the inning with a walk and come around to score on a throwing error by the Eagle’s pitcher. End 6 | 10-0 Tampa

AT THE PLATE:

Saladino: 2-2, BB, R, & RBI
Woodburn: 2-3, BB, SB, R, & RBI
Williams: 2-4, SB, R, & 2 RBI’s
Karstetter: 2-4, 2 R’s, & RBI
Garavito: 1-4 (HR), R, & 2 RBI’s
Russo: 1-3, BB, & R
Urso: 1-4, R, & 2 RBI’s

ON THE MOUND:

Jake Stipp started on the mound. He threw 7 scoreless innings while striking out 4. Stipp picked up the win in his outing and improved to 5-0 on the season.

UP NEXT: The #1 Spartans will play a mid-week matchup with SSC opponent St. Leo on Tuesday, March 25^th, at 6:00 PM.

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Power conferences fill this year’s Sweet 16 for the first time ever

Published

14 hours ago

March 25, 2025

Austin Reed

Years of bracket chaos have given way to the year of the power conference.

Cinderella is staying home this time.

The Sweet 16, a popular destination for bracket-busting mid-majors, will be made up entirely of teams from power conferences, a first since the bracket expanded to 64 teams in 1985.

Not a Saint Peter’s or Loyola Chicago in the bunch. Not even a Butler or Gonzaga.

The bracket was set up for this following a chalky first round, when the top four seeds went a combined 16-0 for the sixth time ever. Two No. 12 seeds got through to the second round and one 11.

They all lost.

Highest seed to reach the Sweet 16: No. 10 Arkansas. Everyone else is 6 or higher, with all four No. 1 seeds and three of the four 2s ( sorry St. John’s ).

Speaking of records, the SEC racked up a trio of ‘em.

First, 14 teams made it into the bracket. Record.

Then, six teams lost in the first round. Record.

Now, seven SEC teams are in the Sweet 16. Sweet record.

“We have worked hard as a league to get where we are this year and it’s always tough,”

Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said. “But I would like to think even as fans that we would all have each other’s back this time of year and then we can go back to what we normally do.”

The other conferences — all three — fared fairly well as well.

The newfangled Big 12 also represented itself well, matching a league record set in 2002 by landing four teams in the Sweet 16.

The Atlantic Coast Conference, maligned by a rough early March start, has one Sweet 16er, and it’s a good one.

One thing is for certain: There won’t be a three-peat.

The passion this year has been in the power — conferences.

___

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A 14-year-old son of former Yankees OF Brett Gardner has died after falling ill during vacation

Published

15 hours ago

March 25, 2025

Austin Reed

NEW YORK (AP) — The youngest son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner and his wife, Jessica, has died after falling ill during a family vacation. Miller Gardner was 14.

Miller Gardner died in his sleep Friday morning, according to a statement from the couple that was released by the Yankees on Sunday. The Gardners said they “have so many questions and so few answers at this point.”

“Miller was a beloved son and brother and we cannot yet comprehend our life without his infectious smile,” Jessica and Brett Gardner said in the release. “He loved football, baseball, golf, hunting, fishing, his family and his friends. He lived life to the fullest every single day.”

The Yankees said the organization was “filled with grief.”

“Words feel insignificant and insufficient in trying to describe such an unimaginable loss,” the team said in its statement. “It wasn’t just Brett who literally grew up in this organization for more than 17 years — so did his wife, Jessica, and their two boys, Hunter and Miller.”

Brett Gardner, 41, was drafted by the Yankees in 2005 and spent his entire big league career with the organization. The speedy outfielder batted .256 with 139 homers, 578 RBIs, 274 steals and 73 triples in 14 seasons from 2008-2021.