Sports

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

Published

1 week 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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Sports

Aloha Stadium Replacement Plans Continue In Honolulu

Published

2 hours ago

April 1, 2025

Austin Reed

Hawaiian political leaders hop the new stadium will open in 2028.

There is no formal agreement between the developer and the state authority.

The Aloha Halawa District Partners group, the people who have been selected to build a new stadium in Oah’u, are planning to build a stadium-village to replace Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. Just what the timeline is to build a new stadium remains up in the air because the local stadium authority did not want to demolish the old stadium yet because developers will look at reusing some parts for the new construction. There is a significant problem in that the stadium authority and the developer have not yet signed a construction agreement. But there is hope that the University of Hawaii will be able to host the University of Kansas at the facility in the fall of 2028. The Hawai’i Sports Hall of Fame could also be part of the 98-acre property.

The planned replacement facility will have a seating capacity of a minimum of 25,000 people and will be designed to accommodate various sports like football, soccer and rugby. There will be entertainment events as well. There will be the village aspect with hotels as well as residential, retail and commercial space surrounding the building. The old Honolulu facility opened on September 12^th, 1975 and closed on December 17^th, 2020 because of financial issues created by the COVID-19 pandemic and structural problems. During its 45-year run, the stadium was the home of the University of Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors, and hosted 35 National Football League Pro Bowl games from 1980 through 2016. The World Football League’s Hawaiians franchise performed there in 1975 and the stadium was the last place where the WFL snapped a football. In 1997, MLB held a three-game regular season series between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres at the stadium. In August 2019, the stadium hosted its last NFL event, a preseason game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Dallas Cowboys.

Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191

Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com

Aloha Stadium

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Tavares earns Hockey Stick Fittings March award

Published

10 hours ago

April 1, 2025

Austin Reed

John Tavares has been on fire for the Leafs

Tavares Heats Up in March to win Hockey Stick Fittings Award

Few players in the NHL embody consistency and leadership quite like John Tavares, and this March, the veteran forward took his game to another level. The 34-year-old Maple Leafs center has been named the HockeyStickFittings.com Sniper of the Month after an outstanding offensive run—burying 13 goals in 15 games, including three multi-goal performances that helped propel Toronto in the Eastern Conference standings.

Tavares’ scoring surge is a reminder of why he was selected first overall in the 2009 NHL Draft. While younger stars like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner often take the spotlight in Toronto, the former captain remains an integral piece of the puzzle. His hockey IQ, elite positioning, and ability to capitalize on scoring chances have been on full display, making him a nightmare for opposing goaltenders.

One Last Shot at Glory for Tavares?

With Tavares in the final year of his current contract, the clock is ticking on his best opportunity to secure an elusive Stanley Cup championship. Despite the Maple Leafs’ consistent regular-season dominance, their postseason struggles are well-documented. The franchise’s inability to advance beyond the second round in the salary-cap era has frustrated both fans and players alike.

“THE CANADIENS COME BACK FROM DOWN 3-1 IN THE SERIES AND ELIMINATE TORONTO THE MAPLE LEAFS HAVE NOW LOST EIGHT STRAIGHT SERIES-CLINCHING GAMES AND EXTEND THEIR LEAGUE-LEADING 54-YEAR CHAMPIONSHIP DROUGHT.”
— ESPN (@ESPN), JUNE 1, 2021

This year, Tavares is doing everything in his power to help rewrite that script. His scoring touch and veteran presence could be the difference in a deep playoff run—if the Leafs can overcome their past demons.

The Stick Behind the Scoring Surge

Tavares’ success isn’t just about raw talent—his equipment plays a key role as well. The CCM Tacks XF Pro, his weapon of choice, is built for powerful, accurate shots from any angle. With a mid kickpoint and a feather-light 376g construction, the stick provides the perfect balance of strength and precision—ideal for Tavares’ game, which relies on quick releases and finishing scoring chances in high-danger areas.

Find the Perfect Stick for Your Game

Want to score more goals like Tavares? The right stick can make all the difference. At HockeyStickFittings.com, our smart fitting algorithm takes just a few inputs about your playing style and generates a personalized, interactive report—comparing the best sticks on the market.

No phone, no email, no credit card required. Just free, expert recommendations to help you dominate on the ice.

Find your perfect stick today at HockeyStickFittings.com!

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Jake Mangum goes 4 for 4 in second MLB game to help the Rays beat Pirates 6-1 in first night game

Published

14 hours ago

April 1, 2025

Austin Reed

Tampa Bay Rays’ Jake Mangum celebrates scoring against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the sixth inning of a baseball game Monday, March 31, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Jake Mangum got two hits from each side of the plate to finish 4 for 4 in his second major league game, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-1 on Monday night in their first game under the lights at Steinbrenner Field.

The Rays had just four players with a four-hit game all of last season.

The 29-year-old Mangum, who made his big league debut on Sunday, got his first career hit in the third inning and then stole his first base. He finished with a double, three singles and two RBIs.

Tampa Bay took control after sending 10 men to the plate in a four-run fourth that Mangum capped with a single up the middle, scoring two.

Mangum also scored from second in the sixth when José Caballero hit a deep shot that went off the glove of right fielder Jack Suwinski.

Four Tampa Bay pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts and no walks. Drew Rasmussen (1-0), coming back from his third elbow procedure, rejoined the starting rotation and allowed two hits in five scoreless innings, while striking out four.

Pittsburgh starter Carmen Mlodzinski (0-1) allowed four runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Key moment

In the fourth, Jonathan Aranda hit his fourth double in four games. Then Christopher Morel singled in Junior Caminero to give the Rays a 1-0 lead.

Kameron Misner’s stand-up double made it 2-0 on the Rays’ fourth straight. Mangum added a two-run single.

Key stat

Tampa Bay went 4 for 13 with runners in scoring position.

Up next

The teams meet again Tuesday as the Rays continue a season-opening six-game homestand at their temporary ballpark. RHP Shane Baz starts for Tampa Bay. The Pirates had not announced a starter.