UNDATED (AP) — The phrase “March Madness” is everywhere this women’s NCAA Tournament. It’s part of the NCAA’s effort to make sure there is equity with the men’s tournament. South Carolina coach Dawn Staley has an idea to really help women close the gap with the men. She says women’s teams should receive the same kind of money the men’s team get. The men’s teams get money from their conferences, funding that comes from the NCAA’s massive TV deal for the men’s tournament. The women’s tournament has a TV deal that is bundled with other events. It is not as lucrative.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Kevin Willard can see the potential in Maryland’s basketball program. Now it’s up to him to capitalize on it. The Terrapins have formally introduced Willard as their new coach. The former Seton Hall coach made it clear why he was willing to go from a Big East job to this one. He said Maryland is one of the top 10 jobs in college basketball. If anyone needed a reminder of what is possible, Gary Williams was in attendance when Willard spoke. It was Williams who led Maryland to a national championship 20 years ago. Since the end of Williams’ tenure in 2011, Maryland has made only one Sweet 16.
UNDATED (AP) — The National College Players Association says NCAA Division I schools are violating the civil rights of Black basketball and major college football players by prohibiting compensation. The group has filed a complaint with the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights. The NCPA says that male Black college athletes are disproportionately impacted by NCAA rules that prohibit them from being paid. The group says major college football players and men’s and women’s basketball players are being unfairly denied tens of thousands of dollars a year in revenue generated by their sports.
UNDATED (AP) — A No. 1 seed and two No. 2s did not get past the first weekend. A band of Peacocks from Jersey City took down a blue blood to reach the Sweet 16. They’ll be joined by a team that won two games last season. Expect anything less? March Madness lived up to its billing in the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament and turns the corner to the Sweet 16 this week. If history is any indication, we can expect some next-level madness as the bracket winds closer to the Final Four in New Orleans.
UNDATED (AP) — The second week of the NCAA Tournament is when the Sweet 16 gets reduced to the Final Four. But those aren’t the only numbers to know heading into this week’s regional semifinals and finals. There is at least one statistic worth remembering about each of the 16 teams remaining in the field. For example, top-seeded Gonzaga leads the nation in points per game at 87.8 per game, scoring margin (21.8) and field-goal percentage (.526).
