COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State forward E.J. Liddell says he has declared for the NBA draft. The decision by the All-American to skip his senior season was no surprise. Liddell had the best season of his three-year Buckeyes career, averaging 19.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 2.5 assists per game. Liddell scored in double figures in every game and had 13 games of 20 or more points. Ohio State finished 20-12 this season and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
UNDATED (AP) — There were 17.3 million brackets filled out in ESPN’s Tournament Challenge this year, and the quest for a perfect one was done before the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. And the two favorites to win it all, Gonzaga and Arizona, were done before the second weekend. Another topsy-turvy tournament has left fans hoping to win bragging rights and office pools wondering if they just might get a second chance given the fact that everyone seems to have a bracket in tatters by now.
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey wasn’t going to miss a chance to see her son Jaden play in his first Sweet 16. Ivey headed down to Philadelphia from Connecticut after her team practices Friday afternoon to watch Purdue face Saint Peter’s in the men’s regional semifinal. Jaden Ivey is a sophomore for the Boilermakers and second-team AP All-America. Unfortunately for the Iveys, 15th-seed Saint Peter’s pulled off another upset, beating Purdue 67-64. Jaden Ivey had nine points and eight rebounds. Ivey said she talked to the school’s athletic director who encouraged her to go. She has a car waiting for her after the Irish’s practice to make the 2.5-hour trip. Notre Dame faces North Carolina State in the women’s Sweet 16 on Saturday morning.
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — Wes Moore isn’t worried about having to potentially face UConn in the state of Connecticut yet. That game wouldn’t occur until Monday night and would require both teams to win their Sweet 16 games on Saturday. Top-seeded North Carolina State’s coach has his team’s attention on No. 5 Notre Dame, the Wolfpack’s opponent in the regional semifinals. The ACC foe handed the Wolfpack their most recent loss on Feb. 1. Second-seeded UConn is facing third seed Indiana in the second game Saturday in Bridgeport, Connecticut. It’s the 11th time that the Huskies will be playing a regional in the Northeast, including eight in the state of Connecticut. This is only the third time that UConn is in Bridgeport as a two seed.
