Carey

The first loss was against the last school to win the title, and the only team Connecticut didn't beat this season. We'll never know if the Jayhawks would've gotten to them a second time if they were healthy enough to win 5 games. Losing their top scorer is something. To be honest, Kansas loses to UCONN had they met, but the score would've been closer. Would've been their only matchup that featured someone that's won big. However, UCONN is just stacked so winning still takes place. As for Seton Hall & Creighton, the former was wild. It's tough to win out & upsets happen. So the champs made sure to avenge the first meeting. As for Creighton, that's a Top 15 team that was humiliated so they too had to return the favor. At the end of the day, none of the losses were shockers. Kansas is still Kansas, whereas the other teams were Big East teams. Conference play is just different. Finally, sometimes a loss is okay as one could evaluate what went wrong. Something New England & Indianapolis didn't go through in 2007 and 2009. Unless they were trying not to win as it relates to the NFL

As mentioned, Purdue had the best player, but Connecticut had the best team. "A lot of guys on that team. Many of whom could stop Eady. Or they don't, but unless the other players from Purdue can stop the players from the champs from doing their thing, it could be over before it's over." Those were my thoughts pregame. Still despite the outcome there was a chance that either team could win until that was no longer the case in the second half of the second half. While what AimingforYoko said about South Carolina is accurate, what, IMO, is also fair enough is this era for Connecticut. With apologies to Calhoun. Connecticut is the new Connecticut. Hurley is a modern day Geno. That's the quote

Well, how bout them Huskies!

18.7 Million Viewers for Iowa & South Carolina. A record & the highest total in 32 years. That will be more than whatever the final total ends up being for the Men's Tournament Final, unless it isn't. To be fair, Purdue/UCONN is on cable, and when bring up a lesser total from 2023, San Diego State isn't a big brand when compared to Purdue. Still, the numbers are the numbers. Speaking of the Title game, Connecticut will end up as a 6.5 favorite before tip off. The Over/Under is 143.5. We're either going to get maximum redemption 2.0 or our first back-to-back winner since 2007

The Finale Dates for all of the CBS shows, including The Amazing Race. No surprise that 05/15/2024 was the landing spot which makes way for the traditional three-hour Survivor finale on the final day of sweeps. As has been the case since American Idol moved on from an epic show to just another contest. Can't believe it's been a decade since the move!

The Finale Dates for all of the CBS shows, including Survivor. No surprise that 05/22/2024 was the landing spot. As has been the case since American Idol moved on from an epic show to just another contest

Well, unlike the other legends, it's not a retirement

Well put, AimingforYoko. I could not have said that better myself. Though there are at least a lot of things you've said over the past decade that I couldn't phrase better myself. This sports year might go down as the most underrated of all time. While it felt boring (for me), it did produce the final games of a particular sport featuring the best teams within that sport. Well, except for Major League Baseball. However, the NCAAF National Championship Game & the Super Bowl gave us the best teams, and pretty good games from there. Sometimes an underdog story is tremendous, but really it is only if they get to the final game and win ATS. If you're a sports fan, you'll appreciate what several consider boring. You'll appreciate it because it's putting one's opinion to the test. Let's see the best vs the best. GL and GG. We'll see what happens next Sunday in Augusta as well as the NBA over the next 3 months, but as mentioned, this is a year to enjoy it, since it's possible it isn't happening soon or within one's lifetime.

New England Patriots Safety Kyle Duggar, who was tagged earlier in this calendar year, is getting paid. According to Ian Rappaport, it a four-year deal around $58 to $66 Million, $32,500,000 guaranteed. I'm not sure it's changing their 5.5 win total in a positive direction, but with common sense, it looks like the guy will not have to worry about money & bills for the rest of his life

While it didn't look like Alabama was blown out, it was still yet another double-digit win for the top team. Still the best a team has look against the champions, who are favored by 6.5 over Purdue. Despite a decent showing from The Crimson Tide, Connecticut's attempt to duplicate what last happened 17 years ago will culminate with their own toughest test. I think all they'll have to do is stop Eady. Or they don't & make everyone beat their several players that might be on. If either can happen, especially the first option, that will more or less clinch their successful title defense on the Men's side in their program's history.

I wouldn't wish for Washington to fail. Especially since it's a new era that follows a forgettable one. However, I'll be okay with them failing since that helps New York. That's what will happen if JJ gets picked second. I don't hate the kid, but as mentioned, everybody else around him made that team. Given the personnel, they might be back to drafting in the top 2 again, finding out the hard way that they should've done better at the position. Doesn't help that they face the AFC North. They wouldn't go undefeated since Pittsburgh is coming to DC. However, the NFC is actually better this season, so maybe stay away from JJ. Harbaugh pimping McCarthy is him being loyal to a fault, combined with the love of wanting to hear oneself speak. However, JJ probably fits better in Minnesota. Meanwhile, John is actually okay. However, he does boast a lot. So that can be a turn-off. What's fair is that it seems natural, and his team wins, with ease

I guess MLB has the money to where teams will dress in uniforms to the point where I'd have no idea who was playing until I read the preview for the game

I imagine they'll dump him in a hurry if that's the case. Maybe trade him to Kansas City or something. That, IMO, would actually work. Diggs is still talented, but there would be zero chance an unpopular attitude from him would survive within KC

I think a second after I posted, Adam Lefkoe was confirmed as the host for the second set for the Final Four (along with Seth and Candace). I thought I had mentioned that before; maybe I did elsewhere. I didn't actually post it probably due to the fact that Turner & company would work it out, but it makes sense as it's a TBS year. I imagine the second team will bolt from Phoenix after Saturday's festivities. According to NCAA/TNT, the first game will tip at 6:09 and Connecticut vs Alabama will tip 40 minutes after North Carolina State & Purdue take care of business or at 8:49 Eastern, whatever happens first. No change in the lines. Unless something happens to somebody, if it's similar in 24 hours, that's where it'll end

Still a stacked AFC, and the NFC is getting better. In fact, they face the entire NFC North. Fortunately, they'll get the entire AFC East. They should be able to win their division. Not going to say they'll get to New Orleans, but they might actually reach the conference title game for the first time. They haven't even hosted a divisional game. They'll still have to worry about Kansas City & Baltimore. Even Los Angeles & Cincinnati will be better, but Houston is getting better & better, prior to a season where CJ can only grow from what took place in 2023

Mojoween: A move would wreck one's ego (the player being traded) if that was never the player's main intention. Anyway, until proven otherwise, Houston is the clear winner here. They were already decent before the move, whereas Buffalo has a ton of issues. Possibly good news for the AFC East, and really, whoever plays them on the road in the postseason. Or not; since 2011, the AFC winner won its first game every season but one. Pretty certain that Houston's HC isn't going to tolerate nonsense from Diggs whereas Sean did. Edited after seeing a post from Salacious Kitty coming out of nowhere despite refreshing before my reply where there wasn't one. Modifying my commentary

Since there may be a final report on Final Four coverage at the end of the week, I'll refrain from linking to something that may not be finalized. However, in terms of who's doing the pre/half/post game stuff, it's Ernie Johnson, Clark Kellogg, Jay Wright, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley. Which would have been the case even if Greg Gumbel was available. With Greg not there, I do wonder who'll host the second area with Seth & Candace. BTW, with UCONN possibly about to repeat, no Hurley as a guest host on Saturday. It could be Adam Zucker, or even Jim Nantz to allow the latter to do more than hand out another trophy. I also don't know if he's already Augusta-bound. Ian, Bill, Grant, Tracy, and Gene heading the voices of the season's final 3 games. As mentioned, Connecticut & Purdue are favored by 11.5 & 9.5, respectively. Vegas (via FanDuel) "believe" scoring for the first game will be around 146 or 147, and about 161 for the second game (which would've been the first game had Duke won on Sunday). According to "sources" elsewhere, the first of two CBS regional finals received a 4.4 rating (with over 10 million viewers), and the second game received a 6.4 rating (with over 15 millions viewers). Clemson & Alabama had 7,800,000 viewers and a 3.8 rating. That was a game that aired on cable

I'm not sure the hair color is a factor (usually it's a blonde thing instead). The race is part of it I suppose, but I think you may have answered your own question. Or given one of several correct responses. Iowa isn't Connecticut, so one's play warrants the praise over a school that's known for its winning culture. Social Media & the current times is it for sure. It's sorta like Curry; her game is unique to where it's interesting, whereas other players have a style that wins but it's looked upon as boring. Yes, Monday's ratings will be tremendous, but as mentioned, she's not the GOAT nor could ever be. In terms of the face of the sport relative to the fan interest & ratings, I can agree that she is. Accomplishments is a different story. Though it is almost impossible to win over 100 consecutive games, go a couple years without a loss or seasons winning every game, and get crowned 4 years out of a 4-year period. It's not unprecedented either, so I guess besides that fact I too am an old bitter human being

I'll be rooting for Purdue (9.5 point favorites) on Saturday. One reason is due to the fact that I'd rather not see a 76-24 outcome one week from now. Assuming Connecticut takes care of business. The other reason is my best friend's Alma Mater is on a redemption tour to where they, like Virginia, won its region one year removed from top-notch embarrassment. Though at least Purdue had a chance to survive in 2023 before their opponent escaped (and unlike UMBC, they came close to the Sweet 16); Purdue as a one seed lost to a team that played in Dayton earlier in the week. That being said, North Carolina State is a great story. A Cinderella for sure, though it's a fair argument that they aren't since they are an ACC school that has a title. I don't see a 2007 Patriots to Giants comp here, though that would be tremendous! However, it would be neat to see NC State facing UCONN since both programs had to win five games in 5 days for a shot at the NCAA Tournament. The 5-time champions had to battle in the vaunted Big East, while the 1983 winners, who didn't still have to beat Duke and UNC. Just because Coach K and Roy Williams aren't there doesn't make the Atlantic Coast Conference as epic as the Horizon.

Still not as great as when they lost to UNC 2 years ago. Still remarkable! Though their ouster sorta killed my joke on how people would spend 2-3 hours on April 8th watching other people watching the Solar Eclipse in lieu of a Duke/Connecticut Title Game

They should be called a Cinderella, even though they are still in a Power 5 conference. Last time I checked, Cinderella had a great ending at the end of her story

Dictionary definition of the 2024 Houston Astros: adj: 0-162

Duke & North Carolina State still have a game to play, but assuming the former gets its revenge, this run might be better should Purdue actually succeeding in terms of its redemption tour (compared to Virginia's run). For one, Purdue was a victim of UVA's run 5 years ago, and while Auburn & Texas Tech deserved to get to end city in 2019, they're not Duke or Connecticut. Speaking of UCONN, they are 11.5 point favorites over Alabama. Nothing on how much Purdue will be favored by on Saturday, but they are current underdogs against the champions.

And your response made me feel very young, since I think I actually went through the past week without thinking newspapers existed. Which is ironic, since there was a time where reading the papers was more of a hobby than Nintendo or whatever. That being said, that phrase related to the Eclipse and the Tournament Final would make total sense. 100%. I think I'd be a little surprised if it wasn't phrased that way somewhere

I would bet on that as well, but not a big bet. That might be a Jim Nantz thing a lot more than an Ian Eagle thing, though the latter has had his share of catchphrases. Mojoween: I'd go with an O/U of 1.5 or 2.5. That may actually be a coin flip though. We have TNT guys for the pre/mid/post game; they're main thing is based out of Atlanta, same with TWC By the way, Connecticut is favored by 11.5 over Alabama. When talking about sports, until now, if both programs appearance in the same sentence, to best be accurate, you'd have to swap UCONN & BAMA with the same sentence