- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 375,343
- Reaction score
- 43
This is For The Win’s daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Have feedback? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey! Now, here’s Mike Sykes.
Good morning, Winners! Welcome back to the Morning Win. Who says the First Four can't be entertaining?
Well, I guess UNC's game wasn't really that entertaining. North Carolina walloped San Diego State 95-68 to lock in its spot in the larger NCAA tournament. It might not have been the most exciting game to watch, but it's certainly going to keep critics quiet for a couple more days.
Fans were stunned that North Carolina made it into the tournament. If we're being real? They probably shouldn't have. UNC ranked No. 36 in the NET rankings and only had one "good win." The ACC stunk. It was bad enough that Louisville — despite having a 27-7 record — could only secure a No. 8 seed. So how, by that logic, does UNC sneak in the tournament despite playing much worse basketball in the same conference? The NCAA has always focused on who you played and who you beat on the way to the tournament. UNC just didn't beat too many good teams.
The committee won't ever say it, but it's almost certainly because of the school's brand name. It's not like schools with brand names have never been left out of the tournament. But when there's one on the bubble and the other options aren't as strong? It's way easier to just let UNC in — even if it does cause a bit of a stink.
And you know what? Whatever. It's fine, man. I get it. You want to make the tournament as interesting as possible and, well, UNC makes it interesting. Even when it sucks, it's still one of the NCAA's "Blue Blood" schools. The tournament is better when North Carolina is included.
After all, it probably won't matter much. Ole Miss might boot the Tar Heels out in the first round anyway.
If they don't? Maybe we'll get a miracle run. At least we still have something to talk about. Right?
Now this is an exciting finish. Alabama State wins it on a Hail Mary pass from Micah Simpson in the last few seconds of the game.
The ball bounced around off of several hands before landing in the mitts of TJ Madlock, who made the game-winning layup to advance.
March Madness. Don't you just love it? Well, I mean, probably not in this instance if you're Saint Francis. But this is great.
Simpson played quarterback for his football team in middle school before switching to wide receiver and cornerback in high school. He's putting that arm to good use here.
We feel you, Cam. NFL free agency is all but over at this point, with all the biggest names having picked their new teams when the period first started.
The only name we're all still waiting on is Aaron Rodgers, who has been tied to basically every team that seemingly needs a quarterback. The Giants. The Vikings. The Steelers. I'm sure there's another team in there somewhere.
The thing about this is that Rodgers ain't even good enough to warrant all this attention anymore. Just pick a team, my guy. We're tired of waiting. Included in that "we" is the Steelers' Cam Heyward, who says he's fed up with all this.
"Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don't. It's that simple. That's the pitch. If you want me to recruit, that's the recruiting pitch. Pittsburgh Steelers. If you want to be part of it, so be it. If you don't, no skin off my back," Heyward said.
Preach.
— Here are your best bets for March Madness, including a few stone-cold locks from the Rhode Island Scumbag himself.
— Caroline Darney has 11 pressing questions for the Severence Season 2 finale.
— Here's Bryan Kalbrosky with five players who could pop off some pretty big upsets in the tournament.
— This Shohei Ohtani homer shouldn't have been a homer. Charles Curtis has more on it.
— Is the First Four confusing to you? Don't worry. You're not alone. Here's a quick explainer for it.
— LaVar Ball dropped details on his health scare. Andrew Joseph has more on that here. Thank goodness he's OK.
That's a wrap, folks. Thanks for reading. Happy Wednesday.
-Sykes
This article originally appeared on For The Win: North Carolina deserves its March Madness bid whether we like it or not
Continue reading...
Good morning, Winners! Welcome back to the Morning Win. Who says the First Four can't be entertaining?
Well, I guess UNC's game wasn't really that entertaining. North Carolina walloped San Diego State 95-68 to lock in its spot in the larger NCAA tournament. It might not have been the most exciting game to watch, but it's certainly going to keep critics quiet for a couple more days.
Fans were stunned that North Carolina made it into the tournament. If we're being real? They probably shouldn't have. UNC ranked No. 36 in the NET rankings and only had one "good win." The ACC stunk. It was bad enough that Louisville — despite having a 27-7 record — could only secure a No. 8 seed. So how, by that logic, does UNC sneak in the tournament despite playing much worse basketball in the same conference? The NCAA has always focused on who you played and who you beat on the way to the tournament. UNC just didn't beat too many good teams.
The committee won't ever say it, but it's almost certainly because of the school's brand name. It's not like schools with brand names have never been left out of the tournament. But when there's one on the bubble and the other options aren't as strong? It's way easier to just let UNC in — even if it does cause a bit of a stink.
And you know what? Whatever. It's fine, man. I get it. You want to make the tournament as interesting as possible and, well, UNC makes it interesting. Even when it sucks, it's still one of the NCAA's "Blue Blood" schools. The tournament is better when North Carolina is included.
After all, it probably won't matter much. Ole Miss might boot the Tar Heels out in the first round anyway.
If they don't? Maybe we'll get a miracle run. At least we still have something to talk about. Right?
Speaking of the First Four
Now this is an exciting finish. Alabama State wins it on a Hail Mary pass from Micah Simpson in the last few seconds of the game.
The ball bounced around off of several hands before landing in the mitts of TJ Madlock, who made the game-winning layup to advance.
March Madness. Don't you just love it? Well, I mean, probably not in this instance if you're Saint Francis. But this is great.
Simpson played quarterback for his football team in middle school before switching to wide receiver and cornerback in high school. He's putting that arm to good use here.
Cam Heyward is tired of Aaron Rodgers
You must be registered for see images attach
We feel you, Cam. NFL free agency is all but over at this point, with all the biggest names having picked their new teams when the period first started.
The only name we're all still waiting on is Aaron Rodgers, who has been tied to basically every team that seemingly needs a quarterback. The Giants. The Vikings. The Steelers. I'm sure there's another team in there somewhere.
The thing about this is that Rodgers ain't even good enough to warrant all this attention anymore. Just pick a team, my guy. We're tired of waiting. Included in that "we" is the Steelers' Cam Heyward, who says he's fed up with all this.
"Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don't. It's that simple. That's the pitch. If you want me to recruit, that's the recruiting pitch. Pittsburgh Steelers. If you want to be part of it, so be it. If you don't, no skin off my back," Heyward said.
Preach.
Quick hits: The March Madness betting guide ... Prep for the Severance finale ... and more
— Here are your best bets for March Madness, including a few stone-cold locks from the Rhode Island Scumbag himself.
— Caroline Darney has 11 pressing questions for the Severence Season 2 finale.
— Here's Bryan Kalbrosky with five players who could pop off some pretty big upsets in the tournament.
— This Shohei Ohtani homer shouldn't have been a homer. Charles Curtis has more on it.
— Is the First Four confusing to you? Don't worry. You're not alone. Here's a quick explainer for it.
— LaVar Ball dropped details on his health scare. Andrew Joseph has more on that here. Thank goodness he's OK.
That's a wrap, folks. Thanks for reading. Happy Wednesday.
-Sykes
This article originally appeared on For The Win: North Carolina deserves its March Madness bid whether we like it or not
Continue reading...
