This week brought a refreshing openness from coaches about what it takes to compete in college basketball nowadays. In the NIL era, roster building, resources and, most of all, $$ have overtaken history as the sport’s true edge. www.si.com/college-bask...

Good morning from D.C., the hoops capital of the world later tonight with the greatest of all regionals taking place: www.si.com/college-bask...

Halftime reading on tomorrow night’s East Regional, the 🐐 in this bracket… and maybe ever. www.si.com/college-bask...

Kim Jong Fredd.

Incredible win by Purdue's nine variants of Cousin Mose

Jon Scheyer wasn’t born the last time Iowa was in the Elite Eight.

The basketball drama, it is good. The rare double double of close games.

When both games are in commercial at the same time.

I give that Nebraska-Iowa first half 🌽🌽🌽🌽 out of 🌽🌽🌽🌽🌽.

Oregon State AD Scott Barnes is retiring.

Dan Hurley gave a great answer today when asked about coaching players hard.

Izzo: "There's a reason coaches are frustrated. It doesn't matter what sport...If a majority of coaches think something's wrong, it's probably wrong. For administrators to sit in their Ivy towers and never come down to the basement and figure that out is disheartening."

Izzo: "Everybody takes things so personal now. I'm at a point in my career that I'm happy. I don't give a damn. I don't."

Tom Izzo, out of context: "Now we're supposed to just hug and kiss everybody."

Rick Pitino on players coming from overseas: "They want to go to the states because they make more money. We can even rival the Euro league as far as pay is concerned."

Sources: LSU is in the process of parting ways with MBB coach Matt McMahon. Next up will be an official move to hire NC State's Will Wade. It is indeed happening.

Wolves-Rockets:

Maybe it’s just me, watching NCAA tournament and NBA too much, but always blitz the ball screen.

Auburn basketball was in the first four out of the NCAA tourney and appropriately in the final four of the NIT.

Jameis is… a Netflix star?

Column: Will Wade and LSU. A strong-ass love story. bit.ly/4lTIZ9i

MLBAtBat failing to load either a WFAN or KNBR feed but getting CC Sabathia reference to Arson Judge:

This Opening Day:

Decided to watch a little ⚽️ before 🏀 in DC. Glad to take in the only DC franchise that has tried to win the past few months.

Tourney redo/Sweet 16 picks. My title game stays the same but I’m back to believing in Michigan again. www.si.com/college-bask...

The NFL will kickoff on Wednesday night this season (in Seattle). Rams-49ers from Australia on Friday.

The golfing leprechaun for Notre Dame has been unveiled. Coming soon to a country club near you.

Source: North Carolina has parted ways with MBB coach Hubert Davis.

Good luck getting anything done before midterms now, College Sports Inc.

We’ve spent 15 months bargaining with Minute Media. We’ve reached agreements on some issues, but management’s proposals on wages, medical benefits and AI remain unacceptable. We’ve upheld and rebuilt SI, and we deserve better. This is what we’re fighting for. 👀🎥: www.instagram.com/reel/DWRnkPE...

This year’s #MACtion

Reseeding the Sweet 16: Duke ⬇️ Illinois ⬆️ Tennessee ⬆️ More 👇 www.si.com/college-bask...

Feel like this should result in exclusive rights to 'USC' for like a year.

🚨🏀New pod: Big March Madness breakdown. What we saw in person at three different sites. What we loved. What we hated. Whats’s next. Plus the uncertain coaching situations at UNC and Kansas, and what might be next. @bryandfischer.bsky.social and Kevin Sweeney. youtu.be/FBl9IwJlNkQ

The combined overall seeds of each regional: 34 - East 45 - Midwest 64 - South 68 - West

Sweet 16 by conference 6 - B1G 4 - SEC 3 - Big 12 2 - Big East 1 - ACC

The East Regional head coaches: five national titles (plus one as a player), 18 Final Fours, 2,148 wins.

Sweet 16 tip times:

Hurley reacting to the skeet above:

THIS. IS. MARCH.

IOOOOOOOOOOOWA

ACC gets just one team to the second weekend. Rough tourney again. www.si.com/college-bask...

East Regional with one of Dan Hurley/Mick Cronin to come: 3 national titles (plus 1 as a player), 16 Final Fours, 1,801 wins. www.si.com/college-bask...

The last time St. John's made the Sweet 16:

ST. JOHN'S AT THE BUZZER

St. John's-Kansas:

Checked in on the broadcast covering the game and also got a “Take me to the Balkans!” and an “Air Serbia!” reference.

Not going to lie, could go for Diego Pavia-Anthony Colandrea doing 7v7 to follow up that hoops classic.

Man, that was thisclose for Vandy.

Duke has looked vulnerable in Greenville this week. The good news for the Blue Devils as they head to D.C.? They have a defensive identity that’s helped carry them to the second weekend where they can continue to evolve. www.si.com/college-bask...