On March 15, the March Madness bracket was announced.

Sixty-eight teams are chosen to make March Madness through a combination of conference tournament winners and selections from the 12-person committee. From there, the teams are ranked 1-68. After teams are ranked, they are divided into four regions. The bottom eight teams play each other in the First Four games, which reduces the bracket from 68 to 64. This makes it so that each region has 16 teams. 

In the East region, Duke was named as the first seed. Duke went 32-2 in the regular season. They are led by freshman Cameron Boozer, who is averaging 22 points and 10 rebounds. Their offense is somewhat underwhelming, as they only have three double-digit scorers. 

In the Midwest region, Michigan was named the first seed. Michigan went 31-2 in the regular season. Michigan is led by senior Yaxel Lendeborg, who is averaging 14 points and seven rebounds. They are outside of the top 50 in fewest points allowed per game. 

In the South region, Florida was named the first seed. Florida lost seven games in the regular season but went 16-2 in a very strong SEC. Florida is led by junior Thomas Haugh, who averages 17 points and six rebounds. Florida has even bigger defensive questions than Michigan, as it ranks outside the top 100 in fewest points allowed per game. However, Florida won the championship last season.  

In the West region, Arizona was named the first seed. Arizona went 32-2 in the regular season. Arizona is led by freshman Brayden Burries, who averages 16 points and five rebounds. Just like Michigan, Arizona is outside of the top 50 in fewest points allowed per game. 

March Madness will begin on March 19, when TCU takes on Ohio State. The championship game will be on April 6. 

Arizona sophomore guard Bennedict Mathurin said that he has attempted to apologize to a TCU dance team member after inadvertently making contact with her after the Wildcats’ second-round victory.

A video making the rounds on social media shows the Pac-12 Player of the Year possibly making contact with the chest of the other school’s cheer member.

Mathurin said he sent an apology email via TCU’s athletic department but did not mention if he got a response. He also didn’t answer a follow-up question about whether he recalled touching the dancer after the game.

“Shortly after returning to Tucson, I was notified that people on social media were claiming a video clip showed Bennedict Mathurin may have made physical contact with a TCU student while walking off the court,” Arizona athletic director Dave Heeke said in a statement. “I have reached out to TCU’s Athletics Department, and I spoke with Bennedict. While he does not recall any contact, he has attempted to reach out to the TCU student through their Athletic Department to apologize.”

“We were as surprised as anybody,” said Coach Tommy Lloyd. “I’m just going to refer to that statement from Dave about the situation.”

On Tuesday, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey (R) raised the possibility of bringing major-league sports back to the state. 

As the state is beginning to reopen, Ducey noted that all four major American sports could return as soon as next week. Ducey said on social media that the state is “trending in the right direction.”

The  governor has mentioned that he has had some conversations with “leaders of some of these leagues.” In April, Ducey admitted to having open lines of communication with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and told him he was open to hosting baseball games in Arizona if need be. 

Most major league sports have considered playing the remainder of their games in a hub, where all organizations and players would be in one location. 

“It would be at this point in time, according to the CDC guidelines, without fans… We could do that safely in the state of Arizona beginning May 16,” Ducey said.

Bobby Hurley is not well-liked around college basketball. Most find him to be annoying, one of the first truly obnoxious Blue Devils players under Coach K. Maybe it’s because he helped the coach win his first two national championships. Maybe it’s just because he really is annoying.

sun devils’ Bobby Hurley Hit By Errant Pass

Anyway, here’s a video of him getting hit in the face:

An errant pass during the Arizona – Arizona State game careened into the 47-year-old coach’s face. He then fell to the ground and threw a tantrum about it. I’m not really sure why.

To give him credit, Hurley has turned Arizona State into a respectable basketball program. They even made the NCAA Tournament last season. And this year, he finally knocked off Arizona State. It took overtime but he finally beat them 95-88.

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There was an extra meaning to this game. Rather than just watching film and changing the game plan, he called the team out onto the court. They read out the scores of all the games he’d lost to Arizona. Then, he ran the length of the court 79 times, one for each point Arizona outscored him by.

Guard Remy Martin scored 31 points for Arizona State and had eight assists in the game. Rob Edwards scored another 19. And somehow, 6-foot-8 Zylan Cheatham pulled down 22 rebounds.

Arizona was led by Ryan Luther and Justin Coleman, who had 19 points each. Luther also added nine rebounds and three assists. Coleman pulled down only one board but dished out nine assists.

There’s no word on how Hurley’s face is. Presumably, the win over longtime rival Arizona should ease any pain. The Sun Devils take on Washington State on Thursday.

Eight people, including four college basketball assistant coaches charged for bribery, were indicted Tuesday by a federal grand in New York City.

NCAA Basketball Corruption Scandal Indictments News

Prosecutors said the individuals were accused of using bribes to sway star athletes’ choice of programs, shoe sponsors and agents. One Adidas official was also charged in the probe. The accused face fraud and other charges that carry potential penalties upon conviction of decades in prison.

The assistant coaches charged were 53-year-old Chuck Person of Auburn, Emanuel “Book” Richardson, 44, of Arizona; Tony Bland, 37, of USC; and Lamont Evans, 40, of Oklahoma State.

Auburn officials suspended Person, the school’s all-time leading scorer and Bruce Pearl’s associate head coach, without pay on the day he was arrested. Person — who is said to have handled around $141,500 — no longer works at the University. The Tigers also announced the indefinite suspensions of rookie players Austin Wiley and Danjel Purifoy amid the ongoing FBI probe into illegal recruiting actions, one of the largest scandals in college sports in recent years.

“Chuck Person did not commit a crime and we’re confident he will be vindicated at trial after a jury hears all the evidence,” attorney Theresa Trzaskoma said.

Also indicted Tuesday were former NBA referee Rashan Michel, Adidas director of global sports marketing James Gatto, another Adidas employee named Merl Code, and Christian Dawkins, a former NBA agent who was recently fired from ASM Sports.

Craig Mordock, an attorney for Richardson, said, “This is really pushing the envelope of what constitutes a crime.”

“An indictment is another step in the process,” Mordock added. “But once again, Emanuel Richardson is not guilty.”

Bland’s attorney has represented high-profile clients like Mexican drug lord “El Chapo” and John Gotti Jr. 

Two other high-profile individuals were impacted by the investigation: Jonathan Brad Augustine, president of The League Initiative, director of an Adidas-sponsored program: Helped funnel/hide money through that youth basketball program. Augustine has also been connected to the recruitment of an unidentified 2018 player who is being pursued by several top universities. Also impacted was financial adviser Munish Sood, who was allegedly a power broker who helped move approximately $250,000 to families of high school basketball players with the help of Gatto.

Lawyers for Evans, Sood and Augustine could not be reached for comment.

NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 10: Chuck Person exits the Federal Courthouse in Manhattan on October 10, 2017 in New York City. Several people associated with NCAA Basketball have been charged as part of a corruption ring. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

The president of the University of Miami revealed Wednesday evening that the school’s men’s basketball program is under federal investigation.

NCAA basketball recruiting investigation news

The Hurricanes, along with Auburn, Arizona, Louisville, USC and Oklahoma State have been charged for illicitly recruiting players.

Miami president Julio Frenk released the following statement about the probe:

The FBI’s case does not specifically mention Miami or any of its coaches, although the same is true for Louisville, which also acknowledged it is being investigated by the FBI for allegedly accepting bribes from agents and companies who attempted to convince players to work for them, or to steer high school athletes toward certain NCAA programs. The case was revealed on Tuesday.

The Cardinals placed Hall of Fame basketball coach Rick Pitino and athletic director Tom Jurich on administrative leave on Tuesday. Louisville may be forced to vacate several victories, including its 2013 national championship.

Also charged with bribery is Adidas executive Jim Gatto, who is accused of working with a Hurricanes assistant to move $150,000 to the family of a high-profile 2018 prospect.

“The University of Miami is aware of the indictments handed down today by the Department of Justice involving several men’s college basketball programs, coaches, financial advisors, agents and apparel executives,” Miami athletic director Blake James said Tuesday. “As we are just learning the details, we cannot comment on the actions taken today by federal authorities. However, if requested, we will cooperate in any legal or NCAA review of the matter.”

According to CBS, there is also a phone call recorded from mid-August that reveals a conversation between Gatto and Merl Code, an Adidas employee who recently left Nike. They reportedly discuss a negotiation price of  $150,000 for an unnamed “Player-12.” Code is heard saying, “If [University-4]’s willing to pay” a $150,000 price “then that’s where the kid is going to go.”

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – FEBRUARY 20: Davon Reed #5 of the Miami Hurricanes shouts during Miami’s game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on February 20, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Chet Strange/Getty Images)

Ten individuals working in the highest ranks of college basketball, including four assistant coaches and an official from Adidas, are facing federal bribery, fraud, and other corruption charges, Manhattan prosecutors announced Tuesday.

NCAA Basketball bribery scandal news

The New York Times was among the first to report the news.

The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York revealed in a statement that since 2015, federal prosecutors and the FBI have been investigating “the criminal influence of money on coaches and student-athletes who participate in intercollegiate basketball governed by the N.C.A.A.”

The probe has revealed several cases of bribes paid by athlete advisers, among others, to assistant coaches and in some instances directly to student-athletes at NCAA Division I universities, according to the complaint.

The payoffs were intended to force college players to work with specific agents and companies after they went professional, or to pressure highly-touted high school players to attend certain colleges.

Among the individuals charged was Chuck Person, an assistant coach at Auburn, where he was also a star player. Person played in the NBA for 13 years, a carer that included a stint with the Indiana Pacers. Coaches at Arizona, Oklahoma State and Southern California also received charges.

One of the three indictments charges five people with wire fraud and money laundering in a plot to bribe high school athletes to enroll in certain universities. Those indicted included Adidas senior executive James Gatto.

The indictment reveals that around $100,000 was paid to the family of “Player-10,” a heavily recruited high school all-American. The player’s college decision, which was announced in June, reportedly came as a surprise. Payments were also made to other players’ families, according to the indictment.

Adidas said in a statement: “Today, we became aware that federal investigators arrested an Adidas employee. We are learning more about the situation. We’re unaware of any misconduct and will fully cooperate with authorities to understand more.”

Another complaint claims that Person solicited bribes from a financial adviser and business manager for professional athletes, in exchange for his consent to direct some of the school’s players to the adviser when they joined the NBA.

The complaint states Person accepted a total of $91,500 in the case, and gave approximately $18,500 to the families of two athletes.

The third indictment charged assistant coaches with receiving bribe to direct athletes to certain agents. Among those charged are Lamont Evans, an assistant at Oklahoma State and a former assistant at South Carolina; Emanuel Richardson, an assistant at Arizona; and Tony Bland, an assistant at USC.

Oklahoma State said in a statement: “We were surprised to learn this morning of potential actions against one of our assistant basketball coaches by federal officials. We are reviewing and investigating the allegations. We are cooperating fully with officials.”

USC said: “We will cooperate fully with the investigation and will assist authorities as needed, and if these allegations are true, will take the needed actions.”

The investigation follows another major scandal that recently rocked NCAA basketball. In June, Louisville was sanctioned and head coach Rick Pitino was suspended for five games after it was revealed several of the university’s coaches and athletic department staff members solicited escorts and strippers for recruits. The Cardinals were forced to forfeit several games, possibly including their 2013 national championship victory.

Longtime Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun lamented the findings.

“The shoe companies have always, through grass roots, A.A.U., tried to get the young great players to stay with their sneakers,” said Calhoun. I remember kids getting swag, trips. But I don’t remember kids getting money.”

“I shouldn’t say it’s beyond belief, but to give money is the wrong thing. Stuff like this is obviously disturbing.”

GLENDALE, AZ – APRIL 03: Przemek Karnowski #24 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs handles the ball against Kennedy Meeks #3 and Isaiah Hicks #4 of the North Carolina Tar Heels in the second half during the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The first half of the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA men’s basketball Tournament on Thursday night included both much-expected outcomes and surprises, as No.1-seed Kansas trounced fourth-seeded Purdue 98-66, while  11th-seeded Xavier just barely upset thesecond-seeded Arizona Wildcats with a 73-71 victory in San Jose, California.

NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Day 1: Oregon Edges Michigan 69-68, Gonzaga beats West Virginia 61-58

Xavier junior guard Trevon Bluiett scored 25 points on 9 for 17 shooting, passing the 20-point mark for the third straight game in the tournament. Bluiett also assisted center Sean O’Mara for the game-winning layup with 44 seconds left.

The Musketeers (24-13) will now make their third trip to the Elite Eight, the first since Arizona coach Sean Miller led Xavier’s 2008 team before leaving to coach the Wildcats (32-5) that offseason.

Xavier will now face top-seeded Gonzaga (35-1) on Saturday. The winner will earn its first-ever trip to the Final Four.

“I cannot say enough good things about Xavier,” Miller said. “It’s not because I used to be there. I think their coach (Chris Mack) is awesome. He had his way with us tonight. He got his players some great shots. I knew going into the game it was going to be a challenge.”

Xavier scored the final nine points, five by Malcolm Bernard. Arizona missed their last six field-goal attempts.

Meanwhile, Gonzaga defeated the fourth-seeded West Virginia Mountaineers (28-9) 61-58 on Thursday.

Gonzaga point guard Nigel Williams-Goss, who led the Bulldogs with 16.7 points per game on average on 50.4 percent shooting this season, struggled on Thursday, shooting 2 for 10 from the floor. Williams-Goss is now 12 for 42 (1 for 8 from three) in the first three games of this tournament.

The Mountaineers shot 16 for 60 from the floor in the loss. West Virginia also shot 16 for 60 in a one-point victory over Kansas State in the Big 12 tournament two weeks ago.

The third-seeded Oregon Ducks (32-5) just edged past the seventh-seeded Michigan Wolverines (26-12) 69-68 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City.

Oregon sophomore guard Tyler Dorsey is proving to be one of the top offensive players in the NCAA Tournament, (23.7 points per game on 66% shooting in three games), but it was junior forward Jordan Bell who had a stand-out night for the Ducks on Thursday. Bell finished with 16 points, 13 rebounds (four offensive) and two blocks. Defensively, he held Michigan’s Moritz Wagner, who scored 26 points in the Wolverines’ win over Louisville, to seven points on 3 for 10 shooting.

The Ducks will next face Kansas (31-4) on Saturday. The Jayhawks crushed the Purdue Boilermakers (27-8) on Thursday. Kansas shot 15 for 28 as a team, and over the last 27 minutes, the Jayhawks outscored Purdue 73-33. Kansas has scored more than 90 points in every NCAA Tournament game thus far.

In total, 21.5 percent of brackets predicted Kansas would face Oregon, while 15 percent of brackets both correctly called that matchup and predict the Jayhawks will beat the Ducks.

Kansas was also chosen to reach the Elite Eight in 71 percent of all brackets, with the remaining 29 percent picking Oregon.

Furthermore, 49 percent of brackets believe Kansas will reach the Final Four, and 23 percent predict they will reach the championship game.

Oregon isn’t receiving as much support, with only 11 percent of brackets predicting the Ducks will reach the Final Four and 3.5 percent believing they could reach the championship game.

The second day of Sweet 16 play on Friday night features the following four matchups:

-Butler vs. North Carolina at 7:09 pm EST on CBS.

-South Carolina vs. Baylor at 7:29 pm EST on TBS.

-UCLA vs. Kentucky at 9:39 pm EST on CBS.

-Wisconsin vs. Florida at 9:59 pm EST on TBS.

KANSAS CITY, MO – MARCH 23: Tyler Dorsey #5 of the Oregon Ducks dribbles the ball in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines during the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at Sprint Center on March 23, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Former NFL wide receiver Davone Bess was arrested in Arizona early Monday morning after he evaded police at a traffic stop and barricaded himself inside his house for hours until a SWAT team extracted him.

Ex-NFL WR Davone Bess Arrested After Standoff With Police in Arizona

According to Danielle Quijada of the Arizona Republic, Bess was arrested around 4:45 am on Monday, approximately five hours after he was pulled over on a traffic violation by police in Gilbert, Ariz. After initially barricading himself in his car, Bess sped off and holed up in his house before police obtained a warrant that allowed Gilbert Police Department’s SWAT team to enter the home and apprehend the ex-receiver.

The Republic also reported the former player was arrested and charged for three felonies: endangerment, felony flight and failure to stop for a police officer.

Bess, 30, was arranged on Monday and remained in jail as of noon ET on Tuesday with his bond set at $2,500, according to Maricopa County sheriff spokesperson Sgt. Calbert Gillett.

Bess’ NFL career came to an abrupt end after he played just one season with the Cleveland Browns in 2013.

He missed two games for personal reasons that season, and in January 2014, Bess tweeted a photo of what appeared to be a box filled with marijuana. Later that same month, he was arrested following an altercation with the sheriff’s deputy at Miami International Airport. Bess was also involved in a similar incident in Miami a few years earlier. In the incident, it reportedly took six officers to remove him from his home while he screamed: “Hide the guns,” “Where is my weed,” and “I want to get in the end zone; throw me the football.” He was hospitalized against his will following that altercation.

Bess was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Miami Dolphins in 2008 after playing collegiately at the University of Hawaii. He played five seasons with the Dolphins before being traded to the Browns. Throughout his career, he accumulated 363 pass receptions, 3,809 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns.

CHARLOTTE, NC – AUGUST 17: Davone Bess #15 of the Miami Dolphins during their preseason game at Bank of America Stadium on August 17, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)