710 days later, NCAA Tournament is back with 'First Four'
UCLA won 86-80. But because of the pandemic, itโs been 710 days since last we saw the NCAA Tournament โ whoโs counting? The first four games were grafted onto the 64-team main bracket in 2011, naturally, to pad the NCAA coffers. Michigan Stateโs brief appearance in the tournament was coach Tom Izzoโs 23rd straight, but it was small consolation. They told me that the flight was leaving tomorrow at 9:30 (am),โ Norfolk State coach Robert Jones said.
Texas Southern beats Mount St. Mary's 60-52 in NCAA opener
Texas Southern players celebrate after defeating Mount St. Mary's in a First Four game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 18, 2021, in Bloomington, Ind. โ Texas Southern forward John Walker III celebrated the program's second NCAA Tournament win the way he always envisioned โ hooting, hollering and just having fun. Texas Southern: Jones now has first tourney win with the Tigers and just the third ever by a Southwestern Athletic Conference champion. While Texas Southern found a way to advance, it needs to play much better to compete with the Wolverines. AdTHE ROADMount St. Mary's: Positive COVID-19 tests forced the Mountaineers to put the program on pause twice in December, forcing them into a monthlong break between games.
Transportation companies welcome NCAA Womenโs basketball tournament after tough year
SAN ANTONIO โ The tourism and hospitality industries in San Antonio have seen some of the biggest economic impacts from the pandemic, and that extends to the transportation sector. But news of the NCAA choosing to hold not just the Womenโs Final Four in San Antonio, but also the entire NCAA Womenโs Basketball Tournament has those companies more optimistic about the year ahead. City Sightseeing San Antonio owner David Strange said his company had to shut down for three months last year, having a major impact on business. โThe entire industry is glad to see that the NCAA has elected San Antonio to be the main host for the womenโs tournament,โ he said. The transportation companies we spoke with are all stressing safety protocols, and new federal rules mandate masks on all forms of public transportation.