Everything you need to fill out your bracket. Great piece on Willis. UK off to Des Moines. What Cats look like at their best. The Dave Bracket. More.
We're on now on the eve of March Madness opening with the Round of 64 tomorrow while the First Four continues, so we've filled a lot of today's headlines with as much bracket-filling info as we could find.
Tweet(s) of the Day:
Madness is officially here. pic.twitter.com/1VYY3gaVSS
— Kentucky! #BBN (@UKBasketbalI) March 15, 2016
It's not often a former Tar Heel takes Kentucky to win. @bwood_33 better hope Roy Williams doesn't see this... pic.twitter.com/f443RAtOR3
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) March 14, 2016
#VoteUlis pic.twitter.com/QTUcRSpSTB
— Devin Booker (@DevinBook) March 15, 2016
#BBN @KySportsRadio @MrsTylerKSR @ThrowboyTees @BeMore27 @tulis3 pic.twitter.com/xtLvHAPKog
— S.J. (@sethjarrett) March 14, 2016
That kid has more spunk than I've ever had.
Your Quickies
UK's March X-factor Derek Willis is one unique guy - FOX Sports
Kentucky's Derek Willis is a loveable 'nerd', and may be the x-factor to one of the top Final Four-contending teams in this year's Big Dance. And yet, he couldn't even find the court earlier this season. It's been quite a rise for Willis that many of us only have scratched the surface in learning the entirety of.
John Clay’s notes: Kentucky basketball better worry about its first NCAA foe - Lexington Herald-Leader
Stony Book is not your average No. 13 seed, but Indiana better worry about its first-round foe as well, and Mitch Barnhart makes a point in his open letter about selection process.
This is what the Cats look like at their best - Courier-Journal
John Calipari wants his players peaking in March. What does that look at for each Cat?
UK fans send off Wildcats to Iowa - WKYT
The Wildcats are in Des Moines, Iowa as the team left Lexington Tuesday afternoon, and several fans showed up at Wildcat Coal Lodge to wish the players good luck.
Where UK alumni and fans can gather in Des Moines - Lexington Herald-Leader
The party is about to get started in Des Moines, Iowa.
2016 NCAA tournament team previews: Kentucky Wildcats - SI.com
SI's everything-you-need-to-know analysis about the Wildcats as they begin the NCAA Tournament.
Why I’m Riding High on the Cats - Kentucky Sports Radio
Some good reasons on why we should expect the Cats to make a big run in the NCAA Tournament.
Kellogg: Kentucky Could Win NCAA Tournament - CBS Boston
CBS Sports' Clark Kellogg is around to keep everyone in check and well-informed on all that is going on with all 68 teams, and he thinks this UK team can win it all.
12 teams that can win it all - KUsports.com
While Kansas is the favorite to win it all, Kentucky is one of the teams capable of ensuring that doesn't happen.
Either Kentucky or Indiana fans will melt down Saturday - CBSSports.com
Kentucky and Indiana are headed for a Round of 32 showdown if they each win their first round contests. If that happens, one fanbase will leave Saturday severely disappointed. The good news is Gary Parrish has UK as one of five true title contenders, which don't include IU.
Top 10 Current NBA players who made it to the Final Four - USA Today Sports
These guys had Big Dance success before heading to the NBA, and several of them are former Cats.
Rex Chapman compares Tyler Ulis to Muggsy Bogues - Cats Pause
Alabama coach Avery Johnson once compared Kentucky point guard Tyler Ulis to former Hornets guard Muggsy Bogues, and Rex Chapman agrees with that assessment.
SI experts pick their 2016 NCAA tournament brackets - SI.com
Sports Illustrated experts make their picks for the 2016 NCAA tournament bracket.
Vegas picks and perspective of the East Region - Las Vegas Sun News
Kentucky lays 14 points to America East champion Stony Brook, who has the nation’s leader in win shares in senior forward Jameel Warney.
68 reasons why the 2016 NCAA Tournament is going to be fantastic - SBNation.com
Every March is great, but this March is shaping up to be extra special. Mike Rutherford takes a look at a bunch of reasons why.
No. 1 junior DeAndre Ayton’s school situation is as unique as his skill set - USA Today Sports
DeAndre Ayton is the consensus No. 1-rated high school basketball player in the Class of 2017. He averages 30 points, 20 rebounds, five blocks and five assists a game, and you can bet UK is coming after him.
Tips for filling out your March Madness bracket - FOX Sports
Know your geography and pick 10-, 11- and 12-seeds to notch upsets.
How the highly touted recruits of 2015 fared this season - Lexington Herald-Leader
Kentucky’s Jamal Murray averaged the most points of any Top 25 freshman, but Skal Labissiere is among the highly-touted recruits who had tough seasons.
NCAA Tournament Recap: Florida Gulf Coast destroys Fairleigh Dickinson - Mid-Major Madness
Dunk City wins yet another NCAA Tournament game and is now set for a Thursday matchup against top-seeded North Carolina.
Real culprit of unfair, imbalanced bracket? Location, location, location - Sporting News
The problem with the selections and seeding is that one factor is prioritized above all: travel. Instead of working to construct the fairest bracket possible, the members of the committee endeavor to keep as many teams close to home as possible for the first couple rounds of the tournament and the regionals.
Frank Martin suspends five USC players The State
South Carolina’s postseason got decidedly gloomier 90 minutes before beginning the NIT.
Pitino said he had people in place to prevent scandal - ESPN
Louisville head coach Rick Pitino said he had people in place to prevent the type of scandal that has cost the school a postseason appearance.
Bill Simmons put Rick Pitino and Mike & Mike on blast - Kentucky Sports Radio
Bill Simmons went 'fire emoji' on the two ESPN talking heads for throwing up softball after softball to the embattled Louisville coach.
March Madness bracket: 8 fast facts to help you win your tournament - CBSSports.com
Everyone is looking for an edge to win their bracket pool, here are eight trends over the past few years to help make some picks.
20 more bracket tips to help win your NCAA tournament pool - SportsDay
One often-overlooked aspect of whatever league you're in: Know your pool’s scoring system.
Bracket Breakdown: East Region - CBS New York
The NCAA Tournament gets started this week. To help you fill out your bracket, here's a breakdown of the East region.
Former MSU star Mateen Cleaves charged with sex assault - Detroit Free Press
Former Michigan State star Mateen Cleaves is accused of sexually assaulting a woman he met at a charity golf outing last year.
Finally, the NCAA decided to make different March Madness courts - SBNation.com
Now you won't have to be confused between a first round game played in Spokane and a first-round game played in Raleigh.
Ben Simmons basketball era at LSU Tigers was disastrous - 247 Sports
The Ben Simmons era at LSU was a massive flop, so the 247 Sports crew broke down what went haywire.
Tranghese is new advisor to Commissioner - SEC Sports
Mike Tranghese, former commissioner of the Big East Conference and a veteran of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee, has been named Special Advisor to the Commissioner for SEC basketball.
College Athletes Who Appeared in EA Sports Games to Share $60M Settlement - Bleacher Report
A total of $60 million will be paid to 24,819 athletes whose likenesses and names were featured in EA Sports video games from 2013 through 2014.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Police Department can't operate in secret - ESPN
A court ruling says that the Notre Dame Police Department can't operate in secret, must comply with state open-records laws.
The Dave Bracket - SB Nation
This is the ultimate bracket of people named Dave. I'm going with Chappelle, Bowie, Lee Roth and Spade in the Final Four. You?