Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament nuggets minus the “Blue Bloods”

Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament nuggets minus the "Blue Bloods".  In the 2022 NCAA Tournament, the Sweet 16 did not feature any of the traditional "Blue Bloods" of college basketball, including Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, and Kentucky.

This year was the second time in the last three tournaments that none of these teams made it to the Sweet 16.

Prior to 2022, this had only happened twice in the history of the NCAA Tournament, in 1976 and 1979.

With the absence of traditional powerhouse programs in the Sweet 16, there was more parity in the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

The Sweet 16 field featured teams from eleven different conferences, with no conference sending more than three teams (the Big East and SEC each had three teams in the Sweet 16).

This is tied for the third-most different conferences in a single Sweet 16 field since the round was created in 1975.

The record for the most different conferences represented in a single Sweet 16 is 14, which occurred in 1978. The second-most is 13, which occurred in 1979.

Speaking of conferences, both the Big Ten and Pac-12 have only one team in the Sweet 16 field, with Michigan State and UCLA.

Since Tom Izzo and and the Spartans cut down the nets in 2000, the Big Ten and Pac-12 have been staples in the Sweet 16 field. However, neither conference has won the national championship.

Betting underdogs in the NCAA Tournament have gone 16-36 outright through the Round of 32, not including upsets based on seeding.

This is tied for the fifth-most outright wins by underdogs through the Round of 32 since the tournament field expanded in 1985.

The record for the most outright wins by underdogs through the Round of 32 is 24, which occurred in 2013.  The second-most is 22, which occurred in 1999 and 2012.

Looking for an angle in this year’s Sweet 16 games? Gonzaga is currently a 2-point underdog against UCLA out in the West Region.

However, head coach Mark Few is 0-5 outright as an underdog in the Sweet 16 or later. That’s the most outright losses without a win by any head coach since the tournament field expanded in 1985.

The current total for the matchup between Florida Atlantic and Tennessee is listed at 131.5 according to Caesars Sportsbook.

Since the tournament field expanded in 1985, that would be tied for the fourth-lowest total for a Sweet 16 game.  Each of the three Regional Semifinal games with a lower total all went under.

We will have much more on all of these stories today on Shemon and Sheppard 2-6pm.

The NFL free agency window is now underway and fans across the NFL are discussing their teams moves. However, some are happier than others and they have taken to social media to reveal their happiness. Or their frustrations. But which fanbase has been the happiest on social media this season when reacting to free agency? Are the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers making the right moves? The fans have opinions.

To discover this, Gambling.com decided to utilize social listening tools to analyze the positive reactions to every NFL team's social media posts since the first free agency move to the most recent in order to rank the Happiest Fanbases in the NFL: Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit.

By analyzing the tone, be it good or bad, of the post, you can determine the "average level of positivity" of a teams fanbase. Are the teams making the right moves? We won't know that until the season starts. But here's what the fans think of the moves being made.

Here's the list of the most positive, down to the most negative fans. Beginning with the (currently) most happies fans. The ones in San Francisco.

The research revealed that San Francisco 49ers fans are the most positive about their free agency moves after adding 2021 Pro Bowler Javon Hargrave to their roster and tying down former Panther Sam Darnold for a year to compete at the QB spot. Darnold has replaced Jimmy Garoppolo who is now a Raider, signing a 3 year contract reportedly worth 67.5 million.

Philadelphia Eagles fans are ranked second in the most positive about Free Agency list after fan favorite Jason Kelce announced that he will be returning to the Eagles for the 2023 season which has delighted the Eagles fanbase. They have also resigned one of their most important defensive players in James Bradberry, which is certainly big get for the Eagles. Jacoby Brissett is one of the big names joining the Eagles form the Browns this season also which gives good depth to their QB spot.

Buffalo Bills fans rank third in the list as they made a big move to retain 2022 Pro Bowler Jordan Poyer on a 2 year deal. They also lost a big piece to their defense with Tremaine Edmunds leaving the Bills and joining the Chicago Bears and the move has had a mixed reaction by fans.

They have not made any major signings in free agency yet, they have made some moves to retain their own players. As you mentioned, they re-signed safety Andrew Wingard, defensive end Adam Gotsis, and cornerback Tre Herndon. The Jaguars also placed the franchise tag on TE Even Engram.

Until this team is officially sold, Commander fans will be on pins and needles.

I want to see Jameis Winston get a chance to start.  It won't be in New Orleans as they now have Derek Carr.  He better play better than last year or this team will be in trouble.

Key addition: RT Mike McGlinchey

The Broncos grabbed the top right tackle available in Mike McGlinchey, as well as 26-year-old Ben Powers, an offensive guard formerly of the Baltimore Ravens

This team stinks.  Lets see if they can develop a quarterback.

Key addition: LB Erick Kendricks

Don't blow huge leads in a playoff game.  Your head coach still has a lot of questions marks regarding clock management.

Key addition: OG Isaac Seumalo

Former Washington Commanders LB Cole Holcomb will also help.  QB Kenny Pickett is jumping for joy now that he has a big time right tackle.

Geno Smith signing for big bucks to remain in the Emerald City.  Get ready for the major step back this season.

Key addition: DE Samson Ebukam

The Colts defensive lineman Tavern Bryan and quarterback Gardner Minshew.  This team is on the rebuild rebound cycle and will be looking to draft a QB in the draft.

Key addition: DE Arden Key

I don't know what the heck this team is doing.  Are they going to tank, which I find hard to believe as long as head coach Mike Vrabel is there, or are they tweaking?   Hard to tell with all the players they lost. We shall see.

I like Justin Fields, a lot.  This team is going to be on the rise this season.  Just keep this man upright.

This team has definitely made some major improvements on both sides of the ball during this free agency signing period.  However expectations are going to be through the roof this season for Lions fans including Craig Shemon.  Can this team not only contend for a division title but dare I say Super Bowl?  lol.  No, I'm not saying that. Yet.

Key addition: DE Charles Omenihu

The defending Super Bowl champions lost some players and inked a couple of new ones including former Tampa Bay safety Mike Edwards.  They will be just fine.  You want to talk about their receiver problem, if there is one, be my guest.

Yea yea yea.  It's a dry heat.

Key addition: CB Jalen Ramsey

The bottom line here is that if Tua can stay healthy this team has all the tools to make a serious run to the Super Bowl.  If he can't stay on the field, all bets are off.

Key addition: DT Dalvin Tomlinson

Blah Blah Blah.  If Deshaun Watson of the past shows up, this team could do some damage.

Danny "Dimes" gets the big bucks.  Not lets see if he can live up to the big expectations in a very tough NFC East.

Has Dallas improved on paper?  It sure looks that way.  Can't wait to see how Mike McCarthy improves the offense after throwing former OC Kellen Moore under the bus.  Jerry Jones will continue his cartoon like stance on all things and Dallas probably won't get past the first round again.

Baker Mayfield.  The absolute total wild card signing in this free agency period.  The Bucs still have a lot of talented players on both sides of the ball.  I'm just not a fan of  Tod Bowles as a head coach.  They better improve on that stagnant play calling from last year.

LOL. Let the Jordan Love era begin for what very well could be the NFC North's last place Green Bay Packers.

Key addition: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

Billy O'Brien is back at OC for the Patriots.  That alone is going to worth at least 2 wins.  As bad as the offense was last year, most of the national pundits forget that the Patriots cost themselves a playoff spot by beating themselves in several games.  It wasn't just the Vegas debacle.  There were several others.  This team will be in the hunt for a playoff spot next year once again in a very tough AFC East.

Brian Flores will turn that pathetic Vikings defense around.  Despite some of  their losses on offense, I still think the Vikings will have enough to compete for a playoff spot.

The fact that this team is in the NFC South should give Panthers fans some hope.  Anything is possible and 9 wins could win the division.  Tampa Bay won it last year with 8.

Key addition: Nobody!

Will Lamar Jackson, who received the non-exclusive franchise tag recently, still be on the team?  It's one of life's biggest mysteries right now.

Key addition: QB Jimmy Garoppolo

Many are calling this team "The Vegas Patriots".  They also added former Patriots players WR Phillip Dorsett and Jakobi Myers.  However the Raiders on paper last year also looked very talented.  Derek Carr however didn't have a great year and their defense was putrid.  If Jimmy G can provide a little spark and the "D" improves a bit, this team could be tough.

I think this team stinks.

Key addition: TE Dalton Schultz

It's another rebuilding year for the Texans.  Who they draft at QB with the number 2 pick next month could decide this team's future for the next decade.

Key addition: QB Aaron Rodgers (Allegedly)

This team is very talented on both sides of the ball.  They just need a quarterback.  Will it be Aaron Rogers?  Maybe, or maybe not.  It all depends on what the Jets are willing to give the Green Bay Packers as compensation.  The Packers are asking for 2 number ones.  Jets would be stupid to comply and so far they haven't.  My advice is send the two number one's to Baltimore and go after Lamar Jackson.  Knowing the Jets history, there is still a possibility they won't get either one of these guys.  And yes, I would get a nice chuckle out of that.  Typical Jets.  I'll believe it when I see it.

Key addition: LT Orlando Brown Jr.

Joe Burrow is doing cartwheels over this signing.  The Bengals continue to improve on the offensive line.  This team will once again be a serious Super Bowl contender.