Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament nuggets minus the “Blue Bloods”

Author psheppard

March 22nd, 2023 6:35 AM

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.

Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament Fun Facts

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.

Tournament Betting Trends

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.

“Few “Wins For Gonzaga As A Dog

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.

Could FAU And Tennessee Stay Under?

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.

One Week Into NFL Free Agency - Which Fans Are The Happiest With Their Team's Moves?

• 1 San Francisco 49ers

  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.

• 2 Philadelphia Eagles

  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.

• 3 Buffalo Bills

  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.

• 4 Jacksonville Jaguars

  Key addition: WR Calvin Ridley (reinstated) 

  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.

• 5 Washington Commanders

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

• 6 New Orleans Saints

  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.

• 7 Denver Broncos

  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

• 8 Atlanta Falcons

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

• 9 LA Chargers

  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.

• 10 Pittsburgh Steelers

  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.

   

• 11 Seattle Seahawks

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

• 12 Indianapolis Colts

  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.

   

• 13 Tennessee Titans

  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.

• 14 Chicago Bears

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

• 15 Detroit Lions

  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.

• 16 Kansas City Chiefs

  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.

• 17 Arizona Cardinals

  Yea yea yea.  It’s a dry heat.

• 18 Miami Dolphins

  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.

   

• 19 Cleveland Browns

  Key addition: DT Dalvin Tomlinson

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

• 20 New York Giants

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

• 21 Dallas Cowboys

  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.

• 22 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  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.

• 23 Green Bay Packers

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

• 24 New England Patriots

  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.

• 25 Minnesota Vikings

  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.

• 26 Carolina Panthers

  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.

• 27 Baltimore Ravens

  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.

• 28 Las Vegas Raiders

  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.

• 29 LA Rams

  I think this team stinks.

• 30 Houston Texans

  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.

• 31 New York Jets

  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.

• 32 Cincinnati Bengals

  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.

• Here's the numbers:

  Rank	Team	Positive Facebook Posts	Positive Twitter Posts	Positive Reddit Posts	Average Level of Positivity
  1	San Francisco 49ers	84%	8.87%	19.30%	37.39%
  2	Philadelphia Eagles	72%	12.30%	18.30%	34.20%
  3	Buffalo Bills	71%	10%	15.30%	32.10%
  4	Jacksonville Jaguars	74%	7.67%	13%	31.56%
  5	Washington Commanders	50%	25%	4.69%	26.56%
  6	New Orleans Saints	60%	11.80%	6.04%	25.95%
  7	Denver Broncos	51%	10.50%	14.50%	25.77%
  8	Atlanta Falcons	54%	13.30%	12.50%	25.67%
  9	LA Chargers	52%	17.10%	8.33%	24.54%
  10	Pittsburgh Steelers	42%	17.10%	13.80%	24.30%
  11	Seattle Seahawks	51%	10.50%	9.77%	23.76%
  12	Indianapolis Colts	44%	8.26%	19%	23.75%
  13	Tennessee Titans	41%	13.70%	16.30%	23.67%
  14	Chicago Bears	47%	14.20%	8.63%	23.28%
  15	Detroit Lions	32%	17.50%	14.30%	21.27%
  16	Kansas City Chiefs	35%	11.70%	15.30%	20.83%
  17	Arizona Cardinals	33%	9.38%	16.90%	19.76%
  18	Miami Dolphins	31%	14.70%	10.30%	18.67%
  19	Cleveland Browns	34%	12.10%	9.39%	18.50%
  20	New York Giants	28%	8.26%	15.50%	17.25%
  21	Dallas Cowboys	21%	11.90%	11.20%	14.70%
  22	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	27%	7.50%	8.33%	14.28%
  23	Green Bay Packers	18%	8.44%	15.30%	13.91%
  24	New England Patriots	24%	10.20%	7.08%	13.76%
  25	Minnesota Vikings	13%	14.90%	11.60%	13.17%
  26	Carolina Panthers	15%	10.30%	13.60%	12.97%
  27	Baltimore Ravens	15%	11.30%	10.20%	12.17%
  28	Las Vegas Raiders	18%	7.76%	10%	11.92%
  29	LA Rams	11%	12.60%	11.20%	11.60%
  30	Houston Texans	17%	7.58%	6.80%	10.46%
  31	New York Jets	10%	7.88%	8.41%	8.76%
  32	Cincinnati Bengals	11%	7.60%	7.33%	8.64%

• Rank	Team	Negative Facebook Posts	Negative Twitter Posts	Negative Reddit Posts	Average Level of Negativity
  1	Minnesota Vikings	9%	37.20%	14.70%	20%
  2	Cincinnati Bengals	14%	20.70%	14.00%	16.23%
  3	Baltimore Ravens	8%	17.30%	15.60%	13.63%
  4	Detroit Lions	10%	8.27%	18.60%	12.29%
  5	Carolina Panthers	14%	11.80%	10.90%	12.23%
  6	New York Giants	12%	5.47%	18.20%	12%
  7	Cleveland Browns	2%	12.60%	20.80%	11.80%
  8	Houston Texans	6%	8.76%	19.70%	11.49%
  9	Pittsburgh Steelers	8%	5.70%	20.70%	11%
  10	Philadelphia Eagles	2%	14.70%	15.80%	11%
  11	Tennessee Titans	11%	6.79%	14.70%	11%
  12	Dallas Cowboys	4%	8.84%	19.60%	10.81%
  13	Denver Broncos	8%	8.51%	14.50%	10.34%
  14	Las Vegas Raiders	12%	8.73%	6.92%	9.22%
  15	Washington Commanders	6%	7.10%	14.10%	9%
  16	LA Rams	6%	7.47%	12.40%	8.62%
  17	Green Bay Packers	3%	5.79%	16.00%	8.26%
  18	Miami Dolphins	4%	8.71%	11.70%	8.14%
  19	Atlanta Falcons	2%	11.80%	9.38%	7.73%
  20	Buffalo Bills	1%	4.90%	16.10%	7.33%
  21	Kansas City Chiefs	2%	9.96%	10.00%	7.32%
  22	LA Chargers	2%	6.62%	13.30%	7.31%
  23	New York Jets	3%	6.57%	11.80%	7%
  24	New England Patriots	4%	5.96%	10.40%	7%
  25	Arizona Cardinals	5%	4.84%	10.50%	6.78%
  26	Chicago Bears	4%	5.40%	8.43%	5.94%
  27	Seattle Seahawks	3%	4.16%	9.77%	6%
  28	New Orleans Saints	2%	3.46%	11.40%	6%
  29	San Francisco 49ers	1%	6.21%	8.43%	5%
  30	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	2%	3.94%	8.33%	5%
  31	Indianapolis Colts	3%	3.80%	5.71%	4.17%
  32	Jacksonville Jaguars	1%	6.22%	4.35%	3.86%

• Sources:

  • Facebook reactions data: https://app.buzzsumo.com/home
  • Twitter and Reddit data: https://search.linkfluence.com/?queries=#/

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Author psheppard

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