Toshiba Plaza outside T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas Strip remains empty after the Pac-12 tournament was canceled due to coronavirus concerns. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Toshiba Plaza outside T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas Strip remains empty after the Pac-12 tournament was canceled due to coronavirus concerns. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Following Gonzaga basketball’s win over Saint Mary’s at the WCC Tournament, head coach Mark Few commented on what it’d be like if the NCAA Basketball Tournament was canceled over the coronavirus epidemic. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Following Gonzaga basketball’s win over Saint Mary’s at the WCC Tournament, head coach Mark Few commented on what it’d be like if the NCAA Basketball Tournament was canceled over the coronavirus epidemic. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
An idea to bring the women’s Sweet 16 basketball tournament to Las Vegas is still alive. Former UNLV athletic director and men’s NCAA Tournament chairman Jim Livengood has been working on the concept. Livengood’s idea: To play all four NCAA women’s regionals in Las Vegas at the same time. This year’s women’s Final Four was exciting and was played in front of sellout crowds. The four regionals attracted only modest turnouts. The NCAA currently has a rule prohibiting championship events from being played in Las Vegas.
UMBC’s upset over Virginia means free Little Caesar’s pizza. 16-seed UMBC upset one-seed Virginia, the first time a one-seed was upset in the first round of the men’s NCAA Tournament. Little Caesar’s is capitalizing on the crazy by offering a free pizza lunch. The “If Crazy Happens” promotion offers a free lunch combo to every customer, which includes one personal, four-slice deep dish pizza and one 20-ounce Pepsi drink.
By 5 a.m. Thursday, about 150 people had staked out territory in the 400-seat at the sports book at Westgate Las Vegas, ready to watch and bet on the first day of the men’s NCAA Tournment. (Max Michor/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Adam Hill and Ed Graney go over the NCAA Tournament bracket and make their predictions for who will make the Final Four and win the national title.
Barack Obama Gives His March Madness Picks The former president revealed his picks on Twitter Wednesday for both the men and women’s NCAA tournament. Just because I have more time to watch games doesn’t mean my picks will be better Obama selected Virginia, North Carolina, Michigan State and Villanova, going Michigan State over Virginia in the national championship game. In the women’s tournament, he’s taking UConn, Mississippi St, Louisville and Notre Dam in the Final Four, with the Huskies winning the title.
Todd Dewey, Kelly Stewart and CG Technology Sports Book Vice President Matt Holt go over their picks for the NCAA midwest bracket.
Todd Dewey, Kelly Stewart and CG Technology Sports Book Vice President Matt Holt go over their picks for the NCAA South bracket.
Todd Dewey, Kelly Stewart and CG Technology Sports Book Vice President Matt Holt go over their picks for the NCAA east bracket.
Todd Dewey, Kelly Stewart and CG Technology Sports Book Vice President Matt Holt go over their picks for the NCAA west bracket.
Las Vegas casino owner Derek Stevens inadvertently upped the ante during his second annual NCAA Tournament betting binge. For the second straight year, the owner of the D Las Vegas and Golden Gate wagered $11,000 to win $10,000 on each of the 32 opening lines moments after they were posted Sunday during a live show on VSiN.com. But when the stacks of cash settled into the coffers of the South Point and Golden Nugget sports books, Stevens had actually wagered a total of $363,000 — or $11,000 more than the $352,000 he bet last year. “Last year was kind of tough. I had to make every bet within 10 seconds of being told the line,” he said. “To try to do it by yourself is impossible. This year, we had some of our team come down and they kind of helped me out. And we used two books to get all 32 bets in at a little better number.”
Las Vegas casino owner Derek Stevens inadvertently upped the ante during his second annual NCAA Tournament betting binge. For the second straight year, the owner of the D Las Vegas and Golden Gate wagered $11,000 to win $10,000 on each of the 32 opening lines moments after they were posted Sunday during a live show on VSiN.com. But when the stacks of cash settled into the coffers of the South Point and Golden Nugget sports books, Stevens had actually wagered a total of $363,000 — or $11,000 more than the $352,000 he bet last year. “Last year was kind of tough. I had to make every bet within 10 seconds of being told the line,” he said. “To try to do it by yourself is impossible. This year, we had some of our team come down and they kind of helped me out. And we used two books to get all 32 bets in at a little better number.”
Americans are Expected to Bet Over $10 Billion on March Madness The numbers come from estimates released by the American Gambling Association (AGA). According to ESPN, who reported the numbers, only three percent of all betting is expected to take place legally. The AGA reports that last year, 24 million people participated in NCAA Tournament pools, submitting over 60 million brackets. Many Americans take part in paid-entry pools which, according to the AGA, are actually illegal in most states. Our current sports betting laws are so out of touch with reality that we’re turning tens of millions of Americans into criminals for the simple act of enjoying college basketball. The NCAA Tournament kicks off on Tuesday, March 13 at 6:40 p.m. on TruTV.
NCAA Tournament: Biggest Snubs and Surprises Surprise: Oklahoma (18-13) Snub: Oklahoma St. (19-14) Surprise: Syracuse (20-13) Snub: Saint Mary’s (28-5) Surprise: Arizona St. (20-11) Snub: Notre Dame (20-14) Surprise: UCLA (21-11) Snub: University of Southern California (23-11) The first round of the NCAA Tournament begins on Tuesday, March 13 on TruTV.
MW tourney champ San Diego State prepares for NCAA Tournament UNR joins the Aztecs as an at-large team from the Mountain West Boise State will play in the National Invitation Tournament Gonzaga, back in the NCAAs, also could be headed to the MW Saint Mary’s just missed making the NCAA Tournament
New Mexico State beat Grand Canyon 72-58 to snag their second straight Western Athletic Conference tournament title at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
The San Diego State Aztecs defeated New Mexico 82-75 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas to win the Mountain West tournament and secure a bid to the NCAA tournament.
UNLV edged past Air Force in overtime, 97-90, to advance to the Mountain West tournament quarterfinal against Nevada on Thursday.
In the West Coast Conference final at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Gonzaga toppled Brigham Young University 74-54 to secure their sixth consecutive WCC tournament title.
UNLV basketball coach Marvin Menzies and players Jovan Mooring and Brandon McCoy talk about heading into the Mountain West tournament. (Mark Anderson/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
UNLV basketball coach Marvin Menzies and players Jovan Mooring and Brandon McCoy talk about heading into the Mountain West tournament. (Mark Anderson/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
The first two full days of the NCAA Tournament are arguably the best two days on the sports calendar. For the first time, the Westgate sports book is offering a contest that covers only the opening two days of the tourney on March 15 and 16. (Todd Dewey/Las Vegas Review-Journal)