In today's Betting Life Newsletter:
"The moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
There have been better quotes written about the NCAA Tournament, but Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s ruminations on Providence hit hard today.
How hard? The cheapest “All Sessions” ticket for all the first-round games on Ticketmaster is $700. They’re the most expensive of all the first-round host sites across the board. Why? Because Rick Pitino, who committed himself to St. John’s before last season, is returning to the city where he took a Cinderella Friars team to the Final Four in 1987.
That was squarely in the golden age of the Big East, with Pitino taking down John Thompson in the tournament’s Southeast Region and Jim Boeheim leading SU to the final (losing in heartbreaking fashion to Indiana). Providence still loves Pitino—an Italian coach in an Italian city who then left for the Knicks, which anyone anywhere would do … how could you not? And for him to come back with an exciting St. John’s “new Big East” team that’s easy to love?? This is the nostalgia that the world needs right now.
But that’s not all. Providence is going to be moving because…
On top of all the Pitino fun, John Calipari, who committed himself to Arkansas this offseason (yes, I will be overplaying this Goethe bit throughout the intro) and battled Pitino for years as the two men stood as giants of Kentucky hoops (Calipari has an 8-2 head-to-head record), is primed to face off against Pitino in the second round. That will be must-see TV (assuming you can’t afford the $700 for tickets).
AND THEN the committee sent High Point and McNeese—two chic double-digit possible Cinderella seeds—to the arena formerly known as the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.
AND THEEEN you get traditional powers Purdue, Clemson, and Kansas.
AND THENNNNNNN you get a first-round Kansas vs. Arkansas matchup. Word-within-a-word games rarely happen!!
The Providence games were designed by an NCAA FanFic writer. All we’re missing is a dunk contest breaking out. God Shammgod will 1000% be honored at halftime of one of these games. I wish there were odds on that.
The numbers we care about (via BetMGM):
- St. John’s -150 to reach the Sweet 16
- Arkansas +550 to reach the Sweet 16
- McNeese +750 to reach the Sweet 16
- High Point +1400 to reach the Sweet 16
Now how about some advice? Goethe would like that …
COMPARE ALL THE NCAA TOURNEY ODDS ACROSS ALL THE BOOKS HERE
Follow the bouncing ball… 🏀 🏀 🏀 🏀 🏀
📋 Calling all March Madness fans! We have your brackets.
📈 It’s post-NFL free agency, so time to refresh the fantasy rankings.
🚀 Luther Burden will be one of the top WRs taken in the NFL Draft. Here’s why.
🐶 Are the underdogs the way to go in March Madness? The numbers don’t lie.
📺 Some totally 80s coverage of Providence’s Final 4 run. Those shorts!
🧠 The Athletic has profiles of every team. Get to know High Point!!
🏀Women’s March Madness: Can UConn or South Carolina Topple UCLA And USC?🏀
The coaches in women’s college basketball are just as big a deal as Pitino and Calipari are to the men’s game. Dawn Staley of the reigning national champion South Carolina Gamecocks, UConn’s Geno Auriemma, and LSU’s Kim Mulkey are plenty big stars, and this is the time for them to take center stage. There’s plenty room after Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese moved on to the WNBA.
But let’s not think for a second that the star power won’t be plentiful on the hardwood. JuJu Watkins, Lauren Betts, and Paige Bueckers (aka Paige McBuckets) are ready to show that there is plenty reason to watch the women’s tournament. Gene Clemons broke down some of the teams after top seeds UCLA and USC who could surprise.
THESE JACKRABBITS ARE PRIMED FOR A RUN
🏀NCAA Men’s Tournament: Auburn? Duke? Houston? Drake? 🏀
If it’s March, then Duke must be ready to make a deep run in March Madness. But the Cooper Flagg injury splashed some water on that dream. Or did it? The Blue Devils did win the tough ACC Tournament without their freshman star, and his playing status is one of the intriguing storylines going into the men’s bracket.
Can Auburn shake off an SEC Tournament loss to cut down the nets? Will Houston be a problem with its stifling defense? Is there an underdog looking for a fairy-tale ending? Gene Clemons called out some blue bloods with a shot to win it all, and a few next-tier teams taking aim. He even gets out the glass slipper for a Cinderella to see if it fits.
