The field for this year’s NCAA Tournament is set. Kansas, Virginia, Oregon and North Carolina earned the four number-one seeds. The Tournament gets underway with the “First Four” in Dayton tomorrow.
The bubble has burst for several college basketball teams. Monmouth and Saint Mary’s were the most notable teams left out of the NCAA Tournament field. The last four teams to earn a spot in the 68-team field were Vanderbilt, Wichita State, Michigan and Tulsa.
The NCAA isn’t happy after a copy of the complete NCAA Tournament field was leaked online during Sunday’s selection broadcast. The full 68-team field appeared on Twitter at about the midway point of the two-hour special on CBS. The NCAA is looking into the matter.
The Cardinals and Nationals played to a 4-4 tie in Viera. Paul DeJong’s RBI single capped a three-run eighth for St. Louis, but Washington tied it for good in the bottom half. Michael Wacha [[ WAH-kuh ]] gave up three runs in two innings. The Cards host the Twins today.
The Cubs played to a 3-3 tie with the A’s in Cactus League action yesterday. Kyle Hendricks struck out five over four innings of one-hit, shutout ball. Jake Arrieta will be on the mound when the Cubs face the Padres today.
The Diamondbacks crushed the White Sox, 11-4, in Cactus League play yesterday. Starter John Danks was shelled for eight runs and six hits in four-and-a-third innings. Chicago faces the Royals this afternoon.
The Colts added a backup quarterback, but lost a starting linebacker this weekend. Scott Tolzien has agreed to a deal with Indianapolis to play behind Andrew Luck. Tolzien has had stints with San Diego, San Francisco and most recently Green Bay. Linebacker Jerrell Freeman agreed to a three-year contract with the Chicago Bears. Freeman started 57 games in the past four years for the Colts.
The Bears continued to retool their defense by signing lineman Akiem Hicks to a two-year deal yesterday. Hicks had 21 tackles, three sacks and a fumble recovery while with the Patriots last season.
Kevin Harvick nipped Carl Edwards by 0.01 seconds in an overtime finish to win the Good Sam 500. Harvick led a race-high 139 laps en route to his eighth career win at Phoenix International Raceway. Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. rounded out the top-five.