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What follows is a list of the best MLB player to come out of each one of the 68 tourney schools. MARCH MADNESS 2017: Interactive/printable bracket Who knows, if you’re having trouble filling out your bracket, or are stuck on a tough matchup, maybe this could serve as a tiebreaker. No. 1 VILLANOVA: Mickey Vernon, 1B Vernon was a two-time batting champion with the Washington Senators, holding down first base in the nation’s capital and making seven All-Star Games in the process....

This was for you, Pierre Wooten, Winthrop ’02, probably over that 84-37 loss to Duke by now. This was history we thought we never would see. MORE: Virginia (of course) tops list of most humiliating first-round losses This would be big enough to make you forget the name Chaminade, if not for the eerie coincidence that the victim of the two most unexpected results in college basketball, ever, were different iterations of the same program....

It was true when he opened the season as a projected NBA first-round pick and posted seven consecutive double-figure scoring games from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve. MARCH MADNESS 2018: In pulling Michigan from deep end, Jordan Poole creates tournament memory It was true when he was so lost in the game from mid-January through mid-March he might as well have been playing cricket. It was true Saturday, when UK coach John Calipari’s enduring commitment to “Hami” delivered its reward: 22 points, 8 rebounds, 9-of-12 shooting and 35 magnificent minutes in a 95-75 victory over Buffalo that advanced the Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament South Region semifinals....

Here’s a look at the top players to watch, an unheralded name and which matchups to keep an eye out for. BIG BOARD: Ranking top prospects ahead of March Madness East Region’s top NBA prospects Mikal Bridges | Villanova Current rank: No. 7 Villanova’s Mikal Bridges is the perfect fit for the modern NBA. As a versatile defender with an accurate 3-point stroke, he should, at a minimum, be a productive role player for many years to come....

There was plenty to enjoy, though, as the 68-team 2019 NCAA Tournament field was cut down to the Sweet 16 teams for this weekend’s regionals at Washington D.C., Louisville, Kansas City and Anaheim. SN’s MARCH MADNESS HQLive NCAA bracket | Live scoreboard | Full TV schedule​ There is only one double-digit seed remaining. There are no mid-majors left. This is reserved for heavyweights from here on out. But the kind of teams that tend to be tournament darlings gave us some nice moments on the opening weekend....

It was a process so grueling two of the Spartans’ most important players wore walking boots as they joined the assembly Sunday afternoon to accept the Big Ten Tournament championship trophy, Kyle Ahrens, supporting himself on crutches, and Joshua Langford, rolling along on a knee scooter. They were proud when they were done beating Michigan for the third time, delighted and smiling and dancing on the floor of the United Center....

How many schools could pull that act off? The Spartans have won 32 games, earned a share of the the Big Ten regular-season title, won the conference tournament championship and will make that trip to the Final Four for the eighth time under Izzo. No. 2 Michigan State upset No. 1 Duke 68-67 in the East Region final on Sunday, effectively knocking out freshman phenoms Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett while simultaneously setting up the grittiest Final Four possible with No....

The transfer fee eclipses the previous world record fee of £86m that Real Madrid paid Tottenham Hotspur for Gareth Bale in the summer of 2013. After weeks of negotiations and reports of the deal breaking down at one point, the 23-year-old midfielder finally put pen to paper after the club came to an agreement with the player and his agent Mino Raiola. Pogba himself was delighted on being back. Speaking to Manchester United’s official website, he said: “I am delighted to rejoin United....

The bust-up as it happened The row started when Depay allegedly opted not to pass to Van Persie during a drill, despite him being in the best position to score a goal, leaving the striker angry. Van Persie then reportedly asked Depay if he thought he was a ‘big boy’ and the United winger replied with, “Do big boys play at Fenerbahce then?”. Such a disagreement should surprise no-one though, as it’s easy to see how a star player like Van Persie, currently out of the first XI at Fenerbahce, would take issue with Depay not passing him the ball....

Regular defeats have pulled the plug on United’s momentum time and time again this term, as reflected by recent annihilation at Anfield as well as the Emirates. Meanwhile, after a run of four losses on the trot in the Premier League, Burnley came back from behind to upstage Leicester City last time out. The Red Devils made light work of the same opponent in the reverse fixture, courtesy of timely strikes from the talismanic duo of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial....

Gazzetta dello Sport reported that the 53-year-old Italian has agreed a two-year deal worth two million euros ($2.3 million) a year which will be penned after the end of the Russian season which concludes next Sunday. Zenit are fifth in the Russian Premier League, ten points behind already-crowned champions Lokomotiv Moscow with one match left. The Russian club are reportedly reluctant to let Mancini leave and the Italian Football Federation FIGC do not want to pay any compensation to release him from his contract....

Fans who have spent the last decade hoping and crossing their fingers for a new Manhunt game may be in luck. It has come to light that Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar Games’ parent company, has renewed the Manhunt trademark. The history of the Manhunt trademark, which is listed on the United States trademark listing site Justia, reveals that Take-Two registered and renewed the trademark on May 6, 2016. According to the Justia listing, this trademark renewal should last for 10 years....

The first Grassroots Centre under the ‘All Manipur Football Association Grassroots Programme’ started with a rousing reception from the football adulates of Imphal and Kakching in Manipur.In total 77 children have enrolled for the first programme in Imphal which is being administered by the State FA in cooperation with their district FAs. All children are registered under the centralised system of the Grassroots Football Registration with all details of the children registered....

The Ravens and the Saints are doing battle in a game that will be important for each to win. The 5-3 Ravens need a win to stay a game ahead of the Bengals in the NFC North standings. Meanwhile, the 3-5 Saints can move into a three-way tie for first in the NFC South with a win over Baltimore. Suffice to say, this game should be entertaining. NFL fans will certainly look forward to hearing the Manning brothers’ thoughts on this one, especially since they will not be on again until December after this broadcast....

On July 20, at age 40, Pacquiao added to his legend by outpointing previously undefeated Keith Thurman in a dramatic fast-paced fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Pacquiao has been a notable presence on the boxing scene since 2001 when he made his American television debut on HBO and obliterated Lehlo Ledwaba to claim the IBF 122-pound crown. Notable victories over Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, and Juan Manuel Marquez followed as Pacquiao became boxing’s most marketable feel-good story....

The Maple Leafs star broke Rick Vaive’s franchise record for most goals in a single season. He potted goal No. 55 with his one-time goal against the Stars on Thursday. The sniper wasn’t done. After breaking the record, he sent the Maple Leafs home happy with the OT winner as well, pushing his goal total to 56. He tied Vaive’s record earlier this week with his hat trick against the Lightning on Monday, his fourth on the season....

Toronto sent Clarkson, signed to the league’s worst contract ($5.25 million a season until 2020), to the Blue Jackets on Thursday for winger Nathan Horton. Horton’s contract isn’t particularly good itself; he counts $5.3 million against the cap until 2019, and his career is in jeopardy because of a back injury. Still, the Leafs — with essentially limitless financial resources — can put Horton on long-term injured reserve and get his contract off the salary cap....

Brazil full-back Marcelo has not featured for Los Blancos since last month’s 3-0 reverse at Sevilla due to a calf injury. That defeat was the start of a four-match winless run in all competitions for Madrid in which they have failed to score. But Marcelo, who returned to training this week, could soon be back in the fold in welcome news for under-fire boss Julen Lopetegui. “I feel fine, I’m almost at 100 per cent,” he said in quotes reported by AS....

The German giants felt that they should have been awarded a spot-kick during the closing stages of the first half at Santiago Bernabeu. With the contest locked at 1-1 on the night, Bayern were pushing hard for a crucial second away goal. As Joshua Kimmich attempted to fire over a cross, Marcelo closed him down and appeared to touch the ball with his hand while trying to block the delivery....

Great players make great teams. Every coach will tell you the first ingredient of a successful team is talent. But who are the best players on the best teams? We decided to rank the top 68 players in the 68-team NCAA Tournament field for you. The number of terrific players we had to exclude should tell you that even if analysts are correct when they say this season has “no great teams,” that statement does not extend to the players who will participate....