Four teams will punch their tickets to the Elite 8 when March Madness action resumes Thursday.
NCAA bracket update 2013: Live coverage and score updates for Thursday’s Sweet 16 action
All Orange everything


OSU fans rejoice over Ross’ game-winner

Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAYFor the second time in as many games, Ohio State went into the game’s final seconds with the ball and the score tied. For the second time, they opted not to get the ball to DeShaun Thomas, who had been leading the way with 20 points. And for the second time, a Buckeye drained a three, with Ohio State moving past Arizona 73-70 on LaQuinton Ross’ jumper with a few seconds left.
At Ohio State blog Land-Grant Holy Land, the most fun was being had in the comments section:
Read Article >Orange ponder Final Four, Hoosiers bummed

USA TODAY SportsIndiana was a popular pick to win the NCAA Tournament, but after a dismal performance where they couldn’t figure out Syracuse’s 2-3 zone, the Big Ten regular season champs are finished.
Syracuse blog Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician is enjoying the victory -- check the .GIF in their celebratory post, handily titled in part “ELITE EIGHT YOU GUYS!!!” Blogger Sean Keeley found the game “way easier than it was supposed to be,” and took pride in the Orange’s effort:
Read Article >Buzz Williams, great coach, better dancer

USA TODAY SportsPerhaps you thought Marquette wouldn’t do well this NCAA Tournament.
Maybe it was after Marquette needed three miracle threes, an errant Davidson pass, and a game-winning layup to earn a win against the No. 14 seed. Maybe it was after they had to score 47 points in the second half to come from behind to beat Butler 74-72. Maybe you saw a team that couldn’t shoot, couldn’t win away from home, lost their first Big East tournament game to Notre Dame and thought they were doomed in a neutral site tournament.
Read Article >Marquette rejoices, Miami reflects

Win McNameeMarquette’s 71-61 Sweet 16 win over Miami Thursday continued the best season in ten years for the Golden Eagles, but it ended the best season in program history, so despite the disappointing performance for one side, fans of both teams had something to be happy about.
Marquette blog Anonymous Eagle has been a fun read over the past week. While some blogs sweat through tournament marches, they’ve been just downright jubilant about everything, sort of like Buzz Williams, whose dancing GIF they posted the other day. They had plenty of reason to be pumped Thursday night, as their squad bounced back from a pair of close calls by trouncing Miami, leading by 20 at points throughout the second half before the lead dwindled to single digits in garbage time.
Read Article >Wichita State routs La Salle, on to Elite 8

Jeff GrossWichita State shot 45.5 percent from the floor and were utterly dominant on the boards, out-rebounding La Salle 43-23. The Explorers struggled to find the bucket, making only 35.7 of their field goals and 7 of 18 three-pointers.
• 16 things you should know about the Sweet 16
Read Article >Syracuse advances to Elite 8

Win McNameeWichita State gets inspiring speech from Tebow


Guess who was on the bus to give them a pep talk after the win over Gonzaga?
You know,
Read Article >ifwhen this football thing doesn’t work out, Tebow should consider traveling around the country, pumping up mid-major hoops teams with the power of his words.Wichita State stifling La Salle at halftime

Harry HowWichita State is dominating the glass battle, outrebounding the Explorers, 25-8. Hall finished the half with 14 points and the team shot 53.3 percent from the floor.
• 16 things you should know about the Sweet 16
Read Article >Drew Carey does the ‘O-H-I-O’ cheer


“The Price is Right” host and native Clevelander Drew Carey was in attendance for, and was visibly ecstatic about, Ohio State’s 73-70 victory over Arizona on Thursday in the Sweet 16 round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
In a perfect world, Carey would have yelled “OHIO-HIO-hio” at the top of his lungs after doing the “O-H-I-O” cheer with the Buckeye faithful.
Read Article >Syracuse up big at the half

Win McNameeJim Boeheim masks: a real thing


After the game, he’ll join the Point Break crew for a bank robbery.
Read Article >TBS thinks Deshaun Thomas is a senior

Harry HowElmore asked what really is a standard question to pose to a senior in his final NCAA Tournament. He wanted to know how Thomas felt knowing this was his last chance at winning a championship.
The problem? Thomas is actually a junior, and he made sure to correct Elmore.
Read Article >Ross lifts OSU to thrilling win

Jeff GrossThe 3 that made Ohio State elite


Mark May calls out Doug Gottlieb

Bob Donnan-US PRESSWIREEarlier on the CBS pregame show, Doug Gottlieb created a stir in the online world when he claimed to be the “white man’s perspective” in the studio. He later backtracked on his Twitter account, saying it was a joke. That didn’t stop ESPN’s Mark May from speaking his mind, however.
It’s rare for media members to call out their own colleagues, much less call for them to be fired. But that’s exactly what May did:
Read Article >Marquette vs. Miami reactions

Win McNameeThe Golden Eagles trailed Davidson at halftime, and found themselves in the same position in the third round against Butler. Marquette made sure it wouldn’t have to rally for a third consecutive game, holding Miami to 6-of-28 shooting in the first half en route to taking a 29-16 lead into the break. Marquette’s dominance is all part of a larger plan, according to AN community member Mr. Kensington:
Marquette will take on Crean, who is a former head coach of the Golden Eagles, and Indiana on Saturday in the Elite Eight if the top-seeded Hoosiers are able to get past No. 4 Syracuse on Thursday night.
Read Article >Marquette rolls over ice-cold Miami

USA TODAY SportsThe ACC Champions have fallen, as Miami had an unbelievably poor shooting night and fell to third-seeded Marquette, 71-61, in a game that wasn’t that close.
The Golden Eagles will take the win. After needing a miracle comeback to fend off No. 14 Davidson in the first round and holding on after a bitter comeback to beat Butler, 74-72, they eased over Miami, going up by double digits early and maintaining their lead for the entire second half.
Read Article >Miami’s Jones falls, picks up nifty assist


Wildcats race out to halftime lead over OSU

Harry HowThe Wildcats have led all game behind 50 percent shooting. Arizona has knocked down five of its eight 3-point attempts and made 9-of-10 free throws.
A quick 8-2 run midway through the half turned a one-point Arizona lead into seven behind five points from Lyons. A Nick Johnson three a few minutes later gave Arizona its first double-digit advantage of the game.
Read Article >Gottlieb defends ‘white man’s perspective’ comment

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY SportsDoug Gottlieb created quite a stir on CBS’s pregame show when he claimed to “bring diversity to the set” and bring a “white man’s perspective.” It was a weird comment that left the studio in several moments of awkward silence.
So what possessed Gottlieb to make such a bizarre, kinda inappropriate comment on national television?
Read Article >Syracuse looking for 1987 revenge

Jason MillerIt has been awhile since the two teams have met, and the few times they have Syracuse has usually come out on top. Jim Boeheim is 3-1 against the Hoosiers, but the Hoosiers’ one win was a big one. Keith Smart hit a jumper with five seconds remaining as Indiana overcame an eight-point deficit and won the national title in 1987.
As Jeremy Ryan with Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician writes, that 1987 title game is the game that haunts Orange fans nationwide.
Read Article >Ohio State-Arizona set to tip at 7:47 p.m. ET

USA TODAY SportsGame time, TV listings for Marquette-Miami

USA TODAY SportsThey went on to another nail-biter against Butler, as Blue once again bailed them out of a second-half hole and they held on to beat the Bulldogs, 74-72.
Game time and TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, CBS
Read Article >Check out our updated printable bracket


After an exciting first weekend of action and three days off, the 2013 NCAA Tournament resumes on Thursday with the Sweet 16.
Three No. 1 seeds remain in the fold after Gonzaga’s defeat in the round of 32. There are also three double digit seeds that made it to the second weekend. Oregon manhandled its opponents and proved that they were indeed under seeded. La Salle had two dramatic finishes to upset both Kansas St. and Ole Miss. And Florida Gulf Coast alley-ooped and danced their way into our hearts as the first No. 15 seed to ever make it this far.
Read Article >