The March to Madness

Rice Mascot Gets Ejected

A total collapse by Rice in Wednesday night's game against Tulane. Mascot Sammy the Owl gets ejected by referee Curtis Shaw, then Rice blows a 19-point lead by failing to score a basket in the final 10 minutes and loses to the Green Wave, 61-59.

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A look at a packed Frank Erwin Center on the University of Texas campus for the Longhorns' game last Saturday against Texas A&M. Texas won, 67-58. Thanks to TV Tan Line.

Snapshots of the Week

A look at the week that was from the fabulous TV Tan Line.

The Final Days of Gary Williams at Maryland?

Gary Williams has seen better days. Barring a turnaround of Herculean proportions, his Maryland Terrapins will miss the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in five seasons. Maryland, 13-7 overall and 2-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, has lost to lowly Morgan State and was drilled Saturday by Duke, 85-44.

Williams and his boss, athletic director Debbie Yow, do not get along, and tensions between the coach and other superiors are mounting.

The latest boiling point centers on Gus Gilchrist and Tyree Evans, players who were released from the program. When asked Monday about why they were no longer Terrapins, Williams blamed the administration. "It wasn't my fault that they're not here. That was somebody else's call," he said.

Billy Gillispie Does Not Like That Line of Questioning

ESPN sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards wanted to know why Kentucky's Jodie Meeks had only six points and failed to make a field goal in the first half of Tuesday night's game against Mississippi. Billy Gillispie tells her that she just asked a bad question.

Gillispie faced more questions after the game, which the Wildcats lost, 85-80.

Moving the Line Back a Step Forward?

Has the 20-foot 9-inch three-point line that was implemented this season had the desired impact?

The arc was moved back a foot to discourage weaker shooters from attempting long-range shots and open up play inside, but not much has changed.

The combined three-point shooting percentage in the seven major conferences — the Atlantic Coast, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Conference USA, Pacific 10 and Southeastern — has dipped only slightly.

The 85 teams in the power leagues have shot 34.9% from three-point range through Sunday's games. Last season they shot 35.3%.

As for opening play in the lane, Central Florida coach Kirk Speraw said it hasn't.