<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="13391712" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="hailey-van-lith" source="Orion">Hailey Van Lith</keyword> is marching through the 2022 <keyword id="13357676" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ncaa-tournament" source="Orion">NCAA Tournament</keyword> with a chip on her shoulder.</li><li>The <keyword id="13468972" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="louisville-cardinals" source="Orion">Louisville Cardinals</keyword> star is irked that people slept on her squad while making their brackets.</li></ul><p>Hailey Van Lith isn't letting anyone off the hook for underestimating her Louisville Cardinals.</p><p>Not even Barack Obama or Jimmy Fallon.</p><p>The superstar sophomore point guard for Jeff Walz's top-seeded team dissed everyone who didn't show faith in the Cardinals while filling out their 2022 women's March Madness brackets. And that included the former president of the United States and the host of "The Tonight Show."</p><div type="image" title="Hailey Van Lith." height="1667" width="2500" msid="90450490" hostid="261"></div><p>"We don't need the people picking the <keyword id="13357677" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="bracket" source="Orion">bracket</keyword>s," Van Lith declared during a press conference ahead of her team's Sweet 16 game against Tennessee on Saturday. "We don't need Barack Obama's bracket. We don't need Jimmy Fallon. We don't need [any] of that.</p><p>"We're still here," she added. "That is what it is. We're going to keep playing Louisville basketball and do us. If you match up with us, you better be ready to play. That's all I'm going to say because we're coming to win."</p><p>The first-team All-ACC guard and her squad — which has ranked in the Top 5 since late December 2021 — went on a tear through the first weekend of this year's NCAA Tournament. Louisville notched a 32-point victory against the Albany Great Danes in the opening round before readily taking down the No. 9 Gonzaga Bulldogs two days later.</p><div type="image" title="Louisville head coach Jeff Walz instructs Hailey Van Lith." height="1590" width="2500" msid="90450492" hostid="261"></div><p>Van Lith herself finished with 20 and 21 points, respectively, and averaged 50.0% shooting from the floor and from beyond the arc.</p><p>"She's obviously really confident shooting the basketball," Walz said of his point guard. "She's scoring from all three phases. She's shooting the three well, the pull-up, she gets to the rim, then she's able to step up and knock free throws down."</p><p>But Van Lith is hardly concerned with her individual accolades. When a member of the media asked what drew her — a native of Washington state — to join the Cardinals halfway across the country, she offered a "simple" answer: "I came here because I wanted to win."</p><div type="image" title="Louisville's Hailey Van Lith handles the ball." height="1667" width="2500" msid="90450494" hostid="261"></div><p>"I think everyone else did, too," Van Lith added, referring to her teammates. "That's why we win when we come here, because everybody wants to win."</p><p>Louisville will look to continue its winning ways against a young but talented Volunteers team on Saturday. Should the Cardinals advance, the winner of Michigan-South Dakota State awaits them in the Elite Eight.</p><p>But no matter what time is in front of them, Van Lith and the rest of the stacked Louisville squad have their eyes locked on the prize. So forgive her for starting to "get mad" that people are sleeping on the Cardinals — or don't. She doesn't care.</p><div type="image" title="Hailey Van Lith." height="1406" width="2500" msid="90450496" hostid="261"></div><p>"We're kind of like the Bad <keyword id="11893589" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news" source="Orion">News</keyword> Bears; we upset everyone's bracket, we piss people off that we're good," Van Lith said. "Everyone gets mad when we beat teams. You learn to love that about it. It's unfortunate that it has to be that way.</p><p>"I mean, we got our fans back home, and that's all we care about," she added. "We are going to ride or die for them, they're going to ride or die for us. That is all we need."</p><p>Check out her full answer from the pre-Sweet 16 press conference below:</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Tyler Greever (@Tyler_Greever) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1507398563155910657">March 25, 2022</a></blockquote>

A Sweet 16 superstar dissed Barack Obama and Jimmy Fallon for doubting her team

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12266440" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="candace-parker" source="Orion">Candace Parker</keyword> adheres to a strict "one bracket" policy during <keyword id="12832958" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="march-madness" source="Orion">March Madness</keyword>.</li><li>This year, she isn't picking her alma mater — the Tennessee Volunteers — to win the Big Dance.</li></ul><p>Candace Parker only fills out one bracket ahead of the <keyword id="13357676" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ncaa-tournament" source="Orion">NCAA tournament</keyword>.</p><p>And, based on what she told Insider, the <keyword id="11896033" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="wnba" source="Orion">WNBA</keyword> superstar is pretty stringent about that policy.</p><p>"I'm all for filling out one bracket," Parker said. "That is my biggest thing in my group. You know, when I have friends that are in different [pools] and their brackets are different, I'm like, 'No, no, no — there's one bracket that you fill out.'"</p><div type="image" title="Candace Parker." height="1879" width="2500" msid="90278547" hostid="261"></div><p>"You gotta have your winner," she added.</p><p>This year, Parker's winner isn't who many might expect. The two-time NCAA champion and two-time AP <keyword id="12055086" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="womens-college-basketball" source="Orion">Women's College Basketball</keyword> Player of the Year isn't penciling in her alma mater to win the Big Dance.</p><p>Though Parker was impressed with her Tennessee Volunteers' "ability to battle adversity" throughout the season and finish with a four seed in the NCAA tournament, she noted that "they still have injuries" and may not be <em>quite </em>ready to contend for a national championship just yet.</p><div type="image" title="From left: Tennessee's Jordan Walker, Sara Puckett, Tamari Key, Brooklynn Miles, and Jordan Horston." height="1667" width="2500" msid="90278549" hostid="261"></div><p>"Honestly, I think Tennessee surprised a lot of individuals this year — it surprised me this year with their rise," the two-time WNBA MVP said. "For me, a successful year for them, to be honest, would be an Elite Eight.... I think that that is a successful year based off of what they have overcome this year, the lessons they've learned, [and] the people that they have out."</p><p>And even though it "hurts her heart" to pick anyone but the Vols to win it all, Parker is picking a different Southeastern Conference squad to cut down the nets: the <keyword id="12137456" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="south-carolina-gamecocks" source="Orion">South Carolina Gamecocks</keyword>. Led by National Player of the Year favorite Aliyah Boston, Dawn Staley's top-ranked squad has only suffered two losses on the season.</p><div type="image" title="Aliyah Boston." height="1667" width="2500" msid="90278550" hostid="261"></div><p>"I'd like to see them be successful because they've had heartbreaks the last, I would say, even three years," Parker said. "They've had heartbreaks in COVID and then Aliyah Boston missed the [last-second layup during the 2021 Final Four], and they didn't win. Just seeing her face and how upset she was — and I'm a big believer in bouncing back. I've lost a lot of games by a last-second shot in my career, and it sucks."</p><p>"So I would like to see them rise up and win," she added.</p><p>That said, Parker knows better than to rule out her fiercest college rivals, the ever-dominant UConn Huskies, who have appeared in every Final Four since 2008.</p><div type="image" title="Bueckers (right) and freshman guard Azzi Fudd." height="1658" width="2500" msid="90278551" hostid="261"></div><p>Though the Huskies struggled throughout the regular season as a result of an injury bug that took out much of their team — including reigning National Player of the Year Paige Bueckers — Geno Auriemma's squad has gotten healthy for when it matters most. </p><p>"I mean, everybody's talking about the Stanfords, the South Carolinas, the NC States, Louisville, and all that, but Connecticut's got their dogs back," Parker said. "Whatever one seed they're in the bracket with, it's not fair."</p><p>Ultimately, Parker picked the sixth-seeded Kentucky Wildcats to topple UConn in the Sweet Sixteen of <a href="https://twitter.com/Candace_Parker/status/1503748609254297609">her official bracket</a>, which she filled out and shared as part of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/candace-parker-womens-march-madness-brackets-engagement-2022-3">her joint effort with Degree</a> to bring more attention to the women's NCAA tournament.</p><div type="image" title="Candace Parker." height="1667" width="2500" msid="90278553" hostid="261"></div><p>Through the "Bracket Gap Challenge," Parker and Degree are encouraging more fans to fill out brackets for the women's tourney by offering a top prize of $100,000.</p><p>"Something as little and simple as filling out a women's bracket will bring about more attention, more visibility, and more opportunities for these deserving women," she said.</p>

Candace Parker only fills out one March Madness bracket, and she's not picking her alma mater to win it all

<ul class="summary-list"><li>March Madness is back and college basketball fans around the country are busy filling out their brackets.</li><li>Nailing the Final Four is one of the most important aspects of winning your bracket pool.</li></ul><p>March Madness is back.</p><p>On Sunday, <a href="https://www.insider.com/march-madness-bracket-printable-mens-2022-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the field for the NCAA men's basketball tournament was released</a>, setting millions of Americans to work in their quest to <a href="https://www.insider.com/march-madness-most-likely-upsets-spreads-las-vegas-2022-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">build the perfect bracket</a>.</p><p>Truth be told, unless you have been struck by God or are literally from the future, the chance of your bracket being perfect is slim to none.</p><p>Thankfully, <a href="https://www.insider.com/5-mistakes-to-avoid-when-building-your-march-madness-bracket-2022-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">you don't need perfection to win your local bracket pool</a>. Often, nailing a few of the Final Four teams and the eventual champion will be enough to finish in the money.</p><p>Looking back over the data from the past 30 brackets, dating back to 1991, one number sticks out when considering how to build your Final Four: 11.</p><p>Specifically, 11.3333333 and more threes forever.</p><p>Over the past 30 tournaments, the sum total of the seeds of the Final Four teams has averaged just above 11. With this in mind, 11 can serve as a guidepost of sorts for just how wild to make your Final Four.</p><p>If the sum of your Final Four seeds is 19 or 20, it might be a sign that you should dial it back a bit. Conversely, if your Final Four is landing at just five or six because you leaned heavily into favorites, it might be good to see if there's a sleeper pick you like coming out of one of the regions.</p><p>There are plenty of ways to get to 11-ish for your Final Four.</p><p>One 1-seed, a 2-seed, a 3-seed, and a 5-seed is one option that lands at exactly 11 (as happened in 2019). One 1-seed, two 2-seeds, and a 4-seed will get you to a total of nine, which is close enough (as happened in 2012). If you're feeling a little frisky, Two 1-seeds, a 2-seed, and an 11-seed (as happened in 2021) is certainly an interesting proposition to get you to 15.</p><p>It's worth noting that in recent years, a little bit of boldness has paid off for those that nailed their picks.</p><p>In all but two tournaments since 2011, at least one team seeded No. 7 or lower has reached the Final Four.</p><p>Since 2014, three 7-seeds and two 11-seeds, as well as a 5-, 8-, and 10-seed have all found their way to the last weekend of the tournament. That's eight of the 28 Final Four spots available over that span, taken by a team that was a 5-seed or worse to start the tournament.</p><p>Nailing the Final Four is never easy, but especially for those playing in a bigger pool, getting three of the four or even running the table on all four can mean a huge payday.</p><p>While the "Rule of 11" (as I've now decided to call it) is not a hard and fast one, it's a good guide, and how you get there is up to you.</p>

Why 11 is the most important number to remember when picking your Final Four

<ul class="summary-list"><li>It is time to fill out your March Madness brackets. </li><li>We took a look at all the ESPN brackets to see who are the most popular <keyword id="13392004" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="final-four" source="Orion">Final Four</keyword> picks.</li></ul><p>March Madness is back, and it is time to fill out your brackets. </p><p><em>Read more: <a href="https://www.insider.com/womens-bracket-march-madness-printable-2022-3">Here's your printable 2022 NCAA women's tournament bracket</a></em></p><p>We took a look at all the brackets that have been filled out in <a href="https://fantasy.espn.com/tournament-challenge-bracket-women/2022/en/">ESPN's Women's Tournament Challenge</a> to see which teams are the most popular picks to reach the Final Four. While the highest seeds are always the most popular, the percentages can provide insight into which top teams the fans think are most vulnerable to an upset.</p><p>Here are the teams in each region picked to reach the Final Four in at least 5% of the brackets:</p><p><strong>Greensboro</strong></p><ul><li>1 South Carolina — 62.4%</li><li>2 Iowa — 16.8%</li></ul><p><strong>Spokane</strong></p><ul><li>1 Stanford — 59.3%</li><li>2 Texas — 14.2%</li><li>3 LSU — 8.2%</li></ul><p><strong>Wichita</strong></p><ul><li>1 Louisville — 42.7%</li><li>2 Baylor — 26.0%</li><li>3 Michigan — 9.6%</li><li>4 Tennessee — 5.9%</li></ul><p><strong>Bridgeport</strong></p><ul><li>2 UConn — 38.8%</li><li>1 North Carolina State — 36.8%</li><li>3 Indiana — 5.7%</li></ul>

Here are the most common Final Four picks in brackets for the 2022 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament

<ul class="summary-list"><li>It is time to fill out your March Madness brackets. </li><li>We took a look at all the ESPN brackets to see which teams are popular <keyword id="11947905" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="cinderella" source="Orion">Cinderella</keyword> picks.</li></ul><p>March Madness is back, and it is time to fill out your brackets. </p><p><em>Read more: <a href="https://www.insider.com/womens-bracket-march-madness-printable-2022-3">Here's your printable 2022 NCAA women's tournament bracket</a></em></p><p>We took a look at all the brackets that have been filled out in <a href="https://fantasy.espn.com/tournament-challenge-bracket-women/2022/en/">ESPN's Women's Tournament Challenge</a> to see which teams fans are predicting will be this year's Cinderella. </p><p>The first number is the team's seed. Percentages represent how often people pick that team to win their game in that round.</p><p><strong>Round of 64 (11-seeds or lower picked in at least 15% of brackets to advance to the second round; regional in parentheses)</strong></p><ul><li>11 Villanova (Wichita) — 31.9%</li><li>12 Florida Gulf Coast (Spokane) — 20.8%</li><li>11 <keyword id="13392104" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="princeton" source="Orion">Princeton</keyword> (Bridgeport) — 20.7%</li><li>11 Dayton/DePaul First Four winner (Greensboro) — 16.4%</li><li>12 Belmont (Wichita) — 16.2%</li><li>11 Florida State/Missouri State First Four winner (Spokane) — 15.7%</li><li>12 UMass (Bridgeport) — 15.2%</li></ul><p><strong>Round of 32 (8-seeds or lower picked in at least 6% of the brackets to advance to the Sweet 16)</strong></p><ul><li>11 Villanova (Wichita) — 8.8%</li><li>10 Arkansas (Spokane) — 7.4%</li><li>12 Florida Gulf Coast (Spokane) — 7.3%</li><li>9 Gonzaga (Wichita) – 7.1%</li><li>11 Princeton (Bridgeport) — 6.8%</li><li>8 Nebraska (Wichita) — 6.2%</li><li>9 Kansas State (Bridgeport) — 6.2%</li><li>10 Creighton (Greensboro) — 6.1%</li><li>10 Florida (Bridgeport) — 6.0%</li><li>8 Kansas (Spokane) — 6.0%</li></ul><p><strong>Sweet 16 (7-seeds or lower picked in at least 3% of brackets to reach the Elite 8)</strong></p><ul><li>7 Ole Miss (Wichita) — 3.8%</li><li>7 Utah (Spokane) — 3.7%</li><li>7 Colorado (Greensboro) — 3.7%</li><li>9 Gonzaga (Wichita) — 3.4%</li><li>8 Nebraska (Wichita) — 3.1%</li><li>8 Kansas (Spokane) — 3.0%</li></ul><p><strong>Elite Eight (5-seeds or lower picked in at least 2% of brackets to reach Final Four)</strong></p><ul><li>6 Kentucky (Bridgeport) — 3.7%</li><li>5 Oregon (Wichita) — 3.6%</li><li>5 Notre Dame (Bridgeport) — 3.3%</li><li>5 North Carolina (Greensboro) — 3.1%</li><li>5 Virginia Tech (Spokane) — 2.4%</li><li>6 BYU (Wichita) — 2.3%</li><li>6 Ohio State (Spokane) — 2.3%</li></ul>

Here are the most common upset picks for the 2022 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament

<ul class="summary-list"><li>It is time to fill out your March Madness brackets. </li><li>We took a look at nearly 10 million ESPN brackets to see who are the most popular <keyword id="13392004" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="final-four" source="Orion">Final Four</keyword> picks.</li></ul><p>March Madness is back, and it is time to fill out your brackets. </p><p><em>Read more: <a href="https://www.insider.com/march-madness-bracket-printable-mens-2022-3">Here's your printable 2022 NCAA men's tournament bracket</a></em></p><p>There are two big keys to a successful <keyword id="13357677" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="bracket" source="Orion">bracket</keyword>: 1) successfully <a href="https://www.insider.com/march-madness-most-likely-upsets-spreads-las-vegas-2022-3">pick as many upsets as possible early in the tournament</a>; 2) nail at least a couple of the Final Four teams.</p><p>We took a look at the nearly 10 million brackets that have been filled out in <a href="https://fantasy.espn.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/2022/en/">ESPN's Men's Tournament Challenge</a> to determine which teams are the most popular Final Four picks. While the highest seeds are always the most popular, the percentages can provide insight into which top teams the public thinks are most vulnerable to an upset.</p><p>Here are the teams in each region picked to reach the Final Four in at least 10% of the brackets.</p><p><strong>West</strong></p><ul><li>1 <keyword id="13392005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="gonzaga" source="Orion">Gonzaga</keyword> — 58.2%</li><li>2 Duke — 17.5%</li><li>3 Texas Tech  — 10.3%</li></ul><p><strong>South</strong></p><ul><li>1 Arizona — 44.0%</li><li>3 Tennessee — 19.4%</li><li>2 Villanova — 16.6%</li></ul><p><strong>East</strong></p><ul><li>2 Kentucky — 30.7%</li><li>1 Baylor — 30.3%</li><li>3 Purdue — 15.0%</li><li>4 UCLA — 11.1%</li></ul><p><strong>Midwest</strong></p><ul><li>1 Kansas — 43.5%</li><li>2 Auburn — 23.0%</li><li>5 Iowa — 12.1%</li></ul>

Here are the most common Final Four picks in brackets for the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

<ul class="summary-list"><li>It is time to fill out your March Madness brackets. </li><li>We took a look at nearly 10 million ESPN brackets to see which teams are popular Cinderella picks.</li></ul><p>March Madness is back, and it is time to fill out your brackets. </p><p><em>Read more: <a href="https://www.insider.com/march-madness-bracket-printable-mens-2022-3">Here's your printable 2022 NCAA men's tournament bracket</a></em></p><p>There are two big keys to a successful <keyword id="13357677" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="bracket" source="Orion">bracket</keyword>: 1) Nail at least a couple of the Final Four teams; 2) Successfully <a href="https://www.insider.com/march-madness-most-likely-upsets-spreads-las-vegas-2022-3">pick as many upsets as possible early in the tournament</a>. </p><p>We took a look at the nearly 10 million brackets that have been filled out in <a href="https://fantasy.espn.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/2022/en/">ESPN's Men's Tournament Challenge</a> to see which teams are the most popular Cinderella picks. </p><p>The first number is the team's seed. Percentages represent how often people pick that team to win their game in that round.</p><p><strong>Round of 64 (11-seeds or lower picked in at least 20% of brackets to advance to the second round)</strong></p><ul><li>11 Michigan (South) — 55.4%</li><li>11 Virginia Tech (East) — 53.2%</li><li>11 Iowa State (Midwest) — 38.0%</li><li>13 South Dakota State (Midwest) — 28.7%</li><li>11 Rutgers/Notre Dame First Four winner (West) — 28.5%</li><li>12 Wyoming/Indiana First Four winner (East) — 23.0%</li><li>13 Vermont (West) — 21.6%</li></ul><p><strong>Round of 32 (7-seeds or lower picked in at least 10% of the brackets to advance to the Sweet 16)</strong></p><ul><li>11 Virginia Tech (East) — 19.1%</li><li>8 North Carolina (East) — 14.5%</li><li>7 Michigan State (West) — 13.5%</li><li>11 Michigan (South) — 12.5%</li><li>7 Ohio State (South) — 11.2%</li><li>7 USC (Midwest) — 11.2%</li><li>10 Loyola-Chicago (South) — 11.0%</li><li>7 Murray State (East) — 10.8%</li></ul><p><strong>Sweet 16 (6-seeds or lower picked in at least 5% of brackets to reach the Elite 8)</strong></p><ul><li>8 North Carolina (East) — 7.2% </li><li>6 Alabama (West) — 7.1%</li><li>6 LSU (Midwest) — 6.9%</li><li>11 Virginia Tech (East) —6.0%</li><li>7 Michigan State (West) — 5.4%</li></ul><p><strong>Elite Eight (5-seeds or lower picked in at least 2% of brackets to reach Final Four)</strong></p><ul><li>5 Iowa (Midwest) — 12.1%</li><li>5 Houston (South) — 6.4%</li><li>8 North Carolina (East) — 2.8%</li><li>5 UConn (West) — 2.6%</li><li>11 Virginia Tech (East) — 2.3%</li><li>6 LSU (Midwest) — 2.3%</li></ul>

Here are the most common upset picks in brackets for the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

<ul class="summary-list"><li>March Madness is back, and it's time to build your bracket.</li><li>When looking for an upset, it can be helpful to look to Las Vegas for guidance.</li></ul><p>No <a href="https://www.insider.com/march-madness-bracket-printable-mens-2022-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">March Madness bracket</a> would be complete <a href="https://www.insider.com/5-mistakes-to-avoid-when-building-your-march-madness-bracket-2022-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">without a few upsets</a>.</p><p>Year after year, the first round of the tournament is defined by the shocking Cinderellas that seem to come out of nowhere to outperform the expectations of those watching at home.</p><p>But sometimes, those upsets are not so shocking in the eyes of bookmakers, setting the odds on games. By taking a look at the spreads set by sportsbooks for the first set of games, we can get a glimpse of some of the best early upset candidates.</p><p>Below are five games in the men's tournament that Las Vegas says are much closer than the bracket would have you believe.</p><h2>No. 11 Michigan over No. 6 Colorado State</h2><div type="image" title="Michigan guard Eli Brooks shoots against Indiana." height="1781" width="2375" msid="90208655" hostid="261"></div><p>Despite the fact that Michigan is a lower seed than Colorado State, the Wolverines are 2.5-point favorites over the Rams in their first-round matchup.</p><p>This shouldn't come as a total surprise — games between 6-11 teams have been pretty evenly split in recent years, and dating back to 2014, 11-seeds have actually had a slight advantage over 6-seeds in these games.</p><p>If you were only going by what you see on the bracket, you might pencil in Colorado State without thinking twice about it, but given how Las Vegas thinks this game is going to go, it's technically higher-seeded Colorado State that would be pulling off an upset if it won.</p><h2>No. 10 Loyola-Chicago over No. 7 Ohio State</h2><p>Loyola-Chicago has caused some chaos in the tournament over the past few years, beginning with its Cinderella run to the Final Four as an 11-seed in 2018. Last year, the Ramblers kept the party going, reaching the Sweet 16 as an 8-seed and taking down No. 1 Illinois along the way.</p><div type="image" title="Loyola-Chicago's Lucas Williamson celebrates during a game against Drake." height="1783" width="2377" msid="90208656" hostid="261"></div><p>Given their recent success in the tournament, the Ramblers aren't sneaking up on anyone this year, but you still might be surprised to learn that they are actually a 1.5-point favorite over Ohio State in their first-round game.</p><p>While 7-10 upsets aren't too uncommon — 10-seeds have won at a 42.5% clip over the past 30 tournaments — it's impressive that Loyola-Chicago is so respected by bookmakers to be favored over a powerhouse school with a higher seed.</p><h2>No. 13 South Dakota State over No. 4 Providence</h2><p>This might be the most intriguing difference between spread and seeding that we see all tournament. As a 13-seed, South Dakota State is just a three-point underdog against Providence, according to sportsbooks.</p><div type="image" title="South Dakota State forward Douglas Wilson shoots a layup against North Dakota State." height="1783" width="2377" msid="90208657" hostid="261"></div><p>While the Jackrabbits are still technically 'dogs, if you compare their odds to those of the other 13-seeds in the field, it's clear that Las Vegas sees them a step ahead of the competition. No. 4 Illinois is a 7.5-point favorite over No. 13 Chattanooga in the South region. No. 4 UCLA is a whopping 14-point favorite over Akron in the East.</p><p>It's also worth noting that 13-seeds have been on a bit of an upset run in recent years. Over the past three tournaments, 13-seeds have more upsets over 4-seeds in the first round (5) than 12-seeds do over 5-seeds (4). Given all of the attention paid to 5-12 matchups, it might be worth zigging against the zag and backing a lurking 13-seed this year instead.</p><h2>No. 13 Vermont over No. 4 Arkansas</h2><p>Vermont presents another very interesting 4-13 matchup against Arkansas in the first round. Like South Dakota State, the Catamounts are technically underdogs in this game, but the Razorbacks are only being given a 5-point edge by bookmakers in this contest.</p><p>Again, 13-seeds have had more success in recent tournaments than you might think, and given the tough outlook of the other two 13-seeds in this year's bracket, Vermont and South Dakota State both present an opportunity for bracket chaos.</p><p>The Catamounts can play, as they showed in an absolutely dominating 82-43 win over UMBC in the America East final just a few days ago. If they can bring that same energy against Arkansas this weekend, there's no reason to think they couldn't make a run to the Sweet 16.</p><h2>No. 14 Colgate over No. 3 Wisconsin</h2><p>If you are looking for an upset that would 1) really impress everyone in your bracket pool and 2) actually has a chance of hitting, 14th-seeded Colgate is likely your best bet.</p><div type="image" title="Colgate's Jack Ferguson makes a pass against Arkansas." height="1781" width="2375" msid="90208658" hostid="261"></div><p>Colgate is clearly not the favorite against Wisconsin, but given that the Raiders are only 7.5-point underdogs against the Badgers, this game could be closer than the bracket would have you believe. Further, if you look at the other 3-14 matchups this year, this game is expected to be the closest by a longshot.</p><p>No. 3 Texas Tech is a 15.5-point favorite over No. 14 Montana State in the West region; No. 3 Tennessee is a 17-point favorite over No. 14 Longwood in the South; and No. 3 Purdue is a 16.5-point favorite over No. 14 Yale in the East.</p><p>While 3-14 upsets aren't the most common you will see, they do happen. Over the past 30 tournaments, 14-seeds have advanced out of the first round in just over 14% of games. Since 2016, just one 14-seed has pulled off an opening upset. If you think we're due for an extra bit of Madness this year, Colgate could be your answer.</p>

5 first-round upsets Las Vegas thinks you should include in your March Madness bracket

<ul class="summary-list"><li>March Madness is back, and it's time to build your bracket.</li><li>We went through 30 years of brackets to help you avoid making a costly mistake as you build yours this year.</li></ul><p>Building a March Madness bracket is an inexact science.</p><p>Given that the chances of building a truly perfect bracket are <a href="https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/bracketiq/2022-03-10/perfect-ncaa-bracket-absurd-odds-march-madness-dream#:~:text=As%20such%2C%20the%20number%20of,correctly%201%20in%209.2%20quintillion." target="_blank" rel="noopener">roughly 1 in 120,000,000,000</a>, your best bet is not to strive for perfection, but rather to go for "pretty good."</p><p>With this in mind, we've gone through the past 30 years of NCAA men's tournament brackets, dating back to 1991, to come up with five of the biggest mistakes to avoid when building your bracket.</p><p>Armed with the knowledge of history, your bracket will have a chance to contend in any pool.</p><h2>1. Don't be afraid to pick some upsets in the early rounds</h2><p>If you haven't watched a ton of college basketball all season, it can be tempting to back the higher seeds throughout the early rounds of the tournament. They're ranked higher because they're better right?</p><p>While that's true, the early rounds are where some of the most memorable upsets of the tournament happen — it's called March <em>Madness</em> after all — so don't shy away from picking a few upsets in the early rounds.</p><div type="image" title="South Dakota State guard Alex Arians grabs a rebound against Alabama." height="1783" width="2377" msid="90207484" hostid="261"></div><p>Over the past 30 tournaments, 5-12 matchups and 6-11 matchups have played closer than you might think.</p><p>12-seeds have advanced out of the first round at a 35.8% clip, dating back to 1991, making them one of the most analyzed first-round matchups every year. Since 2012, 12-seeds have gone 15-21 against 5-seeds in the first round, bumping their win percentage up to 41.6% over that span.</p><p>6-11 matchups can be just as volatile. While 6-seeds have won over 11-seeds 65% of the time since 1991, they've gone 4-0 just once since 2004. Further, in four of the past seven tournaments, 6-11 matchups have been split 2-2. The margins dividing these teams are thin, and in one game, the underdogs have a chance.</p><p>The 4-13 matchups can also present quite a bit of chaos. Over the past 30 men's tournaments, 13-seeds have pulled off the first-round upset 21.6% of the time — nearly averaging one a tournament. In two of the past three years, 13-seeds have split their matchups, going 2-2 in the first round.</p><p>The top seeds in each region are a pretty safe bet to advance through the first round. Just once in the history of the men's tournament has a 1-seed lost to a 16-seed in the first round, and 15-over-2 upsets happen just 7.5% of the time.</p><h2>2. Don't take your Cinderella team too far</h2><p>While your bracket would be incomplete without a few early upsets, it's also important to mitigate your risk a bit when picking your Cinderella teams. A 12-, 13-, or 14-seed can spring an upset or two to make it to the Sweet Sixteen, but reaching the Final Four is another story.</p><div type="image" title="Loyola-Chicago's Lucas Williamson celebrates during a game against Drake." height="1783" width="2377" msid="90207487" hostid="261"></div><p>The successful Cinderellas like Loyola-Chicago just a few years ago stand out in our minds with their incredible runs, but for every sleeper that reaches the Final Four, there are dozens of others that never escape the first weekend of the tournament.</p><p>In the past 30 years of the tournament, no team lower than an 11-seed has reached the Final Four.</p><h2>3. But don't get too conservative with your Final Four</h2><p>Rather than getting over-eager about your sleeper picks making it all the way to the final weekend of play, your best bet is targeting a mid-range team to make a run.</p><p>In the past four tournaments, each Final Four has had exactly one representative that was seeded lower than 3 — one 5-seed, one 7-seed, and two 11-seeds. If you can find the right team around that sweet spot — No. 5 UConn, No. 5 Iowa, and No. 7 Ohio State jump out as potential contenders — you could end up as the only one in your bracket pool to nail the Final Four.</p><div type="image" title="Connecticut's Tyrese Martin reacts during a game against Seton Hall." height="1781" width="2375" msid="90207491" hostid="261"></div><p>One way of thinking about building your Final Four is to go by historical average. Add up the seeds of the four teams you have in your Final Four, and if it's somewhere around 11, you're in pretty good shape. Over the past 30 tournaments, the average total seeding of the Final Four has hovered just over 11. </p><p>You can get to 11 in any number of ways — a 1-, 1-, 3-, and 6-seed feels pretty good, for instance. If your total is lower than 11, it means you're playing a bit more conservatively. Higher than 11, and your picks lean toward the risky end.</p><p>One thing you should likely avoid is picking all 1-seeds to reach the Final Four. Again, this is Madness. Upsets happen. Over the past 30 brackets, all four 1-seeds have reached the Final Four in the same tournament just once.</p><h2>4. Don't get cute with your champion pick</h2><p>Once you've figured out your Final Four, you'll have to decide on a champion. When you do so, please, pick a 1-seed.</p><p>In the past 30 tournaments, a 1-seed has come out as champion a remarkable 21 times. 2-seeds have won four titles, 3-seeds three, and then one 4-seed and one 7-seed have rounded out the past 30 champions.</p><p>1-seeds have had great success in making the final over the past few years as well. In three of the past six tournaments, the championship game has been contested between two 1-seeds.</p><div type="image" title="Drew Timme of Gonzaga celebrates a win over San Francisco." height="1783" width="2377" msid="90207494" hostid="261"></div><p>Simply put, while there's plenty of madness leading up to the championship, the cream has a tendency of rising to the top in the end.</p><p>When building your bracket, it actually might be best to work backwards. Pick one 1-seed from each side of the bracket to meet in the final, with one prevailing over the other. That will get you to half of your Final Four. From there, pick your favorite 2-6 seeds from the other two regions that you think can make a run in the tournament. That should give you a good mix of top seeds and mid-tier sleepers heading into the final weekend of action.</p><h2>5. Don't let some blogger (me) tell you how to build your bracket</h2><p>Ultimately, it's your bracket! Do what you want to do. There are so many things to consider when building a bracket — what teams you've watched this year, personal grudges, ensuring that your bracket finishes better than that of Gary in accounting.</p><p>I'm just some guy! Who spent too long looking at the 30 years' worth of brackets in hopes of predicting the future! We can try our best to come up with a perfect system, but ultimately, the games will be decided on the court rather than my silly spreadsheet.</p><p>If an 8-seed speaks to you and you think they're going to win it all, go for it. You'll regret it if you don't.</p><p>But if you are looking for a place to start, hopefully these tips can get your bracket moving in the right direction.</p>

5 mistakes to avoid when building your March Madness bracket

<ul class="summary-list"><li>WNBA superstar <keyword id="12266440" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="candace-parker" source="Orion">Candace Parker</keyword> thinks more <keyword id="12832958" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="march-madness" source="Orion">March Madness</keyword> fans should engage with the women's tourney.</li><li>She partnered with Degree to start a $100,000 <keyword id="13357677" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="bracket" source="Orion">bracket</keyword> challenge for this year's women's tournament.</li></ul><p>Candace Parker wants more eyes on the women's game.</p><p>This March Madness, the WNBA superstar and two-time NCAA champion is teaming up with Degree to help bring more attention to the women's <keyword id="13357676" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ncaa-tournament" source="Orion">NCAA tournament</keyword>. Through the "Bracket Gap Challenge," Parker and Degree are encouraging more fans to fill out brackets for the women's tourney by offering a top prize of $100,000.</p><div type="image" title="Candace Parker." height="1875" width="2500" msid="90143241" hostid="261"></div><p>"We really want to level the playing field and create more opportunities," Parker told Insider. "And through this Bracket Gap Challenge, we're able to do that."</p><p>"Something as little and simple as filling out a women's bracket will bring about more attention, more visibility, and more opportunities for these deserving women," she added.</p><p>Historically, far fewer fans fill out women's NCAA tournament brackets than on the men's side. A study of the 2021 NCAA basketball tournaments conducted by Edelman Data &amp; Intelligence revealed that only 12% of Americans familiar with the concept of March Madness filled out brackets for the women's tournament.</p><div type="image" title="ncaa women's basketball" height="1667" width="2500" msid="90143245" hostid="261"></div><p>With the promise of $25,000 for the winner and a $75,000 donation to the program of their choice, the Bracket Gap Challenge aims to raise that number. In doing so, Parker and Degree hope to promote engagement with the tournament, grow viewership of the women's games, and increase promotional efforts and funding for many women's tournaments to come.</p><p>And the benefits of a healthy, well-supported women's college basketball tournament reach far beyond the hardwood, Parker told Insider.</p><p>"Not only are you creating the hype around [the tournament], but you're creating opportunity," Parker said. "The opportunity that women and young girls have in <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword>, or that come about because of sports, is so crucial in their development in life. And it's not just about going professionally. It's about being able to have the necessary life skills to work in business, to sit at a table in a boardroom."</p><div type="image" title="Candace Parker goes up for a layup against Australia's Lauren Jackson." height="1809" width="2500" msid="90143250" hostid="261"></div><p>"So I think it's just amazing that Degree is creating so many more opportunities for women because of this visibility, which will then allow <keyword id="11896034" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="womens-sports" source="Orion">women's sports</keyword> in general to rise," she added.</p><p>Fans can fill out a women's March Madness bracket at <a href="http://www.bracketgapchallenge.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BracketGapChallenge.com</a> beginning March 13 — or Selection Sunday — after the tournament schedule is released to the public. Submissions will close just before the start of tournament competition on Friday, March 18.</p><p>Check out Degree's promotional video for the Bracket Gap Challenge — starring Parker — below:</p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h9U318JUjno" frameborder="0"></iframe>

Candace Parker wants to see more March Madness fans filling out women's brackets and watching their games

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5aa1a3903a4f7527008b456a-1920/screen%20shot%202018-03-08%20at%2035440%20pm.png" alt="Collin Sexton buzzer beater" data-mce-source="SEC Network"><p class="source"><span>SEC Network</span></p><p class="caption">Collin Sexton wins it at the buzzer.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div><ul><li><strong>The Alabama Crimson Tide survived to play another day after a thrilling game against Texas A&amp;M in the SEC Tournament.</strong></li><li><strong>Alabama was trailing by one with just four seconds left in the game when guard Collin Sexton drove coast-to-coast to sink a scooping bucket just before the buzzer sounded.</strong></li><li><strong> The win keeps the Tide's March Madness hopes alive.</strong></li><li><strong>Firmly on the bubble, Alabama will likely need one or two more wins to make it into the field of 68 on Selection Sunday.</strong></li></ul><hr><p><br>Conference tournaments can be filled with just as much drama as the March Madness brackets we all know and love. For many teams on the bubble, conference tournaments offer a final opportunity to prove that they belong in the field of 68.</br></p><p>Alabama is one of those bubble teams. Finishing the regular season with a 17-14 record, they didn't look quite like a tournament team, but with a slew of quality wins including a 5-2 record against ranked opponents, there was a case to be made for the Tide to go dancing should they make a run in the SEC Tournament.</p><p>On Thursday, it looked like their March Madness hopes were dead in the water though, down 69-70 to the Texas A&amp;M Aggies with just four seconds remaining. But on their final possession, Alabama guard and expected first round draft pick Collin Sexton stepped up for the Crimson Tide, going coast-to-coast to nail the go-ahead scooping bucket as the buzzer sounded.</p><p>With the win, Alabama earns a trip to the quarterfinals against top-ranked Auburn, where the two will meet in an Iron Bowl of the basketball court.</p><p>The Crimson Tide are currently solidly on the bubble, listed as one of Joe Lunardi's "First Four Out" in his <a href="http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bracketology predictions</a>. With another impressive win or two, Sexton and company could sneak into the tournament as one of the final at-large bids - or if they can string three more wins together, they'll take the SEC tournament outright and punch their ticket to go dancing without being at the whim of the selection committee.</p><p>Selection Sunday isn't here yet, but March Madness is already in full swing.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">COLLIN SEXTON COAST-TO-COAST IN 4.4 SECONDS FOR THE WIN <a href="https://t.co/n9YIcvKymA">pic.twitter.com/n9YIcvKymA</a></p>- Jordan Heck (@JordanHeckFF) <a href="https://twitter.com/JordanHeckFF/status/971839348059631616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/richard-sherman-rails-against-nfl-draft-process-experts-2018-2">Richard Sherman rails against the NFL's pre-draft process and explains why some of the combine is 'outdated'</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/5l5HAC1S-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div></hr>

Alabama guard goes coast-to-coast in 4 seconds for incredible game-winner to keep his team in the March Madness hunt

<p><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5aa9a33b3be59f22008b47f0-2400/st bonaventure march madness.jpg" alt="st bonaventure march madness" data-mce-source="John Minchillo/AP" /><p class="source"><span>John Minchillo/AP</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></strong></p><ul><li><strong>March Madness is underway.</strong></li><li><strong>This year, with few teams dominating college basketball, some basketball analysts think the field is more wide open than ever.</strong></li><li><strong>The wide-open field could lead to some major upsets and even a run by a Cinderella team.</strong></li></ul><hr /><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/category/march-madness">March Madness</a> is underway, and this year, some in the basketball world believe the NCAA Tournament really may be, well, madness.</p><p>No team dominated college basketball this year, and some of the best teams have steep paths in the tournament. Though there are still favorites, while talking to analysts covering the tournament at Turner's NCAA Tournament Media Day, it was clear that many think there could be some upsets this year.</p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"If a Cinderella is ever gonna win March Madness, this is the year," said Charles Barkley, who helps cover the tournament from the studio for CBS. He added, "It is totally up for grabs."</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Virginia owns the No. 1 seed in the South bracket and has been a favorite for many experts because of their stingy defense and a 17-1 record in the difficult ACC. But they also have a tough road to the championship, particularly with guard De'Andre Hunter out for the tournament with a broken wrist.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"It is wide open this year," said former NBA star Steve Smith, who works as an analyst during the tournament. "We kinda say that every year, but when you really start to look at it, it hasn't been a dominant team. Virginia is the No. 1 team, but who saw that coming? … I don't think there'd be that much of a surprise if you saw somebody come out as a 6-seed, 7-seed, 8-seed."</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Barkley called the defensive-minded Virginia squad a "dangerous" team for their lack of offensive punch.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Former NBA star and TNT analyst Kenny Smith, who works in the CBS studio said that the beauty of March Madness is that few teams have a real advantage - it can come down to skill, experience, timing, or just luck.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"In a one-and-out situation, the scale can tip," Smith said. "That's the beauty of bracketology, that's why people rip their brackets up. If I play you the best of 7, I'm gonna get you. But if I play you one time, my experience might not outweigh the fact that you're talented."</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reggie Miller, who also works as an analyst during March Madness, agreed that the tournament is "wide open," saying it could be the year a mid-major school wins it.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"We always come into this tournament wondering and writing which team is hot, which team is playing best during this particular time during their conference tournaments. This is so wide-open this year. I think this could be the year of the mid-major."</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Miller said it's also an example of the parity in the game that few teams seem slated to walk into the Final Four.</span></p><p>Many of the analysts' picks lined up with teams that are <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/final-four-predictions-2018">Final Four favorites</a> - Michigan State, UNC, and Auburn, among others like Virginia, Villanova, Duke, and Xavier. Of course, some of those teams are also their alma maters, so perhaps they're a bit biased.</p><p>"I'<span style="font-weight: 400;">m not just blowing smoke, this is probably the craziest thing I've ever seen as far as competitive balance," Barkley said.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you're <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-make-march-madness-bracket-2018-3">filling out a bracket</a>, perhaps it's time to read up on some <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/march-madness-upsets-2018-3">upset picks</a>.</span></p><h2>More March Madness:</h2><ul><li><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/march-madness-schedule-dates-times-networks-2018-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Here's your complete guide to when and where to watch March Madness</a></li><li><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-watch-march-madness-online-and-on-tv-2018-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> How to watch March Madness online and on TV</a></li><li><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-make-march-madness-bracket-2018-3"> A beginner's guide to filling out a March Madness bracket</a></li><li><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/march-madness-upsets-2018-3"> Here are the most likely March Madness upsets according to Las Vegas</a></li><li><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/march-madness-picks-best-bets-2018-3"> The 14 best bets to make on the NCAA Tournament before your bracket gets busted</a></li></ul>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/richard-sherman-missed-out-making-millions-bitcoin-cryptocurrency-2018-2">Richard Sherman says he got interested in crypto after he missed out on making millions</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/H90o4XA9-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

There is no clear-cut March Madness favorite and some in the basketball world think chaos could rule

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/51e5507e6bb3f79d53000018-1200-800/173512468.jpg" border="0" alt="Yoenis Cespedes" /><p class="source"><span>Getty Images</span></p><p class="caption">Yoenis Cespedes won the 2013 Home Run Derby and is a favorite to repeat tonight.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>The MLB All-Star Break stars tonight with the Home Run Derby in Minneapolis, and unlike the past few years, it might be pretty exciting.</p>
<p>In the past, the event has often felt endless and repetitive, even as the league has tried to improve it by adding American League and National League teams, team captains, and Gold Balls used once a player reached nine outs that donated money to charity if the player hit home runs with them.</p>
<p>This year, the changes are more substantial, and they should make the event more fun. Here's the full list of improvements:</p>
<p><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;">There are five hitters, instead of four</strong>,<strong> from both the American League and National League.</strong> It's the smallest change, but there's plenty of firepower in the big leagues that deserves to be displayed. More players = more home runs.</p>
<p><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;">There are seven outs instead of 10</strong>. In years past, each hitter has had ten outs (an out being any ball that isn't a home run). Ten outs afforded players too many re-dos, giving them too much time to get on a roll. Seven outs means batters will be forced to find their groove more quickly.</p>
<p><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;">There's a new bracket format</strong>. This is the biggest and most exciting change to the event. In Round 1, all ten players will bat, and the player on each team with the most home runs will receive an automatic bye into Round 3 (semifinals). The players who finish with the second- and third-most home runs on their team will face off against one another in Round 2, while the fourth and fifth seeds will be automatically eliminated. The winners of Round 2 will face the top seeds in Round 3, and then the A.L. and N.L. will face off in the final. </p>
<p>If there's a tie in any round, it'll be decided by a 3-swing swing-off, and if the round is still tied afterwards then sudden-death begins until one of the two players homers.</p>
<p>The bracket system not only makes the derby more competitive from the start, it also guarantees that fans will be more invested because they can get behind individual players in each round. <a href="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2014/0711/2014_mlb_hrd_bracket.jpg">ESPN's got a good bracket</a> you can print and fill out. There may not be any home run derby bracketology yet, but brackets are awesome, and the MLB is smart to implement it into the event. </p>

MLB Made A Bunch Of Rule Changes That Are Going To Make The Home Run Derby More Exciting

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/59ce9ca8c68d7b26008b5f7b-2400/red jacket.jpeg" alt="red jacket" data-mce-source="Andreea Radutoiu" /><p class="source"><span>Andreea Radutoiu</span></p><p class="caption">Rohan Oza, Hollywood's "brandfather."</p></div><p></p></div></div>Rohan Oza was dubbed Hollywood's "<a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/meet-hollywood-brandfather-whos-pairing-811758">brandfather</a>" by The Hollywood Reporter in 2015, but his high-profile <keyword id="6354839" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="marketing">marketing</keyword> deals with celebrities have only escalated since then. </p><p>After cutting his teeth scaling up brands like Sprite and Powerade for Coca-Cola in the early 2000s, Oza made a name for himself when he left the company and matched rapper 50 Cent with Vitamin Water for an endorsement deal. The drink saw a massive spike in sales as a result, and in<span> 2007, Oza's former employer, Coca-Cola, <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=3&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0ahUKEwj0k-7KmcvWAhWBLyYKHa2_CSAQFggvMAI&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2007%2F05%2F26%2Fbusiness%2F26drink-web.html&amp;usg=AFQjCNGJ1HFGs3NcDIkmK_xVcxsuz0hO_Q">acquired</a> Vitamin Water from Glacéau for $4.2 billion.</span></p><p><span>Oza found similar success in 2016 when he brought on <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/justin-timberlake-joins-bai-brands-2016-10">Justin Timberlake</a> as an investor and partner in the sparkling, antioxidant drink Bai. Dr Pepper Snapple Group subsequently <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-22/dr-pepper-snapple-agrees-to-acquire-bai-brands-for-1-7-billion">purchased</a> Bai Brands for $1.7 billion.</span></p><p>Now, Oza is bringing his brand innovation and knowledge to the stage of ABC's "Shark Tank." He stars as a guest "shark" in the season premiere of the investment reality show, which airs Sunday at 8pm EST. </p><p><span>Business Insider talked to Oza about his celebrity deals, the shifting necessity of business school, and his desire to "help create the first billion dollar brand" on "Shark Tank." </span></p><p><strong>John Lynch: Walk me through your experience on "Shark Tank." With your expertise, what were you able to bring to the table, or dais, as it were?</strong></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/59cea1a9351ccf21008b6600-800/img4687.jpg" alt="rohan oza shark tank abc" data-mce-source="ABC" /><p class="source"><span>ABC</span></p><p class="caption">Robert Herjavec and Rohan Oza on the set of "Shark Tank."</p></div><p></p></div></div><strong>Rohan Oza:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Look, I love "Shark Tank." The experience was amazing. I feel that America is one of the greatest countries in the world to be an entrepreneur, and what "Shark Tank" does is it taps into and fuels that entrepreneurial spirit. So, I loved the energy that came from funding people's dreams and building iconic brands. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The difference that I could bring was that my expertise in food and beverage doesn't exist currently on the panel. And that's a trillion dollar industry that's getting disrupted because most of the things on the shelves today are bad for you, and millennials are all looking for products that are better for you. So the opportunity to disrupt the aisles, both in stores and online, in food and beverage is huge, and I want to help create the first billion dollar brand on "Shark Tank."</span></p><p><strong>Lynch: Your most recent success was the high-profile sale of Bai. How did you get Justin Timberlake involved in that drink, and how crucial was he in the sale of it?</strong></p><p><strong>Oza: </strong>My business partner Ben and I were huge fans of Justin. When we met with him, he completely understood the vision of the brand, the mission, and actually became an owner in the company. He wasn't an endorser. He was an owner. He fought like an owner. He provided ideas and creativity like an owner, and because he believed in the mission of the company, he became a partner in the company. And that to me is the key: partnering with smart celebrities who want to be an owner in unique and differentiated companies.</p><p><strong>Lynch:</strong> <strong>You set the blueprint for this, in a way, by bringing 50 Cent to Vitamin Water. Huge success, but what made that the right connection at that time?</strong></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/59ceaa0ac68d7bf8448b56e8-800/50lab.jpg" alt="50 cent" data-mce-source="Vitamin Water" data-mce-caption="50 Cent's ad campaign for Vitamin Water." /><p class="source"><span>Vitamin Water</span></p><p class="caption">50 Cent's ad campaign for Vitamin Water.</p></div><p></p></div></div><strong>Oza: </strong>At the time, Vitamin Water was a great product. It had real levels of vitamins, half the sugar of sodas and juices, cool packaging. But it was very medicinal. And people were like, "Woah, vitamins and water. That can't taste that great." So we needed to create some disruption. 50 was one of the most iconic musicians at the time, and he was very health-conscious and fitness-centric. I had a candid conversation where I said, "I don't have the money to pay you," and he said, "Don't worry. I'll take it in equity because I believe in the brand, and I believe in myself." And that became the construct of the equity model that everybody wants to do today.</p><p><strong>Lynch: To what extent did your experience working at Coke fuel your interest in these healthier alternative beverages?</strong></p><p><strong>Oza: </strong>My experience at Coca-Cola was great, in that it helped me learn how to build brands. But a lot of the brands that I was on at Coca-Cola were already established, so I was growing established brands. I learned that Coca-Cola can take brands that are really good and scale them, but they have a tough time creating brands from scratch. So I basically carved out a living working with founders to build the brands of tomorrow, that ultimately, the Cokes, and the Pepsi's, and the General Mills of the world end up buying, because it's very difficult for them to create it internally. </p><p><strong>Lynch: Generally speaking, how do you decide which celebrities to pursue for the brands you're involved with?</strong></p><p><strong>Oza: </strong>A lot of the time, I brainstorm with my team which celebrities have the best DNA fit to your brand. And then, we make sure the celebrities are big fans of the brand. So with Jennifer Aniston [for her endorsement deal with <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=10&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiSuM_woMvWAhXnwFQKHS1PA9UQFghHMAk&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vanityfair.com%2Fstyle%2F2016%2F08%2Fjennifer-aniston-hydration-dry-eyes&amp;usg=AFQjCNFc2pHBpJwU1V6v4smEzu8gSPPtcA">Smartwater</a>], it actually happened during March Madness. I brought all of the women in the office together because they are generally more insightful than the guys, and we did a top 16 women in entertainment, and we did like a March Madness bracketology. Jennifer Aniston ending up winning it because Jennifer had the best DNA fit from a purity, from an aesthetic, from a fitness angle - all the elements that Smartwater matched. Oh, and by the way, she was a huge fan of the brand. And that deal has now been going on for close to 13 years, and she looks pretty much the same today in the ads as she did 13 years ago. She clearly is not aging. It must be the water.</p><p><strong>Lynch: On "Shark Tank," what does it take to convince you to invest in one of these up-and-coming products?</strong></p><p><strong>Oza: </strong>The interesting thing about "Shark Tank" is that out of the tank, we're all friends. All of the sharks are good friends, very supportive. They gave me great coaching. But the minute we're in the seats, or in the tank, the gloves or, in this case, the mouth guards come off, and the teeth come out. It's to each their own, and I realized that you have to fight hard to win the brands that you believe in. And I was looking for founders who had unique, differentiated ideas, and passion and conviction to go win with their ideas, because I'm giving them my hard-earned money. </p><p><strong>Lynch: As a fellow University of Michigan alum, I have to ask about your experience going to business school there. Do you still see business school as a necessary path for people who are up-and-coming in your field?</strong></p><p><strong>Oza: </strong>I'm glad that I went to Michigan because Michigan's network is unbelievable. Someone told me the other day, "You guys from Michigan are like a cult." And it is kind of like that. There's no other university that could call someone a "Michigan Man." An "Ohio State Man" doesn't even roll off the tongue. So the network that I built and the opportunities I got from Michigan were amazing. I think that people should go to business school if it's the right fit for them. I.e., I want a change of career. I want to expand my network. I want to better understand some of the fundamentals as it relates to building and managing businesses. I think business school is very valuable for those elements, and if that is what you need to do, then you should go to business school. I don't think it's a pre-requisite these days the way it was when I went, to necessarily get into companies, but it can definitely be a value-added tool to help you be stronger when you do get into companies. </p><p><strong>Lynch: Since you were there, in business school, what's shifted in the world that makes it less necessary, in a way?</strong></p><p><strong>Oza: </strong>I think the ability to create startups, whether it's in tech or food and beverage or CPG, and people are doing it at a younger age, is more prominent now than ever before. And so smart, talented people who have never had MBAs have created companies, and I've partnered with many of those founders. So I think that you don't necessarily have to have that MBA, but business schools are starting to adapt. When Stephen Ross <a href="https://michiganross.umich.edu/ross-news-blog/2017/09/20/stephen-ross-donates-50-million-michigan-ross-creating-new-student-success">gave Michigan $100 million</a> [to further fund the Ross Business School named after him], they've used that to significantly improve their facilities and their teaching approach. So I think that business schools will adapt to the tools that you need today to build brands in the modern era.</p><p><strong>Lynch: What advice do you have to young entrepreneurs who are following in your footsteps specifically?</strong></p><p><strong>Oza: </strong>Well, a few of them. One is, "be your brand." So don't market it - live your brand. The second is, "have an original idea," because original ideas always rise to the top. And the third would be, "bring passion and energy to all those around you," because that's infectious, and that's what helps create an amazing culture in a company. </p><p><strong>Lynch: What are the next steps for you at this point? Are there any brands that you're eyeing that you can tell me about?</strong></p><p><strong>Oza: </strong>Yeah, I have a few that I'm very excited about. At <a href="https://www.cavuventures.com/portfolio">CAVU</a>, the fund that I co-created, we've made 16 investments in the last two years. It's kind of crazy, but we believe in all our brands because they're all disrupting the environment, in terms of "better-for-you" products. The ones that I'm very excited about: One Bar, it's a protein bar that's 20 grams of protein and one gram of sugar, and it almost tastes too good to be true; <span>WTRMLN WTR, which has twice the electrolytes of Gatorade, but it's all-natural and tastes amazing; and Chef's Cut, it's the fastest growing beef jerky in the country, it's 30 grams of protein in a bag, and it literally tastes like steak in a bag.</span></p><p><strong>Lynch: Between your experience on "Shark Tank" and your investments, where do you see this generation's brand mindset shifting toward? </strong></p><p><strong>Oza: </strong>I believe that the millennial audience is, now more than ever, looking for "better-for-you" products for their generation and are rejecting the products of the past. The high sugar, high carb, high fructose corn syrup, highly processed, low-nutrient-value products are being rejected in favor of the brands of tomorrow. And that's what I think makes the entrepreneurial angle in food and beverage very exciting, and it's why on "Shark Tank," I love bidding on some of these really innovative ideas in the food and beverage space, because these entrepreneurs are truly disruptive. And this year, more seven-figure deals were done this year than in any other season prior, because the scale of the brands and the scale of the founders is getting bigger and bigger on "Shark Tank," and making it really exciting. </p>       <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/d-and-d-playing-dungeons-and-dragons-first-time-stranger-things-game-demogorgon-brooklyn-netflix-role-playing-2017-9">A Dungeons &amp; Dragons master shows us how to play the classic game featured in 'Stranger Things'</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/vc1UhCKV-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

Hollywood's 'brandfather' talks his new role on 'Shark Tank,' working with 50 Cent and Justin Timberlake

<p><div class="image-container float_right" style="width:402px"><div class="image"><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/513f7d9269bedd7057000003-620-465/big-east-tournamen.jpg?maxX=402&amp;maxY=301" border="0" alt="big east tournament" width="402" height="301" /></div><p class="source">Chris Trotman/Getty Images</p></div>With eight teams expected to make the <a href="http://www.tiqiq.com/ncaa/ncaa-mens-basketball-tournament-tickets" target="_blank">NCAA Tournament</a> field, the Big East has proven this season that it is still a conference to be reckoned with. As the final Big East Conference Tournament tiped off yesterday, top seeds and regional preferences for the NCAA tournament are most certainly on the line yet again for the teams of this power conference.</p>
<p>Whether it is nostalgia for the last Big East tourney ever, or just the intrigue of this year’s matchups, <a href="http://www.tiqiq.com/ncaa/big-east-tournament-tickets" target="_blank">Big East Tournament tickets</a> check in at a three-year high of $243 dollars according to <keyword id="1757343" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="TiqIQ">TiqIQ</keyword>. This reflects a 17% rise over last year’s average ticket price of $207 dollars. In 2011, the <keyword id="1756998" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Big-East-Tournament">Big East Tournament</keyword> average ticket price was in at $220 dollars, as tournament most outstanding player Kemba Walker led the University of Connecticut to a conference championship. Kemba and the Huskies would not look back from their Big East conquest, as they marched all the way to cut down the nets on a historic run that saw them win 11 consecutive elimination games.</p>
<p>But while the average conference tournament ticket price may be at a three-year high, prices for later rounds reflect a decline for the second consecutive year. This may be due partly to the parity of this year’s tournament, with no team’s fan base so confident as of yet to secure tickets to the semis or finals.</p>
<ul>
<li>·       Semifinals Average: $354 (-20% from 2011, -5% from 2012)</li>
<li>·       Semifinals Get-in: $100</li>
<li>·       Finals Average: $201 (-19% since 2011, -1% from 2012)</li>
<li>·       Finals Get-in: $70</li>
</ul>
<p>The Big East Conference Tournament has historically been one of the most exciting conference tournaments in NCAA basketball, with no shortage of history. Perhaps the most underrated team in the country, the Georgetown Hoyas sit in the one seed for this year’s tournament. Although the Hoyas have experienced a good deal of success in the conference tournament in the past few seasons, they are perhaps best remembered for an 11-season conference championship game appearance drought following their loss in the 1996 finals, when eventual first overall pick Allen Iverson led them into Ray Allen’s UConn Huskies in one of the most memorable conference championship games of all time.</p>
<p>Facing a 13-point deficit in the final four minutes, the Huskies put together a 12-0 run to cut into the Hoyas lead. Iverson and Allen, two of the preeminent scorers in college basketball that season, were playing ferocious defense on each other all night. Allen held Iverson to just 13 points on 4 of 15 shooting, while Iverson had kept Allen in check to the tune of 15 points on 4 of 19 shooting up until the very final few seconds.</p>
<p>Trailing by two, Allen sliced across the top of the key to the right elbow and leaned into Iverson. Looking for a foul but hearing no whistle, Allen flipped up a contorted right handed floater that would make Cirque Du Soleil look like child’s play. As the clock hit 13 seconds, the ball caught iron and dropped through to give UConn a 75-74 lead. The score would hold, as Iverson launched a desperate free throw line fade away that clanked off the rim, and UConn truly announced their presence as one of the marquee programs in the country. Georgetown looks to have better luck this season, as UConn sits at home.</p>
<p>Another underrated team in this year’s tournament is the 5-seed Syracuse Orange. Ranked top 10 for much of the season, the Orange have struggled of late and find themselves with just a single bye as opposed to the sought-after double bye. Back in 2009 however, the Orange rode a single by from the 6-seed all the way to the conference championship game, on the heels of the second longest game in NCAA history when they took UConn to a whopping six overtimes before pulling away, 127-117.</p>
<p>And then of course, there are the two seed Louisville Cardinals. Led by star point guard Peyton Siva, last season’s most outstanding player of the tournament, Louisville looks to defend their conference crown won from the seven seed last season.</p>
<p>Joining current conference favorites, Louisville, with double byes into the conference tournament semis are Georgetown, Pittsburgh and Marquette. While all four teams are expected to obtain top five seeds in their respective regions come Selection Sunday, it appears that Louisville and Georgetown have the inside track to a quite favorable venue draw in their respective regions according to ESPN.com’s current Bracketology predictions.</p>
<p>Although Louisville is currently slated for the one seed in the South region and will likely play the first two rounds in Lexington, KY, it is actually Georgetown that may end up in the more beneficial bracket. If Georgetown lives up to expectations in the conference tourney, they can be well expected to snag the two seed in the Midwest region. This would mean that they would play their first two games in nearby Philadelphia, before traveling home to Washington D.C. for the regionals.</p>
<div>
<p>Interestingly enough, Hoya fans may be better served by holding off on Big East Conference Tournament tickets, and simply waiting for the big dance. Philadelphia 2<sup>nd</sup>/3<sup>rd</sup> round average ticket prices check in at $243, markedly lower than historic conference semifinal prices, and closer in proximity to Georgetown’s campus than <a href="http://www.tiqiq.com/venues/madison-square-garden-tickets" target="_blank">Madison Square Garden</a> where the Big East Tournament is held. If the Hoyas are lucky enough to conquer Philadelphia and head back home to D.C., fans can stay home and score tickets to the DC regional for an average price of $394 dollars.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>If the stars align for the Hoyas as well as the Bracketologists currently predict, they may very well make a nice sleeper pick to ride a modified home court advantage all the way to the <a href="http://www.tiqiq.com/ncaa/final-four-tickets" target="_blank">Final Four</a>.</p>
<p> </p>
</div>

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