Thursday Links: Tourney Expands to 68, Not 96

CBS Sports, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. and the NCAA Reach 14-Year Agreement
The shocking news of the day: The NCAA tournament will expand to 68 teams next year rather than 96.
Michigan Makes Play for Sykes ($)
Webb reported on WTKA That Isaiah Sykes did receive his offer this weekend and here’s his full update with Sykes.
Harris picks up Cincinnati offer to add to list
Gary Harris picked up a Big East offer and was visited by practically the whole midwest (including a Michigan assistant). Harris recently dominated at the Motown Showdown.
One on One with Alex Murphy ($)
2012 super still lists Michigan along with a host of other high majors
Sloan Sports Conference: What Geeks Don’t Get: The Limits of Moneyball
This is awesome stuff if you are a stat head like me… Mark Cuban, Jonathan Kraft, Daryl Morey, Bill Polian, Bill Simmons debate statistics in sports with Michael Lewis
I Declare
Agent Arn Tellem breaks down the problems with the NCAA’s early entry rules and how they hurt underclassmen
Fouling to Protect a Lead: Debated but Rarely Done
New York Times on whether to foul up 3. All the statistics are from the NBA but it’s an interesting debate nonetheless.

Colby

Hey Dylan, did I see where yo are heading to the King James tourney this weekend? Any word on who might be there for targets? Thanks
http://www.umhoops.com/ Dylan

Me and Joe are planning on making it up there. From Michigan the two big teams are The Family (Brundidge, Williams), and the Mustangs. Markus Crider will be in action w/ King James. Gary Harris with the DWade Heat (U16s). I'll work on getting a full preview together for this weekend's AAU games tomorrow.
Colby

Hey Dylan, did I see where yo are heading to the King James tourney this weekend? Any word on who might be there for targets? Thanks
http://www.umhoops.com/ Dylan

Joe and I are planning on making it up there. From Michigan the two big teams are The Family (Brundidge, Williams), and the Mustangs. Markus Crider will be in action w/ King James. Gary Harris with the DWade Heat (U16s). I'll work on getting a full preview together for this weekend's AAU games tomorrow.
YpsiTuckyBoy

You're a stud Dylan. Feeding my addiction to material that distracts me from exams.
Tex

what's the timeline on Sykes other visits?
Colby

Thanks for the info, I look forward to your reports. Keep up the great work. Can coaches attend the tourneys this weekend? I am hoping JB names the assistant soon, do you think JB has not decided from the leading 3 candidates or is chasing someone bigger?

My thinking is if it was just the main 3 guys, he probably would have named one of them.
Brad

fantastic news about the NCAA tourney…and if i'm reading it right,
this means all 4 games that are being played simultaneously could and most likely would be televised on different (cable) channels at once? no more screwy CBS cutting in and out of games?
http://www.umhoops.com/ Dylan

Nope. Coaches aren't allowed on the road until July.
MaizeNBlueJ

Will that shiny new camera make it's debut as well?
http://www.umhoops.com/ Dylan

That's the plan.
Billiam

I second the “great reports” comment.
Tom_McC

I still find it incredible they got rid of the Spring Eval period. So basically, the coaches have the HS season and 3 weeks in July to watch these kids play.

The recruiting sites must just love the fact that they are the ones who get to see all of these kids play and I'm quite positive they communicate with coaches about what they see in the months of April and May.
http://www.umhoops.com/ Dylan

But of course NBA agents can attend whatever tournaments they want…. Makes a lot of sense.
AG2

So I'm going to assume that 68 teams means 4 play-in games for the 16 seeds? Wonder whether all 4 games will be in Dayton or if they chose a new site out west for two of them or something.
Brian W

Marcus Thornton update. He's done with his in-home visits. Article describes more. Doesn't say that U-M is out of it.

http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-high-school-sports…
Brian W

Marcus Thornton update. He's done with his in-home visits. Article describes more. Doesn't say that U-M is out of it.

http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-high-school-sports…
zrl

Thanks for the update. Hopefully the fact that he's an honor student and seems to genuinely care about education will keep us in this thing.
fresh

new twist for sykes recruiting according to ITF but dont know what that means or says