The Week That Was | NCAA Men's & Women's Tournament Preview | NBA Look-In | Remembering Junior Bridgeman, Oliver Miller & John Feinstein

The College Basketball NCAA Tournament for men and women is right around the corner as Selection Sunday will take place on March 16th as the basketball programs who were on the bubble will be hoping for a NCAA Tournament bid.

Overall in the women's basketball tournament you have keep eyes on the South Carolina Gamecocks who recently won the SEC Championship Game as a #5 seed beat top seeded Texas Longhorns by score of 64-45. Will the Gamecocks reach a top seed in the bracket on Selection Sunday only time will tell? Despite the USC Trojans losing in the Big Ten Conference Championship Game to the UCLA Bruins by score of 72-67,will the Trojans be a #1 seed on Selection Sunday? Overall keep eyes on Super Sophomore JuJu Watkins who scored 29 points in the loss to UCLA in Big Ten Championship Game can still be an impact player come tournament time.

Obviously the UConn Huskies can't be overlooked as a potential #1 seed after winning the Big East Championship Game against Creighton by score of 70-50. The Final Four in the women's basketball tournament could be South Carolina, Texas, USC and UConn. I believe it will be South Carolina vs USC in the national championship game. South Carolina will win the national championship.

For the men's basketball tournament landscape, there are a plethora of teams that can definitely win the national championship such as Alabama, Auburn, Florida and Duke in a potential Final Four foursome including St John's who can possibly make a Final Four run. The Michigan State Spartans could make it to the Final Four as well. The Houston Cougars could possibly win it all including a potential #1 seed.

For the 2-time defending champions UConn Huskies, they may have to win the Big East championship if they beat Creighton and play St John's who beat Marquette in the semifinal of the Big East tournament by score of 79-63. Overall it should be a wild, sensational, compelling NCAA Tournament for the Men and Women.

In The NBA landscape, the Oklahoma City Thunder made a statement this week against the defending champion Boston Celtics by winning by score of 118-112 on the road in Boston. Oklahoma City Shai Gilgeous Alexander continues to be sensational and phenomenal with his excellent display of scoring 34 points including 23 points and 15 rebounds by Chet Holmgren. The Thunder scored the first 9 points in the game also led by 12 midway in the 3rd quarter. Boston was able to make a run when Boston Celtic Jayson Tatum scored on a layup to tie the game at 88 on a 3-point play. With the score tied at 98-98,the Thunder was able to go on a spurt by scoring 8 consecutive points to win the ballgame and clinched a playoff berth.

Former NBA player Junior Bridgeman passed away this week at age 71 was a gentleman who was exceptional as a entrepreneur than playing in the NBA because he was worth more than 1.4 billion dollars including owning Ebony and Jet Magazine paying 14 million dollars for the ownership of these iconic magazines to become a reality. He also owned over 100 Wendy's and Chilli's restaurants. Bridgeman purchased 10% interest in his former team he played for in the Milwaukee Bucks on September 24th 2024. In 2016,Forbes Magazine recognized Junior Bridgeman as the 4th wealthiest former athlete only behind Michael Jordan, David Beckham and Arnold Palmer. His business acumen after basketball left an indelible mark on the world of sports in terms of how to do well financially post basketball.

Oliver Miller known as the Big O passed away this week as well at age 54 playing for the Arkansas Razorbacks he was on the Final Four team in 1990. He was known for his hefty weight that he had the college basketball ranks and NBA. Finally, John Feinstein who was a true giant of a sports writer and journalist passed this week at age of 69 known for the iconic book Season On The Brink regarding the 1985-1986 Indiana Hoosiers which resulted in a ESPN film. Feinstein wore many hats in the world of media whether writing for Sports Illustrated, Washington Post, Sporting News and Golf Digest. He did radio as well for Sirius XM Radio with a show called Beyond The Brink With Bruce Murray in 2012 then had his own show on CBS Sports Radio.