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- Jacob Rhee

Here are my 10 biggest March Madness takeaways heading into the men’s Sweet 16.

1. Foot Locker.

These refs are out of control. Let the kids play.

I wouldn’t go as far as to say the officials are ruining the tournament, because pretty much only COVID-19 could do that. But there should not be a graphic recapping each team’s foul trouble predicament popping up with 12 minutes left in all of these games. This is supposed to be a contact sport.

Speaking of the refs…

2. New Mexico got screwed.

Look, I picked Michigan State to cut down the nets. I might as well have been wearing a green and white foam finger during the closing stages. But that officiating performance was among the most ridiculous I’ve ever witnessed, in any sport.

The Spartans attempted 28 free throws, to New Mexico’s 10. Watching it live, things felt even more lopsided than that. Donovan Dent took 18 shots - all from inside the arc - and did not get to the line once. Lobos fans have every right to complain for this entire summer.

3. The biggest fallacy in sports.

At this point, anyone who claims that Dana Altman is an underrated coach is either horribly misinformed, a personal friend of the man, or intentionally trying to gaslight. He always delivers! He’s legendary in March! I searched his name on Twitter after Oregon’s first-round victory, and stumbled into a flood of folks regurgitating these lies.

Like, it’s not that hard to Google his résumé. Zero national titles. One Final Four. Two Elite Eights. Five Sweet Sixteens. 36 years as a head guy. 36. This is the coach that you believe deserves more credit? The dude that makes a regional semifinal once every seven years? Come on, folks. Be better.

4. A collective plea to CBS.

Get Steve Lappas off of your airways. We’re begging you. Hide his headset. Do anything. We cannot let that man continue to ruin big moments in March.

5. Clemson’s catastrophe.

The best team in program history scores 13 points in the first half of its tournament opener. Pathetic. Abominable. Inexcusable.

6. Cashing out.

18 of the 22 players ranked ahead of Tyrese Proctor in the 2022 recruiting class have already appeared in an NBA game. Instead of panic-declaring for the draft before he was ready, the Aussie point guard stayed in Durham, fended off incoming stars, and has now drilled 19 of his last 28 threes for the title favorites.

His patience is about to be rewarded with plenty of money.

7. A special Sooner.

I’d spend the fifth pick on Jeremiah Fears. Yes, I get it. Praising a 182-pound point guard with no outside shot - who just went 5-14 from the floor in the biggest game of his life - runs counter to just about everything I’ve ever written about basketball. You’re going to have to trust my eye test on this one. His combination of instincts, talent, and heart is highly uncommon.

Fears looks no older than 11 years of age when the broadcast gives us that free throw line close-up, yet he took ownership of this middling Oklahoma squad and dragged it as far as he could. I could absolutely see him being a foundational piece of an organizational reset. Brooklyn and Miami, pay attention.

8. The Penny Hardaway era.

Wrap it up. Seven seasons, no Sweet Sixteens? It’s been fun, sir.

9. Good riddance.

Hunter Dickinson is finally gone. It’s time to party.

Let’s take a look at Mr. Cocky’s final game in each of his five collegiate campaigns. If the NCAA itself is getting sentimental over the end of his career, he surely has some awesome finishing performances in here. Right?

2021 (Michigan)

• 1-4 from the free throw line

• Four turnovers, zero assists

• Scored one point in last 16:02

• Loses to No. 11 seed UCLA

2022 (Michigan)

• 6-16 from the field (2-9 in the second half)

• Loses to No. 2 seed Villanova

2023 (Michigan)

• Missed tournament

• Bounced in the second round of the NIT

2024 (Kansas)

• 6-15 from the floor

• 2 points on 1-7 shooting in the second half

• Loses to No. 5 seed Gonzaga

2025 (Kansas)

• 4-13 from the field

• Four turnovers

• Scoreless on 0-4 shooting in the second half

• Loses to No. 10 seed Arkansas

What a memorable ride, indeed. Thank you, Hunter!

10. Madness is approaching.

Patience, everyone. The first two rounds didn’t feature a ton of monumental upsets or iconic endings (outside Derik Queen’s banker), but that just means this thing is going to get wild on Thursday. Don’t you worry; the tournament always delivers.

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“Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line. 2018 UCLA gymnastics vibes.