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The NCAA's rule change regarding charges in college basketball has led to a significant increase in scoring and offensive efficiency during this year's men's NCAA tournament. The rule change requires defensive players to be set when the offensive player plants to leap, allowing offensive players more freedom to attack the basket and draw fouls. As a result, offensive fouls have decreased by 35.6% compared to last season, and turnover rates are at a record low. The change has been praised for eliminating an unwatchable play and rewarding offensive players, while still allowing defenders to draw charges in traditional man-to-man defense. [Extracted from the article]

The Wall Street Journal's resident upsetologist, John Ezekowitz, has developed a model that predicts upsets in the NCAA tournament with a 68.4% accuracy rate. His system focuses on teams that value possessions, limit turnovers, and grab offensive rebounds. This year, his model predicts three notable upsets: No. 11 North Carolina State over No. 6 Texas Tech, No. 11 Oregon over No. 6 South Carolina, and No. 11 New Mexico over No. 6 Clemson. Additionally, the model suggests that No. 12 James Madison, No. 12 McNeese State, and No. 13 Samford have strong chances of making it to the second round. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses strategies for winning NCAA tournament bracket pools by picking the least popular national champion. It advises against picking the most popular team, Connecticut, and suggests considering teams like Houston, Purdue, Auburn, and Arizona instead. The article emphasizes the importance of following data and game theory rather than having extensive knowledge of college basketball players. It concludes that picking undervalued teams gives the best chance of winning. [Extracted from the article]

Long Beach State men's basketball coach Dan Monson was fired after a disappointing season but agreed to finish out the campaign. To everyone's surprise, Monson led his team to win the Big West Conference tournament and secure a spot in the NCAA tournament. This is not the first time Monson has experienced an improbable run or an awkward exit, as he previously took Gonzaga to the Elite Eight and had a similar situation at Minnesota. Despite being fired, Monson remains committed to coaching his team and is focused on their success in the tournament. [Extracted from the article]

The NFL offseason has seen a significant amount of activity and movement among running backs. Many high-profile running backs have switched teams, resulting in a series of chain reactions. This comes at a time when the value of running backs in the league has diminished, with their earning power decreasing. However, running backs remain some of the biggest names in the sport, and their movements have implications for fantasy football players. The question remains as to how much these players have left in the tank, given the steep aging curve for running backs. [Extracted from the article]

The Players Championship, considered golf's fifth major, is facing a significant challenge as many of the world's top players have defected to join LIV Golf. This has resulted in a diminished field for the tournament, with 41 of the top 50 players participating this year compared to 49 in 2022. Efforts to unify the game are underway, with negotiations between the PGA Tour and LIV's backer, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, but the resolution remains uncertain. The divide in golf has led to debates among players about whether those who joined LIV should be allowed to return to the PGA Tour. [Extracted from the article]

Kirk Cousins, a 35-year-old NFL quarterback, has signed a four-year, $180 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons. Despite not being considered one of the best players at his position, Cousins has managed to secure lucrative contracts throughout his career. This is because top quarterbacks rarely become free agents, as they are usually locked down by their teams. Cousins, however, has consistently bet on himself and played his way into riches by taking a path that few quarterbacks have ventured down. [Extracted from the article]

LIV Golf, a Saudi-backed golf league, has decided to challenge the legitimacy and credibility of golf's world rankings. The league has dropped its efforts to be recognized by the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and has stopped submitting its results to the organization. LIV believes that the rankings have become inaccurate and no longer reflect their mission. The OWGR rankings are important for players to qualify for major championships, and some players have expressed concerns about the rankings' accuracy since top players have left the PGA Tour to join LIV. LIV's decision to challenge the rankings further highlights the ongoing tension between LIV and the PGA Tour. LIV now plans to work with the organizers of the four majors to create a pathway for its top players. [Extracted from the article]