The NCAA Men's Basketball championship in San Antonio, Texas was won by Villanova for the second time in three years, defeating Michigan 79-62 Monday night. Other than the Wildcats' domination, this tournament will be remembered for (A) Maryland-Baltimore County (a #16 seed) defeating Virginia (a #1 seed), and (B) Loyola of Chicago being this year's Cinderella. Having not won a national title since 1963 (the year before UCLA began dominating college basketball), the Ramblers made it to the Final Four with a 98-year old nun as its mascot, but lost to the Wolverines in the semifinals.
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The NCAA Women's Tournament in Columbus, Ohio was won by Notre Dame, its first since 2001. The Irish won on consecutive buzzer-beaters by Anike Ogunbowale, first in the semifinals over Connecticut (who were going for their 12th title under coach Geno Auriemma) for a 91-89 win in overtime, then another one against Mississippi State for a 61-58 victory.
OK, so UConn didn't win another national title like everyone said they would. But at least another brand-name school did.
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This was also a year of scandal in college basketball, and the end is not in sight. The FBI is investigating fraud and corruption in recruiting at several big-name universities. One of those schools, Louisville, fired its coach Rick Pitino. They also had to give up their 2012 Final Four appearance and their 2013 championship. But not North Carolina. The NCAA found no evidence of any wrongdoing in the Tar Heels' program, so they let them go. Just like in the business world, there are some institutions of learning that are "too big to fail".
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