March Madness: Jay Wright taking Villanova players cell phones away

Happy GameDay, ‘Nova Nation! Love Villanova getting the primetime treatment, but part of me wishes they were in the early slot. I’m that jazzed up for March Madness. It’s SO. MUCH. FUN!

Not for Coach Wright, apparently! Jay made a big point to say that he treated last year’s run as an all-business approach (unlike the ‘09 Final Four), and given the results it isn’t surprising to see that he is replicating the approach.

And now, the "news."

Villanova players want back-to-back titles. They also want their cell phones back | The Wall Street Journal
Jay Wright, the coach of college basketball’s defending champion, has an unusual strategy for keeping his players’ attention: He takes away their cell phones the night before games.

The Mount's Junior Robinson says his backcourt is better than Villanova's | Mid-Major Madness
Robinson is listed as the shortest player in Division I basketball, but he plays (and talks) like a star.

Villanova can take bracket and smack it | Philadelphia Inquirer
Being selected as one of the four No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tournament is a great reward for an exceptional basketball season, but history says the only guarantee that comes with the honor is a single win - and that guarantee will also expire one of these days.

Villanova looks primed for another NCAA tournament run | SI.com
After capturing the Big East tournament title, Villanova is looking like a real threat to repeat as national champs.

8 warning signs that your team is about to suffer a crippling NCAA tournament loss | SBNation.com
[screams internally]

Villanova could become 1st repeat champs in 10 years | FOX Sports
Kris Jenkins buried the 3-pointer that sparked book deals, red carpet photo ops, a White House trip, a handful of award banquets and hundreds of perks that come with winning a national championship.

Nike Basketball Steps on the Court with a Champions Mentality | Nike
Select Nike and Jordan schools will be wearing the Nike Vapor with Aeroswift uniforms. But reigning National Champion Villanova isn't one of them.

Cubs' Anthony Rizzo borrowing Matt Szczur’s bat: Cubs Way excerpt | SI.com
Anthony Rizzo shares the full story behind borrowing Matt Szczur's

How Gonzaga became America’s most polarizing college basketball program | SBNation.com
In just two decades, Gonzaga has made the seemingly impossible transition from lovable Cinderella to America’s most disliked and distrusted powerhouse.

Brent Musburger used to make veiled gambling references. Now he’s dropped the veil. | The Washington Post
You are looking live ... at a broadcasting legend now doing a streaming show out of a Vegas casino.

James Corden used some very unconventional methods to pick his March Madness bracket | SBNation.com
"Why are there three Floridas?!"

Arena names 24-player USA roster to face Honduras, Panama | Stars and Stripes FC
World Cup qualifying is back and so is Clint Dempsey.