Respect, Metrics, and the Perfect Season: Miami (Ohio) vs. the Bracket Machine

The article explores the clash between Miami (Ohio) athletic director David Sayler and former Auburn coach turned commentator Bruce Pearl over whether the unbeaten RedHawks deserve serious NCAA tournament consideration. It explains Pearl’s critique of Miami’s weak schedule and middling metrics, Sayler’s charge that Pearl disrespected the team and pushed Auburn’s interests, and the broader tension between mid-major success and...

St. John’s, UConn, and the Quiet Drama of a Big East Crown

A narrative look at St. John’s second straight Big East Tournament title over UConn, using the 2026 bracket and Zuby Ejiofor’s record‑tying performance as an entry point to explore memory, identity, and player agency within the conference, while keeping an...