97.9 The Hill’s Deborah Stroman and Brighton McConnell chat on Friday, May 8 about the recent expansion of the NCAA Tournament for men’s and women’s college basketball. March Madness will now feature 76 teams instead of 68, with more games preceding the Round of 64. Stroman shares her thoughts on why this happened (money), why it happened now (the SEC and Big Ten), whether it is actually good business for the NCAA and conferences, and why it might ultimately hurt the fans and conference tournaments leading up to the postseason.
Dr. Deborah Stroman — who is a consulting professor for UNC and Virginia, sports businesswoman, former basketball player, and columnist — chats with 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell each week about headlines from the world of sports. Covering both local and national stories, Stroman specializes in connecting the on-field product to the impact of sports on business, culture and society. Listen to their past conversations on Chapelboro, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.
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March Madness Tournaments Will Expand to 76 Teams Each Starting Next SeasonThe NCAA announced Thursday that it will expand its two March Madness tournaments by eight teams each next season.
Chansky's Notebook: The State of BasketballAs usual, the state of North Carolina will be punching well above its weight in this year's NCAA Tournament.
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You're Not Working Anyway, So Let's Watch Some UNC Basketball HighlightsLet’s be honest with ourselves, you’re not getting much work done today. It’s Friday, and UNC basketball takes on Auburn tonight in the Sweet 16. If anything, you’re passing the time by watching UNC basketball highlights as the clock creeps closer and closer to 5 and making plans to catch the game with friends. In […]
Money Madness: AP Analysis Shows Growing Gap in NCAA PayoutsPowered by Ja Morant’s no-look passes and Dylan Windler’s step-back 3s, March Madness has been a bonanza for the Ohio Valley Conference. The league placed two teams in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament for the first time in 32 years. Then Morant’s Murray State Racers and Windler’s Belmont Bruins both won games during the first […]
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Stroman On Sports: Road To The Final FourThe NCAA tournament begins tonight! How far will the Tar Heels go?
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Stroman On Sports: ACC Tournament Time!March Madness is here: the ACC Tournament begins today.
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Duke Legend Talks Final FourSteve Vacendak is a veteran of two Final Fours and the 1966 ACC Player of the Year.
UNC Women's Lacrosse in the 2026 Final Four: How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Start TimeThe UNC women’s lacrosse team will play in the NCAA Final Four against No. 3 overall seed Maryland in Chicago Friday afternoon. The Tar Heels are the No. 2 overall seed in the field and are seeking to win consecutive national championships for the first time in program history. If you aren’t traveling with the […]
'My Favorite Game': UNC Women's Lacrosse Looking Forward to Rekindling Maryland Rivalry at Final FourFriday afternoon's national semifinal game will rekindle the dormant UNC-Maryland women's lacrosse rivalry.
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