ZWF: Crowing the Collegiate Champs
Zander's Weekend Facts #60: Sunday, April 2, 2023
LSU vs Iowa on the women’s side, San Diego State vs UConn on the men’s side. Over the next two days, the next National Champions of college basketball will be crowned.
Inside this week’s edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts, a preview of the college basketball National Championship games, and a look at what Zander’s been reading this past week. Plus, a compilation of the top headlines from the last seven days.
Also, go listen to the latest episode of the Zander’s Facts podcast! Episode 99 features an info session on a new source of energy that could major in the future, Nuclear Fusion. Plus, Zander provides his fact-filled predictions for the Men’s and Women’s Final Four matchups. Go download the Zander’s Facts podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
Here are Zander’s Weekend Facts for Sunday, April 2, 2023:
College Basketball Championships are set
Buzzer-beaters, comebacks, and great basketball. The games in this year’s editions of the Final Four had it all. Now, it’s time for both the men and women to crown a champion of college basketball.
Later today, LSU will take on Iowa in the NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship. Which ever team takes home the trophy, history will be made.
#3 seed LSU comes in to the matchup led by the duo of Angel Reese and Alexis Morris, both of whom had 24+ points in the Tigers’ win over Virginia Tech in the Final Four on Friday night. The Tigers went on a 15-0 run in the fourth quarter of Friday’s game to seal their spot in the championship. At 33-2, LSU has only lost to South Carolina and Tennessee this season.
#2 seed Iowa has won nine straight games, including being the only team to knock off South Carolina this season. The Hawkeyes held on to beat the Gamecocks 77-73 behind the wonders of Caitlin Clark. Clark has taken the basketball world by storm in this tournament, scoring 41 points in both the South Carolina game and in Iowa’s Elite Eight win over Louisvile.
Both schools are looking to claim their first ever National Championship in women’s basketball. LSU head coach Kim Mulkey won the title three times at Baylor before coming to LSU in 2021. Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder is in her first Final Four in 23 years as the leader of the Hawkeyes program. Coming into the game, Iowa is favored at -3.5.
Zander’s pick: In one of the most hyped women’s basketball games in recent memory, Caitlin Clark and Iowa stole the spotlight from previously-undefeated South Carolina, and I think there’s little that LSU will be able to do to stop the Hawkeyes. Iowa wins their first championship in program history.
The NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship tips-off later today at 3:30 pm et from Dallas, Texas on ABC and ESPN+.
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On the men’s side, San Diego State and UConn won their respective Final Four matchups on Saturday night to clinch the two spots in Monday night’s title game.
#5 seed San Diego State clinched their spot in the National Championship in dramatic fashion. With less than one second left in the game, Lamont Butler released the ball from his hands with the Aztecs down one point, When the buzzer signaled zeroes on the clock, the shot went in and San Diego State had taken down Florida Atlantic. Alijah Martin scored 26 points in the win, while Matt Bradley put in 21 points.
#4 seed UConn had a less heart racing affair with Miami, never trailing on their way to a 13-point win over the Hurricanes. It was actually the lowest margin of victory in the tournament for the Huskies, after their previous four wins all came by 15 points or more. In the win over Miami, Adama Sanogo dropped a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
While San Diego State is experiencing their first Final Four berth, it’s the sixth time that UConn has made it to the final weekend of the tournament. The Huskies have made the title game four previous times, winning all four. All four of those National Championship appearances have come since 1999, with head coach Dan Hurley the third coach to lead UConn to the season’s final game. After the UConn-Miami game went final, inital odds had UConn favored at -7.
Zander’s pick: Since the first round of the tournament, UConn has looked like the most dominant team in the field. While San Diego State has prided themselves on their defense all season long, this matchup with the Huskies will be their biggest test yet. In the end, the offensive firepower of Connecticut wins the day. UConn wins their fifth championship in program history and remains undefeated in the title game.
The NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship will tip-off tomorrow at 9:20 pm et from Houston, Texas on CBS.
What Zander’s been reading this past week
For decades now, the United States has fallen behind its peer nations in regard to life expectancy. But the difference has never been as drastic as it is now. Since the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic, the U.S.’ life expectancy rate has taken an unfavorable turn. Check out the article below to get the facts.
Check out this week’s featured article on Financial Times - Why are Americans dying so young?
Zander’s Facts Sporting Club
Here are the top headlines from the sports world in the ZF Sporting Club:
NBA CBA: The NBA and National Basketball Players Association recently reached an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement. The new deal, which would last seven years beginning next season, ensures no labor stoppage through at least 2029, when a sixth-year opt-out could come into effect. The deal does not lower the minimum age for players to enter the league, continuing on with the one-and-done rule of players being eligible to enter the league after one year in college. However, among the several changes, a new spending cap would limit the mechanisms that teams paying well into the luxury tax could use to sign players.
MLB Opening Day: Major League Baseball began the 2023 season on Thursday with Opening Day. It was the first Opening Day that featured all 30 teams in action since 1968. The defending World Series champion Houston Astros are looking to become the first back-to-back World Series champion since the New York Yankees won three straight titles from 1998-2000. The Astros have gone 2-1 so far this weekend against the Chicago White Sox, while the Braves, Rangers, Rays, and Twins remain undefeated after Saturday night’s games.
NBA Season: The current NBA season is winding down, with just one week left in the regular season. The longest postseason drought in major American sports was broken last week when the Sacramento Kings clinched a spot in the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2006. Even while the Milwaukee Bucks lost by 41 points to the Boston Celtics on Thursday night, the Bucks still lead the Celtics by 1.5 games at the top of the Eastern Conference. In the West, the Denver Nuggets hold a two-game lead over the Memphis Grizzlies at the top of the standings.
European Club Soccer: The European club soccer season is heading into the home stretch after March’s international break. The major leagues resumed action this weekend, with the top two teams in the German Bundesliga standings meeting up on Saturday. Bayern Munich was able to take down Borussia Dortmund 4-2 to take first place. In England, Arsenal beat Leeds United 4-1 to maintain an eight-point lead at the top of the table over defending Premier League champions Manchester City, who beat Liverpool 4-1 on Saturday.
Basketball Hall of Fame: The 2023 entries into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame were announced on Saturday. The star-studded class is headlined by NBA champions Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, and Dwyane Wade. San Antonio Spurs head coach and the winningest coach in NBA history Gregg Popovich is also entering the hall. Five other coaches will also be inducted, including former NC State head coach Jim Valvano. Former WNBA player and current Las Vegas Aces head coach will also be inducted, along with the 1976 Olympic women's basketball team.
Rapid-fire Facts
These are top news headlines from the past week in rapid-fire fashion:
Trump Indictment: Former President Donald Trump was indicted by a New York grand jury on Thursday. According to reports, Trump is facing around 30 charges, including at least one felony charge, in relation to document fraud that is connected to a hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump is expected to travel to New York on Tuesday and surrender. Trump is also facing investigations regarding election interference in Georgia and two probes led by the U.S. Department of Justice into classified documents and Trump’s role in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Nashville Shooting: Six people, including three children, died in a shooting at a Nashville, Tennessee elementary school on Monday. The shooter, who was also killed, was a former student of the school. On Thursday, hundreds of protesters gathered at the Tennessee State Capitol, calling for stricter gun laws in the state. The shooter brought seven guns to the scene, all of which were purchased legally, even as the assailant was being treated for an emotional disorder.
Tornado Outbreak: Over 20 people were killed across several states on Friday during a massive tornado outbreak. A total of 57 tornadoes touched down across seven states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. The aftermath of Friday’s storms shows devastation such as flattened homes, debris for miles, and flipped cars. Meteorologists are already warning about the potential for another round of dangerous storms this coming Tuesday in the midwest.
Journalist Detained: Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested in Russia last week. Gershkovich has been accused of spying by the Russian government, allegations that the Wall Street Journal denied. Gershkovich had been working in the city of Yekaterinburg, about 1,000 miles east of Moscow. If convicted, Gershkovich could face up to 20 years in Russian prison. In response, the U.S. government reiterated a notice it put out in February, that all U.S. citizens leave Russia immediately.
Dominion/Fox Lawsuit: A Delaware judge has ordered that Dominion Voting System’s lawsuit against Fox News will go to trial starting on April 17. Dominion is alleging that the conservative news network knowingly spread false allegations about the company’s role in the 2020 presidential election. Over the last few weeks, Dominion’s lawyers have produced messages from Fox News executives and talent that show many inside the company did not believe false allegations that the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump.
Wrapping up the Facts
Before this edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts wraps up, here’s another reminder to check out the latest episodes of the Zander’s Facts podcast. Download and listen to the latest episode of the podcast, along with every episode of Zander’s Facts, wherever you get your podcasts.
Check out Zander’s Facts’ Linktree page for more on everything Zander’s Facts related, including the all-new Zander’s Facts website. At ZandersFacts.com, get the latest on all the facts that Zander is putting out, and check out the freshest styles at the Zander’s Facts shop!
You can also listen to every episode of the podcast on this very website. All Zander’s Facts podcast episodes are now available on zandersfacts.substack.com under the “Zander’s Facts” tab for your enjoyment! That includes the next episode of the Zander’s Facts podcast, which comes out this Wednesday!
That’s a wrap on this week’s edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts. The Facts in print return next Sunday, April 9, 2023.
