Paradise News

Tag: General News

  • Plan To Serve Rice Twice Instead Of Four Times Caused Jos Prison Protest – Official

    Rice-and-Stew-

    The Plateau Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service says it has not reduced the quantity and quality of food rations for inmates.

    Spokesman of the command, Mr Godfrey Longdiem, stated this in Jos on Saturday while reacting to media reports that inmates at the Jos Custodial Centre protested over shortage of food on Friday.

    He added that instead, the command was planning to change inmates’ menu because of current hike in prices of foodstuffs.

    “The command wishes to clarify that it has no intention or plan to reduce the quantity or quality of inmates’ ration, but to supplement their meals as a result of the hike in prices of foodstuffs.

    “Inmates are normally served rice four times in a week.

    “Contractors, however, complained about incessant increases in prices of food items, particularly that of rice and consequently, they requested to serve rice twice a week and supplement with another food.

    “This request did not go down well with the inmates, but the situation was later brought under control without harm or injury to anyone,’’ he stated.

    Longdiem called on Plateau residents and Nigerians in general to disregard media reports that suggested an attempted jailbreak at the Jos Custodial Centre.

    Plan To Serve Rice Twice Instead Of Four Times Caused Jos Prison Protest – Official is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

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  • Fact Check: No, Wisconsin secretary of state doesn’t have to countersign new laws for them to take effect

    Wisconsin has a new set of Legislative maps, and many politicians have spoken out about them; expressing excitement, questions and apprehension. 

    Sarah Godlewski took to social media to express her happiness, and to share a snapshot into her life as the secretary of state. 

    In a Feb. 21 X post, Godlewski said it was “one of her responsibilities” as secretary of state “to countersign acts passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Tony Evers.” 

    “I’m excited to be signing 2023 Wisconsin Act 94, because it means fair maps in Wisconsin!” she continued. 

    Godlewski in her post insinuated that her signature is necessary to put a new law into action after it’s approved by the Legislature and the governor. 

    But is that true? Let’s take a closer look. 

    Signature not required

    When we asked Godlewski’s office for comment, Nate Schwantes, the chief of staff, sent back information from the Wisconsin  Constitution and the state statutes. 

    Schwantes also included a photo of the signature sheet for Senate Bill 488, which is signed by the Senate president, the Assembly speaker and the governor. At the bottom, there is also a line for Godlewski’s signature. 

    According to the section of the state’s constitution that addresses the duties of the secretary of state, the person who serves in the position “shall keep a fair record of the official acts of the legislature and executive department of the state, and shall, when required, lay the same and all matters relative thereto before either branch of the legislature.” 

    So, basically, the state constitution says the secretary keeps a record of official acts by the governor and the Legislature, and can present those acts if asked. No countersignature is mentioned.

    According to the section of the state statutes that addresses the duties of the secretary of state, there are several responsibilities, including recording executive acts, having custody of books and records, providing a biennial report, keeping enrolled laws, compiling original laws and resolutions, recording fees, and several more. 

    Another one of the duties is to “affix the great seal and countersign all commissions issued and other official acts done by the governor, the governor’s approbation of the laws excepted.”

    That portion of the statute is confusing, and it may be because the language dates back to before Wisconsin was even a state. But it doesn’t require Godlewski to countersign laws, Mike Gallagher of the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau said in an email. 

    “The (secretary of state’s) countersignature of official acts of the governor dates back to Wisconsin’s territorial days and has served primarily as a means of document authentication, i.e. verification of the legitimacy of official documents, especially in an era when state government relied exclusively on physical documents,” Gallagher said. 

    He also noted that while yes, laws signed by the governor have included a signature block for the secretary of state since before Godlewski took office, she’s not actually required to sign on the line in order for a law to be functional. 

    “The (secretary of state) has no role in the process by which a law takes effect,” he said. “After having been passed by both houses of the legislature and signed by the governor, a law becomes effective on the day after the day on which the law is required to be published by the Legislative Reference Bureau.”

    “That date of publication is the day after the governor signs the law. The (secretary of state) has no official role in this process, whether by countersigning the governor’s approval or otherwise.”

    The secretary of state’s office has gradually diminished over the years, making the role largely inconsequential, even though the person in the role is elected. In reality, the office has just a few small duties outlined in state law. 

    For Godlewski, this isn’t the first time she’s overstated her role as the secretary of state. Last year, she exaggerated her role in state elections, saying she wanted to use the office to help improve transparency and accountability in elections, and help local election officials and the Wisconsin Elections Commission. But those are not roles delegated to the secretary of state, as Megan Wolfe, the commission’s administrator, said in an April 28, 2023, report from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

    Our ruling

    Godlewski claimed that one of her responsibilities is to “countersign acts passed by the legislature & signed into law by Gov. Evers.” 

    Although there is a line on the sheet that is signed by the Legislature and the governor for the secretary of state’s signature, it doesn’t actually matter if she does or doesn’t sign it. The secretary of state has no official role in the process of a bill becoming a law in Wisconsin. 

    We rate this claim as Mostly False, because it contains an element of truth but ignores critical facts that would give a different impression.

     



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  • San Jose Sharks goalie Magnus Chrona set to face Dallas Stars

    Goalie Magnus Chrona will make his second career NHL start Saturday for the San Jose Sharks, and it will not be any easier than the first.

    Chrona will be in net tonight as the skidding Sharks play the Central Division-leading Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center to start a two-day, two-game road trip.

    “It’s going to be fun,” Chrona said Saturday morning. “I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

    Chrona was recalled by the Sharks on Wednesday, one day after Mackenzie Blackwood was injured in a game against the New Jersey Devils. Blackwood was placed on injured reserve this week but is not expected to be out long-term.

    Chrona, 23, made his first career NHL start on Dec. 28 against the Edmonton Oilers after Blackwood came down with an illness the day before and was unavailable to play. The night wasn’t fun for anyone in teal, as the Oilers scored four times on 12 shots in the first period before going on to a 5-0 win at SAP Center.

    Kaapo Kahkonen relieved Chrona after the first period, and Chrona was back with the Barracuda on Dec. 30. In two career NHL appearances, Chrona, who made his NHL debut on Nov. 4 against Pittsburgh in a 10-2 Sharks loss, has a .724 save percentage and 9.50 goals against average.

    Chrona said after the Edmonton outing, he received words of encouragement from his teammates, goalie coach Thomas Speer, and director of goaltending Evgeni Nabokov.

    “It was great experience,” Chrona said. “Got to learn from it and go from there.”

    The Stars do not offer much of a relief for Chrona or the Sharks, who have lost seven of their last eight games and are coming off a 0-5-0 homestand.

    The Stars entered Saturday with a two-point lead over the Winnipeg Jets for first place in the Central Division and are among a handful of Western Conference teams that appear poised to challenge for the Stanley Cup.

    Dallas is also the second-highest-scoring team in the league during 5-on-5 play with 145 goals in 62 games.

    Both Chrona and Sharks coach David Quinn feel the Swedish-born goalie has a better chance at success now than in the days after Christmas.

    “Just a tough position,” Quinn said of the game against the Oilers. “It was short notice, you’re going into the fire against Edmonton, who had started to play really well.

    “Much different circumstances now. We’ve had a chance to prepare, we’re not going back to back so this puts him in a much better position to have success.”

    “I feel a little more acclimated,” Chrona said. “Get in tempo with the pace and the systems of the NHL. I feel a lot more confident than last time.”

    After he was reassigned to the Barracuda, Chrona, in the first year of a two-year contract, played in 13 games and had a .879 save percentage and a 2-7-2 record. For his first professional season after four seasons at the University of Denver, where he won a NCAA title, Chrona is 5-13-4 with a .892 save percentage.

    So there’s work to be done before Chrona can become a full-time NHL goalie. Maybe a solid start tonight can help build some confidence, but it won’t be easy.

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  • Garfield Lady Bulldogs Triumph Over Lakeside Lions in Semifinal Matchup

    By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium

    The defending state champion Garfield Lady Bulldogs faced one of their toughest opponents, the Lakeside Lions, in a semifinal matchup last night, vying for a spot in the 3A State Championship game this Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.

    Garfield senior Katie Fiso took the court with high energy and determination in their quest to secure another gold ball (state championship trophy) for Garfield. Following the tip-off, Fiso quickly scored a layup, energizing the crowd early on. She then lit up the court on the next possession with a three-point shot, igniting the Bulldog fans. However, Lakeside’s Lucy Ackerman responded with a three-pointer of her own, tying the game at 5-5 in the opening minutes.

    The first quarter featured a lot of back-and-forth possessions. Garfield maintained a lead for most of the quarter, as Fiso continued to make plays and Jayda Lewis controlled the boards on both ends of the floor. However, after Fiso picked up two fouls, the Lions began to dominate. Following Fiso’s second foul, Ackerman intercepted a pass from Garfield’s Maya Davis intended for Lewis and scored a layup. Lakeside’s Mia Broom then stole the ball from Garfield’s Devyn Hall, scoring a layup that gave the Lions a 12-11 lead. Broom finished the quarter with a jump shot, helping her team to a 16-15 lead.

    With the score relatively low, the game was still up for grabs. Garfield junior Sarah Lessig made her presence known in the second quarter, scoring 10 points and giving the Bulldogs a 28-22 lead at halftime.

    The third quarter saw a flurry of long-range shots. Lakeside opened with a three-pointer from junior Josie Albrecht, sparking a series of three-pointers from Broom, Ashlyn Ryan, and Garfield’s Mariah Roy, Lewis, and Fiso. Broom capped the quarter with a buzzer-beating three-pointer, but Garfield led 46-33 going into the fourth.

    In the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs excelled offensively, going on a 5-0 run with contributions from Lessig and Fiso. Midway through, Broom scored two points, ending the Bulldog run. Garfield’s defense was tenacious, especially in the final moments, as players fought for every loose ball. Fiso’s eight points in the quarter kept Lakeside from taking the lead.

    As the semifinal between the top two Metro League teams neared its end, Broom received her third foul, sending Garfield’s key player Fiso to the line, where she converted 1 of 2 free throws, securing a 62-45 victory over Lakeside.

    With this win, the Garfield Bulldogs advance to the final round of the 3A Girls State Championship game, where they will face Mead on Saturday, Mar. 2nd, at 9:00 pm. Lakeside will play Snohomish for either 3rd or 5th place on Saturday, Mar. 2nd, at 1:00 pm.

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  • MAGA Winning Streak: SCOTUS Delays J6 Case, Judge Cannon Delays Docs Case, Georgia DA Derails RICO Case, Ronna Out at RNC, Mitch Leaving


    Overall, it’s been a good week for Trump and the future looks bright.

    The wins column stacked up for former President Donald Trump this week.

    Amid ongoing lawfare and fake news attacks, “Teflon Don” scored some massive political victories this week boosting his re-election prospects and upsetting the Democrat establishment.

    The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear Trump’s case on presidential immunity, possibly putting the Jan. 6 criminal trial headed by Special Counsel Jack Smith on hold until after the 2024 election.

    Additionally, Judge Aileen Cannon overseeing the classified documents case against the former president this week is deciding whether to hold a trial on the case in July, which she characterizes as “unrealistic,” or delay it until August 12, as requested by Trump’s attorneys.

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    Adding to the courtroom victories is the very strong likelihood of a judge disqualifying Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from prosecuting her RICO case against Trump, following evidence the corrupt DA vacationed with the prosecutor she hired to oversee the case – raising the prospect of the case being scrapped entirely.

    Adding to this, Ronna McDaniel’s departure from the Republican National Committee opens the door for Trump to appoint a leader more aligned with his MAGA agenda.

    This week, RINO Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) also announced he would be vacating his seat at the end of his term, serving up yet another Trump win. McConnell has consistently thwarted the America First agenda, and Trump remarked he’d “approved so much for Biden it was almost as if the Democrats had something on him.”

    Add to this the fact that the US Supreme Court hasn’t said whether Colorado can remove Trump from the state’s Primary ballot, a delay that works in his favor with Coloradans voting on Tuesday where his name will appear on the ballot and votes will be counted for him.

    The successive victories come on the heels of another Republican Primary victory in the state of Michigan earlier this week, where Trump trounced Neocon Republican opponent Nikki Haley 68% to 26%.

    He had another win in the Missouri Republican presidential caucus on Saturday:

    And a Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll this week found Trump is currently leading Biden in seven swing states.

    From The Hill:

    The Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll found Biden trailing Trump in several critical states — Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada and Wisconsin — when voters were asked who they would support in a hypothetical general election. Large shares of the respondents voiced concerns with Biden’s age, while a significant percentage said Trump was dangerous.

    Across all seven states, 48 percent of voters said they would back Trump, and 43 percent would back Biden. Trump’s lead appeared to be the strongest in North Carolina, where he is 9 points ahead of Biden — bringing in 50 percent support compared to Biden’s 41 percent.

    Overall, it’s been a good week for Trump and the future looks bright.

    The former president used to be fond of declaring his supporters would win so much they would get tired of winning, and once again he’s living up to his promise.

    However, be ready for the Deep State to strike back with tremendous force, as they tend to do when things aren’t going their way.



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  • 1999 Constitution Can Not Address Nigeria’s Economic Situation – Anyaoku

    Anyaoku-eMEKA

    Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, has said that the current Nigerian constitution would not adequately address the nation’s economic predicaments and other myriad of challenges.

    Speaking to journalists on Saturday, Anyaoku said the current challenges being faced in the nation like poverty, insecurity, and dilapidated infrastructure among others were serious challenges bedevilling the country.

    “I am on record for saying that these challenges can not be effectively addressed under the constitution and governance system we have at the moment.

    “We can not effectively address these challenges that have assumed a nationwide dimension, especially insecurity which has pervaded the Northern part of the country and other communities,” he said.

    He stressed that the current constitution was a departure from the constitution that the nation’s founding fathers negotiated and agreed upon.

    “The constitution, for a pluralistic state as Nigeria, we have to return to those principles of the constitution as earlier agreed by our founding fathers.

    “Until we do that, I am afraid that we can not effectively deal with the challenges facing the nation,” he added.

    When asked about the Monday sit-at-home observed in the South East region and the negative effects on the economy, the elder statesman said that the sit-at-home was causing great damage to the economy of the country.

    “The sit-at-home at home is doing great damage to the economy of the South East region, I do not support the idea, I think it is doing great damage to the economy. We have to deal with the root cause of sit-at-home, which is the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu.

    “Notwithstanding the fact that the court of law had ordered his released, that word gives those who advocate and participate in sit-at-home the reason for doing so.

    “I think that the cause of the sit-at-home should be addressed, I do not think that the sit-at-home should be maintained, it should be stopped,” he suggested.

    1999 Constitution Can Not Address Nigeria’s Economic Situation – Anyaoku is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

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  • Fact Check: Fact-checking misinformation about estrogen in meat and health effects on men

    Could the amount of estrogen in beef and chicken lead men to bald, develop enlarged breast tissue and curtail muscle development? The answer is no, despite popular misconceptions online.

    An Instagram reel features Bobby Price, a nutritionist who sells weight loss teas, which are found to be ineffective and in some cases, dangerous because they contain senna, a natural laxative that is not meant to be consumed daily. 

    Price says that chickens and cows have large amounts of natural and synthetic hormones that can cause unwanted side effects in men who consume them. 

    “When you eat the chicken and you eat the cow, you eat the hormones,” he said in a reel shared Feb. 26. “And the unfortunate thing is, the more and more you eat of that, it raises the estrogen levels in the body. And this is why you’re seeing so many men who struggle with building muscle mass, so many men who are developing what are called ‘man boobs,’ gynaecomastia. And then, so many men who are balding.” 

    This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

    The amount of estrogen in meats is small and regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

    “(It’s) not possible to eat enough chicken and/or beef (thousands of pounds), to get remotely close to causing any of the above adverse effects,” said Dr. Bradley Anawalt, an endocrinologist and medicine professor at the University of Washington.

    He told PolitiFact by email that it would take at least 100 micrograms or more of daily estradiol intake, the most potent form of estrogen, to affect a man. He said chicken and beef typically have less than 0.005 micrograms of estrogen per 100 grams of meat, and 1 pound of chicken or beef has about 0.025 micrograms of estrogen. 

    Anawalt added that excess estrogen, which could be caused by factors including medications, drinking too much alcohol or having too much stress, could lead to gynecomastia, or the enlargement of male breast tissue, and deter muscle mass growth by suppressing blood testosterone below normal levels. He said estrogen does not cause balding. That’s caused by heredity and excessive stress.

    Anawalt pointed to a study published in the Toxicology Research and Application journal that found there is no evidence that the hormone content in typical serving sizes of common foods harms health. 

    A Michigan State University Extension article written by Jared Jaborek, who earned a doctorate in animal sciences, shows beef has a low concentration of hormones when compared with vegetables, eggs and milk. The article adds that all organisms contain naturally occurring hormones. 

    Some cows in the U.S. are given synthetic hormones to promote growth, wrote Amanda Blair, an animal science professor at South Dakota State University.Those hormones are typically delivered through an implant on the animal’s ear that releases hormones over a period of time, not injected into the animal, as the video claimed. 

    But the FDA monitors and regulates those additional hormones to ensure products are safe to eat. And the FDA forbids the use of steroid hormones in poultry farming. 

    We rate the claim that the high levels of estrogen in chicken and cows lead men who eat them to bald, develop man boobs and be unable to grow muscle mass False. 



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  • Republicans in Idaho, Missouri and Michigan weigh in

    By Jonathan J. Cooper, Associated Press

    More delegates are up for grabs Saturday as former President Donald Trump looks to get closer to clinching the Republican nomination and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley seeks her first win.

    Trump, who is especially strong in caucuses, is expected to add to his delegate lead in Republican caucuses in Idaho and Missouri, as well as at a party convention in Michigan.

    There are no Democratic contests on Saturday.

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  • Biggest March Madness Upsets Since 1982

    Jamaal Tinsley walks off the court after the Hampton Pirates won 58-57 during the NCAA Tournament.

    Brian Bahr // Getty Images
    Written by Jill Jaracz

    Every year, sports fans are consumed with March Madness and the thrill of the upsets that make—or break—their brackets.

    Television commentator Brent Musburger wedded the NCAA tournament with the moniker during the 1982 men’s edition, describing upsets with a phrase used for Illinois’ state high school basketball tournament. It stuck, and now, every year, amateur bracketologists try to predict which teams will author Cinderella stories by taking down the big programs in the bracket.

    March Madness matchups rely on seeding. To get into the Big Dance, a team must win its postseason conference tournament or be one of the 36 best at-large teams, as determined by the selection committee.

    The NCAA divides the 68 teams into four regions, with each group ranked from #1 to #16 based on several factors, including their performances during the regular season and postseason tournaments. Since full seeding began in 1979, the NCAA has yet to complete the impossible task of sorting teams accurately, as every year has featured multiple upsets.

    ATS.io compiled a ranking of the biggest men’s March Madness upsets since 1982 using Sports Reference data. Upsets were defined as wins by teams seeded five or more slots lower than their opponents and ranked according to seed difference. The difference between the squads based on Sports Reference’s simple rating system, which rates teams based on average point differential and strength of schedule, broke ties.

    A column chart showing the number of March Madness upsets since 1979

    ATS.io

    2023 ties for 3rd-highest number of upsets in March Madness history

    Upsets have been a factor at every March Madness, but big upsets with seed differences of 10-plus are occurring more frequently. Nineteen of those 40 major upsets have occurred since 2010, and changes within the NCAA may be a factor.

    In 2018, the governing body altered its rules around student-athlete transfers, abolishing the requirement that players who change schools must sit out a year. This change allows teams to bring in experienced talent and get immediate results.

    New name, image, and likeness rules that took effect in 2021 have also changed the game for schools’ recruiting efforts, as students can choose—or transfer to—the programs that provide the best opportunities to capitalize on their talents financially.

    Gameplay is also evolving, with smaller, faster teams finding success on the perimeter of the court against taller teams that rely on their size to dominate in the paint.

    Head coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orangemen talks with an official.

    Focus on Sport // Getty Images

    #10. Richmond beats Syracuse (1991)

    – Seeding difference: 13
    – SRS difference: 15.29
    – Final score: 73-69

    Richmond made history in the first round of the 1991 tournament when they became the first #15 seed to topple a #2 seed.

    Even though Syracuse had won the Big East easily, they didn’t show up for this game. The Spiders led the entire time, and though the Orange got close in the final two minutes, a missed 3-point shot and a botched rebound put Richmond junior Curtis Blair on the free-throw line, and he sank the game-clincher.

    Richmond’s Cinderella story was short-lived—they lost to #10 seed Temple in the next round, 77-64.

    David Houston and Fred Warnick of the Coppin Eagles celebrate their win.

    Al Bello // Getty Images

    #9. Coppin State beats South Carolina (1997)

    – Seeding difference: 13
    – SRS difference: 16.30
    – Final score: 78-65

    A small, historically Black university in West Baltimore, Maryland, relatively unknown Coppin State embodied the very nature of a Cinderella team when it took on the SEC regular-season champions. South Carolina, considered a Final Four team, may have thought this would be an easy win, but the Eagles deemed it at least an even match. They’d played plenty of bigger programs, and just making the Big Dance required two overtime wins in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament.

    The score was a tie at halftime, but the Gamecocks pulled ahead in the second half. The Eagles clawed back, took the lead with 6:12 remaining, and dominated the rest of the game to become the first MEAC team to win a tournament game. Coppin State’s Danny Singletary and Antoine Brockington were the game’s top scorers with a combined 42 points, while South Carolina star Larry Davis was held to just one field goal—which he didn’t make until the final minute.

    The Eagles’ Cinderella story ended in the next round when a huge comeback stalled, and they lost by 1 point to #10 seed Texas. In 2022, ESPN released a one-hour documentary called “On & Coppin” that looked at the Eagles’ season and stunning tournament win.

    Oral Roberts University players celebrate upsetting Ohio State University in overtime.

    Andy Hancock // Getty Images

    #8. Oral Roberts beats Ohio State (2021)

    – Seeding difference: 13
    – SRS difference: 16.52
    – Final score: 75-72, OT

    The first round of the 2021 tournament had seven upsets—the biggest being #15 Oral Roberts’ takedown of #2 Ohio State in overtime.

    The Golden Eagles did have Max Abmas, the top scorer in Division I, with 24.2 points per game. However, teammate Kevin Obanor bested him here with 30 points to Abmas’ 29. The Buckeyes didn’t help themselves with 16 turnovers to the Golden Eagles’ six. Ohio State also made just five of 23 attempted 3-pointers—including two misses in the final seconds that could have sent the game into double overtime.

    After an 81-78 win over #7 seed Florida in which Obanor and Abmas combined for 54 points, Oral Roberts almost upset its way into the Elite Eight but lost to #3 seed Arkansas 72-70.

    St. Peter's Peacocks players celebrate after defeating the Kentucky Wildcats.

    Jamie Sabau // Getty Images

    #7. Saint Peter’s beats Kentucky (2022)

    – Seeding difference: 13
    – SRS difference: 17.94
    – Final score: 85-79, OT

    Kentucky was a Final Four favorite—about 1 in 3 brackets had the #2 seed winning the East Region—but went down in the first round to a team that had not won in its first three NCAA tournament appearances.

    The game was tight throughout, with 16 ties and 13 lead changes. Saint Peter’s was down six with three minutes left, but they rallied, took the lead, and later tied it with 21 seconds left, forcing overtime. The Wildcats missed five free throws in the extra period—they made just 65.7% all game—which opened the door for the Peacocks to take the win.

    Saint Peter’s magical tournament run didn’t end there—the team took down #7 seed Murray State 70-60 and #3 seed Purdue 67-64, becoming the first #15 seed to get into the Elite Eight, where they lost 69-49 to eventual national finalist North Carolina.

    Santa Clara basketball Coach Dick Davey during his first year as the head of the schools men's basketball program.

    Michael Macor // Getty Images

    #6. Santa Clara beats Arizona (1993)

    – Seeding difference: 13
    – SRS difference: 19.09
    – Final score: 64-61

    With a roster full of first-year students—including future two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash—Santa Clara’s chances against powerhouse Arizona looked slim. The Wildcats seemed to wrap up the game early, going on a 25-0 run to take a 46-33 lead with 15:26 remaining.

    However, Arizona star and future NBA player Chris Mills got into foul trouble and was benched for the next 10 minutes. Even with five other future NBA players, including Damon Stoudamire and Ray Owes, the Wildcats couldn’t shoot or rebound against the Broncos, who went ahead 54-53 with 2:45 left.

    With 31 seconds left, Nash hit two free throws—the first of six—to extend the Santa Clara lead to 5 points. Though Mills hit a 3-pointer with eight seconds left to cut the Broncos’ lead to three, and Nash and Kevin Dunne missed four free throws, Stoudamire’s 3-point attempt before the buzzer failed to fall Arizona’s way.

    It marked the second time a #15 seed sent a #2 seed home.

    Martin Rancik of the Iowa State Cyclones crouches down on the court after losing as the Hampton Pirates celebrate.

    Brian Bahr // Getty Images

    #5. Hampton beats Iowa State (2001)

    – Seeding difference: 13
    – SRS difference: 19.56
    – Final score: 58-57

    In their first appearance at the Big Dance and just sixth year as a Division I team, Hampton earned the honor of being the fourth #15 seed to beat a #2 seed. Tarvis Williams led the Pirates to victory with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and six blocks.

    Hampton was ahead at halftime 31-27, but Iowa State came back in the second half to build an 11-point lead. The Pirates held the Cyclones scoreless in the last seven minutes, which allowed Hampton to seize the moment.

    Williams, sitting on four fouls, scored the go-ahead basket with just 6.9 seconds on the clock. Future pro Jamaal Tinsley’s last-second layup attempt refused to go in.

    Jaqawn Raymond of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders celebrates in the game against the Michigan State Spartans.

    Dilip Vishwanat // Getty Images

    #4. Middle Tennessee beats Michigan State (2016)

    – Seeding difference: 13
    – SRS difference: 19.93
    – Final score: 90-81

    Michigan State went into this game as one of the tournament favorites—22.3% of entries in ESPN’s annual tournament challenge picked the Spartans to win the event—but #15 seed Middle Tennessee broke those 2.9 million brackets and more in its commanding upset.

    The Blue Raiders led 15-2 and never trailed, and their entire starting lineup contributed double-digit points. As they had all season, the balanced quartet of Reggie Upshaw (21 points), Giddy Potts (19), Perrin Buford (15), and Darnell Harris (15) led the way, and Jaqawn Raymond added 11.

    The Blue Raiders defense also rendered Spartans star senior Denzel Valentine ineffective. The Associated Press Player of the Year and future NBAer had just 13 points, 6 points shy of his average, on 5-of-13 shooting and a game-high six turnovers, one short of his career high.

    Kyle O'Quinn and Brandon Wheeless celebrate after they won 86-84 against the Missouri Tigers.

    Doug Pensinger // Getty Images

    #3. Norfolk State beats Missouri (2012)

    – Seeding difference: 13
    – SRS difference: 23.45
    – Final score: 86-84

    It had been 11 years since a #15 seed had taken down a #2 seed when Norfolk State did so in a nailbiter against the Big 12 Conference tournament champions. In their Division I debut, the Spartans hung with Missouri’s four-guard offense to end the first half tied.

    The Spartans used their size to out-rebound the Tigers 35-23, including a 14-6 advantage on the offensive glass. Norfolk State also made 10 of 19 attempted 3-pointers and shot 54.2% overall. Future NBA player Kyle O’Quinn led the way with 26 points and 14 rebounds, and Pendarvis Williams and Chris McEachin added four threes and 20 points apiece.

    Missouri had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but the Spartans played point guard Phil Pressey perfectly, and his 3-point attempt bounced off the back of the rim as time expired.

    The UMBC Retrievers bench reacts to their 74-54 victory over the Virginia Cavaliers.

    Streeter Lecka // Getty Images

    #2. UMBC beats Virginia (2018)

    – Seeding difference: 15
    – SRS difference: 24.22
    – Final score: 74-54

    Before this game, many people had never heard of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, but the Retrievers made history as the first #16 seed to take down a #1 seed.

    Virginia, the top team in the nation, had been dominant all season, holding opponents to 53.4 points a game, yet UMBC outscored them 53-33 in the second half alone. The Retrievers commandeered 3-point territory, making 12-of-24 while holding the Cavaliers to 4-of-22.

    The UMBC starting lineup included K.J. Maura, who at 5-foot-8, was one of the smallest players in the tournament. His energy and speed helped four of UMBC’s starters score in double digits, including Jairus Lyles, the game’s leading scorer with 28.

    Players from the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights celebrate their win over the Purdue Boilermakers.

    Jay LaPrete // Getty Images

    #1. Fairleigh Dickinson beats Purdue (2023)

    – Seeding difference: 15
    – SRS difference: 27.20
    – Final score: 63-58

    FDU wasn’t even supposed to be at the Big Dance, let alone become the Cinderella story. The Knights lost the Northeast Conference tournament championship game to Merrimack, but the Warriors, still transitioning from Division II, could not go because of NCAA rules. That sent Fairleigh Dickinson to the First Four, where a victory gave them entry into the full tournament.

    This matchup wasn’t just David and Goliath on paper—the Knights had the shortest team in Division I, and Purdue’s star was 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey. While FDU was ahead by 1 point at halftime, the Boilermakers established a 47-41 lead with 11:41 to go.

    FDU outscored Purdue 22-11 the rest of the way, though the Knights’ victory wasn’t guaranteed until Demetre Roberts made two free throws with seven seconds to play. The stats show how poorly the Boilermakers dealt with the pressure, as they shot only 35.8% from the field and had 16 turnovers, twice as many as Fairleigh Dickinson.

    The Knights played #9 seed Florida Atlantic close in the second round but faded down the stretch, losing 78-70 to the eventual national semifinalists.

    Story editing by Mike Taylor. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire. Photo selection by Clarese Moller.

    This story originally appeared on ATS.io and was produced and
    distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

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  • James Biden’s Testimony to US House Panel Conflicts With Other Witnesses — Reports


    Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden and his business associate Tony Bobulinski provided conflicting testimony, according to aides.

    WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – Testimony provided to the US House Oversight Committee by President Joe Biden’s brother, James Biden, is inconsistent with the testimony of other witnesses, Fox News reported, citing a House oversight panel aide.

    On Friday, a transcript of James Biden’s testimony to lawmakers was released, which was a part of an impeachment inquiry led by the House Oversight and Judiciary committees. The inquiry is rooted in allegations of foreign influence peddling and bribery by the Biden family.

    James Biden’s testimony conflicts with testimony provided to lawmakers by Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, and his business associate, Tony Bobulinski, the aide reportedly said.

    Hunter Biden and Bobulinski testified that Joe Biden met with the pair, as well as James Biden, at a California hotel, the report said. However, James Biden testified that such a meeting never occurred, the report said.

    On Wednesday, House lawmakers held a closed-door deposition with Hunter Biden, for which they also released a transcript. Hunter Biden will appear for a public hearing in the future, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said.

    • Save 40% on DNA Force Plus NOW! Try it today and see why so many listeners have made it an essential part of their daily routine!

    Hunter Biden denies that his father either profited from or engaged in his business activities.

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