NFL Free Agency Frenzy

UPDATE 3/20/2012 10:06 AM CT

Manning Picks Broncos

Free agent QB Peyton Manning has selected to sign with the Denver Broncos, joining a team which made it to the AFC Divisional Round last year with Tim Tebow at QB. Expect Tebow to be on the move now. The deal is five years, $96 million.

Bills Land Mario

Typical athlete. DE Mario Williams leaves Houston, where he had chance to help Texans compete in playoffs year after year, to sign with the Buffalo Bills for six years, $100 million.

Buccaneers Sign Jackson

Tampa Bay boosts its receiving core, signing two-time Pro Bowl WR Vincent Jackson to a five year, $55 million deal.

Bears Acquire Marshall

Chicago finally acquires a Pro-Bowl caliber WR for QB Jay Cutler, getting the three-time Pro Bowler from the Miami Dolphins for two third-round draft picks.

Panthers Add Tolbert

Carolina adds another good running to its stable, signing RB Mike Tolbert to a four year deal.

49ers Sign Moss

San Francisco signs seven-time Pro Bowl WR Randy Moss to a one-year contract.

First Four Tonight

Tonight, the tournament begins with two of the "First Four" games in Dayton, Ohio.

In the first game at 5:40 PM CT on truTV, #16 seed Western Kentucky (15-18), champions of the Sunbelt conference tournament, will play #16 SWAC champion Mississippi Valley State (21-12) for the right to advance in the South region to play #1 Kentucky on Thursday.

In the second game, two teams that, two mid-major at larges will go head to head with Iona and BYU battling as #14 seeds for the right to play #3 Marquette in the West region. Tip-off of the game will be about 8 PM CT on truTV.

Bracket Released

The NCAA tournament matchups are set (click under "favorites" to the right for printable version), and unlikely last year, I don't have that many issues with this year's bracket. The #1 seeds are Kentucky in the South Region, Syracuse in the East, North Carolina in the Midwest, and Michigan State in the West.

Only real shock was including Iona in the field over Drexel, which had a 19 game winning streak during the season, and won the Colonial Athletic Association's regular season title, before falling to VCU in Richmond in the CAA Tournament Finals. Their 248th strength of schedule didn't help them, though, and a 27-win team will have to be relegated to the NIT.

Washington also became the first ever team to win regular season title in "Power Six" conference and not make the tournament field, as the Huskies fell horribly to Oregon State in the Pac-12 tournament and was hurt by a Pac-12 which was ranked 9th in RPI this year.

Anyway, all debate aside, the tourney begins Tuesday in Dayton, Ohio with the First Four, and remember to stick here throughout the month as we cover the Madness!

Selection Sunday

Today is the big day. 27 teams have already punched their ticket to the Big Dance by winning their conference tournament (listed below). Only four conference championships remain (SEC, ACC, Atlantic-10, Big 10) today with potential #1 seeds on the line. For teams like Washington, Seton Hall, Drexel, and NC State, who are all on the bubble, today is going to be a day of waiting and hoping to get a chance in the NCAA Tournament.

Automatic Bids Secured

America East		Vermont
Atlantic Sun		Belmont
Big 12		Missouri
Big East		Louisville
Big Sky		Montana
Big South		UNC-Asheville
Big West		Long Beach State
Colonial		VCU
Conference USA		Memphis
Horizon		Detroit
Ivy League		Harvard
MAAC		Loyola
MAC		Akron
MEAC		Norfolk State
Missouri Valley		Creighton
Mountain West		New Mexico
Northeast		LIU Brooklyn
Ohio Valley		Murray State
Pac-10		Colorado
Patriot		Lehigh
Southern		Davidson
Southland		Lamar
Summit		South Dakota State
Sun Belt		Western Kentucky
SWAC		Mississippi Valley State

For all the matchups and to find out which teams get the 37 at-large bids and which do not, be sure to watch the NCAA Tournament Selection Show tonight at 6 PM ET (5 CT) on CBS, and then come back here for a printable bracket/analysis.

Conference Tourney Update

SEC Tournament

#1 Kentucky 74, #19 Florida 71

In an outstanding semifinal game, #19 Florida came up just against #1 Kentucky, as player of the year candidate Anthony Davis had 15 points and 12 rebounds for the top-seeded 'Cats, which still has not lost a conference game all season long. Guard Bradley Beal had 20 for the Gators, which came much closer to pulling off the upset than in their earlier season meetings with Kentucky. In the other semifinal, Vanderbilt eliminates Ole Miss (likely sending them NIT bound) 65-53.

ACC Tournament

#4 North Carolina 69, NC State 67

In another nailbiter, Kendall Marshall hits a leaner with 11 seconds to go to give the Tar Heels a semifinal win over the on-the-bubble Wolfpack, and advance to the ACC Tournament final. Meanwhile, NC State, which is among the Last Four In, according to ESPN's Joe Lunardi, will have to sweat it out tomorrow on Selection Sunday.

#17 Florida State 62, #6 Duke 59

The Blue Devils lose any hope of getting a #1 seed in tournament, falling to the Seminoles for the second time this season. Florida State was led by Michael Snaer, again, who had 16 points and 6 assists, as the Seminoles advance to play Carolina in the final tomorrow.

Big 12 Tournament

#5 Missouri 90, #11 Baylor 75

The Tigers win the Big 12 championship in their Big 12 finale, beating the Bears for the third time this year. Senior guard Kim English, who was named tournament MVP had 19 points in Missouri's second Big 12 championship in four seasons over Baylor. The win gives Mizzou are good chance of getting a #1 seed in the tournament when the seedings come out tomorrow.

Pac-12 Tournament

Colorado 53, Arizona 51

Snubbed out of last year's tournament field, this year's Buffalo team left no doubt, as they won the Pac-12 Championship in LA to earn an automatic bid. The loss leaves Arizona precariously on the bubble, along with fellow Pac-12 bubble teams, Cal and Washington.

Conference Tourney Upsets

Looking for #1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament, and conference tournament championships, both #2 Syracuse and #3 Kansas fell Friday in the semifinals of the Big East and Big 12 Tournaments, respectively.

First at Madison Square Garden, Cincinnati used 10 three-pointers and got 18 points, 5 assists, and 5 steals from Sean Kilpatrick, as the Bearcats withstood 28 points from Deion Waiters and upset top-seeded Syracuse in the Big East Tournament, 71-68, and advance to their first ever Big East tournament Final, where they will play Louisville tonight at 8 PM on ESPN.

Next, from the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Baylor's Perry Jones III was an absolute monster for the second straight night, helping #11 Baylor knock off #3 Kansas for the first time this season, 81-72. Full highlights of the game are below. Tonight, at 5 PM on ESPN, Baylor will face #5 Missouri, which will be looking to win the Big 12 Conference tournament in its final season before moving on to the SEC. Baylor, meanwhile, will try to become the first team from Texas in 16 years to win the Big 12 Tournament.

Buford Hits Game-Winner for Ohio State

Let the madness of March begin. Ohio State's last second win today forces a three-way tie for Big 10 Regular Season title, between the Buckeyes, Michigan State, and Michigan. It is Ohio State's third straight season finishing at the top of the Big 10 in the regular season.