East Regional Favorites Roll into Sweet 16

While the rest of the NCAA Tournament descended into varied states of chaos, the East was a picture of order and stability, and fans with East Regional tickets can look forward to seeing each of the top four seeds this weekend in the nation’s capital.  Indiana, Miami, Marquette and Syracuse took very different paths to reach the Sweet 16, but they all managed to navigate the madness that is the first weekend of the Big Dance. Indiana had few problems taking care of James Madison in their first game, but needed a strong second half to pull away from Temple. Miami crushed University of the Pacific before outlasting Illinois. No team has lived on the edge in the NCAA Tournament more than Marquette, who beat Davidson 59-58 in the first round before squeaking past Butler, 74-72. Meanwhile, Syracuse annihilated Montana 81-34, then coasted in the second half for a six-point victory over Cal.

Outdoor NHL Schedule Could Expand Past Winter Classic

Hockey fans hoping to secure Winter Classic tickets may eventually have more opportunities to experience outdoor NHL games. While the 2014 Winter Classic is still slated for January 1 between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, the league is discussing plans to expand its outdoor schedule in the coming years. Though no decision has been made, additional locations have already been floated around. Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts has been mentioned as another likely spot for a future outdoor game. Though the Boston Bruins have already hosted a Winter Classic Game, in 2010, the matchup at Fenway Park was very successful, and Boston continues to be one of the best hockey markets in the U.S. The question is, should the league host more than one outdoor hockey game every year?