🏒 You couldn't ask for a better sports moment than Blackstone Valley hockey's four-overtime state championship last night. My colleague Christopher Gavin perfectly captures the bigger-than-sports story here.

It’s the best time of year for basketball fans with the NCAA Tournament beginning today for the men and tomorrow for the women (URI’s women’s team is dancing for the first time in 30 years, and plays Alabama on Saturday).

No one knows hoops better than Kevin McNamara, so I asked him to preview the tournament and give readers a guide if they’re competing in the Rhode Map Roundball Contest. You can join here.

McNamara also hosts the KevinMc Sports Hour every weeknight on WPRO. You can listen to all of his shows here, and you can read all of his coverage at KevinMcSports.com.

Q: I want to get to the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments, but I have to start with Rhode Island's men’s college basketball landscape. It was a down year for everyone. Is it possible that our Division I schools are going to struggle in the NIL era?

McNamara: So it's always disappointing not to have a team in the dance, but we've been on a hot streak around here. At least one Rhode Island team has been in the tournament in three of the last four seasons (2022-2025) and in the previous 12 tourneys, Providence (7), URI (2) and Bryant (2) have combined for 11 appearances. Now the Name-Image-Likeness/Revenue Share rules changes in the last three years have completely changed the dynamic. Providence appears poised to spend aggressively and be competitive in this new landscape, as is most of the Big East. URI will have to increase its spending to compete at the top of the Atlantic 10.

Q: URI women’s basketball plays Alabama on Saturday. Do the Rams have any chance at pulling a couple upsets and getting to the Sweet 16?

McNamara: I can't say I know much about Alabama women's hoops, but the Tide does play in the best conference in the country and are battle-tested. Alabama finished 7-9 in the Southeastern Conference and is led by a small, speedy guard in Jessica Timmons (16.4 ppg). Rhody has an elite defense (allowing just 53 ppg) that has to keep the Tide in check. 'Bama is favored by 8.5 points, if you care to know.

Q: If you’re filling out your men’s bracket before today’s games, give us a few first round upsets that could take place.

McNamara: So last year we saw a limited amount of first round upsets and I do not see a ton coming our way this time around. By seed, watch out for High Point (12), Akron (12), South Florida (11), Texas (11) , VCU (11) and Santa Clara (10). Potential Providence coach Bryan Hodgson coaches South Florida and the Bulls can not only beat Louisville but can give Michigan State a run for its money in round two.

Q: Who do you have in the Final Four and winning the national championship?

McNamara: Last year the four No. 1 seeds made the Final Four for only the second time. But seven of the eight ones and twos advanced to the Elite Eight! The same won't happen this March but favor the highest seeds for sure. I'll take Michigan State, Houston, Arizona, and Iowa State and go with the Arizona Wildcats to cut down the nets in Indy!