USA TODAY Sports provides your March Madness therapy 
Syracuse forward C.J. Fair (5) shoots over Indiana forward Cody Zeller (40) during the first half of an East Regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament on Thursday. (Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP) Story Highlights - Indiana failed to reach the Elite Eight for a second consecutive season after losing to Syracuse
- LaQuinton Ross became a hero with a game-winner for Ohio State over Arizona
- Wichita State put an end to No. 13 seed La Salle's Cinderella run with a 72-58 dispatching
Welcome to another session of Bracket Briefing, our attempt to provide you with essential information on the Big Dance — highlighting the Florida Gulf Coasts of basketball world, and forecasting the Ali Farokhmanesh moments before they happen.
Soundtrack: Before you read any further, take a listen to this morning's jam of the day.
NCAA TOURNAMENT: Updated bracket with scores
At the water cooler: With 12 teams left in the field, two No. 1 teams — Gonzaga and Indiana — bowed out of the Big Dance. The top overall seed, Louisville, remains in the field along with fellow No. 1 seed Kansas. Both teams have been circled on brackets for obvious reasons. They're smart choices. No, they're not bold or daring picks by any stretch of the imagination, but who's betting against Louisville at this point? But if there's one thing Thursday's games reminded us, it's that the better team does not always come out on top. Case in point:
— The team with more talent (Arizona) doesn't always beat the team that's more battle-tested and defensively sound (Ohio State).
RELATED: Best moments from OSU's win
— Likewise, the team that has more talent (Miami) can be hampered by last-minute injuries and ice-cold shooting and lose to a less-talented team with a chip on its shoulder (Marquette) coming off two near-upset wins in the second and third rounds.
REWIND: Best performances of tourney
— The team that has two of the best players in the country (Indiana) can be shaken and play immensely below its capability when a predictable yet undecipherable 2-3 zone is thrown at them by a well-coached team peaking at the right time (Syracuse).
—The team that caught lightning in a bottle and beat undoubtedly better teams in the previous two rounds (La Salle) runs out of gas against a team that exploits all of its weaknesses (Wichita State) and makes its strengths (guard play) irrelevant.
Now, let's not take anything away from Thursday's winners (Marquette, Ohio State, Syracuse and Wichita State). They played better on this particular night. That's the beauty of the NCAAs — There's no seven-game series to allow a Big East or Big Ten team to win every year. There's no BCS system determining teams' fate. It's one game, and if you play like Georgetown or San Diego State, you lose to a No. 15 seed with a coach who has a model wife. Only in March.
BEST PHOTOS: NCAA TOURNAMENT ACTION THURSDAY 
Western Regional (Los Angeles): Wichita State coasted to a 72-58 win over La Salle. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![West Regional (Los Angeles): Wichita State had a 44-23 rebounding advantage on La Salle.]()
West Regional (Los Angeles): Wichita State had a 44-23 rebounding advantage on La Salle. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![West Regional (Los Angeles): The Shockers never trailed the Explorers throughout the entire game.]()
West Regional (Los Angeles): The Shockers never trailed the Explorers throughout the entire game. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![West Regional (Los Angeles): Wichita State advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time in more than 30 years.]()
West Regional (Los Angeles): Wichita State advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time in more than 30 years. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![West Regional (Los Angeles): Ramon Galloway had 11 points and 7 rebounds for La Salle in the loss.]()
West Regional (Los Angeles): Ramon Galloway had 11 points and 7 rebounds for La Salle in the loss. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![East Regional (Washington, D.C.): Syracuse mobbed Indiana on defense for a 61-50 win.]()
East Regional (Washington, D.C.): Syracuse mobbed Indiana on defense for a 61-50 win. Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![East Regional (Washington, D.C.): Syracuse had 11 blocks to Indiana's 16 made field goals.]()
East Regional (Washington, D.C.): Syracuse had 11 blocks to Indiana's 16 made field goals. Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![East Regional (Washington, D.C.): Syracuse guard Michael Carter-Williams had 24 points and six assists.]()
East Regional (Washington, D.C.): Syracuse guard Michael Carter-Williams had 24 points and six assists. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![East Regional (Washington, D.C.): Syracuse reached the Elite Eight for the second straight year.]()
East Regional (Washington, D.C.): Syracuse reached the Elite Eight for the second straight year. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![East Regional (Washington, D.C.): Indiana, which had the country's No. 2 scoring offense in the regular season, hit just 34 percent of its field goals.]()
East Regional (Washington, D.C.): Indiana, which had the country's No. 2 scoring offense in the regular season, hit just 34 percent of its field goals. Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![West Regional (Los Angeles): LaQuinton Ross hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds to give Ohio State a 73-70 win over Arizona.]()
West Regional (Los Angeles): LaQuinton Ross hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds to give Ohio State a 73-70 win over Arizona. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![West Regional (Los Angeles): Ohio State used a second-half surge to beat Arizona.]()
West Regional (Los Angeles): Ohio State used a second-half surge to beat Arizona. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![West Regional (Los Angeles): Nick Johnson and Arizona rallied late to tie the game at 70 in the final minute.]()
West Regional (Los Angeles): Nick Johnson and Arizona rallied late to tie the game at 70 in the final minute. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![West Regional (Los Angeles): Ohio State advances to the Elite Eight for the second straight year.]()
West Regional (Los Angeles): Ohio State advances to the Elite Eight for the second straight year. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![West Regional (Los Angeles): Arizona led by as many as 11 before Ohio State rallied back.]()
West Regional (Los Angeles): Arizona led by as many as 11 before Ohio State rallied back. Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![East Regional (Washington, D.C.): Marquette held Miami to just 16 points in the first half to score a 71-61 win and advance to the Elite Eight.]()
East Regional (Washington, D.C.): Marquette held Miami to just 16 points in the first half to score a 71-61 win and advance to the Elite Eight. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![East Regional (Washington, D.C.): Miami had just seven turnovers but shot 35.5% from the field.]()
East Regional (Washington, D.C.): Miami had just seven turnovers but shot 35.5% from the field. Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![East Regional (Washington, D.C.): Jamil Wilson came off the bench to lead the Golden Eagles with 16 points.]()
East Regional (Washington, D.C.): Jamil Wilson came off the bench to lead the Golden Eagles with 16 points. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![East Regional (Washington, D.C.): Kenny Kadji had 11 points and 3 rebounds in the loss for Miami.]()
East Regional (Washington, D.C.): Kenny Kadji had 11 points and 3 rebounds in the loss for Miami. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![East Regional (Washington, D.C.): After a stifling defensive effort in the first half, Marquette kept pace with the Hurricanes in the second half.]()
East Regional (Washington, D.C.): After a stifling defensive effort in the first half, Marquette kept pace with the Hurricanes in the second half. Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries: Replay 
Autoplay Show Thumbnails Show Captions Fullscreen Last Slide Next Slide Another No. 1 bites the dust: The Hoosiers failed to reach the Elite Eight for a second consecutive season after entering the season as the favorite to win the title and earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. The 61-50 final margin wasn't indicative of the degree to which Indiana struggled en route to season worsts in scoring and field goal percentage. It also tied season worsts for turnovers, opponents' steals and blocked shots. Read the game story here.
Star of the night: Before Ohio State's Thursday night clash with Arizona, LaQuinton Ross was a role player on the Buckeyes roster. Afterward, he was the hero. Or Kobe Bryant, according to his locker. The Buckeyes dressed in the Los Angeles Lakers' locker room Thursday night, and somehow it was sophomore sub Ross who drew the Black Mamba's locker.
Ross channeled his inner-Kobe Bean Bryant by drilling a clutch three-pointer with two seconds left to seal a 73-70 victory for OSU after Arizona's Mark Lyons had knotted the game at 70-all on the previous possession. Read the game story here.
OUTSIDE THE DANCE: Butler coach mum on UCLA job 
Marquette earned a trip to the Elite Eight by dispatching Miami. (Photo: Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports) Quote to note: "We're used to people not giving us credit, saying we were no good. If you were to look at our roster, no one would expect us to be a Elite Eight team. Our guys don't get into that much, but it's good to know if you step on to the court, if you don't give us respect, we're going to earn it. We work harder than, I feel, anybody in the country. We don't have the name of North Carolina, Syracuse or Georgetown, but we are still here, we show up every single day, and no matter how anybody feels about. ... Everybody doubting us is normal to us, and I feel like they should keep doing it, because obviously it's helping us, we don't want to be the — we want to keep being the hunters, we don't want to be the hunted. We want to go after people." — Marquette guard Vander Blue. Read the game story here.
California Love: Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall asked his players before a matchup with No. 13 La Salle if they were satisfied with the Sweet 16. "It was an overwhelming no," Marshall said. The Shockers are past shocking, having asserted themselves as a contender after ousting No. 1 Gonzaga last weekend and now putting an end to No. 13 seed La Salle's Cinderella run with a 72-58 dispatching. Read the game story here.
"I was willing to live with the situation I put myself in," said Hall after guiding Wichita State to a 72-58 victory over La Salle in the Sweet 16 at the Staples Center. "If anything happened, like if I possibly died or something on the court, I told her I would've died happy because I would have died doing something that I loved to do."
Not-so-super speech: The Indiana Hoosiers received a pep talk from coach Tom Crean's brother-in-law, Ravens coach John Harbaugh, before Thursday's game against Indiana. Whatever the Super Bowl-winning coach conveyed to the team, it seemed the message was lost, as Syracuse rolled over Indiana 61-50 to advance to the Elite Eight.
MUST-FLIP PHOTO GALLERY: NCAA tourney coaches vs. refs
Poor choice of words: NCAA men's basketball analyst Doug Gottlieb certainly made quite a first impression as he joined co-hosts Greg Gumbel, Kenny Smith, Greg Anthony and Charles Barkley in studio for the CBS pregame show Thursday night. Introduced by Gumbel, Gottlieb made an awkward diversity joke that left all four of his African-American co-hosts shaking their heads. "Cream rising to the crop. I don't know why you guys asked me, I'm just here to bring diversity to the set here. Give the kind of white man's perspective on things from the point guard position." Tweet that speaks volume: Carmelo finally beat Wade. Indiana just got taped!!!!! @dwyanewade @stevenovak20 You guys will be next!!!!!— Carmelo Anthony (@carmeloanthony) March 29, 2013
The rundown: Rehashing Thursday's madness.
— No. 4 Syracuse 61, No. 1 Indiana 50.
— No. 3 Marquette 71, No. 2 Miami 61.
— No. 2 Ohio State 73, No. 6 Arizona 70.
— No. 9 Wichita State 72 vs. No. 13 La Salle 58.
MARCH SADNESS: NCAA TOURNEY TEAMS LOSING 
La Salle Explorers guard Ramon Galloway (55) reacts after losing to Wichita State Shockers during the semifinals of the West regional of the 2013 NCAA tournament at the Staples Center. Wichita State beat La Salle 72-58. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Indiana Hoosiers forward Jeremy Hollowell (left) and guard Remy Abell (23) react on the bench in the second half against the Syracuse Orange during the semifinals of the East regional of the 2013 NCAA tournament at the Verizon Center. Syracuse defeated Indiana 61-50.]()
Indiana Hoosiers forward Jeremy Hollowell (left) and guard Remy Abell (23) react on the bench in the second half against the Syracuse Orange during the semifinals of the East regional of the 2013 NCAA tournament at the Verizon Center. Syracuse defeated Indiana 61-50. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![The Miami Hurricanes bench react during the second half of the semifinals of the East regional of the 2013 NCAA Tournament against the Marquette Golden Eagles at the Verizon Center.]()
The Miami Hurricanes bench react during the second half of the semifinals of the East regional of the 2013 NCAA Tournament against the Marquette Golden Eagles at the Verizon Center. Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports
Syracuse forward C.J. Fair (5) shoots over Indiana forward Cody Zeller (40) during the first half of an East Regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament on Thursday. (Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP) Welcome to another session of Bracket Briefing, our attempt to provide you with essential information on the Big Dance — highlighting the Florida Gulf Coasts of basketball world, and forecasting the Ali Farokhmanesh moments before they happen. Soundtrack: Before you read any further, take a listen to this morning's jam of the day. NCAA TOURNAMENT: Updated bracket with scores At the water cooler: With 12 teams left in the field, two No. 1 teams — Gonzaga and Indiana — bowed out of the Big Dance. The top overall seed, Louisville, remains in the field along with fellow No. 1 seed Kansas. Both teams have been circled on brackets for obvious reasons. They're smart choices. No, they're not bold or daring picks by any stretch of the imagination, but who's betting against Louisville at this point? But if there's one thing Thursday's games reminded us, it's that the better team does not always come out on top. Case in point: — The team with more talent (Arizona) doesn't always beat the team that's more battle-tested and defensively sound (Ohio State). RELATED: Best moments from OSU's win — Likewise, the team that has more talent (Miami) can be hampered by last-minute injuries and ice-cold shooting and lose to a less-talented team with a chip on its shoulder (Marquette) coming off two near-upset wins in the second and third rounds. REWIND: Best performances of tourney — The team that has two of the best players in the country (Indiana) can be shaken and play immensely below its capability when a predictable yet undecipherable 2-3 zone is thrown at them by a well-coached team peaking at the right time (Syracuse). —The team that caught lightning in a bottle and beat undoubtedly better teams in the previous two rounds (La Salle) runs out of gas against a team that exploits all of its weaknesses (Wichita State) and makes its strengths (guard play) irrelevant. Now, let's not take anything away from Thursday's winners (Marquette, Ohio State, Syracuse and Wichita State). They played better on this particular night. That's the beauty of the NCAAs — There's no seven-game series to allow a Big East or Big Ten team to win every year. There's no BCS system determining teams' fate. It's one game, and if you play like Georgetown or San Diego State, you lose to a No. 15 seed with a coach who has a model wife. Only in March. BEST PHOTOS: NCAA TOURNAMENT ACTION THURSDAY Another No. 1 bites the dust: The Hoosiers failed to reach the Elite Eight for a second consecutive season after entering the season as the favorite to win the title and earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. The 61-50 final margin wasn't indicative of the degree to which Indiana struggled en route to season worsts in scoring and field goal percentage. It also tied season worsts for turnovers, opponents' steals and blocked shots. Read the game story here. Star of the night: Before Ohio State's Thursday night clash with Arizona, LaQuinton Ross was a role player on the Buckeyes roster. Afterward, he was the hero. Or Kobe Bryant, according to his locker. The Buckeyes dressed in the Los Angeles Lakers' locker room Thursday night, and somehow it was sophomore sub Ross who drew the Black Mamba's locker. Ross channeled his inner-Kobe Bean Bryant by drilling a clutch three-pointer with two seconds left to seal a 73-70 victory for OSU after Arizona's Mark Lyons had knotted the game at 70-all on the previous possession. Read the game story here. OUTSIDE THE DANCE: Butler coach mum on UCLA job Marquette earned a trip to the Elite Eight by dispatching Miami. (Photo: Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports) Quote to note: "We're used to people not giving us credit, saying we were no good. If you were to look at our roster, no one would expect us to be a Elite Eight team. Our guys don't get into that much, but it's good to know if you step on to the court, if you don't give us respect, we're going to earn it. We work harder than, I feel, anybody in the country. We don't have the name of North Carolina, Syracuse or Georgetown, but we are still here, we show up every single day, and no matter how anybody feels about. ... Everybody doubting us is normal to us, and I feel like they should keep doing it, because obviously it's helping us, we don't want to be the — we want to keep being the hunters, we don't want to be the hunted. We want to go after people." — Marquette guard Vander Blue. Read the game story here. California Love: Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall asked his players before a matchup with No. 13 La Salle if they were satisfied with the Sweet 16. "It was an overwhelming no," Marshall said. The Shockers are past shocking, having asserted themselves as a contender after ousting No. 1 Gonzaga last weekend and now putting an end to No. 13 seed La Salle's Cinderella run with a 72-58 dispatching. Read the game story here. "I was willing to live with the situation I put myself in," said Hall after guiding Wichita State to a 72-58 victory over La Salle in the Sweet 16 at the Staples Center. "If anything happened, like if I possibly died or something on the court, I told her I would've died happy because I would have died doing something that I loved to do." Not-so-super speech: The Indiana Hoosiers received a pep talk from coach Tom Crean's brother-in-law, Ravens coach John Harbaugh, before Thursday's game against Indiana. Whatever the Super Bowl-winning coach conveyed to the team, it seemed the message was lost, as Syracuse rolled over Indiana 61-50 to advance to the Elite Eight. MUST-FLIP PHOTO GALLERY: NCAA tourney coaches vs. refs Poor choice of words: NCAA men's basketball analyst Doug Gottlieb certainly made quite a first impression as he joined co-hosts Greg Gumbel, Kenny Smith, Greg Anthony and Charles Barkley in studio for the CBS pregame show Thursday night. Introduced by Gumbel, Gottlieb made an awkward diversity joke that left all four of his African-American co-hosts shaking their heads. Tweet that speaks volume: Carmelo finally beat Wade. Indiana just got taped!!!!! @dwyanewade @stevenovak20 You guys will be next!!!!!— Carmelo Anthony (@carmeloanthony) March 29, 2013 The rundown: Rehashing Thursday's madness. — No. 4 Syracuse 61, No. 1 Indiana 50. — No. 3 Marquette 71, No. 2 Miami 61. — No. 2 Ohio State 73, No. 6 Arizona 70. — No. 9 Wichita State 72 vs. No. 13 La Salle 58. MARCH SADNESS: NCAA TOURNEY TEAMS LOSING Story Highlights
Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries:
"Cream rising to the crop. I don't know why you guys asked me, I'm just here to bring diversity to the set here. Give the kind of white man's perspective on things from the point guard position."
