Boilermakings Announces a Leader in The Tournament Challenge

After a hot start in the Billion Bracket Challenge, I crashed out big-time on the weekend, losing Creighton, Syracuse, and North Carolina from my Elite 8. The Hammer & Rails Challenge is going strong, however. The top performer is "Is it football season yet" with 520 points after the opening weekend. Second place "Boiler Fan 4!" is 10 points back, but can still score more points with 7 of the Elite 8 left.

Later tonight the women's team is back in action and I can throw up an Open Thread for it. In the meantime, here are some links:

Quiroga Exits Shy of All-America Status - PURDUESPORTS.COM - Purdue Official Athletic Site
Purdue's Cashé Quiroga came up one match short of earning his second All-America honor as he was dealt a 5-3 setback by the No. 12 seed Joe Roth of Central Michigan in the fourth round of the 133-pound wrestlebacks Friday at the NCAA Wrestling National Championships in Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Noah Vonleh Will Declare for the NBA Draft - The Crimson Quarry
The 6'10" forward will be the first Hoosier to declare for the NBA Draft after a single season in Bloomington since Eric Gordon in 2008.

IT'S NOT PLAGIARISM IF YOU LINK TO IT: IOWA MEN'S HOOPS SEASON COMES TO A CLOSE - Black Heart Gold Pants
Keep Coach McCaffery and family in your thoughts and prayers.

2014 CBI Quarterfinal - Penn State at Siena Preview: Nittany Lions Looking to Break Even - Black Shoe Diaries
The Nittany Lions face a unique postseason road test in Albany, in which the freshman guards should feature heavily. A Big Ten team talking CBI should never be, but we at least have a unique perspectiveon Siena, having played them more than Indiana this year.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2014: Schedule and bracket announced - Bucky's 5th Quarter
Wisconsin is back in the NCAA tournament and will take on former WCHA rival North Dakota in the first round.

2014 NCAA Tournament: Huskers Falter In San Antonio, End Magical 2013-14 Season - Corn Nation
You're a football school when your "Dream Season" is a first round NCAA loss.

Blue Jackets not on Ohio State coach Urban Meyer's radar - Land-Grant Holy Land
In case you didn't know, Urban Meyer is kind of a dick.

LaQuinton Ross leaning on declaring for 2014 NBA Draft - Land-Grant Holy Land
According to the venerable Adam Zagoria, LaQuinton Ross is expected to meet with Thad Matta Monday and then make his future plans known.

Dispatches From The Weekend: Notes on Michigan's First Two Tourney Wins - Maize n Brew
Michigan gets out of weekend one thanks to two slow paced games and one impressive offensive outing.

Jordan Ash Commits to Northwestern - BT Powerhouse
Three-star recruit Jordan Ash committed to Northwestern Wednesday. He was on Purdue's 2015 radar.

Illinois Lawmakers Do Not Understand College Conferences - The Champaign Room
We elect some pretty silly people.

2014 NIT Tournament: Gophers Overcome Slow Start to Beat Saint Mary's 55-63 - The Daily Gopher
It was a very rough start for the Gophers in their second round NIT match-up with Saint Mary's. The Gophers did not score a point for the first 6:49 and were stuck in a 14-0 hole. But...

2014 NCAA Tournament Results and Bracket: Michigan State 80, Harvard 73 - Weekend Won - The Only Colors
Harvard fought back from a double-digit deficit and made MSU work to get out of the first weekend and advance to the Sweet 16 for the third straight year.