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NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Preview: Wisconsin Goes For Back-to-Back Final Fours

By Nathan Giese

Mar 22, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Wisconsin Badgers players and cheerleaders and mascot Bucky celebrate after defeating the Oregon Ducks in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at CenturyLink Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Wisconsin Badgers players and cheerleaders and mascot Bucky celebrate after defeating the Oregon Ducks in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at CenturyLink Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 21, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Xavier Musketeers head coach Chris Mack talks with Musketeers forward James Farr (2) in the first half of a game against the Georgia State Panthers in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Xavier Musketeers head coach Chris Mack talks with Musketeers forward James Farr (2) in the first half of a game against the Georgia State Panthers in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /

Bigger Than Basketball:

Through the midst of all the social media talk, the corporate sponsorship, the endless commercials and the actual game, it’s easy to forget that there’s much more to the NCAA tournament and March Madness than basketball. These are people, human beings with emotions and feelings.

Here’s a quick sampling of some of those stories with the teams still involved:

* Wisconsin has had a great stretch of basketball success, but the Boston Globe’s Derrick Z. Jackson points out one aspect where the Badgers program need improvement: graduation rates.

* Amidst all the notoriety surrounding their past academic scandals, North Carolina wants to leave a legacy that’s far beyond winning and losing, says USA Today’s Dan Wolken.

* Arizona coach Sean Miller is getting a chance to confront his past to lead his Wildcats to a great future, from Bruce Pascoe of the Arizona Daily Star.

* From Western Michigan to Xavier to…Uber driver? Mashable’s Sam Laird shares of the story of Matt Stainbrook, who’s making sacrifices on the court for his teammates and off the court for his family.

Next: North Carolina-Wisconsin Preview