No signs of iconic ‘March Madness’

Looking around the basketball facilities hosting women’s NCAA Tournament games there are no signs of March Madness.

At least not the iconic trademark “March Madness” that the NCAA uses to promote games this month.

It’s not on the courts, which say “NCAA Women’s Basketball” or feature the names and logos of the host teams.

“I didn’t realize that was an NCAA thing, but I certainly think that’s something that needs to be discussed and changed,” UConn’s acting head coach Chris Dailey said Monday when asked about March Madness.

“I think it looks a little embarrassing on the court when you see ‘Women’s Basketball’ and nothing connected to March Madness. There are women playing, so clearly it’s women’s basketball. I think everyone can get that. So, I think that certainly it’s something that needs to be discussed.”

When asked about the absent trademark, the NCAA said in statement it will continue listening to the expectations of members and women’s basketball leadership while considering relations with “valued broadcast partners.”

“We are committed to working with all constituents to determine the best way forward for women’s basketball including the use of March Madness logos if desired,” the NCAA added in its statement.

It’s another in a list of differences between the tournaments and became a topic of discussion after the Wall Street Journal reported Monday the NCAA’s trademark registrations for the phrase “March Madness” allow the organization to use it for both the men’s and women’s tourneys.

But NCAA doesn’t use them for both, at least not in same way. The attention being given the growing list of differences has caught the attention of administrators outside NCAA headquarters.

“There is a general concern among commissioners we need to do better by women’s basketball,” said Rich Ensor, commissioner of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and chair of the college commissioners association, which makes recommendations to the NCAA on various topics. “We’ll be discussing it further with the NCAA leadership team in the very near future.”

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said everyone must keep speaking up about the disparities and that the NCAA needs to investigate itself regarding the differences.

“Somebody needs to be held responsible, I don’t know who,” Staley said. “But the investigative work needs to be done to see where things have fallen short.”

’Bama back in style: Jordan Lewis had a career-high 32 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists to help No. 7 seed Alabama beat No. 10 seed North Carolina 80-71 in San Antonio.

It was a triumphant return to the NCAAs for the Crimson Tide (17-9), who were playing their first game in the tournament since 1999.

The Tide made eight straight trips to the NCAAs from 1992-99 that included a run to the Final Four in 1994.

Belmont earns 1st win: Belmont freshman Destinee Wells scored 25 points and had seven assists in a turnover-free game as the younger and smaller 12th-seeded Bruins held on for their first tournament victory in six chances, pulling off a 64-59 upset over No. 5 seed Gonzaga in San Marcos, Texas. The Bruins (21-5) sealed the game with 19 seconds left when Wells, on a drive with the shot clock winding down, passed inside to Madison Bartley. The fellow freshman had to rip the ball away from the defender, but made the layup while being fouled and added the free throw for a five-point lead.