Numbers Game | The Madness rages on in March

An improbable Final Four run, a farewell to a sports icon, an upset on the baseball diamond and the nearing end of spring training have this week's Numbers Game working diligently to provide some top figures for everyone to digest.

So without any hesitation, here's another action-packed look at some digits worth chewing on:

1,000:1

Odds of Syracuse's men's basketball team winning the national championship in mid-January. The Orange were a shocking entry into the NCAA Division-I Men's Basketball Tournament, and plowed their way through four victories to become the first-ever No. 10 seed to advance to the Final Four. And in the last two rounds, Cuse fans witnessed improbable comebacks over Gonzaga and Virginia, who was the Midwest Region's top seed. The Cavaliers blew a 13-point lead in the final 8:34 as Syracuse punched its ticket to Houston and a date with North Carolina in an all-ACC Final Four battle. Oh, and the Syracuse women are also in the Final Four after knocking off Tennessee on Sunday in its Elite Eight game.

14

The number Johan Cruyff wore during his time on the soccer pitch for FC Barcelo

na. Cruyff, a Dutch national icon, passed away from lung cancer last week at the age of 68. He is widely considered a revolutionary force for both the Netherlands Men's National Team and Barca.

The "Cruyff turn," is seen in matches today, while the Dutch reached the 1974 World Cup final under Total Football's debut. The innovative philosophy, which requires continued high pressing, is something that Barcelona has continued into present day with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar and Co.

.493

Winning percentage over the last three opening months (including any March games) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have qualified for the playoffs in those three seasons as a wild card. The slow starts haven't added up to a division title for the Buccos, who are looking for their first division crown since 1992. That potential march begins Sunday at home against reigning NL Central champion St. Louis.

This year's April opponents tallied a combined winning percentage of .465 last season, with only the Cardinals (100-62) producing a winning record.

11

Venice Indians that Colton Zimring struck out in leading Lakewood Ranch's upset victory in last week's Sarasota Baseball Classic quarterfinals. The Mustangs turned back Venice, a defending state champion that had won 11 of its previous 12 games, through Zimring's four-hit gem. Lakewood Ranch fell in its final two Classic games, dropping the semifinal to Miami Westminster Christian and a consolation bracket contest to host Sarasota. The Mustangs are tied with the Sailors atop the Class 8A-District 8 standings with less than a month until the postseason begins.

47

Oklahoma's Buddy Hield is drilling nearly half his shots from 3-point range, while converting 70 percent of his field goal attempts from inside the arc. It's yielded a 29.2 points per game average in the Big Dance. The Sooners' Most Valuable Player and front-runner for the tournament's most outstanding player award, Hield has led Oklahoma into its first Final Four since 2002. Meanwhile, Oklahoma's opponent, Villanova, took down the Sooners' Big 12 brethren, Kansas, in the Elite Eight. North Carolina, which is in the other national semifinal against Syracuse, hasn't lost since Feb. 27.

Jason Dill, sports reporter, can be reached at 745-7017 or via email at jdill@bradenton.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jason__Dill and like his Facebook page at Jason Dill Bradenton Herald.

This story was originally published March 28, 2016 at 11:51 PM with the headline "Numbers Game | The Madness rages on in March ."