It was not really the amount of insanity we have grown accustomed to experiencing, but it’s obvious that the 1st weekend of the NCAA Match sent at the time once more. From one more Kentucky upset, to some motion-packed thrillers, faculty basketball was at the center of the sports activities entire world as soon as yet again and reminding us all why it is so numerous men and women’s beloved sporting function.
As we catch our breath and prepare to slash the discipline to four, read through up on the 16 teams remaining in get of best opportunity to minimize down the nets in Phoenix!
1. UConn (28-3)
The Huskies became the first defending champion to arrive at the second weekend because Duke in 2016 and did so in dominant vogue. Stetson hardly ever had a chance and it didn’t just take long for Northwestern to have the exact same helpless sensation on Sunday. This team is steamrolling everyone its way, with an early April Arizona date in it’s sights..
2. Purdue (31-4)
The scars from the final two several years are setting up to recover with the Boilermakers taking part in their very best basketball as they dance into the Sweet 16. The 106-67 win over Utah Condition on Sunday was quickly the most impressive general performance by a workforce as a result considerably and should offer hope that the best redemption could be reached in Phoenix this April.
3. North Carolina (29-7)
The Tar Heels had been dealt a brutal attract in the second round but their dominance more than Michigan Point out in the NCAA Match ongoing with a next fifty percent surge led by RJ Davis. Facing and surviving a obstacle like this will only assistance UNC down the stretch as its match continues Thursday evening.
4. Houston (32-4)
Houston produced it back to the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight calendar year but it did not occur with out some tension immediately after Texas A&M rallied from 12 down in the remaining two minutes to mail it to OT. With four starters forced to the bench with 5 fouls, the Cougars somehow survived and state-of-the-art, most likely needing the added couple times to get their thoughts in examine right after the activity of the 12 months went their way.
5. Illinois (27-8)
With two offensive explosions in opposition to Morehead Condition and Duquesne this week, Illinois jumped to the most efficient offense in higher education basketball per KenPom. The 126.7 score is the fourth highest in the KenPom era, with the other three all generating it to the nationwide championship. Will the Combating Illini be subsequent?
6. Tennessee (26-8)
Rick Barnes picked up a gain more than his old school to achieve the next weekend once once more but it is this stage that he truly demands to acquire on to reverse the narrative close to his March struggles.
The good news is that it is up to the players and he has some of the very best in the place with Dalton Knecht hitting his stride. He’ll be pivotal towards Creighton in just one of the most intriguing matchups of the Sweet 16.
7. Arizona (27-8)
Purdue wasn’t the only workforce to avenge an uncomfortable upset from very last year’s tournament. Arizona finished robust towards Prolonged Seashore Condition and controlled the observe-up recreation in opposition to Dayton from get started to finish to get to Tommy Lloyd’s second Sweet 16 in a few a long time. Caleb Like seems to be to have some of that 2022 magic as well…look out.
8. Iowa Condition (29-7)
It could possibly not be the most well known decision but the video game I’m looking forward to the most has to be between Iowa Point out and Illinois. In this total contrast of kinds, the Cyclones will have the edge simply because of an outstanding defense, which seems to trump offense in March, but stopping Terrence Shannon will be a just about unattainable task. I like the Illini, but T.J. Otzelberger’s team is a two-seed for a explanation. Don’t underestimate them.
9. Marquette (27-9)
Marquette’s get more than Colorado Sunday afternoon was one of the games of the weekend as the Golden Eagles tapped into their seldom utilized depth to get earlier the Buffaloes. With Kentucky out of the event, Shaka Clever will have a fascinating matchup with NC Condition to get back to the Elite Eight for the initially time considering the fact that leaving VCU.
10. Creighton (25-9)
The only cause Marquette vs. Colorado wasn’t the recreation of the weekend was since Creighton and Oregon took that honor with a thrilling double-extra time contest to cap off an exciting Saturday. The Blue Jays went on a 15- operate to start the closing time period at the rear of timely triples and fantastic foul-taking pictures – two elements that will be large in a heavyweight clash with Tennessee this 7 days.
11. Duke (26-8)
You can not request for a a lot more stress-free 1st weekend as a 4-seed than what Duke did by cruising to wins in excess of Vermont and James Madison to get to Jon Scheyer’s to start with Sweet 16. Both of those performances ended up remarkable in their personal right and will have self esteem soaring in advance of the most essential recreation so considerably in the two-yr Scheyer era.
12. Alabama (22-9)
That was a person fascinating recreation concerning Alabama and Grand Canyon but the Tide prevailed to set up an thrilling date with UNC on Thursday night. Mark Sears seems unstoppable proper now and could be the upcoming to place on a Carsen Edwards amount functionality to acquire his workforce on a deep operate this weekend.
13. San Diego Condition (26-10)
The Aztecs are back again to producing noise in the event and will have the opportunity to redeem last year’s championship loss to UConn in an epic second weekend matchup. If they can pull off that upset, who’s to say it won’t be a comprehensive redemption ending in a countrywide title of their very own?
14. Gonzaga (24-7)
9. Straight. Sweet. 16s. Which is what Mark Several has been capable to pull off in Spokane and it’s one particular of the extra unbelievable accomplishments in the modern day period. I doubt this is the group to conclude the championship drought but crazier things have occurred and March is owing for a small madness.
15. Clemson (23-11)
The ACC is residing it up this calendar year and the shock operates from Clemson and our up coming workforce are big good reasons why. The Tigers have an knowledgeable core that managed to keep off Baylor irrespective of a extended discipline goal drought to end the recreation and an inspired comeback by the Bears. The magic is possible to run out in a location crammed with a few of the most proficient teams left in the area.
16. NC Point out (24-14)
The magical operate by DJ Burns and the Wolfpack continued this week with an impressive upset around Texas Tech and an extra time win that removed March darling Jack Gohlke and the Oakland Golden Grizzlies. NC Point out is the only double-digit seed continue to alive, and the only seed above a 6, so regardless of a scintillating extend, it even now sits at the bottom of our rankings heading into week amount two.
Gamers of the 7 days:
Jack Gohlke, Oakland Golden Grizzlies
Who else but Jack “we are not a Cinderella” Gohlke? The latest March Madness star was born in advance of our eyes as Kentucky lovers ended up returned to the nightmare of 2022 with another legendary upset at the hands of a “rizzy” sharpshooter. Soon after creating 10 ridiculous 3-pointers on three whole dribbles, the D-2 transfer is our apparent preference for participant of the 7 days, and etched in our reminiscences endlessly for his remarkable hard work in excess of each match game titles.
Jermaine Couisnard, Oregon Ducks
We could go with N’Faly Dante or Cousinard listed here just after the two place on some preposterous shows to get Oregon on the cusp of a Sweet 16 visual appearance late Saturday night. Creighton just experienced much too considerably juice in the next overtime but Cousinard will recall his 40-stage effectiveness in opposition to South Carolina and this 32-position match in opposition to the Blue Jays for the relaxation of his life.
Mark Sears, Alabama Crimson Tide
We talked a little bit about Sears previously but it is worthy of expounding on right here. The Alabama offense is an unstoppable pressure with the Ohio transfer orchestrating it all. If he keeps actively playing like he is now, North Carolina is in really serious difficulty due to the fact the Tide could fall 120 with this stage of play from their position guard.
Jared McCain, Duke Blue Devils
Kyle Filipowski is a high-quality participant but I’m not certain how he’s a second-staff All-American when he isn’t even the most effective player on his group. That honor belongs to McCain who started out 6-6 from beyond the arc in the first fifty percent from JMU and dropped 30 factors in just his third profession postseason match.
Jaedon LeDee, San Diego State Aztecs
There hasn’t been a ton of buzz for Ledee this time regardless of a 21-position typical for the defending nationwide runner-up but that really should alter in a large way this 7 days. Ledee erupted for 32 points to stave off UAB and was almost best from the field to end Yale’s Cinderella operate in the 2nd round. If the Aztecs are likely to knock off UConn, it starts off and ends with another significant overall performance from their celebrity.
Play of the Week
It may well not have resulted in the upset it could’ve been but that finish to Houston-Texas A&M is just what tends to make March so distinctive. If you believed the match was over and went to mattress just after a extended weekend of hoops, look at out this unbelievable 3-pointer that sent the sport to extra time and concluded a 12-position comeback in the remaining two minutes.
Online video Credit history: @MarchMadnessMBB on Twitter
The submit NCAA Power 16 Rankings appeared to start with on NBADraft.net.