If that is its remaining NCAA males’s basketball event, the Pac-12 goes out with a bang.
In its remaining 12 months earlier than dropping 10 of its 12 members, the “Convention of Champions” had solely 4 groups attain the sector. However these squads are making the convention proud one final time, with each Pac-12 group advancing to the second spherical. In getting there, the quartet has compiled a 5-0 document.
Colorado received get together going with its win over Boise State within the First 4, and on Thursday, Arizona dismantled Lengthy Seashore State, Oregon convincingly upset South Carolina and Washington State got here again to beat Drake. On Friday, the Buffaloes had been again in motion and gained of essentially the most exhilarating video games of the event thus far, outlasting Florida 102-100 to cap off the proper first spherical for the Pac-12.
The Pac-12 has had a number of Last 4 groups this century, but it surely’s hasn’t been on the high of the mountain in a long time, with its final nationwide championship coming by way of Arizona in in 1997. It nonetheless has a methods to go to win one this 12 months, but it surely’s good to take a second and have a good time the convention that claims 16 nationwide championships within the sport.
It has been an ideal begin to the event for the Pac-12, however different conferences cannot say the identical, together with one Energy Six that retains dropping to double-digit seeds.
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Listed below are the winners and losers from day two of the NCAA males’s event first spherical.
WINNERS
James Madison
The Dukes beat Michigan State on opening night time and had been the final group within the nation to lose a recreation after a 14-0 begin. Even with a 30-win season, there have been nonetheless doubts James Madison would get into the NCAA Event if it did not win the Solar Belt Convention title.
Does James Madison need to show anything, now?
There was no doubting the Dukes on Friday night time. They led Wisconsin wire-to-wire in a 72-61 win. The offense was good, however the protection confirmed why it is a stable unit in forcing Wisconsin into quite a few errors.
James Madison proved all season it was a event group no matter if it earned a convention event title. There ought to be zero doubt about its means now after that victory.
Yale
One other 12 months of an Ivy League group stunning a group within the first spherical.
Give Yale credit score for not falling aside when Auburn stretched its lead within the second half, and the Bulldogs capitalizing on a number of Auburn errors in its 78-76 victory over the SEC event champions. The Ivy League is now turning into a convention identified for offering shocks within the event after No. 15 seed Princeton surprised No. 2 Arizona final 12 months. It could be time to provide the league some extra respect if it continues to beat these energy faculties.
Northwestern
When Northwestern misplaced Ty Berry to a torn meniscus in February, there have been questions if the Wildcats would be capable to change one in every of its high producers for the remainder of the season. However Northwestern did not flinch, and dealing with an skilled Florida Atlantic group, the Wildcats beat the Owls to advance within the second spherical.
Northwestern received an enormous efficiency from Princeton switch Ryan Langborg, who had a game-high 27 factors, 12 of which got here in time beyond regulation as he outscored Florida Atlantic within the additional interval.
Chris Collins deserves credit score for not faltering when his group has been harm by accidents this season, and after Northwestern had no event expertise not that way back, the Wildcats have now gained a recreation every of its three appearances. It’s going to be a tricky job to go in opposition to defending champion Connecticut within the second spherical, however give Northwestern its flowers for what it is achieved.
Clemson
There shall be a No. 6 seed within the second spherical after Clemson dominated New Mexico from begin to end and beat the Lobos 77-56.
Clemson was a well-liked choose to be upset within the first spherical, but it surely went on a prolonged 19-2 run within the first half and coasted the remainder of the best way. Clemson had flown principally underneath the radar after it completed the ACC common season at 10-10, and New Mexico earned its method into the sector by successful the Mountain West event title, so the simple win was definitely a shock.
The Tigers needed to get pleasure from Friday’s efficiency after the three different No. 6 seeds all fell on Thursday. Had Clemson misplaced, it might’ve been the primary time since 1989 all No. 11 seeds gained within the first spherical, however as an alternative, the Tigers are transferring onto the second spherical for the primary time since 2018.
Grand Canyon
What Bryce Drew has been constructing in Phoenix is lastly reaping rewards along with his program getting its first Division I event win after it defeated Saint Mary’s.
For the reason that Valparaiso hero of 1998 took the job at Grand Canyon in 2020, the Antelopes have been nothing however a hit and constantly on the high of the WAC. In his first season, he took the group to its first event look at school historical past. After a 23-8 season in 2021-22, Grand Canyon returned to the event final season earlier than lastly breaking by in March Insanity this 12 months.
In 4 seasons underneath Drew, Grand Canyon is 94-31. Spectacular for a group that moved as much as Division I in 2013.
LOSERS
Auburn’s upset loss continues SEC woes
The SEC cannot cease dropping to double-digit seeds.
Auburn’s collapsedagainst Yale was the most recent embarrassing defeat for a convention that despatched eight groups to the large dance. Within the first spherical, SEC groups are 3-5 and have misplaced to:
- No. 9 seed Michigan State.
- No. 11 seed Oregon.
- No. 14 seed Oakland.
- No. 10 seed Colorado.
- No. 13 seed Yale.
It simply means extra?
Greg Sankey must be punching the air at his convention falling aside within the first spherical, and it is a fair greater insult when only a few days in the past, he recommended mid-major auto bids be taken out of the event in favor of extra energy convention groups. Perhaps Sankey now will push more durable for that to occur, that method his groups can cease dropping humiliating video games.
Mountain West
For as robust of a convention the Mountain West is, it simply can not seem to discover a lot success within the event.
The convention had San Diego State attain the nationwide championship recreation final season, but it surely additionally had its three different event groups passed by the top of the primary spherical. This season it is extra of the identical; it received six groups in, however 4 − Boise State, Nevada, Colorado State and New Mexico − had been eradicated within the first spherical, with San Diego State once more the one one of many bunch to advance to the second spherical.
It is one other robust blow for a convention that was clearly one of the best league on the West Coast, with so many groups excessive within the NET rankings and worthy of being within the bracket. However the convention simply is not robust in opposition to others within the discipline, failing to point out its power on the most important stage. Utah State was capable of salvage the disappointing event for the Mountain West with a win over TCU, but it surely will not change the damaging narrative.
Florida Atlantic
No magic will occur for Florida Atlantic on this 12 months’s event, with the Owls going from showing within the 2023 Last 4 to being bounced within the first spherical of this 12 months’s event. Florida Atlantic shot itself within the foot a number of instances on Friday, whether or not it was turning the ball over a whopping 21 instances, not realizing how a lot time was left in regulation or getting outscored 19-7 in time beyond regulation.
The loss caps off what was principally a disappointing season for a Florida Atlantic group coming off its finest season at school historical past. With a majority of final season’s group again, the Owls had expectations to have one other excellent season, and whereas the document was good, it had two Quad 4 losses and didn’t dominate the American Athletic Convention. Within the convention event, it misplaced to a foul Temple group after which there was Friday’s loss.
Many of the skilled gamers shall be leaving the group within the upcoming offseason, and head coach Dusty Might might settle for a extra high-profile job. Protected to say one of the best interval in Florida Atlantic basketball historical past is over.
Nebraska
Nebraska should wait to have a good time an NCAA Event victory for the primary time.
The loss to Texas A&M marked a tricky finish to what has been a stunning season for Fred Hoiberg’s membership. The group has principally underachieved since he took over in 2019, and it was picked to complete twelfth within the Massive Ten preseason ballot. However the Cornhuskers had an ideal 13-3 begin that included a win over Purdue. It additionally noticed the emergence of one of the likeable gamers within the nation in Japan-native Keisei Tominaga. Nebraska deserved an NCAA Event spot and the prospect to win its first March Insanity recreation.
As a substitute, Nebraska fell to 0-8 in NCAA Event play and stays the one Energy Six group to not have a March Insanity win.
Hoiberg has the momentum for the Cornhuskers to make their first consecutive event appearances since 1993-94, however this group was meant to be a March darling. It simply did not work out.
Wisconsin
To be truthful, Wisconsin received the worst matchup a No. 5 seed might probably get with a harmful James Madison group. Nevertheless it’s how the Badgers misplaced that makes it painful.
Wisconsin was twenty fourth within the nation when it got here to taking good care of the ball, averaging simply 9 turnovers a recreation. However on Friday, it checked out instances just like the Badgers had been attempting to provide James Madison the ball. They turned the ball over seven instances within the first six minutes and completed the sport with 17 turnovers, which changed into 26 James Madison factors, a significant component within the Dukes’ wire-to-wire 72-61 win.
The Badgers had been most likely seeded too excessive given the horrid February they’d, however they improved their inventory with a Massive Ten event run that included a win over Purdue. However the Badgers had no momentum in opposition to James Madison, and it is a disappointing finish to what was an ideal begin to the season.
Saint Mary’s
What was one in every of Randy Bennett’s finest seasons at Saint Mary’s changed into one other March disappointment after a primary spherical upset loss by the hands of Grand Canyon.
The Gaels had been capable of beat rival Gonzaga twice, with a kind of wins clinching the West Coast Convention event title for the primary time since 2019. However prefer it has in most NCAA Tournaments, Saint Mary’s did not do a lot. In its final seven March Insanity appearances, Saint Mary’s has did not make it previous the primary weekend, with its final Candy 16 look coming in 2010. Three straight seasons as a No. 5 seed have resulted in a 2-3 event document.
It is change into a tragic development for a group that is likely one of the most profitable in its convention, and whereas Saint Mary’s should not see its season as a disappointment, it ought to really feel the necessity to change its March fortune.