Simply 5 days in the past, the SEC was touting itself for getting eight groups into the NCAA Event, tied for probably the most with the Massive 12.
Nothing to brag about now. The opening day of the primary spherical was disastrous for the convention, with three groups upset earlier than half of the first-round video games had been accomplished.
It began with No. 9 seed Michigan State dominating No. 8 seed Mississippi State and No. 11 seed Oregon thrashing No. 6 South Carolina for a double-digit win. However it reached a brand new low when No. 3 seed Kentucky, one of the best 3-point capturing workforce within the nation, acquired beat by its personal recreation with No. 14 seed Oakland pulling off the largest upset of the day.
Guess these automated qualifiers SEC commissioner Greg Sankey needs to do away with are value holding.
Now simply 12 video games into the primary spherical, the SEC has 5 groups left. There may be nonetheless an opportunity for a workforce from the convention to make a Closing 4 run, together with Tennessee, Auburn and Alabama. However the losses imply extra.
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The SEC did not have one of the best day, however there have been loads of different squads who did and might sit up for taking part in into the weekend. Listed here are the winners and losers from the primary day of the NCAA males’s event first spherical.
WINNERS
Oakland
The No. 14 seed Oakland Golden Grizzlies used a memorable 3-point capturing efficiency by Jack Gohlke to stun No. 3 seed Kentucky, 80-76, within the largest upset of the event thus far.
Oakland acquired off to a foul begin after it missed its first seven pictures of the day. However it shook it off with an excellent 3-point efficiency, hitting 15 of 31 pictures from past the arc − together with 10 by Gohlke − to defeat one of the best 3-point capturing squad within the nation.
Gohlke turned the fifth participant in NCAA Event historical past to make 10 3-pointers in a single recreation, falling one wanting Jeff Fryer’s file 11 in 1990.
Duquesne
Keith Dambrot needs to retire, however his workforce simply gained’t let him.
The Duquesne head coach introduced previous to the NCAA Event he would finish his teaching profession when his workforce’s season was full, but it surely’ll final at the least another recreation after the Dukes pulled off the primary upset of March Insanity with a defeat of Brigham Younger. Whereas any upset within the event is spectacular, what Duquesne did was much more exceptional contemplating BYU led for less than 31 seconds. After the Dukes led by as many as 14 factors within the second half, the Cougars had been in a position to tie it with 90 seconds left. However Duquesne scored 5 factors within the ultimate minute and made clutch free throws to advance.
It’s been an unimaginable run for a workforce that was nowhere close to the event image coming into convention event week. The Dukes went on to win 4 video games in 5 days to safe the Atlantic 10 convention event title. The win in opposition to the Cougars on Thursday marked 9 consecutive victories for the workforce.
Oregon
There could also be no scarier opponent within the first spherical than Dana Altman, who prolonged his first-round event win streak to seven video games with No. 11 seed Oregon pulling off the second upset of the day by dealing with No. 6 seed South Carolina 87-73.
Oregon continued its red-hot play from the Pac-12 event title and its offense had no points going in opposition to a South Carolina protection that was stable for a majority of the season. In fact, it was South Carolina switch Jermaine Couisnard who ripped aside the Gamecocks with 40 factors, probably the most in Oregon’s event historical past. Combine that with N’Faly Dante controlling the paint with 23 factors and 6 rebounds, South Carolina didn’t have many solutions to cease the Geese.
Thursday was a primary instance of how harmful Oregon might be. It has the flexibility to regulate the sport close to the basket, however when outdoors pictures fall like they’ve been lately, it’s robust to compete with. An inexperienced South Carolina workforce realized the laborious manner. Creighton ought to take notes to not overlook the Geese, particularly since Altman has taken his workforce to the Candy 16 as a double-digit seed earlier than.
Michigan State
Many questioned if Michigan State was a event workforce, however in typical Tom Izzo vogue, his workforce put all doubt to relaxation with a convincing 69-51 win over Mississippi State within the first recreation of the primary spherical.
The Bulldogs had no reply in Michigan State’s wire-to-wire win. Mississippi State had among the finest 3-point capturing defenses, however Michigan State uncovered the protection early with 4 of its first seven 3-point makes an attempt getting into to take a 20-8 lead. Mississippi State wasn’t in a position to get inside 4 factors after that. Within the second half, the Spartans shut down freshman sensation Josh Hubbard, who had simply two factors within the ultimate 20 minutes.
The win marked the sixth consecutive time and 14th occasion prior to now 17 tournaments Izzo’s workforce has gained within the first spherical, and Thursday was a reminder that Izzo has constantly been in a position to erase any doubt surrounding his workforce.
Prime seeds Creighton, Arizona and Illinois fend off upsets
For a second within the first half, Creighton, Arizona and Illinois appeared like they’d be on main upset alert. The No. 3 seed Bluejays had been going back-and-forth with No. 14 seed Akron, No. 15 seed Lengthy Seashore State had a serious run to take a lead within the first half on the No. 2 seed Wildcats and No. 14 Morehead State acquired off to a quick begin in opposition to No. 3 Illinois.
However no matter was mentioned within the Creighton, Arizona and Illinois locker rooms at halftime appeared to erase any doubt, because the three groups comfortably gained with sturdy second-half performances leading to double-digit victories.
After main simply by 5 at halftime, Creighton made 9 of its first 13 pictures within the second half whereas it prevented Akron from maintaining its 3-point capturing. At one level, the Zips missed 13-straight 3-point makes an attempt in what was a 77-60 win for Creighton. In Salt Lake Metropolis, Arizona continued a late first-half run out of halftime that ended up being a 21-2 run to place the sport out of attain early within the second half. Among the best scoring groups within the nation, the Wildcats coasted for the final 16 minutes of the sport to beat Lengthy Seashore State 85-65. Illinois acquired a powerful second-half efficiency from huge man Dain Dainja to convincingly win 85-69.
There was an opportunity, however these prime seed groups flexed their muscle groups and erased any likelihood of falling sufferer to main underdogs.
Dayton
At Dayton, the Flyers reside by the three, die by the three, they usually’ll reside one other spherical after pulling off a second-half comeback to beat Nevada 63-60.
With lower than eight minutes left, Dayton was down by 17 factors and the Wolfpack seemed to be transferring on. However the Flyers, who’re among the finest 3-point capturing groups within the nation, started to knock down pictures, together with three consecutive 3-pointers to ignite a 20-2 run for a one-point lead with two minutes left. Nate Santos hit one other go-ahead shot with 15 seconds left and two free throws seconds later, and Nevada was unable to get one other basket.
There have been doubts about Dayton being a event workforce after its dud within the Atlantic 10 event, however the Flyers confirmed toughness of their win. Guard DaRon Holmes II, who had a game-high 18 factors, summed it up completely.
“That’s referred to as resiliency,” he mentioned.
Gonzaga
It is one other NCAA Event look for Gonzaga, however what’s much more spectacular is that it is one other spot with a win.
Gonzaga was a preferred decide to be upset within the first spherical in opposition to No. 12 seed McNeese State, however the Bulldogs did not let the 30-win Cowboys have an opportunity to do a lot, thumping Will Wade’s workforce 86-65. Gonzaga did not let what was a stable offense get going, holding McNeese State to 33.3% capturing and 5-for-22 from 3-point land, whereas the Bulldogs had a 51.7% capturing share.
With the win, Gonzaga has now gained a recreation in 15 straight NCAA Tournaments, one other spectacular streak for Mark Few. It is also the Bulldogs’ twenty fifth straight look in March Insanity. These aren’t the star-powered Bulldogs we’re used to seeing, however they’re the identical profitable ones.
LOSERS
Nevada
When Nevada was up 56-39 in opposition to Dayton with lower than eight minutes left, it appeared the Wolfpack could be advancing to a date with Arizona within the second spherical.
As an alternative, Nevada would rating solely 4 extra factors the remainder of the way in which in an epic collapse, falling to the Flyers.
The ultimate stretch of basketball was painful for the Wolf Pack. They made two of their ultimate 9 pictures and had 4 turnovers, together with one by Nick Davidson when Nevada was down by one with 17 seconds left. Wolf Pack coach Steve Alford was unable to regulate to Dayton beginning to hit pictures from 3-point land, and the performs he drew up on the finish of the sport had been ineffective. Nevada had a fantastic season in a tricky Mountain West, but it surely’s one other one-and-done exit within the event underneath Alford, who continues to be looking for his first March Insanity win on the faculty.
BYU
A powerful first season within the Massive 12 went to waste with BYU’s first-round exit.
The sloppy begin to the sport with eight straight missed pictures was a troubling signal for the Cougars, as they continually let the Dukes go on scoring runs. BYU finally confirmed the way it had been stable all season, led by Jaxson Robinson coming off the bench and making huge buckets, because it was a tied recreation within the ultimate two minutes. However BYU didn’t cease Duquesne from attending to the free-throw line, and its clutch capturing went away. The Cougars had been in a position to make it attention-grabbing within the ultimate seconds, however there was no likelihood of sending it to extra time and even successful.
BYU was a shock this season, anticipated to wrestle within the loaded Massive 12. As an alternative, the Cougars had a prime six end, ranked twelfth within the NET rating with six Quad 1 wins and had a practical shot of creating a event run. As an alternative, BYU misplaced its fourth event recreation in a row and a second consecutive as a No. 6 seed, persevering with a irritating development for the Cougars.
South Carolina
Picked to complete final within the SEC within the preseason, the 2023-24 marketing campaign was an excellent season for South Carolina contemplating an NCAA Event spot didn’t appear sensible. The Gamecocks exceeded expectations, but it surely ended on a bitter notice.
The Gamecocks couldn’t cease Oregon’s offense Thursday, a tricky day for a protection that was the explanation behind the 26-win season. Thursday was the fourth time this season that they had given up greater than 80 factors. Even with South Carolina’s 11 made 3-pointers, it merely couldn’t sustain.
It ought to be seen as a fantastic second season for Lamont Paris, and if he’s in a position to hold some items subsequent season, the Gamecocks ought to nonetheless be a event contender. However with the senior management this yr’s workforce had, it is a robust notice to finish on. The sport in opposition to Oregon confirmed how a lot event expertise issues this time of yr, and Paris can solely hope his workforce can study from this sooner or later.