May just Fairleigh Dickinson be the best Cinderella tale in NCAA event historical past?
USA TODAY Sports activities’ Paul Myerbeg breaks down why Fairleigh Dickinson has an opportunity to be the best Cinderella tale in NCAA event historical past.
USA TODAY
Thereâs no exchange for the primary weekend of the event: Upsets, Cinderellas youâve by no means heard of and 4 displays going without delay as a result of you’ll be able toât pass over the tip of any recreation.Â
And weâve nonetheless were given at some point of the chaos to move.Â
Saturday noticed various shockers, together with Rick Barnes walking into the Candy 16 and protecting champion Kansas making an early go out from the postseason. Youâve gotta really feel for Invoice Self, who had surgical procedure ultimate week and not made it to the sideline for his groupâs two NCAA Event video games.Â
In the meantime, Princeton â sure, Princeton, house of the Tigers â is within the Candy 16. Weâre as shocked as someone, but additionally inspired.Â
The most productive information of all is that that is best the primary weekend of the event. Weâve nonetheless were given two weeks left of the insanity.Â
Winners
Rick Barnes
Lengthy criticized for underachieving within the NCAA Event, the Tennessee head trainer, in his 8th season, is enjoying into the second one weekend after a 65-52 win over fifth-seeded Duke. That is the second one time Barnes has reached the Candy 16 with the Volunteers and the 8th time total; it would also be his maximum spectacular event run given level guard Zakai Zeiglerâs season-ending knee harm. Barnes is the second one trainer in program historical past to make a couple of Candy 16 journeys, becoming a member of Bruce Pearl.
San Diego State
The No. 5 Aztecs had a countrywide target market to themselves as the primary recreation Saturday afternoon and delivered an eye-opening efficiency in opposition to No. 13 Furman. SDSU led by way of 14 issues at halftime and by way of as many as 26 issues in the second one part in a 75-52 win to ship this system into the Candy 16 for the primary time since 2014 and 3rd time total. With No. 2 Arizona and No. 4 Virginia already jettisoned from the South Area, the Aztecs are a significant risk for the Ultimate 4.
Arkansas
The Hogs are within the Candy 16 for the 3rd consecutive yr after surprising No. 1 seed Kansas, 72-71, a win Arkansas trainer Eric Musselman celebrated by way of ripping off his blouse and leaping up at the scorerâs desk (we can not unsee it). Now theyâll purpose for his or her 3rd consecutive Elite 8 after they fit up with the winner of St. Maryâs-UConn subsequent weekend. The protecting champs for sure ignored Self, who persisted to recuperate from surgical procedure. However credit score Arkansas, which discovered a solution to win regardless of capturing simply 20% from lengthy distance within the recreation and having 3 gamers foul out.Â
Princeton
What a weekend for the Tigers.Â
First the boys, a No. 15 seed, disillusioned second-seeded Arizona 59-55 within the opening spherical. Then the ladies got here from at the back of to win an exhilarating 10-7 recreation over N.C. State by way of drilling a three with 4.7 seconds to play.Â
That win made it the primary time in Ivy League historical past {that a} malesâs and girlsâs group complicated to the second one spherical â how cool for the groups to come back from the similar faculty. To proceed the history-making weekend, the boys adopted it up with a 78-63 thumping of seventh-seeded Missouri. In a combat of Tigers, Princeton completely ruled the forums, profitable the rebounding combat 44-30.
Losers
Duke
It had all spread out for the Blue Devils, who entered the second one spherical on a tear â profitable 9 in a row to finish the common season, together with the ACC Event, after which dominating No. 12 Oral Roberts within the first spherical â and perceived to get an enormous damage with No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinsonâs disillusioned of No. 1 Purdue. As a substitute, Duke will depart in the second one spherical for the primary time since 2017 after failing to seek out a solution for Tennesseeâs bodily protection and grasp 3-point capturing. There are nonetheless positives to take from Jon Scheyerâs debut season, however this loss will sting all offseason.
The NCAA malesâs variety committee
Weâre no longer pronouncing we predict this is a straightforward process, or that we would like the process. Deciding on the 68 groups for the event and seeding them is a frightening process. And itâs almost definitely more difficult in a season like 2022-23, the place there was once no actual separation on the best.Â
That being mentioned, the committee isnât having a look so sizzling proper about now, with two 1 seeds (Purdue and Kansas) out prior to the Candy 16, a fifteen seed (Princeton) in to the second one weekend after beating a 2 (Arizona) and dismantling a 7 (Missouri). Upsets are nice, however we willât assist however really feel that the committee ignored the mark on a couple of group.Â
Observe Lindsay Schnell on Twitter @Lindsay_Schnell