March Madness Update
By Cameron Dubin
Managing Editor of Sports
This year’s D1 NCAA Basketball Tournament has been wild. However, through all the upsets, blowouts, and madness, it has been hard to keep up. Here’s an update on what has made these past few days crazy.
Upsets:
This year has been upset galore. 12th seeded University of Arkansas at Little Rock beat fifth seeded Purdue 85-83 in double overtime. The Yale Bulldogs (12) topped the Baylor Bears (5) 79-75 to gain their first-ever NCAA tournament win. Wichita State, an eleven seed, beat Arizona, a sixth seed, 65-55. The University of Hawaii (13) topped Cal (4) to earn their first tournament win as well. Cal was expected to make a deep tournament run led by Jaylen Brown before they were stopped by the Rainbow Warriors. Stephen F. Austin, a 14 seed with a school population of 12,999 dominated West Virginia. The underdog forced 22 turnovers en route to their 70-56 win. The Texas Longhorns (6) fell to Northern Iowa (11) 75-72 on a halfcourt buzzer beater by Paul Jesperson. Sixth-seeded Seton Hall fell to eleventh seeded Gonzaga 68-52. Finally, the game that busted many brackets across the country was when second-seeded Michigan State fell to the 15th seeded Middle Tennessee. Denzel Valentine and the Spartans were a favorite coming out of the Midwest Region, but a strong offensive attack from Northern Iowa cut their hopes short.
The Blowouts:
The one seeded Virginia Cavaliers destroyed 16th seeded Hampton 85-41 in a game that was ugly to watch. The one seeded University of Kansas scored 105 points in their 105-79 win vs Austin Peay (16). In college basketball, there are two twenty minute halves meaning that the Jayhawks averaged 2.625 points per minute. Indiana blew out Chattanooga 99 to 74 to earn their bid to the round of 32. Kentucky (4) toppled Stony Brook (13) 85-57. Villanova (2) beat UNC-Asheville (15) 86-56. Texas A&M, a three seed, destroyed fourteenth seeded Green Bay 92-56. And the last one seed, Oregon dismantled Holy Cross 91-52 to advance to the round of 32.
Best Play:
The best play of the first round of the tourney belongs to Northern Iowa’s Paul Jesperson on his game winning half court buzzer beater. Not only was this an award winning shot, but it was the game-winner in Northern Iowa’s upset against 6th seeded Texas.
Check it out here:
