The conclusion of the second day of the NCAA males’s basketball match, very similar to day one, had its fair proportion of thrills and upset wins to arrange an thrilling Spherical of 32. Listed here are some takeaways from Friday’s motion.
1. SEC staff’s first-round struggles have commissioner consuming his phrases
No. 4-seeded Auburn capped off a lackluster first spherical for SEC groups, falling in a stunner, 78-76, to No. 13 Yale. Of the eight groups from the convention to qualify, solely three will advance to the Spherical of 32 in No. 2 Tennessee, No. 4 Alabama and No. 9 Texas A&M. In the meantime, of the 5 groups eradicated, No. 3 Kentucky, No. 6 South Carolina, No. 7 Florida and No. 8 Mississippi State have been all the upper seed.
The disappointing first-round efficiency comes roughly every week after SEC commissioner Greg Sankey called for eliminating automatic bids. Within the 2024 match alone, a number of qualifiers from smaller leagues have superior, together with No. 14 Oakland and No. 13 Yale, who did so in opposition to SEC groups.
2. Indecision late in OT loss to No. 9 Northwestern will hang-out No. 8 Florida Atlantic
Whereas the sting from the surprising loss is not prone to subside anytime quickly, the ultimate seconds of Friday’s first-round matchup could hang-out the Owls even longer. After Northwestern had tied the rating 58-58 with 8.1 seconds remaining, FAU had an opportunity on the closing look in regulation. Nevertheless, as a substitute of speaking issues over and drawing up a play, head coach Dusty Might opted to maintain the staff’s closing timeout in his pocket. Then, guard Johnell Davis dribbled up the ground with little urgency earlier than taking a deep, contested three-pointer that fell properly quick, forcing additional time.
Northwestern rode the momentum in OT, outscoring FAU 19-7 within the additional session to punch its ticket to the second spherical with a 77-65 win. In the meantime, solely a yr faraway from an unbelievable run to the Remaining 4, the Owls’ season is over within the blink of an eye fixed, proving as soon as once more how risky “March Insanity” could be.
3. Pac-12 goes out with a bang
Whereas many of the SEC and Mountain West convention representatives fell quick within the opening spherical, the Pac-12 thrived. Following No. 10 Colorado’s win over No. 7 Florida, the convention clinched an undefeated 4-0 mark. In the meantime, two of the 4 wins have been upsets. The Gators be part of No. 7 Washington State, No. Arizona and No. 1 Oregon within the Spherical of 32.
Of the remaining Pac-12 groups, Arizona will possible be the one staff favored within the second spherical. Nevertheless, they’re exhibiting some critical fights within the convention’s closing season.
4. Clemson’s win over New Mexico denies historic NCAA Event historical past
No. 6 Clemson could have busted a number of brackets across the nation after a 77-56 first-round victory over No. 11 New Mexico, a well-liked upset choose. However, additionally they averted doubtful historical past.
If the Tigers had misplaced, it will’ve marked solely the second time in match historical past that all four No. 11 seeds superior. The one and solely time every staff gained a first-round matchup got here in 1989. As a substitute, Clemson lives to play one other day, drawing a troublesome second-round matchup with No. 3 Baylor on Saturday.
5. San Diego State continues to be the Mountain West standout
A file six Mountain West groups certified for this yr’s NCAA Event, however San Diego State, because it has for the previous few years, stays the category of the convention. On Friday, the Aztecs survived a scare from No. 12 UAB, successful 69-65 to advance to the second spherical. Earlier than Utah State’s first-round matchup in opposition to TCU, San Diego State was the one staff from the convention transferring on. Nevada and Colorado, each No. 10 seeds, have been eradicated, together with Boise State, who fell in need of a bid among the many First 4. Since 2019, the remainder of the Mountain West is simply 1-13 in March.
