The conclusion of the second day of the NCAA males’s basketball event, very similar to day one, had its fair proportion of thrills and upset wins to arrange an thrilling Spherical of 32. Listed below are some takeaways from Friday’s motion.
1. SEC workforce’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 per week after SEC commissioner Greg Sankey called for eliminating automatic bids. Within the 2024 event alone, a number of qualifiers from smaller leagues have superior, together with No. 14 Oakland and No. 13 Yale, who did so towards SEC groups.
2. Indecision late in OT loss to No. 9 Northwestern will hang-out No. 8 Florida Atlantic
Whereas the sting from the stunning 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 ultimate look in regulation. Nonetheless, as an alternative of speaking issues over and drawing up a play, head coach Dusty Could opted to maintain the workforce’s ultimate 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 effectively quick, forcing extra 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 Ultimate 4, the Owls’ season is over within the blink of an eye fixed, proving as soon as once more how unstable “March Insanity” could be.
3. Pac-12 goes out with a bang
Whereas a lot 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 seemingly be the one workforce favored within the second spherical. Nonetheless, they’re displaying some severe fights within the convention’s ultimate season.
4. Clemson’s win over New Mexico denies historic NCAA Event historical past
No. 6 Clemson could have busted a couple of brackets across the nation after a 77-56 first-round victory over No. 11 New Mexico, a preferred upset decide. However, in addition they averted doubtful historical past.
If the Tigers had misplaced, it will’ve marked solely the second time in event historical past that all four No. 11 seeds superior. The one and solely time every workforce gained a first-round matchup got here in 1989. As a substitute, Clemson lives to play one other day, drawing a tricky 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 towards TCU, San Diego State was the one workforce from the convention transferring on. Nevada and Colorado, each No. 10 seeds, have been eradicated, together with Boise State, who fell wanting a bid among the many First 4. Since 2019, the remainder of the Mountain West is simply 1-13 in March.