A Thursday and Friday filled with upsets and spectacular games left us with an Elite Eight we have never seen before. We breakdown the results from the Sweet 16 and look ahead to the next games this weekend.
South
San Diego State out muscles Alabama
Fair or not, everyone in America was rooting against Alabama. Scandal surrounded the Crimson Tide this season and Nate Oats and the programs lack of remorse made them an easy target to root against. Also an easy target? All of Alabama’s layups against San Diego State.
The Aztecs had 8 blocks with 5 coming from Nathan Mensah, but it felt like Alabama couldn’t score anything inside the paint without getting rejected. Alabama was supposed to be defined by their athletes and length, but San Diego State was just bigger and stronger than Brandon Miller and co.
Darrion Trammell was the hero with 21 points and the Aztecs advance to their first ever Elite 8 with a 71-64 win over the number one overall seed.
Creighton ends Princeton’s run
Creighton didn’t play their best but it was enough to end the Tigers’ cinderella run.
For a few moments, you thought that maybe Princeton could just make every three pointer they shot, and win the game. Sadly, the dream run ends with Ryan Kalkbrenner stepping all over the Tigers.
Creighton’s starting 5 is maybe the best in the country, and the it really is a “anyone’s night any given time” type of five. Tonight it was Trey Alexander, Baylor Scheierman and Kalkbrenner. On Sunday, it could be Ryan Nembhard or Arthur Kaluma.
Even a wacky 1-3-1 zone couldn’t faze the Bluejays focus, as they controlled the game the entire second half to advance to play San Diego State.
Elite 8 Preview: San Diego State vs. Creighton
Creighton is playing for their first Final Four in school history. This is the Bluejays’ first Elite Eight in 82 years.
San Diego State is playing for the first Final Four in Mountain West history.
One of these teams by definition will be in the Final Four. Of course.
The commentators are already salivating about Arthur Kaluma and Adam Seiko being brothers. Beyond that storyline, Creighton and SDSU is a fascinating matchup.
Creighton and Alabama are similar styles of play. Can the Aztec defense repeat their performance from Friday against Creighton? How does Kalkbrenner change the help defense from Mensah?
On the flip side, how will SDSU’s physicality hinder Creighton? The Bluejays are athletic but besides Kalkbrenner they are pretty skinny. I don’t think anyone can describe the Aztec players as skinny. Can San Diego enforce their will against the scrawnier Bluejays? Will the refs call a type of game that favors Creighton or San Diego?
Again one of these teams will make the Final Four. Man, Alabama choked. Thank God.
East
Markquis Nowell rules over Michigan State
Markquis Nowell dominates in the game against the Spartans as the Wildcats advanced in a certified classic 99-93 overtime victory. The New York kid Nowell scored 20 points and had an NCAA tournament record 19 assists in Madison Square Garden.
Michigan State sold out to stop him, and Nowell just made the right play all night. Including what might be the coolest play ever when Nowell threw an Alley-oop for a reverse dunk from Keyontae Johnson, while arguing with Coach Tang on the play call. A play the Harlem Globe trotters are jealous they didn’t come up with.
Michigan State fought like hell but it was just that amazing of a performance from Nowell.
The Florida Atlantic Owls storm back against Tennessee
Rick Barnes was in an incredible position to advance far in the tournament, so you know of course he had to go and mess that up. The Vols were in control in the first half of this game as their defense was stopping FAU drives and leading to a bunch of missed threes.
But in the second half, the Owls kept shooting and the ball didn’t stick and all of a sudden shots were falling and lanes were opening. Johnell Davis and Michael Forrest had big games to lead FAU back and the Owls lead most of the second half.
Once Tennessee fell into a hole they didn’t stand much of a chance. No amount of dirty plays from Uros Plavsic or bricked Santiago Vescovi threes would help.
Florida Atlantic, after advancing to their first Sweet 16 (after advancing to their first Round of 32), advance to their first Elite 8. Can they advance to their first Final Four?
Elite 8 Preview: Florida Atlantic vs Kansas State
Kansas State has made four Final Fours in their history. All of them happened from 1948 to 1964 range.
FAU – still playing with house money – will look for their first Final Four.
Again, one of these teams will be in the Final Four and one of them, San Diego State or Creighton will play for a National Title. Wow.
Marquis Nowell’s ankle health will be huge. Can Keyontae Johnson and the others step up if he isn’t having another historic March Madness performance?
FAU has enough guards to find a mismatch. Can Kansas State’s length affect the Owls’ guards?
No one expected much from either of these teams this year. They have far exceeded expectations. Both teams will be proud of the seasons they’ve had. Only one will be immortalized for winning the East Bracket on Final Four memorabilia.
Midwest
Miami Hurricanes send the Cougars to Houston early
It was supposed to be a homecoming in the Final Four in Houston for Kelvin Sampson’s team. Nijel Pack and Miami didn’t get the memo.
Pack hit 7 threes and powered the Hurricanes to the most points scored on Houston’s top ranked defense all season in a 89-75 win. All 5 Miami starters scored in double digits. Houston meanwhile only shot 29% from three on 31 attempts.
The Hurricanes blew past Houston and never looked back.
Texas dispatches Xavier
Xavier might have been lucky to get past Kennesaw State. The Musketeers looked great in their win against Pitt. Against Texas, The Longhorns reminded Xavier they had only played double digit seeds.
Texas looked confident and controlled the game the whole time. What was supposed to be the best game of the night likely was the worst.
Xavier has good guards. Texas’ guards are just so much better. Sir’Jabari Rice, Tyrese Hunter and Marcus Carr are an insanely good trio of guards.
I was worried about how a big like Jack Nunge could affect a Texas team (especially with a hurt Dylan Disu), but um he didn’t impact their chances of winning too much going 6-19 from the field and 1 of 5 from three.
Oh and someone go wake up the Texas AD because Rodney Terry should already have the Interim tag removed.
Elite Eight Preview: Texas vs. Miami and Guard Nirvana
Marcus Carr, Tyrese Hunter and Sir’Jabari Rice vs. Nijel Pack, Isaiah Wong, and Jordan Miller.
Could Norchad Omier be a difference maker? What can Texas get from the other guys?
Will this game’s over under be in the 160 range or 180 range? No one ever accused Miami of playing defense, can Texas play enough to win? I think so.
If so, it would be the Longhorns first Final Four since 2003 and their fourth overall.
If Miami shoots their way to another win it will be their first Final Four. The Hurricanes are playing in only their second Elite Eight. The only other time? Last year.
West
UConn looks like World Beaters… again
Arkansas just beat reigning National Champion Kansas. They looked lost against the UConn Huskies. The game was tight to start but once UConn got in a rhythm, the Huskies got whatever they wanted.
Jordan Hawkins was cooking Nick Smith Jr. or whoever they put on him. Alex Karaban and Adama Sanogo punished the weak spot for the Razorbacks, their bigs. Arkansas had some runs but it wasn’t ever threatening.
UConn’s peak was when they were ranked number 2 and split votes for the top overall team in the country with Purdue earlier this season. The Huskies looked every bit the best team in College on Thursday night.
Gonzaga vs UCLA delivers… again
In 2021, it was Jalen Suggs hitting a half-courter to beat UCLA. In 2023, it was Julian Strawther hitting a logo range trailing three (mimicking the Kris Jenkins play from Villanova) to sink UCLA.
UCLA dominated the first half and then ran out of gas. Every jumper was short and they went something like 10 minutes (of gametime!) without a made field goal. Still UCLA played the foul game and it worked. Jaime Jacquez just kept pulling And-1s out of nowhere willing his team back into it. Somehow, the Bruins had the lead until Strawther, the hometown Vegas kid, nails the dagger.
Drew Timme had one of his best games ever with 36 points on 16-24 shooting, 13 rebounds and 4 assists. Gonzaga advances to their 5th Elite Eight in the past 8 tournaments.
Elite Eight Preview: UConn, Gonzaga, and Basketball Heaven
UConn will be playing for their 5th Final Four and first since the 2014 Title run.
UConn is also the only remaining team in the Elite 8 who has won an NCAA title.
Gonzaga looks to make their 3rd Final Four. The other two times the Bulldogs lost in the National Title.
Gonzaga vs UConn should be Basketball heaven.
In the NBA you get 4 rounds of best of 7 series between evenly matched teams. In March Madness, if the bracket breaks right you get 40 agonizing minutes of two evenly matched teams with one going home and one advancing.
If one team’s game plan is super effective, there are no adjustments for the next game. You just lose. What can Mark Few and Dan Hurley draw up in the 48 hours between games?
How will Adama Sanogo and Clingan effect Timme in the post? Can UConn get Timme in foul trouble?
Who of the Gonzaga guards will defend Hawkins? Will one of the Gonzaga guards step up to help Strawther and Timme score?
Will Mark Few leave Aundre Jackson 10 feet open? If he does can Jackson punish them?
Both teams are playing their best basketball right now. Hopefully this game will be just as good as the UCLA Gonzaga game, and maybe – if we are lucky – all four Elite 8 games will and we enter basketball heaven.