Five key takeaways from Saturday’s second-round tournament action

Here is a recap of the key takeaways following Saturday’s eight second-round NCAA Tournament contests:

1. Michigan gave us the best play of March Madness:

Freshman Jordan Poole’s 30-foot buzzer-beater lifted the Wolverines over Houston in a 64-63 thriller. It’s a play that coach John Beilein designed and practiced but it took the guy with utmost confidence to hit the dagger on the big stage.

After Houston’s Devin Davis missed two free throws with 3.9 seconds left, Michigan called timeout and set up the sequence – an inbounds pass from Isaiah Livers hit Muchammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman near midcourt. After two dribbles, he found Poole lined up from deep on the right wing. He let it fly. And Pandemonium ensued.

“We practiced the play a countless number of times in practice,” Poole said. “By the grace of god I made the shot... It’s ridiculous. I’m speechless.”

And so are the Houston Cougars, who had the Sweet 16 within their grasp. These NCAAs will miss Rob Gray and his man-bun, while Michigan remains a Final Four contender.

2. Kentucky is hitting its stride:

The Wildcats flushed giant killer Buffalo by 20 points on Saturday and look like the favorites to come out of the South Region and get to San Antonio (with no disrespect to No. 2 Cincinnati) now that Virginia and Arizona are gone. Coach John Calipari has this group peaking in March and guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (27 points, six assists) gives this team an invaluable weapon that will matter big-time in close-game situations. His 29 points in UK’s SEC tourney title game win over Tennessee proved to be the difference-maker then.

3. Duke and Villanova look like our title favorites:

Kansas looked alright in its survival win over Seton Hall on Saturday. But the second-seeded Blue Devils looked like the No. 1 seed in the cluttered Midwest Region based on the way they completely dismantled a really solid Rhode Island team. Marvin Bagley III is on his A-game and the rest of the supporting cast make game-planning for this team look impossible.

Meanwhile, Villanova took over in the second half against Collin Sexton and Alabama – to avoid the second-round upsets that have plagued the program in recent years. Jay Wright’s group has a very clear path to the Final Four and should be considered the best No. 1 seed now that UVA is at home. While national player of the year Jalen Brunson is this team’s lightning rod and Mikal Bridges provides NBA talent, the player to watch is Donte DiVincenzo, who gives this team instant offense off the bench.

4. Loyola looks like VCU and George Mason more than FGCU:

The Ramblers’ last-second 63-62 victory over SEC regular-season champion Tennessee proved coach Porter Moser’s team is no one-hit wonder. And closer inspection at Loyola shows this isn’t your typical Cinderella, either – buzzer-beaters aside. Loyola’s got the makeup and moxie of a team that can do more than bottom out in the Sweet 16. The recipe includes an unselfish cast that lives for the extra pass, a balanced offense that leans on a different hot handed player each game, and a top-five defense nationally.

5. Gonzaga continues to shed its underachieving label:

On Saturday, Gonzaga showed poise and fight down the stretch in a 90-84 win over Ohio State. With the game tied 67-67 with five minutes left, the ’Zags staged an 11-2 run to put the game out of reach and handily fend off Ohio State’s counter-punches. This team isn’t as good as last year’s Final Four team talent-wise. But the difference between good teams and good programs is that NCAA tournament success usually rewards the latter. No longer is Gonzaga a team that can’t get past the second round – as it was considered four years ago. (USA Today/TNS)