What. Just. Happened?!
Surprises at NCAA Tournament amp up the ‘madness’
One word succinctly describes what’s transpired so far in the NCAA Tournament: Madness. But even that’s probably underselling it.
A comeback for the ages by Nevada. An entire region left without a Top 4 seed in the Sweet 16 for the first time in tourney history. The 16-seed winner UMBC, falling short in its attempt to extend its historic run as underdog darlings. Oh, and defending national champion North Carolina is out, routed in its own state by Texas A&M.
And that was just on Sunday. When No. 1 seed Xavier was bounced, too.
A memorable, zany first two rounds – even by March Madness standards – set up what could be another wild two weekends in a tournament where anything can become reality.
“It’s what makes March Madness special and it kills the coaches because it’s so hard and you think you have a great team,” Kansas State coach Nevada head coach Eric Musselman celebrates after the Wolf Pack’s thrilling come-from-behind victory over Cincinnati during the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday in Nashville, Tenn. Nevada will take on this year’s Cinderella story in Loyola-chicago in the Sweet 16 today.
Bruce Weber said. “It’s March Madness and you never know what’s going to happen.”
Before the first tipoff last Thursday, many prognosticators had deemed this tournament one of the most wide-open in recent history.
It’s turned into a nutty, oncein-a-generation
kind of ride.
Loyola-chicago won two thrillers to get to the Sweet 16, making a social media star out of their 98-year-old chaplain, Sister Jean. And then the telegenic nun who provides her own scouting reports to players got overshadowed by the ultimate Cinderella team.
The UMBC Retrievers became the first No. 16 seed in the history of the men’s tournament to beat a No. 1 seed, defeating Virginia in the first round last Friday night.
By 20 points. Over the top overall seed and the unanimous No. 1 team in the AP poll.
The Retrievers’ run came to an end on Sunday in a 50-43 loss to ninth-seeded Kansas State, but not before tattooing a lasting imprint on American sports, drawing attention from stars of the NFL, NBA and Twitch – and love from underdogs everywhere.
“We put our name on the map. We (gave) hope to teams that come to the tournament with lower seeds,” guard K.J. Maura said.
UMBC’S success story contributed to the messy, unprecedentedly jumbled bracket in the South Region, where the highest-remaining seed is No. 5 Kentucky. It’s the first time in tourney history that a regional semifinal will be held without a top 4 seed, according to the NCAA.