Just a quick recap of what I saw in my Sportz Room -- filled with TVs that I can watch all games going on at the same time.
GAME OF THE DAY: Gonzaga vs TCU. Just a fun game played at such a high level. Drew Timme does what he does and came up huge in a big game. The Florida Atlantic-FDU game was also a blast, but this was an outstanding game that went back and forth.
UPSET OF THE DAY: Michigan State vs Marquette. Really this is the only game that really feels like it qualifies as an upset, as Marquette was a No. 2 seed losing to a No. 7. Still, saying Tom Izzo and Michigan State are big underdogs in the second round feels wrong.
CONFERENCE OF THE DAY: BIG EAST. Well, champion Marquette got bounced rather emphatically by Michigan State, but the rest of the Big East did pretty well. Creighton upset Baylor, UConn blasted Saint Mary's and Xavier spanked Pittsburgh. The Big East matches the SEC with three teams in the Sweet 16.
CONFERENCE WITH A BAD DAY: Big Ten. Another really bad day for the Big Ten. Michigan State got their win, but Indiana was wiped out by Miami and leaves the conference with just one team in the Sweet 16. Yet again, the Big Ten got a ton of bids (8 this year) yet has underwhelmed in the tournament. Unless the Spartans go on an epic run, the Big Ten's championship-less streak will continue.
DUD OF THE DAY: Miami vs Indiana. This was a game of runs. Miami blew out to a huge first half leave ... then Indiana raced back and had a lead early in the second half. From there, Miami turned it on and ran away with the game.
DOMINANT PERFORMANCE OF THE DAY: Xavier vs Pittsburgh. After having an ehhhh game in their win over Kennesaw State, Xavier showed everyone why they have a real shot at reaching the Final Four. When they are hitting their threes, they are nearly impossible to beat. That offense was absolutely flowing against Pitt.
UPSET OF THE DAY: Michigan State vs Marquette. Really this is the only game that really feels like it qualifies as an upset, as Marquette was a No. 2 seed losing to a No. 7. Still, saying Tom Izzo and Michigan State are big underdogs in the second round feels wrong.
CONFERENCE OF THE DAY: BIG EAST. Well, champion Marquette got bounced rather emphatically by Michigan State, but the rest of the Big East did pretty well. Creighton upset Baylor, UConn blasted Saint Mary's and Xavier spanked Pittsburgh. The Big East matches the SEC with three teams in the Sweet 16.
CONFERENCE WITH A BAD DAY: Big Ten. Another really bad day for the Big Ten. Michigan State got their win, but Indiana was wiped out by Miami and leaves the conference with just one team in the Sweet 16. Yet again, the Big Ten got a ton of bids (8 this year) yet has underwhelmed in the tournament. Unless the Spartans go on an epic run, the Big Ten's championship-less streak will continue.
DUD OF THE DAY: Miami vs Indiana. This was a game of runs. Miami blew out to a huge first half leave ... then Indiana raced back and had a lead early in the second half. From there, Miami turned it on and ran away with the game.
DOMINANT PERFORMANCE OF THE DAY: Xavier vs Pittsburgh. After having an ehhhh game in their win over Kennesaw State, Xavier showed everyone why they have a real shot at reaching the Final Four. When they are hitting their threes, they are nearly impossible to beat. That offense was absolutely flowing against Pitt.
UNDERLYING STORYLINE OF THE DAY: The new blood (11 conferences left). There will be no Kansas, no Duke, no North Carolina and no Kentucky in this Sweet 16. No Villanova either. Last year's Final Four saw Kansas, North Carolina, Duke and Villanova ... so maybe we get some new blood this time around. Before Kansas won last year, we were treated to Baylor and Virginia winning national championships against Gonzaga and Texas Tech, respectively. We will have 12 of our Sweet 16 having never won a championship. Of the four who have won, UConn won their last title in 2014; Michigan State's last title was in 2000; UCLA won its last title in 1995; Arkansas won their last one in 1994. There are 11 conferences represented in the Sweet 16!!!
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