ST PETERS ARE THIS YEARS UNDERDOG STORY:
The peacocks from Jersey city ranked 15th in their region entered without a tournament win, and mostly unknown to the world yet are now everyone’s favorite team after a scintillating 85-79 overtime upset win over blue-blood Kentucky in round one, before backing that up with a 70-60 victory over #7 ranked Murray State for their first sweet 16 appearance. The team is coached by Shaheen Holloway, who’s likely to be leaving for a bigger job after this stunning run with a small school like this.
THREE NO1’s REMAIN:
It wasn’t easy but Gonzaga, Arizona, and Kansas all survived the first two rounds. Of the three left, you would think that the Zags(overall top seed) have more on the line after falling in the finals last season. However, they won’t need to face their nemesis in Baylor, for the top seed and reigning champions were ousted by NO8 North Carolina 93-86 in overtime on Saturday in round 2.
COACH K KEEPS ON COACHING:
Legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski has long announced this will be his last dance after 42 years in the game, but the Blue Devils acquired him two more victories to reach 1,200 for his career on Sunday, when they knocked off NO 7 ranked Michigan ST 85-76 following a 78-61 win over #15 Cal ST Fullerton. Duke will face its stiffest test of the season on Thursday when they battle with #3 seed Texas Tech in the round of 16.
A DOUBLE-DIGIT FACE-OFF:
An astounding four double-digit seeds have reached the sweet 16. We know at least one will go home though, as Iowa ST (11) and Miami(10) will meet after both scored two upsets through the first two rounds. For Iowa ST, they took out popular elite 8 pick LSU 59-54 in the first round, before upending the NO3 seeded Wisconsin Badgers 54-49 for their first final 16 appearance one year after just a two win season.
Meanwhile, Miami survived a large charge from NO7 USC 68-66 in round one, before putting a clinical display and downing popular championship pick in the two seeded Auburn Tigers 79-61 to book a date with Iowa ST.
FRIARS AREN’T FRIED YET:
The four seeded Providence Friars were dubbed by many as a “fluke” and that their weakness will be exploited by the 13 seed in San Diego ST, who entered the dance riding a 21 game win streak. But since then, they’ve watered down any talk now that they’re in the second week of the tournament, having tackled their first round opponents 66-57, before a 77-51 schooling of the 12 seeded Richmond Spiders(Who upset NO 5 Iowa in round 1 67-63), and are now set to shock the world against top seeded Kansas. Turns out the only flukes around here were the guys in the media covering them.
