The Owls of March Madness: Not a Single Top-Three Teams in the NCAA. They’ve Been There, and they’ve Done It
In the 44 years since the NCAA started seeding every team, this is the first time none of the top-three seeds has made it to the Final Four. But that’s just one of the superlative facts about this year’s tournament.
These lower-ranked teams have stared down giants and taken care of business: No. 5 Miami beat No. 1 Houston and No. 2 Texas; No. 5 San Diego State knocked off overall No. 1 seed Alabama and then edged Creighton (No. 6); and No. 9 FAU beat No. 3 Kansas State and No. 4 Tennessee.
Signs point to yes — the most emphatic sign being the 82-54 pasting UConn imposed on Gonzaga, extending their defense to limit the normally prolific Bulldogs to 2-for-20 shooting from beyond the three-point arc.
After losing in the first round in the past two years, the University of Connecticut was thought to be the team to beat in this year’s March Madness.
But Miami has the top-scoring offense among the four squads, and its assist-to-turnover ratio is solid. That’s largely a credit to its stellar guards, who are experts at running the fast break: Junior Isaiah Wong was recently named the ACC’s player of the year, and senior Jordan Miller didn’t miss a single shot — from the floor or the free-throw line — as he scored 27 points in Miami’s takedown of Texas.
The best record of any Division I team in the country was turned in by the Owls. They didn’t lose a game on their home court, and they were ranked nationally. FAU also won the title in Conference USA — which put two teams into the final of the National Invitational Tournament.
At home, the Owls usually play in front of around 2,200 fans. Of the adjustment to the NCAA’s huge stage, head coach Dusty May said, “I still don’t think our guys are going to be fazed by the 70-plus-thousand [fans], the lights, the attention, because they love ball. They like to compete. And they have a lot of faith in their teammates.”
The Aztecs – No. 1 seeds in the final two-point game against the Memphis Bluejays in the penultimate round
The Aztecs guard described what he was thinking at the end of the game, “that it wasn’t too big for me.” Through everything I’ve been through, I feel like the opportunity was just set there for me.”
Now his team will try to convert that same attitude into another win. San Diego State has role players who can score. Both teams are getting points from their bench, which makes them in the top 25 nationwide.
Either FAU or San Diego State are guaranteed a spot in the final, notching another first in a postseason that’s been full of them. It will keep the hopes alive for the best outcome in the unlikely case of an under-the-hill story.
And after a March Madness which has thrown up surprises around every corner, to have no No. 1, 2 or 3 seeds in the penultimate round seems only fitting – it is the first time since seeding was introduced 44 years ago that this has happened.
The go-ahead basket with 2.5 seconds in the opening round against Memphis started a roll that led to victories against 16 Fairleigh Dickinson and fourth-seeded Tennessee.
The Bluejays were called for a foul on Aztecs guard Darrion Trammell who was the last player to touch the ball. Trammell jumped up for the shot attempt after seeing that his left hand was touching the hip of Nembhard.
Miami Hurricanes defensive performance in the first four games of the Alabama-Lasinio Open Division I. Brian Dutcher’s naivety
The defense has excelled as the team holds opponents to 2-for-19 shooting from behind the three-point line, including 0-7 in the second half, just two days after holding Alabama to 3-for-27.
Brian Dutcher said there were people that doubted San Diego State could do it, but they never doubted for a minute.
After going 3-4 in January and losing a home game to Florida State, the Hurricanes entered the tournament in dire need of a win.
But ever since the start of the tournament over two weeks ago, Miami has been almost unstoppable, blowing away opponents and winning its first three games by a combined winning margin of 37 points.
The Hurricanes secured a spot in the final four with a big run against the Longhorns in the last 13 minutes.
For Larrañaga, who remembers many of the seismic shocks over the years, positivity at the beginning of the year has been vital in their run through the tournament.
Larraaga said it was the same as the joy he felt when his players accomplished their goals.
On the first day of practice, we had to start seeing what we wanted to accomplish and be working towards it. And that’s what these guys have done.”
The Miami Huskies, the Hurricanes, and Their Big Bad Bad: The Game After Ninety-Five Minutes at UConn
Within the first five minutes of the game, the Huskies were up 9-0. The Miami Hurricanes tried to come crawling back into the game but ultimately the shots did not fall for the team. Up 10 points, UConn forward Alex Karaban knocked down a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Huskies a 37-24 lead heading into the half.
As the only team left in the competition who has a title to its name, the pressure rests on UConn’s shoulders to use experience and pedigree to once again hoist the national championship trophy aloft for the fifth time in the school’s history.
UConn’s strong start continued in the second half, extending the lead to 20 points before the Hurricanes’ shots started to fall. The Hurricanes cut the lead down to 10 points, but the Huskies came back and regained their footing.
His dominant self was the center Adama Sanogo who said he would be eating oranges and coconut water before tip-off. He finished with a game-high 21 points and 10 rebounds. Guard Jordan Hawkins, who was questionable to play with a non-Covid illness, added 13 points.
The University of Connecticut Distinguished Athletic Director, Chris Hurley, on the Field, and what he learned from his high school basketball coach, Chad Hurley
The CBS broadcast showed a smiling Hurley telling them he was happy that he was able to attract the right type of people to his position. I am grateful for the University of Connecticut and the coaching staff. They took a chance on a guy that was a high school coach not too long ago. It was a blessing and grateful. … We’ve been striving for five for a while.”
The program has five national titles and will try to win its fifth inHouston on Monday night against San Diego State.