Friday's Craziness Examined

        Today we start the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament and defiantly need to review how the first round ended with plenty of fireworks. Everyone is talking about the record 10 teams with a double digit seed advancing to the 2nd round but yesterday marked the first time in tourney history that a 15, 14 and 13 seed have won on the day.

No. 15 Middle Tennessee 90 No. 2 Michigan State

        The argument can be made that his may possibly be the largest upset in NCAA Tournament history. The Blue Raiders never trailed the Spartans throughout the entire game. While there has never been a No. 16 seed to upset a No 1. Seed, this is only the 8th time in tourney history that a 15th seed has come out on top. What a way for the National player of the year, Denzel Valentine and the Spartans to end their season and Valentine's collegiate career. Middle Tennessee will take on a dangerous No. 10 seeded Syracuse.

No. 14 Stephen F. Austin 70 No. 3 West Virginia 56

        The biggest reason for the Lumberjacks victory is how they took care of the ball. The Mountaineers only managed to cause 7 turnovers. The second largest reason for the upset, the two time player of the year in the Southland conference, Thomas Walkup. Walkup and his beard finished with 33 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. He did a lot of damage from the charity stripe finishing 19 of 20. 27 of his points came in the second half so he had plenty of help from the other Lumberjacks. This Stephen F. Austin team will face No. 6 Notre Dame.

No. 13 Hawaii 77 No. 4 California

        The Rainbow Warriors have earned their first ever NCAA Tournament victory. The Golden Bears had a lot drama surrounding the team entering the tournament as they fired an assistant coach and also losing their starting point guard, senior Tyrone Wallace. Cal was also without Junior Jabari Bird. Not to tale any credit away from Hawaii but this game had all of the makings of an upset. Hawaii used a balance scoring attack with Jankovic, Smith and Bobbit scoring 16, 19 and 17 respectively. Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, Jaylen Brown a most likely one and done prospect struggled mightily fouling out with 6 minutes to play in the 2nd half. Brown had only 4 points and 2 rebound to go along with 7 turnovers. Cal's other potential one and done player Ivan Rabb finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Hawaii will face either No. 5 Maryland.


By Steven Spector - 3-19-2016