Sunday’s NCAA Tournament has several games that include both some of the most iconic programs in the sport’s history as well as the team that just pulled off the biggest upset in NCAA Tournament history. The Knights went from a 4-22 season last year to arguably the biggest upset in NCAA Tournament history while playing the nation’s smallest lineup. Blue blood programs will be in action as well. Friday had a little of everything from crooked rims to blown leads, big comebacks to big performances, tears and triumphs. March Madness hit deafening levels of mayhem the last few days as the 2023 NCAA Tournament bracket broke open with two No. 1 seeds getting sent home, a No. 15 seed punching its ticket to the Sweet 16 and No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson making history as the second such team to ever defeat a No. 1 seed. All that stands between us and a Sweet 16 now is one full Sunday slate. Buckle up.
March Madness 2023 Live Updates: College Basketball Scores, NCAA Tournament
The 2023 NCAA tournament is underway, and fans have been treated to some exciting action on the court. In one matchup, Miami shot an impressive 55% in the first half, led by Nigel Pack and Isaiah Wong, to build a 28-15 lead over Indiana. However, the Hoosiers fought back, with Trayce Jackson-Davis leading the way with 11 points. Miller Kopp also chipped in eight points, but Jalen Hood-Schifino struggled, hitting just 2 of 8 shots.
In another game, Fairleigh Dickinson trailed Florida Atlantic by just one point midway through the second half. Despite shooting only 35.1% from the floor in the first half, the Owls managed to stay ahead as the Knights missed several opportunities at the rim.
The highlight of the day, however, was Creighton’s upset victory over No. 3 seed Baylor. Led by Ryan Nembhard’s career-high 30 points, the Bluejays shot an impressive 11 of 24 from beyond the arc and hit all 22 of their free throws. Baylor tried to mount a comeback, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Creighton’s offensive firepower.
UConn has also impressed in the tournament so far, winning their first two games by a combined 39 points. Adama Sanogo was dominant once again, scoring 24 points and grabbing eight rebounds in their win over Saint Mary’s. They now face a tough test against Arkansas in the Sweet 16.
Looking ahead, Miami will need to maintain their hot shooting if they hope to advance past Indiana, who will rely on Trayce Jackson-Davis to control the paint. Florida Atlantic and Fairleigh Dickinson will battle it out for the chance to face Tennessee in the next round. David Cobb predicts that Indiana will win by 1.5 points, while fans can’t wait to see UConn take on Arkansas in what promises to be an exciting matchup.
NCAA Tournament Round of 32 Live Updates: Michigan State, Creighton, UConn Advance
The NCAA Tournament Round of 32 provided fans with some intense matchups and exciting finishes. In one game, Creighton took down No. 3 seed Baylor with an impressive offensive performance in the first half. Led by Ryan Nembhard’s 11 points, the Bluejays shot an impressive 50% from the field and hit seven of their 16 three-point attempts. Baylor struggled defensively and couldn’t overcome Creighton’s offensive firepower.
Michigan State also advanced to the Sweet 16, withstanding a tough challenge from Marquette. Tyson Walker led the way for the Spartans with 23 points, including 17 in the second half, as they held Marquette to just 38.5% shooting and forced 16 turnovers. Tom Izzo has led a No. 7 seed to the Final Four before, and this team looks poised to make a run this year.
In another matchup, UConn overcame an early deficit to defeat Saint Mary’s behind another dominant performance from Adama Sanogo. The Huskies struggled early but finished the first half strong, with Sanogo scoring 10 points and Tristan Newton hitting three three-pointers. The Gaels had no answer for Sanogo, who finished with six rebounds and is on his way to another double-double.
Marquette kept things close against Michigan State, but the Spartans’ dominance on the glass and inside the paint proved to be the difference. Tyler Kolek and Kam Jones combined for just nine points, while the Spartans missed nine of their 10 three-point attempts.
Looking ahead, UConn looks like a team on a mission, having won 10 of their last 12 games. Despite facing a tough defensive team in Saint Mary’s, they found a way to come out on top and will look to continue their success in the Sweet 16. David Cobb predicts that UConn will win by 3.5 points, while fans eagerly await to see if Tom Izzo can lead Michigan State on another unexpected March run.
NCAA Tournament Round of 32 Live Updates: Kansas State Advances to Sweet 16, Michigan State Upsets Marquette
Sunday’s NCAA Tournament Round of 32 games featured some exciting finishes and surprising upsets. In one game, Kansas State overcame an early deficit to knock off Kentucky and advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2018. Markquis Nowell was the hero for the Wildcats, scoring 23 of his 27 points in the second half and taking over the game as a creator and scorer. Despite going 0-for-12 from beyond the arc, Kansas State flipped the script and sealed the win down the stretch as Kentucky went cold.
In another matchup, Michigan State pulled off a surprising upset over Marquette. Kyle Boone had picked against Marquette in recent months but went back to that strategy, picking Michigan State to cover the spread. The game featured a good offense from Marquette and a much-improved defense from Michigan State, but it was the Spartans who came out on top, winning by 2.5 points.
Looking back at the Kansas State vs. Kentucky game, Kentucky led 17-9 at one point but went cold late in the half and finished with 11 turnovers. Oscar Tshiebwe had a double-double for Kentucky, but Jacob Toppin and Antonio Reeves struggled, making just one of their 14 shots from the floor in the first half.
Kentucky fans may have had nerves going into the game, as Kansas State had knocked them out of the tournament in 2018. Despite playing as well as they had all season and winning their first-round game against Providence, Kentucky couldn’t overcome Kansas State’s late surge.
In the other matchup, Michigan State and Marquette traded blows, but it was the Spartans who prevailed with a much-improved defense. Despite Tyler Kolek and Kam Jones combining for just nine points, Marquette’s offense kept the game close, but in the end, it was Michigan State’s dominance inside the paint that proved to be the difference.
As the Sweet 16 approaches, fans eagerly await to see if any more upsets will occur and if any underdogs can make a run to the Final Four.
March Madness: Round 2 Action Recap
Saturday saw the first day of Round 2 action of the NCAA tournament, and it was quite a show! The number 1 seed Purdue lost to No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday, and on Saturday, another No. 1 seed, Kansas, fell to No. 8 seed Arkansas, causing quite the upset. There were also some big wins, like Princeton’s 78-63 victory over No. 7 seed Missouri, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the first time in the modern era of the NCAA tournament. Here are some more details on the games that took place on Sunday:
Xavier Musketeers Vs. Pittsburgh Panthers
No. 3 seed Xavier faced off against No. 11 seed Pittsburgh, with Xavier ultimately advancing to the Sweet 16 despite a late comeback effort by the Panthers. The Musketeers dominated offensively, with six players reaching double figures and Adam Kunkel making all five of his 3-pointers in the first half. Although Xavier’s leading scorer, Souley Boum, was held scoreless in the first half, his backcourt mate Kunkel took charge, scoring 15 points and leading all scorers. Despite a second-half push from the Panthers, Xavier held on to win, setting up a matchup against No. 2 seed Texas in the next round.
Kentucky Wildcats Vs. Kansas State Wildcats
In a battle of the Wildcats, No. 9 seed Kansas State took on No. 5 seed Kentucky. K-State started off slow, but guard Markquis Nowell found his groove in the second half, scoring 23 of his 27 points to lead his team to a victory and into the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2018. Kentucky struggled to find their rhythm, with Jacob Toppin and Antonio Reeves making only 1 of their 14 shots in the first half, and finished the game shooting just 34.5% from the field.
Michigan State Spartans Vs. Marquette Golden Eagles
No. 7 seed Michigan State faced off against No. 2 seed Marquette, with the Spartans pulling off a close victory to advance to the Sweet 16. Tyson Walker led the way for Michigan State with 23 points, including 17 in the second half, as the Spartans weathered Marquette’s offensive onslaught. MSU’s defense was a key factor in their victory, holding Marquette to just 38.5% shooting and forcing 16 turnovers.
Saint Mary’s Gaels Vs. UConn Huskies
No. 7 seed UConn took on No. 6 seed Saint Mary’s in a game that saw the Huskies dominate offensively. Adama Sanogo led the way for UConn with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Tristan Newton made all three of his attempts from beyond the arc, finishing the game with 9 points. Although Saint Mary’s jumped out to an early lead, they were unable to keep up with UConn’s scoring and ultimately fell to the Huskies.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Round 2 of the NCAA tournament was full of surprises and exciting finishes. Fans of March Madness can look forward to more exciting games in the Sweet 16, as teams fight to keep their tournament hopes alive.
The 2023 NCAA Tournament is well underway, and we’re close to having half of the Sweet 16 bracket set. On Sunday, eight more games will take place to round out the teams that will advance to the second weekend. There are some highly anticipated matchups on the schedule, including some of the most legendary programs in college basketball history. Plus, the team that pulled off the largest upset in NCAA Tournament history will be in action: No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson.
Fairleigh Dickinson is an interesting story, having gone from a 4-22 season last year to making history in this year’s tournament. This success is largely due to the Knights’ starting backcourt of 5-8 Demetre Roberts and 5-9 Grant Singleton, proving that their tiny lineup can still make a big impact on the court.
Friday’s games were eventful, with crooked rims, blown leads, big comebacks, historic milestones, tears, and triumphs. It was a full day of March Madness that culminated in No. 1 seed Purdue’s shocking loss to No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson, marking only the second time a No. 16 seed has defeated a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The tournament has been incredibly exciting so far, with two No. 1 seeds eliminated and a No. 15 seed advancing to the Sweet 16. The madness continues on Sunday with a full slate of games that are sure to keep fans on the edge of their seats. Get ready for more thrilling matchups, surprises, and upsets as the road to the Final Four continues.
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