March Madness has been full of surprises as two number one seeds got eliminated, a number 15 seed advanced to the Sweet 16, and a number 16 seed made history. The second round of action of the NCAA Tournament kicked off on Saturday and saw the reigning champions, Kansas, get knocked out by Arkansas. Princeton also made history by advancing to the Sweet 16 for the first time. The schedule for Sunday has some exciting games, with legendary programs in action, and a team that pulled off the biggest upset in NCAA Tournament history. Fairleigh Dickinson, with their small starting backcourt, has been one of the standout teams in the tournament. Friday’s games also had their moments of triumphs and tears, with some big performances and blown leads. The tournament has seen some intense action and excitement, with just one full Sunday slate left to decide the final Sweet 16 teams.
March Madness 2023: Live Updates and Scores
The NCAA Tournament is in full swing, and basketball fans all over the world are glued to their screens for updates on the latest games. Here are some of the latest developments:
Indiana vs. Miami
Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis gives them a size advantage inside, but the team is also adept at running. Miami, on the other hand, prefers to run and will seek to do so in this game. The Hurricanes barely escaped an upset bid from Drake in the first round, and Indiana will be looking to capitalize on any weaknesses they showed. Indiana won against Kent State in the first round and is poised to advance to the Sweet 16. David Cobb picks Indiana to win, with a spread of -1.5.
UConn vs. Arkansas
UConn is proving to be a formidable contender this year, with impressive performances against Iona and Saint Mary’s, where they won by a combined 39 points. Adama Sanogo was a standout with 24 points and eight rebounds, while Jordan Hawkins’ shot helped to seal the win against Saint Mary’s. UConn will now face a tough matchup against Arkansas.
Baylor vs. Creighton
Baylor had some defensive concerns entering the tournament, and those concerns were made apparent in the first half against Creighton. The Bluejays shot 50%, including 7 of 16 from 3-point range, to take a 10-point lead. Despite Baylor’s L.J. Cryer scoring 12 points in the first half, Keynote George and Adam Flagler struggled with their shots.
Michigan State vs. Marquette
Tyson Walker led Michigan State to a win against Marquette, scoring 23 points, including 17 in the second half. The Spartans’ defense held Marquette to 38.5% shooting and forced 16 turnovers. Michigan State is a No. 7 seed and is making another unexpected run under Tom Izzo, who led a No. 7 to the Final Four in 2015. In their game against Marquette, the teams were trading big plays as the game went down to the wire, with Michigan State leading 56-54 with under four minutes left.
The tournament is still in its early stages, and there are plenty of surprises yet to come. Fans will be watching closely to see which teams will advance to the Sweet 16 and beyond.
NCAA Tournament Round 2: Live Updates and Scores
The second round of the NCAA Tournament has brought about some exciting matchups and unexpected results. Here are the latest developments:
UConn vs. Saint Mary’s
Saint Mary’s jumped out to a 17-9 lead against UConn, but the Huskies finished the first half strong with 10 points from Adama Sanogo and nine from Tristan Newton. Sanogo has been a standout for UConn, with six rebounds and the potential for another double-double. While Alex Ducas has eight points for the Gaels, they may not have an answer for Sanogo. Despite being an excellent defensive team, Saint Mary’s may struggle to keep up with the varied offensive strategies of UConn. David Cobb picks UConn to win, with a spread of -3.5.
Marquette vs. Michigan State
Michigan State dominated early against Marquette, leading by as many as 13 points in the first half. However, Marquette kept the game within reach with a big 13-6 run to close the half. Michigan State missed nine of its 10 3-point attempts but made up for it with strong performances inside the paint and on the glass. Marquette’s guards, Tyler Kolek and Kam Jones, struggled with just nine combined points. Kyle Boone picks Michigan State to win, with a spread of +2.5.
Kentucky vs. Kansas State
Kansas State pulled off a surprise victory against Kentucky, with Markquis Nowell leading the charge with 23 points in the second half. Despite playing from behind for much of the game, Kansas State seized control down the stretch as UK went cold. Nowell’s scoring total was his highest in more than two months and propelled Kansas State into the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2018.
The NCAA Tournament has seen some close matchups and classic finishes, and fans are eagerly anticipating the Sweet 16 and beyond.
NCAA Tournament Round 2: Live Updates and Scores
The second round of the NCAA Tournament has seen some unexpected results and exciting matchups. Here are the latest developments:
Kentucky vs. Kansas State
Kentucky led by as much as 17-9, but went cold late in the half, with 11 turnovers. Markquis Nowell had five assists for Kansas State, which led despite going 0 for 12 from beyond the arc. Oscar Tshiebwe had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds for Kentucky, but Jacob Toppin and Antonio Reeves struggled with 1 of 14 shots from the floor. Despite Kentucky’s nerves after being eliminated by K-State in 2018, they are playing well and favored to win with a spread of -2, according to Kyle Boone.
Xavier vs. Pittsburgh
Xavier defeated Pittsburgh to advance to the Sweet 16 with six players in double figures. Adam Kunkel was a standout with 15 points, making all five of his 3-pointers in the first half. Xavier started hot, making 7 of 14 shots from beyond the arc in the first half. Despite Souley Boum’s zero points for Xavier, they led by 14 at halftime. Pitt struggled to keep up with Xavier’s pace and dictated the game, leading to their downfall.
The NCAA Tournament has brought about some impressive performances and thrilling games, and fans are eagerly anticipating the Sweet 16 and beyond.
Madness ensues on the first day of Round 2
The opening day of Round 2 action in the 2023 NCAA Tournament had its share of upsets and close games. No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson knocked out No. 1 seed Purdue in the opening game, followed by a huge upset as reigning champion Kansas fell to No. 8 seed Arkansas in a thrilling game.
A day of upsets and surprises
No. 15 seed Princeton was the Cinderella story of the day, as they routed No. 7 seed Missouri to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time in the modern era of the NCAA Tournament. The win marked only the fourth time that an Ivy League program has reached the regional semifinals and the first since 2010.
The Big Ten conference had a rough day, as the No. 2, 3, and 4 seeds all lost their games. Meanwhile, Houston managed to hold on to a win despite being hobbled by injuries.
A look ahead to Sunday’s matchups
As the action continues on the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament, eight more games will be played to determine the remaining teams advancing to the Sweet 16. The matchups on Sunday include some of the most iconic programs in college basketball history, as well as the team that just pulled off the biggest upset in NCAA Tournament history.
For a detailed preview of Sunday’s matchups and storylines to watch, check out Chip Patterson’s piece at this link.
March Madness upsets shake up tournament bracket
The 2023 NCAA Tournament bracket was shaken up by several upsets over the past few days, including two No. 1 seeds getting sent home and a No. 16 seed making history.
How Fairleigh Dickinson became the biggest upset in NCAA Tournament history
No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson made history on Friday by upsetting No. 1 seed Purdue, becoming the second team ever to do so. The Knights’ starting backcourt of Demetre Roberts and Grant Singleton, both 5-9, have played a crucial role in the team’s massive turnaround.
Recap of Friday’s action
Friday’s games had a little bit of everything, from crooked rims to blown leads, big comebacks to big performances, tears and triumphs.
What’s next?
Sunday’s slate will determine the final spots in the Sweet 16. Some of the biggest programs in college basketball history will be in action, along with Fairleigh Dickinson. It’s been a wild ride so far, and fans can expect more madness to come.
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