The recent women’s and men’s N.C.A.A. basketball tournament games have been exciting to watch with some surprising wins and standout performances. Top-seeded Stanford won its first-round game without its leading scorer, Cameron Brink. The women’s team from L.S.U. beat Hawaii in the first round thanks to Angel Reese’s impressive performance, while sixth-seeded Michigan won over U.N.L.V. to face No. 3 Louisiana State. In the men’s tournament, No. 11-seeded Pitt won its second game after playing in the First Four, and the team is now looking to make it to the Final Four, much like Virginia Commonwealth and U.C.L.A. did in the past.
The Biggest Upset in Men’s College Basketball: No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson Takes Down No. 1 Purdue
On Friday, March 17, 2023, Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU), a No. 16 seed in the NCAA tournament, secured a momentous victory over top-seeded Purdue, with a score of 63-58. It was the biggest upset in men’s college basketball in five years, only the second time a No. 16 seed had defeated a No. 1 seed since the University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s win against Virginia in 2018.
FDU had previously never advanced to the second round of the tournament, making their win against the Big Ten champion Purdue even more remarkable. Before playing Purdue, FDU had to win a play-in game against Texas Southern on Wednesday.
Purdue struggled throughout the game, experiencing difficulty shooting, particularly from 3-point range. In contrast, FDU was one of the unlikeliest successes in college basketball. As the shortest team in Division I, they are ranked 363 out of 363 teams, with an average height of just 6-foot-1. Almost every Purdue player had a substantial height advantage, with 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey guarding players a full foot shorter than him.
FDU is located in Teaneck, New Jersey, just across the Hudson River from Upper Manhattan. Their remarkable win over Purdue is undoubtedly one of the greatest moments in their basketball history.
Xavier’s Furious Rally Saves Them from a Bracket Surprise
In the first-round game of the NCAA tournament, No. 3 seed Xavier appeared to be sleepwalking against No. 14 seed Kennesaw State for much of the game. However, with a furious rally, they avoided a bracket surprise and won the game 72-67.
The Owls led by 13 with less than 10 minutes to play before Xavier finally woke up. Xavier scored the next 15 points, with Kennesaw State going about 8 minutes without a field goal. This run set up a frantic back-and-forth in which the teams exchanged leads, culminating in Xavier slipping ahead for good on a Colby Jones free throw.
Kennesaw State had several chances late in the game, but their efforts were thwarted when Spencer Rodgers stepped on the sideline while corraling an inbounds pass, preventing him from attempting a game-tying heave.
South Carolina’s Dominant Performance Against Norfolk State
In the first-round game on Friday, No. 1-seeded South Carolina made an emphatic statement against No. 16 Norfolk State. The Gamecocks allowed only seven points in the first quarter and posted 20 points of their own.
South Carolina was one of the favorites to win the tournament, and they showed their dominance in this game. Led by Aliyah Boston, they easily moved past Norfolk State, showcasing their talent and making it clear that they are a team to watch in the tournament.
Overall, these games demonstrate the unpredictable nature of March Madness and the potential for any team to cause an upset or make a deep run in the tournament.
South Carolina Cruises to Second Round of Women’s NCAA Tournament
South Carolina, the defending national champions, easily advanced to the second round of the women’s NCAA tournament with a resounding 72-40 victory against the Spartans. Though the Gamecocks struggled at times, missing 16 of their 41 free throws and committing 12 turnovers, their dominance on their home court proved too much for the Spartans.
Despite the loss, the Spartans didn’t back down and gave a good account of themselves. Kierra Wheeler, a sophomore forward, finished with 13 points and 8 rebounds, going toe-to-toe with one of the best players in the game, Aliyah Boston, a senior forward who finished the game with 7 points and 9 rebounds.
South Carolina will play South Florida, the eighth seed, in the next round. South Florida secured their place after a hard-fought overtime victory over No. 9 Marquette, winning 67-65.
Stanford Begins Quest for Championship Title without Key Player
Top-seeded Stanford began its journey towards a national championship title without one of its best players, Cameron Brink, who sat out the first-round game due to a stomach bug. Brink, a 6-foot-4 junior forward who is the Cardinals’ leading scorer, said on Instagram that she would be back as soon as possible, and her status is day-to-day.
Brink, who averages 14.9 points a game, helped the Cardinals secure a championship two years ago. Despite her absence, Stanford didn’t miss a beat in their first-round game against Sacred Heart University, winning by a score of 92-49. The victory was also significant as it marked the program’s 100th NCAA tournament win.
Pittsburgh Continues Strong Run with Win over Iowa State
Pittsburgh continued its impressive run in the men’s NCAA tournament by securing a dominant 59-41 victory over Iowa State in the first round. After playing in the First Four games, the 11th-seeded Panthers became the 11th team to win their next contest, with a comprehensive dismantling of Iowa State.
Pittsburgh had previously won a close game against Mississippi State in the First Four, but they left no room for doubt in their first-round game, racing out to a 22-2 lead. The Panthers held Iowa State to just 23.3 percent shooting, including 2 of 21 on 3-point attempts.
In the next round, Pittsburgh will face No. 3 seed Xavier, who narrowly avoided an upset against No. 14 Kennesaw State.
First Four Teams: Are the Panthers Poised for a Deeper Run?
Pittsburgh may have an opportunity to join the list of First Four teams that made a deeper run in the tournament. Over the years, ten First Four teams have gone on to win their first-round games, and five of those teams also won their round of 32 games. Virginia Commonwealth and U.C.L.A., both No. 11 seeds, went on to make it to the Final Four. Pittsburgh faces No. 3 seed Xavier in the second round. Can they advance further? Only time will tell. — Sara Ziegler
L.S.U. Cruises to Victory Over Hawaii
Louisiana State University had a dominant performance in the first round of the women’s Division I basketball tournament. The Tigers, led by veteran point guard Alexis Morris, beat Hawaii 73-50. Morris scored her first points of the game in the fourth quarter, which propelled the team forward. L.S.U.’s defense kept Hawaii to a 30.8 percent shooting percentage and forced 21 turnovers. Angel Reese scored 34 points and had 15 rebounds, and Sa’Myah Smith praised her as an “incredible” teammate. — Evan Easterling
Michigan Overcomes Misjudgment to Beat U.N.L.V.
Michigan’s players thought they could predict U.N.L.V.’s offensive plays during their game on Friday. However, they were proven wrong. Despite their error, Michigan won the game against U.N.L.V. Graduate forward Emily Kiser admitted to her mistake, and the team went on to secure the victory. — Unknown
Michigan has advanced to the second round of the women’s N.C.A.A. tournament after beating U.N.L.V. 71-59. The Wolverines will play Louisiana State in the second round on Sunday. U.N.L.V.’s 22-game winning streak ended with the loss, and they struggled to limit turnovers in the first half of the game. Michigan capitalized on the Rebels’ press-and-zone style to create opportunities for corner 3-pointers and gaps in the middle of the floor. U.N.L.V.’s star center, Desi-Rae Young, had a slow start, scoring her first field goal with just over 8 minutes left in the second half. In contrast, Michigan’s Emily Kiser had a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Leigha Brown added 17 points and 7 assists. Maddie Nolan also had 18 points, shooting 4 of 6 from 3-point range, including a crucial 3-pointer during a 12-0 run in the third quarter that allowed the Wolverines to gain separation.
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