The South and Midwest regions were the first to launch yesterday and there have already been upsets, three in each region in fact, the biggest of which is Oral Roberts’ victory over Ohio State. But there was also Purdue’s unexpected setback to North Texas, or to a lesser extent, Tennessee to Oregon State.
This is the bad news of the day because it most likely means the end of Yves Pons’ university career, in a very small game with 4 points and 2 rebounds. For the seeds, Illinois, Baylor or even Houston, Arkansas, West Virginia and Villanova, it goes with more or less authority …
Illinois and Baylor carefree
Like this pass between the legs of defender Andre Curbelo (8 points, 5 assists) for the big dunk of Kofi Cockburn (18 points, 5 rebounds), Illinois qualified without problem against Drexel (78- 49). Without forcing, Ayo Dosunmu (17 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists) even allowed himself to register his first basket 6 minutes from the break.
The Fighting Illini finished the first half with a scathing 32-13 and quickly took a 20 point lead in the second half, never to be in danger again. James Butler (10 points, 10 rebounds) and Xavier Bell (12 points) are Drexel’s only players in the ten. In the next round, Illinois will face a rival, Loyola Chicago, against whom they have a record of 12 wins and 3 losses in their history.
For Baylor, it was a little more complicated against Hartford, who will have resisted longer, but the Bears have finally made speak their power, and their defense by forcing in particular 24 stray balls (79-55).
MaCio Teague (22 points) and Davion Mitchell (12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals) carried Baylor’s attack while Jared Butler tore a little in address with 5/16 on shots including 1/8 on 3-points but 13 points, 9 assists and 5 steals in the end. For Hartford, Austin Williams (19 points, 7 rebounds, 4 stray balls) and Traci Carter (11 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 7 stray balls) were far too lonely …
Purdue trapped by North Texas
Like Ohio State overthrown by Oral Roberts, Purdue will not pass the first round, eliminated by North Texas, the “Mean Green” Machine winning in overtime behind the exploits of Thomas Bell (16 points) and Javion Hamlet (24 points, 12 rebounds). This is the first victory for the small Texas college in the final tournament!
However, when, 3 minutes from the end, Trevion Williams (14 points, 13 rebounds) crushes a big dunk (plus the fault) after the interception, and Jaden Ivey (26 points 10/24 on shots) him followed suit for an acrobatic layup, plus the fault too, we thought Purdue was finally on… but North Texas found the solutions with four players from his five major at 10 points or more and a crippling 17-8 in overtime.
Oklahoma State s’impose sans un grand Cunningham
Declaring before the start of the tournament that he was inspired by Carmelo Anthony and his winning streak with Syracuse in 2003, Cade Cunningham got off to a rather complicated start for his debut in the final tournament. After missing his first five shots, he finally managed to rock the game in the closing minutes by scoring 9 points in a row to finish at 15 points, plus 5 rebounds, at 3/14 on shots.
His teammate Avery Anderson (21 points, 7 rebounds, 4 interceptions) secured the score for the Cowboys who made the difference in the second half, holding Liberty 36% on shots. Elijah Cuffee (16 points, 4 assists) was also the rare Flames player to shoot effectively, when McGhee (4/13), Preston (4/11) and Parker (3/10) unscrewed.
North Carolina, a little tour and then go
Tar Heels coach Roy Williams (in place since 2003) had never lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament. But like Duke or Kentucky, not even qualified, North Carolina is one of those prestigious universities which have had a very complicated season and Roy Williams’ series ended against Wisconsin (85-62).
Despite the efforts of Armando Bacot (15 points), UNC has never been able to keep up with the Badgers and a Brad Davison on fire: 29 points to 10/15 on shots including 5/7 to 3-points . Dmitrik Trice (21 points) was also essential for the Badgers who spoke about their experience and their toughness, holding North Carolina at 38% on shots.
Yves Pons and Tennessee already out of the game …
Unconstant at will, especially in this second part of the season, the Tennessee attack was absent yesterday against Oregon State. Like Yves Pons (4 points, 2 rebounds), the Vols have never seemed able to worry the Beavers, thrown full ball since their title of the Pac-12 (70-56).
Finishing at 5/26 at 3-pointers and 33% on shots overall, Tennessee has never found a rhythm in attack, with too many dribbles and snack shots. Keon Johnson (14 points, 6 rebounds) finished leading scorer for the Vols, but it was a disappointing end to the season for Tennessee, admittedly deprived of John Fulkerson.
Conversely, behind a perfect Roman Silva 16 points at 8/8 and an Ethan Thompson (13 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists) in the oven and in the mill, Oregon State pursues its destiny at the Cinderella. After being snubbed by all the pundits, who saw them dead last, the Beavers will face Cade Cunningham and the Cowboys in the next round.
The best dunks of the first day:
The full results of the first day:
“South” region
(7) Florida – (10) Virginia Tech (75-70 ap)
(3) Arkansas – (14) Colgate (85-68)
(6) Texas Tech – (11) Utah State (65-53)
(2) Ohio State – (15) Oral Roberts (72-75 ap)
(1) Baylor – (16) Hartford (79-55)
(8) North Carolina – (9) Wisconsin (62-85)
(4) Purdue – (13) North Texas (69-78 ap)
(5) Villanova – (12) Winthrop (73-63)
Midwest region
(1) Illinois – (16) Drexel (78-49)
(8) Loyola Chicago – (9) Georgia Tech (71-60)
(5) Tennessee – (12) Oregon State (56-70)
(4) Oklahoma State – (13) Liberty (69-60)
(2) Houston – (15) Cleveland State (87-56)
(7) Clemson – (10) Rutgers (56-60)
(6) San Diego State – (11) Syracuse (62-78)
(3) West Virginia – (14) Morehead State (84-67)
The program of the day
“West” region
(3) Kansas vs. (14) Eastern Washington
(5) Creighton vs. (12) UC Santa Barbara
(6) USC vs. (11) Drake
(2) Iowa vs. (15) Grand Canyon
(4) Virginia vs. (13) Ohio
(8) Oklahoma vs. (9) Missouri
(1) Gonzaga vs. (16) Norfolk State
(7) Oregon vs. (10) VCU
“East” region
(5) Colorado vs. (12) Georgetown
(4) Florida State vs. (13) UNC Greensboro
(8) LSU vs. (9) St. Bonaventure
(1) Michigan vs. (16) Texas Southern
(2) Alabama vs. (15) Iona
(7) UConn vs. (10) Maryland
(6) BYU vs. (11) UCLA
(3) Texas vs. (14) Abilene Christian
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