Saturday’s College Basketball Action Sets the Stage for March Madness
The final Saturday of the men’s college basketball regular season provided fans with a taste of the madness that is to come in March. From high-profile showdowns to heated rivalry games, the day was filled with surprising results and thrilling moments. Here are nine takeaways from Saturday’s slate of games.
1. North Carolina Completes Season Sweep of Rival Duke
In a game that lacked much drama on the court, North Carolina defeated Duke 84-79 to complete a season sweep of their rival. However, it was the postgame antics that stole the show. After the victory, North Carolina players taunted the Cameron Crazies, prompting some Duke students to retaliate by throwing drinks and other objects at the Tar Heels. Duke head coach Jon Scheyer later approached the students, shook their hands, and apologized for the incident. Despite the off-court drama, North Carolina proved once again that they are the superior team in this rivalry.
2. Kelvin Sampson Deserves National Coach of the Year Honors
While UConn’s Dan Hurley has been the frontrunner for national coach of the year, Houston’s Kelvin Sampson has made a strong case for himself. After leading his team to a Big 12 title with a dominant 76-46 victory over Kansas, Sampson’s achievements cannot be ignored. Houston has been the top team in all major predictive metrics since December and boasts the most Quadrant 1 victories in the nation. Sampson’s ability to guide his team through a transition from the American to the Big 12 has been nothing short of impressive.
3. Kentucky is a Team No. 1 Seeds Should Fear
Despite being unlikely to receive anything higher than a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament, Kentucky proved why they are a team that no top seed should want to face. In a thrilling 85-81 victory over SEC champion Tennessee, the Wildcats showcased their offensive firepower and defensive competence. With a roster filled with future NBA talent, Kentucky has the potential to make a deep run in the tournament and should not be taken lightly by teams like Houston, Purdue, and UConn.
4. Villanova Falls Flat in “Super Bowl” Matchup
Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune described Saturday’s game against Creighton as his team’s “Super Bowl.” Unfortunately for the Wildcats, they failed to live up to the hype, falling behind 12-0 in the early minutes of the game. Despite showing resilience and fighting back to tie the score in the final seconds, Villanova ultimately lost 69-67. The loss puts pressure on the Wildcats as they enter the Big East tournament, needing a strong showing to secure their spot in the NCAA tournament.
5. Memphis’ At-Large Hopes Dwindle
After a strong start to the season, Memphis has fallen on hard times and will likely need to win their conference tournament to secure an NCAA bid. A 92-84 loss to Florida Atlantic dealt a blow to their at-large hopes, leaving them with a record of 22-9. Injuries and chemistry issues have plagued the team, and their early-season victories over strong opponents no longer carry the same weight. Memphis will need to regroup and make a strong showing in their conference tournament if they hope to make it to the Big Dance.
6. South Florida’s Bubble Bursts
South Florida suffered a costly loss to Tulsa, damaging their case for an NCAA tournament bid. Despite winning the American Athletic Conference by two full games, the Bulls’ early-season losses to lower-ranked teams have hurt their resume. While they have quality wins over teams like Memphis and Florida State, their overall metrics are not strong enough to secure an at-large bid. South Florida will now have to rely on winning their conference tournament or settle for a trip to the NIT.
7. Morehead State Punches Ticket to NCAA Tournament
Morehead State became the first men’s team to secure a spot in the NCAA tournament with a 69-55 victory over Arkansas Little Rock in the Ohio Valley Conference title game. Despite losing their preseason conference player of the year to injury, the Eagles showed resilience and pulled away for the win. As a potential No. 14 or 15 seed, Morehead State promises to be a tough matchup for any opponent in the tournament.
8. Conference Tournament Upsets Abound
Conference tournament play is often cruel to teams that dominated their regular-season schedules. On Saturday, No. 1 seeds Longwood and Central Connecticut State fell victim to upsets, ending their hopes of making the NCAA tournament. Vermont narrowly avoided a similar fate, rallying late to secure a victory and advance in their conference tournament. The pressure is on for these teams to perform at their best during this crucial time of year.
9. Merrimack Seeks Redemption
After being ineligible for an NCAA bid last year, Merrimack is determined to make the most of