LAS VEGAS (AP) — March has gone from insanity to unprecedented.
With Miami’s win over Houston and San Diego State’s takedown of Alabama on Friday evening, the boys’s NCAA Event is not going to have a No. 1 seed within the Elite Eight for the primary time since seeding started in 1979.
“There’s not lots of distinction between one of the best group within the nation and the worst group within the nation,” San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher stated. “You’re seeing that on this stage.”
Purdue, Kansas, Houston and Alabama are all gone, guaranteeing the Last 4 is not going to have a No. 1 group for the primary time since 2011 and the third total. The 4 groups deemed by the NCAA to be one of the best within the nation mixed to win 5 event video games this yr, the fewest by three amongst No. 1 seeds because the area expanded to 64 groups in 1985.
Texas is the lone No. 2 seed remaining after bouncing Xavier out of the bracket 83-71 Friday evening below interim coach Rodney Terry. The fewest mixed No. 1-2 seeds within the Elite Eight earlier than this yr was two (3 times).
How loopy has it been? The nationwide title recreation is assured to have not less than one among these groups: San Diego State, Creighton, Florida Atlantic or Kansas State. The Aztecs, Bluejays and Owls have by no means been to the Elite Eight. The Wildcats have been picked to complete final within the Massive 12.
It’s additionally a lock the successful coach might be a first-time champion.
“It’s lots of actually good packages within the nation which have misplaced — I imply, we may go down the checklist of them,” Alabama coach Nate Oats stated. “That’s what makes the NCAA Event the NCAA Event. They’re all good groups.”
The insanity began within the opening spherical of the East Area, when fairytale Fairleigh Dickinson wrecked brackets world wide by changing into the second No. 16 seed to beat a No. 1.
Goodbye, Purdue.
Arkansas was the subsequent large killer, taking down reigning nationwide champion and West Area No. 1 seed Kansas within the second spherical.
The Candy 16 turned bitter on Friday for Alabama, the bracket’s No. 1 total seed. The Crimson Tide have been no match for Dutcher’s ball-and-body-hawking San Diego State Aztecs in a 71-64 South Area loss in Louisville, Kentucky. San Diego State is the primary Mountain West Convention faculty to achieve the Elite Eight.
Miami capped the No. 1 carnage within the Midwest Area by taking aside one of many nation’s stingiest defenses in a 89-75 win over Houston in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri that had Hurricanes coach Jim Larranaga dancing within the locker room.
“Sadly, one off-night and also you go house on this event,” Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson stated.
On to an Elite Eight not like some other.
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AP Sports activities Author Josh Dubow contributed to this report.
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AP March Insanity protection: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness and bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
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