Tennessee entered Friday because the fourth and ultimate projected No. 1 seed in Jerry Palm’s newest Bracketology , however the insanity of March and the slim margin of error this late within the season could have tipped the scales in another person’s favor after a wild spherical of convention match motion main into the weekend. The mix of the Volunteers’ blowout loss to Mississippi State, Arizona’s stunning loss to Oregon and North Carolina’s win over Pitt to advance to the ACC Match title sport now has the Tar Heels supplanting Tennessee because the fourth No. 1 seed, becoming a member of Houston, Purdue and UConn on the highest line.
“Tennessee’s loss, mixed with North Carolina’s win and Arizona’s loss has the Tar Heels within the driver’s seat for the fourth No. 1 seed,” Palm mentioned. “North Carolina will go for the ACC title on Saturday and put the ultimate touches on a prime seed match résumé.”
UNC’s win not solely afforded it yet another likelihood to safe a win for the committee to think about, however losses by Tennessee and Arizona earlier than their respective title video games ensured they’d miss on an opportunity so as to add two Quadrant 1 wins main into Choice Sunday. That is a number of wins in a single day for the Carolina blue. That is why, as you may think, they’re our main winner in our roundup of the day’s winners and losers from convention match motion throughout the nation.
Beneath are the very best (and worst) of the remainder.
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Winner: Purdue dodges catastrophe
When Purdue guard Braden Smith crashed to the ground within the second half of the Boilermakers’ 67-62 win over Michigan State within the Huge Ten Match quarterfinals, it appeared doubtlessly catastrophic. The 6-foot sophomore guard has emerged as Purdue’s second-leading scorer this yr and is among the many nation’s prime distributors. As he lay on the ground writhing in ache, Purdue’s path to NCAA Match redemption gave the impression to be hanging within the stability. However it wasn’t as disastrous because it initially appeared, and Smith was capable of return. — David Cobb
Loser: Tennessee limps into NCAA Match
Tennessee entered the SEC Match with reputable aspirations of accomplishing this system’s first-ever No. 1 seed for the NCAA Match. These hopes could have light in a disastrous 73-56 quarterfinal loss to Mississippi State. The Bulldogs improved to 2-0 towards the Volunteers on the season and solidified their very own case to make the Huge Dance after starting the day as one of many “Final 4 In” the projected area in Jerry Palm’s Bracketology. Tennessee will enter Choice Sunday on its first two-game shedding streak since November and reeling below the load of its worst efficiency of the season. The Vols shot a season-worst 30.6% from the ground. — Cobb
Winner: Madison Sq. Backyard at all times delivers
My what a day it was to be Madison Sq. Backyard. The enduring venue performed host to some of the environment friendly offensive shootouts of the season – No. 1 seed UConn took down No. 5 seed St. John’s within the Huge East Match semis – and it was the scene of an intense crowd, too. Simply take heed to the roars within the background right here as Rick Pitino – then Dan Hurley – each bought technical fouls on the similar spot within the first half.
Epic. MSG additionally got here away a winner separate from the video games themselves; Huge East Commissioner Val Ackerman introduced earlier within the day that The Backyard would be the host of the league’s postseason match by means of 2032 – a four-year extension from the earlier settlement in place. — Boone
Winner: Auburn makes a press releaseÂ
Auburn is heading into the semifinals of the SEC Match after a fourth consecutive double-digit victory. The Tigers walloped South Carolina 86-55 in quarterfinals motion to deliver their mixed margin of victory in two video games towards the Gamecocks to 69 factors. An uneven stretch of February motion knocked Auburn out of SEC regular-season title competition, however coach Bruce Pearl’s membership seems like a drive to be reckoned with in Nashville, Tennessee, this week. With a comparatively straightforward victory of their opening sport of the match, the already-deep Tigers had been capable of relaxation their finest gamers and may have contemporary legs for Saturday’s sport towards a Mississippi State crew that shall be enjoying its third sport in three days. — Cobb
Loser: Ohio State‘s magic runs out
When Ohio State fired coach Chris Holtmann on Valentine’s Day with the Buckeyes sitting at 14-11 (4-10 Huge Ten), the concept of this crew making an NCAA Match push appeared ludicrous. Its subsequent sport was towards Purdue, and nothing concerning the earlier 5 weeks indicated Ohio State would discover its solution to the bubble. However a surprising upset of the Boilermakers started a stretch of six wins in seven video games for the Buckeyes below interim coach Jake Diebler. The spurt introduced the Buckeyes all the best way to “First 4 Out” territory in Jerry Palm’s NCAA Match Bracketology getting into a Huge Ten Match quarterfinal showdown with No. 2 seed Illinois. Then, Ohio State ran out of gasoline. — Cobb
Loser: Kentucky’s protection fails once more
All season lengthy, Kentucky’s offense has been spectacular sufficient to win video games in shootouts. However all season lengthy, Kentucky’s protection has been depressing sufficient to torpedo even among the most winnable of video games. See: Friday. Texas A&M struggled defending the Wildcats freshman duo of Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham, nevertheless it did not matter — as a result of Kentucky could not cease A&M in any respect on the opposite finish. The Aggies scored 97 in a 10-point win which tied for his or her highest level whole in a sport this season with its 97 scored on Jan. 13 … which additionally got here vs. Kentucky and in addition resulted in an A&M win. — Boone
Winner: UConn stays scorching, reaches 30 wins
On the heels of a magical 31-win season that resulted in a nationwide championship, it could have been acceptable — heck, perhaps even anticipated — for UConn to have a just-OK season and skate by with 25 wins. Nuh uh. The No. 2 Huskies have been scorching all yr and stayed scorching on Friday in downing a frisky St. John’s crew within the Huge East semis, 95-90. The win helped them to their thirtieth on the season — their eleventh 30-win season in program historical past and seventh for the reason that flip of the century. — Boone
Winner: Houston continues Huge 12 dominance
No. 1 Houston 82, No. 25 Texas Tech 59.
No, that is not a typo. Sure, Houston actually beat a Texas Tech crew that’s ranked and has been red-hot by 23 (!!!) factors in Kansas Metropolis.Â
Houston’s already gained the outright Huge 12 regular-season title in its first season with the league and is on the cusp of profitable the Huge 12 Match, too, with the win shifting it to Saturday’s tourney finale. The Cougars’ protection fully froze Tech’s offense, and their offense was as deadly as ever, making 12 3s and capturing practically 50% from the sector within the win. — Boone
Loser: Arizona falls in need of three-peat in stunner
The highest-seeded Arizona Wildcats took a tumble within the Pac-12 Match semifinals, falling 67-59 to No. 4 seed Oregon and stopping them in need of their likelihood to three-peat as Pac-12 tourney champions. The Wildcats led by as many as 14 within the first half and took a 10-point lead into the break however struggled defensively to gradual the red-hot Geese within the second half. Oregon outscored the Wildcats 44-26 within the ultimate 20 minutes and hit six of its 11 3-point makes an attempt. —Â Boone
Winner: Saint Peter’s dramatic win
The Peacocks of Saint Peter’s are one win away from their second NCAA Match look in three seasons after downing No. 1 seed Quinnipiac within the MAAC Match semifinals. Peacocks ahead Mouhamed Sow had a team-high 15 factors however none larger than his final two, which got here simply earlier than the ultimate horn to seal the win. Saint Peter’s famously made the Elite Eight two seasons in the past below Shaheen Holloway as a No. 15 seed, downing within the course of No. 2 seed Kentucky, No. 7 seed Murray State and No. 3 seed Purdue. A possible Cinderella story is as soon as once more brewing. — Boone
Loser: Pitt’s tourney hopes take a flip
Pitt was the ultimate crew within the bracket getting into Friday for Palm and missed a possibility to solidify its standing as an NCAA Match crew with a 72-65 loss to North Carolina within the ACC Match semifinals. The Panthers have gained 10 of their final 13 video games and appeared like a crew worthy of an at-large bid, however their résumé has them proper on the reduce line forward of Choice Sunday. A win may’ve put them into the sector, however now it might be an extended couple of days of ready to see what occurs when the bracket is revealed. — Boone
Winner: Iowa State units up rematch with Houston
The matchup everybody needed within the Huge 12 Match finale is the matchup we are going to get. No. 1 seed Houston will face No. 2 seed Iowa State within the third assembly of the season between the 2 groups. The 2 cut up the common season collection with each the house groups profitable, so this ought to be a detailed one. Houston dominated Texas Tech earlier on Friday however Iowa State made fast work of Baylor in a 76-57 beatdown of its personal. This won’t simply be a matchup between the 2 finest groups within the Huge 12 — however arguably two of the highest three or 4 groups in the complete sport. — Boone
Loser: Entrance-runners within the SEC
The NCAA Match is not even right here and but March Insanity is already delivering on its identify, notably within the SEC, the place on Friday three of the 4 lower-seeded groups snuck out wins as underdogs. The outcomes despatched house No. 1 seed Tennessee, No. 2 seed Kentucky and No. 3 seed Alabama after losses to Mississippi State, Texas A&M and Florida, respectively.
Simply how uncommon is that? This SEC Match would be the first to not function a No. 1, No. 2 or No. 3 seed within the semifinals. The seed whole of the 4 groups standing (Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Auburn, Florida) can be the best within the historical past of the match getting into the semifinals, per Blake Lovell.
Winner: North Carolina reaches ACC title sport
High-seeded North Carolina is into the ACC Match title sport, warding off a valiant effort from 4-seed Pittsburgh 72-65. It is the Tar Heels’ first look within the match ultimate since 2018 after they misplaced to Virginia.
Pitt’s Jaland Lowe okayknotted the sport at 62 with 4:23 left, however the Tar Heels responded with a 7-0 spurt fueled by two RJ Davis 3-pointers. The ACC Participant of the Yr completed with a team-high 25 factors, and Armando Bacot added 19 factors and 11 rebounds. General, 31 of the senior duo’s 44 factors got here within the second half after Pitt led 35-33 at halftime. — Zach Pereles