March Insanity 2024: The Greatest and Worst from Day 3

Let’s get proper into it.

1. (11) NC State 79, (14) Oakland 73 (OT) (South)

The primary time beyond regulation sport of the 2 performed in Pittsburgh Saturday night time was the most effective second spherical sport the event has proven us to this point.

Energy convention Cinderella versus Mid-Main Cinderella.

Finesse versus energy.

Mascot with bared tooth versus mascot with bared tooth.

Jack Gohlke versus D.J. Burns.

After a back-and-forth first 39 minutes and 40 seconds, Oakland had an opportunity to place NC State away and turn out to be the primary 14-seed ever to beat an 11-seed, and the primary 14-seed to advance to a Candy 16 since Chattanooga in 1997. They threw the ball out-of-bounds with 1.3 seconds to play.

“I blame myself,” longtime Oakland head coach Greg Kampe stated after the sport. “We bought the ball with 17 seconds to go and we didn’t get a shot. There’s just one particular person in charge for that. That’s me, and I’ve bought to take a seat right here and reside with that now.”

NC State then almost made one of many biggest March Insanity photographs of all-time, as Casey Morsell’s 3/4-court heave took a Gordon Hayward bounce off the glass and entrance rim.

Each groups seemed sluggish for the primary jiffy of time beyond regulation, however a Jayden Taylor nook three off a wonderful go from Burns ignited a 7-0 Wolfpack run that put to mattress the mid-major dream of one other weekend of Oakland basketball.

Trey Townsend, whose mother and father each performed basketball at Oakland as nicely, led the Golden Grizzlies with 30 factors. Gohlke as soon as once more got here off the bench and lit it up from the skin, hitting six threes and scoring 22 factors.

Burns was the star for NC State, scoring 24 factors to go together with 11 rebounds and 4 assists.

The Wolfpack are headed to the event’s second weekend for the primary time since 2015, and are one win away from taking part in in a regional last for the primary time since 1986.

2. (3) Creighton 86, (11) Oregon 73 (2OT) (Midwest)

The second sport of the night time in Pittsburgh additionally featured free basketball and an Eleventh-seeded bid-stealer from an influence convention.

After a wild end to the sport’s first time beyond regulation, Dana Altman seemed over at Greg McDermott, the person Altman had handed the reigns to at Creighton 14 years in the past. The 2 shared a understanding smile.

“We had been each in disbelief about what was transpiring in entrance of our eyes,” McDermott stated.

After 9 ties and 14 league exchanges, Oregon — which missed a key free-throw that might have gone a good distance in direction of placing the sport away on the finish of regulation — seemed to be cooked on the finish of the primary time beyond regulation interval. That’s when Jermaine Couisnard, the person who scored 40 factors in opposition to his previous South Carolina staff on Thursday, caught a well-defended three to knot the rating at 71.

Creighton had an opportunity to reply and punch their ticket to the Candy 16 on the opposite finish, however Trey Alexander’s quick baseline jumper discovered nothing however rim.

The second further interval was all Jays.

Steven Ashworth drilled a 3 to get issues began, after which a possession later, Massive East Defensive Participant of the 12 months Ryan Kalkbrenner related on a uncommon triple that appeared to take all of the wind out of Oregon’s sails. Creighton would go on to outscore the Geese 24-11 over the sport’s last 5 minutes.

If Oregon seemed gassed on the finish of time beyond regulation, it was for good cause. The Geese solely had 4 gamers rating within the sport, and 5 gamers performed 37 minutes or extra. Couisnard and massive man N’Faly Dante mixed to attain each single level that Oregon netted after halftime, and 60 of their 73 factors for your complete sport.

It wasn’t sufficient, as Creighton moved two wins away from the Ultimate 4 journey they got here so tantalizingly near capturing 12 months in the past.

3. (2) Tennessee 62, (7) Texas 58 (Midwest)

Talking of head coaches going up in opposition to their previous packages, it was the Rick Barnes Bowl Saturday night time in Charlotte.

Barnes, who served as the pinnacle coach at Texas from 1998-2015, narrowly prevented one other one of many early March upset losses which have come to partially outline each himself and the Tennessee program he now champions.

Tennessee trailed for simply the primary 3:24 of this sport, however 33.8 p.c taking pictures from the ground and a woeful 3-for-25 (12.0 p.c) effort from past the arc allowed the Longhorns to hold round. First Crew All-American Dalton Knecht was simply 5-for-18 from the sector, however his 4 made free-throws within the sport’s last 8.8 seconds prevented UT from a having a shot to push the sport into time beyond regulation or win it in regulation.

The Volunteers now head again to the Candy 16, the place they’re 0-2 underneath Barnes. A win over Creighton on Friday would ship UT to only its second regional last ever, and put the staff a single victory away from changing into the primary Volunteer squad ever to make the Ultimate 4.

1. North Carolina

Coming into Sunday, solely seven No. 1 seeds within the historical past of the NCAA event had ever been favored by 4 factors or fewer of their second spherical sport. These 1-seeds had gone 2-5 straight up in these seven contests.

Not solely was North Carolina a 4-point favourite for its second spherical sport on Saturday, however the Tar Heels had been going up in opposition to Michigan State and Tom Izzo, the person with extra NCAA event wins as a worse seed (20) than another within the historical past of the game.

Didn’t matter.

UNC moved to 5-0 all-time in opposition to Sparty within the Massive Dance with a convincing 85-69 win that was perhaps as full an effort as we’ve seen from any staff within the event to this point. The victory additionally bolstered the Heels’ already well-established title of Candy 16 King.

Duke wants a Sunday win over James Madison to remain inside two of their arch-rivals.

2. Gonzaga

From the all-time Candy 16 King to the present Candy 16 King.

Gonzaga prolonged the longest energetic streak of consecutive journeys to the event’s second weekend to 9 with an 89-68 demolition of Kansas. The Zags’ run of 9 straight Candy 16 appearances can be tied for the second-longest streak in event historical past.

Kansas really led Mark Few’s staff by a degree going into the break earlier than Gonzaga got here out like a home on fireplace within the second half. The Bulldogs hit 9 out of their first 10 photographs after popping out of the locker room, together with a 3-for-3 effort from past the arc, and scored 23 factors within the first eight minutes of the second half.

A 26-4 run after halftime took what had been a wildly aggressive contest and turned it right into a runaway.

Ken Pomeroy would really like the “Gonzaga chokes yearly” crowd to notice the truth that not solely are the Zags headed to a ninth straight Candy 16, however they’ve formally performed to or above their seed line for the thirteenth time within the final 16 NCAA tournaments.

Two months in the past that they had no shot to make the NCAA event.

One month in the past that they had no shot to be a single-digit seed within the NCAA event.

This week that they had no shot to keep away from a 12/5 upset by the hands of 30-win McNeese State.

Now, they’ve joined 2001 Cincinnati as simply the second 5-seed in event historical past to win each of their first two event video games by 20 factors or extra.

Mark Few can coach some basketball.

3. Illinois

The largest blowout of the day got here from Illinois, which blasted Duquesne by 26 in a sport that I’d be prepared to wager had the bottom TV viewership of any on Saturday. That’s not a knock on both staff (nicely, it type of is on Duquesne), it’s only a recognition of the truth that this sport was by no means shut and it additionally simply so occurred to tip-off proper in the intervening time we had three video games going concurrently for the primary time all day.

The victory was a candy reward for Illini followers who’ve not-so-patiently been ready since 2005 for his or her staff to return to the event’s second weekend.

“This program is elite,” Illinois head coach Brad Underwood stated. “To not be there in 18, 19 years, that’s mind-numbing. It feels good to be advancing with this group. That is one in all my favourite groups to teach. On to Boston.”

The win was the twenty eighth of the season for Illinois, making this the third-winningest staff within the historical past of this system. The 2 squads above them on the all-time listing each performed within the Ultimate 4.

Illinois’ electrical offensive efficiency on this one was additionally adequate to maneuver the Illini in to the No. 1 spot In Ken Pomeroy’s adjusted offensive effectivity rankings. The staff’s present score of 126.7 is definitely the fourth-highest of the KenPom period, which dates again to 1999. The three groups above all of them performed within the nationwide championship sport.

1. Kansas

To start with, let me get this out of my system: This could have been Samford. I’m nonetheless offended concerning the whistle from Thursday night time. I’ll at all times be offended concerning the whistle from Thursday night time.

Second, I do know that an early exit had been predictable for the reason that second Kevin McCullar was declared out for the remainder of the season … however goodness. When the Jayhawks laid down after Gonzaga’s blistering begin to the second half, they actually laid down. The combat simply was not there. Like, in any respect.

A season that started with Kansas at No. 1 in each main polls ended with the Jayhawks dropping 11 video games, essentially the most of any staff within the Invoice Self period. No surprise Self stated within the postgame press convention that he has been “interested by subsequent season for the final month.” KU’s 21-point loss to Gonzaga was the second-most lopsided NCAA event defeat in program historical past.

The final 4 video games Kansas has been an underdog within the NCAA event have now seen the Jayhawks lose by 34, 14, 16 and 21 factors.

2. Duquesne

That is merely a nasty break for Duquesne. They had been an overachieving 11-seed that bought blasted by a 3-seed. We should always all go away them alone. I get it.

The issue is that you just didn’t have any main favorites falling flat on their faces on Saturday, so the staff that was on the receiving finish of the day’s largest ass kicking type of has to finish up on this listing.

The loss was essentially the most lopsided of the season for Duquesne. It additionally marked the tip of the pinnacle teaching profession of Keith Dambrot (do you know he coached LeBron James in highschool?), who’s retiring after a 26-year head teaching run.

“It wasn’t fairly the way in which I wanted it might finish,” Dambrot stated after the sport.

Dambrot’s profession ends with a 441-269 general document over three Division-I stops at Akron, Central Michigan and Duquesne.

3. Washington State

That is extra of a private disappointment, as a result of I assumed Washington State was going to beat Iowa State on Saturday.

Kyle Smith’s staff compelled Iowa State into lacking 14 of its first 17 photographs of the sport, nevertheless it didn’t really feel like Wazzou took sufficient benefit of the 2-seed’s gradual begin. As soon as the Cyclones discovered their footing they had been nonetheless shut sufficient to inside placing distance to fairly shortly get again to degree with the Cougars.

The worst half about this loss for Washington State was that it was the primary of the event by any staff from the Pac-12 … the convention that famously dissolved and left simply the Cougars and Oregon State nonetheless sitting of their damaged house.

1. Jack Gohlke

Oakland’s NCAA event run ended on Saturday, nevertheless it didn’t occur with out its breakout star making a bit little bit of historical past.

Jack Gohlke buried six threes within the loss to NC State, giving him 16 for the event. That’s essentially the most of any participant in event historical past by two video games.

On Thursday morning, no person knew who this man was. Three days later he’s doing TurboTax commercials and followers at PPG Enviornment had been lining up 50-deep to try to get their image with him.

Even after a loss, Gohlke was comfortable to oblige.

Once more, 72 hours in the past, none of those individuals begging for a photograph had any concept who Gohlke was. Now, they — and the remainder of us — will all keep in mind him without end.

The fantastic thing about March.

2. The ACC’s Candy 16 streak

Because the elimination of the NCAA event’s bids-per-conference restrictions within the Nineteen Seventies, there has not been a single Candy 16 that didn’t characteristic no less than one staff from the ACC. No different convention can say this.

The streak will proceed into no less than 2025, as North Carolina and NC State each punched their tickets to the second weekend on Saturday. Duke and Clemson can each be a part of them with wins on Sunday.

Virginia … nicely, Virginia continues to be a nationwide embarrassment after Tuesday night time.

3. Match viewership

We simply skilled the most-watched first spherical within the historical past of the NCAA event, and my guess is that the numbers for the second spherical are going to be stellar as nicely.

4. Iowa State’s turnaround

Each fan base within the nation supporting a program that’s down is pointing to Iowa State as a cause to have hope that issues could be rotated and rotated shortly on this new period of faculty basketball.

Three seasons in the past, the Cyclones went 2-22. After the season, they fired head coach Steve Prohm and introduced in T.J. Otzelberger from UNLV. Within the three seasons which have transpired since, Iowa State has been to 3 NCAA tournaments and now a pair of Candy 16s, making Otzelberger the primary coach in Cyclone historical past to information this system to the event’s second weekend greater than as soon as.

Once more, he’s achieved this in three seasons.

Bonus notice for Cyclone followers: In three years at Iowa State, Otzelberger additionally has the identical variety of NCAA event wins that Fran McCaffery has in 14 seasons at rival Iowa. And Otzelberger’s not achieved this season.

5. Brendan Haywood’s “crossed him over to TruTV” remark

The previous North Carolina massive man has been completely gratifying as an analyst to this point this event, and he gave us no doubt the road of the event to this point on Saturday afternoon.

Shoutout Impractical Jokers.

1. The early standalone video games

I’ll by no means perceive the structure of the event’s first Saturday and Sunday. I imply I’m positive the reason is rooted in one thing associated to rankings and cash, nevertheless it nonetheless defies fundamental logic from a fan perspective.

After being flooded with video games in any respect hours for the earlier 48 hours, we get simply two video games back-to-back for the primary 5 hours of the day. No video games happening on the identical time. Even the primary half of the third sport is alone on an island. After which BAM, we’ve bought six video games hurled at us through the night session.

There’s no cause to have second spherical video games wrapping up after midnight on the East Coast. It’s a straightforward repair, and it blows my thoughts that it hasn’t occurred but. This yr was particularly foolish with Salt Lake Metropolis getting assigned the primary two tip-times for some cause, that means Dayton-Arizona tipped off at round 10:40 a.m. native time.

Each Dayton-Arizona and Michigan State-North Carolina had been aggressive sufficient for stretches to maintain us engaged, however it might have been good to have no less than another possibility outdoors of a pair of video games that each ended up with double-digit margins of victory.

Giving us all these choices for 48 hours straight after which yanking them away and not using a correct adjustment interval is merciless and weird punishment.

2. The shortage of aggressive video games

The three finest video games of Saturday all delivered. The opposite 5 … not a lot.

With Creighton successful its double OT sport in opposition to Oregon by 13, solely two of Saturday’s eight video games had been determined by single-digits.

Generally you want a forgettable handful of video games to put the muse for a extra thrilling spherical forward. Right here’s hoping that not getting a ton of thrillers on Saturday merely means the desk is about for stellar Candy 16.

3. Danning Manning

Look, nothing went proper for Kansas on Saturday.

“Danning and the Miranclens.”

4. The “convention event fatigue” storyline

Bear in mind the Gerry McNamara Massive East event in 2006? For individuals who don’t, McNamara and Syracuse got here to New York on the NCAA event bubble and promptly ripped off 4 extremely aggressive victories in 4 days to punch their ticket to the Massive Dance.

The Orange ended up incomes a 5-seed for the NCAA event, however bought bounced pretty handily by Twelfth-seeded Texas A&M within the first spherical. Nobody appeared in charge them. Everybody instantly deferred to a “they seemed fully exhausted from the week earlier than” excuse, after which talked extra concerning the loopy shot that Gerry hit within the first spherical in opposition to Cincinnati.

5 years later, Kemba Walker and Connecticut one-upped that Syracuse staff. Taking part in within the expanded Massive East event, the Huskies received 5 video games in 5 days, within the course of changing into the primary staff in school basketball historical past to seize a convention event title by successful 5 video games. Nobody wanted to make use of fatigue as an excuse for that staff’s exit from the NCAA event, as a result of it by no means occurred. Walker and firm received six extra video games over the subsequent three weeks and captured this system’s third nationwide championship.

Nobody had replicated UConn’s feat till this yr, when NC State went from not even near the NCAA event dialogue and doubtlessly firing its head coach to successful 5 video games in 5 days to seize the ACC event title. Kevin Keatts’ staff wasn’t rewarded with a single-digit seed like that UConn squad, however to this point the Eleventh-seeded Wolfpack has replicated the Huskies’ success.

With NC State’s time beyond regulation win over Oakland on Saturday, groups which have received 5 video games of their convention tournaments at the moment are 8-0 all-time within the NCAA event.

Let’s additionally keep in mind that no staff has ever received the nationwide title with out successful no less than one sport of their convention event, or with out advancing to no less than their convention event semifinals.

Your favourite staff’s head coach would possibly inform you that he “secretly hoped for the additional relaxation and preparation time” if his squad goes one-and-done in its league tourney. Your favourite staff’s head coach is a liar. And a loser. And possibly smells.

Fatigue doesn’t exist in March.

5. Tom Izzo in opposition to North Carolina

North Carolina’s 85-69 conquer Michigan State moved it to 6-0 all-time in opposition to the Spartans in March Insanity, and 5-0 in event video games in opposition to Tom Izzo.

The UNC wins over Izzo have all been wildly constant:

1998: 15 level win
2005: 16 level win
2007: 14 level win
2009: 17 level win
2024: 16 level win

When you ever see these two matched up once more and the unfold is outdoors of the teenagers, hammer the Heels.

BONUS JEER: The time beyond regulation snoozers

We’ve had three time beyond regulation video games on this event, two of them on Saturday, they usually’ve been determined by 12, 6 and 13 factors, respectively.

I’m by no means going to be one to complain about free basketball, but when the additional drama isn’t going to come back with any, nicely, further drama, then I’d simply as quickly have the factor finish with a final second shot in regulation.

We’re additionally nonetheless searching for a real buzzer-beater.

Loads of time, I do know.

Terrence Shannon Jr., Illinois

The Combating Illini star hit 10-of-14 photographs and scored 30 factors in Illinois’ rout of Duquesne.

N’Faly Dante, Oregon

Laborious to select between Dante and teammate Jermaine Couisnard right here, however we’ll go along with the massive man, who put up a ridiculous 28 factors and 20 rebounds in Oregon’s double time beyond regulation loss to Creighton.

Trey Townsend, Oakland

The Horizon League Participant of the 12 months confirmed the school basketball world what he was about this week. Townsend scored 30 factors and snagged 13 rebounds in Oakland’s slim loss to NC State.

Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton

Creighton’s massive man did a bit little bit of all the things to assist the Bluejays get again to the Candy 16 for the third time within the final 4 years, ending with 19 factors, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks.

DJ Burns, NC State

America’s favourite massive man was at it once more, exhibiting off his tender arms and ridiculous ability set to the tune of 24 factors, 11 rebounds and 4 assists.

1. Keshad Johnson, Arizona

We’re combining his two finest dunks into one spot, which is dishonest, however no matter. They had been each nice.

2. N’Faly Dante, Oregon

3. Mohamed Diarra, NC State

1. Locker room euphoria

We had been overdue for a locker room water gun combat. Fortunately, Illinois delivered.

Photograph by Tyler Schank/NCAA Images through Getty Photographs

2. Carolina punks Sparty … once more

Photograph by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Photographs

3. Tennessee survives

Photograph by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photographs

5 Notable Quotes From Day 3

1. “We actually needed to win in the present day. I needed to go to Dallas actually dangerous. All the fellows actually needed to go to Dallas. However I advised them within the locker room, the factor I needed essentially the most actually was to see everybody at observe on Monday. That’s the factor I’m gonna miss essentially the most, is simply seeing my guys each single day.” —Oakland senior guard Jack Gohlke

2. “For the final month I’ve been interested by subsequent season, to be sincere.” —Kansas head coach Invoice Self

3. “That was an epic sport. I’m undecided I’ve been part of one fairly prefer it in 35 years of teaching.” —Creighton head coach Greg McDermott

4. “I’m not making any bones about it. We underachieved. And that’s on me.” —Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo

5. “These are the sorts of video games within the event you get bounced while you shoot as poorly as we did, however we discovered a method with our protection. The ten further photographs that we bought (through offensive rebounds) had been clearly essential to us. However needed to get it achieved on the defensive finish.” —Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes

Final day of the primary weekend. Let’s go away all of it on the market.