Wild, wild day in college basketball, as is the usual with the conference tournaments. Matt Zemek covered a lot of the bubble teams earlier today. Be sure to check that one out.
There will be a lot of words so let's hit up the action. To keep it simple, we'll do it by league.
Photo via Frank Franklin II / AP Photo from ESPN.com
ACC
#9 Florida State 67 #8 Maryland 65
The Noles got a dunk from Boris Bojanovsky with under a second left for the big win.
#5 Pittsburgh 84 #12 Wake Forest 55
The Panthers set up a meeting with UNC by beating the ever loving hell out of Wake. If this was the last game of the Jeff B era, it was like a lot of his losses at Wake Forest.
#7 NC State 67 #10 Miami 58
The Hurricanes could not defend their ACC tournament title. Unlike a tournament for something like the WWE title, this does not add excitement to things. I would have added excitement if they had a chance to win it again because they were not very good this season.
#6 Clemson 69 #11 Georgia Tech 65 – OT
This game went into overtime when someone on Georgia Tech made a shot off an offensive rebound to tie the game. Oh yeah, it's going to be that kind of recap. I'm sorry, I didn't actually see every second of some of these games. I'm not Raphielle Johnson.
AAC
#6 Houston 68 #3 SMU 64
SMU proved Road SMU was a stark reality as they dropped a 9 point halftime lead in a game where Houston was kind of great. Houston confuses me because they have some talent but they just haven't put it together. They put it on SMU in the second half. This was a big win for that program. This could be a nice in state rivalry.
#2 Louisville 92 #7 Rutgers 31
Yup.
#1 Cincinnati 61 #9 UCF 58
The Knights had some chances to make this a game with some wide open looks at 3s but they didn't fall. Cincinnati was able to ice the game at the line. This is the type of game that I was worried about Cincinnati playing in the first round of the NCAA tournament. If they end up against someone like this, they could lose that. I doubt they stink up the joint this much though. Speaking of stinking up the joint.
#4 Connecticut 72 #5 Memphis 53
Josh Pastner spelled out stunk at halftime. He must have seen the second half coming because oh boy was this an ass kicking. Memphis played like this was the second round of the NCAA tournament or something. That defense is not very good at all. That's a problem. Especially when they couldn't score on UConn as the Huskies pulled the 3 and 0 against them. Connecticut and Cincinnati have played two very good games this year. At least two very dramatic games. I'm thinking we see a third.
ATLANTIC 10
#9 St Bonaventure 82 #8 La Salle 72
The Explorers disappointing follow up their the Sweet 16 season of a year ago ends with a run in the Bonnie brick wall. The Bonnies draw St Louis at noon.
#5 Dayton 87 #13 Fordham 74
The Flyers avoid a bad loss for their tournament portfolio with an easy win. They get St Joe's this afternoon in a game that the loser will regret. Every losing team probably regrets losing, but this team could get regreNITing it pretty big.
#7 Richmond 76 #10 Duquesne 64
The Spiders get their chance to knock off VCU tomorrow night. I like that St Bonaventure is the Bonnies and Duquesne are the Dukes. Makes things easier.
#6 UMass 65 #11 Rhode Island 61
The Minutemen avoided a potentially dangerous loss at the hands of the Rams. This win gives UMass a meeting with GW and then a potential meeting with VCU. I think that UMass could be a dark horse from this spot.
BIG 12
#4 Iowa State 91 #5 Kansas State 85
Loved the rowdy pro-Iowa State crowd. This was a great way to kick off the tournament. It also sets up a major game between ISU and…
#1 Kansas 77 #8 Oklahoma State 70 – OT
The Jayhawks needed OT to beat the Cowboys after Oklahoma State made a furious second half rally. The Cowboys ran out of gas as Kansas flexed their muscles.
#3 Texas 66 #6 West Virginia 49
Texas played like this was a Saturday game because they beat the holy hell out of WVU from start to finish.
#7 Baylor 78 #2 Oklahoma 73
The Bears have been on a roll lately. They pick up win number 5 in a row and 9 of 10. The 1 loss in that span was to ….. Texas.
BIG EAST
#8 Seton Hall 64 #1 Villanova 63
We covered the Sterling Gibbs game winner and it's repercussions on Villanova earlier today.
#4 Providence 79 #5 St John's 74
The Friars had a 17 point lead with around 6 minutes left and then hung on for dear life when the Johnnies made a huge run to cut within 1. PC was able to ice the game at the line
#3 Xavier 68 #6 Marquette 65
Xavier sent Marquette to the NIT for the first time in nearly a decade with a very tough win. Matt Stainbrook made a surprising return to action with 8 points in 15 minutes of play. It was the duo of Justin Martin and Semaj Christon, who went for 19 and 18 respectively, that sealed the deal for Xavier. 15 Marquette turnovers helped.
#2 Creighton 84 #10 DePaul 62
The Blue Jays had Doug McDermott go off for 35 on 14-22, 7-10 from 3. He had 5 boards, 3 assists and a steal as well. He could have hung 40 on DePaul. DePaul is use to losing Big East tournament games by many points so this was like the old Big East for them.
BIG TEN
#9 Illinois 64 #8 Indiana 54
That face is so Tom Crean RT @Landgrant33: New wallpaper: pic.twitter.com/juBlzRlObi
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) March 13, 2014
#5 Ohio State 63 #12 Purdue 61
The Boilermakers had a chance to beat Ohio State at the buzzer but they didn't. Ohio State has played a lot of close games this season.
#7 Minnesota 63 #10 Penn State 56
Minnesota avoided a loss to set up a mammoth game against Wisconsin. A game they need to win.
#11 Northwestern 67 #6 Iowa
Ever since I said Iowa would win the Big 10, they have lost 6 of 7.
PAC 12
#1 Arizona 71 #8 Utah 39
This game was not close.
#5 Colorado 59 #4 California
California here come, right back where we started from, California, Callllifoooorniaaaaaa, NIT we cooooommmmmeeeeeeeeee.
#2 UCLA 82 #7 Oregon 63
#6 Stanford 79 #3 Arizona State 58
Blowouts were common in the Pac 12 tournament.
SEC
#8 Missouri 91 #9 Texas A&M 83 – 2 OT
The Tigers got a huge win in a grind it out game against the Aggies. This is the kind of win Missouri needed. They get Florida next. That game will be tougher.
#13 South Carolina 71 #5 Arkansas 69
Ohhhhhhhh Arkansas. Welcome to the NIT. At least they get a home game maybe.
#7 LSU 68 #10 Alabama 56
The Tigers put down a good win against the Crimson Tide to get their third chance at Kentucky.
#6 Ole Miss 78 #14 Mississippi State 66
Marshall Henderson went 7-21, 7-19 from 3, in the win. Full Marshall. They get Georgia tomorrow.
OTHER NOTABLE RESULTS
CONFERENCE USA
The top four seeds all advanced by 21, 21, 14 and 9. Tomorrow should be fun. Louisiana Tech plays Southern Miss. Tulsa and Middle Tennessee play the night game.
WAC
Utah Valley and New Mexico State, the top 2 seeds, moved on. The 3 and 4 seeds went down.
