LAS VEGAS (AP) — March has long past from insanity to extraordinary.
With Miami’s win over Houston and San Diego State’s takedown of Alabama on Friday evening, the lads’s NCAA Event won’t have a No. 1 seed within the Elite 8 for the primary time since seeding started in 1979.
“There’s now not a large number of distinction between the most productive staff within the nation and the worst staff within the nation,” San Diego State trainer Brian Dutcher mentioned. “You’re seeing that in this degree.”
Purdue, Kansas, Houston and Alabama are all long past, making sure the Ultimate 4 won’t have a No. 1 staff for the primary time since 2011 and the 3rd general. The 4 groups deemed by way of the NCAA to be the most productive within the nation mixed to win 5 match video games this yr, the fewest by way of 3 amongst No. 1 seeds because the box expanded to 64 groups in 1985.
Texas is the lone No. 2 seed final after bouncing Xavier out of the bracket 83-71 Friday evening below period in-between trainer Rodney Terry. The fewest mixed No. 1-2 seeds within the Elite 8 prior to this yr was once two (3 times).
How loopy has it been? The nationwide identify recreation is assured to have a minimum of such a groups: San Diego State, Creighton, Florida Atlantic or Kansas State. The Aztecs, Bluejays and Owls have by no means been to the Elite 8. The Wildcats have been picked to complete ultimate within the Large 12.
It’s additionally a lock the profitable trainer will likely be a first-time champion.
“It’s a large number of actually just right methods within the nation that experience misplaced — I imply, shall we move down the checklist of them,” Alabama trainer Nate Oats mentioned. “That’s what makes the NCAA Event the NCAA Event. They’re all just right groups.”
The insanity began within the opening spherical of the East Area, when fairytale Fairleigh Dickinson wrecked brackets all over the world by way of turning into the second one No. 16 seed to overcome a No. 1.
Arkansas was once the following large killer, taking down reigning nationwide champion and West Area No. 1 seed Kansas in the second one spherical.
The Candy 16 became bitter on Friday for Alabama, the bracket’s No. 1 general seed. The Red Tide have been no fit 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 college to achieve the Elite 8.
Miami capped the No. 1 carnage within the Midwest Area by way of taking aside some of the country’s stingiest defenses in a 89-75 win over Houston in Kansas Town, Missouri that had Hurricanes trainer Jim Larranaga dancing within the locker room.
“Sadly, one off-night and also you move house on this match,” Cougars trainer Kelvin Sampson mentioned.
Directly to an Elite 8 not like every other.
AP Sports activities Author Josh Dubow contributed to this document.