The Pac-12 has been accused of being a basketball league over the past few years, and the conference was deprived of the chance to show an improvement on a national stage in 2020, when the NCAA tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic . But Monday yielded a rather amazing reality: there will be four Pac-12 teams in the Sweet 16 and only one Big Ten team.
It was strengthened during the closing of the second round action, as Oregon’s no. 7, Oregon, finished second to Iowa. At the 11th seeded UCLA, Abilene defeats Christian to become the Pac-12’s third group to compete in this weekend’s local semi-finals. USC pushed the total to four by conceding Kansas 85-51 in the final game of the second round.
The Big Ten fielded nine teams in the field of 68 and the Pac-12 scored only five. Four of the Big Ten’s nine tournament teams were either No. 1 or No. 2, while the Pac-12’s highest ranked was Colorado, which ranked No. 5. Ironically, the Buffaloes were the only Pac-12 team to lose in the second round as they dropped a 71-53 decision to Florida State on Monday.
Another surprising element in the Pac-12 collective endurance in the Big Dance is that Arizona, one of the league’s most prominent basketball schools, went through a self-imposed post-season ban this season, which it did not for the NCAA tournament did not qualify. But even without the Wildcats, the Pac-12 is stronger than expected.
The Pac-12, with its 9-1 NCAA Tournament record, is a big winner in this NCAA Tournament so far, and the Big Ten is a clear loser. Here are some other winners and losers from Tuesday’s action.
Winner: Michigan saves something
The number one seeded Michigan, prevented the day from being a total loss for the Big Ten by handling matters in an 86-78 victory over a luxury LSU group. The win ensured the league had one team in the Sweet 16. If there’s one who deserves it from the Big Ten, it’s probably the Wolverines group. In just his second season helping the program, coach Juwan Howard put together a deep, versatile squad that far exceeded his pre-season expectations. The loss of leader Isaiah Livers could defuse this team. Instead, it turns out to be a resilient bunch playing with confidence and discipline. A challenge with Florida’s number 4 seed is next for this bunch.
Winner: Leonard Hamilton’s legendary status
Speaking of those Seminoles, what about what Leonard Hamilton has done over the past four seasons? This team is on its way to its third Sweet 16 series, and last year’s squad had more than enough talent to do the same before the NCAA tournament was canceled. It’s never glamorous and there’s rarely a superstar he can ‘t miss, but Hamilton has a way of getting the most out of his roster. Monday’s defensive performance in a 71-53 win over a Colorado team that shredded Georgetown on Saturday was masterful.
Loser: Alabama’s Doubters
Are there still people who cheat on Alabama’s 3-point heavyweight style as a fluke operation that will not last in a single-thinning tournament? The Crimson Tide, No. 2, Crimson Tide, who survived mainly from their defense en route to an SEC tournament title and Saturday in a first victory over Iona, proved that there is more to their mojo than just shooting outside . And the number 10 seed Maryland has learned the hard way how deadly Alabama can be if it actually hits outside shots. The Crimson Tide struck out 16-of-33 attempts from deep against the Terrapins in a 96-77 winning victory. Next up for the Crimson Tide is a match with UCLA, the 11th seeded. The Bruins struggled all season to defend the three-point line.
Winner: Isaiah Mobley performs
Do not forget that Evan Mobley, the first-year student of the USC, is the younger brother of another capable big man who also plays for the Trojans. Big brother Isaac reminded Kansas on Monday when USC clinched the second round action 85-51 over Kansas. The younger Mobley scored 14 of his 17 points in the first half when the Trojans opened up a 40-21 lead over the Jayhawks. Next for USC is a Sweet 16 showdown with conference foe Oregon, who defeated the Trojans 72-58 on February 22nd. Winner: Oregon Do It Again
Winner: Oregon Do It Again
The Ducks have been to seven NCAA tournaments under coach Dana Altman and have now won at least one game each time. After the impressive 95-80 victory over Iowa on Monday, the Ducks are on their way to their fifth Sweet 16 under Altman’s leadership. It’s a transfer-heavy group that is offensive gel and Monday’s offensive explosion was a real eye-opener on what the ceiling could be for this team. Some will want an asterisk at everything Oregon achieves in the NCAA Tournament as it progressed from the first round due to the COVID-19 editions of VCU. But there was nothing illegal about the way it knocked Iowa down Monday.
Winner: Historical Show for Underdogs
This year, the Sweet 16 seed is 94, the highest in the NCAA Tournament. The previous record seed total was 89 set in 1986. On Monday, the 11-seed UCLA joined the 15-seed Oral Roberts, the 12-seed Oregon State, the 11-seed UCLA and the 11-seed Syracuse in the Sweet 16, which begins Saturday.
Loser: Iowa NCAA Tournament Continues
That would be supposed to be the year for Iowa, but instead it ends with another dose of NCAA Tournament for a program that – at the very least – planned to make its first Sweet 16 series since 1999. . The Hawkeyes spent ten weeks this season in the top five of the AP Top 25, and the pain of an early retirement will only be exacerbated by the fact that it feels like an era is coming to an end. Star center Luka Garza was just as phenomenal this season as expected, but the program’s leading scorer leaves without a conference title or any notable success after an otherwise legendary colleague.
Winner: Gonzaga’s perfect season stays alive
Despite an eight-point deficit in the first few minutes against a fiery Oklahoma team, Gonzaga, the number one seed, hit the turbo on Monday as only Gonzaga can do, winning the Sweet 16 87-71. Behind a career-high 30 points from Drew Timme, the Bulldogs (28-0) managed to put his eight-point hole ahead by half a dozen points and they never gave it up from there. It’s a strong win for the program, giving Gonzaga his sixth consecutive Sweet 16 appearance. But also one for this historically great team that has now won 27 of its 28 games with a double-digit.
Winner: UCLA demolishes Abilene Christian
Umm, Texas? Care to explain yourself? Abilene Christian was one of the best stories of the first round with his The Texas-sized upset of the No. 3 seed Longhorns, and on Monday brought a reminder of how unlikely the outcome was. 11-seeded UCLA roars 67-47 past the Wildcats and into the Sweet 16 without any noticeable problems. The Bruins’ relatively easy victory made the dud performance by Texas all the more confusing. How did the Big 12 tournament champions led by a trio of veteran guards produce such a sad performance against Abilene Christian?
Winner: Creighton looks good
Few teams have the ability to vary between excellent and mediocre like Creighton. But a quality version of the No. 5 seed Bluejays showed up Monday in a 72-58 victory over No. 13-seeded Ohio. For a team that has dealt a massive distraction over the past month around the controversy surrounding coach Greg McDermott’s recognition for using a race-sensitive analogy, the Sweet 16 is an impressive achievement. This is actually the first time Creighton has come this far under McDermott, who is in his 11th season with the program. Next up is the cruel challenge of playing the No. 1 overall seeded Gonzaga in the Sweet 16. But depending on which version of this team appears there, it could give the Zags a try.
Ohio forward Ben Vander Plas has probably not been regularly compared to former Duke star Zion Williamson in his career, but there was a striking resemblance between the two on Monday. Vander Plas played most of the second half of the Bobcats’ loss to Creighton with mismatched shoes after his right-hander like Williamson exploded. There was nothing particularly unorthodox about the way Vander Plas ended up on his right foot, but the sneaker gave in, and the red shirt junior had to leave the game and look for new shoes.