How Oral Roberts became the second 15th ever to achieve Sweet 16
SportsPulse: The glass slipper fits. Everywhere Roberts becomes the second number ever 15 in the Sweet 16. Scott Gleeson tells how they did it and whether their magic run can continue.
USA TODAY
The second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament was just as exciting as the first round, which says something, given the intense upset of this year’s round of 64.
After some major upheaval in the first day of action for the round of 32 (Loyola bouncing No. 1 in Illinois, Oral Roberts beating Florida), the second day is in the race. Oregon has the sown Iowa of no. 2 decreased as the Big Ten is still struggling.
This is the madness of March.
Which teams will have Sweet 16 limits and which will leave Indianapolis? A look at the winners and losers of Monday’s eight matches:
Wenners
College Basketball Fans. Do you think the Madness of March was overboard this year? It is not the free year due to the cancellation of last year that makes us think. 2021 was epic compared to previous tournaments. According to to the NCAAOregon’s win over Iowa was the twelfth upset of the tournament (upset is defined as a victory by a team that selected five places lower than their opponent). Most upset by the 32nd round was 10 (done eight times) before 2021. The record for the entire tournament is 13 (1985, 2014).
Michigan. Just as bad a tournament as the Big Ten experienced, the Wolverines (22-4) escaped a stir with an 86-78 victory over a rising No. 8 seeded LSU. Coach Juwan Howard continues to help this team restore its identity without excluding veteran Isaiah Livers from the tournament. Michigan did enough to collectively ward off 57 points from Cameron Thomas and Javonte Smart. The difference in victory for the Wolverines was Eli Brooks, who finished with 21 points and seven assists from the five-to-9 three-point shooting.
Gonzaga. The Bulldogs extended their offensive skill in an 87-71 victory over Oklahoma, with big man Drew Timme (30 points, 13 rebounds) taking the lead. While the ‘Zags were impressive in several facets, their defense looked sluggish and they could not stay ahead of Austin Reaves of OU (27 points). It was the first power conference team Gonzaga has encountered since December, so it’s a good preparation for the Sweet 16.
Oregon. The Ducks (21-6) again transcend their team under coach Dana Altman. Oregon benefited from not playing in the first round, while Virginia Commonwealth bowed out due to multiple positive COVID-19 tests. They looked fresh in the recent 2-seed Iowa 95-80. The game was so in favor of the Ducks that it did not even seem like an upset. Chris Duarte led the fight with 23 points and seven assists. Altman is now in his fifth Sweet 16 series with Oregon. The Ducks finished the Sweet 16 last as a No. 12 in 2019. They were in the Final Four 2017 and Elite Eight in 2016.
UCLA. The Bruins (20-9) beat Abilene Christian, the team that beat No. 3 in the first round in the first round, 67-47. The Sweet 16 is a major achievement for coach Mick Cronin, who has only one Sweet 16 to his name after several underachievements in Cincinnati. This UCLA team lost its last four games before entering the NCAA Tournament, but it looks like they found themselves here in Indianapolis. Johnny Juzang is the main catalyst for a wait-heavy Bruins group and Cronin got a nice lift from his bench in this one.
The Pac-12. The conference is 9-0 in this NCAA tournament, and after finishing sixth in the NET rankings, it’s a pretty strong verdict on the league as a whole. This is especially true since two of the three Pac-12 teams in the Sweet 16 (two more will get a chance) are double-digit seed in UCLA and Oregon State (Oregon is the other than No. 7).
Losers
Colorado. The Buffaloes (23-8) were eliminated by Florida State 71-53 and looked like a very different team than the one that crushed Georgetown in the first round. Colorado committed 19 turnovers and shot 6-for-25 from three-point range (24%), but could not sustain the depth and length of the FSU on defense. Senior McKinley Wright IV was down, shooting 0-for-4 from outside the arc and finishing with 10 points and five turnovers.
Iowa. The big man, Luka Garza’s emotions said it all – while tears flowed for the All-American’s final game as a Hawkeye. Iowa (22-9) had a team ready to get to the Elite Eight (or Final Four if Gonzaga was not on the sidelines). Garza was the center and coach Fran McCaffery had an arsenal of guards feeding him. But the no. 7-seeded Oregon looked better on the day and the athletics and gravel of the Ducks brought the Hawkeyes out of turmoil in the second half.
The Big Ten. Following the loss of Iowa, the story of underachievement continues for the Big Ten Conference, which is now 6-7 in March Madness. The Big Ten was by far considered the best league in the country this season, leading the rankings of the NET conference with a sudden lead over the SEC and Big 12.. The conference sent an NCAA top nine teams to the Big Dance with two 1 seeds and two no. 2 sade. But now only Michigan (which LSU faces later Monday) and Maryland (later Monday, facing Alabama) remain.
Ohio. The Bobcats (17-8) were willing to be more than a one-time Cinderella after ousting reigning national champion Virginia in the first round. But they were not linked from the point against Creighton and tested 72-58. Ohio did not do its best against U.Va. not played but still won. It did not have the luxury against the Bluejays and their powerful offense. Jason Preston, the team’s star point guard, shot 1-for-10 from the field and finished with four points.
Oklahoma. The Sooners (16-11) were competitive early on and passed Gonzaga, the best overall seed, the best. The only problem is that this team was not ready for opposition by the most dynamic offense in the country. That was a theme for the group, coach Lon Kruger, during the season when OU lost six of eight – they could not close matches or react to other team’s reactions. The late-season skid was unfortunate because a number 7 or 6 seed could have positioned the Sooners better than facing the best dog in the second round. Austin Reaves’ 27 points ended an excellent career.
Follow University Basketball reporter Scott Gleeson on Twitter @ScottMGleeson.