The first three rounds of the National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament ended on Sunday night, and the first week of the tournament didn’t disappoint.
There were blowouts, close games and upsets. There were controversial calls and players who made names for themselves. Most importantly, however, there were a lot of good college basketball games that showcased the importance of this tournament.
For example, fans following the tournament probably didn’t know who the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles were, or that they had a Division I men’s basketball team. The sports world knows them now. FGCU became the first 15-seed to reach the Sweet 16 ”“ the 16 winning teams remaining in the tournament ”“ after upsetting national power Georgetown in the second round and then beating a tough San Diego State team in the third round.
FGCU wasn’t supposed to beat either of those teams, but its run is one element that makes the tournament one of the best sporting events in the country. The Eagles’ success also hurt a lot of fans’ tournament brackets, as hardly anyone predicted FGCU to beat Georgetown, let alone advance to the Sweet 16.
It will be interesting to see if the Eagles can soar to the occasion again when they take on the University of Florida in the Sweet 16. Florida is an established basketball program that has won two national titles and is considered one of the tougher teams in this year’s tournament. Even if FGCU loses, fans will always remember what they did to reach the Sweet 16.
Players have also started making names for themselves in this tournament. Few had ever heard of Ohio State’s Aaron Craft before Sunday’s game against Iowa State, but they know his name now. Craft overcame a shaky performance at the free-throw line and hit a 3-pointer with .5 seconds remaining against the Cyclones, snapping a 75-75 tie and lifting the Buckeyes into the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight year.
Before that shot, however, Craft ”“ who finished the game with 18 points ”“ took a charge less than a minute before, which negated an Iowa State basket. That basket would’ve given the Cyclones a 77-75 lead and a free-throw attempt for a possible 78-75 lead with less than a minute to play. Instead, it changed the complexion of the game and led to Craft’s game-winning shot.
Indiana, the East’s top seed, fought tooth and nail with Temple after the Owls’ Khalid Khalifa scored his team’s first 20 of 24 points. He finished with 31, but his early offensive outburst forced Indiana to pay more attention to him, which allowed more Owls to get involved. Indiana eventually won the game, 58-52, but the Hoosiers needed Victor Oladipo’s 3-pointer with 14 seconds left in the game to seal the win.
In the second round of the tournament, No. 1 seed Gonzaga almost became the first top seed to lose to a No. 16 seed, after Southern University pushed the Zags to the limit. Gonzaga eventually won, 64-58, and No. 1 seeds improved to 113-0 against No. 16 seeds since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Gonzaga did become the first No. 1 seed eliminated in this year’s tournament two nights later, when Wichita State blew it out.
These are just a few highlights that really stuck out in the tournament, and once again, this annual event to crown college basketball’s Division I national champion didn’t disappoint. It’s tough not to get excited for these games in an environment where a win means a team’s season continues, but a loss means it ends.
There will only be one team that will be all smiles when the tourney finishes in early April, but of the 68 teams that started this journey, the highlights and experiences will be, and have been, memorable.
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Today’s editorial was written by Sports Editor Al Edwards on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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