Monday Madness: Tournament Edition

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A famous Shakespeare line reads, “Though this be madness, yet there is method in it.”

This may apply to life, but the madness of the NCAA Tournament does not obey the rules of life. At least with this madness, there is no method. It’s just unrivaled, non-containable madness.

With the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament said and done, most of us are probably still dumbfounded at what we saw. Our hearts are probably in worse condition than they were at this same time last week.

This year, March Madness has not disappointed.

In the round of 64, a record 10 double-digit seeds advanced. Friday was the first time ever that 13, 14, and 15 seeds have ever won on the same day. But ironically, despite all the madness, this year is the first time since 2012 that all four No. 1 seeds have survived to the Sweet 16. The ACC is dominating, featuring six of the Sweet 16 teams — a record for any conference. 

This year is just too good to be true.

Let’s give it a go and try to recap one of the most dramatic weekends college basketball has ever seen.

Shocking Performances

No. 15 seed Middle Tennessee State upsets No. 2 Michigan State – You can’t talk about this year’s tournament without mentioning this game. The Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee did the impossible and took down the Spartans, one of the kings of March. Coach Tom Izzo and Michigan State have reached seven final fours before and were a favorite to reach Houston this year. Led by Reggie Upshaw and Giddy Potts, the Blue Raiders shot the ball near flawless and completed the unthinkable upset. In ESPN’s Tournament Challenge, the Spartans were picked to go to the Final Four in 61.8 percent of the 13 million brackets submitted. They were also a favorite to win it all, with 22.3 percent choosing Michigan State to win the national championship. This game was truly one of the biggest bracket-busters of all time.

No. 11 seed Northern Iowa – The two games that Northern Iowa played turned out to be two of the wildest finishes of the tournament thus far. In the round of 64, the Panthers took down No. 6 Texas on a miraculous half-court buzzer-beater bank shot. The hero was Paul Jesperson, who also hit a total of four three-pointers for the Panthers.

However, the magic the Panthers seemed to have in the first round abruptly ran out. Leading by 12 with 44 seconds remaining, the Panthers were sharpied in for yet another upset, this time against the No. 3 seed Texas A&M Aggies. What happened next has been pinned as one of the biggest comebacks on one end and one of the biggest collapses in NCAA Tournament history on the other. It took two overtimes, but the Aggies completed a remarkable comeback effort and defeated Northern Iowa 92-88. To end regulation, the Aggies went on a 14-2 run, and the collapse of the Panthers was summed up in one play. Star guard Wes Washpun was trapped in the corner, suffering from the furious full-court press by a hungry Aggies team with nowhere to go and no timeout to call. Washpun pivoted and turned until he couldn’t anymore and finally just tried to throw the ball away, only for it to fall right into the hands of the Aggies’ Adam Gilder for an easy layup to send the game to overtime. Northern Iowa never fully recovered.

The Panthers truly felt both sides, the ecstasy and agony, that exist in every last-moment finish.

No. 11 seed Gonzaga – I don’t know what it is with these No. 11 seeds… They are sure made their presence known though, winning three of four match-ups against No. 6 seeds. But of all the No. 11 seeds to have advanced, the Zags are the only one still alive. And man, have they thrived in the tournament.

After a relatively average regular season, Gonzaga has reached its second consecutive Sweet 16, dominating both Seton Hall (68-52) and Utah (82-59) on the way. Led by the power of center Domantas Sabonis and senior leadership of Kyle Wiltjer, the Zags have turned heads all March.

No one expected the Zags to make it this far, which is probably the exact reason why they are here.

March, you are almost so unpredictable that you are predictable. Yeah, that probably made no sense, but MARCH MADNESS MAKES NO SENSE.

Memorable Players (that you had probably never seen before in your life)

In every tournament, there are those players that cement themselves in the history books of college basketball and have unforgettable performances. These are the players that you will always remember:

Josh Hagins, Arkansas Little Rock – This guy either left you on the edge of your seat or in awe with his performance in his No. 12 seed Trojans’ upset over No. 5 Purdue. Hagins scored 31 points, knocking down big, memorable shots to send the game to overtime, double overtime, and to seal the win. Hagins was doing his best Steph Curry impression, hitting shots from all over the court, including that 35-footer to send the game to OT.

Thomas Walkup, Stephen F. Austin – Despite losing in heartbreaking fashion to Notre Dame last night, this senior was one of the most memorable players in this year’s tournament. Walkup scored 33 points in the Lumberjacks’ dominant upset over No. 3 seed West Virginia and 21 last night in the last-second loss to Notre Dame. From his mohawk to his lumberjack-like beard to his killer jump shot, the senior established himself as one of the most dynamic players in the tournament. He’s not the most explosive athlete you’ve ever seen, but the guy gets it done. If it wasn’t for a miracle tip-in by the Fighting Irish at the last second, we would still be witnessing him lead Stephen F. Austin on a Cinderella run. Nevertheless, Walkup is a legend of this year’s tournament and for the Lumberjacks.

P.S.: If it wasn’t narrowed down to the players that you had never seen before, Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield would be the first player on this list. But you’ve seen Buddy, you’ve seen him on your TV and on your Twitter timeline all year. The almost surefire Player of the Year has made college basketball his kingdom, and doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon after his 36-point performance against VCU to carry the Sooners to the Sweet 16. So here’s to you Buddy, keep blowing our minds.

Speaking of the Sweet 16, it’s set and ready for action. Thankfully for our sanity and loved ones who want to see us again, there’s a three-day break before the madness returns. In the mean time, let’s make some picks. Even though I will probably be wrong, I’m going to do it anyway. You can’t let the madness get to you, you just have to enjoy it.

Who’s Elite out of the Sweet 16? 

South Region

No. 1 Kansas – In the Sweet 16, the Jayhawks take part in a battle of college basketball’s most talented squads in the No. 5 seeded Maryland Terrapins. Although this will be a tight matchup, I have no hesitation picking Kansas to advance here, The Jayhawks are one of the most prolific offenses in the country, averaging nearly 82 points per game. While the Terrapins have a strong defense, they struggle offensively. Maryland hasn’t necessarily been impressive in the tournament thus far, despite a strong finish against Hawaii in the round of 32.

No. 2 Villanova – In my personal bracket, I (foolishly) had Iowa upsetting Villanova in the round of 32. They sure proved me wrong, destroying the Hawkeyes by nearly 20 points. So for that reason, I cannot pick against this Villanova team. They scare me and they should scare you too. The Wildcats have been one of the most dominant teams in the tournament this year, beating its opponents by a combined 49 points and only allowing an average of 62 points per game. In the round of 32, Nova played classic Jay Wright basketball — attacking on both ends, hitting three-pointers, and forcing turnovers. Against Miami in the Sweet 16, they look to do more of the same. This team is one of the most balanced around and we all know what great chemistry and teamwork can accomplish come March.

West Region

No. 4 Duke – Here, the first No. 1 seed falls. I have Duke putting away the Ducks in the Sweet 16 and advancing to its second consecutive Elite Eight. Despite losing most of its elite talent from its reigning championship team, the Blue Devils are playing great basketball in March. Following a scare from UNC Wimington in the first round, Duke had a great day of shooting against Yale. When all three of Duke’s scorers (Grayson Allen, Brandon Ingram, and Luke Kennard) are on, this is one of the most lethal teams in the country. Oregon, arguably the weakest No. 1 seed, barely slid by St. Joe’s last night. This is an extremely good team, but I think Blue Devils’ March savvy will carry them to another Elite Eight. While almost dropping their first two games, Duke has twice found a way to win thanks to its masterful shooting. Look for them to do the same to sneak by Oregon. In three of their past four Sweet 16 appearances, the Blue Devils have come out victorious.

No. 2 Oklahoma – Two words: Buddy Hield. Soooners win.

Okay, but really, that’s all you have to say. Just when you think the Sooners might get upset by VCU in the round of 32, Buddy comes to the rescue with a 36-point performance. Against the Rams, Hield scored 21 of Oklahoma’s final 26 points. You just can’t put this guy away. But apparently, you can’t put away their Sweet 16 opponent either. The Texas A&M Aggies just completed one of the best comebacks we’ve ever seen against a great shooting team in Northern Iowa. Great shooting and overwhelming experience (two major keys of success in the tournament) is exactly what the Aggies are going to face against this Sooners team. They are led by their three seniors – Ryan Spangler, Isaiah Cousins, and Hield. The Sooners shoot nearly 43 percent from three-point range and knock down around 10 per game. A&M might have caused Northern Iowa’s dreams, but don’t look for that to happen against Oklahoma. And if Boomer Sooner does somehow fall off the wagon, watch out for Buddy Hield to will this team back and lead them to the Elite Eight.

East Region

No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels – In their 19-point win against Providence on Saturday night, we finally saw just how good the Tar Heels can be. They’ve dominated down low all year, but against the Friars they received a huge contribution from their guards. Justin Jackson (technically plays small forward, but we’ll lump him into this category) scored 15 with a three, Joel Berry scored 15 with a three, and senior point guard Marcus Paige scored 13 with two threes. Just like this performance in the round of 32, it is going to take another team effort from North Carolina to put away the Indiana Hoosiers. After knocking off Kentucky, Indiana has spoiled the party of a predicted UNC vs. Kentucky Sweet 16 matchup. In this game, we’ll see a great battle at point guard with seniors Paige and Indiana’s Yogi Ferrell. But don’t forget about the big guys, the true scorers for both these teams. The matchup of the Tar Heels’ Brice Johnson and the Hoosiers’ Thomas Bryant is going to make for a tough, physical battle on the block. North Carolina and Indiana match up very well, but I see the Tar Heels taking this one. I think they have slightly more weapons than the Hoosiers and are ready to reach their first Elite Eight since 2012. I will stand by my preseason prediction: this is North Carolina’s year. 

No. 6 Notre Dame – The luck isn’t running out for the Irish this March. After two close finishes against Michigan and Stephen F. Austin, the Irish are still alive and back in the Sweet 16 for the second straight year. This time, they face the No. 7 seed Wisconsin Badgers, who thanks to a buzzer-beating corner three by senior Bronson Koenig, just knocked off No. 2 seed Xavier. The Badgers have slipped past both Pitt and Xavier so far, but don’t look for the luck of the Irish to end just yet. Led by junior guard Demetrius Jackson and senior forward Zach Auguste, Notre Dame continues to outplay opponents in the final minutes. Maybe this time the unlikely freshman hero Rex Pflueger (2.5 ppg) won’t have to tip in a shot at the buzzer for the Irish. But knowing their tournament resumé thus far, this one is likely to come down to the final moments.

Midwest Region (COMPLETE TURMOIL)

No. 1 Virginia – After the events that have happened in this corner of the bracket, I should be shocked that the No. 1 seed is still standing. But knowing Virginia, I’m not whatsoever. This is one of the most solid, efficient teams in college basketball. Led by head coach Tony Bennett and senior guard Malcolm Brogdon, the Cavaliers are looking to do what Virginia hasn’t done since 1995 – make the Elite Eight. The last thing in its path of getting there? The Iowa State Hawkeyes. Breaking the reputation of early round exits in the tournament, first-year head coach Steve Prohm and senior forward Georges Niang have found a way to reach the Sweet 16 and are vying for their first Elite Eight since 2000. This matchup pits two senior stars against each other in Brogdon (ACC Defensive Player of the Year) and Niang, who scores nearly 20 a game and has had 28 points in each tournament game. This defensive-first Virginia team will look to use Brogdon to neutralize Niang and the threat he is, forcing them to look to second options. This is where Bennett’s Cavaliers thrive, causing uncertainty and capitalizing off the opponent’s mistakes. Look for the tough, methodical Virginia Cavaliers to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time in over 20 years. 

No. 11 Gonzaga – The fact that I have to write about a 10-seed vs. 11-seed matchup going into the second week of the NCAA Tournament is kind of ridiculous, right? Well, that’s March Madness and this March, Gonzaga is playing ridiculous. The Zags have beat its two tournament opponents by a combined 39 points. On the other side of this 10 vs. 11 seed Sweet-16 matchup is Syracuse, a former bubble team. They barely made it in, but they have definitely taken advantage of the opportunity in front of them. Similar to the Zags, the Orange have defeated their opponents by a combined 44 points. These are two double-digit seeds that are not playing like underdogs. So in a matchup like this, who’s the favorite to win it? Although this will be a great coaching battle between Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim and Mark Few, I believe Gonzaga will continue its dominant run. In the tournament, Gonzaga has played much tougher competition in Seton Hall and Utah compared to Syracuse’s games with Dayton and the unlikely No. 15 seed Middle Tennessee. The Zags will look to their two main guys, Domantas Sabonis and Kyle Wiltjer, to deliver again. And picking this game, my money is on Wiltjer to get his team to the next round. In three tournament appearances, the man has never missed an Elite 8 (won the championship with Kentucky in 2013 and reached Elite Eight last season with Gonzaga).

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This concludes this week’s edition of Monday Madness. We’ve been recapping and previewing every week in college basketball all semester, and now it is finally coming together. The madness is officially alive and well.

Featured image by Dalton King

Edited by David Bradford

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