Tag: ncaa tournament

March Madness: Alabama ends UNC’s run in 89-87 Sweet 16 thriller

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RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — North Carolina’s NCAA tournament run ended Thursday night in an 89-87 loss to Alabama.

It was a scintillating game, played in Los Angeles at a high pace with plenty of drama. In the end, the Crimson Tide simply outlasted the Tar Heels.

Grant Nelson converted a go-ahead three-point play with 38 seconds remaining to lift Alabama past the top-seeded Tar Heels.

Nelson finished with a season-high 24 points, 19 in the second half, and he blocked RJ Davis’ attempt at a tying layup after giving Alabama the lead. Rylan Griffen added 19 points, tying his career high with five 3-pointers, and Aaron Estrada also scored 19 for the fourth-seeded Crimson Tide (24-11).

UNC guard RJ Davis shoots past Alabama guard Rylan Griffen on Thursday in Los Angeles.

Ashley Landis

After Nelson blocked Davis’ shot with 25 seconds left, Davis furiously dribbled around before missing a layup and the Tar Heels got called for a shot-clock violation with 8 seconds left. They were forced to foul, sending Nelson to the line. He calmly made both for an 89-85 lead.

Armando Bacot scored inside with 1 second left, leaving North Carolina trailing 89-87. The Tar Heels fouled Nelson again with 0.9 seconds left. He missed both and time expired on the Tar Heels.

Bacot finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds in his final game for UNC, which ended the season 29-8. Cormac Ryan had 17 points and made five 3-pointers and Davis had 16 points.

For Davis, it ended a splendid season in a nightmarish fashion. The ACC Player of the Year had his worst shooting night in memory, missing all nine of his 3-point attempts and making just 4-of-20 from the floor. Half his points came at the free throw line, where he made 8-of-9.

At times, UNC coach Hubert Davis looked like he was still playing for his alma mater, where he starred from 1988-92 under Hall of Famer Dean Smith. Davis dashed up and down the sideline in his white sneakers, gesturing and yelling and taking his glasses on and off as he lived each play through his team.

UNC’s Armando Bacot shoots amid an Army of Alabama defenders on Thursday in the Sweet 16 in Los Angeles.

Ashley Landis

Alabama trailed 54-46 at halftime. Nelson and Sam Walters combined to score nine of Alabama’s first 13 points to take a 59-57 lead.

The Tar Heels struggled early when big man Bacot picked up his third foul five minutes in, but they tied it at 59-all on a basket by Harrison Ingram.

“I thought in the second half, we came out a little flat,” Bacot said.

Nelson, Estrada and Griffen teamed to score 21 of Alabama’s next 23 points that produced an 82-77 lead. Nelson ran off seven in a row, capped by a 3-pointer.

Carolina scored eight in a row, including six straight by Davis, to take its last lead, 85-82.

North Carolina guard Elliot Cadeau is fouled by Alabama forward Mouhamed Dioubate on Thursday at the Sweet 16 in Los Angeles.

Ryan Sun

The Tar Heels opened the game on a 19-9 run for their largest lead of a half in which there were eight ties and seven lead changes.

Mark Sears went on a tear, scoring nine points – hitting a 3-pointer and turning to blow a kiss to the crowd – to help the Tide lead 39-34. Sears finished with 18 points.

North Carolina regained control with a 20-7 spurt to end the half ahead 54-46. Ryan and Ingram had two 3-pointers each and Bacot dunked, slithered around Mohamed Wague for a layup and scored off his own steal.

“At the end of the day, it boiled down to them making more shots than we did,” Bacot said.

– BOXSCORE

Alabama moves to the Elite Eight to face another ACC opponent in Clemson. Both Alabama and Clemson are in the Elite Eight for only the second time in their school histories.

The Tide face sixth-seeded Clemson on Saturday for a berth in the Final Four.

The Tigers got 18 points from Chase Hunter and converted a three-point play with 25.7 seconds remaining as Clemson beat Arizona 77-72 in the first West Region semifinal on Thursday night.

Clemson players celebrate after eliminating Arizona on Thursday night.

Ryan Sun

PJ Hall added 17 points for the Tigers.

“We’ve battled a lot of things. This is a great moment for Clemson basketball,” Coach Brad Brownell said.

NC State

Two weeks ago, 11th-seeded 14 NC State was on the outside of the tournament bubble and the dream run will continue against No. 2 seed Marquette.

Their game is on Friday at 7:09 p.m. on CBS.

“It’s been unbelievable actually like, it’s been something you’ve been dreaming of since you were a kid,” NC State point guard Michael O-Connell said Thursday. “These are the moments you kind of live for and you’ve been working for.”

The Wolfpack won its first basketball national title against Marquette in 1974. That team was led by David Thompson and Tommy Burleson and coached by Norm Sloan.

The Wolfpack’s seven-game win streak is the longest of head coach Kevin Keatts’ tenure.

“Honestly, it’s still, it hasn’t really all sunk in,” said NC State forward Ben Middlebrooks. “Every time after we win a game it’s on to the next one so we’re all still kind of living in the moment and trying to enjoy it and trying to stay focused.”

“We’re excited to be here in Dallas,” Marquette coach Shaka Smart said Thursday. “Obviously, NC State presents a lot of challenges. They’re playing terrific basketball. I’ve known Kevin Keatts for a long, long time, have a ton of respect for him, so it will be an exciting opportunity for us tomorrow.”

The Blue Devils and Wolfpack practiced in Dallas on Thursday ahead of big matchups with Houston and Marquette, respectively.

Duke

The No.4 seed Duke Blue Devils are headed to the Sweet 16 to face No. 1 seed Houston, which narrowly avoided an upset at the hands of in-state rival Texas A&M on Sunday night.

“Feeling great, feeling confident going into the weekend with this team,” said Duke’s Jared McCain. “I’m just excited to play again.”

Duke reached the second weekend of March Madness for the 27th time in 39 tournaments since the event expanded to 64 teams in 1985.

“I think anytime you look at a really good defensive team, but for Houston, look, they, probably, if not the best defensive team in the country, they’re right there,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said. “And you have to talk about their effort. Their effort is terrific.”

One thing that got the Blue Devils this far was increasing their defensive intensity and holding their two opponents so far (Vermont and James Madison) well below their season scoring averages.

“I think our guys have shown throughout the year we’re a really good defensive team,” Scheyer said. “Sometimes when you have those couple of games that don’t go your way, you know, our guys, they don’t have to, you have to get over it quickly.”

The two teams will face off in the South Region on Friday at 9:39 p.m. on CBS.

“Any time you can get away, get out of the first week of the NCAA tournament, it’s a blessing,” said Duke center Mark Mitchell. “You’ve got to be proud of it, but obviously, we still have got things to work on.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2024 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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March 28, 2024
Women’s NCAA Tournament heads to Sweet 16

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Caitlin Clark raised her arms as she walked across the court, pumped her fists and made a heart with her hands as she bid farewell to her legion of adoring fans who came to see her play one last time at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City on Monday night.The clock had just hit zeroes on No. 1 seed Iowa’s hard-earned 64-54 win over No. 8 West Virginia in the women’s NCAA Tournament, and she wanted to thank the fans.”I’m forever grateful,” she said.Video above: Watch moment Caitlin Clark breaks NCAA scoring record The Hawkeyes will head to Albany, New York, to continue their bid to reach the championship game for a second straight year. No matter what happens the rest of the way, Clark will be remembered as the most beloved, if not the greatest, athlete to come out of the state that also produced Dan Gable, Bob Feller and Nile Kinnick.”I’m very grateful that I got to play in an environment that supports women’s athletics the way that they do, not only women’s basketball — and to be honest, they’ve been doing this before I ever stepped on campus,” Clark said. “Maybe it wasn’t quite at the magnitude it is now, but these people and these fans have showed up, and they’ll continue to show up.”The NCAA Division I all-time scoring leader had 32 points on a night nothing came easily for her or her teammates. The Mountaineers’ physical defense tried to knock her off her game, and for stretches, it succeeded. She had to have blood wiped off her leg in the fourth quarter.Among those in attendance were Basketball Hall of Fame member Nancy Lieberman, known as “Lady Magic,” and San Francisco 49ers star tight end George Kittle, who played for the Hawkeyes from 2013-16.Clark’s parents were in the stands, as always. Brent, her dad, was a weekend social media fixture for his visible displeasure with his daughter for letting her frustration show when her shot wouldn’t fall, or she didn’t get calls against Holy Cross on Saturday. He had a look of concern Monday whenever he was shown on the telecast, even when Iowa was pulling away. Anne, her mom, smiled as she stood with her hands clasped.And, like at every home game, fans of all ages showed up in their No. 22 jerseys and T-shirts and many brought signs paying homage to the Iowa star.”I try not to look in the stands the best I can,” Clark said. “I don’t know, my family has always been there for me through the ups and downs of my journey. More than anything, they just look at me and motivate me, and that’s a sign of reassurance.”Clark’s first regular-season game at Carver Hawkeye was in November 2020. She scored 27 points in a 96-81 win over Northern Iowa. COVID-19 restrictions limited attendance to family and media members. More numerous were those cardboard cutouts of fans, including one of Clark’s golden retriever, Bella.The crowds showed up en masse as Clark’s career continued to rise. Every home game sold out this year.Carver-Hawkeye is where she broke Kelsey Plum’s Division I women’s all-time scoring record with a career-high 49 against Michigan. It’s where she passed the late Pete Maravich of LSU as the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I. She scored 35 against Ohio State that afternoon. It’s where she made a couple late free throws Monday to set the Division I single-season scoring record.She’ll head to Albany for Saturday’s Sweet 16 game against fifth-seeded Colorado with 1,113 points this season and 3,830 points in her 135 career games.Other matchups in the Sweet 16 include:(1) Texas vs. (4) Gonzaga; (2) Stanford vs. (3) NC State; (2) Notre Dame vs. (3) Oregon State; (1) South Carolina vs. (4) Indiana; (2) UCLA vs (3) LSU; (3) UConn vs. (7) Duke and (1) USC vs. (5) Baylor.

Caitlin Clark raised her arms as she walked across the court, pumped her fists and made a heart with her hands as she bid farewell to her legion of adoring fans who came to see her play one last time at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City on Monday night.

The clock had just hit zeroes on No. 1 seed Iowa’s hard-earned 64-54 win over No. 8 West Virginia in the women’s NCAA Tournament, and she wanted to thank the fans.

“I’m forever grateful,” she said.

Video above: Watch moment Caitlin Clark breaks NCAA scoring record

The Hawkeyes will head to Albany, New York, to continue their bid to reach the championship game for a second straight year. No matter what happens the rest of the way, Clark will be remembered as the most beloved, if not the greatest, athlete to come out of the state that also produced Dan Gable, Bob Feller and Nile Kinnick.

“I’m very grateful that I got to play in an environment that supports women’s athletics the way that they do, not only women’s basketball — and to be honest, they’ve been doing this before I ever stepped on campus,” Clark said. “Maybe it wasn’t quite at the magnitude it is now, but these people and these fans have showed up, and they’ll continue to show up.”

The NCAA Division I all-time scoring leader had 32 points on a night nothing came easily for her or her teammates. The Mountaineers’ physical defense tried to knock her off her game, and for stretches, it succeeded. She had to have blood wiped off her leg in the fourth quarter.

Among those in attendance were Basketball Hall of Fame member Nancy Lieberman, known as “Lady Magic,” and San Francisco 49ers star tight end George Kittle, who played for the Hawkeyes from 2013-16.

Clark’s parents were in the stands, as always. Brent, her dad, was a weekend social media fixture for his visible displeasure with his daughter for letting her frustration show when her shot wouldn’t fall, or she didn’t get calls against Holy Cross on Saturday. He had a look of concern Monday whenever he was shown on the telecast, even when Iowa was pulling away. Anne, her mom, smiled as she stood with her hands clasped.

And, like at every home game, fans of all ages showed up in their No. 22 jerseys and T-shirts and many brought signs paying homage to the Iowa star.

“I try not to look in the stands the best I can,” Clark said. “I don’t know, my family has always been there for me through the ups and downs of my journey. More than anything, they just look at me and motivate me, and that’s a sign of reassurance.”

Clark’s first regular-season game at Carver Hawkeye was in November 2020. She scored 27 points in a 96-81 win over Northern Iowa. COVID-19 restrictions limited attendance to family and media members. More numerous were those cardboard cutouts of fans, including one of Clark’s golden retriever, Bella.

The crowds showed up en masse as Clark’s career continued to rise. Every home game sold out this year.

Carver-Hawkeye is where she broke Kelsey Plum’s Division I women’s all-time scoring record with a career-high 49 against Michigan. It’s where she passed the late Pete Maravich of LSU as the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I. She scored 35 against Ohio State that afternoon. It’s where she made a couple late free throws Monday to set the Division I single-season scoring record.

She’ll head to Albany for Saturday’s Sweet 16 game against fifth-seeded Colorado with 1,113 points this season and 3,830 points in her 135 career games.

Other matchups in the Sweet 16 include:

(1) Texas vs. (4) Gonzaga; (2) Stanford vs. (3) NC State; (2) Notre Dame vs. (3) Oregon State; (1) South Carolina vs. (4) Indiana; (2) UCLA vs (3) LSU; (3) UConn vs. (7) Duke and (1) USC vs. (5) Baylor.

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March 25, 2024
March Madness: Duke, NC State, UNC head to Sweet 16 of NCAA Men’s Tournament

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RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — This week marks the start of the NCAA Men’s Tournament Sweet 16.

UNC, NC State and Duke have all advanced to the next round. Here’s what’s in store:

UNC

No. 1 North Carolina is moving on in the NCAA Tournament at the expense of No. 9 Michigan State and Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo.

With 20 points, guard RJ Davis helped UNC defeat the Spartans 85-69 on Saturday, advancing them to the Sweet 16. Forward Harrison Ingram made five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points.

The Tar Heels remain undefeated in March Madness against Izzo’s teams in a series going back 26 years.

No. 1 North Carolina will face No. 4 Alabama at 9:39 p.m. on CBS.

NC State

Two weeks ago, No. 14 North Carolina State was on the outside of the tournament bubble.

Seven wins in 12 days later-including five in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament to earn an automatic NCAA berth-the Wolfpack is headed to the Sweet 16 after their win against No. 14 Oakland 29-73 on Saturday.

Forward DJ Burns Jr. with the under-the-rim game scored 24 points, including a go-ahead putback that ignited a 9-0 run in overtime. This is the first time the team has advanced to the Sweet 16 since 2015.

No. 11 NC State will face No. 2 Marquette on Friday at 7:09 p.m. on CBS.

Duke

McCain and Duke emphatically ended the nation’s longest active winning streak at 14 games, taking a 22-point lead into halftime and never letting the advantage slip below 20 in the second half.

The Dukes (32-4) finished with a program record for victories.

Duke reached the second weekend of March Madness for the 27th time in 39 tournaments since the event expanded to 64 teams in 1985.

No. 4 Blue Devils will face No. 1 Houston in the South Region semifinals on Friday at 9:39 p.m. on CBS.

Associated Press contributed.

Copyright © 2024 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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March 25, 2024
Top 8 seeds earn clean sweep to Sweet 16

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The Houston Cougars breathed a sigh of relief, celebrating their latest Sweet 16 berth.What looked like a victory in hand turned into an overtime thriller in the span of two minutes.Video above: How an arena prepares to host NCAA Tournament Emanuel Sharp started overtime with a 3-pointer that put Houston ahead to stay as the top-seeded Cougars advanced to the Sweet 16 back in Texas by topping No. 9 seed Texas A&M 100-95 on Sunday night.Houston coach Kelvin Sampson credited playing this debut season in the Big 12, filled with lots of close games, with having his Cougars ready for this game.“We’re very fortunate tonight to win. Texas A&M could’ve won that game,” Sampson said. “But only one team can advance. I’ve learned not to autopsy wins at this time of the year. So we move on.”The Aggies forced overtime with a furious rally, outscoring Houston 17-5 in the final two minutes of regulation. Andersson Garcia beat the buzzer with his ninth 3-pointer of the season, and then was mobbed by his teammates.“Obviously, it’s a shot that will go down in Texas A&M lore,” Aggies coach Buzz Williams said. “It was to tie. It wasn’t to win, you know?”Sampson called the final two minutes of regulation “Murphy’s Law,” with missed free throws and the ball bouncing everywhere. “They didn’t miss a 3,” Sampson said. “And they didn’t make an easy one. They were all hard 3’s.”Sharp fouled out after his 3, finishing with 30 points. His teammates outscored Texas A&M 7-1 to start the extra session and close it out.The win by Houston (32-4) means all eight teams seeded 1 and 2 advanced to the Sweet 16 for the fifth time since the NCAA tourney started seeding in 1979. The top eight seeds also advanced in 2019, 2009, 1995 and 1989.The Cougars will play Duke, a 93-55 winner over James Madison, on Friday in Dallas in the South Region semifinals. This will be Houston’s fifth straight Sweet 16 and 16th all-time.Another No. 1 seed that advanced on Sunday was UConn.Donovan Clingan, Tristen Newton and the top-seeded Huskies overwhelmed an undermanned Northwestern team 75-58 on Sunday night to sail into the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.Newton had 20 points and 10 assists, and Clingan finished with 14 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocks. Connecticut led wire-to-wire and became the first defending national champion to reach the regional semifinals since Duke in 2016.“Just obviously impressed with the performance. Just really attacked them in the paint,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said. “Obviously, the injuries that they have sustained during the year changed the total complexion of that team.”The Huskies (33-3) built a 30-point cushion with 13:27 left and matched a program record for wins set by the 2013-14 national title squad. They’ll play Thursday night in the East Region semifinals against No. 5 seed San Diego State in Boston, about an 85-mile drive from UConn’s campus.The Huskies beat a fifth-seeded San Diego State squad 76-59 in last year’s national championship game. They lost Adama Sanogo, Jordan Hawkins and Andre Jackson Jr. to the NBA from that talented team, but this balanced and focused group has looked even more dominant as it attempts to become the first program to repeat as NCAA champion since Florida in 2007.

The Houston Cougars breathed a sigh of relief, celebrating their latest Sweet 16 berth.

What looked like a victory in hand turned into an overtime thriller in the span of two minutes.

Video above: How an arena prepares to host NCAA Tournament

Emanuel Sharp started overtime with a 3-pointer that put Houston ahead to stay as the top-seeded Cougars advanced to the Sweet 16 back in Texas by topping No. 9 seed Texas A&M 100-95 on Sunday night.

Houston coach Kelvin Sampson credited playing this debut season in the Big 12, filled with lots of close games, with having his Cougars ready for this game.

“We’re very fortunate tonight to win. Texas A&M could’ve won that game,” Sampson said. “But only one team can advance. I’ve learned not to autopsy wins at this time of the year. So we move on.”

The Aggies forced overtime with a furious rally, outscoring Houston 17-5 in the final two minutes of regulation. Andersson Garcia beat the buzzer with his ninth 3-pointer of the season, and then was mobbed by his teammates.

“Obviously, it’s a shot that will go down in Texas A&M lore,” Aggies coach Buzz Williams said. “It was to tie. It wasn’t to win, you know?”

Sampson called the final two minutes of regulation “Murphy’s Law,” with missed free throws and the ball bouncing everywhere.

“They didn’t miss a 3,” Sampson said. “And they didn’t make an easy one. They were all hard 3’s.”

Sharp fouled out after his 3, finishing with 30 points. His teammates outscored Texas A&M 7-1 to start the extra session and close it out.

The win by Houston (32-4) means all eight teams seeded 1 and 2 advanced to the Sweet 16 for the fifth time since the NCAA tourney started seeding in 1979. The top eight seeds also advanced in 2019, 2009, 1995 and 1989.

The Cougars will play Duke, a 93-55 winner over James Madison, on Friday in Dallas in the South Region semifinals. This will be Houston’s fifth straight Sweet 16 and 16th all-time.

Another No. 1 seed that advanced on Sunday was UConn.

Donovan Clingan, Tristen Newton and the top-seeded Huskies overwhelmed an undermanned Northwestern team 75-58 on Sunday night to sail into the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

Newton had 20 points and 10 assists, and Clingan finished with 14 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocks. Connecticut led wire-to-wire and became the first defending national champion to reach the regional semifinals since Duke in 2016.

“Just obviously impressed with the performance. Just really attacked them in the paint,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said. “Obviously, the injuries that they have sustained during the year changed the total complexion of that team.”

The Huskies (33-3) built a 30-point cushion with 13:27 left and matched a program record for wins set by the 2013-14 national title squad. They’ll play Thursday night in the East Region semifinals against No. 5 seed San Diego State in Boston, about an 85-mile drive from UConn’s campus.

The Huskies beat a fifth-seeded San Diego State squad 76-59 in last year’s national championship game. They lost Adama Sanogo, Jordan Hawkins and Andre Jackson Jr. to the NBA from that talented team, but this balanced and focused group has looked even more dominant as it attempts to become the first program to repeat as NCAA champion since Florida in 2007.

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March 24, 2024
Top 8 seeds earn clean sweep to Sweet 16

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The Houston Cougars breathed a sigh of relief, celebrating their latest Sweet 16 berth.What looked like a victory in hand turned into an overtime thriller in the span of two minutes.Video above: How an arena prepares to host NCAA Tournament Emanuel Sharp started overtime with a 3-pointer that put Houston ahead to stay as the top-seeded Cougars advanced to the Sweet 16 back in Texas by topping No. 9 seed Texas A&M 100-95 on Sunday night.Houston coach Kelvin Sampson credited playing this debut season in the Big 12, filled with lots of close games, with having his Cougars ready for this game.“We’re very fortunate tonight to win. Texas A&M could’ve won that game,” Sampson said. “But only one team can advance. I’ve learned not to autopsy wins at this time of the year. So we move on.”The Aggies forced overtime with a furious rally, outscoring Houston 17-5 in the final two minutes of regulation. Andersson Garcia beat the buzzer with his ninth 3-pointer of the season, and then was mobbed by his teammates.“Obviously, it’s a shot that will go down in Texas A&M lore,” Aggies coach Buzz Williams said. “It was to tie. It wasn’t to win, you know?”Sampson called the final two minutes of regulation “Murphy’s Law,” with missed free throws and the ball bouncing everywhere. “They didn’t miss a 3,” Sampson said. “And they didn’t make an easy one. They were all hard 3’s.”Sharp fouled out after his 3, finishing with 30 points. His teammates outscored Texas A&M 7-1 to start the extra session and close it out.The win by Houston (32-4) means all eight teams seeded 1 and 2 advanced to the Sweet 16 for the fifth time since the NCAA tourney started seeding in 1979. The top eight seeds also advanced in 2019, 2009, 1995 and 1989.The Cougars will play Duke, a 93-55 winner over James Madison, on Friday in Dallas in the South Region semifinals. This will be Houston’s fifth straight Sweet 16 and 16th all-time.Another No. 1 seed that advanced on Sunday was UConn.Donovan Clingan, Tristen Newton and the top-seeded Huskies overwhelmed an undermanned Northwestern team 75-58 on Sunday night to sail into the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.Newton had 20 points and 10 assists, and Clingan finished with 14 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocks. Connecticut led wire-to-wire and became the first defending national champion to reach the regional semifinals since Duke in 2016.“Just obviously impressed with the performance. Just really attacked them in the paint,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said. “Obviously, the injuries that they have sustained during the year changed the total complexion of that team.”The Huskies (33-3) built a 30-point cushion with 13:27 left and matched a program record for wins set by the 2013-14 national title squad. They’ll play Thursday night in the East Region semifinals against No. 5 seed San Diego State in Boston, about an 85-mile drive from UConn’s campus.The Huskies beat a fifth-seeded San Diego State squad 76-59 in last year’s national championship game. They lost Adama Sanogo, Jordan Hawkins and Andre Jackson Jr. to the NBA from that talented team, but this balanced and focused group has looked even more dominant as it attempts to become the first program to repeat as NCAA champion since Florida in 2007.

The Houston Cougars breathed a sigh of relief, celebrating their latest Sweet 16 berth.

What looked like a victory in hand turned into an overtime thriller in the span of two minutes.

Video above: How an arena prepares to host NCAA Tournament

Emanuel Sharp started overtime with a 3-pointer that put Houston ahead to stay as the top-seeded Cougars advanced to the Sweet 16 back in Texas by topping No. 9 seed Texas A&M 100-95 on Sunday night.

Houston coach Kelvin Sampson credited playing this debut season in the Big 12, filled with lots of close games, with having his Cougars ready for this game.

“We’re very fortunate tonight to win. Texas A&M could’ve won that game,” Sampson said. “But only one team can advance. I’ve learned not to autopsy wins at this time of the year. So we move on.”

The Aggies forced overtime with a furious rally, outscoring Houston 17-5 in the final two minutes of regulation. Andersson Garcia beat the buzzer with his ninth 3-pointer of the season, and then was mobbed by his teammates.

“Obviously, it’s a shot that will go down in Texas A&M lore,” Aggies coach Buzz Williams said. “It was to tie. It wasn’t to win, you know?”

Sampson called the final two minutes of regulation “Murphy’s Law,” with missed free throws and the ball bouncing everywhere.

“They didn’t miss a 3,” Sampson said. “And they didn’t make an easy one. They were all hard 3’s.”

Sharp fouled out after his 3, finishing with 30 points. His teammates outscored Texas A&M 7-1 to start the extra session and close it out.

The win by Houston (32-4) means all eight teams seeded 1 and 2 advanced to the Sweet 16 for the fifth time since the NCAA tourney started seeding in 1979. The top eight seeds also advanced in 2019, 2009, 1995 and 1989.

The Cougars will play Duke, a 93-55 winner over James Madison, on Friday in Dallas in the South Region semifinals. This will be Houston’s fifth straight Sweet 16 and 16th all-time.

Another No. 1 seed that advanced on Sunday was UConn.

Donovan Clingan, Tristen Newton and the top-seeded Huskies overwhelmed an undermanned Northwestern team 75-58 on Sunday night to sail into the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

Newton had 20 points and 10 assists, and Clingan finished with 14 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocks. Connecticut led wire-to-wire and became the first defending national champion to reach the regional semifinals since Duke in 2016.

“Just obviously impressed with the performance. Just really attacked them in the paint,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said. “Obviously, the injuries that they have sustained during the year changed the total complexion of that team.”

The Huskies (33-3) built a 30-point cushion with 13:27 left and matched a program record for wins set by the 2013-14 national title squad. They’ll play Thursday night in the East Region semifinals against No. 5 seed San Diego State in Boston, about an 85-mile drive from UConn’s campus.

The Huskies beat a fifth-seeded San Diego State squad 76-59 in last year’s national championship game. They lost Adama Sanogo, Jordan Hawkins and Andre Jackson Jr. to the NBA from that talented team, but this balanced and focused group has looked even more dominant as it attempts to become the first program to repeat as NCAA champion since Florida in 2007.

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March 24, 2024
Powered by big man DJ Burns Jr., N.C. State muscles past Oakland in overtime to reach Sweet 16 :: WRALSportsFan.com

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By WILL GRAVES, AP Sports Writer

PITTSBURGH — PITTSBURGH (AP) — DJ Burns Jr. knows he has a choice most nights. The North Carolina State forward can pout about the constant pushing and shoving he receives in the post — the cost of doing business when you’re 6-foot-9 and 275 pounds — or he can fight.

There was a time earlier in his career when, according to Burns, he would “get in my feelings” when the calls wouldn’t go his way.

Turns out taking the fight to the other team is way more fun.

The versatile big man with the decidedly under-the-rim game scored 24 points, including a go-ahead putback that ignited a 9-0 run in overtime, and the 11th-seeded Wolfpack beat 14th-seeded Oakland 79-73 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday night.

Burns pounded his chest as he left the floor after two-plus hours of tussling in the lane and good-naturedly jawing with Oakland supporters, one of the reasons he nodded when coach Kevin Keatts likened his team’s victory to a boxing match.

“The fans, they’re going to really come at you,” Burns said. “Especially when they have a team like that with the capabilities that they have, you got to talk. You got to have some fun with it.”

N.C. State (24-14) advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015 by finally putting away 3-point specialist Jack Gohlke and the Golden Grizzlies (24-12) in the extra period.

The Wolfpack will face either second-seeded Marquette and 10th-seeded Colorado in Dallas on Friday in the South Region semifinals.

Two weeks ago, N.C. State was on the outside of the tournament bubble. Seven wins in 12 days later — including five in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament to earn an automatic NCAA berth — N.C. State is heading to Texas with a chance to send the program to its first Elite Eight since 1986.

“I think that’s what March is about,” Burns said. “Some teams got here by winning their conference just like us and that doesn’t mean they’re a bad team.”

The Wolfpack certainly aren’t playing like one. While Burns is making a star turn, he’s hardly doing it alone. All five N.C. State starters finished with at least 11 points, and Jayden Taylor came off the bench in overtime to hit a 3-pointer off a pass from Burns that gave the Wolfpack a 75-70 lead.

“I think one of the things if you look back at the seven games we won in a row, is I think that everyone has really stepped up in different ways,” Keatts said, later adding, “That’s kind of what makes us special.”

N.C. State needed to be special to turn back Oakland.

Two days after stunning third-seeded Kentucky, the commuter school 30 miles north of downtown Detroit just missed becoming the first 14 seed to reach the Sweet 16 since Chattanooga in 1997.

Trey Townsend, the Horizon League Player of the Year, had 30 points and 13 rebounds for the Golden Grizzlies. Gohlke, who made 10 3-pointers against Kentucky, poured in six more 3s and finished with 22 points.

“I think people now hopefully will know that we’re not in California and we’re from Michigan now,” Townsend said.

Townsend put Oakland in front for the first time with a three-point play with 2:49 to go in regulation, setting up a taut finish that had most of the fans inside a packed PPG Paints Arena pulling for the Golden Grizzlies.

That group included Oakland President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, who watched from the front row while holding a prop Cinderella-style glass slipper.

It didn’t quite fit.

Oakland had a chance at a last-second shot in regulation when it called timeout with 17 seconds to go. Kampe called a play designed to get Townsend in a one-on-one matchup. The Golden Grizzlies had trouble with N.C. State’s pressure, turning it over with 1.3 seconds to go.

“I blame myself,” Kampe said. “We got the ball with 17 seconds to go and we didn’t get a shot. There’s only one person to blame for that. That’s me, and I’ve got to sit here and live with that now.”

N.C. State took advantage, moving in front for good on a Burns’ putback, and the Wolfpack ended the brief but spectacular tournament run by Gohlke.

The graduate student who spent the previous five years at Division II Hillsdale College had the majority of fans rising to their feet every time he launched one from deep.

“The legend of Jack Gohlke is going to go on and Oakland is going to be associated with that,” Kampe said.

N.C. State breezed past sixth-seeded Texas Tech in the first round and looked comfortable playing the favorite, a rarity during its postseason run.

The Wolfpack will be underdogs again — by seed anyway — in their next game. That’s fine with them. Few outside their locker room expected them to get this far.

Burns has a message for those trying to hop back on the bandwagon.

“I’m just saying welcome back,” he said. “They didn’t really believe in us. They probably still don’t but that doesn’t matter to us. We’re just going to stay together. If you’re supporting us, thank you. If not, that’s what it is.”

___

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

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March 23, 2024
There’s still only one question N.C. State hasn’t been able to answer: ‘Why not us?’

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N.C. State’s Mohamed Diarra slams in two during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 79-73 overtime win against Oakland in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Kaitlin McKeown

kmckeown@newsobserver.com

Pittsburgh

The end of regulation, facing overtime in a game N.C. State led almost the entire way and missed a chance to win late, was surely the point where the Wolfpack would finally run out of gas.

No, it was three minutes later, with Oakland in the lead and both Ben Middlebrooks and Mohamed Diarra fouled out, when the needle would finally hit empty for N.C. State. Had to be.

A team with nothing left in reserve but pride, playing its seventh (and a quarter) game in 12 days, had to reach deep into its empty tanks one more time.

And once again found all it needed.

“I don’t think there’s a time when we have nothing left in the tank,” Middlebrooks said. “We’re the type of team, we will keep going as long as it takes to win the game. There is no quit in us at all.”

N.C. State’s improbable postseason lives on. Not even Jack Gohlke’s Steph Curry tribute act could derail this runaway train. When the end came Saturday night, it was Oakland’s shots that started coming up short, as the Wolfpack ran the lead to five. To seven. To nine. To Dallas.

N.C. State head coach Kevin Keatts celebrates with athletic director Boo Corrigan following the Wolfpack’s 79-73 overtime win against Oakland in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

For the first time since 2015, the Wolfpack is going to the Sweet 16, to face either Marquette or Colorado on Friday, after a 79-73 win over the equally resilient Golden Grizzlies.

Duke may join them in Dallas, if it can get past James Madison on Sunday, reminiscent of 2012 in St. Louis when Kansas single-handedly denied a regional final between N.C. State and North Carolina. And a year after being shut out of the Sweet 16, the Triangle accounts for an eighth of it. Maybe more.

The Wolfpack is the least likely of the bunch, an 11 seed that two weeks ago faced the tricky logistics of playing a home NIT game while hosting the first two rounds of the women’s tournament at Reynolds Coliseum.

Instead, a school famished for this kind of basketball in March is now overflowing with it. That it has been so long in coming, and so unexpected, only makes it sweeter.

“They’ve been longing for success, especially in the postseason, for a long time,” Raleigh native D.J. Horne said. “To come in, knowing I only had one year to make it happen, and the fact that it is all unfolding like this?”

The team that keeps asking “Why not us?” keeps finding answers where others might least expect them.

N.C. State’s Michael O’Connell reacts in the second half of the Wolfpack’s 79-73 overtime win in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

Overtime was yet another example of that. While D.J. Burns was the focus, Horne hit a critical jumper. Jayden Taylor hit the 3-pointer that put N.C. State in the lead for good. Casey Morsell defended Trey Townsend, who had a game-high 30, and kept him from hitting a field goal. Everyone had a piece.

That’s been the recipe, the most important of all the ingredients that have gone into this bubbling cauldron of basketball witchcraft. Michael O’Connell hit the bank shot to force overtime against Virginia. Horne had 29 and Diarra had a double-double against UNC. Middlebrooks had a career game against Texas Tech. And everyone contributed against Oakland, with five players in double figures led by Burns’ 24.

Burns was at the center of it all, N.C. State’s own basketball unicorn outplaying Oakland’s. Gohlke, the fifth-year Division II transfer who was one short of an NCAA tournament record with 10 3-pointers against Kentucky, looked like he was on his way again against N.C. State. He missed his final four attempts Saturday. Burns did not, especially when the Wolfpack went to a four-guard lineup out of necessity in the final minutes.

N.C. State’s DJ Burns Jr. is fouled by Oakland’s Blake Lampman during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 79-73 overtime win in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

In those moments, the crowd was squarely behind Oakland, the even pluckier underdog, as the Wolfpack took on the unfamiliar role of favorite, all the neutrals rooting against N.C. State for a change. On this night, in this building, the Wolfpack was the bad guy. It embraced that role as well.

There were so many moments in this one when things could have gone awry. There were so many moments in the past two weeks when one little error, one bad call, one ill-advised shot could have relegated N.C. State to a basketball footnote.

Instead, the Wolfpack continues to make history, extending a streak that was already unprecedented and is starting to take on a life of its own. Every question that is asked, N.C. State has found an answer.

Except one.

“Why not us?” Horne asked, again. “We’re going to keep that running until the wheels come off.”

Luke DeCock’s Latest: Never miss a column on the Canes, ACC or other Triangle sports

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Sports columnist Luke DeCock joined The News & Observer in 2000 and has covered seven Final Fours, the Summer Olympics, the Super Bowl and the Carolina Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup. He is a past president of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, was the 2020 winner of the National Headliner Award as the country’s top sports columnist and has twice been named North Carolina Sportswriter of the Year.

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March 23, 2024
North Carolina beats Tom Izzo, Michigan State in March Madness again to reach Sweet 16 :: WRALSportsFan.com

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By AARON BEARD, AP Basketball Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Once again, North Carolina is moving on in the NCAA Tournament at the expense of Michigan State and Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo.

RJ Davis scored 20 points to help UNC beat the Spartans 85-69 on Saturday, pushing the Tar Heels to the Sweet 16 while keeping them unbeaten in March Madness against Izzo’s teams in a series going back 26 years.

Harrison Ingram made five 3-pointers and scored 17 points for the West Region’s top seed, which continued its NCAA success in its home state. The Tar Heels (29-7) improved to 5-0 in the tournament against Izzo, including victories in the 2005 Final Four and 2009 title game.

And they move on to the regional semifinals in Los Angeles, where they will face either Grand Canyon or Alabama on Thursday night.

It started with answering the Spartans’ game-opening punch that put the Tar Heels in a 12-point hole. The response — continuing coach Hubert Davis’ season-long message — was a game-defining change. The Tar Heels erased the Spartans’ lead and answered every push that followed.

“We came into the huddle and said, ‘Look, we can’t talk about any basketball stuff until we join the fight,’” Hubert Davis said. “Once that started, the level of play in terms of the energy and effort, the attention to detail rose. Then that’s when things started to change.”

UNC ran off 17 straight points during a 23-3 run over the last eight minutes of the first half. And that secured the program’s largest comeback in March Madness since rallying from 16 down to beat Southern California in the 2007 Sweet 16.

“I think being able to continue to trust each other, our ability to execute, to continually raise the level of energy,” said UNC’s Cormac Ryan, who had 14 points. “That starts with guys coming in and making individual effort and energy plays, and that happened all across the board all night.”

UNC fifth-year post Armando Bacot (18 points) was critical, getting inside to score, draw fouls or kick out against oncoming double teams. Ingram was on the receiving end of some of those, hitting 5 of 7 3-pointers to go with seven rebounds.

Tyson Walker scored 24 points for the ninth-seeded Spartans (20-15), who were playing in front of a blue-clad crowd about a 2 1/2-hour drive from UNC’s Chapel Hill campus.

Izzo had no explanation when asked Friday about the lack of postseason success against UNC, a blip on a resume featuring 26 straight trips to March Madness, eight Final Fours and the 2000 national title. This one ended the same as the previous matchups and was the third in the Tar Heels’ home state.

“I’ll just say hats off to Carolina and Hubert and their team, but I’m not going to hang my head because I don’t believe it was a 16-point loss,” Izzo said. “So many ebbs and flows that were monstrous in that game.”

To Izzo’s point, one of Ingram’s 3s seemed destined to miss when it caught iron, only to somehow take a soft lap all the way around the rim and drop through the net — sending Ingram screaming toward the bench and giving UNC a 69-57 lead with 6:18 left.

“I thought it was going in because I felt the rim was huge,” Ingram said. “I was jumping up and down, praying to God it went in.”

That came minutes after RJ Davis had banked in a straightaway 3 while trying to lose a defender, a moment that had the first-team AP All-American looking to the rafters in disbelief.

By then, the Spartans were already chasing.

Michigan State carried the action early behind a heater of a start with Walker scoring 11 points in the first 10 1/2 minutes. And when Malik Hall scored on a pivot spin against Jae’Lyn Withers inside, the Spartans led 28-17 at the 8:08 mark. That’s when the Tar Heels matched the Spartans’ edge.

Ingram hit a 3 to start the 17-0 burst that included multiple baskets and free throws from Bacot. Ryan nailed another 3 from the corner in a side-reversing sequence that started inside with Bacot, while Ingram hit another that pushed the Tar Heels to a 40-31 lead at the break.

BIG PICTURE

Michigan State: It was a bumpy season for a team that opened the season ranked No. 4 in the AP Top 25 but was unranked before the end of November and remained that way the rest of the year. The Spartans had wins against NCAA 3-seeds Illinois and Baylor, but they didn’t have better than a three-game winning streak after the start of 2024 and had lost five of seven entering March Madness. They beat eighth-seeded Mississippi State on Thursday, but — in a repeat of their season-long inconsistency — couldn’t sustain their edge for 40 minutes.

“It made it frustrating because I kept saying to myself I know this team has enough,” Izzo said. “You know what, I’ll leave today believing I’m right. I really think we have enough that we could have made a little run. Yeah, we would have had to get them past a mountain, but we had them down. … We just couldn’t get over the hump.”

UNC: The Tar Heels advanced by beating 16th-seeded Wagner with an easy dominance in the paint against an undersized team. They had a tougher fight in this one but improved to 36-2 in NCAA games in North Carolina, including 14-1 in Charlotte, the state’s largest city.

UP NEXT

The Tar Heels learn their opponent Sunday. UNC owns an 8-5 record against the fourth-seeded Crimson Tide and has never met the 12th-seeded Antelopes.

___

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

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March 23, 2024
March Madness: Duke gets past Vermont 64-47 in first round :: WRALSportsFan.com

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By Mike Fitzpatrick, AP Sports Writer

Vermont Catamounts 47

13Duke Blue Devils 64

Final

Jared McCain and Mark Mitchell each had 15 points, and No. 4 seed Duke opened the NCAA Tournament with an uneven performance before finally pulling away from 13th-seeded Vermont for a 64-47 victory Friday night.

Jeremy Roach scored 14 for the Blue Devils (25-8), who were able to advance without much offensive production from star center Kyle Filipowski. The sophomore took only one shot and scored a career-low three points, though he did grab 12 rebounds.

Seeking its sixth national championship, Duke will face No. 5 seed Wisconsin or 12th-seeded James Madison in a South Region second-round game Sunday in Brooklyn.

Shamir Bogues had 18 points for Vermont (28-7), playing in its third consecutive NCAA Tournament as America East champions. Aaron Deloney added 14 for the Catamounts, who had won 10 straight games.

Coming off two consecutive losses to in-state rivals, including an ACC quarterfinal flop against North Carolina State, the Blue Devils had trouble putting away Vermont until late in the game. Tyrese Proctor finished with 13 points on 5-of-14 shooting for Duke, which outscored the Catamounts 20-2 at the free-throw line and 10-0 in points off turnovers.

Even in New York City, where Duke has a large alumni network and fan base, the pesky Catamounts had the crowd chanting “UVM! UVM!” when they cut their deficit to two early in the second half.

McCain answered with a 3-pointer, and Duke finally started to establish some sustained breathing room midway through the second half.

A hush fell over the crowd with 1:18 left when Vermont’s leading scorer, TJ Long, went down with a serious-looking injury. Long was about to go up for a breakaway layup when his right knee buckled and he dropped to the floor. After receiving attention from an athletic trainer, he was helped off the court to applause.

Duke played without Caleb Foster again after coach Jon Scheyer said Thursday that the freshman guard will sit out the remainder of the season with a stress fracture in his right ankle.

The team had hoped Foster (7.7 points per game) could return during the NCAA Tournament, but he missed his sixth consecutive game. Foster saw multiple doctors and even tried to practice this week, but Scheyer said Foster “wasn’t able to be himself.”

Duke went on an 8-0 spree in the first half and it appeared the Blue Devils were poised to break it open when they established a 10-point cushion.

But the Catamounts answered and cut it to 34-29 at halftime. Long and Deloney each tossed in a circus bucket to beat the shot clock, after Vermont coach John Becker received a technical foul earlier in the half for yelling at an official.

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March 22, 2024
Portland Pilots Knocked Out Of Women’s NCAA Tournament – KXL

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MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Gabby Gregory had 22 points and Ayoka Lee scored 21 to lead Kansas State to a 78-65 win over Portland in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament on Friday.

The fourth-seeded Wildcats built a big first-half lead and then kept the No. 13 seed Pilots at an arm’s reach the rest of the game. They led 40-28 at halftime and 25-10 after one quarter.

K-State will face the winner of the Colorado vs. Drake game on Sunday in the second round.

Serena Sundell added 16 points for Kansas State (26-7).

Portland (21-13) was led by Maisie Burnham, who had 17 of her 21 points in the second half. The Pilots also got 12 points from Kianna Hamilton-Fisher.

The game became chippy in the second half as there were 10 fouls called before the midway point of the third quarter. There were 15 total fouls called in the third quarter.

Lee, who finished with nine rebounds, had 11 points in the third quarter as the Wildcats maintained their 12-point lead.

K-State shot 26 of 51 from the field, including 7 of 16 on 3-pointers. The Wildcats, however, only made 65.5% of their free throws.

Portland shot 44% for the game.

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March 22, 2024
Wolfpack fans cherishing memorable week as Cinderella run continues :: WRALSportsFan.com

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By Brett Knese, WRAL reporter

Raleigh, N.C. — NC State fans are flying high again after another big win Thursday night.

The men’s basketball team defeated Texas Tech 80-67 in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Around campus on Friday, anyone wearing NC State gear was thrilled to talk about the run this team is on.

It’s normal to see all kinds of Wolfpack red throughout NC State’s campus. Over the last week, something feels different.

“It’s just buzzing across campus,” said Sullivan Kojola. “Now that everyone is back from spring break, tomorrow night is going to be even better and it’s a weekend. It’s going to be even better.”

Thursday night’s win over Texas Tech didn’t wrap up until after midnight, but students still rushed the bell tower to celebrate.

The store in the student union is full of new merchandise after the team’s first ACC title in 37 years. That championship, combined with their first tournament win since 2015, has students dreaming of a big tournament run.

“It feels great, especially being a freshman here now,” said student Joey Sabatino. “It’s crazy to come into a season like this.”

Just down the road, fans and alums went out for lunch at Players Retreat. The bar was packed Thursday night with excited fans.

“I’m excited to be able to have another game to watch and get to see the team,” said alum Kenneth Erickson. “I think it’s just exciting to see how much joy they have.”

It was also a late night for senior guard DJ Horne and his family who were at the game in Pittsburgh. On Friday, father Lamar Horne said he feels blessed to watch his son create history.

“It’s just a beautiful thing to witness and as a dad, I’m so appreciative of the opportunity that he’s given us, given me, to enjoy and to remember,” said Lamar Horne.

Now the Wolfpack is on the verge of the Sweet Sixteen. They now face Oakland, who just knocked off 3-seed Kentucky, on Saturday night in the round of 32.

“Jimmy V said it best: Survive and advance!” said Horne. “Survive and advance and go Wolfpack!”

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March 22, 2024
How Kansas basketball survived a Samford scare in its NCAA Tournament opener

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Kansas Jayhawks center Hunter Dickinson (1) dunks the ball against the Samford Bulldogs during a men’s college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Nick Wagner

nwagner@kcstar.com

SALT LAKE CITY

Before Thursday’s game, Kansas athletic director Travis Goff said he was hopeful the NCAA Tournament would allow the Jayhawks to reset and renew their focus.

In a season mired with injuries and inconsistency for a team that’s hyper-aware of what critics online think, Kansas certainly could’ve used an easy first-round win to build some confidence.

Forward KJ Adams even told The Star on Thursday: “We just (want) to let everyone know that we are still the Kansas team we’ve been for the last couple of years.”

For a while, yes. Then … not so much.

What began as a blowout — KU led by 22 in the second half — turned into a nail-biter late. The Jayhawks regained just enough composure to hold on for a 93-89 win at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

Samford cut KU’s big second-half lead to one point with 5:14 to play. The Jayhawks responded with a 7-1 run, highlighted by a Nick Timberlake 3-pointer, to go back up 86-79. It appeared to be a knockout punch.

Samford kept swinging.

The Bulldogs cut the deficit to two with 38 seconds left, when Achor Achor, who had been cramping late, threw down a thunderous dunk. Adams beat the press for a dunk of his own, but Samford responded with a 3-pointer.

The Kansas lead was one, 90-89.

On the next possession, Timberlake was fouled on a runaway dunk attempt, though the replays showed there was no body or arm contact, only ball. He made two free throws to put Kansas up 3.

The Jayhawks defended the ensuing Samford offensive possession, with Elmarko Jackson recovering a rebound and throwing it off a Samford player out of bounds. Johnny Furphy made one free throw to seal the game.

Samford guard A.J. Staton-McCray (5) is called for a foul while blocking Kansas Jayhawks guard Nicolas Timberlake (25) in the second half of a first-round NCAA Tournament game on Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Nick Wagner nwagner@kcstar.com

Adams finished with 20 points, while an injured Hunter Dickinson, who sported a shoulder wrap, scored 19. Timberlake also scored 19 points, none bigger than his late 3 and free throws to help Kansas ride out the win.

No. 4-seeded Kansas (23-10) advances to face No. 5 Gonzaga in the Round of 32 on Saturday.

Until then, here are three takeaways from Thursday’s game…

Kansas plays well against the press … mostly

On Thursday, Dajuan Harris and Furphy told The Star the Jayhawks hoped to use Samford’s fast pace against it.

Well, KU did just that and beat the Bulldogs’ various presses for much of the game.

While KU committed 18 turnovers, there were plenty of easy baskets that came against the press. The Jayhawks shot 69.2% from the field in the first half. It was their most efficient offensive first half in nearly a decade of NCAA Tournament basketball.

In breaking the press, the Jayhawks asked multiple players to handle the ball. They had Timberlake float around to receive a pass at midcourt; he would then turn and charge toward the rim. It forced the Samford defense to rotate out of position and led to easy baskets for Dickinson and Adams.

For the game, the Jayhawks shot 60.3% from the field, a promising sign after the offense had dipped in recent games.

Kansas controls the boards

This was not a big opponent for KU — literally speaking.

The Bulldogs rank No. 349 in average player height. A tall, lengthy team, they were not, and a 7-2 Hunter Dickinson gave the Jayhawks a definite advantage on the glass.

Well, the Jayhawks took full advantage of that.

At one point, Furphy reached over the top of a much smaller Samford player to collect an offensive rebound. The Samford bench was irate, wanting an over-the-back call.

Instead, the bench got hit with a technical foul.

The Jayhawks won the rebounding battle 44-35, though Samford actually grabbed more offensive rebounds, 14-8. The Jayhawks had 10 second-chance points and needed just about every one of them.

No McCullar, no problem

Kansas was missing 18.3 points per game without McCullar, but the team did an excellent job picking up the slack without him.

Kansas Jayhawks guard Nicolas Timberlake (25) talks with guard Dajuan Harris Jr. (3) during a men’s college basketball game against the Samford Bulldogs in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Nick Wagner nwagner@kcstar.com

All five Jayhawk starters scored double-digit points. The Jayhawks also scored 54 points in the paint, many of which came after they broke the press.

Furphy scored 16 points and Harris added 13 to round out the starters. Jackson even chipped in with six points off the bench.

As the Jayhawks look to navigate the NCAA Tournament without McCullar, they’ll need several players to step up to keep up with opponents. Offense wasn’t a problem on Thursday, as the Jayhawks scored 93 points.

This story was originally published March 22, 2024, 1:17 AM.

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Shreyas Laddha covers KU hoops and football for The Star. He’s a Georgia native and graduated from the University of Georgia.

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March 21, 2024
CU Buffs grind past Boise State in NCAA Tournament First Four, advance to face Florida

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DAYTON, Ohio — The iron was unkind to CU almost all night long. But in March, an ugly win with a ticket to the next round of the Big Dance beats a pretty flight home to Boulder any day of the week.

Thanks to a double-double from guard KJ Simpson and clutch buckets by forward Tristan da Silva, the Buffs advanced out of the NCAA Tournament’s First Four with a 60-53 win over Boise State at UD Arena.

CU (25-10) will meet Florida (24-11) on Friday in a first-round matchup in Indianapolis.

It was the third NCAA tourney win for the Buffs under Tad Boyle since 2012 and the program’s second since 2021.

With CU trailing 49-45, the Buffs’ Big Two of Simpson and da Silva brought their squad up off the mat, and extended a wild, roller-coaster season in the process.

The latter’s trey from the corner made it a 49-48 game, and Simpson scored the next four points — via two free throws and a runner in the lane — to put CU up three. Center Eddie Lampkin Jr.’s soft follow with 32.8 seconds left, released just before the shot clock expired, gave the Buffs a 54-49 cushion.

Wednesday was CU’s fourth game in seven days, and late in the tilt, the Buffs’ legs appeared to show some wear. Jumpers off the fingers of Simpson that he normally swishes trended short, and 50-50 rebounds near the rim on Boise misses were more often snagged by the scrappier Broncos in the second half.

The Buffs opened the second stanza on a 9-4 run that also served as one of their best stretches of play to that point. Simpson accounted for four of those points, and the point guard’s layup with 15:58 left in the game elevated the CU lead to 35-28.

But for much of the evening, anytime the Buffs started to build up breathing room, Boise found a way to claw right back into the fight. Broncos forward Cam Martin’s layup with 12:58 left capped a 9-3 Boise run.

Martin’s putback with 9:11 to go, the culmination of a da Silva turnover and a mad scramble the other way, knotted the score at 43-all.

While the Buffs’ offense stalled, O’Mar Stanley’s layup with 7:11 left put the Broncos up 45-43. Roddie Anderson III missed an open bunny on a backdoor cut, but Tyson Degenhart’s high-arcing follow was true, extending that Boise cushion to 47-43 and forcing Boyle to call a timeout.

If you liked your basketball games to resemble a rock fight, the first half of Buffs-Broncos was for you.

In a contest begging for someone who could create their own shot off the dribble, only CU’s da Silva obliged early. The senior forward led all scorers at the break with 11 points, and the Buffs upperclassman’s 3-point play gave CU an early 9-6 lead about six minutes into the tilt.

But Boise countered with a 7-0 run of its own, and a Chibuzo Agbo layup put the Broncos ahead 13-9 with 11:54 to go until halftime.

Both sides retrenched after a television timeout. On the first possession coming out of it, however, CU incurred a shot-clock violation. It wasn’t Virginia cold, but Boyle’s Buffs weathered a scoring drought of 2:16 midway through the opening stanza.

Luke O’Brien’s 3-point play with 2:42 until the break pushed CU’s cushion to 24-18. But the Buffs managed only one more field goal for the rest of the first half, and clung to a 26-24 edge at the break. The Pac-12 reps misfired on seven of their first eight 3-point attempts, while the Broncos of the Mountain West opened 1 for 10 from beyond the arc.

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March 20, 2024
How to watch today’s Colorado vs. Boise State NCAA First Four college basketball game: Livestream options, more
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KJ Simpson #2 of the Colorado Buffaloes calls a play as he bring the ball up court against the Washington State Cougars in the second half of a semifinal game during the the Pac-12 Conference basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 15, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Buffaloes defeated the Cougars 58-52.

David Becker/Getty Images

The Colorado Buffaloes face Boise State tonight for the second of tonight’s two First Four games. Both the Buffaloes and the Broncos hope to punch a ticket to the 2024 NCAA men’s basketball tournament, but only one team can move on to the Big Dance.

The road to the Final Four starts with the First Four, which is paved with heart, heartbreak and Cinderella stories we’ll be talking about for years to come. If you don’t want to miss a big March Madness moment, game or play, you’ll want to start by watching the First Four. Keep reading to learn how and when to watch the Colorado vs. Boise State game tonight.

CBS Essentials and CBS are subsidiaries of Paramount. CBS is one of the broadcast homes of the 2024 men’s March Madness tournament.

How and when to watch the Colorado vs. Boise State game with cable

The Colorado vs. Boise State game will be played on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 9:10 p.m. ET (6:10 p.m. PT). The game will be broadcast live on TruTV and stream on Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV.

The Colorado vs. Boise State game will immediately follow the Grambling vs. Montana State First Four game, which is also being broadcast on TruTV starting at 6:40 p.m. ET (3:40 p.m. PT).

How to stream the Colorado vs. Boise State game without cable

If you’ve given up your cable subscription, or your cable provider doesn’t include TruTV, you can subscribe to one of the streaming or live TV platforms featured below. Note that streaming options require an internet provider.

Hulu + Live TV/ESPN+ bundle: The one way to stream every March Madness game

You can watch March Madness 2024, including both the men’s and women’s tournaments, with the Hulu + Live TV/ESPN+ bundle. The bundle features 95 channels, including TruTV, ESPN, ABC and CBS, and includes ESPN+, so you’ll be able to watch every game of both tournaments. The women’s Final Four will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

Unlike other live TV streaming platforms like Fubo (which doesn’t carry TruTV so you won’t be able to watch the First Four), or SlingTV (which doesn’t carry CBS so you won’t be able to watch many men’s March Madness games), Hulu + Live TV is the only live TV streaming platform that allows you to catch every men’s and women’s March Madness 2024 game. If you’re looking to stream just today’s First Four game, SlingTV is a more cost-effective option and you can cancel anytime. If you’re in for today’s game plus more NCAA tournament games over the next few weeks, Hulu + Live TV carries every channel you’ll need to access to watch the entire tournament, including the champion game. Unlimited DVR storage is also included.

Watch every March Madness game on every network this season with Hulu + Live TV/ESPN+ bundle. Hulu + Live TV comes bundled with ESPN+ and Disney+. It’s priced at $77.

Sling TV: The most cost-effective way to stream the Colorado vs. Boise State game

Howard Bison forward Steve Settle (2) and Kansas Jayhawks guard Gradey Dick (4) go after a loose ball during the first round of the NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Championship West Regional.

Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Image

If you don’t have cable TV that includes TruTV, one of the most cost-effective ways to stream March Madness this year is through a subscription to Sling TV’s Blue tier. The streamer offers access to your local network affiliate’s live feed (excluding CBS) and also includes the NFL Network and March Madness games on ESPN with its Orange tier plan.

Right now, SlingTV is offering your first month of service on the Orange, Blue and Orange + Blue tiers for half price. The Sling TV Blue tier normally costs $45 per month, but you can start watching March Madness for just $22.50. The Sling Orange + Blue tier is regularly $60, but it’s discounted to $30 for the first month.

Note: Because some men’s March Madness 2024 games will broadcast on CBS, you won’t be able to watch all men’s March Madness 2024 games with a just Sling TV subscription. If you’re looking to stream the entire men’s tournament on one platform, we suggest a subscription to Hulu + Live TV.

Top features of Sling TV Blue tier:
- There are 42 channels to watch in total, including local ABC, Fox, NBC affiliates (where available).
- You get access to most local NFL games and nationally broadcast games next season at the lowest price.
- All subscription tiers include 50 hours of cloud-based DVR storage.
What is the full schedule for the First Four games?

Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

Below, are the dates and times for the First Four games of the 2024 NCAA men’s tournament, held in Dayton, OH.

Tuesday, March 19 (First Four)

Wednesday, March 20 (First Four)

Key dates for the 2024 NCAA men’s college tournament

Below are key dates for March Madness 2024.
- First Four: Tuesday, March 19 and Wednesday, March 20, 2024
- First round: Thursday, March 21 and Friday, March 22
- Second round: Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24
- Sweet 16: Wednesday, March 28 and Thursday, March 29
- Elite Eight: Saturday, March 30 and Sunday, March 31
- Final Four: Saturday, April 6 (TBS)
- National championship: Monday, April 8 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (TBS)
Key dates for the 2024 NCAA women’s college basketball tournament
- First Four: Wednesday, March 20 and Thursday, March 21, 2024
- First round: Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23
- Second round: Sunday, March 24 and Monday, March 25
- Sweet 16: Thursday, March 29 and Friday, March 30
- Elite Eight: Sunday, March 31 and Monday, April 1
- Final Four: Friday, April 5 (ESPN+)
- National championship: Sunday, April 7 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio (ABC)
What is the First Four in March Madness?

The First Four is a play-in round of March Madness for both the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments. The First Four consists of two games between the four lowest-ranked teams, usually comprised of the four lowest-ranked conference champions. It also consists of two games between the four lowest-seeded teams who have earned at-large bids to the tournament. The winners of the First Four determine the last four teams to qualify for the 64-team bracket that goes on to the first round of the tournament.
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March 20, 2024
Howard University men’s basketball team makes history, ‘dancing’ for 2nd year in a row – WTOP News

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Howard University’s men’s basketball team is headed to the NCAA tournament for the “Big Dance,” for the second consecutive year and just the fourth time ever.

Howard head coach Kenny Blakeney watches during the first half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament Thursday, March 16, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)(AP/Morry Gash)

Howard University’s men’s basketball team is headed to the NCAA tournament for the “Big Dance.”

The Bison beat Delaware State 70-67 on Saturday to secure the MEAC Championship and one of 68 spots in the NCAA tournament. It’s the first time ever the program has made the tournament twice in a row.

“The school spirit’s amazing,” said student Kajean Talette. “As soon as we hear we’re going to March Madness, I’m seeing everyone talk about it and having little parties and stuff.”

Howard will play Wagner in Dayton, Ohio, Tuesday. The winner will face No. 1 seed UNC.

“Do your best out there. I know you guys can do it, I know you guys can win, but God forbid you don’t put your best foot forward,” said student Gabrielle Francis.

Last year, the Bison lost in the first round to No. 1 seed Kansas.

“We put the whole campus behind the teams that are winning, so it definitely changes the environment,” said student Miles Suit.

In all, this will be Howard’s fourth NCAA tournament appearance, with the Bison looking to notch their first ever tournament win Tuesday.

“It’s funny, people who don’t even go to Howard are like, ‘Wow, Howard is doing well, going back to the tournament again,’” said student Drew McIntyre. “It’s nice to see Howard recognized.”

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March 18, 2024
March Madness: Northwestern, Illinois among men’s basketball teams seeded in NCAA Tournament

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CHICAGO (WLS) — Northwestern University and the University of Illinois were among the teams Sunday who were selected and seeded for the March Madness college basketball tournament.

Northwestern will be a No. 9 seed in the east region, playing No. 8 seed Florida Atlantic on Friday in Brooklyn, New York. Illinois will be a No. 3 seed in the east region, facing Moorhead State in a first-round game Thursday in Omaha, Nebraska.

Most Northwestern Wildcats fans celebrating the announcement Sunday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston said they were expecting to get in, and they can’t wait to keep cheering the team on.

Just to see us in the dance for the second year in a row is incredible

Will Klearman, Wildcats fan

The Northwestern men’s basketball team is going dancing. For the first time in school history, the men’s team has clinched back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.

The Northwestern men’s basketball team is going dancing. For the first time in school history, the team has clinched back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.

Fans of all ages packed Welsh-Ryan Arena to take in the moment with the team.

“I mean it’s incredible… it’s a blessing,” Northwestern fan Will Klearman said. “I’ve been coming to these games since I was four years old, and just to see us in the dance for the second year in a row is incredible.”

Fans at the watch party didn’t have to wait long for the celebration as Northwestern’s matchup was quickly announced as the second matchup to open the selection show.

“Very quick… not much time before the confetti started to fall, which was great,” Northwestern fan Elliot Kadar said.

Some fans were never worried.

“We knew we were making it,” Northwestern fan Yosef Bolkowitz said. “There was no sweating.”

It has been a special year for the Wildcats, with the team upsetting some of the top teams in the nation during the regular season.

SEE ALSO | Wrigleyville Draft Kings bar begins in-person sports betting just in time for March Madness

Members of the team took time to sign autographs for kids after the announcement. The community continues to rally around the school.

“It’s a great experience,” team equipment manager Jaren McGee said. “Northwestern back-to-back years in the NCAA Tournament… never happened before, so we’re happy to do this and bring our fans out, and experience this as well. It’s been great.”

Fans know a tough road is ahead as the reigning national champs at UConn are in their region, but there’s no shortage of confidence as March Madness begins.

“I’m happy. Go cats!” Northwestern fan Jayden Wharton said. “It’s our year, we’re winning the natty. Let’s go!”

Defending champion Connecticut, along with Houston, Purdue and North Carolina, are the top seeds in a March Madness bracket that started going haywire even before the pairings came.

Of the four top seeds, only UConn heads into the tournament coming off a win. That played into the Huskies receiving the No. 1 overall seed. The other three top seeds lost in their conference tournaments.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Maher Kawash

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March 17, 2024
St. John’s snubbed from 2024 NCAA Tournament, reject NIT invitation | amNewYork

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St. John’s forward Zuby Ejiofor dunks against UConn during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big East men’s tournament Friday, March 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)