The Finest and Worst from Day 2 of March Insanity

We’ve bought an excessive amount of to get to for any kind of large intro right here, so let’s simply get proper to it.

If you wish to get to the Fairleigh Dickinson stuff, then you may go forward and skip on right down to the second part. Whereas the Knights’ upset of Purdue was definitely probably the most notable results of the day, it was not one of many day’s three greatest video games. Blame the Boilermakers for that.

The three Finest March Insanity Video games Of Day 2

1. (6) TCU 72, (11) Arizona State 70 (West)

Not like Thursday, the late, late window of video games was sensational on Friday. Spearheading that cost was sixth-seeded TCU’s come-from-behind win over Bobby Hurley and Arizona State within the West Area.

It could not have featured the historical past of Fairleigh Dickinson-Purdue or the closing chaos of FAU-Memphis, nevertheless it did have its personal phenomenal end, was extremely entertaining all through, and to me was probably the most full sport of day two.

For many of the night time, Arizona State — which hung 98 factors on Nevada in a First 4 trouncing on Wednesday — appeared poised to steamroll its manner into the second spherical. The Solar Devils led by 11 early within the second half and had all of the momentum on the planet due to a slew of spotlight reel dunks.

Jamie Dixon’s staff saved hanging round and chipping away. Ultimately, they discovered themselves main by three with simply 24 seconds to play.

That’s when Arizona State’s DJ Horne determined he wasn’t able to go house but.

Sadly for the Solar Devils, there have been nonetheless 15 seconds left for TCU to counter.

JaKobe Coles, a reserve who averaged slightly below 17 minutes of courtroom time per sport this season however noticed his enjoying time enhance lately after large man Eddie Lampkin left the staff, grabbed maintain of his March second and didn’t let go.

TCU, which practically upset No. 1 seed Arizona within the second spherical of the event a 12 months in the past, is now a Sunday win over Gonzaga away from its first journey to the Candy 16 since 1968.

2. (3) Xavier 72, (14) Kennesaw State 67 (Midwest)

For many of the afternoon on Friday, it regarded like Kennesaw State — which was enjoying in its first NCAA event sport and which received simply 12 whole video games in three seasons from 2018-2021 — was going to determine itself as the story of the event’s opening spherical.

The Owls led by 13 with 9:56 to play towards a Xavier staff displaying all the boldness of a communications main tackling a geometry proof. Then, all of a sudden, KSU went chilly. Kennesaw went scoreless over the sport’s subsequent six minutes and 11 seconds, permitting the third-seeded Musketeers to rediscover their footing and rip off a 15-0 run to grab management.

Regardless of scoring simply six factors over the sport’s last 10 minutes, Kennesaw State nonetheless discovered itself able to drag off the upset within the sport’s closing seconds.

Along with his staff trailing 68-67 and beneath 10 seconds to play, KSU’s Terrell Burden appeared to have a transparent path to the basket for a layup that will put his staff in entrance. Xavier large man Jack Nunge had different concepts.

The Musketeers would then salt away the sport on the free-throw line to safe the primary NCAA event win of the second Sean Miller period.

Kennesaw State’s loss prolonged the streak of losses for first-time NCAA event individuals to 11. The final two groups to win of their first Massive Dance look had been Northwestern and UC Davis, who each tasted victory in 2017.

3. (9) Florida Atlantic 66, (8) Memphis 65 (East)

This one wasn’t precisely a murals, with each groups going scoreless for lengthy stretches, and the sport’s last flurry together with some sloppy play and a controversial name. Nevertheless it was nonetheless extraordinarily aggressive, extraordinarily eventful, and it delivered within the moments that mattered probably the most.

Neither staff ever led by greater than single digits, partly as a result of neither might get any exterior photographs to fall with any diploma of consistency. Florida Atlantic completed 8-for-28 from three and Memphis was 6-of-22. No participant within the sport linked on greater than two photographs from the surface.

After a weird flurry of late-game occasions that included some Memphis in-fighting (extra on that under) and a controversial leap ball name, Florida Atlantic discovered itself with the ball, down one, and simply 5.5 seconds to play.

“Within the timeout, I mentioned, ‘Coach, I bought it,’” FAU guard Nick Boyd mentioned after the sport. “I don’t know why I used to be feeling that manner, however I simply mentioned, ‘Coach, let me get the ball.’ I caught it within the nook. I used to be going to shoot the three. He jumped for the shot pretend. And Vlad (Goldin) had a terrific seal, allowed me to get to the rim. I simply thought of ending it doesn’t matter what.”

The win was the primary NCAA event triumph for Florida Atlantic, whose solely different look within the Massive Dance got here again in 2002. It additionally improved the file of the most effective staff at school historical past to a glowing 32-3.

“It’s good — however we’re not finished but,” mentioned FAU main scorer Giancarlo Rosado mentioned. “We didn’t come right here to win one sport. We didn’t come right here to win two video games. We got here to win it as a result of that’s what we do. We’ve proved that we’re a High 25 program. Half of the season we had been High 25. We’ve proved we’re speculated to be right here. We’re not doing nothing we’re not speculated to be doing.”

The 5 Groups That Gained It The Finest

1. Fairleigh Dickinson

All proper, let’s get into it.

Purdue wasn’t the No. 1 total seed on this NCAA event, and so they weren’t one of many two or three prime betting favorites to chop down the nets. Whereas the Boilermakers had been definitely a deserving prime seed, what units this upset aside from most stunners not simply on this occasion, however within the historical past of sports activities, is the profile of the little man who did the stunning.

Right here’s a fast information to all the things that made Friday night time’s upset one of many extra unbelievable issues any of us have ever witnessed.

—Fairleigh Dickinson is a 16-seed that didn’t even win its personal convention common season or event title. Oh, and that convention simply so occurs to be the lowest-rated convention in all of Division-I.

The Knights misplaced to Merrimack within the Northeast Convention event championship sport, however nonetheless bought to advance to March Insanity due to an NCAA rule that prohibits groups transitioning to Division-I from enjoying within the NCAA event for his or her first 4 years. Merrimack, which has received two common season titles and one event title in its first 4 years within the NEC, is lastly eligible for the NCAA event subsequent season.

—Out of 363 Division-I basketball groups, this was a matchup of the tallest within the sport versus the shortest within the sport.

Fairleigh Dickinson isn’t simply the shortest staff in school basketball this season, they’re the second shortest since Ken Pomeroy started maintaining observe of the collective peak of groups in 2001-02. The one staff shorter than the 2022-23 Knights was a 2009-10 Grambling State staff that completed 7-21.

“David vs. Goliath” March references had been formally worn out like 75 years in the past, however they’ve by no means been extra applicable than they’re on this second.

—Fairleigh Dickinson received FOUR video games final season.

The Knights completed final season at 4-22 total and didn’t win a single sport out of convention. That gave FDU AD Bradford Hurlbut greater than sufficient motive to fireside head coach Greg Herenda and herald Tobin Anderson, who had zero earlier expertise as a Division-I head coach.

An absence of expertise didn’t cease Anderson, who spent the earlier 9 seasons at Division-II Thomas Aquinas, from calling his shot towards Purdue earlier this week.

Possibly it helped that he had been theoretically making ready for a sport towards the Boilermakers since January.

—Fairleigh Dickinson was 68th out of 68 groups on the NCAA Match Choice Committee’s official seed checklist final Sunday.

That’s proper, fairly actually the worst staff within the March Insanity area in response to the individuals who set the bracket.

—Not like UMBC 5 years in the past, Fairleigh Dickinson needed to win a First 4 sport in Dayton simply to make it into the principle draw of the event.

On Wednesday night time, the Knights confronted a Texas Southern staff that entered the night with 20 losses and a dropping total file … and FDU was a 3-point underdog within the sport.

—The Knights entered Friday as, simply, the lowest-ranked NCAA event staff on Ken Pom, all the best way down at No. 298.

They SKYROCKETED all the best way as much as No. 275 following the win. The subsequent lowest-ranked staff out of the 32 squads nonetheless standing? Princeton at No. 98.

—Fairleigh Dickinson’s season began with an insane loss to Loyola-Chicago on opening night time.

Keep in mind this? Most likely not, nevertheless it occurred.

The Knights would begin the season with six losses of their first 9 video games, and had been simply 6-8 total when convention play began on Dec. 29.

—Now we have to finish by noting that Fairleigh Dickinson, once more one of many smallest groups in fashionable school basketball historical past, did this towards a staff championed by a 7’4 celebrity who’s about to be named everybody’s nationwide Participant of the Yr.

Anderson knew that Zach Edey was going to get his to an extent, however he additionally knew that he couldn’t let the monster within the center go nuts to the tune of 45 and 20 or one thing. So he sunk your complete FDU protection in on Edey and dared anybody else in white and gold to beat them. Nobody might.

Edey completed with 21 and 15, however was not allowed to try a shot within the sport’s last 9 minutes and 24 seconds. His teammates couldn’t capitalize in any respect, going 5-of-26 from three and sometimes wanting like they wished no half in taking the massive shot down the stretch.

An unbelievable story, an unbelievable sequence of occasions, and an unbelievable upset that I’m unsure I’ll ever have the ability to totally wrap my thoughts round.

I additionally must revisit this tweet from 2019.

Seems simply Fairleigh is nice sufficient.

2. UConn

For 20 minutes on Friday afternoon, UConn took each blow Rick Pitino’s Iona Gaels might rain down on them. The 13-seed didn’t seem intimidated in anyway, made its first 5 area aim makes an attempt of the sport, and was taking pictures 60 % from past the arc going into the break. The Huskies nonetheless trailed by solely two.

Pitino known as it the most effective half of basketball his staff had performed all season. Hurley thought it was too, and suspected that it couldn’t final.

Certain sufficient, Connecticut’s degree of play didn’t dwindle out of the locker room, and when Iona’s first half magic started to fade, the Huskies pulled away. Additionally they higher utilized their superior dimension, with large man Adama Sanogo taking up in the course of the sport’s defining stretch. The 245-pound junior had a dunk, a child hook int he lane, a few layups and two free-throws, to attain 10 factors in three minutes to assist UConn construct a 54-43 lead. Iona would by no means actually threaten once more.

Whereas Connecticut could also be a 4-seed on paper, many of the superior metrics that observe school basketball have the Huskies ranked someplace within the prime 5, and determine them as a top-tier contender to win the nationwide championship. Rely Pitino amongst those that consider the Huskies have what it takes to chop down the nets in Houston.

They definitely regarded the half in spherical one.

3. Michigan State

Save for a stretch of about 5 minutes late within the first half, Michigan State at all times seemed to be the superior and extra in management staff throughout its lid-lifting afternoon win over USC. The Spartans at all times appeared to get what they wished on offense way more simply than the Trojans. If not for some lower than stellar free-throw taking pictures by MSU and a few desperation three-point makes by USC, this one would have gotten far more out of hand.

Subsequent up is Marquette on Sunday, and there’s loads of motive to consider that Michigan State’s season received’t finish there.

Eight occasions in his profession, Tom Izzo has pulled off an NCAA event upset of a 2-seed. If the Spartans beat the Golden Eagles on Sunday, he’ll tie Lute Olsen for probably the most such wins within the historical past of March Insanity.

4. Saint Mary’s

VCU over Saint Mary’s was one of many trendiest upset picks coming into this event, however credit score the Gaels for not permitting it to return near occurring.

Neither staff shot the ball nicely on this sport, however Saint Mary’s managed the tempo, didn’t enable VCU’s havoc protection to hurry them up or flip them over, and accentuated their benefit inside.

It was a workmanlike 12-point victory for a staff that’s possible going to want to seek out a bit bit extra offense if it needs to get previous Connecticut in a few days.

5. Marquette

If you happen to had instructed the sports activities public earlier than the beginning of the event that there could be one 15 over 2 upset within the first spherical, Vermont toppling Marquette would have been the outcome I feel most individuals would have pointed to. The Massive East common season and event champion wasn’t having it, pulling away from the Catamounts within the sport’s last 10 minutes to safe a snug 17-point victory.

The win was Marquette’s first within the NCAA event since 2013, and it additionally snapped a six-game March Insanity dropping streak for second-year head coach Shaka Good. Sarcastically, Good’s most up-to-date event win had additionally been all the best way again in 2013.

HONORABLE MENTION: Kansas State

The Wildcats prevented turning into the newest Massive 12 staff to lose a 3/14 sport, and by no means actually let Massive Sky champion Montana State threaten them.

Maybe extra importantly, the present staff vibes for Jerome Tang and firm are off the charts.

Kentucky’s up subsequent on Sunday.

The 5 Greatest Disappointments

1. Purdue

I might checklist all the stuff from the Fairleigh Dickinson part once more, however I feel you all have gotten the purpose. Any 1-seed dropping to any 16-seed is clearly dangerous. This 1-seed dropping to this 16-seed is nearly unthinkably dangerous.

The opposite factor that needs to be talked about right here is that, similar to with Virginia, dropping to a 16-seed is now the instance of all examples of a difficulty that had already been plaguing the Purdue program for some time now.

Final 12 months, after all, it was one other loopy Cinderella from New Jersey — No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s — that shocked Purdue within the Candy 16 and saved them from capitalizing on what seemed to be a transparent path to their first regional championship since 1980.

The Boilermakers didn’t simply turn out to be the second No. 1 seed to lose to a 16-seed on Friday, they turned the primary program within the historical past of the NCAA event to lose to a double-digit seed in three consecutive years.

Matt Painter has received loads of video games over loads of years at Purdue, however the early exits and the shortage of a Closing 4 journey had been already clouding that sunshine earlier than Friday. Now, it has to really feel like there’s barely a speck of blue in any respect within the figurative skies above West Lafayette.

2. Iowa State

Throughout its pregame warm-up on Friday, Iowa State requested NCAA event officers to examine the aim they had been taking pictures on and be sure that the rim was degree.

An NCAA assertion shortly thereafter learn: “Iowa State requested us throughout pregame warmups to test if the rim was degree. Constructing personnel checked it and made a minor adjustment previous to the sport starting. We provided them further warmup time however they declined.”

Maybe they need to have simply left it alone.

The Cyclones didn’t find yourself having the worst taking pictures efficiency within the historical past of the NCAA event, however they got here dangerously shut.

Iowa State missed its first 11 photographs of the sport and 17 of its first 19. Any concern that this might need had one thing to do with the controversial rim was put to mattress when the Cyclones missed 23 of their first 25 photographs after halftime on the opposite finish of the ground.

A late flurry of meaningless makes allowed ISU to shoot 23.3 % (14-of-60) from the sector, narrowly avoiding the trendy file low of 18.8 %, which was set by Butler within the 2011 nationwide championship sport.

They misplaced, by the best way — 59-41 to a Pitt staff that simply 34.0 % from the sector itself. The Panthers will face alum Sean Miller and Xavier within the second spherical on Sunday.

3. Memphis

Shedding within the last seconds to Florida Atlantic in what was primarily a coin flip sport isn’t sufficient by itself to land you on this final. It’s the dysfunctional method through which the Tigers gave the sport away that was so disappointing.

Sure, there was a questionable officiating resolution within the sport’s last seconds, however Memphis wouldn’t have even been in that place had it not began self-destructing a number of minutes earlier.

With 5:55 to play and Memphis main by two, Tigers star Kendric Davis appeared to injure his ankle when he got here down on the foot of an FAU participant. Davis was livid after the play, nevertheless it appeared his ire was directed at teammate Malcolm Dandridge for some motive. Dandridge shoved Davis in response because the staff was headed to the sidelines throughout a timeout, and the 2 needed to be separated as they continued to shout at each other.

In response to the published, Penny Hardaway sat in silence for practically a minute as his gamers continued to argue amongst one another.

No matter occurred, Davis by no means seemed to be the identical. He continued to look upset on the bench, after which remained moody after checking again into the sport. His atrocious turnover within the sport’s last seconds led to the controversial held ball name that resulted in FAU’s game-winner.

As the ultimate horn sounded to finish a sport that Memphis had appeared to have locked up about 12 totally different occasions, Hardaway’s frustrations had been on full show.

Memphis is now 1-2 in NCAA event video games beneath Hardaway, who simply wrapped up his fifth season on the head of this system.

4. Windfall

The Friars dropped their fourth consecutive sport to finish a season that had been so promising only a few weeks earlier, and did so in particularly gross trend.

Windfall shot simply 5-of-24 from three and simply 36.2 % from the sector total. Their offensive woes saved them from with the ability to benefit from the truth that sixth-seeded Kentucky linked on simply 25.0 % of its photographs within the second half. PC additionally allowed UK large man Oscar Tshiebwe to drag down an absurd 25 rebounds, probably the most in a event sport since Michigan’s Phil Hubbard had 26 towards Detroit Mercy in 1977.

Friar star Bryce Hopkins had a tough night time going through this system that he transferred from after final season. Hopkins made simply 2-of-9 photographs and fought again tears as he went via the handshake line following his staff’s 61-53 defeat.

5. Drake

Like Memphis, that is extra about what occurred in the course of the sport than it’s about an total disappointing efficiency. That may not appear truthful to you, however no matter, write your individual mega-recap and I’ll remember to test it out.

Drake fully managed the primary 32 minutes of the sport, however let a 12/5 upset slip via their palms due to some abysmal resolution making and terrible taking pictures within the sport’s last minutes. The Bulldogs missed their final seven photographs from the sector and had been scoreless the ultimate 3:24, permitting Miami to finish the sport on a 16-1 run and hold their season alive.

Norchad Omier was enjoying damage, Isaiah Wong shot 1-of-10 from the sector, and Miami made simply six threes and shot simply 30.4 % from the sector as a staff. All of these issues scream upset, and but, right here we’re.

5 Day 2 Cheers

1. The Kennesaw State story

It bought largely misplaced within the shuffle due to Xavier’s comeback and Fairleigh Dickinson’s historic upset hours later, however Kennesaw State’s rise to mid-major prominence deserves some shine.

The Owls made the transfer to Division-I in 2005, and had not had a season above .500 since then till this one. The 12 months earlier than head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim arrived at Kennesaw in 2019-20, KSU had gone 6-26. In Abdur-Rahim’s first season, they went 1-28. 4 seasons later they received 26 video games, made the NCAA event for the primary time, and rattling close to received a sport within the factor.

The top coach was understandably emotional as he mirrored on the four-year journey after Friday’s sport.

That proper there’s why March is the very best.

2. Brothers

For the primary time in NCAA event historical past, Friday noticed two totally different units of head teaching brothers lead 4 totally different groups all on the identical day.

Danny Hurley led UConn to a win over Iona. Hours later, his brother Bobby noticed his Arizona State staff let a late lead slip away towards TCU. In the meantime, Scott Drew and Baylor took down UC Santa Barbara with ease, whereas Bryce Drew’s Grand Canyon staff got here up brief towards Gonzaga.

By the foundations of brotherdom, every successful brother is allowed to stuff their dropping brother in a closet for quarter-hour after which misinform their mother when confronted hours later about what occurred.

3. A Greensboro Ledgie

On Thursday we noticed 4 wedgies on one courtroom in Des Moines.

Friday countered with the much more uncommon “ledgie,” and it got here off of a free-throw.

All the things that has occurred over these first two days factors in direction of this event ending with a bizarro nationwide champion, and I’m right here for it.

4. 3-Seeds

The seed line with the most effective first spherical file during the last six NCAA tournaments? It’s not the highest line, it’s not the second line, it’s the third line, which has gone 23-1 over that point span, with Texas’ upset misplaced to Abilene Christian serving as the one blemish.

The 4 No. 3 seeds all took care of enterprise on Friday, with solely Xavier prevailing by fewer than 12 factors. The final 4 3-seeds to fall within the first spherical have all been members of the Massive 12, so a particular tip of the cap to each Baylor and Kansas State for taking good care of enterprise.

5. Nick Boyd and Dusty Might’s second

Moments after his game-winning shot propelled Florida Atlantic to its first NCAA event win in program historical past, third-year FAU guard Nick Boyd was requested about his relationship with head coach Dusty Might. He couldn’t even actually get into his reply earlier than getting choked up.

Boyd additionally spoke glowingly about his head coach’s “participant pleasant” demeanor in a chunk from The Athletic earlier this month.

“Coach is likely one of the nicest coaches within the nation,” Boyd mentioned. “He clearly needs us to be taught, and we make these errors in follow so we don’t make them in a sport.”

Boyd, Might and firm at the moment are only a win over Fairleigh Dickinson away from the Candy 16.

BONUS CHEER: Tobin Anderson’s son assembly him within the tunnel

“Jeez,” certainly.

BONUS CHEER: The First 4 streak of success persevering with

Pitt’s disgusting win over Iowa State continued the pattern of at-large groups who begin their tournaments within the First 4 occurring to have success in the principle draw.

The First 4 turned a factor in 2011. In yearly however one (2019) since then, no less than one staff has gone from Dayton to win no less than one sport within the event’s major draw. General, First 4 groups have now produced a complete of 21 wins in the principle draw. Pitt is a win away from turning into the sixth staff to go from Dayton to the Candy 16. I suppose the identical may very well be mentioned for Fairleigh Dickinson.

BONUS CHEER: A lovely March second frozen in time

All three video games even.

Dangle it in The Met.

5 Day 2 Jeers

1. Matt Painter’s final gasp strategizing

I get that “coach/play till the ultimate whistle” is a well-liked saying, however what on the planet might Painter truly be drawing up right here along with his staff trailing by 5 and fewer than a second to play?

My solely guess is that this was some kind of pc overload deal, and Painter was simply spouting random units or teaching phrases from his previous that made no sense as his mind struggled to return to phrases with what was occurring within the second.

2. The 12-seeds

For simply the sixth time within the final 37 years, no 12-seeds are advancing to the second spherical of the event.

This might be uncommon in any 12 months at this level, nevertheless it was particularly stunning contemplating how sturdy the 12 line seemed to be coming into the occasion. High mid and low main squads holding serve of their convention tournaments was speculated to end in a handful of 12, 13 and 14 seeds successful no less than one sport this weekend.

That didn’t actually occur. As a substitute, we bought each the least horny 15-seed and the No. 68 total seed within the event each successful video games.

Be embarrassed, Charleston, VCU, Drake and Oral Roberts.

3. The Windfall Friar

The Friar mascot has at all times been unnecessarily disturbing, however this shit? This shit is taking it too far.

I don’t care if that is just a few child making an attempt to catch his breath or hype himself up for the second half, you may’t go full Blair Witch in entrance of different people whereas sporting that outfit and never count on everybody round you to have their psychological well being blown to hell for no less than a few months.

There may be nothing about this that’s okay.

4. The Hypnotoad

This one’s on me.

I benefit from the Hypnotoad. I like that it retains popping up. I discover it aesthetically pleasing.

I simply don’t perceive it. In any respect.

A part of being a washed dad inching nearer to 40 is instinctively giving your greatest open-mouth dopey dad smile when offered with one thing you wish to like however don’t totally grasp. That’s me right here. I’m the dad being proven a TikTok video by his teenage son with comedic parts that turned not possible for me to understand the second I discovered the best way to repair a rubbish disposal.

Possibly it’ll click on extra on Sunday.

5. Charles Barkley’s former bathe habits

All of us agree it is a bit, proper? This needs to be a bit.

Please be a bit.

All Day-2 Workforce

Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana

The Hoosier celebrity turned the primary participant since 1986 to attain no less than 20 factors, dish out no less than 5 assists, and block no less than 5 photographs in an NCAA event sport. He completed with 24, 5 and 5 (and likewise 11 rebounds) in IU’s spectacular 71-60 win over Kent State.

Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton

The junior middle did all of it in Creighton’s 72-63 conquer NC State, ending with 31 factors on 11-of-14 from the sector, snagging seven rebounds, blocking three photographs, and allotting a pair of assists.

Adama Sanogo, UConn

Sanogo took over within the second half towards the smaller Gaels of Iona, ending with 28 factors on 13-of-17 taking pictures and 13 rebounds. The Huskies improved to 18-0 on the season in video games the place Sanogo scores 20 factors or extra.

Julian Strawther, Gonzaga

Scored 28 factors and snagged 10 rebounds to assist Gonzaga draw back from Grand Canyon and advance to the second spherical with an 82-70 win.

Markquis Nowell, Kansas State

Nowell turned simply the ninth participant since 1984 at hand out no less than 14 assists in an NCAA event sport, and the primary since Ja Morant dished out 16 in 2019. Along with the 14 assists, Nowell added 17 factors and three steals in Okay-State’s 77-65 conquer Montana State.

5 Finest Day 2 Dunks

Day two was barely higher than day one in most respects, for my part, however there’s no debate that it was mild years forward in terms of its assortment of dunks.

These 5 had been the most effective of the most effective.

1. Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana

2. Frankie Collins, Arizona State

3. Corey Floyd, Windfall

4. Desi Sills, Kansas State

5. Jaden Akins, Michigan State

HONORABLE MENTION: Demond Robinson, Kennesaw State

5 Finest Day 2 Pictures

1. What. Simply. Occurred?

USA In the present day

2. The celebration pours into the stands

Picture by Dylan Buell/Getty Pictures

3. Ledgie without end

Picture by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Pictures

4. Final dance as a Gael?

It definitely appears extra possible than not that UConn goes to be seeing much more of Rick Pitino within the very close to future.

Picture by Rob Carr/Getty Pictures

5. March pleasure and March sorrow

Picture by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Pictures

5 Notable Quotes From Day 2

1. “I gotta go do some laundry, however we’ll get ready for Sunday. I imply, hear: I had perception, however I’m unsure I had that a lot perception. I gotta do some laundry.” —Fairleigh Dickinson head coach Tobin Anderson

2. “It’s arduous, it’s a very arduous factor. We labored very arduous and finished issues the best manner in our program. And I feel six straight years we’ve been a top-five seed. And that’s all you attempt to do. You simply attempt to combat to get in the most effective place doable. And now we get in the most effective place doable and this occurs. And clearly, it hurts. It hurts dangerous.” —Purdue head coach Matt Painter

3. “I didn’t actually understand I used to be in Albany till after the sport.” —UConn guard, and Albany native, Andre Jackson about enjoying in his hometown

4. “Coach is at all times speaking about: These video games are what we’re going to recollect for the remainder of our lives. We simply wish to benefit from it, for positive.” —Xavier middle Jack Nunge

5. “You don’t purchase homes with out wanting upstairs, wanting on the kitchen.” —Rick Pitino when requested about doubtlessly taking the St. John’s job

Full Saturday schedule for 2023 males’s NCAA event

We’re nonetheless simply getting began.