OK.
That was more like it.
After a Thursday of 16 second-round games that left us with just two games that created any real buzz, the NCAA Tournament delivered on Friday.
Oh, did it ever . . .
There were eight “seed upsets” among the 16 games.
One – 13 seed Ohio holding on to beat 4 seed Michigan, 65-60, in a Midwest Regional contest in Nashville – was a whopper, indeed.
But that was nothing compared to the mind-boggling outcome to a couple of No.’s 2-15 contests.
A No. 15 seed last toppled a No. 2 in 2011, when Hampton stunned Iowa State. It had only happened four times, total.
That is, that brand of upset took place just four times before Friday.
There was just two “seed upsets” on Thursday, with Pac 12 Conference Tournament champion Colorado – an 11 seed – building a 20-point advantage and then hanging on to beat No. 6 UNLV, 68-64, in Albuquerque, which followed No. 5 Wichita State’s 62-59 upset courtesy No. 5 VCU in Portland.
That was a mild upset, of sorts, as many folks – me included – picked the Buffaloes in their tournament brackets, based upon Colorado’s impressive run of hoops down the stretch and UNLV’s .500 record over the 10 games before the tourney began.
But nothing prepared us for Norfolk State’s 86-84 victory over West Regional 2 seed Missouri in Omaha and then, barely two hours later, Lehigh’s 75-70 shocker against the South Regional’s 2 seed in Greensboro.
How does that sit with all of the folks who complained of Thursday falling on the side of the blasé?
The damage done Friday, besides the 2 seed Blue Devils and Tigers and 4 seed Wolverines, also included 5 seed Temple (58-44 to South Florida); 6 seed San Diego State (79-65 to North Carolina State); 7 seed Saint Mary’s (72-69 to Purdue); 7 seed Notre Dame (67-63 to Xavier); and 8 seed Memphis (61-54 to Saint Louis).
Of those upset makers, which has the best opportunity to against score a seed upset Saturday or Sunday?
If VCU can scramble 4 seed Indiana with its defensive pressure and keep freshman Cody Zeller from dominating in the low post, the Rams can continue on the same path that took them to the Final Four a year ago.
With a 12 and 13 getting together when South Florida and Ohio hook up in Nashville on Sunday, it would be the mildest of seed upsets if the Bobcats prevail.
And North Carolina State would appear to have something more than a reasonable opportunity of topping 3 seed Georgetown Sunday in Columbus.
But Saint Louis (vs. the West’s top seed, Michigan State), Norfolk State (against a 7 seed in Florida that looked terrific while dismantling Virginia on Friday), Lehigh (vs. Xavier) and Colorado (against 3 seed Baylor) will all likely have to play better than they did during their first wins in order to advance to the Sweet 16.
A look at some of the individual standouts on Friday:
*Draymond Green went for 24 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in Michigan State’s 89-67 win over Long Island. The Spartans were as impressive as any team during the Thursday/Friday games.
*Kyle O’Quinn had 26 points and 14 rebounds in Norfolk State’s stunner against Missouri. He’ll be tested against Florida’s 6-9 sophomore Patric Young on Sunday.
*Bradley Beal had 14 points and 11 rebounds as the freshman swingman helped Florida coast against Virginia, 71-45.
*Lorenzo Brown darn near had a triple double (with 17 points, nine rebounds and eight assists) in North Carolina State’s win over the Aztecs.
*James Michael McAdoo continued to ease the pain of the absence of John Henson as the freshman forward went for 17 points, six rebounds and four steals in North Carolina’s 77-58 win against Vermont. The going should be much tougher Sunday against Creighton and its all-American forward, Doug McDermott.
*Thomas Robinson, another all-American forward, chipped in with 16 points and 13 rebounds in Kansas’ 75-60 win over Detroit.
He’s likely to be faced with guarding Robbie Hummel, who scored 10 points with seven rebounds in Purdue’s 72-69 win against Saint Mary’s.
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