The opening weekend of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament started and ended with a thud for the Big Ten.
In an instant, No. 8 Ohio State lost to No. 9 TCU in the very first game that tipped on Thursday afternoon. It wasn’t much later when No. 5 Wisconsin got upended by No. 12 High Point in one of the most exciting games we’ve seen so far. And come Sunday evening, with only two Sweet 16 spots still up for grabs, No. 7 UCLA unraveled against No. 2 UConn.
But in between? Oh, man, seemingly everything went the conference’s way in an event that has largely befuddled the league since its last national champion, Michigan State, cut down the nets in 2000. When the dust finally settled, six Big Ten teams had reached the Sweet 16 in Michigan, Illinois, Purdue, Michigan State, Nebraska and Iowa. That’s one shy of an NCAA Tournament record set by the SEC last year.
“We’ve been cheering like crazy for the Big Ten, and everyone’s done well,” Michigan head coach Dusty May said at a news conference earlier this week. “It’s important for recruiting, for the future, the television rights and packages, everything that goes with the enterprise of college basketball. How we do in the NCAA Tournament is incredibly important.”
So how do the Super Six stack up? Aside from Michigan, which everyone knows was the best team in the Big Ten all season, how does the hierarchy shake itself out? Here’s a breakdown based on what we’ve seen so far:
6. Iowa Hawkeyes (No. 9 seed)
Iowa forward Alvaro Folgueiras #7 celebrates a 3-point basket in the first half against UCLA. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
Round of 64: defeated No. 8 Clemson, 67-61
Round of 32: defeated No. 1 Florida, 73-72
Sweet 16: vs. No. 4 Nebraska (Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET)
What a run for first-year head coach Ben McCollum, who has now guided the Hawkeyes to their first Sweet 16 berth since 1999 and just the ninth such appearance in school history thanks to a stunning upset of No. 1 Florida. Power forward Alvaro Folgueiras swished a 3-pointer from the right corner with 4.5 seconds remaining to officially dethrone the Gators, winners of last year’s national title. Now, Iowa will challenge conference rival Nebraska for an opportunity to reach the Elite Eight, something the Hawkeyes haven’t done since 1987.
McCollum’s team has advanced this far by leaning on the NCAA Tournament’s best offense based on advanced metrics. An offensive efficiency mark of 142 points per 100 possessions since March Madness began is nearly two points clear of any other team in the field, according to Torvik. Much of that success can be traced back to offensive rebounding and free throws. Iowa has snagged 35 offensive rebounds across its first two tournament games and used those extra possessions to rack up 53 free-throw attempts (38 makes).
The Hawkeyes will face a stiffer test against Nebraska, whose defense ranks fourth since the Big Dance began.
5. Nebraska Cornhuskers (No. 4 seed)
Rienk Mast #51 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers looks to pass against the Michigan State Spartans. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
Round of 64: defeated No. 13 Troy, 76-47
Round of 32: defeated No. 5 Vanderbilt, 74-72
Sweet 16: vs. No. 9 Iowa (Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET)
Last weekend’s triumph in Oklahoma City, where the Paycom Center was flooded with red, is one Nebraska’s proud fans won’t soon forget. It began with the Cornhuskers earning their first-ever NCAA Tournament win by pummeling Troy in the opening round, ending its drought as the last power-conference team without a victory in this event. Then, on Saturday, the Nebraska faithful were treated to one of the best games of the opening weekend, narrowly surviving a three-quarter court heave at the buzzer. Hearts thumped, mouths were agape.
Though Nebraska is known for running an aesthetically pleasing offense under head coach Fred Hoiberg, who received another contract extension earlier this month, the Cornhuskers are playing ferocious defense in the tournament. They rank fourth in defensive efficiency, ninth in effective field goal percentage defense and 11th in forced turnover rate.
The challenge on Thursday will be facing a conference foe against whom Nebraska split its two regular season meetings: a 57-52 road loss on Feb. 17 and an 84-75 home win in overtime on March 8.
[MEN’S TOURNEY: Ranking Sweet 16 Matchups]
4. Michigan State Spartans (No. 3 seed)
Jeremy Fears Jr. #1 of the Michigan State Spartans seems to be on throughout the first half of a sport towards Michigan. (Picture by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Photographs)
Spherical of 64: defeated No. 14 North Dakota State, 92-67
Spherical of 32: defeated No. 6 Louisville, 77-69
Candy 16: vs. No. 2 UConn (Friday, 9:45 p.m. ET)
Whereas it’s true that Michigan State performed properly throughout each video games of the opening weekend, the Spartans had been additionally lucky to obtain a comparatively favorable draw. They had been by no means prone to be challenged by a North Dakota State group that ranks a hundred and twenty fifth or worse in each offensive and defensive effectivity, based on KenPom. Nor had been they ever prone to face Louisville at full energy given the lingering again concern for freshman sensation Mikel Brown Jr. (18.2 factors per sport), who missed each of his group’s video games and is now prone to enter the NBA Draft as a possible lottery choose.
However that doesn’t imply there aren’t issues for head coach Tom Izzo to be enthusiastic about getting into the Candy 16 matchup with UConn. By way of perimeter taking pictures, the Spartans have already made 21 3-pointers on this yr’s event — 10 towards North Dakota State, 11 towards Louisville — regardless of solely averaging 7.8 made 3s per sport, which is tied for 176th nationally.
Junior ahead Coen Carr, whose offensive contributions are sometimes inconsistent, is averaging 19 factors per sport by way of the opening weekend. Great manufacturing from position gamers like freshman ahead Cam Ward (15 whole factors) and senior guard Trey Fort (19 mixed factors) has taken a few of the stress off the Spartans’ core 4.
3. Purdue Boilermakers (No. 2 seed)
Braden Smith #3 of the Purdue Boilermakers passes round Tyler Kropp #1 of the Northwestern Wildcats. (Picture by Michael Reaves/Getty Photographs)
Spherical of 64: defeated No. 15 Queens, 101-74
Spherical of 32: defeated No. 7 Miami, 79-69
Candy 16: vs. No. 11 Texas (Thursday, 7:10 p.m. ET)
Is there any group within the nation hotter than Purdue proper now? Starting with a victory over Northwestern within the second spherical of the Massive Ten Event, the Boilermakers have gained six in a row by a mean margin of 16.2 factors per sport. And through that span, based on Torvik, head coach Matt Painter’s group has essentially the most environment friendly offense within the nation at 140.2 factors per 100 possessions. On a bigger scale, greater than six weeks have handed since Purdue was final held to fewer than 70 factors (Feb. 7 vs. Oregon).
The most important query dealing with the Boilermakers towards Texas and, doubtlessly past, is whether or not the main trio can proceed to supply at such a excessive degree. Level guard Braden Smith, now the report holder for many assists in Division I historical past, has 38 factors and 16 assists in two video games. Taking pictures guard Fletcher Loyer has made 4 3-pointers in every spherical. Energy ahead Trey Kaufman-Renn has owned the paint by scoring 44 factors and grabbing 18 rebounds to date, albeit towards undersized entrance courts. Can they carry out that properly towards the Longhorns’ size and athleticism? What a couple of potential matchup with No. 1 Arizona within the Elite Eight?
2. Illinois Combating Illini (No. 3 seed)
Keaton Wagler #23 of the Illinois Combating Illini dribbles throughout the second half towards Nebraska. (Picture by Steven Branscombe/Getty Photographs)
Spherical of 64: defeated No. 14 Penn, 105-70
Spherical of 32: defeated No. 11 VCU, 76-55
Candy 16: vs. No. 2 Houston (Thursday, 10:05 p.m. ET)
Illinois is one other group whose first weekend within the NCAA Event was reasonably fortuitous. The Illini opened by hammering an undermanned Penn group, which solely certified for the Massive Dance by upsetting a much more harmful Yale group within the Ivy League Event title sport. After which, when dealing with the potential of a second-round matchup towards No. 6 North Carolina, whose head coach, Hubert Davis, has subsequently been fired, the Illini benefited from the Tar Heels’ gorgeous second-half collapse towards VCU. They reached the Candy 16 with out dealing with an opponent ranked among the many prime 40 in KenPom.
However there isn’t any doubt that Illinois, which is chasing this system’s first Last 4 look since 2005, has the high-end expertise, positional dimension and roster depth to be thought-about among the many greatest groups within the nation. Brad Underwood’s group boasts a handful of future execs in level guard Keaton Wagler, small ahead David Mirkovic and the Ivisic brothers on the inside — a quartet that’s tough for many opposing groups to match.
Illinois completed plus-16 on the glass towards VCU and plus-23 on the glass towards Penn, which reveals how harmful and dominant this group will be, even when the preliminary pictures aren’t falling.
1. Michigan Wolverines (No. 1 seed)
Michigan head coach Dusty Might cuts down a internet after profitable the Massive Ten common season title. (Picture by Gregory Shamus/Getty Photographs)
Spherical of 64: defeated No. 16 Howard, 101-80
Spherical of 32: defeated No. 9 St. Louis, 95-72
Candy 16: vs. No. 4 Alabama (Friday, 7:35 p.m. ET)
Followers could possibly be forgiven for considering there was a component of Michigan taking part in with its meals throughout the opening two rounds of the NCAA Event. The Wolverines sat again and performed lax protection as Howard buried 10 3-pointers within the first half of a sport that solely had a four-point margin on the break. Additionally they solely led St. Louis by a degree with beneath seven minutes remaining within the first half earlier than lastly kicking into gear and pulling away. Reputable causes for concern? Maybe. However the extra possible clarification is that Michigan, probably the most proficient groups within the nation, at all times knew it was going to win these video games and simply arrived fashionably late.
Alabama won’t check the Wolverines an excessive amount of, both — particularly with out second-leading scorer Aden Holloway, who was arrested earlier this month and hasn’t performed within the NCAA Event. The larger query is whether or not No. 2 Iowa State can advance on the underside half of the Midwest bracket and doubtlessly problem Michigan within the Elite Eight. A lot of that will depend on the well being of Cyclones star Joshua Jefferson (sprained ankle), a first-team All-American who missed the Spherical of 32 victory over Kentucky. If Jefferson’s well being stays a problem, the Wolverines may breeze to the Last 4.
