It took 24 hours, but the NCAA Tournament finally settled down after we saw multiple one-point games and a huge upsets left and right. And though the tournament went back to its regular level of craziness, there were still a multitude of games that caught the attention of multiple fan bases and aficionados.
NCAA bracket 2015 update: Everything you need to know from Friday
Friday was no where near as hectic as Thursday’s madness.
The chalk won the day on Friday. Every higher seed team but Dayton came out on top during Friday’s games, but it didn’t stop the entertainment from happening.
The best game of the day, might have been between a No. 7 and No. 10 seed, the Wichita State vs. Indiana showdown the ended in a five-point win for the Shockers over the Hoosiers. And for those who were stuck under a rock, it was another coming out party for senior Fred VanVleet.
VanVleet splashed 27 points with a variation of crafty moves and crossovers, all leading him to the cup time after time. VanVleet had one of the highest single scoring totals of the day, especially on an occasion when Ron Baker was having a rough outing from the floor, missing 10 shots but making nine of 10 free throws, many coming at the end of the contest.
Indiana was leading at halftime by three, but then, VanVleet changed the momentum of the game using high-screen and roles and a mixture of in-and-out moves coupled with flashy passing between defenders to get the Shockers rolling. It wasn’t the prettiest game for them, they bricked 11 shots from deep, but they held Yogi Farrell at bay when necessary, and closed out the win.
Wichita State will face Kansas in the Round of 32. The state of Kansas will likely, simultaneously, jump for joy at the game’s tip.
3 other things we learned:
This year’s crop of guards, like many years, are filthy. Joe Young dropped the hammer on Oklahoma State and gave them 29 big ones in a win. VanVleet scored 27. Farrell had 24. Quinn Cook hit six threes and had 22 points. Melo Trimble put on a show against Valpariso. It’s becoming more and more obvious that the era of the guard in basketball has taken over. And now, it’s more and more tangible in the college game.
UC Irvine’s Mamadou N’Diaye should be your new favorite player. He’s not flashy, unless you consider dunking on grown men like they’re third graders as “flashy.” He doesn’t have great footwork. He’s wiry. And he doesn’t have all the true characteristics of a top-notch center. But he’s a 7-foot-6 giant of a human being and he only needs like an 18-inch vertical to dunk. How is that not the best thing ever?
Tom Crean is still the worst. His faces are funny as hell. But outside of that, Crean doesn’t really do it for many people as a top-notch coach, especially not this season. His team lost late to the Shockers, but to tell a ref that “you suck” after the loss? That’s just a huge lack of professionalism on the part of anyone. Loses aren’t easy, but looking like a sore loser definitely doesn’t help the cause either Tommy.
Play of the night:
Joe Young exploded for Oregon on Friday night. None of his 27 points were as pretty as these two.
5 Fun Things:
Some Valpariso player celebrated with a phone call the bench, which resulted in some Godzilla stomping. Don’t you just love March Madness?
Go head UC Irvine bro, you lost, but we support you getting your groove on.
This year’s tournament was special so far, but for the first time since 2007, 12 seeds didn’t win a single game. We feel your pain Wyoming, Buffalo, Stephen F. Austin and Wofford.
John Thompson III reminded America that if you are coaching a 13-seed team, don’t go on Jim Rome’s show and tell the world that you’ll beat a 4-seed team before the game even starts.
Ron Hunter the God is still out here doing interviews. Here are the best parts from this coach’s new rise to fame.
Scores:
No. 2 Kansas 75, No. 15 New Mexico St. 56
No. 7 Michigan State 70, No. 10 Georgia 63
No. 5 Northern Iowa 71, No. 12 Wyoming 54
No. 5 West Virginia 68, No. 12 Buffalo 62
No. 7 Wichita State 81, No. 10 Indiana 76
No. 2 Virginia 79, No. 15 Belmont 67
No. 4 Louisville 57, No. 13 UC Irvine 55
No. 4 Maryland 65, No. 13 Valparaiso 62
No. 8 Oregon 79, No. 9 Oklahoma State 73
No. 1 Duke 85, No. 16 Robert Morris 56
No. 7 Iowa 83, No. 10 Davidson 52
No. 3 Oklahoma 69, No. 14 Albany 60
No. 1 Wisconsin 86, No. 16 Coastal Carolina 72
No. 8 San Diego State 76, No. 9 St. John’s 76
No. 2 Gonzaga 86, No. 15 North Dakota State 76
No. 11 Dayton 66, No. 6 Providence 53
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