NCAA Tournament: Recapping Thursday’s Sweet 16 Matchups
By Josh Peelman
The NCAA Tournament is well underway and the first four matchups of the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 are complete. Inside the Loud House gives you quick recaps on each Sweet 16 game played Thursday, and who’s next for the winners in the NCAA Tournament.
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The NCAA Tournament had four Sweet 16 games on Thursday, and will have four more games on Friday. Each game on Thursday ended within 5 points, except the Kansas-Purdue matchup which was a blowout. The top seeds mostly held serve on Thursday, as they have done for most of the NCAA Tournament. We’ll have to wait and see if that trend continues on Friday.
If you’re just here to see who won, then here’s how things went down. Number 1-seeds, Kansas and Gonzaga won their games, and move onto the Elite 8. Xavier, an 11-seed, and Oregon, a 3-seed, will join them, according CBSSports.com.
Matchup: 3) Oregon vs. 7) Michigan
Recap:
The Big 10 Champions, the Michigan Wolverines, sure gave it everything they had in this game and still came up just short. Trailing only two at halftime, the Wolverines would never trail by more than six in the second half, according to ESPN.com. Midway through the second half they took the lead but would not hold it. They Wolverines would fall behind by as much as four in the final 10 minutes only to rally and take the lead with about two minutes remaining.
Derrick Walton Jr., the heart and soul of this Michigan squad, hit a jumper to make it a three point lead for Michigan with 2:04 remaining. However, it would not stand. Some good offense and key defensive stops by Oregon led to two layups for the Ducks, who took back the lead at 69- 68 with 1:09 remaining. The teams would trade missed jumpers and free throws in the final minute, but Derrick Walton Jr. did have a chance to win the game just before the buzzer but missed. The final score as a result was a one point triumph for 3-seeded Oregon.
Key Players:
- Michigan– Guard Derrick Walton Jr led the Wolverines with 20 points by shooting 6 of 10 from the floor according to ESPN.com. In addition, he also shot 5 of 5 from the line, and 3 of 5 from three. He also chipped in 8 assists. Guard Zach Irvin also chipped in 19 points on 8 of 14 shooting to go with 3 assists.
- Oregon– Guard Tyler Dorsey led the Ducks with 20 points and 2 assists, according to SI.com. Forward Jordan Bell had a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while shooting 7 of 10 from the floor.
Who’s Next: Oregon will face 1-seed Kansas in the Elite 8, according CBSSports.com.
Matchup: 1) Gonzaga vs. 4) West Virginia
Recap:
Four-seed West Virginia trailed the entire first half until it tied the score right before halftime, according to ESPN.com. After halftime, that trend continued, and the Mountaineers would fall behind again for most of the second half. With about nine minutes remaining the Mountaineers finally made their move. Led by a Jevon Carter, they climbed back in and took the the lead with 7:17 to go. During the last seven minutes, the lead went back in forth until just under a minute remaining. With 50 seconds remaining, Jordan Matthews nailed a dagger of a three to put the Bulldogs back ahead for the final time at 58-60. The Mountaineers would miss three shots in that final minute to preserve the victory for the Bulldogs.
Key Players:
- West Virginia– Guard Jevon Carter scored 21 points on 6 for 7 shooting from the field and 4 of 9 from three, according to ESPN.com. In addition, he also nabbed 7 rebounds, but no assists.
- Gonzaga– Three players tied for the team lead in scoring with 13 points: Johnathan Williams, Przemek Karnowski, and Jordan Matthews. The best player on the court for the Bulldogs though was Nigel-Williams Goss. He scored 10 points to pair with 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists, and 1 block, according to SI.com.
Who’s Next: Gonzaga will face 11-seed Xavier in the Elite 8, according CBSSports.com.
Matchup: 1) Kansas vs. 4) Purdue
Recap:
Purdue led most of the first half, before a big rally by Kansas changed the course of the game. At halftime, the Jayhawks would lead by 7, according to ESPN.com. In the second half, the Boilermakers could not cut the deficit, and as a result, the Jayhawks made them pay time-and-time again. Led by stars Franks Mason III and Devonte’ Graham, Kansas made easy work of Purdue, winning by 32. The duo scored 52 of the Jayhawks 98 points on the night. Kansas advanced to the Elite 8 with the win.
Key Players:
- Purdue– Forward Caleb Swanigan led the Boilermakers with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, according to ESPN.com.
- Kansas– Kansas was led by the backcourt duo of Devonte’ Graham and Frank Mason III, each with 26 points each, according to SI.com. In addition, Frank Mason III had 7 assists, and 7 rebounds.
Who’s Next: Kansas will face 3-seed Oregon in the Elite 8, according CBSSports.com.
Matchup: 2) Arizona vs. 11) Xavier
Recap:
This game was close throughout. Both teams held serve against each other in the first half, but it was Xavier’s run in the second half that sealed a trip to the Elite 8 for the Musketeers. Trailing by two at halftime, the Musketeers kept within striking distance in the second half until about six minutes left in the game. I don’t know if the Musketeers got tired or what happened, but they almost let the game slip away.
Tied at 61 apiece with 5:49 remaining, Arizona went on a 8-0 run in a two minute span to take a 69-61 lead, according to ESPN.com. The Musketeers would respond with a run of their own to match to tie the game again at 71 with 1:54 remaining following two Trevon Bluiett free throws. After some defensive stops by both teams, the Musketeers would finally take a two point lead courtesy of a Sean O’Mara layup on an assist by Trevon Bluiett with 44 seconds remaining.
The Wildcats would miss their next jumper, but would foul O’Mara with 22 seconds remaining to force a 1-and-1. O’Mara would miss the free throw, and as a result get a chance to win the game or tie. Allonzo Trier would go behind the three point line with just a second remaining, hoist one up and miss, therefore giving Xavier the win, and a spot in the NCAA Tournament’s Elite 8.
Key Players:
- Xavier– Guard Trevon Bluiett led the way for the Musketeers scoring 25 points on 9 for 17 shooting from the field. Furthermore, JP Macura chipped in 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, according to ESPN.com
- Arizona– Guard Allonzo Trier led the Wildcats in scoring with 19 points and 9 rebounds, according to SI.com. Center Dusan Ristic also shot 7 for 10 from the field for 17 points.
Who’s Next: Xavier will face 1-seed Gonzaga in the Elite 8, according CBSSports.com.
Next: ITLH Roundtable: What now for Syracuse?
Make sure to check back with Inside the Loud House for recaps on Saturday’s Sweet 16 Games as well as all things Syracuse Basketball.