UConn was once no longer a best seed within the NCAA Tournament. Even so, the Huskies certain performed like one.
In a March Madness distinctive on account of early exits from the favorites, it was once No. 4 seed UConn that emerged victorious with a 76-59 win over No. 5 seed San Diego State within the identify sport in Houston. It was once this system’s 5th nationwide identify.
UConn managed nearly all of the sport, although San Diego State pulled inside of six issues past due in the second one part. The Huskies spoke back with a past due surge to seal the win. Tristen Newton scored 19 issues and grabbed 10 rebounds whilst Adama Sanogo additionally completed with a double-double, contributing 17 issues and 10 rebounds.
The Huskies and trainer Dan Hurley bulldozed during the event bracket with relative ease, successful all six video games by means of no less than 10 issues.
San Diego State could not entire a identify run, however equipped one of the most very best moments of the event Saturday when Lamont Butler hit a mid-range jumper on the buzzer to overcome Florida Atlantic 72-71, sending the Aztecs to their first nationwide championship video games.
Here had been any other highlights from the now-completed season and NCAA event:
TOP SEEDS
The best 4 seeds had been Alabama, Houston, Kansas and Purdue. Expectations for a chaotic event had been met temporarily: The Boilermakers had been ousted by means of Fairleigh Dickinson in a first-round stunner and the protecting champion Jayhawks misplaced to Arkansas the next day to come. Alabama and Houston did not continue to exist the second one weekend.
AWARD SEASON
Purdue’s Zach Edey was once a near-unanimous selection as The Associated Press males’s school basketball participant of the 12 months. The 7-foot-4 Canadian was once 6th nationally in scoring at 22.3 issues consistent with sport and 2d in rebounding at 12.8.
Shaka Smart is the lads’s trainer of the 12 months after main Marquette to regular-season and Big East Tournament titles. The Golden Eagles had been a No. 2 seed within the NCAA Tournament and misplaced in the second one around to Michigan State.
You need to understand how AP selects the award winners? We’ve were given you coated.
SHINING MOMENTS
Princeton used a past due run to earn its first NCAA Tournament win in 25 years by means of ousting No. 2 seed Arizona after which beat Missouri to fasten in its first Sweet 16 spot in 56 years. For Princeton and different groups, getting this a ways after pandemic-disrupted seasons was once a milestone.
Furman celebrated its first tourney look since 1980 with a win over No. 4 seed Virginia on a deep 3-pointer by means of JP Pegues with 2.4 seconds left. Then got here 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson’s win over Purdue because the 22 1/2-point underdog. The Knights joined UMBC within the file books as the one 16 seeds to knock out a No. 1.
bragging rights
The SEC and Big Ten led the best way by means of putting 8 groups each and every within the 68-team box. The information for most important and mid-major meetings via 4 rounds:
Atlantic Coast Conference (5 groups made event): 7-5.
American Athletic (2): 2-2.
Big 12 (7): 9-7.
Big East (5): 12-4.
Big Ten (8): 6-8.
Mountain West (4): 5-4.
Pac-12 (4): 3-3.
Southeastern Conference (8): 9-8.
West Coast (2): 4-2.