The first weekend of the men’s NCAA basketball tournament was concluded, apparently Cholkie, with only one double-digit seed remaining, with the only buzzer beater banking in the first and second rounds.
Although there was no drama in the events earlier this year, it may not be a bad thing to move forward when it comes to playing levels as the field narrows from 68 to 4.
Things get worse as our trip to San Antonio moves to four local sites across the country. Now that we know who survived and advanced, how do all teams stack up in just two weeks into the postseason?
Channel our internal selection committee and once Sweet 16 arrives there will be a reorganization of the teams left in the tournament.
Actual seeds: No. 1. Eastern Region
Upcoming Games: vs Arizona, Thursday, 9:39pm (CBS)
There was no one on an opening weekend as convincing as John Shayer’s team. This may have actually looked better than the end of the regular season, despite the need to return the Cooper Flag to the rotation after an ankle injury. Not surprising, the Blue Devils destroyed the 16th seed St. Mary’s climber on Friday. Their impressive demolition of Baylor Bears made Duke again again as a team at Duke on Sunday. If Tyrese Proctor continues to look like Steph Curry beyond the ARC, there may not be a team within the single digits of this group to reach Final 4.
Actual seeds: No. 1. Western Region
Upcoming games: vs. Kentucky, Friday, 7:39pm (TBS)
Gators is no. We cruised in our first match against the 16-seeded Norfolk State Spartans and looked up at the horrifying 15 minutes in a big statement from the SEC Tournament Champions. They weren’t that clear early on against the UConn Huskies, but they rose to the opportunity to knock out consecutive national champions in the final minutes. The length and versatility at Todd Golden’s disposal should allow for a favorable matchup up to San Antonio. A big test in a close game should help them move forward.
Actual seeds: 2nd place, Midwest region
Upcoming games: vs. Kentucky, Friday, 7:39pm (TBS)
Chaz Lanier was well known in the SEC, but if he continues playing like he did on his first weekend, he may be on his path to becoming a national star. The Vols comfortably reached the Sweet 16 for three consecutive times, holding the Wofford Terriers at arm length and did the same for the UCLA Bruins. Their defense remains perfect when they are locked up, but even if Kentucky is a bit of a bogey for Rick Burns’ team this season, a trip to Indianapolis could be very productive.
more. SI March Madness. NCAA Tournament News, Features and Analysis for Men and Women. dark
Actual seeds: No. 1. Midwest Region
Upcoming Games: vs. Purdue, Friday, 10:09pm (TBS)
Thanks to the actual Select Committee, no one had a tougher path to a second weekend than the Cougars, but when tested, they were able to pay dividends considering how tough the Midwest is this year. LJ Cryer was great against the Gonzaga Bulldogs. If he continues at this pace, playing Purdue in that backyard isn’t as big a challenge as we saw when Bracket was released.
Actual seeds: No. 1. Southern Region
Upcoming games: vs. Michigan, Friday, 9:39pm (CBS)
The locker room speech that Bruce Pearl gave to the Clayton Blue Jays at halftime seems to work indeed. The Tigers arrived on their second weekend for the first time since 2019, despite the fact that Johnny Bloom from all over the US hasn’t played and not played at the same time. They need to make him emerge from the Southern Region and respond to the promises of this campaign and get them the No. 1 overall seed.
Actual seeds: No. 3. Midwest region
Upcoming Games: vs Tennessee, Friday, 7:39pm (TBS)
The NCAA Tournament is a big question mark over Mark Pope, and has injured this roster a lot this season. It’s safe to say that both answer in flying colors and will be expected to pass the Troy Trojan team and become a nasty 14 seed, then rounding out an even more impressive performance as they close out the Illinois Fighting Illini featuring several NBA Draft Lotterys. This is much closer to the group that was making waves at SEC Midyear. This is scary for the rest of the Midwest, especially the Vols team, where the Cats have swept away in league play.
Actual seeds: No. 2, Eastern Region
Upcoming Games: vs. byu, Thursday, 7:09pm (CBS)
How many “Bob Morris?” jokes were seen alongside Robert Morris Colonials on the second day of the tournament. Still, Nate Oats & Co. was able to put it quickly and hit St. Mary’s Gales (defensibly, less) screws to a sweet 16 for three consecutive times.
Actual seeds: No. 3. Western Region
Upcoming Games: vs Arkansas, Thursday, 10:09pm (TBS)
The Grant McCusland group fires 46 tournament records against the UNC Wilmington Seahawks, defeating the Drake Bulldog and connecting two shots behind the arc before bringing new life to the three of them die. However, they still follow their second weekend after JT Toppin began beating the team low. It will help you have time to rest your feet between rounds as Dallion Williams needs to be at the top of his game.
Actual seeds: 2nd place, Southern region
Upcoming Games: vs. Ole Miss, Friday, 7:09pm (CBS)
Playing against the New Mexico robo will always be a difficult matchup for the Spartans, but they managed to get control of their second round game to advance to Atlanta. The Southern region is very open compared to the Sunday selection. There’s something poetic about Jaden Akins scoring 16 points to get Tom Izzo’s 16th Sweet 16, but the rest of the team’s security guards need to be more consistent if the team wants to continue to advance.
Actual seeds: No. 5, Southern Region
Upcoming Games: vs. Auburn, Friday, 9:39pm (CBS)
Big Ten Tournament champions certainly have a type when it comes to competitive games that come down to the wire. The final score against the Texas A&M Aggies was a bit deceptive considering how tight the 32 meeting rounds were, but credit to Dusty May in knowing how to push all the right buttons down into the stretch. If Roddy Gayle Jr. can continue shooting 50% off the field, the Wolverines can go up against Auburn, given the matchups that can bring a frontcourt.
Actual seeds: No. 6, Eastern Region
Upcoming games: vs. Alabama, Thursday, 7:09pm (CBS)
You can see how relieved the Cougars were when the final buzzer disappeared on Saturday with Wisconsin’s Badgers upset, and all their possessions felt drained. The combination of Richie Sanders and Egor Denin will keep you in the game for effort and shot-making and win in the same way, but you have to wonder if being tested in two games for the last minute in a row will carry over to a sweet 16.
Actual seeds: No. 6, Southern Region
Upcoming Games: vs. Michigan, Friday, 7:09pm (CBS)
It was hard to read Chris Beard’s team coming into the tournament, but it turned out to be a rather enjoyable weekend for the Rebels as the momentum coming out of Dayton countered North Carolina’s tar heels and defeated the Iowa cyclone before the latter stepped in. This is a very balanced group (Kenpom’s top 25 offensive and defensive efficiencies) that can keep fussing in Atlanta but need to control glass against Michigan.
Actual species: No. 4, Western region
Upcoming games: vs. Florida, Thursday, 7:39pm (TBS)
Derrick Queen will live in that Bank In Buzzer Beater and Maryland lore to top the Colorado Rams in the second round. Given everything that’s going on on campus, regarding the future of Coach Kevin Willard, you’re wondering about the distractions this group will go nationwide to play Florida.
Actual seeds: No. 4. Midwest Region
Upcoming games: vs. Houston, Friday, 10:09pm (TBS)
The boilermakers looked after the High Point Panthers and the McNees State Cowboys, despite being a trendy choice to get upset earlier. You’ll need to wonder, especially if Houston can tighten up Trey Kaufman Runn and Braden Smith to force the rest of the team into their game, if this is the end of the run, even playing down the road from campus.
Actual seeds: No. 4, Eastern Region
Upcoming games: vs. Duke, Thursday, 9:39pm (CBS)
Tommy Lloyd and the Wildcats have come a long way since they first saw Duke in the fall, but they will need far more than what they showed when they escaped four points on Sunday the Oregon duck. Kalevra is ready to take on the Blue Devils, but this cannot be a Newark one-man band situation.
Actual seeds: No. 10, Western Region
Upcoming Games: vs. Texas Tech, Thursday, 10:09pm (TBS)
The only double-digit seed left, and there was no one in the first weekend of the tournament as head coach than John Calipari. Still, there is a reason why this group didn’t get better seeds, given how limited the spins are and how strict the attacks can look for stretches. Arkansas certainly has momentum, but it will take more to keep things going.
