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 appears to be like on through the first half of a recreation in opposition to Michigan. (Photograph by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Pictures)
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 have been additionally lucky to obtain a comparatively favorable draw. They have been by no means prone to be challenged by a North Dakota State staff that ranks one hundred and twenty fifth or worse in each offensive and defensive effectivity, in keeping with KenPom. Nor have been they ever prone to face Louisville at full energy given the lingering again subject for freshman sensation Mikel Brown Jr. (18.2 factors per recreation), who missed each of his staff’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 coming into the Candy 16 matchup with UConn. When it comes to perimeter taking pictures, the Spartans have already made 21 3-pointers on this yr’s event — 10 in opposition to North Dakota State, 11 in opposition to Louisville — regardless of solely averaging 7.8 made 3s per recreation, which is tied for 176th nationally.
Junior ahead Coen Carr, whose offensive contributions are sometimes inconsistent, is averaging 19 factors per recreation by the opening weekend. Super manufacturing from function gamers like freshman ahead Cam Ward (15 complete factors) and senior guard Trey Fort (19 mixed factors) has taken a few of the strain 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. (Photograph by Michael Reaves/Getty Pictures)
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 staff within the nation hotter than Purdue proper now? Starting with a victory over Northwestern within the second spherical of the Massive Ten Match, the Boilermakers have gained six in a row by a mean margin of 16.2 factors per recreation. And through that span, in keeping with Torvik, head coach Matt Painter’s staff has probably 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 largest query dealing with the Boilermakers in opposition to Texas and, probably past, is whether or not the main trio can proceed to supply at such a excessive stage. Level guard Braden Smith, now the file holder for many assists in Division I historical past, has 38 factors and 16 assists in two video games. Capturing 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 in opposition to undersized entrance courts. Can they carry out that properly in opposition to the Longhorns’ size and athleticism? What a few 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 through the second half in opposition to Nebraska. (Photograph by Steven Branscombe/Getty Pictures)
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 staff whose first weekend within the NCAA Match was fairly fortuitous. The Illini opened by hammering an undermanned Penn staff, which solely certified for the Massive Dance by upsetting a much more harmful Yale staff within the Ivy League Match title recreation. After which, when dealing with the potential for a second-round matchup in opposition to No. 6 North Carolina, whose head coach, Hubert Davis, has subsequently been fired, the Illini benefited from the Tar Heels’ gorgeous second-half collapse in opposition to VCU. They reached the Candy 16 with out dealing with an opponent ranked among the many high 40 in KenPom.
However there isn’t a doubt that Illinois, which is chasing this system’s first Ultimate 4 look since 2005, has the high-end expertise, positional measurement and roster depth to be thought of among the many greatest groups within the nation. Brad Underwood’s staff 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 in opposition to VCU and plus-23 on the glass in opposition to Penn, which reveals how harmful and dominant this staff may be, even when the preliminary photographs aren’t falling.
1. Michigan Wolverines (No. 1 seed)
Michigan head coach Dusty Might cuts down a web after successful the Massive Ten common season title. (Photograph by Gregory Shamus/Getty Pictures)
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 may very well be forgiven for considering there was a component of Michigan enjoying with its meals through the opening two rounds of the NCAA Match. The Wolverines sat again and performed lax protection as Howard buried 10 3-pointers within the first half of a recreation that solely had a four-point margin on the break. Additionally they solely led St. Louis by some extent with below seven minutes remaining within the first half earlier than lastly kicking into gear and pulling away. Legit causes for concern? Maybe. However the extra probably rationalization is that Michigan, one of the vital proficient groups within the nation, all the time knew it was going to win these video games and simply arrived fashionably late.
Alabama may not take a look at 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 Match. The larger query is whether or not No. 2 Iowa State can advance on the underside half of the Midwest bracket and probably problem Michigan within the Elite Eight. A lot of that depends upon 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 difficulty, the Wolverines might breeze to the Ultimate 4.
