Overview of 1st and 2nd round games (Mar. 21-24)

[Plebe]

That Coug trapping defense was unreal in the first quarter. The Devils couldn't overcome what has become a familiar theme this season which is a lousy first quarter. After trailing by 9 they took the lead in the fourth but couldn't withstand the Cougar charge. Houston bagged two key offensive boards late in the game. 50-48 and really fun to see intense defense.

I unfortunately missed this game entirely but I do plan to catch the replay eventually. But it's a bit hard to get excited about the WNIT consolation game after my Coogs came so dang close to their first NCAA tournament bid in about 10 years.

 

[Plebe]

However it is nice to take care of your business. I'm sure Arkansas can attest to that.

As can the history-making #1 seed 1998 Stanford team.
Stuff happens.

 

[Lorcan]

As can the history-making #1 seed 1998 Stanford team.
Stuff happens.

Low blow.

In any case, the results are as follows:

#1 Stanford bt. Utah Valley 87-44
#6 Oregon bt. South Dakota 67-47
#8 Oregon State crushed Florida State 83-59
#3 UCLA bt. Wyoming 69-48
#8 South Florida bt. Wazzu 57-53
#3 Arizona bt, Stony Brook

2019
#4 Oregon State bt. Boise State 80-75 OT
#6 UCLA bt. 11. Tennessee
#2 Stanford bt. UC Davis 79-54
#8 California crushed North Carolina 92-72
#5 Arizona State beat UCF 60-45
#2 Oregon bt. Portland State 78-40

2018
#10 Virginia bt. #7 California 68-62
#3 UCLA bt. American 71-60
#7 Arizona State bt. #10 Nebraska 73-62
#4 Stanford bt. #13 Gonzaga 82-68
#6 Oregon State bt. Western Kentucky 82-58
#2 Oregon bt. #15 Seattle 88-45

2017
#4 UCLA bt. Boise State 83-56
#10 Oregon beat #7 Temple 71-70
#9 California bt. #8 LSU 55-52
#3 Washington bt. #14 Montana State 91-63
#2 Stanford bt. New Mexico State 72-64
#8. Arizona State bt. #9 Michigan State 73-61
#2 Oregon State bt. Long Beach State 56-55

2016:
#3 UCLA bt. Hawaii 66-50
#2 Oregon State bt. Troy 73-31
#4 Stanford bt. San Francisco 85-58
#7 Washington bt. Pennsylvania 65-53 (Made it to the FF)
#2 Arizona State beat #15 New Mexico State 74-52

2015:
#4 California bt. 13 Wichita State 78-66
#3 Oregon State beat South Dakota State 74-62
#4 Stanford beat Cal State Northridge 73-60
#11 Miami beat #6 Washington 86-80
#3 Arizona State beat Ohio 74-55

2014
#7 California beat Fordham 64-63
#9 Oregon State beat Middle Tennessee 55-36
#2 Stanford beat South Dakota 81-62
#8 St John's beat #9 Southern Cal 71-68

2013
#3 UCLA bt. Stetson 66-49
#1 Stanford beat Tulsa 72-56
#2 California beat Fresno State 90-76
#12 Kansas beat Colorado 67-52

2012
#1 Stanford bt. Hampton 73-51
#8 California beat Iowa 84-74

The key stat here seems to be that the Pac-12 is 6-4 all time against other P5 Teams -- but still impressive that the worst first round loss was way back when Kansas beat Colorado in the first round.

The SEC by comparison (52-14, 4-5 against P5)

2021:
#13 Wright State beat Arkansas 66-62
#3 Georgia beat Drexel
#1 SC beat Mercer 79-53
#7 Alabama bt. #10 UNC (Carolina version) 80-71
#2 TAMU doesn't deserve to move on against Troy 84-80
#4 Kentucky bt. Idaho State 71-63
#3 Tennessee beat Middle Tennessee 87-62

2019:
#6 UCLA beat Tennessee 89-77
#4 TAMU beat Wright State 84-61
#7 BYU beat Auburn 73-64
#4 South Carolina beat Belmont 74-52
#6 Kentucky beat Princeton 82-77
#7 Missouri beat #10 Drake OT
#1 Mississippi State beat Southern 103-46


2018:
#4 Georgia escaped Mercer 68-63
#2 South Carolina beat NC A&T 63-52
#1 Mississippi State beat Nicholls State 95-50
#12 Florida Gulf Coast bt. Mizzou 80-70
#3 Tennessee beat Liberty 100-60
#4 TAMU beat Drake 89-76
#11 Central Michigan beat LSU 78-69

2017:
#5 TAMU beat Penn 63-61
#9 California beat #8 LSU
#5 Tennessee beat Dayton 66-57
#2 Miss State beat Troy 110-69
#4 Kentucky beat Belmont 73-70
#6 NC State beat Auburn 62-48
#1 South Carolina beat UNC Asheville 90-40
#6 Missouri beat South Florida 66-64

2016:
#5 Mississippi State beat Chattanooga 60-50
#10 Missouri beat #7 BYU 78-69
#9. Auburn beat #8 St. John's 68-57
#4 TAMU beat Mizzou State 74-65
#9 Indiana beat #8 Georgia 62-58
#3 Kentucky beat UNC Asheville 85-31
#1 SC beat Jacksonville 77-41
#12 Albany beat Florida 61-59
#7 Tennessee beat Green Bay 59-53


2015:
#6 South Florida beat LSU 73-64
#2 Kentucky beat Tennessee State 97-52
#5 Mississippi State beat 12. Tulane 57-47
#2 Tennessee beat Boise State 72-61
#10 Arkansas beat Northwestern 57-55
#11 Arkansas Little Rock beat #6 TAMU 69-60
#1 South Carolina beat Savannah State 81-48


2014:
#9 St. Joes beat Georgia 67-57
#3 TAMU beat North Dakota 70-55
#9 Arizona State beat Vanderbilt 69-61
#3 Kentucky beat Wright State 106-60
#7 LSU beat Georgia Tech 98-58
#1 South Carolina beat 73-58
#11 Florida beat #6 Dayton 83-69


2013:
#4 Georgia beat Montana 70-50
#6 LSU beat #11 Green Bay 75-71
#4 South Carolina bt. South Dakota State 74-53
#3 TAMU beat Wichita State 71-45
#2 Kentucky bt. Navy 61-41
#2 Tennessee beat Oral Roberts 83-62
#8 Vanderbilt beat St. Joes 60-54

2012:
#9 Florida beat Ohio State 70-65
#2 Tennessee beat UT Martin 72-49
#5 South Carolina beat Eastern Michigan 80-48
#7 Vandy beat MTSU 60-46
#13 Marist beat #4 Georgia 76-70
#6 Arkansas beat #11 Dayton
#2 Kentucky beat McNeese State 68-62

 

[azfan]

I unfortunately missed this game entirely but I do plan to catch the replay eventually. But it's a bit hard to get excited about the WNIT consolation game after my Coogs came so dang close to their first NCAA tournament bid in about 10 years.

Coug first quarter defense against the Sun Devils was a thing of beauty. The trap was really working

I believe the Cougars are as young as the Sun Devils. Future is bright for this team

 

[Plebe]

Coug first quarter defense against the Sun Devils was a thing of beauty. The trap was really working

I believe the Cougars are as young as the Sun Devils. Future is bright for this team

I missed this game but I definitely saw enough of Houston this year to see that when they got that defense going they could really get it going. This is how they forced 24 turnovers in an 18-point win over USF.

Edit to add: For the spelling and usage supernerds (like me): I was recently reminded that the shortened nickname for the UH mascot is "Coogs" -- unlike the WSU's "Cougs". Don't ask me why, it just is. As an alumnus I'm embarrassed I ever forgot this; it shows I've been watching too much Pac-12, I guess

 

[Plebe]

Low blow.

In any case, the results are as follows:

#1 Stanford bt. Utah Valley 87-44
#6 Oregon bt. South Dakota 67-47
#8 Oregon State crushed Florida State 83-59
#3 UCLA bt. Wyoming 69-48
#8 South Florida bt. Wazzu 57-53
#3 Arizona bt, Stony Brook

2019
#4 Oregon State bt. Boise State 80-75 OT
#6 UCLA bt. 11. Tennessee
#2 Stanford bt. UC Davis 79-54
#8 California crushed North Carolina 92-72
#5 Arizona State beat UCF 60-45
#2 Oregon bt. Portland State 78-40

2018
#10 Virginia bt. #7 California 68-62
#3 UCLA bt. American 71-60
#7 Arizona State bt. #10 Nebraska 73-62
#4 Stanford bt. #13 Gonzaga 82-68
#6 Oregon State bt. Western Kentucky 82-58
#2 Oregon bt. #15 Seattle 88-45

2017
#4 UCLA bt. Boise State 83-56
#10 Oregon beat #7 Temple 71-70
#9 California bt. #8 LSU 55-52
#3 Washington bt. #14 Montana State 91-63
#2 Stanford bt. New Mexico State 72-64
#8. Arizona State bt. #9 Michigan State 73-61
#2 Oregon State bt. Long Beach State 56-55

2016:
#3 UCLA bt. Hawaii 66-50
#2 Oregon State bt. Troy 73-31
#4 Stanford bt. San Francisco 85-58
#7 Washington bt. Pennsylvania 65-53 (Made it to the FF)
#2 Arizona State beat #15 New Mexico State 74-52

2015:
#4 California bt. 13 Wichita State 78-66
#3 Oregon State beat South Dakota State 74-62
#4 Stanford beat Cal State Northridge 73-60
#11 Miami beat #6 Washington 86-80
#3 Arizona State beat Ohio 74-55

2014
#7 California beat Fordham 64-63
#9 Oregon State beat Middle Tennessee 55-36
#2 Stanford beat South Dakota 81-62
#8 St John's beat #9 Southern Cal 71-68

2013
#3 UCLA bt. Stetson 66-49
#1 Stanford beat Tulsa 72-56
#2 California beat Fresno State 90-76
#12 Kansas beat Colorado 67-52

2012
#1 Stanford bt. Hampton 73-51
#8 California beat Iowa 84-74

The key stat here seems to be that the Pac-12 is 6-4 all time against other P5 Teams -- but still impressive that the worst first round loss was way back when Kansas beat Colorado in the first round.

The SEC by comparison (52-14, 4-5 against P5)

2021:
#13 Wright State beat Arkansas 66-62
#3 Georgia beat Drexel
#1 SC beat Mercer 79-53
#7 Alabama bt. #10 UNC (Carolina version) 80-71
#2 TAMU doesn't deserve to move on against Troy 84-80
#4 Kentucky bt. Idaho State 71-63
#3 Tennessee beat Middle Tennessee 87-62

2019:
#6 UCLA beat Tennessee 89-77
#4 TAMU beat Wright State 84-61
#7 BYU beat Auburn 73-64
#4 South Carolina beat Belmont 74-52
#6 Kentucky beat Princeton 82-77
#7 Missouri beat #10 Drake OT
#1 Mississippi State beat Southern 103-46


2018:
#4 Georgia escaped Mercer 68-63
#2 South Carolina beat NC A&T 63-52
#1 Mississippi State beat Nicholls State 95-50
#12 Florida Gulf Coast bt. Mizzou 80-70
#3 Tennessee beat Liberty 100-60
#4 TAMU beat Drake 89-76
#11 Central Michigan beat LSU 78-69

2017:
#5 TAMU beat Penn 63-61
#9 California beat #8 LSU
#5 Tennessee beat Dayton 66-57
#2 Miss State beat Troy 110-69
#4 Kentucky beat Belmont 73-70
#6 NC State beat Auburn 62-48
#1 South Carolina beat UNC Asheville 90-40
#6 Missouri beat South Florida 66-64

2016:
#5 Mississippi State beat Chattanooga 60-50
#10 Missouri beat #7 BYU 78-69
#9. Auburn beat #8 St. John's 68-57
#4 TAMU beat Mizzou State 74-65
#9 Indiana beat #8 Georgia 62-58
#3 Kentucky beat UNC Asheville 85-31
#1 SC beat Jacksonville 77-41
#12 Albany beat Florida 61-59
#7 Tennessee beat Green Bay 59-53


2015:
#6 South Florida beat LSU 73-64
#2 Kentucky beat Tennessee State 97-52
#5 Mississippi State beat 12. Tulane 57-47
#2 Tennessee beat Boise State 72-61
#10 Arkansas beat Northwestern 57-55
#11 Arkansas Little Rock beat #6 TAMU 69-60
#1 South Carolina beat Savannah State 81-48


2014:
#9 St. Joes beat Georgia 67-57
#3 TAMU beat North Dakota 70-55
#9 Arizona State beat Vanderbilt 69-61
#3 Kentucky beat Wright State 106-60
#7 LSU beat Georgia Tech 98-58
#1 South Carolina beat 73-58
#11 Florida beat #6 Dayton 83-69


2013:
#4 Georgia beat Montana 70-50
#6 LSU beat #11 Green Bay 75-71
#4 South Carolina bt. South Dakota State 74-53
#3 TAMU beat Wichita State 71-45
#2 Kentucky bt. Navy 61-41
#2 Tennessee beat Oral Roberts 83-62
#8 Vanderbilt beat St. Joes 60-54

2012:
#9 Florida beat Ohio State 70-65
#2 Tennessee beat UT Martin 72-49
#5 South Carolina beat Eastern Michigan 80-48
#7 Vandy beat MTSU 60-46
#13 Marist beat #4 Georgia 76-70
#6 Arkansas beat #11 Dayton
#2 Kentucky beat McNeese State 68-62

I gotta hand it to you @Lorcan ! You and @Vowelguy are officially my finalists for the prestigious position of Director of Research -- a highly esteemed position that will surely lead to lucrative sponsorship opportunities.

One key relevant detail: When was the year the NCAA switched the first two rounds back from "neutral" courts to the home court of the top-4 seeds? Is Arkansas the first top-4 seed to lose a first-round game since then? (Perusing your compilation, I see the most recent first-round loss by a top-4 seed was by Georgia in 2012?)

 

[Lorcan]

I gotta hand it to you @Lorcan ! You and @Vowelguy are officially my finalists for the prestigious position of Director of Research -- a highly esteemed position that will surely lead to lucrative sponsorship opportunities.

One key relevant detail: When was the year the NCAA switched the first two rounds back from "neutral" courts to the home court of the top-4 seeds? Is Arkansas the first top-4 seed to lose a first-round game since then? (Perusing your compilation, I see the most recent first-round loss by a top-4 seed was by Georgia in 2012?)

The NCAA first did Top 4 hosting in 2014 as a test, then they did predetermined in 2015, before reverting back to Top 4 in 2016. You would be correct that Arkansas is the first Top 4 seed to lose since then. It’s interesting that while the hosting has largely helped the teams in the first round, it’s no guarantee of success moving forward.

 

[Plebe]

The NCAA first did Top 4 hosting in 2014 as a test, then they did predetermined in 2015, before reverting back to Top 4 in 2016. You would be correct that Arkansas is the first Top 4 seed to lose since then. It’s interesting that while the hosting has largely helped the teams in the first round, it’s no guarantee of success moving forward.

The gap between the 4 and 13 seeds in WBB is plenty wide as it is, on the average (notwithstanding Arkansas' crash-and-burn vs. Wright State). Add in a home-court advantage, and it's proven all but insurmountable. And of course the gap is even more forbiddingly wide for 3 vs. 14, etc.

Obviously the gaps narrows substantially in round 2, and the contests of 4 vs. 5 seeds would be relatively close to even-odds if played on a neutral court.

 

[Lorcan]

The gap between the 4 and 13 seeds in WBB is plenty wide as it is, on the average (notwithstanding Arkansas' crash-and-burn vs. Wright State). Add in a home-court advantage, and it's proven all but insurmountable. And of course the gap is even more forbiddingly wide for 3 vs. 14, etc.

Obviously the gaps narrows substantially in round 2, and the contests of 4 vs. 5 seeds would be relatively close to even-odds if played on a neutral court.

Interestingly, you have to go all the way back to 2007 to find the next upset of a top 4 seed, as the Red Foxes outfoxed #4 Ohio State.

There have been some 11 seeds that have eliminated the home team such as Gonzaga on one of their fabulous runs.

 

[Plebe]

Interestingly, you have to go all the way back to 2007 to find the next upset of a top 4 seed, as the Red Foxes outfoxed #4 Ohio State.

There have been some 11 seeds that have eliminated the home team such as Gonzaga on one of their fabulous runs.

How far back do we have to go to find an upset of a top-4 seed playing on its home court? Anything more recent than 1998?

 

[Vowelguy]

USF and NC St close early, but USF has been out of its mind from 3. It wont last.
USF foul trouble also piling up.

 

[Plebe]

USF and NC St close early, but USF has been out of its mind from 3. It wont last.
USF foul trouble also piling up.

Indeed, you can win a quarter that way but probably not a full 40 minutes.

 

[Lorcan]

How far back do we have to go to find an upset of a top-4 seed playing on its home court? Anything more recent than 1998?

#4 UC Santa Barbara lost to Rice on their home court in 2000.

 

[Vowelguy]

#4 UC Santa Barbara lost to Rice on their home court in 2000.

Yes. Didnt Ohio St lose to CMU?

 

[Lorcan]

Yes. Didnt Ohio St lose to CMU?

Ohio State lost to 11. CMU in the second round on their home court in 2017, I was specifically looking at the first round,

 

[Vowelguy]

Ohio State lost to 11. CMU in the second round on their home court in 2017, I was specifically looking at the first round,

ohhhh lo siento

 

[Plebe]

Ohio State lost to 11. CMU in the second round on their home court in 2017, I was specifically looking at the first round,

And their conference mates Buffalo beat Florida State in Tallahassee also in round 2, I believe on the same day. The coming out party of the MAC.

 

[Rooster C.]

And their conference mates Buffalo beat Florida State in Tallahassee also in round 2, I believe on the same day. The coming out party of the MAC.

There have been a number of times where the host school has lost in the second round - both to P5 and non-P5 teams.

 

[triaddukefan]

There have been a number of times where the host school has lost in the second round - both to P5 and non-P5 teams.

come on man

 

[Plebe]

Wow, how is it possible that Alabama is getting creamed by Maryland after being so "battle tested" from playing in the mighty SEC? Someone call the paramedics because this is carnage.

 

[Rooster C.]

End of Round 1 P5 results :

Big12 go 3-0 day one, 2-0 day two, 5-0 overall

SEC go 3-0 day one, 3-1 day two, 6-1 overall

Pac-12 go 2-1 day one, 3-0 day two, 5-1 overall

Big Ten go 2-0 day one, 3-2 day two, 5-2 overall

ACC go 4-2 day one, 1-1 day two, 5-3 overall

Head-to-head:
Big12 #8 Okla. St. over ACC #9 W.F.
Big12 #7 Iowa St. over Big Ten #10 Mich. St.
Pac-12 #8 Ore. St. over ACC #9 FSU
SEC #7 Alabama over ACC #10 N.C.

The losses by The SEC,Pac-12,and Big Ten were all close contests. Not so much for the ACC
Surprises: #4 Arkansas, #6 Rutgers losing in first round,
#2 Texas A&M escaping, (#5 G.Tech escaping not so much)

Updated after 2nd round games:

Big Ten go 2-0 day one, 2-1 day two, now 9-3 overall
(4 of 7 teams remain in the round of 16) 57%

Pac-12 go 1-1 day one, 2-1 day two, now 8-3 overall
(3 of 6 teams remain in the round of 16) 50%

Big12 go 1-2 day one, 1-1 day two, now 7-3 overall
(2 of 5 teams remain in the round of 16) 40%

ACC go 2-2 day one, 1-0 day two, now 8-5 overall
(3 of 8 teams remain in the round of 16) 38%

SEC go 1-2 day one, 1-2 day two, now 8-5 overall
(2 of 7 teams remain in the round of 16) 29%

Head-to-Head:
Big Ten #2 Maryland over SEC #7 Alabama
Big Ten #5 Iowa over SEC #4 Kentucky
Big Ten #6 Michigan over SEC #3 Tennessee
Big12 #2 Baylor over ACC #7 Virginia Tech
Big12 #6 Texas over Pac-12 #3 UCLA
ACC #2 Louisville over Big Ten #7 Northwestern
ACC #5 Georgia Tech over Big12 #4 West Virginia
Pac-12 #1 Stanford over Big12 #8 Oklahoma State
Pac-12 #6 Oregon over SEC #3 Georgia
SEC #1 S.Carolina over Pac-12 #8 Oregon State
SEC #2 Texas A&M over Big12 #7 Iowa State

The losses by the ACC were expected although far less competitive than I would have thought, the Big12 losses were both very hard fought close games, the Pac-12 losses were not that close and somewhat disappointing, the lone Big Ten loss was reasonably competitive, and the SEC losses were all by double digits other than Georgia.

The biggest takeaway from the 2nd round was the destruction of the SEC by the Big Ten. It would seem that the tournament coaching experience really played a role here. In nearly every match-up in round two the team with more losses coming in lost.

Before the tournament began I would have ranked the P5 conferences as SEC #1, ACC #2, Pac-12 #3, Big Ten #4 and Big12 #5. After the next round I expect there will be only one Big Ten team left, one (possibly 2) Pac-12 teams left, one (possibly 2 ) Big12 teams left, two (possibly 1) ACC team left, and two (possibly 1 ) SEC teams left.