With Saturday’s action, we get to reacquaint ourselves with Thursday’s stars and surprises — many of whom are hoping to repeat their performances to advance to the second weekend.
No. 7 Dayton was hoping to ride the momentum from its remarkable comeback against Nevada in the first round Thursday. The Flyers came close. But No. 2 Arizona, seeking its second Sweet 16 in three years under head coach Tommy Lloyd, prevailed.
The rest of the day promises more matchups. Two bluebloods will collide when Gonzaga and Kansas meet. The No. 5 seed Bulldogs had no problem in their round of 64 win over McNeese. Conversely, the No. 4 seed Jayhawks were taken to the final minute before escaping with a win over Samford.
In the evening the pace will pick up, with simultaneous games and some very storied programs. The headliner figures to be No. 9 seed Michigan State and top seed North Carolina in Charlotte. Then again, this is March. We never know which game will surprise us.
Follow along as we break down every game of the first day of the men’s round of 32 — and what the results mean for the rest of the tournament. Check your bracket here.
Does Arizona have what it takes to takes to make the Final Four? The Wildcats showed Saturday morning in Salt Lake City that they can take someone’s best punch and not get knocked down. Dayton hung around and chipped away anytime Arizona extended its lead into the double digits, but the Wildcats never let the Flyers tie the game or take a lead.
What the win means for Arizona: Redemption. A year after getting bounced in the first round in an upset by then-No. 15 Princeton Tigers, the Wildcats showed that they have the talent, size, experience and depth to make a splash during the second weekend of the tournament. Between 7-footer Oumar Ballo and 7-2 freshman Motiejus Krivas patrolling the lane, the likes of Caleb Love, Kylan Boswell, KJ Lewis, Pelle Larsson and Jaden Bradley handling the perimeter, and Keshad Johnson doing everything else, Arizona has the depth to avoid fatigue in the tournament. And with Love and Johnson’s Final Four experience at North Carolina and San Diego State, respectively, the Wildcats can rely on them for the type of poise needed in the Sweet 16 and, possibly, the Elite Eight. Arizona will play the winner of Baylor and Clemson, who square off Sunday, in the Sweet 16 in Los Angeles. The short trip from Tucson will likely turn into a home game, with a chance for a true home game — the Final Four is in Glendale, Arizona — on the line.
What the loss means for Dayton: By all measurements, this season was a major win. Coach Anthony Grant led Dayton back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since his first season in 2017. And the Flyers’ second-round exit was their best showing in the tournament since 2015, when they lost in the Sweet 16. Dayton, which finished 25-8 this season, provided one of the best moments of the first round when they erased a 17-point deficit to avoid an upset and beat No. 10 Nevada to advance to Saturday’s meeting with Arizona. However, the Flyers couldn’t come back from this 17-point deficit. — Josh Weinfuss
Arizona’s turnover woes exposed: The Wildcats gave the ball away on just 15% of their possessions in Pac-12 play this season. That rate increased against the Flyers, however, as the Wildcats gave the ball away 15 times in 72 possessions. Committing a turnover on 21% of your trips down the floor isn’t customary for Tommy Lloyd’s team. Credit Dayton, which turned up its defensive pressure late in the first half — the press deployed by the Flyers forced Arizona out of its comfort zone. Opponents facing the Wildcats from here on out might consider following the Flyers’ example. — John Gasaway