2023 NCAA Tournament Round Two Day One Live Recap

2023 NCAA Tournament
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2023 NCAA Tournament

The 2023 NCAA Tournament kicked off this weekend with the Round of 64. While some major upsets did happen, the tournament overall featured a lot of chalk in the first round. Entering the first day of the Round of 32, fans were hoping for a different outcome. With eight games on the slate, there were plenty of chances for some March Madness.

5 Seed San Deigo State Aztecs Vs. 13 Seed Furman Paladins

After Furman’s thrilling upset win over the four-seeded Virginia Cavaliers, there was excitement for this game. San Diego State also plays a defensive-minded game like Virginia and struggled to get past the 12-seeded Collge of Charleston Cougars. Furman was hoping to be this year’s cinderella team headed to the Sweet 16. The game opened up with the Paladins keeping it close and even holding the lead for some of the first half. San Diego State slowly and methodically began pulling away as the first half came to a close. Furman just never quite got their offense flowing and it seemed as if San Diego State had learned from Virginia’s mistakes.

The second half would be more of the same with the Aztecs adding to or maintaining their lead for most of the last 20 minutes. San Deigo State dominated the paint on both ends and won the game 75-52. Micah Parrish came off the bench for the Aztecs and led the way with 16 points, six rebounds, and one block. San Deigo State will play the winner between the one-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide and eight-seeded Maryland Terrapins in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.

4 Seed Tennessee Volunteers Vs. 5 Seed Duke Blue Devils

Duke’s Mark Mitchell was not active for the game due to a knee injury. This game was chippy from the beginning of the game and didn’t let up throughout the 40 minutes of action. The first half was back-and-forth action with both teams trading lead and sometimes elbows. Tennessee closed the first half on a 14-2 run to take a 27-21 lead into halftime. While the two teams opened up the second half trading baskets, Tennessee maintained their lead. Jeremy Roach picked up a fourth foul early and the Blue Devils really struggled to get their offense going without him. Duke was forced to check him back in and switch to zone, which Tennessee took full advantage of.

Tennessee had one of their best games shooting from beyond the arc and won the game 65-52. Oliver Nkamhoua led the way for the team with 27 points, five rebounds, and three made threes. The Volunteers used their hot three-point shooter stretch to put Duke away late in the game. Tennesee will play the winner between the nine-seeded FAU Owls and the 16-seeded FDU Knights in the Sweet 16.

1 Seed Kansas Jayhawks Vs. 8 Seed Arkansas Razorbacks

Recent history has not been kind to the defending National Champion in the first weekend and Kansas was without Head Coach Bill Self in this game. The first half featured the Jayhawks, for the most part in control of the game and the start of the second half seemed to be staying with that trend. Eric Musselman coached teams can never be counted out in a game and with 8:51 to go in the game the Razorbacks managed to not only fight back but take a lead. Back-and-forth action would ensue for the following few minutes of basketball.

The defending National Champions were in danger of not making the Sweet 16. With 1:56 to play Davonte Davis fouled out for the Razorbacks in a two-point game. Ricky Council IV would respond and tie the game at 65 for Arkansas. With 39 seconds to go Jalen Wilson would tie the game at 67 with two free throws. On the other end, Kansas’ Kevin McCullar would foul out of the game with 23.7 seconds left and more importantly, Arkansas would take a 68-67 lead with the two free throws. With the second miss, Arkansas would land an offensive rebound and would head back to the free throw line where they made both for a 70-67 lead with 20.4 to play. It would come down to free throws for both teams. Arkansas would foul Jalen Wilson with three seconds left while up three and the Razorbacks would win 72-71! Davonte Davis led the team with 25 points, seven rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Arkansas will play the winner between the four-seeded UConn Huskies or the five-seeded St. Mary’s Gaels in the 2023 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16!

7 Seed Missouri Tigers Vs. 15 Seed Princeton Tigers

There is just something about a 15 seed from the state of New Jersey. Princeton took the lead early and drummed the Missouri Tigers throughout the game. The game was unofficially over with four minutes left in the game. Princeton won the game 78-63 with Ryan Langborg leading the way with 22 points, six rebounds, four assists, and one steal. They will play the winner between the three-seeded Baylor Bears and the six-seeded Creighton Bluejays in the Sweet 16!

1 Seed Houston Cougars Vs. 9 Seed Auburn Tigers

Marcus Sasser was hobbled but did manage to play in the game today. A thrilling first half led to a fairly high-scoring game between the two teams. Aubrun headed into the half with a 41-31 lead. The Tigers failed to capitalize in the second half due to their struggles to make field goals. The Tigers started the second half 1/14 from the field before a breakaway layup fell with about 7:30 to play in the game. Luckily for the Tigers, Houston continued to foul and kept Auburn in the game despite the lack of field goals. Despite the close game, Houston seemed firmly in control of the game. Auburn’s inability to score and sub-50 percent free throw shooting would spell their doom in the second half. Houston won the game 81-64 with Tramon Mark and Marcus Sasser chipping in 26 points and 22 points respectively. They will play the winner of the four-seeded Indiana Hoosiers and the five-seeded Miami Hurricanes in the 2023 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.

2 Seed Texas Longhorns Vs. 10 Seed Penn State Nittany Lions

A contrast of styles with Texas and Penn State. The Longhorns prefer to dominate down low while the Nittany Lions typically live and die by the three. A fairly back-and-forth first half had the Longhorns up 31-23 at halftime. Again the second half was largely back-and-forth with Penn State never quite getting back into the game. Until they finally chipped away and hit two free throws with 5:12 left to take a 56-55 lead. Penn State suddenly found themselves up three with all the momentum after a Texas turnover and run out. This game seemed destined to go down to the wire.

Thanks to Dylan Disu and a Penn State over and back, Tecxas had a 63-58 lead with less than 1:30 to go in the game. A four-point play for Penn State would cut the game to just three with 4.9 to play. Texas, thanks largely to Disu would win 71-66 after a hard-fought game. Disu finished with 28 points, ten rebounds, one assist, and two steals. The Longhorns will play the winner between the three-seeded Xavier Musketeers and the 11-seeded Pittsburgh Panthers.

2 Seed UCLA Bruins vs. 7 Seed Northwestern Wildcats

The first half was competitive, but UCLA maintained control of the game and despite a Boo Buie buzzer-beater, the Bruins led 35-25 at halftime. Northwestern used a 17-4 run to tie the game in the second half at 45 with 11:26 to play. Some sloppy play from both teams in the next few minutes led to them both struggling to score. Despite that, a 6-0 UCLA run has them up 51-45 with 8:54 to play. Northwestern immediately snapped off their own 5-0 run to cut the lead to one. Each time UCLA attempted to pull away for good, the Wildcats found a way to answer the Bruins.

Northwestern fought hard in the final two minutes but did not get the baskets they needed to win the game. UCLA stayed consistent on defense and beat the Wildcats 68-63. Jamie Jaquez Jr led the way for the Bruins with 24 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. UCLA will play the winner between the three-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs and the six-seeded TCU Horned Frogs.

1 Seed Alabama Crimson Tide Vs. 8 Seed Maryland Terrapins

With two one-seeds already falling in the first weekend, Alabama entered the game looking to avoid the upset. Maryland and Alabama fought hard in the first half with a low score at halftime with Alabama winning 28-23. In the first ten minutes of the second half Maryland continues to keep it close, but slowly Alabama began to pull away from the Terrapins. Alabama went on to beat the Terrapins 73-51 in the game. Jahvon Quinerly and Brandon Miller led the way with 22 points and 19 points respectively. Alabama will play the five-seeded San Diego State Aztecs in the 2023 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.

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