The 2016 Elite 8 started with all four number one seeds looking to advance to the Final Four. The last time all four number one seeds made it to the last leg of the tournament was 2008 and now we will have to wait one more year to see top seeds dominate their way to the Final Four. Earlier in the weekend, both the Oregon Ducks and Kansas Jayhawks fell to two seeds but on the second day of the Elite 8, both number one seeds were heavily favored to win. Only one would come out on top.
No.10 Syracuse Orange DEF No.1 Virginia Cavaliers 68-62
The Orange used a 29-8 run to rally from a 16-point deficit and shock the Cavaliers in the regional final. The Cavaliers were scoreless for almost 7 straight minutes late in the second half. After both teams had seven first-half turnovers, Virginia had six in the second half while Syracuse had none. The Orange were 20-of-25 from the free throw line. Syracuse becomes the first No. 10 seed to ever reach the Final Four and the first double-digit seed since VCU in 2011. Syracuse freshman guard Malachi Richardson hit three 3-pointers and shot 8-of-9 from the free throw line to lead all scorers with 23 points, adding seven rebounds and a pair of steals. Fourteen of Richardson’s points came in the game’s final 9 minutes and the ‘diaper dandy’ stepped up when the Orange needed a shot in the arm. Michael Gbinije added 11 points and six assists for Syracuse, while Tyler Lydon also had 11 points to go with six rebounds and five blocks. Guard London Perrantes led Virginia with 18 points. Syracuse reached the Final Four for the sixth time and first time since 2013.
No.1 UNC Tar Heels DEF No.6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 88-74
The Tar Heels became the only No. 1 seed to survive the regional final by putting in a top notch offensive performance against ACC rival Notre Dame. North Carolina is in the Final Four for the 19th time in program history, fourth time under Roy Williams and first time since winning the National Championship in 2009. Tar Heels forward star Brice Johnson shot 10-of-15 from the field to lead the team with 24 points as well as 15 rebounds — his third straight game with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. Johnson’s double-double was his 23rd of the season, which is a new North Carolina record. Notre Dame guard Demetrius Jackson led all scorers with 26 points. Notre Dame lost in the Elite Eight for the second consecutive year, last year they fell to the Kentucky Wildcats. The Tar Heels shot 61.5 percent from the field and hit 20-of-24 free throws, Notre Dame shot 55.1 percent, and hit 9-of-18 3-point shots. Each team committed only six turnovers and North Carolina outrebounded Notre Dame 31-14.
