The March Insanity takeaway: Why Iowa and Kentucky misplaced, Gonzaga appeared shaky, and UNC dominates

The March Madness takeaway: Why Iowa and Kentucky lost, Gonzaga looked shaky, and UNC dominates

So how’s the March Insanity slide? The 2023 NCAA Championships Thursday, which supplied all the same old alternatives for turbulence, offered in quite a lot of of these alternatives. The No. 2 seed Kentucky Wildcats, the ultra-modern Ultimate 4 decide coming into the day, misplaced in a surprising trend to the fifteenth seed St. Peter’s Peacock. The Iowa Hawkeyes, who put in a powerful show in a race to the Massive Ten Championship title, fell to the Atlantic 10 champ and big killer Recurring at March Insanity Richmond Spiders.

There have been different surprises – New Mexico State over UConn in 12 vs 5, North Carolina destroying Marquette in essentially the most lopsided 8 vs 9 rating ever – and so they supplied extra proof of all of the surprising issues that may occur in a single-elimination occasion stuffed with Solely good distinction.

As we catch our breath from day one of many first spherical, the ESPN panel of Myron Medcalf, Jeff Borzello, John Gasaway and Joe Lunardi centered on every thing they noticed on Thursday and peeked into Friday’s schedule that delivers much more craziness. .

Observe this hyperlink for NCAA match tip occasions, and go to right here to take a look at your March Insanity arc.


What occurred to Kentucky vs. St. Peter, and what subsequent for the wild cats?

For a full evaluation of the Wildcats’ historic loss to the Peacocks and what’s subsequent for each groups, comply with this hyperlink.


Earlier than Kentucky fell, Massive Ten champion Iowa broke lots of arcs with a loss to Richmond. In your opinion, why does the Hockey household maintain failing to make it to the second weekend? Are you able to give Iowa followers one thing to really feel hopeful about?

Medcalf: The hockey household does not always guard anybody which is why they destroyed my staff – our arc – once more. Fran McCaffrey had some robust defensive groups in his early years in Iowa Metropolis. However he did spend six straight seasons and completed exterior the highest 75 in modified defensive proficiency on KenPom. This run contains three consecutive years with a high 5 end in adjusted offensive proficiency. These extremely lopsided groups can do nice issues within the common season, however they usually fail to satisfy expectations within the post-season. Certain, you have got some groups which have been nice offensive groups and mediocre defensive groups which have carried out runs. However you do not see many nice offensive groups with horrible defensive metrics that break the web. Richmond wasn’t nice offensively, however the Spiders had a number of robust game-changing runs and a stable end to take the win.

This yr it was Richmond, who completed sixth within the Atlantic 10 standings. Final yr, the Hawkeyes shed 95 factors in a double-digit loss to Oregon within the second spherical. They misplaced to Tennessee in extra time, 83-77, within the second spherical in 2019. Iowa State continues to encourage these hits, however its defensive challenges create postseason challenges.

What’s good for Iowa followers? I believe lots of elite transfers have watched Luka Garza win the Wood Award (almost two years in a row) and Keegan Murray turned a lottery decide on McCaffery’s offense and would suppose they may do the identical in that system. However these proficient folks weren’t capable of overcome this system’s defensive challenges to assist Iowa attain their second weekend for the primary time below McCaffrey.

Borzello: It is easy to level to Iowa’s typically poor protection as the rationale hockey’s continued wrestle within the early rounds of the NCAA. Certain, their assault at all times outperformed their protection – but it surely wasn’t at all times a deadly flaw. Once they bounced again early in 2015 and 2016, that they had KenPom’s high 35 defenses. This yr, their defensive ranks have been just like final season—however since February 1, Iowa has had a high 50 protection nationally. Not elite, however definitely sufficient to get previous Richmond. So there may be some randomness and “crawling” to the exits.

I imply, simply take a look at the final yr: The Hawkeyes needed to play Oregon who misplaced two of their final 13 video games and did not even play a first-round recreation after the VCU needed to pull out. It is also value noting that Iowa State has received one recreation in every of the previous 4 NCAA tournaments, so it is not as if the Hawkeyes abruptly turned a distinct staff in The Dance. So I believe these are some causes for optimism going ahead. On the similar time, going 1-2 in two NCAA tournaments with Wood Award winner and second greatest participant within the nation is fairly painful.

Gasaway: Mars will do no matter he pleases each time, which is why this match is a spectator sport like no different. Richmond held Iowa’s offense the third least efficient outing of the whole season, the opposite two being highway video games. Hockey staff scored 29 makes an attempt out of three factors and made 6 makes an attempt. Based on sports-reference.com, the final time Iowa tried many 3s and made six or fewer was in January 2020 in Nebraska (4 out of 33). Final time earlier than that, properly, we do not know. The database goes again to 2010-11, so we solely know that Hawkeyes have carried out poorly in these many makes an attempt solely twice in 12 years. It occurred to be a type of occasions within the NCAA Championship. March.

Lonardi: This version of the Hawkeyes ranked fifth within the Massive Ten in defensive proficiency in keeping with KenPom. This appears to exit the window as soon as Richmond is linked to the primary again minimize, then one other and one other. Poor previous Iowa protection is again, missing ground steadiness and even fundamental consciousness of incoming performs. And the spiders will not be completed, as their excellent match to Windfall appears to be kind of equal. For Iowa followers, what you see is what you get. In a steady loop.


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Nathan Cayo finishes robust within the paint alongside the Richmond stretch in a 67-63 win over Iowa within the NCAA Championship.

No. 1 seed Gonzaga trailed Sixteenth-seeded Georgia State with 13 minutes left within the second half, earlier than Zagiz flexed their muscle mass in a 93-72 win. What ought to we take away from Gonzaga’s efficiency?

Lonardi: Nothing blessed, particularly with a possible big killer in Memphis looming within the second spherical. In November, with the pre-season rankings in hand, Saturday’s recreation may have been the Elite Eight or Ultimate 4. I am far more fascinated with Gonzaga’s skill to reply to the tigers than she is within the state of Georgia.

Gasaway: Sure, I believe I am with Monsieur Brackets on this. It was a very sluggish begin, however check out Chet Holmgren’s remaining numbers: 19 factors, 17 rebounds, 7 blocks, 5 assists and a couple of steals. Sure, it was towards the Georgia State staff who not solely lacked measurement however have been additionally brief readily available. Nevertheless, we have seen Holmgren do this type of factor towards stronger opponents. Talking of which, I personally am actually wanting ahead to seeing Holmgren go up towards Jalen Duren and Memphis.

Borzello: The largest factor I realized was that Gonzaga ought to by no means make three-pointers when he had Drew Timme and Holmgren and the opponent had one participant taller than 6ft 7 and was in dangerous hassle. Timme and Holmgren have been fully in command of Georgia State, gathering 51 factors, 30 rebounds, 7 assists, and seven blocks. They outperformed the Panthers within the paint 62-24. However given what Gonzaga appeared like within the first half and the way Memphis appeared within the first half of their win over Boise State, Saturday’s recreation could also be nearer than folks thought its entry into the NCAA Match. It could be an enormous take a look at for Holmgren (and Duren).

Medcalf: I believe we have realized {that a} actually good staff can at all times find yourself in a struggle with a serious underdog within the NCAA Championship, however that is most likely all there may be to it. I give lots of credit score to Rob Lanier for making ready this staff to compete with the highest seed. For half-hour, Georgia State is not going to go away Gonzaga alone. The Panthers took benefit of Gonzaga’s unusually chilly assault. After which Gonzaga turned by that tremendous run and we had a typical 16-for-1 relationship within the first spherical. What I took away from the final 10 minutes is that Timme and Holmgren are a singular pair and most groups will not have two large guys that they’ll problem. Georgia State has seen what the remainder of the sphere can deal with within the coming weeks, too.


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Chet Holmgren steals the entry lane and races down the sphere to stuff a Gonzaga and 1 dunk.

What recreation pursuits you essentially the most on Friday’s schedule?

Medcalf: I like LSU, 6 seeds, vs. Iowa, 11 seeds. Kevin Nickelberry is the interim head coach after Will Wade was terminated for trigger final week after issuing a discover of allegations towards the college. Nickelberry was a head coach at two faculties (Hampton and Howard), however this looks like a type of conditions the place the Tigers come out excited after all of the feelings they have been by within the final days or fall. However they’re going to face an Iowa State staff that is additionally liable to volatility.

Seven of Iowa State’s 12 losses this season have been by 12 factors or extra. Hurricanes have been 8-12 within the final 20 video games. However in addition they had victories over Iowa, Memphis, Xavier, Texas and Texas Tech. Izaiah Brockington (17.2 PPG 7.1 RPG) may turn into a family title with nice efficiency on this too. No concept what to anticipate from any staff and that is what makes it so fascinating to me.

Borzello: Virginia Tech vs Texas. Hockey ended the season surprisingly, profitable 13 of their final 15 video games, and forming protection after protection all through the season. Texans misplaced their final three NCAA video games and have been ups and downs within the second half of the marketing campaign. The Longhorns’ protection hasn’t been as stifling as earlier groups coached by Chris Fowl, and that can be examined towards Virginia Tech – who fired at the least 42.9% of three in three of ACC’s 4 match video games.

I am additionally fascinated by LSU versus Iowa, principally simply because I wish to see how Tiger Tigers reply to Will Wade’s capturing final weekend. I do not suppose will probably be an aesthetically pleasing recreation, given the propensity of groups to flip the ball and miss photographs, however the storyline is fascinating.

Gasaway: Loyola Chicago vs Ohio State. Do not hassle with the seeds, as a result of notebooks and even the NCAA NET Rankings suppose that is vital. Can the Ramblers make one other magical run, this time solely below the management of Drew Valentine? Will the Buckeyes recover from the reminiscences of final yr’s shock loss to Oral Roberts within the Spherical of 64? Loyola is taking part in wonderful protection as traditional, and Lucas Williamsson and his teammates may have an actual take a look at with EJ Liddell. This one’s within the early window on Friday, so we’ll get solutions to all the above immediately.

Lonardi: I am unable to watch for Michigan and Davidson. Not simply the rivalry between Coaching – a pair of pissed off Tom Izzo and Bob McKillop – but in addition a conflict of types between the Spartans’ “Let’s pound you” type and the offensive perfection of the Wildcats. Plus, we now have a simple story of Davidson’s star goalkeeper Foster Lauer going straight again towards his unique staff, with whom he barely performed double-digit minutes.

Whatever the end result – and I really like Davidson – the winner of this recreation has a great opportunity of ending Coach Kai’s run on Sunday towards Duke.