The March Madness went completely crazy on Friday. Historically crazy, to be exact. As the Sweet 16 action unfolded across the country, the 15th seed St. Peters continued to be one of the highlights of the tournament, knocking out 3rd seed Purdue and becoming the first ever 15th seed in the process. m number, released in the Elite Eight.
The peacocks were not the only ones to spread their wings on this fantastic day. Caleb Love put in a dominant performance to take North Carolina to the Elite Eight, Remy Martin continued to ride his post-season heater in Kansas, and Miami convincingly won a slugfest over Iowa State to set up a midwest showdown with the only number remaining. 1st seed in the tournament: Kansas.
There were many stories from Friday. We’ve got everything you need to do in the day below to help get you up to speed ahead of the weekend.
Saint Peter makes history
Friday night’s history was the history of the 2022 NCAA Tournament: Saint Peter’s. On National Peacock Day, the Peacocks became the first No. 15 seed ever to reach the Elite Eight. Their 67-64 win over No. 3 seeded Purdue marked the Boilermakers’ third-highest-scoring player of the season and forever sealed Saint Peter’s in college basketball history.
Even before Friday’s victory, the Peacocks had captured the hearts of fans across the country, becoming only the third No. 15 seed ever to hit the Sweet 16. But now they’ve done something they’ve never done before. At this point, who is willing to doubt what might still be ahead?
What will they say now? St. Peters coach Shaheen Holloway asked in a post-game interview with CBS. “All you can really say is, ‘Well done Saint Peter.'”
Promising Purdue season ends in disappointment
With one of the most energetic players in the sport (Jaden Ivey) and two of the Big Ten’s top-scoring players (Zack Edie and Trevion Williams), Purdue entered the tournament with the promise and potential of actually making it to their first Final Four. since 1980. And the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in their region, who were eliminated at the beginning of the tournament, only increased his chances even more. However, while stunning St. Peters, Purdue instead became the answer to a trite question that would echo for years to come: Which team beat St. Peters in the Sweet 16 to become the first of the 15 seeds to ever qualify for the Elite Eight?
Purdue.
“It puts pressure on you,” said Purdue coach Matt Painter. “It’s eating you, dude. It’s so hard to take a stand to succeed. These guys have won 29 games and then you feel terrible. good team, we have a good program. We just didn’t get over that hurdle, we didn’t get a boost. We haven’t been to the Final Four for 42 years. I think about it all the time.”
Remy Martin shines for KU
There was nothing glamorous in the first half of Kansas’ 66–61 victory over Providence except for Remy Martin’s performance. In a 43-point half-time where the teams collectively scored 3 of 23 from three-point range, Martin’s offense stood out. The 6-foot guard scored 13 of his 23 points in the first frame as he continued to perform well in the playoffs. The transfer of the Arizona State alum played a minimal role for the Jayhawks during the Big 12 game due to a knee injury, but the lost time doesn’t seem to keep him from fitting into the rotation.
On a night when veterans Ochai Agbaji and David McCormack combined just 4 of 13 field goals for CU, Martin’s contribution to the offense was indispensable. His only season at KU was bumpy, but it looks like he’s drawing to a surprisingly happy ending.
Providence fights, does not leave quietly
If you’ve watched Ed Cooley’s Friars this season, you knew that after trailing by a full 13 points in the second half against No. 1 seed Kansas, they probably won’t walk away quietly. Like clockwork, the deficit woke up something in Providence as they returned to make things interesting before falling 66-61.
“This is the most connected group I have ever been in. It’s a special, special, special group,” Cooley said after the game. “I thought we played to the very end. I thought we answered. I’m very proud.”
Providence completely cleared a 13-point gap in the second half and briefly took the lead before KU regained control of the leg. It wasn’t a surprise result for either team—that the more talented KU edged ahead of the tough Providence team—but it was emblematic of what the Friars have been doing all season as one of the most physically grueling and difficult strikeouts of the entire season. .
Caleb Love Has His March Moment
North Carolina, as an underdog facing a higher seeded UCLA team, needed someone—anyone—to get up and carry them to the finish line. His offense suffered greatly in the first half. Luckily for UNC, that someone was Caleb Love, who scored 27 of his 30 points in the second half and took the lead in the stretch. The only thing more impressive than a 12-2 result for the Tar Heels to close out the game was Love’s personal score of 20 of the team’s last 27 points.
“At the end of the day, you just need the guys to step up,” said coach Hubert Davis. “And Caleb Love was just fantastic.”
UCLA loses lead and chance for Final Four repeat
UCLA led North Carolina by a full eight points and had a three-point lead over the Tar Heels with less than two minutes left in the game. But even that lead wasn’t immune to Caleb Love’s nuclear blast, as UNC closed 12-2 to beat the Bruins 73-66.
“As a coach, you can get upset about some things. To be honest, we had a lot of good games and the ball didn’t go in,” said Bruins coach Mick Cronin. “Our last three triples were wide open, we sent Jaime low, Johnny missed a pair, Caleb Love hit hard.”
The combination of Love’s brilliant performance in the second half and the struggles of UCLA’s biggest stars, namely Jaime Jaques, who was hit after an ankle injury in the second round, was enough to send the Bruins home and rob them of their chance to continue their careers. The “Final Four” of the season a year ago with another repeat.
Miami battles Iowa State to earn Elite Eight bid
The ACC had a bad year (more on that in a moment), and Miami finished a few games behind Duke on the ACC, so the Hurricanes’ drop to the 10th seed in the tournament wasn’t much of a surprise. But it’s clear that we underestimated how strong this team is and how purpose-built it is to win in March. Jim Larranaga’s group is an old, productive and nightmarish bout in a short lead-up, as Iowa State saw firsthand when they lost 70-56 to Miami on Friday.
Isaiah Wong was Miami’s star this postseason, but in a game in which he scored seven points, senior Cam McGasty added 27 points and Jordan Miller added 16. That’s a rare luxury that Larranaga has with a talented — and old — roster. who knows what it is and always plays hard and unselfishly. Now they have a chance to prove on the biggest stage – against the No. 1 title favorite in Kansas – how good they are.
ACC redeems itself in March
Only five ACC teams earned bids for the Big Dance that year, which was undoubtedly a bad one for the league as Florida State, Louisville, Syracuse and Virginia – all teams normally entered in the tournament – struggled. But how about this: three out of five are still dancing until the weekend. Duke, North Carolina and Miami head to the Elite Eight after winning the Sweet 16, more than any league.
“Our league is really, really good,” Larranaga said. “Everyone knows Duke and Carolina, these teams are traditionally very, very strong. But other teams in our league are very talented, very deep, they have great coaches. I am very proud to be part of the ACC.”
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