2012 NCAA Basketball Tournament Rounds 1-3 Recap

The first 3 rounds of this year's tournament might have been the craziest of all time. Not counting the First Four there was 48 games and in 13 games the high seed won. 

First Four:

Vermont beat Lamar 71 to 59 and South Florida beat California 65 to 54 but nothing happened special there, but in the other 2 games it was a lot more interesting. Mississippi Valley State lead by 16 with 4:51 left in the game, Western Kentucky then stormed all the way back to win 59 to 58 in regulation. That set the NCAA Tournament record for largest comeback in the last 5 minutes last held by Illinois who came back from 15 down to beat Arizona to win in the 2005 Elite Eight. In the other game BYU was down 25 to Iona but BYU went on run to win 78 to 72 in regulation to set the record for the largest comeback in the NCAA Tournament. The previous record was held by Duke they came from 22 down to beat Arizona in the 2001 Final Four.

South Region - Louisville, Kentucky - 1, 8, 9, 16 Pod: 

Kentucky won this pod with out problem. They beat Western Kentucky by 15 and Iowa State by 16. They wasn't any upset in this pod. I was surprised though that Iowa State beat Connecticut the defending champions in the 2nd Round by 13 points. Kentucky advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the 43rd time in school history. This is their third straight appearance in the Sweet Sixteen since 2010.
South Region - Portland, Oregon - 4, 5, 12, 13 Pod:

Indiana won this pod with little surprise. They beat New Mexico State by 13 points. In the other 2nd round game 12th seeded VCU upset 5th seeded Wichita State by 3 points. In the 3rd round game VCU was leading late in the game but Indiana came back to win 63 to 61. Indiana advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the 21st time in school history. It is their first time since 2002.
South Region - Albuquerque, New Mexico - 3, 6, 11, 14 Pod:

Baylor won this pod with little surprise. They beat South Dakota State by 8 in the 2nd round and UNLV was upset by Colorado by 4 points in the other 2nd round game. Baylor toke care of Colorado by 17 to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. This is only Baylor's 4th time in the Sweet Sixteen in school history. It is their first time since 2010 and second time since 1950.
South Region - Greensboro, North Carolina - 2, 7, 10, 15 Pod: 

Xavier won this pod with great surprise. I thought Duke would win this pod. Also this pod was full of upsets. Xavier beat Notre Dame by 4 points in the 2nd round and Lehigh beat Duke by 5 to become the sixth 15th seed to beat the 2nd seed. In the 3rd round Lehigh was up 15 at one point and Xavier came back to win by 12. This is Xavier's 6th time in the Sweet Sixteen in school history, 1st time since 2010 and 4th time since 2008.


West Region - Columbus, Ohio - 1, 8, 9, 16 Pod: 

Michigan State won this pod without problem. Michigan State beat Long Island by 22. Saint Louis beat Memphis by 7 which I was a little surprised. Michigan beat Saint Louis by 4 points in the 3rd round. Michigan State advanced to their 16th Sweet Sixteen in school history. This is their first time since 2010 and fourth time since 2008.
West Region - Portland, Oregon - 4, 5, 12, 13 Pod:

Louisville won this pod with a little surprise. They beat Davidson by 7 points and New Mexico beat Long Beach State by 7 points in the 2nd round. In the 3rd round Louisville beat New Mexico by 3 points. This is Louisville's 24th time in the Sweet Sixteen in school history. It is also their first time since 2009 and third time since 2008.
West Region - Louisville, Kentucky - 3, 6, 11, 14 Pod:

Marquette won this pod with a little surprise. I thought Murray State would win this pod. Marquette won 20 and Murray State won by 17 in the 2nd round. In the 3rd round Marquette won by 9 points. Marquette advanced to their 15th Sweet Sixteen in school history and second straight time since 2011.
West Region - Omaha, Nebraska - 2, 7, 10, 15 Pod: 

Florida won this pod with some surprise. I thought that Missouri would win this pod pretty easy. Missouri was upset in the 2nd round by Norfolk State by 2 points. Norfolk became only fifth #15 seed to beat a #2 seed. Florida toke care of business in both games winning by 26 vs. Virginia and by 24 points vs. Norfolk State in the 3rd round. This is only Florida's 8th time Sweet Sixteen in school history, 2nd straight since 2011 and 4th time since 2006.
East Region - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - 1, 8, 9, 16 Pod: 

Syracuse won this pod with very little surprise. Syracuse struggled vs. UNC Asheville in the 2nd round but they won by 7. In the other Kansas State beat Southern Mississippi by 6. Syracuse toke care of Kansas State winning by 16 points in the 3rd round. Syracuse advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the 20th time school history, it is their first time since 2010 and 3rd time since 2009.
East Region - Albuquerque, New Mexico - 4, 5, 12, 13 Pod:

Wisconsin won this pod with little surprise. I thought Vanderbilt would win this pod. Wisconsin beat Montana by 24 and Vanderbilt beat Harvard by 9 in the 2nd round. In the 3rd round game Wisconsin beat Vanderbilt by 3. This is Wisconsin's 6th Sweet Sixteen in school history, it also their 2nd straight and all six times have come since 2000.
East Region - Nashville, Tennessee - 3, 6, 11, 14 Pod:

Cincinnati won this pod with some surprise. I thought Florida State was going to win this pod. Cincinnati beat Texas by 6 and Florida State had a hard time vs. Saint Bonaventure only winning by 3. Cincinnati upset Florida State in the 3rd round winning 62 to 56. It was tied 50 to 50 at 1:40 and then Cincinnati went on a 12 to 6 run to finish the game. Cincinnati advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the 11th time in school history and first time since 2001.
East Region - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - 2, 7, 10, 15 Pod: 

Ohio State won this pod with very little surprise. Ohio State beat Loyola (MD) by 19 and Gonzaga beat West Virginia by 22 in the 2nd round. In the 3rd round Ohio State struggled a little vs. Gonzaga but Ohio State won by 7. This is Ohio State's 14th time in the Sweet Sixteen, also their third straight since 2010 and fourth time since 2007.
Midwest Region - Greensboro, North Carolina - 1, 8, 9, 16 Pod: 

North Carolina was this pod with very little surprise. North Carolina toke care Vermont by 19 and Creighton beat Alabama by 1 point in the 2nd round. In the 3rd round North Carolina won pretty easy beating Creighton by 14. This is North Carolina's 32nd time in the Sweet Sixteen in school history, this also their 2nd straight since 2011 and 5th time since 2007.
Midwest Region - Nashville, Tennessee - 4, 5, 12, 13 Pod:

Ohio won this pod with great surprise. I thought that Michigan would win this pod. Both South Florida and Ohio won in a upset in the 2nd round. South Florida beat Temple by 14 and Ohio beat Michigan by 5 points. Ohio then also "upset" South Florida by 6 points in the 3rd round. Ohio advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the 3rd time in school history and it is the first time since 1964.
Midwest Region - Columbus, Ohio - 3, 6, 11, 14 Pod:

North Carolina State won this pod with great surprise. I thought Belmont was going to win this pod. North Carolina State upset San Diego State by 14 and Georgetown toke care of Belmont by 15 points in the 2nd round. In the 3rd round North Carolina State upset Georgetown winning by 3 points. North Carolina State made to the Sweet Sixteen for the 11th time in school history and 1st time since 2005.
Midwest Region - Omaha, Nebraska - 2, 7, 10, 15 Pod: 

Kansas was this pod with very little surprise. Kansas beat Detroit by 15 and Purdue upset St. Mary's by 3 in the 2nd round. Kansas beat Purdue by 3 points in the 3rd round. Kansas made it to the Sweet Sixteen for the 29th time in school history, it also the second straight since 2011 and 5th time since 2007.


Two fun facts from the first 3rd rounds are:


All four teams from the state of Ohio (Ohio State, Ohio, Cincinnati, and Xavier) made it to the Sweet 16, marking the first time in tournament history any state has been represented by four teams in the sweet sixteen.


The #15 seeds were 4-104 vs. #2 seeds going into this year. This year the #15 seed went 2-2 with Lehigh beat Duke and Norfolk State beating Missouri. Before this year only Richmond who beat Syracuse in 1991, Santa Clara who beat Arizona in 1993, Coppin State who beat South Carolina in 1997 and Hampton who beat Iowa State in 2001.