2013 NCAA Basketball Tournament Rounds 1-3 Recap

The first 3 rounds of this year's tournament might have been the craziest of all time including last year's which I thought was wild. Not counting the First Four there was 48 games and in 14 games the higher seed won. There was also a lot of history. Florida Gulf Coast became the first ever #15 seed to make the Sweet Sixteen and 7th team to advance to the Round of 32. With Oregon, La Salle and Florida Gulf Coast in the Sweet Sixteen it is the first time three teams seeded 12 and higher made the Sweet Sixteen. In the Round of 64, 6 teams (Oregon, California, Mississippi, La Salle, Harvard and Florida Gulf Coast) seeded 12 and higher won which is a record. Also it is only the second year with at least one team seeded 11-15 to advance to the Round of 32. The only other year was 1991. 

First Four:

Unlike last year nothing special happened in the First Four. On Tuesday, Saint Mary's beat Middle Tennessee 67 to 54 which surprised me some since I thought Middle Tennessee would win. North Carolina A&T did win in thrilling fashion hanging on to a one point win over Liberty 73 to 72. I didn't expect Liberty to make it game like they did. On Wednesday, La Salle beat Boise State 80 to 71. I didn't think La Salle would win but I was surprised. La Salle also became the 2nd team in the 3 year history to play in the First Four and at least make the Sweet Sixteen. In the last game James Madison beat Long Island, like I predicted, 68 to 55. 

Midwest Region - Lexington, Kentucky - 1, 8, 9, 16 Pod:

Louisville won this pod with out problem. They beat North Carolina A&T by 31 and Colorado State by 26. They wasn't any upset in this pod. I was surprised though that Colorado State beat Missouri   by 12 points. Louisville advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the 25th time in school history. This is their second straight appearance in the Sweet Sixteen since 2012.

Midwest Region - San Jose, California - 4, 5, 12, 13 Pod:

Oregon won this pod with great surprise. I thought that Saint Louis would win this pod. Oregon upset Oklahoma State by 13 and Saint Louis beat New Mexico State by 20. I thought Oregon would beat Oklahoma State but I didn't think they would beat Saint Louis which they did by 17. Oregon advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the 4th time in school history and it is the first time since 2007.

Midwest Region - Auburn Hills, Michigan - 3, 6, 11, 14 Pod:

Michigan State won this pod with little surprise. Michigan State beat Valparaiso by 11. Memphis beat Saint Mary's by 2 which I was a little surprised. Michigan State beat Memphis by 22 points in the 3rd round. Michigan State advanced to their 17th Sweet Sixteen in school history. This is their second straight appearance in the Sweet Sixteen since 2012.

Midwest Region - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - 2, 7, 10, 15 Pod:

Duke won this pod with little surprise. Duke beat Albany by 12 and Creighton beat Cincinnati by 4 in the 2nd round. Duke beat Creighton by 16 points in the 3rd round. Duke advanced to their 27th Sweet Sixteen in school history. This is their fourth appearance in the Sweet Sixteen since 2009.

South Region - Kansas City, Missouri - 1, 8, 9, 16 Pod: 

Kansas was this pod with little surprise. Kansas beat Western Kentucky by 8 and North Carolina beat Villanova by 7 in the 2nd round. Kansas beat North Carolina by 12 points in the 3rd round. I was surprised by how much Kansas struggled in both games and how to come back to win in both. Kansas made it to the Sweet Sixteen for the 30th time in school history. Also their third straight since 2011.

South Region - Auburn Hills, Michigan - 4, 5, 12, 13 Pod:

Michigan won this pod with some surprise. I thought VCU would win this pod. Michigan beat South Dakota State by 15 and VCU beat Akron by 46 in the 2nd round. Michigan beat VCU by 25. Michigan advanced to their 12th Sweet Sixteen in school history. This is their first time in the Sweet Sixteen since 1994.

South Region - Austin, Texas - 3, 6, 11, 14 Pod:

Florida won this pod with little surprise. Florida beat Northwestern State by 32 and Minnesota upset UCLA, like I thought, by 20 in the 2nd round. Florida toke care of business vs. Minnesota winning by 14 points in the 3rd round. This is only Florida's 9th time Sweet Sixteen in school history and 3rd straight since 2011.

South Region - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - 2, 7, 10, 15 Pod: 

I don't think anyone saw this coming. Florida Gulf Coast won this pod with a lot of surprise. First Florida Gulf Coast became just the 7th #15 seed to advance to the Round of 32 by beating Georgetown by 10 points. In the other 2nd round game San Diego State beat Oklahoma by 15. In the 3rd round Florida Gulf Coast shocked the world again and beat San Diego State by 10 points and became the first #15 seed in history to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. This is only Florida Gulf Coast's 6th season in Division 1 and only 2nd year eligible for the NCAA Tournament. This is Florida Gulf Coast's 1st time in the Sweet Sixteen. 

East Region - Dayton, Ohio - 1, 8, 9, 16 Pod:  

Indiana won this pod with little surprise. Indiana beat James Madison by 21 points and Temple beat North Carolina State by 4 points in the 2nd round. In the 3rd round game Indiana did struggle some vs. Temple but they did win by 6. Indiana advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the 22st time in school history. It is their second straight time since 2012.

East Region - San Jose, California - 4, 5, 12, 13 Pod:

Syracuse won this pod with very little surprise. Syracuse destroyed Montana by 47 only letting Montana score 37 points in the 2nd round. #12 California upset UNLV by 3 points in the other 2nd round game. Syracuse barley beat California winning by 6 points in the 3rd round. Syracuse advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the 21st time school history. It is their second straight time since 2012.

East Region - Lexington, Kentucky - 3, 6, 11, 14 Pod:

 

Marquette won this pod with some surprise. I thought Butler would win this pod. Marquette by 1 over Davidson and Butler won by 12 over Bucknell in the 2nd round. In the 3rd round Marquette  beat Butler by 2 points. Marquette advanced to their 16th Sweet Sixteen in school history and third straight time since 2011.

East Region - Austin, Texas - 2, 7, 10, 15 Pod:

Miami won this pod with little surprise. Miami beat Pacific by 29 points and Illinois beat Colorado by 8 points in the 2nd round. I thought Colorado would beat Illinois. In the 3rd round game Miami held on in the end to beat Illinois 63 to 59. Miami advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the 2nd time in school history. The only other time was in 2000.

West Region - Salt Lake City, Utah - 1, 8, 9, 16 Pod:

Wichita State won this pod with great surprise. I thought Gonzaga would win this pod. Gonzaga barely beat Southern by 6 points and Wichita State beat Pittsburgh by 18 points in the 2nd round. I thought Pittsburgh would beat Wichita State. Wichita pulled the shocking upset beating Gonzaga by 6 in the 3rd round. This is Wichita State's 5th time in the Sweet Sixteen in school history and 1st time since 2006.

West Region - Kansas City, Missouri - 4, 5, 12, 13 Pod:

Ohio won this pod with great surprise. I thought that Wisconsin would win this pod. Both La Salle and Mississippi won in a upset in the 2nd round. La Salle beat Kansas State by 2 and Mississippi beat Wisconsin by 11 points. La Salle then also "upset" Mississippi by 2 points in the 3rd round. La Salle advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the 3rd time in school history and it is the first time since 1955.

West Region - Salt Lake City, Utah  - 3, 6, 11, 14 Pod: 

Arizona won this pod with some surprise. I thought New Mexico would win this pod. Arizona beat Belmont by 17 and Harvard upset New Mexico by 6 points in the 2nd round. In the 3rd round Arizona beat Harvard by 23 points. Arizona advanced to their 16th Sweet Sixteen in school history and third time since 2009.

Ohio State won this pod with very little surprise. Ohio State beat Iona by 25 and Iowa State beat Notre Dame by 18, like I thought, in the 2nd round. In the 3rd round Ohio State struggled some vs. Iowa State but Ohio State won by 3 thanks to Aaron Craft's game winning three with 0.5 seconds left in the game. This is Ohio State's 15th time in the Sweet Sixteen. It is also their fourth straight since 2010.