The first weekend of the NCAA Tournament is over and was it ever exciting. Here is our list of the ten most memorable moments from the Round of 64 and 32 games.
1. Stephen F. Austin’s 4-Point Sends Game against VCU to Overtime
VCU’s JaQuan Lewis committed the silliest foul of the tournament. With his team up four points, Lewis slightly grazed Stephen F. Austin’s Desmond Haymon on a three-point attempt in the final seconds of this first-round game. SF Austin would end up winning the game in Overtime.
2. North Carolina and Iowa State ending and clock malfunction
Iowa State’s DeAndre Kane put the Cyclones up two-points with 1.6 seconds against North Carolina in the Round of 32. On UNC’s next possession, there was an issue with the clock not starting after UNC’s Nate Britt started dribbling the ball down the court to call a timeout. After deliberating, the refs ruled that Britt’s timeout attempt was not called in-time.
3. Mercer coach Bob Hoffman’s interview after Duke win
After the Mercer Bears pulled the upset of Duke in the Round of 64, the Bears’ head coach, Bob Hoffman gave an amazing interview with Rachel Nichols saying, “Praise the lord” with a Ric Flair “WOOOO!” He was also videobomed by his player Anthony White Jr doing the robot.
4. North Carolina State’s collapse at free-throw line against Saint Louis
North Carolina State was a 66% free-throw shooting team during the season. They were anything but clutch during their Round of 64 game with Saint Louis. The Wolfpack made eight-of-20 free throws in the last 5:03 of regulation. Saint Louis capitalized on the poor shooting, making up from a 14 point deficit in the last five minutes and sending the game to overtime at 70 all. NC State wound up losing by three points.
5. Kentucky takes out undefeated Wichita State
This was the Best game of the tournament so far. A young Kentucky Wildcat team scraped their way to a thrilling 78-76 win over the previously undefeated Wichita State Shockers. Wichita State’s Fred VanVleet had a shot at winning the game, but his three point attempt went just right.
6. Mercer upsets Duke
The senior heavy 14-seed Mercer Bears pulled off the upset of the tournament so far by beating the 3-seed Duke Blue Devils in the Round of 64, 78-71. Duke shot 35% from the field for the game, getting little from their best two players Jabari Parker and Rodney Hood. Mercer’s Jakob Gollon led the Bears with 20 points.
Related: Coach K congratulates Mercer team in locker room following game.
7. Stanford Cowbell guy
Stanford advanced to the Sweet 16 after their defeat of Kansas on Sunday. As good as Stanford played on the court, the highlight of the day for the Cardinals may have been the band’s cowbell player.
8. Kevin Canevari’s ‘NaeNae’ dance
Kevin Canevari’s dance after Mercer beat Duke was nothing short of magical.
9. Aaron Craft misses Floater as Dayton upsets in-state rival
Dayton’s Vee Sanford had put the Flyers up a point with just under four-seconds left in the Round of 64 game with Ohio State. Aaron Craft, Ohio State’s senior point guard, had a shot of advancing OSU, but his floater clanked off the rim as time expired.
Related: The best of Aaron Craft’s defeat meme
10. Saul Phillips’ celebration after ND State win over Oklahoma
North Dakota State head coach, Saul Phillips, who led the Bisons to the school’s first ever NCAA Tournament win over Oklahoma, was pretty pumped after the game, throwing up the Bison Horns to the school’s fans.
