March is here and as always it means the most chaotic and unexpected times the sport of college basketball sees. Well things are only getting started and Sunday was just another example of why college basketball is arguably one of the best sports period. From buzzer beaters to upsets to teams clinching bids, Sunday delivered once again for the sport.
No.1 Houston escapes at buzzer
Houston and the Cougars came into the game the best team in the country and looked to dot the I on their season with a road game at Memphis. Memphis a likely tournament team would put up quite the fight. While Memphis may not have led much for the majority, they did eventually have a five-point advantage in the final nine minutes. In a back-and-forth game it would come down to the final shot where Jamal Shead would send in the final basket to give Houston the 67-65 victory over the Tigers.
Big day in Big Ten
Not sure anyone could have drawn up a crazier scenario for the Big Ten Standings this season. It it's final day of the season over half of the league didn't know where they would land in the picture this coming week in Chicago. Here are all the finals you need to know.
Penn State 65 No.21 Maryland 64
A team that was still on the bubble and fighting for a spot in the field this season was Penn State. Penn State coming in at (18-12) was in a worse position from likely tourney team Maryland. The team that needed the game more ended up making just enough plays and with :03 seconds left on the clock Cam Wynter hits a game winning shot to help prevail Penn State's season.
No.5 Purdue 76 Illinois 71
The Boilers capped their Big Ten winning regular season with a nice five-point victory over the Fighting Illini. Newman would lead Purdue with 19 points followed by Edey with 17. Purdue moves to (26-5) and Illinois falls to (20-11). For Illinois this meant a drop in the standings in seeding.
Nebraska 81 Iowa 77
In a game that may have moved the most teams' standings wise took place in Iowa. Nebraska was able to spoil the party and drop the Hawkeyes out of a double bye in this week's Big Ten Tournament and giving the Spartans of Michigan State the bid instead. It was quite the effort from the Huskers as almost their whole starting lineup would go for double digit with one falling short with nine.
No.15 Indiana 75 Michigan 73
Well, the Michigan Wolverines would come into the game needing a big time win on the road. They needed it not only for Big Ten reasons, but the Wolverines are on the outside looking in it would seem. Michigan gave their best shot at Indiana going a big run late to force OT. But the Hoosiers would fend off Michigan and come out to a two-point overtime victory. Helping Indiana secure a double bye in the tournament.
Tickets punched!
College basketball is awesome for so many reasons but getting to seeing Mid-Majors year after year fight for a sniff that most big schools see is quite the scene. Today there were three schools dancing and one for the first time in the school's history.
Big South: UNC Ashville 77 Campbell 73
Quite the run was ended in the Big South on Sunday. Campbell a team with a losing record and just 16 wins found themselves in the Big South title game against top seeded UNC Ashville. Not only did Campbell get there they could have won the game. Holding a 56-45 lead with just over 10 minutes left in the game wasn't enough as Campbell saw the lead slip away. Ashville would avoid having March see a team with a losing record. (But wouldn't it have been cool?)
Missouri Valley: Drake 74 Bradley 52
Top seeded Bradley sure got an awakening in the Missouri Valley title game as they wouldn't even end up close to claiming the crown and a chance at the madness. Drake would be led by Tucker DeVries who tallied 22 points for the Bulldogs. From 14-3 to 41-21 there was never a doubt about who was going to take this game.
ASUN: Kennesaw State 67 Liberty 66
What a story from the Atlantic Sun. A team that had just one program win in 2019-20 season the Kennesaw State Owls are going dancing! In a all-around effort led by Terrell Burden's 19 points helped make history happen and send the Owls dancing in the skies.
Closing
March is a wonderful time of year that I have learned to enjoy and cherish more and more every season. There just simply isn't a sport quite like college basketball.