Every NCAA tournament assumes a different flavor. First-round upsets by double-digit seeds marked last year’s event. Two years ago, the buzzer-beaters gave the tournament its personality. Vulnerable high seeds have shaped this one. Two No. 1 seeds–and nearly a third–plus three No. 2s went down in the most upset-filled second round since the bracket expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Never have five of the top eight teams not reached the Sweet 16. And if Kansas’ Nick Bradford hadn’t thrown away a pass with 29 seconds left, maybe the Jayhawks would have beaten another No. 1, Duke.
As it is, Stanford joined Arizona as a top-seeded casualty Sunday. On the second line, Temple and Cincinnati joined St. John’s and made early exits. There can be no doubt that the college basketball playing field has leveled out. Michigan State and Duke are favored to meet in the title game. Iowa State may be right there with those two. After that, you tell me the best handful of teams in college basketball. Stop when you get to 25.
