Mark WiedmerThe word Zion is sometimes used to represent the kingdom of heaven.
And regarding the Bible, it may. But as of 7:15 Sunday evening, that word no longer has anything to do with next weekend’s Final Four in Minneapolis. Thanks to a gritty, gutty effort from East Region No. 2 seed Michigan State, Zion Williamson and his Duke teammates – who went into this year’s NCAA tournament as the biggest favorites we’ve seen in years – will be watching college basketball’s final weekend with 63 other NCAA tournament teams whose seasons have already concluded.
“It was shocking,” said Spartans point guard Cassius Winston, he of the 20 points and 10 assists against the Dookies. “I got the ball (on the final inbounds play) and got away. I was, like, I’m about to dribble it out, and this is really happening. It was crazy. It was a crazy moment.”
It may have been crazy, but the Blue Devils’ 68-67 loss wasn’t necessarily the biggest upset of this past weekend. That honor would likely go to Midwest No. 5 seed Auburn’s 77-71 overtime win against second-seeded Kentucky on Sunday afternoon. Not because the fifth-seeded Tigers didn’t have the talent to beat the Wildcats, because they clearly did, what with gifted guards Bryce Brown and Jared Harper combining for 50 points.
But Auburn’s top player – sophomore Chuma Okeke – wasn’t on the court for this one. He was in a wheelchair parked behind the Tigers’ bench, his season ended by a torn ACL in his left knee during Friday’s victory over North Carolina.