SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – The first three days of this year’s NCAA Tournament lacked the drama and multitude of upsets the previous few tournaments had, more March Meh-ness than madness.
A scintillating Sunday of games jolted the tournament to life like a triple shot of espresso.
The madness is back in March.
North Carolina, the South Region No. 1 seed, had the most frenetic finish , blowing a 17-point lead and then scoring the game’s final 12 points to hold off Arkansas. South Carolina, the No. 7 seed in the East, had the biggest takedown, knocking off No. 2 Duke 88-81 in what was essentially a home game in Greenville.
“This is a new platform,” Gamecocks coach Frank Martin said. “It’s the first time in the history of our university that we’re going to the Sweet 16.”