Men’s March Madness Saturday recap: Creighton outlasts Oregon; Tennessee, Illinois win
The NCAA tournament for the men continued Saturday with eight second-round March Madness games. Top seed North Carolina took down No. 9 Michigan State. The team with Thursday’s biggest upset — No. 14 Oakland — couldn't overcome No. 11 NC State in overtime. In the capper, No. 3 Creighton outlasted No. 11 Oregon in double overtime.
Men's NCAA tournament games are airing and streaming across CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV.
USA TODAY Sports provided the latest news, scores, analysis and more all day. Catch up on all of Friday's first-round action here.
March Madness scores today
Creighton survives, beats Oregon in double-overtime
It took two overtimes, but Creighton finally hit shots and avoided being upset by beating Oregon 86-73 in a late night thriller to move onto the Sweet 16.
Creighton, which entered the day 14th in the country in field goal percentage at 48.8%, struggled to make much on Saturday, but it caught fire when it mattered. It started the second overtime on a 15-0 run the Ducks could never recover from. The Bluejays made 15 3-pointers, including two-straight in second overtime to seal the deal.
Oregon had an outstanding effort from Jermaine Couisnard and N’Faly Dante, who scored 37 of Oregon’s last 39 points and in total, scored 60 of Oregon’s points, but without much help, the Ducks ran out of gas in double-overtime. In the last five minutes, the Ducks shot 0-for-7 in the last five minutes.
The Bluejays will be making their second-straight Sweet 16 appearance, where they will play No. 2 seed Tennessee on Friday. — Jordan Mendoza
Creighton-Oregon heads to double overtime
How about another extra five minutes?
Creighton and Oregon will head to double overtime after Oregon’s Jermaine Couisnard continued his March heroics with a game-tying 3-pointer with 18 seconds left. Creighton’s Trey Alexander couldn’t hit a jumper in the final seconds for the win, and it’ll take another period to decide who goes to the Sweet 16. — Jordan Mendoza
Creighton-Oregon headed to overtime
Baylor Scheierman has extended Creighton’s season for at least five more minutes.
The senior guard hit a step-back jumper with 12 seconds left to tie it against Oregon, and the Ducks were unable to hit a game-winning shot to send the No. 12 seed and No. 5 seed to overtime. — Jordan Mendoza
Oregon leads Creighton in final minutes
An upset could be on hand in the Midwest region, but this game might be going down to the wire. No. 11 seed Oregon leads No. 3 seed Creighton 60-58 with 2:10 left in the final game of the night.
Creighton was able to finally score and tie the game, but Jermaine Couisnard threw a perfect lob to N’Faly Dante to retake the lead before the Ducks took a timeout. — Jordan Mendoza
Oregon extends lead over Creighton
No. 3 seed Creighton is in trouble.
It has gone six minutes without scoring a bucket and No. 11 seed Oregon has gone on a 9-0 run, giving the Ducks a 58-52 lead with five minutes left. It is Oregon's largest lead of the game.
The Bluejays have missed seven straight shots. — Jordan Mendoza
Oregon now on top of Creighton in tight battle
It’s close, but No. 11 seed Oregon now has a 53-52 lead with under eight minutes left against No. 3 seed Creighton.
The Ducks continue to get scoring from N’Faly Dante and Jermaine Couisnard, who have all of Oregon’s 19 second half points. Meanwhile, Creighton continues to miss shots and turn the ball over. It hasn’t scored in more than three minutes, and the rough shooting night is starting to become a major factor for the Bluejays. — Jordan Mendoza
Creighton, Oregon remain close in second half
No. 3 seed Creighton is going to have to shut down N’Faly Dante or Jermaine Couisnard if it wants to avoid being upset by No. 11 seed Oregon. The Oregon duo has combined for 35 of the Ducks' 46 points and have scored all of Oregon’s 12 second half points.
Creighton holds a slim 47-46 lead, but the sloppy play from the first half has continued in the second half and it's starting to hurt. The Bluejays have turned the ball over four times while only making four shots so far in the second half. But what has helped is three of those shots were 3-pointers. — Jordan Mendoza
Illinois in Sweet 16 for first time since 2005 after rout of Duquesne
No. 3 seed Illinois coasted past No. 11 seed Duquesne, 89-63, and into the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005.
Terrence Shannon Jr. led Illinois with 30 points in another impressive performance for the Fighting Illini. The team shot 59.3 percent from the floor.
"We’re excited obviously, but we don’t want this to be the culmination,’’ Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do yet."
Indeed, next up for Illinois is No. 2 seed Iowa State, which figures to pose a far tougher challenge.
Against Duquesne, the Illinois offense was in peak form. But Underwood made special note of the defense his team played while opening up a 14-point lead at halftime.
"When we guard like we did early, we can be really electric in transition,’’ he said. “It was a huge talking point coming in. We had to be better defensively than we were against Moorehead State."
The game marked the end of Duquesne coach Keith Dambrot’s career. Dambrot, who coached LeBron James in high school and this year guided the Duquesne to its first NCAA appearance since 1977, had said he would retire at the end of the season.
It was his seventh season at the school and included a 71-67 upset victory over in No. 6 seed BYU in the first round of the tournament. — Josh Peter
Creighton holds slim lead over Oregon at halftime
It’s been back-and-forth in the final game of the day, with No. 3 seed Creighton up on upset-minded Oregon 36-34 at halftime.
Creighton hasn’t looked like its normal self shooting the ball, especially from downtown, with the Bluejays shooting just 6-for-23 (26.1%) from 3-point range. But what Creighton is doing is controlling the glass, with nine offensive rebounds and 23 total boards.
Jermaine Couisnard remains a difference maker for No. 11 seed Oregon, continuing his hot postseason play with a game-high 15 points – a majority of which came in the final minutes of the half. — Jordan Mendoza
Tennessee prevails over Texas at the wire
The second-seeded Tennessee Volunteers outlasted No. 7 seeded Texas 62-58 and earned a berth to the Sweet 16.
The Volunteers were miserable from long range, shooting 3-of-25 on 3-pointers. But they were clutch from the foul line, making seven of eight free-throw attempts in the final minute to hold of the Longhorns.
Down by 12 points with about 13 minutes to play, the Longhorns stayed within striking range before an intense push in the final minutes. Texas pulled within 56-55 on a layup by Max Abmas with 36 seconds left.
But with Tennessee making its free throws, Texas could get no closer, and Volunteers coach Rick Barnes had a victory against the school where he coached for 17 years.
“Both teams played their hearts out,’’ Barnes said.
Tennessee will face the winner of the Oregon-Creighton game in the Sweet 16. — Josh Peter
Creighton in a battle with Oregon
N’Faly Dante and Kalkbrenner are having a heavyweight fight in the post, with the Oregon and Crieghton big men each leading their team in the first half. No. 3 seed Creighton leads No. 11 see Oregon 28-27 with less than four minutes remaining until halftime.
Kalkbrenner has 10 points on the night, while Dante has eight. Each big man also has six rebounds.
Both teams are struggling from beyond the arc. — Jordan Mendoza
Texas, Tennessee coming down to wire
The No. 7 seeded Texas Longhorns cut their deficit to two points with 1:44 left to play, and Tennessee coach Rick Barnes did the only thing possible to slow Texas: call a timeout.
No. 2 seed Tennessee leads 55-53. — Josh Peter
Creighton-Oregon struggle from 3-point land to start
No. 3 seed Creighton and No. 11 seed Oregon don’t have the 3-point ball working early in the game as the Bluejays lead 9-6 at the first media timeout.
Creighton is 1-for-8 on 3-pointers and Oregon is 0-for-3 in what has been a sluggish start from both sides. — Jordan Mendoza
Texas mounting a run vs. Tennessee
The Longhorns are surging. Trailing by 12 points, they went on a 14-5 run capped by a 3-pointer by Max Abmas that pulled No. 7 seed Texas within three points. Tennessee leads 45-42 with 7:17 left to play.
The Volunteers continue to play spirited basketball but are shooting a woeful 1-for-21 from 3-point range. — Josh Peter
Tennessee bullies Texas, but Longhorns hanging around
Bigger and stronger are the second-seeded Tennessee Volunteers. They’re overwhelmed No. 7 seed Texas with 10 offensive rebounds and an overall rebounding advantage of 32-24. But, the Longhorns haven’t surrendered yet.
Despite 14 turnovers and shooting just 11-36 from the floor, Texas only trails 40-31. Tennessee’s ineptitude from beyond the arc is a significant factor. Tennessee is shooting an abysmal 1-for-18 from 3-point range. — Josh Peter
Tennessee star struggles, but Vols still lead Texas
Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht, the SEC player of the year, is 1-for-9 from the floor, 0-for-5 from 3-point range and has just four points. Yet, the second-seeded Volunteers lead the seventh-seeded Texas Longhorns, 32-23 with about 16 minutes left to play.
Exactly how? Size and athleticism. Jonas Aidoo and Tobe Awake have scored eight points apiece, and the defense has Texas flustered. The Longhorns now have 13 turnovers. Tennessee's 29-21 edge in rebounds is telling, too. — Josh Peter
Illinois rolling to massive halftime lead over Duquesne
No. 3 seed Illinois is having no trouble with No. 11 seed Duquesne, putting up the most points in a half all season and taking commanding 50-26 halftime lead on the Dukes.
The Fighting Illini offense has had zero problem shooting the ball going 20-for-30 (66.7%) and tallying 30 points in the paint and 15 points off turnovers. It’s smooth sailing for Illinois with three scores in double figures, and the Duquesne offense has had no response. — Jordan Mendoza
NC State outlasts Oakland in overtime thriller
The game of the day was between a No. 11 seed and No. 14 seed. Go figure.
No. 11 seed NC State was able to hit clutch shots in overtime to beat Oakland 79-73 to advance to the Sweet 16 and continue its magical postseason run.
The Wolfpack made three straight shots to close out the extra period on an 11-1 run to seal the victory. Meanwhile, No. 14 seed Oakland failed to make a field goal in overtime until it was too late.
All NC State starters were in double figures, led by big man DJ Burns Jr. with 24 points, 10 rebounds and four assists as he continues to lead the Wolfpack toward success. Oakland tournament sensation Jack Gohlke had 22 points and made six 3-pointers, but Trey Townsend led the team with 30 points.
NC State has now won seven games in 12 days ever since the start of the ACC tournament, and it will be in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015. — Jordan Mendoza
Texas flagrant foul helps fuel Tennessee to halftime lead
No. 2 seed Tennessee leads No. 7 seed Texas 28-19 at the half, and the Volunteers in part can thank Texas forward Brock Cunningham.
Cunningham put the flagrant in flagrant foul when he whipped Tennessee’s Jordan Gainey to the ground with 2:19 left to play in the half. He was assessed a flagrant 1, and it helped fuel Tennessee’s late surge to close out the half.
Gainey made both technical foul shots, putting Tennessee up 23-17 on a 10-run as the Volunteers stretched their lead to 11 points, 28-17.
The bad news for Tennessee: The Volunteers are 1-for-13 from 3-point range and 10-for-35 overall shooting. And yet they are still up by nine points. That’s largely because of their defense, which has forced Texas into 11 turnovers. — Josh Peter
Illinois up 21 after shaky Duquesne start
The No. 3 seed Fighting Illini went on a 10-2 run to extend their lead to 21-points over No. 11 seed Duquesne with 7:06 remaining in the first half. Coleman Hawkins is 3 of 4 from the 3-point line and leads Illinois with 11 points.
Duquesne’s turnovers aren’t helping the matter. The Dukes have committed six turnover that have turned into 11 points for the Fighting Illini.
Illinois is up 34-13. — Cydney Henderson
Oakland, NC State headed to OT
There's extra basketball in Pittsburgh.
An exhilarating end of the second half resulted in overtime between No. 14 seed Okaland and No. 11 seed NC State after a wild sequence of events in the final seconds.
Oakland had possession, and Chris Conway went for a pass that went out of bounds. Oakland argued the ball was tipped and it should still be its ball. The referees reviewed it, and while the ball was tipped, they ruled it was still in Conway's hand and gae NC State the ball with one second left, much to the disapproval of the Golden Grizzlies.
NC State put up a shot from beyond halfcourt went as the buzzer went off and it went off the backboard and the rim in Gordon Hayward-like fashion. Now it's time for an extra five minutes. — Jordan Mendoza
Illinois up double-digits over Duquesne early
Coleman Hawkins knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to extend the No. 3 seeded Fighting Illini’s lead to 15 points over No. 11 seed Duquesne with 11:46 remaining in the first half. Terrence Shannon Jr. added seven points and Marcus Domask has five. Illinois is out rebounding Duquesne 8-4.
Duke’s David Dixon has four of Duquesne’s nine points. — Cydney Henderson
Oakland takes first lead over NC State
The No. 14 seeded Golden Grizzlies are finally on top.
Jack Kohlke drilled his sixth 3-pointer, and on the following possession, Trey Townsend got the bucket and the foul to give Oakland a 63-61 over No. 11 seed NC State with 2:49 remaining in the game. It’s the first lead of the day for Oakland. — Jordan Mendoza
3-pointers raining down in Oakland vs. NC State
It’s become a 3-point frenzy in Pittsburgh, with the last eight of 10 made shots between No. 14 seed Oakland and No. 11 seed NC State coming from beyond the arc.
Both Oakland and NC State are 5-for-11 in 3-pointers in the second half, and we might be in for a wild finish with both sides clicking from outside. NC State leads 59-57 with just under four minutes left. — Jordan Mendoza
Tennessee and Texas flexing defensive muscle
If you like defense, this game is for you. The teams have committed a combined 10 turnovers before reaching the midpoint of the first half, and that’s largely a result of rugged play. And if you like great offense, well, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
With less than 12 minutes left to play in the opening half, No. 2 seed Tennessee leads No. 7 seed Texas, 10-6. The teams are a combined 6-for-21 shooting. — Josh Peter
Oakland uses run to cut deficit vs. NC State
The No. 14 seed isn’t going away.
An 8-1 run that included another Jack Gohlke 3-pointer got Oakland right back into the game against No. 11 seed NC State, and the Wolfpack lead 45-42 with just under 12 minutes left.
Oakland was off to a slow start coming out of halftime, but its offense is starting to adjust to the Wolfpack focusing on Gohlke by finding cutting players open for easy baskets. NC State big man DJ Burns Jr. is starting to come alive, leading the Wolfpack with a team-high 13 points. — Jordan Mendoza
Sloppy start for Tennessee and Texas
It was a ragged start for No. 2 seed Tennessee and No. 7 seed Texas. The teams opened 1-for-9 combined shooting from the floor, coughed up a combined five turnovers, and one of Tennessee’s players lost a sneaker. Well, temporarily that is.
By the first TV timeout at 15:44, it was about a wash. Tennessee leads Texas, 4-3. — Josh Peter
Iowa State powers past Washington State
No. 7 seed Washington State gave No. 2 seed Iowa State a scare, but the Cougars just weren’t able to get past the Cyclones' defense as Iowa State pulled away for 67-56 win in their second-round game.
Iowa State’s offense woke up in the second half, and Robert Jones’ dunk with 27 seconds left put an exclamation mark on the victory. While Washington State was slightly better from the field, the difference was 3-point shooting. Iowa State was 7-for-14, while Washington State was just 5-for-23 as the Cougars struggled to find consistent play in the final 20 minutes.
Washington State also became the latest victim of Iowa State’s forced turnover machine. The Cougars turned it over 13 times, and Iowa State made it count every time with 21 points off those turnovers.
The Cyclones are now the first team in the East region to punch their ticket to the Sweet 16. Iowa State will play the winner of Duquesne vs. Illinois in Boston. — Jordan Mendoza
North Carolina vs. Michigan State final: Tar Heels complete double-digit comeback
North Carolina is headed to the Sweet Sixteen for the 31st time in program history.
The No. 1 seeded Tar Heels appeared to be on upset alert early after trailing by 12 points in their second-round contest against No. 9 seed Michigan State. But the Tar Heels managed to not only rally, they were able to pull away for a 16-point victory.
With the 85-69 win, the Tar Heels are 6-0 all-time against Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament.
“I just felt like we didn’t have that competitive fire to start the game. They were more physical than us. … They overpowered us,” North Carolina coach Hubert Davis said postgame. “I said, 'We can’t even talk about basketball until we join the fight.' Then they started competing and everything turned for us.”
North Carolina’s RJ Davis, the ACC player of the year, had a team-high 20 points, while senior Armando Bacot added 18 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
Davis said his coach's speech when they were trailing “got us going. Coach Davis does a good job of bringing the energy out of us.”
North Carolina will face the winner of No. 4 seed Alabama and No. 12 seed Grand Canyon in the Sweet Sixteen. — Cydney Henderson
Iowa State remains in control vs. Washington State
No. 2 seed Iowa State continues to retain its lead on No. 7 seed Washington State, leading the Cougars 56-48 as the Cyclones' defense continues to cause problems.
Give Washington State credit for making some tough shots, but the issue is that nearly every shot attempt isn’t an easy one, so the Cougars aren’t generating any rhythm offensively. Washington State will need a spark soon if it wants a chance to upset Iowa State. — Jordan Mendoza
NC State leads Oakland at halftime
No. 11 seed NC State is doing everything to prevent Jack Gohlke from heating up, but the 3-point magician is knocking down shots and keeping No. 14 Oakland in the game. Still, NC State leads 32-29 at halftime.
The Wolfpack are switching on every screen drawn up for Gohlke in an attempt to not give him any free space to shoot. But, Gohlke is finding little openings to get the ball up and he's 3-for-6 from beyond the arc so far today.
Meanwhile, NC State is doing what got the team into the tournament: dominate inside. The Wolfpack have 20 points in the paint and are out rebounding Oakland 25-14. — Jordan Mendoza
Iowa State heating up against Washington State
The Cyclones offense has woken up, and it's leading No. 2 seed Iowa State to a 45-37 advantage over No. 7 seed Washington State with 11 minutes to go in the second-round game.
Iowa State has turned to the 3-pointer to get its offense going with its last three buckets coming from beyond the arc to give itself its largest lead of the game. The Cyclones are now 5-for-10 on the day on 3-pointers. — Jordan Mendoza
North Carolina up double-digits over Michigan State in second half
No. 1 seed North Carolina extended its lead over No. 9 Michigan State to 12 points on a Harrison Ingram three – his fifth of the game – with 6:23 remaining in regulation. Ingram leads the Tar Heels with 17 points.
Each team has led by as much as 12 points during this second-round contest. — Cydney Henderson
Jack Gohlke back on the court for Oakland vs. NC State
Jack Gohlke, the star of the 2024 NCAA Tournament so far, is back to doing what he does best: draining 3-pointers.
The sharpshooter has become one of the most popular player of the tournament, and when he came off the bench in Oakland’s second-round matchup against NC State, PPG Paints Arena erupted in cheer. And it appears he’s picking up right where he left off.
Gohlke drilled his first 3-point attempt, and the arena is buzzing even more than before, as the No. 14 seeded Golden Grizzlies are hoping for another outstanding performance from its star. No. 11 seed NC State has a 9-7 lead at the first media timeout. — Jordan Mendoza
North Carolina retains lead over Michigan State in second half
No. 1 seed North Carolina is up 57-51 with 11:46 left in its second-round game against No. 9 seed Michigan State.
Harrison Ingram is heating up! The North Carolina junior forward is 4-for-4 from the 3-point line and is up to 12 points, three rebounds and one steal. Senior Armando Bacot has 16 points, half of which have come from the free throw line. The Tar Heels are shooting 45.2% from the field and 8 of 22 from three.
Spartans senior Tyson Walker has a team-high 16 points and two steals for Michigan State. — Cydney Henderson
Iowa State, Washington State knotted up at halftime
We've got a dogfight in Omaha with defense reigning supreme. No. 2 seed Iowa State and No. 7 seed Washington State are tied at 27 apiece after one half of action.
Iowa State had a horrid start offensively to the game, but the defense prevented Washington State from getting too far ahead. Eventually, the offense picked up, and it’s been a back-and-forth affair since.
Jaylen Wells has been doing it all for the Cougars and is the main reason why Washington State could pull off the upset today. He’s made seven of Washington State’s 11 shots, and he has a game-high 16 points. The Cyclones have been able to capitalize on Washington State’s five turnovers, however, by turning them in 10 points. — Jordan Mendoza
Washington State up on No. 2 seed Iowa State in first half
The first upset of the second round could be brewing with No. 7 seed Washington State holding a slim 21-19 lead over No. 2 seed Iowa State late in the first half.
The stout Washington State defense has forced Iowa State into low-percentage shot selections, with the Cyclones starting the game 1-for-12 from the field. But the Cougars, who started the game with a 7-0 run, haven’t been able to break away with Iowa State having one of the top defenses in the country.
Combined, both teams are 14-for-43 from the field. — Jordan Mendoza
North Carolina vs. Michigan State halftime: Tar Heels erase double-digit deficit
No. 1 seed North Carolina is settling in. After trailing No. 9 seed Michigan State by as many as 12 points in the first 12 minutes of the game, the Tar Heels went on a 23-3 run to rally and take a nine-point lead into halftime. North Carolina is up 37-31.
North Carolina’s RJ Davis, the ACC player of the year, has 10 points, while senior Armando Bacot added 11 points and two blocks.
Spartans senior Tyson Walker has a team-high 12 points. Walker appeared to injure his arm while driving to the cup with 2:17 remaining. He hit one of two free throws to end North Carolina’s 17-0 run. — Cydney Henderson
Michigan State putting North Carolina on notice early
North Carolina may be the No. 1 seed in the West Regional, but No. 9 Michigan State came to play.
The Spartans edged out to an early, 13-5 lead six minutes through the first half.
Michigan State came out of the gates hot and has focused on feeding the ball into its frontline, hitting six of its first nine shots (66.7%). The Spartans have attempted just one three to open action.
The Tar Heels, meanwhile, have been slow to find the bottom of the net; UNC has hit just two field goals and has not hit any of its four 3-point attempts.
Spartan senior guard Tyson Walker is the early leader in scoring, with five points. — Lorenzo Reyes
Has Gonzaga ever won March Madness?
Gonzaga has never won the NCAA Tournament. This marks the Bulldogs' 25th consecutive tournament appearance. They have reached the Final Four twice, losing in the national championship game in 2017 and 2021.
Who does Gonzaga face next? Bulldogs advance to Sweet 16
No. 5 Gonzaga is moving on.
After a torrid shooting performance in the second half, the Bulldogs waxed No. 4 Kansas, 89-68, in their second-round game.
Both teams cleared their benches, as Gonzaga outscored Kansas by 22 points in the second half.
Kansas shot just 38.6% from the field, but its primary issue was defense, where the Jayhawks allowed the Bulldogs to dominate in the low block.
The four forwards in Gonzaga’s primary rotation — Graham Ike, Anton Watson, Nolan Hickman and Braden Huff — combined to shoot 26-of-42 (61.9%) from the floor, as Kansas had no answer for Gonzaga’s pick-and-roll.
The Bulldogs will play the winner of the game between No. 1 Purdue and No. 8 Utah State. — Lorenzo Reyes
Gonzaga blows it open vs. Kansas
The Jayhawks are, barring a miracle, headed home.
Gonzaga has absolutely throttled Kansas in the second half, opening up a 22-point lead with 3:23 left to play in the game.
Kansas in the second half has shot 7-of-31 (22.6%), while the Bulldogs are shooting a lights-out 15-of-20 (75%) since halftime.
Five Bulldogs are in double figures, with forward Anton Watson pouring in a game-high 21 points.
Gonzaga is outscoring Kansas in the second half by a margin of 39-16. — Lorenzo Reyes
Gonzaga vs. Kansas score: Bulldogs pulling away in second half
The Bulldogs won’t stop scoring. And Kansas is in a hole that may be too big.
Gonzaga went on a 18-2 run near the midway point of the second half to open a 13-point lead on the Jayhawks with 12 minutes to play. Overall, Gonzaga has outscored Kansas by a margin of 23-9 in the second half.
For the Bulldogs, it has been a balanced offensive effort, with forward Graham Ike getting involved with baby hook shots in the post, guard Nolan Hickman raining in all three of his 3-point attempts and forward Anton Watson swooping in for dunks.
The white T-shirts Kansas’ players on the bench say: “OUR Moment” across the chest. For that to be the case, the Jayhawks will need to shore up their offense, and get some stops, as well. — Lorenzo Reyes
Kansas leads Gonzaga at halftime in heavyweight showdown
Kansas is punching back in what has become an enjoyable, back-and-forth affair. The Jayhawks are up one on Gonzaga, 44-43, at halftime.
Both teams combined to hit 10 of their last 11 field goal attempts before intermission. This game has already seen four different ties and six lead changes.
The Jayhawks are bleeding points with their inability to defend the high pick-and-roll, leaving wide open spaces in the paint that Gonzaga has exploited with drives and kick outs, layups, or lobs to slashing cutters.
The Bulldogs are shooting 19-of-34 (55.9%) from the field, while Kansas is shooting 17-of-34 (50%). Gonzaga’s leading scorer is freshman forward Braden Huff, who has come off the bench to hit half of his eight shots for a team-high 11 points.
Kansas doesn’t have a single point off its bench, but center Hunter Dickinson poured in a game-high 13 points, including a pair of late 3-pointers. — Lorenzo Reyes
Kansas vs. Gonzaga is heating up
The free-flowing pace has continued, even when the shot dropping hasn’t.
Gonzaga went on a 9-1 run that coincided with a Kansas cold spell three-quarters of the way through the first half. As a result, the Bulldogs tied their biggest lead of the game. At one point, the Jayhawks missed nine consecutive field goal attempts and are two of their last 13.
Defensively, the Jayhawks have had a difficult time defending the paint, particularly in the minutes when center Hunter Dickinson was getting. A spell on the bench.
Gonzaga is up, 33-27, with 5:11 left in the first half. — Lorenzo Reyes
Kansas, Gonzaga locked in a thriller
Both teams have settled into their offense, though the final few minutes before the second media timeout saw more ball denials and tipped passes.
Still, Gonzaga (8-of-13 on field goals, 61.5%) and Kansas (9-of-17, 52.9%) are both swinging the ball around and looking for high-percentage shots.
One early edge the Jayhawks do have: their six offensive rebounds outpace Gonzaga’s two.
Kansas is up, 22-18, with 11:27 left in the first half. -Lorenzo Reyes
Where is Gonzaga University?
Gonzaga University is located in Spokane, Wash. Spokane lies in the eastern part of the state, roughly a half hour from the Idaho state line.
Gonzaga vs. Kansas physical early
Kansas coach Bill Self wasn’t pleased with his team’s start against Gonzaga, so he called a timeout just a little past two minutes after tipoff, after the Jayhawks had fallen into an early 6-0 hole. On the following possession, Kansas went inside-outside for a wide open 3-point shot from freshman guard Johnny Furphy, who had the team’s first six points.
The battle of big men, Gonzaga forward Graham Ike and Kansas center Hunter Dickinson, will be one of the more intriguing matchups to watch. Both were called for fouls as things were getting just a bit chippy between them.
The early action has been entertaining, with both teams settled on offense. We even got an early highlight, with a reverse alley-oop from Gonzaga wing Anton Watson on the feed from guard Ryan Nembhard. Watson and Furphy are tied for the game-high with six points.
Kansas is up, 13-10, with 15:15 left in the first half. -Lorenzo Reyes
Gonzaga and Kansas tip-off for shot at Sweet 16
It's a battle of old money vs. new money in the round of 32: Kansas, in their 52nd tournament appearance, is taking on Gonzaga, who is searching for their first national championship and their fourth-consecutive Sweet 16 appearance.
Arizona grounds Flyers, head to Sweet 16
No. 2 Arizona withstood comeback attempts from No. 7 Dayton to win the first game of the NCAA Men’s Tournament’s second round, 78-68.
The Flyers pulled to within three points with 11:40 left to play, but their offense cooled down the stretch. Dayton also couldn’t overcome a disadvantage it had all day in the paint, yielding 38 points there.
Arizona had four players in double figures, with guard Caleb Love leading the way with 19. The Wildcat bench, however, outscored Dayton’s by a margin of 23 to 2.
In the Sweet 16, the Wildcats will face the winner of the matchup between No. 3 Baylor and No. 6 Clemson. -Lorenzo Reyes
Flyers can't capitalize on hot second half
Dayton slashed the deficit to three points midway through the second half, but the Flyers have not been able to break through. Now, it’s getting late.
Arizona is up, 71-62, with 2:14 left to play.
Dayton is desperately trying to force turnovers with full-court pressure and traps, but Arizona has managed to make enough baskets to keep the Flyers out of reach. -Lorenzo Reyes
Arizona winding clock with Sweet 16 ticket on the horizon
Arizona, with a lead that may be too much to overcome, is now content to use as much clock as it can down the stretch.
The Wildcats are holding a 68-57 lead with 3:39 left in the game, as Dayton’s shooting touch has cooled late in the second half. Arizona has ramped up its defensive intensity, particularly on star Flyers forward DaRon Holmes II, who last recorded a field goal with 10:03 left in the period.
Dayton still hasn’t cracked 40% shooting and is 21-of-54 from the field, and only 7-of-24 (29.2%) from beyond the arc.
Compare that with Arizona, which is 27-of-50 (54%) from the field and 8-of-17 (47.1%) from three. -Lorenzo Reyes
Time running out for Anthony Grant, Dayton as Arizona pulls ahead
That’s the problem with falling into an early hole: the margin for error, especially against a good team like Arizona, becomes minimal.
Arizona has forced Dayton into turnovers and lapses on the defensive end have led to open Wildcat looks – shots that Arizona is now flushing. The Wildcats are on an 11-2 run, with guard Pelle Larsson’s open 3-pointer giving the Wildcats momentum.
Arizona is up 63-51, with 7:28 left to play. -Lorenzo Reyes
Where is the University of Dayton?
The University of Dayton is located in Dayton, Ohio. The school is a member of the Atlantic-10 Conference and is making its 19th NCAA tournament appearance.
Dayton keeping it close as matchup vs. Arizona speeds up
Dayton isn’t going away – and the pace of the game has picked up.
The Flyers have cut the deficit further, down to just five, and the Flyers seem to have found a winning formula on offense. Dayton is relying on pick-and-roll actions with forward DaRon Holmes II being the screen man on most plays. This has led to Arizona 7-foot center Oumar Ballo getting sucked out of the paint to defend Holmes, creating open space in the paint. The Wildcats have done a poor job rotating with their help defense, creating driving opportunities for Dayton.
If the Wildcats do get to the paint, Holmes and guard Koby Brea are wholly comfortable operating on the perimeter.
The good news for Arizona: star guard Caleb Love hit a jump shot with 11:24 left to play, his first field goal since there was 8:38 left in the first half.
Dayton, Oumar Ballo keeping it close
Dayton continues to tweak its defensive looks.
After getting shredded in the paint, particularly by Arizona 7-footer Oumar Ballo, the Flyers started doubling him any time he touched the ball in the paint. After having success late in the first half with a full-court press, Dayton continued to pressure the Wildcats after made field goals.
That defense has fueled Dayton’s offense, with the Flyers playing with more fluidity and urgency, getting into their sets earlier in the shot clock. The catalyst has been forward DaRon Holmes II, who continues to get to his spots to get the looks he wants.
Still, scoring was sluggish to open the second half, with both teams combining to start 3-of-14 from the field.
Arizona is up, 45-39, with 14:27 left in the game. -Lorenzo Reyes
Arizona takes lead into halftime; Dayton getting hot
Credit Dayton’s defense, and head coach Anthony Grant, for changing this game.
The Flyers closed the first half on a 10-0 run to close the margin to seven points and seized momentum against Arizona headed into halftime.
The Wildcats are still up 40-33, but the Flyers deployed different zone defenses and a full-court court press to force turnovers and create transition opportunities. Dayton also struck gold with pick-and-roll actions with star forward DaRon Holmes II (team-high 14 points) and guard Koby Brea (nine); both players can shoot the 3-point ball well and Arizona’s front-line defenders are out of their comfort zone when defending Holmes on the perimeter. Holmes is 2-for-3on 3-point attempts.
Arizona has turned the ball over 11 times — to Dayton’s six — but the Wildcats still maintain a healthy edge in rebounding (18 to 12) and points in the paint (20 to 10). Arizona guard Caleb Love leads the Wildcats with 13 points, though he did not score in the final 8:37 of the first half. -Lorenzo Reyes
Caleb Love fueling Arizona lead
Dayton is learning how dangerous Arizona can be when Caleb Love gets going.
The North Carolina transfer has put his mark all over the second round matchup against the Flyers, dropping a team-high 13 points with three 3-pointers and three assists. A rising star during North Carolina’s Final Four run in 2022, Love’s tournament experience has already proved to be valuable for Arizona. In the first round rout against Long Beach State, Love had 18 points with a career-high 11 rebounds and five assists.
It’s no secret Love is a big reason why Arizona is a national title contender, and his team hasn’t shied away from his impact on the team. Head coach Tommy Lloyd previously told USA TODAY Sports he is “lucky to have him.”
"Caleb is our best player," said senior center Oumar Ballo. "He got us here." -Jordan Mendoza
Dayton down big, in familiar waters vs. Arizona
Dayton was down 17 points in the first round when it clawed back to beat Nevada. The Flyers, again, have already been down by 17.
Arizona opened its largest lead of the game late in the first half, though Flyers forward DaRon Holmes II drilled a 3-pointer at the top of the key to cut the deficit to 14 points. Holmes has been Dayton’s best player all season long, averaging 20.3 points per game this year, and he’ll need to be the key to any potential comeback. Holmes leads the Flyers with nine points on 4-of-6 shooting.
Arizona is up, 37-23, with 3:44 left to play in the half. -Lorenzo Reyes
Celeb Love, Arizona operating offense with ease
As good as Arizona’s offense has been – and it has been scorching – the Wildcat defense is forcing Dayton to run its sets deep into shot clocks.
That has led to rushed and contested shots. The Flyers have been bailed out by a couple of Koby Brea 3-pointers, and he leads the team with six points on 2-of-3shooting.
But, back to that Wildcat offense. Caleb Love is in his bag, scoring inside and out, though he has already hit three 3-pointers. He’s 5-of-6 from the floor with a game-high 13 points. Arizona is moving the ball, operating with ease and up 28-16 with 7:57 left in the first half. -Lorenzo Reyes
Arizona pulling away midway through the first
The Wildcats have built a solid lead here midway through the first half, thanks to a 11-3 run.
Arizona clearly feels it has an edge in the post and is doing a tremendous job of spacing the floor, allowing for its big men to establish position and its guards to attack. The Wildcats have the early edge on points in the paint over Dayton, 10-4.
The Flyers went ice cold with some turnovers and couldn’t counter Arizona’s smothering perimeter defense; Dayton had a stretch of 5:35.
Ultimately, it’s coming down to shot making: Arizona is shooting 8-of-13 (61.5%) from the floor, while Dayton is just 4-of-12 (33.3%).
The Wildcats are up 20-11. -Lorenzo Reyes
Dayton and Arizona close early
The early action in the second round has been crisp, marked by good defense and better offense.
The focus for Arizona, whether on the tail end of pick-and-rolls or in designed sets when he has secured position in the block, has been to feed 7-foot senior center Oumar Ballo. That has forced Dayton to collapse. On the defensive end, the Wildcats have been playing tight on the Flyers, even fronting players up near halfcourt.
Arizona senior guard Caleb Love, the Pac-12 Player of the Year, has started hot, going two-for-two with five points.
Dayton star junior guard DaRon Holmes II has also made his first two shots and has four points.
Arizona is up early, 9-8. -Lorenzo Reyes
Dayton and Arizona tip off, kick off Round 2 of NCAA tournament
The West No. 7-seed Dayton takes on No. 2-seed Arizona in the first matchup of Round 2. The Flyers knocked off Nevada in the first round, and look for their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2014. The Wildcats routed Long Beach State in their first-round matchup and look for their second Sweet 16 bid in the last three seasons.
How to watch March Madness 2024
CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV will air first- and second-round games. CBS and TBS will air Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games. CBS will air the men's Final Four and championship game.
What to know about R.J. Davis, UNC’s senior star and ACC player of the year
During his senior year, R.J. Davis averaged a career-high 21.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 43.3% from the field and 41.1% on 3-pointers. Davis' 21.1 points per game leads the ACC this year. Here’s everything to know about him.
What to know about Caleb Love, the North Carolina transfer who is now leading Arizona
The Arizona Wildcats are once again a high seed in the men's NCAA Tournament, but leading the team is a newcomer with plenty of NCAA Tournament experience: Caleb Love. In his fourth college basketball season, Love has been a leader for a Wildcats team that will be a No. 2 seed in the West region of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The Pac-12 Player of the Year's teammates have called him their best player and head coach Tommy Lloyd said he is grateful to have on his team.
"This is a guy who’s had the highest of highs in college basketball and the lowest of the lows. His experience is invaluable to us," Lloyd told USA TODAY Sports. "I love him, and I'm lucky to have him." Here is what you need to know about Arizona star guard Caleb Love.
What to know about Dalton Knecht, leading scorer for No. 2 seed Tennessee Volunteers
Who is Dalton Knecht? Well, he just might be one of the breakout players of March Madness. Knecht (pronounced like "connect") is the leading scorer for the Tennessee Volunteers – in fact, he was one of the leading scorers in men's college basketball this season, averaging 21.1 points per game. His impressive 2023-24 campaign helped the Vols snag the Midwest Region's No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
And this tournament will be his first. Knecht is new in Knoxville, the fifth-year senior having played his college ball until this year in his home state of Colorado. Given that he's a fresh face to March Madness, here's everything you need to know about the Tennessee star.
Who will win the West Region? Arizona
The long wait is over for the Wildcats. They’ll win the West Region and head to the Final Four for the first time since 2001.
Sure, the skeptics are howling: But Arizona lost two of its past three games! Including a 78-65 setback against lowly Southern California! Nonetheless, these Wildcats are built for an extended run thanks to a versatile eight-man rotation. Scoring? Got it. Arizona ranks third in scoring offense with 87.7 points per game. Caleb Love, the senior guard, leads the team in scoring at 18.1, and each of the team’s four other starters are averaging at least 9.8.
Size? Ample. Oumar Ballo, the 7-footer from Mali, is averaging 13.1 points, a team-best 10.1 rebounds and leads the team in blocks with 40. Arizona also can bring in 7-2 freshman Motiejus Krivas and cause shooters to think twice in the paint. The bench? Good enough to keep the starters fresh. Yes, Arizona lost to Oregon in the Pac-12 Conference Tournament semifinals. But don’t forget the Wildcats also beat Duke in Durham, North Carolina, when the Blue Devils were ranked No. 2. — Josh Peter
Why NC State is the sleeper pick in the South Region
As we all know, North Carolina State had to win five games in five days in the ACC tournament just to get here, a feat previously accomplished by Connecticut in the 2011 Big East tourney. Hmmm…anyone remember how that UConn team fared in the Big Dance? Oh yeah, thanks to a dude named Kemba Walker, those Huskies just kept rolling all the way to the title. The Wolfpack face long odds of making a similar run. Their opening contest against Texas Tech will be challenging enough. But with the team’s leading DJ’s, D.J. Horne and D.J. Burns, spinning all the right tunes, a little belief can go a long way. — Eddie Timanus
Tennesse’s path to the Final Four
Putting Purdue as the No. 1 seed in the Midwest and Tennessee as the No. 2 increases the odds that one of the Boilermakers and Tennessee advances to the Final Four. For the Boilermakers, a Final Four bid would be the program's first since 1980 and help erase some of the bad vibes still lingering from last year's loss. The Volunteers have never been. Barnes made his first tournament appearance as a head coach at Providence in 1989 but has made the national semifinals just once across stops with the Friars, Clemson, Texas and Tennessee That came with point guard T.J. Ford and the Longhorns in 2003. — Paul Myerberg
Tennesse’s path to the Final Four
Putting Purdue as the No. 1 seed in the Midwest and Tennessee as the No. 2 increases the odds that one of the Boilermakers and Tennessee advances to the Final Four. For the Boilermakers, a Final Four bid would be the program's first since 1980 and help erase some of the bad vibes still lingering from last year's loss. The Volunteers have never been. Barnes made his first tournament appearance as a head coach at Providence in 1989 but has made the national semifinals just once across stops with the Friars, Clemson, Texas and Tennessee That came with point guard T.J. Ford and the Longhorns in 2003. — Paul Myerberg
Why Jim Nantz isn't calling 2024 March Madness games
As the men's NCAA Tournament begins, fans may be wondering where Jim Nantz, voice synonymous with one of the most popular events in college sports is.
Nantz decided the 2023 NCAA Tournament would be his last so he could focus on his family and other broadcasting commitments. Nantz didn't retire from broadcasting; He's still calling The Masters and serves as the lead play-by-play person for CBS' NFL coverage alongside Tony Romo. The duo were in the booth for Super Bowl 58 in February. – Jordan Mendoza
March Madness expert picks: Our bracket predictions for 2024 NCAA men's tournament
The experts have dissected the men's NCAA Tournament bracket, providing sleepers, Final Four matchups and upset predictions. Your chances of filling out a perfect bracket are miniscule, but maybe you need a few tips to win your office pool. We've got you covered with a look at how to pick an upset and a look historically at how the seeds have performed in the NCAA Tournament. Three of our five USA TODAY experts have UConn as their picks to win the national title on April 8. Here are our expert picks.
How to stream March Madness on your phone
You can catch every second by streaming every game through a few different options. All games will be broadcast across CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV, but here are additional streaming options to watch all the action on your devices.
Stream through Paramount+
Stream through HULU with Live TV
Stream through DirecTV Stream
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness Saturday recap: Creighton, Illinois, Tennessee win late
