10 biggest takeaways from Thursday’s NCAA Tournament action

There’s nothing like the anticipation of the first day of March Madness. I shake and squirm all morning until the first game tips off, before settling in to more than 12 hours of high-level basketball.

With so many games and such rich storylines, it’s almost impossible for it to ever live up to the hype. Just when you start to get down on your bracket or the excitement of the day, an upset or buzzer-beater shows up out of nowhere.

This year was no exception, with the first day of tournament action full of drama. We saw a mix of teams coast into the next round, tested with a tough game, and sent packing for a better try next year. Here’s our top ten takeaways from day one of madness:

1. Arizona exits with a whimper and could be in for a change

If you were unsure if the FBI investigation into Sean Miller and his program would affect Arizona in the NCAA Tournament, it didn’t take long to get an answer. Not only were the Wildcats upset by Buffalo, but they were routed by the 13th seeded Bulls. Not often do you see a 13 seed empty its bench to get playing time for walk-ons with a 25 point lead in the NCAA Tournament.

Just about everything went wrong for Arizona, though at the heart of all of the problems was a lack of effort. The Wildcats got simply outworked for all 40 minutes of the game. Buffalo beat Arizona to every loose ball. Despite starting two twin towers in the frontcourt, Arizona was outrebounded. The Wildcats shot just 2 for 18 from outside and allowed the Bulls to hit 15 of 30 threes.

It was a loss that felt like more than just one game. The FBI investigation will continue. Questions about Sean Miller, his involvement in any illegal activities, and his job security will continue. You can be sure that some will hold this loss against Deandre Ayton as he enters the NBA Draft process.

This was a big, big loss for Arizona. Perhaps the end of an era.

2. Pac-12 fails to make it past the first round

It can be dangerous to use tournament performance to compare conferences, yet the Pac-12’s disappointing showing this year is as clear as day. Well before the clock struck midnight (Pacific Time) on the first day of tournament action, the entire conference was wiped away. Both UCLA and Arizona State lost in Dayton this week playing in the First Four. Arizona was blown out in an upset loss.

It was already a disappointment for the league to receive just three bids, especially with two of them headed for play-in games. For all three to fail to even finish out the work week and play Saturday is a telling indicator of how soft the Pac-12 was this season. The selection committee favored Arizona State’s success out of conference to USC’s success in the Pac-12, and that feels like the right choice in hindsight.

3. Under-the-radar stars enjoy breakout games

The NCAA Tournament puts a spotlight on college basketball with more casual fans and media outlets finally paying attention to the sport. People tune in knowing the names of the elite players at big programs, but even superstars at lesser known programs can be relatively unknown by March.

I’m not just talking about mid-major stand-outs, but about power conferences players who just haven’t become household names yet.

Two of those players had the kind of game that will get them recognized. Houston guard Rob Gray had 39 points, including the game-winning scoop layup in the Cougars’ first-round victory over San Diego State. Everything Gray wanted to do versus the Aztecs, he found a way to accomplish. Every stutter step and pump fake looked so smooth, they might as well have been in slow motion.

Texas Tech’s Keenan Evans was excellent as the Red Raiders held off an upset bid from in-state foe Stephen F. Austin. Evans finished with 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. When the game was close in the final minutes, Evans demanded the ball and made things happen for the Raiders.

Both he and Gray might just be getting started on their big breakout performances this month.

4. Trae Young, Oklahoma put up fight before exiting

Oklahoma limped into the Big Dance, surprising many that they not only were invited to the tournament but avoided a play-in game in Dayton. The Sooners had lost 11 of their last 15 games and looked like a shell of the team that picked up big wins in the non-conference schedule. Playing against a very capable Rhode Island team, many expected Oklahoma to put up little resistance and have their season end.

Instead, the Sooners put up quite the fight. Trae Young scored 28 points on 9-18 shooting with 7 assists. Oklahoma’s superior size and athleticism gave it an advantage over mid-major Rhode Island. The Rams are the real deal, though. EC Matthews and Jared Terrell are one of the nation’s best backcourts, proving themselves versus Young on Thursday. Rhode Island’s path leads them to a meeting with Duke, winners easily over Iona.

5. Loyola-Chicago comes through in the clutch

The Missouri Valley Conference champions were a trendy upset pick in their first-round game versus Miami. For the better part of the game, the Ramblers held their own, playing the Hurricanes to a standstill. In the game’s final minutes, Miami did what many tournament favorites have done before: build some separation and take control of the game. Miami led by five points with 2:47 left to play.

Loyola continued to scratch and claw back into the game, culminating with a 3-pointer from Donta Ingram just before the buzzer sounded. The Ramblers struggled from outside the arc early in the game, then hit four of their final seven 3-point attempts to steal the first-round win.

Loyola beat Miami without its offense firing on all cylinders. If the Ramblers make shots early and often in Saturday’s match-up with Tennessee, there’s no reason this team can’t advance to play next weekend.

6. Mostly chalk so far

Through sixteen games, only two lower seeds were able to steal a win: Loyola and Buffalo. We saw others come close, like Stephen F. Austin, Davidson, San Diego State, UNCG, South Dakota State, and even Penn. For one reason or another, each of their upset bids fizzled out. Some just couldn’t keep the game close, while others wilted down the stretch or got beat by a big time play.

In the end, most of this first day of Madness came on the court, not on the final scoreboards. With 16 more games queued up for Friday, the law of averages would lead us to believe some giants will fall. If it’s still relatively normal through Friday, the weekend might be a bloodbath. March Madness never takes a year off; it just takes a bit to get crazy some times.

7. Alabama and Seton Hall will be tough outs

In Thursday’s two matchups of 8 and 9 seeds, the winners emerged with momentum and looked ready to challenge their respective top seeds.

Earlier in the day, Seton Hall bullied North Carolina State in a high-paced shootout. Five Pirates scored in double-figures, led by 26 points from senior guard Khadeen Carrington. On a day when Kansas looked shaky at times, Seton Hall looked ready for the Jayhawks.

Elsewhere, Collin Sexton led Alabama to a victory over Virginia Tech in a slugfest of a game in Pittsburgh. The freshman phenom posted 25 points on just 14 shots from the field, doing most of his damage sealing the game at the free throw line. Three Hokies fouled out, with many of their fouls coming trying to keep Sexton out of the lane.

Villanova’s guards can play with anyone, but they will be tested by Sexton on Saturday.

8. Gonzaga and Ohio State tested

The West Region has the potential to fall apart and descend into chaos. That almost started on Thursday with a wild doubleheader in Boise.

Gonzaga was pushed to its limit by a feisty UNC-Greensboro team. The Spartans hounded the Gonzaga guards for the entirety of the game, with a full-court press and constant trapping. That aggressiveness wore down Gonzaga, keeping UNCG in the game. Bulldog freshman Zach Norvell drained a 3-pointer to seal the win for the Zags in a nail-biter of a game.

Gonzaga will meet Ohio State after the Buckeyes snuck past South Dakota State Thursday afternoon. The Buckeyes drew a foul on a 3-point shooter on two crucial crunch time possessions, capitalizing with a four-point play and a set of three free throws. Ohio State survived a great game from South Dakota State scoring machine Mike Daum. The junior forward dropped in 27 points, yet was nearly matched by Ohio State’s leading scorer, Big Ten Player of the Year Keita Bates Diop.

The Buckeyes and Bulldogs will both take a deep breath before squaring off on Saturday. The two teams already met this season, with the Zags winning handily back in November at the PK80 Tournament.

9. Villanova and Duke coast to big wins

Some 15 and 16 seeds make life very difficult for the title contenders they play in the first round. Others get trampled and make their opponents look very good.

Villanova and Duke steamrolled through the first round, with neither ever looking to be in any danger. Both teams’ top players looked impressive before getting some valuable rest. For Villanova, both Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson scored in double-figures and left the game before totaling 30 minutes played. With a tough second-round opponent waiting in the wings, a light Thursday load can do wonders after a long season.

In Duke’s tournament opener, the Blue Devils were barely challenged by Iona. Wendell Carter Jr. played only 24 minutes and the Duke bench got some necessary experience.

10. Penn falls short in bid to make history

Every year, one of the 16 seeds starts to get some buzz as the club can finally pull off the ultimate upset. Penn took on that role this year, thanks some parallels in Penn’s strengths and the weaknesses of their opponent, Kansas. The Jayhawks shoot a ton of threes, relying on jump shots rather than attacking the rim. Penn finished among the best teams in the nation in defending the 3-point line. Some theorized that if the Quakers could make outside shooting difficult for Kansas, the Jayhawks could go cold and we might see a tight game.

Bill Self has been around the block enough to read the same stats that you’re average talking head or blogger is quoting on Twitter. Kansas was aggressive, shooting as many free throws and threes. It was only the sixth time this season the Jayhawks took as many or more foul shots as 3-point jump shots.

Upsets happen in the NCAA Tournament, but not just because of one stat or tendency.

Shane McNichol covers college basketball and the NBA for Larry Brown Sports. He also blogs about basketball at Palestra Back and has contributed to Rush The Court, ESPN.com, and USA Today Sports Weekly. Follow him on Twitter @OnTheShaneTrain.