In the NCAA tournament, it's wise to never count out a team with a 16-game winning streak, even if that team comes from the Big West.
Raise your hand if you had the Kansas State Wildcats making it to at least the Elite 8 of the 2019 men's NCAA tournament. Was it just me?
That little snafu aside, credit has to be given to the Big West champion UC Irvine Anteaters. Taking their 13-seed to heart, UC Irvine used a stifling defense and timely outside shooting to defeat the Wildcats Friday, 70-64.
It was the first-ever NCAA tournament win for the Anteaters.
It was the first-ever NCAA tournament win for the Anteaters.
One of the keys for those teams deemed to be underdogs, notably come tournament time, is the ability to keep the game close. The Anteaters (31-5) stayed strong with that key most of the game, exchanging leads and ties, before taking the lead for good on an Evan Leonard three with 8:35 left.
Their lead grew to as big as eight before Kansas State stormed back to pull within two. However, the Wildcats failed on two opportunities to take the lead and UC Irvine iced it with free throws from there.
Leonard tied for the team lead with 19 points, including a perfect 9-9 from the line. As a team, the Anteaters hit 17 of their 19 free throw attempts. Max Hazzard also had 19 points.
Kansas State, with such high expectations after a Big 12 regular season co-champion moniker, played without second-leading scorer and rebounder Dean Wade. Wade battled a foot injury most of this season.
UC Irvine was one of three lower seeds to win in the early games on Friday. The Oklahoma Sooners ran Ole Miss right off the floor, 95-72. And the Iowa Hawkeyes made it 3-1 for no. 10 seeds with a comeback victory over Cincinnati, 79-72.
The Anteaters will play on Sunday against the winner of the Wisconsin/Oregon game.
Jordan Burns
The effort might have turned out to be in a losing one, but Jordan Burns of the Colgate Raiders kept things interesting on Friday.
Colgate, the 15th-seed in the South, didn't look like they were going to put up much of a fight against the Tennessee Volunteers. The Raiders fell behind 9-0 early and were down by as many as 16 in the first half.
Not giving in, Colgate battled all the way back to briefly take the lead against the Volunteers in the second half. The Raiders, who were playing in the second half without the Patriot League player of the year Rapolas Ivanauskas, stayed within striking distance before ultimately falling 77-70.
This was in large part due to the play of Burns. The guard finished with 32 points, knocking down eight 3's in the process. Though the result wasn't the desired one, Burns should be given a polite head nod of approval for his effort.
To watch on Saturday
Before we get to Saturday's games to watch: Can you believe Virginia? They were down double digits most of the first half and trailed by six at halftime. Luckily, they remembered they had a no. 1 seed and won going away, 71-56.
(7) Wofford Terriers vs (2) Kentucky Wildcats. Can Wofford continue their magical season? Will Fletcher Magee knock down 10 threes?
(12) Murray State Racers vs (4) Florida State Seminoles. Can Ja Morant be contained?
(2) Michigan State Spartans vs (10) Minnesota Golden Gophers. A couple of Big 10 foes square off.
(4) Kansas Jayhawks vs (5) Auburn Tigers. A down year by Jayhawk terms can be redeemed with a trip to the Sweet 16.
photo credit: flickr.com
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