Vanderbilt came within inches of delivering one of the most memorable finishes of the tournament.
The shot was on line. It was halfway down. And then it clanged out.
Instead, Nebraska moves on to the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history, while Vandy’s season ends on the wrong side of a 74-72 classic.
Beyond that, Saturday largely held to form, with favorites reasserting themselves. Only one lower seed advanced, as Texas picked up its third win of the tournament.
Here’s a look back at Saturday.
Texas Is No Cinderella
Sean Miller said it, and he’s right. Texas is in the tournament because it earned its way in with a brutal schedule. Outside of the SEC, the Longhorns faced Duke, Connecticut, Virginia, NC State, and Arizona State.
When you play that kind of schedule, along with a full power-conference slate, losses come with it. Texas dropped 14 games, but it also won 18 and proved it could compete with high-level opponents.
That showed against Gonzaga, as Texas became the only double-digit seed to reach the Sweet 16. The committee did its job, and the Longhorns have done theirs by taking advantage of the opportunity in front of them.
Things will get tougher in the regional against Purdue, but that’s nothing Texas hasn’t seen before. Despite the No. 11 seed, it’s time to take the Longhorns seriously.
Duke Returns to Form
Duke nearly fell victim to the dreaded Greenville struggles against Siena, then followed it with another uneven first half against TCU. But in the second half against the Horned Frogs, the Blue Devils finally looked like a No. 1 seed, which should concern the rest of the East Region.
At full strength and playing its best, Duke has a strong case as the top team in the country. The Blue Devils showed that with a neutral-court win over Michigan. But this team is not fully healthy, and Greenville may have been the best opportunity to knock it out early. Duke has historically struggled there, often playing in hostile environments.
That won’t be the case in Washington. With a strong presence in the Northeast, Duke’s fan base is likely to travel well and create a more favorable setting.
Still, the Blue Devils will need to be sharper than they were in Greenville. St. John’s is fully capable of capitalizing on a slow start, and that’s before considering either Michigan State or Connecticut in a potential Elite Eight matchup.
It’s Duke’s region to lose. But if the inconsistency continues, Duke will be back in Durham sooner than it hoped.
Nebraska Proves Itself Again
Even after finishing second in a loaded Big Ten, questions lingered around Nebraska. The Huskers exited the conference tournament in their first game, albeit against Purdue, and went just 6-6 over their final 12 games. Given that finish and a lack of tournament history, Nebraska became a popular early-exit pick.
Instead, the Huskers removed any doubt with a win over a strong Vanderbilt team from the SEC. One reason for the skepticism was their résumé. Nebraska didn’t beat a non-Big Ten tournament team all season, and its best non-conference win came against Oklahoma.
But against Vanderbilt, Nebraska handled the moment. Down the stretch, it played with the composure of a team that had been there before. It had to, because the Commodores didn’t go away quietly. The two teams combined for one of the best games of the tournament.
Now Nebraska gets Iowa, and it certainly won’t be intimidated by a familiar foe.
Illinois-Houston Could Be Even Better
Nebraska and Vanderbilt were as evenly matched as it gets. But the Sweet 16 matchup between Houston and Illinois has a chance to top it.
Both teams force opponents to earn everything. Illinois is one of the best in the country at defending the three, while Houston excels at taking away the midrange. Each has looked sharp through two games, and both bring the kind of experience that matters in March.
They may not play at a fast pace, but that doesn’t limit their effectiveness. Both offenses have been productive early in the tournament and can adapt to game flow. This sets up as a contest that could come down to the final possession.
With Nebraska or Iowa waiting on the other side, the winner of this game could very well be on its way to the Final Four.
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