Thank goodness for Iowa.
The Hawkeyes delivered a much-needed underdog moment to the 2026 NCAA men’s tournament, knocking off defending champion Florida, 73-72. Not only does that guarantee a new champion, it also ensures that all four No. 1 seeds won’t reach the Final Four.
In fact, no region went entirely to chalk. The East came the closest, with its biggest “upset” being No. 5 St. John’s over No. 4 Kansas. The Red Storm’s turnaround under Rick Pitino has been remarkable. In just three years, Pitino has as many tournament wins (three) as the four coaches before him, Norm Roberts, Steve Lavin, Chris Mullin, and Mike Anderson, had appearances.
As the tournament moves into its second week, here’s a look back at Sunday.
Experience Powers Purdue
When you have experienced players, you expect them to deliver in pressure moments. Purdue has that, and Matt Painter put his trust in Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer to close out Miami.
The backcourt answered. Smith and Loyer controlled the second half, made the right plays, and pushed the game out of reach. With the win, Purdue advances to the Sweet 16 for the seventh time in nine years.
And yet, the Boilermakers still don’t get full credit, largely because of a three-year stretch that included losses to double-digit seeds. The defeats to North Texas in 2021 and Fairleigh Dickinson in 2023 remain blemishes, but the narrative often overlooks context. In 2022, Saint Peter’s had already taken down two teams before facing Purdue.
At some point, that has to be weighed against the bigger picture. This is one of the most consistent programs in the country, and Painter, Smith, and Loyer deserve recognition for it.
Vols’ Defense Does the Job
A few years ago, a matchup between Tennessee and Virginia might have been first to 50 wins. These days, the Cavaliers play at a faster pace under Ryan Odom than they did under Tony Bennett. But even with that shift, they couldn’t fully solve Tennessee’s defense, which has been consistently elite under Rick Barnes.
This year’s unit ranks 13th in defensive efficiency, which is actually the worst mark for a Barnes team since 2020. That speaks to the standard Tennessee has established, and it’s a big reason the Volunteers are in their fourth straight Sweet 16.
Next comes a different kind of challenge in Iowa State. The Cyclones win defensively by limiting shot opportunities rather than simply contesting them. That sets up a compelling contrast and a potential chess match between Barnes and T.J. Otzelberger.
St. John’s Wins a Classic
A 4-5 matchup is supposed to be even, and Kansas and St. John’s delivered.
There’s usually very little separating teams on adjacent seed lines, and this game reflected that. St. John’s didn’t win it with shooting, the Red Storm hit just 36% from the field, but they made life difficult for Kansas in other ways. Rick Pitino’s teams are known for their pressure defense, and this group was no different. The Jayhawks committed 16 turnovers, and St. John’s needed every one.
Now the Red Storm get Duke, and the matchup could favor their style. The Blue Devils have been only average at protecting the ball, which plays directly into St. John’s strength.
There’s also this: No. 1 seeds are 39-11 all-time against No. 5 seeds, but Duke is just 3-4 in those matchups.
Iowa Charts Its Path
For the first time in 27 years, Iowa is in the Sweet 16. And even more impressive, the Hawkeyes got there with a homegrown coach who worked his way up.
Ben McCollum built a dynasty at the Division II level, winning four national titles at Northwest Missouri State and missing out on a fifth when the tournament was canceled. He then moved to Drake and led the Bulldogs to the second round with an upset of Missouri. Now, in his first season at Iowa, the Iowa City native has his hometown program in the Sweet 16.
It’s a reflection of how he’s built this roster. McCollum brought several players with him from Drake and Northwest Missouri State and made it work in the Big Ten.
Iowa has quickly become a team nobody wants to face.
ACC Flames Out Again
It’s been a rough couple of years for the ACC. Duke remains, but the rest of the conference is out after Virginia and Miami were eliminated on Sunday.
The league showed signs of improvement this season, but it still has too many programs that aren’t carrying their weight, particularly some of the former Big East additions. With football never the ACC’s strength, the conference is starting to look more like a baseball league.
And while it dominates on the diamond, most of its schools still prioritize basketball. There’s work to be done if the ACC wants to regain its standing.
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