With but a few weeks to go before the NCAA Tournament begins, there’s still a lot to sort out on the men’s side of college basketball. For one, none of the No. 1 seeds have been definitively locked in.
On one of the last regular-season — and supposedly normal — Saturdays of the regular season, none of the consensus best teams made much of a good case for top bracket protections. And by best, I mean six of the top-seven in the top-25 rankings, who all played on the road. Huh, let me check the calendar. Oh, it’s still February? That’s weird. Are we sure the tournament didn’t start yet? (Holds hand to earpiece at muffled yelling.)
I’m being told that’s still a few weeks away. I apologize for the confusion.
First, there was No. 6 Kentucky in conference rival Arkansas’s house.
BIG BLUE NUTHIN pic.twitter.com/tBqQjZ55xl
— #18 Arkansas Razorback Men's Basketball 🐗 (@RazorbackMBB) February 26, 2022
Down go the Wildcats.
Next, No. 5 Kansas wanted to set the tone in conference rival Baylor’s house.
It's a final from Ferrell!#SicEm | #CultureofJOY 🏀 pic.twitter.com/hgcOitWPEo
— Baylor Men’s Basketball (@BaylorMBB) February 27, 2022
Down go the Jayhawks.
Then there was No. 4 Purdue and probable No. 1 overall pick Jaden Ivey on the road in East Lansing against Michigan State. Purdue almost sent it to overtime but c’mon, there’s no need to pretend: You know how this goes.
TYSON WALKER GAME-WINNER TO UPSET No. 4 PURDUE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/MysvJCv7Yk
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) February 26, 2022
Down go the Boilermakers.
No. 3 Auburn thought better of itself after its best season in decades while on the road in Knoxville, right? Right?
Wrong. Rocky top we go to Upset Land.
GOOD OLE ROCKY TOP 🍊@Vol_Hoops knocks off No. 3 Auburn! pic.twitter.com/YXOY5XDJQm
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) February 26, 2022
There was no way No. 2 Arizona would continue this fail parade and lose to a 10-point underdog like Colorado. No chance. That wouldn’t make sense.
Welcome to Way Too Early March.
Colorado defeats No. 2 Arizona, 79-63.
Arizona's 16-point loss is the largest by an AP-Top 2 team against an unranked opponent since No. 1 Virginia's 20-point loss to UMBC in the First Round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament. pic.twitter.com/OsyYm2wqk8
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 27, 2022
Down go the (other) Wildcats.
Of course, this Gonzaga still had something to say. Almighty Gonzaga, fresh off a run to the National Championship Game last year, surely they would not fall on the road, too. Well, the thing is:
FINAL | Gaels 67, Gonzaga 57
Upset?? We're not upset, we just took down #1 Gonzaga!!! #GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/7PUTI53RhO— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) February 27, 2022
Now, Dear Reader, you might be thinking (that is, if your head isn’t spinning at February Madness), who would stand to benefit from such chaos? Who could possibly take advantage of a late February Saturday where all top-six teams–and seven in the top-10, the most-ever in one day–in the rankings lost? Anyone visiting Western New York and Syracuse?
In the voice of the legendary Jim Ross: Bah Gawd, that’s Duke’s music!
FINAL: Duke 97 Syracuse 72
Mark Williams leads the way for the Blue Devils in another dominant performance against the Orange:https://t.co/7bc1PKkBgZ
— Duke Basketball (@dukebasketball) February 27, 2022
Down go — no wait, sorry, I’m off script.
Go figure that on a regular season Saturday that felt like a tournament Saturday to end them all, it’s Mike Krzyzewski’s bunch that’s sitting pretty. But then again, what else would you expect from the Blue Devils?
Every top ranked team above No. 7 Duke loses, while they win. Someone’s pulling some strings for Coach K in his swan song. They have to be. Maybe a hex? They’re the only reasonable explanations. Duke was a consensus +1300 to win the title — fittingly, seventh-best — before Saturday’s chaotic proceedings. Let’s just say those will rise and change quickly.
It’s not as if you’ll find Duke complaining. As usual, they’re already prepared for March.
Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO).
