1 takeaway from each of Friday's NCAA tourney games
After a wild Thursday that saw just the tenth No. 15 over No. 2 upset in NCAA Tournament history, action resumes Friday with the remainder of the Round of 64.
As the game results go final, theScore's college basketball editors will provide one takeaway from each contest on the schedule.
Illinois survives offensive woes
Last year, No. 1 Illinois came to the NCAA Tournament with the nation's ninth-best offense, putting up over 80 points per game. The Illini went home in the Round of 32 following a dreadful offensive showing that saw them score just 58 points in a loss to Loyola Chicago. That type of result came inches away from happening yet again.
The fourth-seeded Illini struggled to score all night Friday against No. 13 Chattanooga, but they survived thanks to a last-second defensive stand to reach the Round of 32. The 54-point output against the Mocs was well below the season average of 75.8 per game and marked their second-lowest total of the season.
Illinois didn't hold a lead in the contest until 25 seconds remaining, connecting on just 3-of-17 shots from beyond the arc in the process. That'll have to improve significantly if the Illini hope to get through the first weekend of play this time around.
Duke starters shine to begin Coach K's final run
Duke's starters came to play as Mike Krzyzewski began the final NCAA Tournament run of his illustrious career. All five Blue Devil starters reached double-digit points in a comfortable victory for the No. 2 seed over No. 15 Cal State Fullerton.
Paolo Banchero showed why he's a projected top-five pick in the upcoming NBA draft with a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double, as Krzyzewski won his first NCAA Tournament game in over two years. The legendary coach will finish his career with a sparkling 34-2 record in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
You don't want Houston in opening round
Kelvin Sampson has established Houston as one of the premier college basketball programs in the country the past few years, and the veteran coach has used the opening round of the NCAA Tournament to prove that on a yearly basis.
With Friday's 14-point triumph as the No. 5 seed over No. 12 UAB, the Cougars have now won their last three opening-round matchups by an average of 24 points.
A return to the Sweet 16 could be in the offing for Sampson, as the next opponent for Houston is No. 4 Illinois on Sunday. The Illini barely escaped against No. 13 Chattanooga earlier in the night.
Michigan State sets up Izzo vs. Krzyzewski matchup
If Krzyzewski's career is to continue past Sunday, Duke will have to take down familiar foe Tom Izzo in the Round of 32.
Thanks to a 27-point effort from Joey Hauser, No. 7 Michigan State emerged victorious from a back-and-forth affair with No. 10 Davidson on Friday to set up a date against the Blue Devils.
The two coaches have met 15 times in their careers, including seven matchups in the NCAA Tournament, with Krzyzewski holding a major 12-3 advantage. However, it's the Spartans who have won the last two contests between the programs.
Davis wills Wisconsin past Colgate
No. 3 Wisconsin was in trouble for much of Friday's game against No. 14 Colgate, but Johnny Davis showed why he was the Big Ten Player of the Year in willing the Badgers to the win.
With the Badgers clinging to a one-point lead with six minutes to play, Davis ripped off a scoring run that saw him pour in the final 14 points for Wisconsin to push the final margin to seven.
Davis finished with 25 points in the victory and showed he's more than up for the challenge of taking the Badgers on a deep run.
TCU finally gets tourney win
For the first time since 1987, TCU has won an NCAA Tournament game. It just so happens that Jamie Dixon was involved in both that victory and Friday's triumph over Seton Hall.
Dixon was a player on the 1987 squad, but he'll likely take more satisfaction as a coach in the dominant showing in San Diego on Friday. The Horned Frogs jumped on the Pirates early before emerging with a 27-point blowout triumph.
The physicality of TCU proved to be the difference as the Horned Frogs held a distinct 40-26 rebounding advantage over their opponents.
However, there won't be much time to celebrate the landmark achievement for the Big 12 program, as a Sunday matchup against top-ranked Arizona is next on the schedule.
Koloko's all-around game paces Arizona
No. 1 Arizona got its trademark balanced scoring performance in a comfortable win over Wright State on Friday. But it was the all-around showing by Christian Koloko that stood out in the victory.
The 7-foot-1 junior was a force from the opening tip, finishing with 17 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and five blocks. According to ESPN Stats & Info, Koloko is just the fourth player since blocks became official in 1986 to finish a tournament game with at least 15 points, five rebounds, five assists, and five blocks on 60% shooting from the field.
Koloko outperformed his season averages in all four statistical categories, showing he's ready to bring his best for the biggest games on the schedule. That means TCU could be in for a long night in the Round of 32.
Iowa State adds tourney win to insane turnaround
With a 2-22 record and 0-18 mark in Big 12 play, there weren't many basketball teams worse than Iowa State last season. Somehow, just over a year later, the 11th-ranked Cyclones find themselves in the Round of 32 thanks to an upset victory over No. 6 LSU.
T.J. Otzelberger's rebuilding of the Iowa State program took another step forward on Friday thanks to the dynamic duo of Tyrese Hunter and Izaiah Brockington combining for 42 of the team's 59 points.
The Cyclones certainly won't wow anybody on offense, but KenPom's 10th-ranked defense absolutely stifled the Tigers, holding them to just 54 points. That performance sets the table for a Round of 32 showdown with the winner of No. 3 Wisconsin and No. 14 Colgate.
Loyola puts up anemic offensive performance
No. 10 Loyola Chicago was a popular upset pick in the first round against 7-seeded Ohio State, but a historically poor offensive output sent the Ramblers packing in a low-scoring, 54-41 affair.
Sister Jean's squad shot just 26.8% from the floor, making only seven 2-pointers, and went 3-of-10 from the free-throw line. Loyola became the first team in the tournament's history to shoot below 30% from inside the arc, 3-point range, and the charity stripe, according to ESPN's Jared Berson.
Ohio State wasn't much better, hitting just one of its 15 attempts from deep, but 17 points from the free-throw line helped the Buckeyes. The 95 combined points were the lowest total in a March Madness tilt since 2018.
While Ohio State will be satisfied with the victory, the team will have to play much better offensively in a likely contest against Villanova to advance to the Sweet 16.
Auburn back on track
Auburn, which entered the Round of 64 with a 3-3 mark over its last six games, looked more like the team that was ranked No. 1 earlier this season in Friday's 80-61 victory over Jacksonville State.
Bruce Pearl's squad outrebounded the Gamecocks by eight on the offensive glass and 18 overall. The Tigers also did a great job sharing the rock, racking up 23 assists on 28 made field goals.
North Carolina transfer Walker Kessler had 13 points, 10 boards, and nine swats, finishing just short of his third triple-double with blocks. Freshman forward Jabari Smith continued his strong run of play with 20 points, 14 boards, and four assists. The potential first overall pick's highlight-reel slam with just over a minute remaining capped his fourth 20-point performance in five games.
No Beard, no problem for Texas Tech
Many were skeptical about Texas Tech's future after former head coach Chris Beard left for Texas this offseason, but Mark Adams and the Red Raiders have proved doubters wrong all year, and they continued their excellent campaign on Friday.
The defensive-minded squad put together an incredible offensive performance, making two-thirds of their field goal attempts - including 12 3-pointers. Six different Red Raiders scored in double figures, including 20 points apiece for Terrence Shannon and Bryson Williams.
No. 14 Montana State was clearly no match for the 3-seed, but if Texas Tech can pull off similar offensive numbers as the tournament progresses, it'll be a hard team to knock off moving forward.
Ivey shows off entire package
Jaden Ivey is showing why he's among the top prospects in this year's NBA draft. The Purdue star flashed elements of his scoring package during a 15-point spree in the first half Friday against Yale. He was coming off screens and drilling jumpers, slithering his way into the paint off the dribble, and knocking down triples from the logo.
Ivey finished with 22 points, four boards, two steals, and one assist. He's the first Boilermakers player to register 20 points or more in each of their first two appearances in the Big Dance since Glenn Robinson in 1993-94, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
Ivey shined on the opposite end of the floor as well, using his athleticism and length to disrupt the Bulldogs. During one sequence, the 6-foot-4 guard soared to tip an inbounds pass to himself and drew a foul as he gained possession of the ball.
Miami capitalizes on USC's miscues
Miami capitalized on USC's miscues for a tight two-point victory. The Trojans turned over the ball 18 times, leading to a whole lot of transition opportunities the other way. The Hurricanes had 12 steals, including four each from Charlie Moore and Jordan Miller. Miami entered Friday's matchup just outside the NCAA's top 20 with 8.7 steals per contest.
On the flip side, USC didn't have many opportunities to attack on the fast break. The Hurricanes are averaging the sixth-fewest turnovers per game (9.6) in the nation, and they only coughed up the rock three times against the Trojans.
Still, USC nearly pulled off the comeback thanks to a flurry of baskets from senior guard Drew Peterson in the final minute. But a late foul by Ethan Anderson set the stage for Moore's go-ahead free throws.
Villanova stays consistent in tourney
Villanova hasn't been bounced from the NCAA Tournament in the Round of 64 since 2013, and the program easily continued that streak with an 80-60 victory over 15-seed Delaware.
The Wildcats broke the game open in the second half, hitting their first seven shots of the frame. Five different players scored at least 12 points for Jay Wright's squad, with each of them making at least one 3-pointer. Villanova outscored the Blue Hens 39 to 9 from beyond the arc.
This year's squad may not possess as much NBA-level talent as recent iterations, but the Wildcats are still solid and poised enough to make a run in this year's Big Dance.
The Cormac Ryan game
Notre Dame didn't need the luck of the Irish to get by Alabama; it had Cormac Ryan. The 6-foot-5 guard went off for a career-high 29 points on 10-of-13 shooting to go along with six boards and one assist.
It was just the third 20-point performance of Ryan's collegiate career. He entered the Big Dance sixth on the team in scoring with 8.6 points per contest. The junior connected on 7-of-9 attempts from downtown, breaking the single-game NCAA Tournament school record. The previous mark was five, set by Danny Miller 19 years ago.
Beard gets Texas long-awaited tourney win
Chris Beard took the Texas job knowing the program hadn't won an NCAA Tournament game since 2015. It took the former Texas Tech boss just one game to surpass that total with the sixth-seeded Longhorns' comfortable victory over No. 11 Virginia Tech on Friday.
Texas rode some uncharacteristic hot shooting to dispatch the Hokies, with the Big 12 program connecting on a sparkling 10-of-19 from deep. That's a significant improvement for the 243rd-best shooting team in the country, usually only connecting on 32% from beyond the arc.
The Longhorns won plenty of games in Shaka Smart's six years with the program, but they went 0-3 in March Madness during his tenure. Beard showed Friday why Texas was wise to bring him to Austin.
Texas now advances to a highly anticipated Round of 32 matchup against No. 3 Purdue and its explosive offense.