Men’s college basketball 2023-24

[InThe313]

We need “30 for 30” to do a “Survive and Advance” follow-up about this team.  No. 11 NC State upset No. 2 Marquette, 67-58, to reach the men’s Elite Eight for the first time since 1986.

UPDATE:  This blows and not in the fun way we write about.  No. 4 Duke made a defensive stand late to upset No. 1 Houston, 54-51.  The Blue Devils will make their 24th Elite Eight appearance and first under head coach Jon Scheyer against ACC rival NC State on Sunday in Dallas.

[InThe313]

That was pure domination!  No. 1 UConn used an unbelievable 30-0 run to beat No. 3 Illinois, 77-52, reaching consecutive men’s Final Fours for the first time.

UPDATE:  Just like in football, they’ll be among the last four standing.  No. 4 Alabama beat No. 6 Clemson, 89-82, to reach their first men’s Final Four, where the Crimson Tide will face UConn on April 6 in Glendale, Ariz.

[InThe313]

Boiler up!  Zach Edey dazzled with 40 points and 16 rebounds as No. 1 Purdue downed No. 2 Tennessee, 72-66, making their first Final Four since 1980.

UPDATE:  Who saw this coming?  There was a huge upset in the Elite Eight as D. J. Burns Jr.’s 29 points lifted No. 11 NC State to a 76-64 win over No. 4 Duke.  The Wolfpack advanced to their first Final Four since 1983, where they will play Purdue on Saturday in Glendale, Ariz.

[InThe313]

The clock has hit midnight for Cinderella.  No. 1 Purdue downed No. 11 NC State, 63-50, to reach their first men’s NCAA title game since 1969.

UPDATE:  And there were two!  No. 1 UConn downed No. 4 Alabama, 86-72, to reach their second straight NCAA championship game, where they will face Purdue on Monday in Glendale, Ariz.

[InThe313]

It’s the end of an era in Lexington.  According to Jeff Borzello and Pete Thamel, Kentucky head coach John Calipari is finalizing a five-year deal to take the same job at Arkansas.

[InThe313]

We are in for an exciting finish.  No. 1 UConn leads No. 1 Purdue, 36-30, at the start of the second half as the Huskies seek their second straight championship.  Updates to come.

UPDATE:  In the end, a very familiar story was told.  UConn beat Purdue, 75-60, to become the first team to repeat in 17 years and improved to 6-0 all-time in national championship games.