There were a handful of upsets around NCAA basketball over the weekend. Let’s take a look at the NCAA hoops highlights, what teams came out on top and what it means going forward. Click on the video for a two-minute recap.
Texas 84 (+ 6-1/2), North Carolina 82
The Tar Heels out shot the Longhorns from the field and the free throw line–in Austin–but perhaps the best rebounding team in the country got killed on the offensive glass by UT. Texas reeled in 16 offensive boards, including six by Cameron Ridley. UNC also allowed Texas to stroke it from deep, as UT shot 12-for-24, with Javan Felix hitting five of them. Basically, the two things that are supposed to help Carolina most, length and rebounding, didn’t bother to show up. This UNC might want to buck up and have a gut check with themselves before this season wastes away.
UCLA 71 (+8), Gonzaga 66
With the way Mark Few’s group has been playing as of late, this might not have been that big of an upset. Gonzaga’s backcourt simply isn’t very good right now, as they shot just 9-for-27 against the Bruins, committed six turnovers, and shot 2-for-13 from deep. Meanwhile, UCLA looks like they might be the best team in the Pac-12, and if it were ever time to buy stock in Steve Alford’s team, it is now. Tony Parker’s development has been outstanding, and Jonah Bolden is the unsung hero of this team.
Boise State 74 (+2-1/2), Oregon 72
With Anthony Drmic finally becoming healthy again for Boise State, he’s the most versatile offensive weapon that they’ve got. He’s the leader of one of the most balanced offensive attacks in the country and it showed against a talented, albeit shorthanded, Ducks squad. For Oregon, they simply don’t have the offensive horses without Tyler Dorsey and company, though Elgin Cook and Dillon Brooks were excellent.
Wichita State 67 (+3-1/2), Utah 50
The Shockers needed a resume-boosting win and they got it in dominating fashion, even without Fred Van Vleet turning in a completely dominant performance statistically. But that’s the thing with him, he doesn’t need to put up crazy stats to completely control a game. For Utah, guard play continues to be an alarming concern.
