The Cinderellas certainly had their moments in this March Madness. More than a few, actually.
In the end, it was a familiar face that won the NCAA Tournament.
UConn — a No. 4 seed — beat No. 5 seed San Diego State 76-59 on Monday night in Houston for its fifth title in the past 24 years. The Huskies and coach Dan Hurley cruised through the tournament in impressive fashion, winning all six games by at least 10 points.
The Aztecs of the Mountain West Conference didn’t go quietly, cutting UConn’s lead to six points late in the second half before the Huskies used one more run to put the game away. It was San Diego State’s first trip to the title game.
Before Monday night, college basketball fans enjoyed three weeks of great moments. Here are a few that stood out:
FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON SHOCKER
Little-known Fairleigh Dickinson — a private, commuter school in Teaneck, New Jersey — provided an early stunner, becoming just the second No. 16 seed to beat a No. 1 seed with its 63-58 win over Purdue.
Only in the NCAA Tournament field due to a technicality, FDU, which went 4-22 last season, won a First Four game in Dayton before the victory over the Boilermakers. FDU lost the Northeast Conference Tournament title game 67-66 but still received the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA bracket because champion Merrimack remains ineligible for postseason play after moving up from Division II to Division I.
PRINCETON, TOO
Smart kids made it all the way to the Sweet 16 when Ivy League champion Princeton — a No. 15 seed — won not just one but two games in the tournament to advance to the second weekend.
The Tigers used a late-game run to earn their first NCAA Tournament win in 25 years, beating No. 2 seed Arizona 59-55 before a dominant 78-63 win over No. 7 Missouri.
TOP SEEDS BITE DUST
Purdue’s loss to Fairleigh Dickinson was just the opening salvo in a tough tournament for No. 1 seeds.
The men’s tournament did not have a No. 1 seed in the Elite Eight for the first time since seeding began in 1979.
Kansas bowed out in the second round, with Arkansas taking down the reigning national champion Jayhawks. Alabama, the bracket’s No. 1 overall seed, succumbed in the Sweet 16 to San Diego State.
