2024 NCAA Tournaments South Region Day 2 Recap
In the first couple of days within the South Region, we were granted with great individual performances, coaching expertise, and many upsets. As the rounds went on, the true favorites showed their goods. Although tonight there were some blowouts, the overtime classic between Texas A&M and Houston shined. The South Region is now stamped after things settled today in the Round of 32. Next week will be a true test of character for all teams, and their dreams of an Elite Eight appearance awaits.
In the first game of the day was yet another South Region thriller. The two-seeded Marquette Golden Eagles took down the 10-seeded Colorado Buffaloes, 81-77. In what was a critical game throughout the way for Marquette, the Big East team showed the world why the Big East is great. Showing poise, composure, and maturity in their wire-to-wire effort, never giving Colorado more than a point lead down the stretch. All-American Tyler Kolek led Shaka Smart’s team with 21 points, five rebounds, and 11 assists. This was his second double-double in the tournament, after an injury that kept him out of the Big East Tournament. The three ball down the stretch coming from Kam Jones was a vital reason Marquette won this game, shooting 40% from beyond the arch with 18 points. Marquette will now look ahead to ACC champion, DJ Burns and 11-seeded NC State.
In the top half of the bracket, Duke took control early and often against the 12-seeded James Madison Dukes. In what was never really a game, Duke took them down 93-55. Freshman and NBA Prospect Jared McCain went nuclear in the first half, scoring six three-pointers in the first twenty. McCain finished with 30 points and joined the company of Zion Williamson and Kyrie Irving as the only Duke freshman to score 30 points in the NCAA Tournament. They will look ahead to the top-seeded Houston Cougars.
In yet again the most exciting game coming from the South Region, first-seeded Houston played Texas A&M in one of the more bizarre games that we have seen. In a highly competitive environment, the Cougars needed OT and a wall to stop the Aggies from taking this game. The final was 100-95, in what was a crazy win for Kelvin Sampson’s squad. As A&M fought in the first half, the length of Houston overtime would be too much for them to overcome. As they took a 12-point lead with roughly four minutes left, Jamal Shead and his team thought this one was wrapped up. A fighting Aggies team led by Tyrece Radford tried to claw their way back into this one late in the free throw game. Houston would go on to miss a few free throws late in the contest, leaving the back door open for Buzz Williams’ team. That is when Andersson Garcia would send this one to overtime with a top-of-the-key three-pointer.
As Houston was running on fumes, many of their players were fouling out due to the fast-paced Aggies pushing the floor. Emmanuel Sharp fouled out midway through the overtime period, while also going for 30 points in the victory. A Jamal Shead-led overtime team was hungry to make their way into the Sweet Sixteen, and that is where he took over the game, scoring 21 points, and adding 10 assists to go. Radford would end up scoring 27 points with 15 rebounds in the overtime loss. The Cougars will look to keep sharp against Duke next week, in what will be one of the games of the tournament.
