Hartford, Connecticut- One year after an unprecedented upset in the NCAA Tournament, the top seeds in the 2024 bracket showed their dominance with decisive victories. No. 1 seed North Carolina set the tone by defeating No. 16 seed Wagner 90-62 on Thursday, followed by the other three No. 1 seeds delivering authoritative performances on Friday.
Purdue, coming off a shocking loss last year, showcased its strength with a 78-50 win over Grambling State. Center Zach Edey led the way with an impressive 30 points, 21 rebounds, and three blocks, becoming the first player since 1995 to achieve such stats in an NCAA Tournament game. The Boilermakers’ redemption victory was supported by point guard Braden Smith’s stellar performance of 11 points and 10 assists, showcasing a significant improvement from the previous year.
Despite the No. 1 seeds mostly emerging victorious, there were still surprises in the tournament. No. 13 seed Yale stunned No. 4 seed Auburn with a late rally, securing a 78-76 victory. John Poulakidas led the Bulldogs with 28 points, marking only the second NCAA Tournament win for Yale and continuing the trend of Ivy League teams making unexpected runs in the tournament.
The offensive firepower was on display as well, with three teams scoring 100 points on the same day for the first time in over a decade. No. 9 seed Texas A&M nearly joined the century club with a 98-83 win over No. 8 seed Nebraska, while No. 4 seed Alabama’s 109-96 victory over No. 13 seed Charleston highlighted a high-scoring affair. Additionally, a rare occurrence took place as both No. 10 seed Colorado and No. 7 seed Florida reached the century mark in a thrilling 102-100 contest.
As the 2024 NCAA Tournament progresses, fans can expect more exciting matchups and surprising outcomes. The tournament’s unpredictability and the resilience of underdog teams continue to captivate audiences, setting the stage for more thrilling moments in college basketball’s biggest event of the year.