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Three of Sunday’s Sweet 16 games weren’t particularly close. No.1 seeds Gonzaga and Michigan advanced to the top eight with wins of 18 points. The No. 6 seed from USC smoked compatriot Pac-12, Oregon, by 14 points. And then… there was UCLA-Alabama.
No.2 seed Crimson Tide suffered a mind-blowing overtime loss to the No.11-seeded Bruins 88-78, and to sum it up in a nutshell: drama. In total, there were eight changes of head, 11 ties and – finally! – our first NCAA tournament buzzer-beater courtesy of Senior Alex Reese of Alabama.
The Bruins jumped over Alabama early in extra period after Reese’s big shot to sail (and cover). Having led for the majority of the game, it was a fitting end that they were able to concede some big free throws and a few 3 seconds on the stretch, all as Bama struggled unusually in both departments.
UCLA made a bit of history with its victory by becoming the ninth seeded 11 to advance to the regional bracket final. They are the second team in tournament history to transition from First Four play-in to Elite Eight, joining VCU, which qualified for the Final Four in 2011.
For Michigan and Gonzaga, it’s business as usual; Michigan has been to the Elite Eight four times since 2013, while Gonzaga has made four appearances since 2015. But this is USC’s first trip since 2001. You could say it was a good day to be. basketball fan on the west coast. .
All updated results and the upcoming schedule are listed below along with the results of Sunday’s action, along with three takeaways of the day.
1. Alabama’s release is staggering
No. 2 Alabama, the No. 11 seed, UCLA, isn’t a surprising result in and of itself. UCLA has played very well, and anything can happen in the NCAA tournament. But the way Bama lost certainly adds to the perplexity. Nate Oats’ side are comfortably hitting above 70% of their charity shots all season and easily above 35% from 3 points. But Sunday? The Crimson Tides were 7 of 28 from long distance, and their awful 11 of 25 mark on the free throw line put them in historic (bad) company.
2. Seed Cruise # 1 in Style
Picking up where No.1 seed Baylor left off on Saturday with a double-digit victory (after trailing as far as seven), No.1 seeded Gonzaga and Michigan claimed wins in style on Sunday. The top-ranked Bulldogs left Creighton hanging out in the opening game of the first half before blowing them up. Michigan, meanwhile, took the lead five minutes into the game and then blew it up, starting a 15-4 run to set the tone for the rest of the game. The Wolverines are expected to advance without injured winger Isaiah Livers, who was injured in Game 1 of the playoffs and has been ruled out for the season. But all that separates them from their third Final Four trip since 2013 is the No.11 seed at UCLA.
3. USC dominates Oregon
What USC did to No.3 seed Kansas when he handed the Jayhawks their worst loss in an NCAA tournament has been almost unclear. KU couldn’t hit, while USC apparently hit everything. But the Trojans destroying Oregon 82-66 in Sweet 16 validated their credentials as a real force. The game was… not close. USC dominated from point to final buzzer. Now we’ll see if this team can keep their hot streak alive with an Elite Eight fixture against No. 1 seed Gonzaga. But this game on paper wouldn’t have been so interesting a few weeks ago, and now it could be a showdown between two of the hottest teams in the country on Tuesday night. Oh, and for fun? It is the one that opposes an excellent 2-point attack in attack against a historically excellent 2-point defense.
2021 NCAA Tournament Results
CBS Sports was with you throughout updating this story with the latest news from every Sweet 16 Sunday game.
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