Fake College Basketball Tournament: Round of 64- Big Ten Teams Victims of All 3 Upsets

The round of 64 is under way and  the field is already down to 48 teams after North and South brackets wrapped up today. Three teams pulled off the upset to move on to the round of 32 and it amplified the woeful day had by the Big Ten, which entered the tournament with the most teams. Here's a look at today's action.

North:

(1) Kansas 86                                 (16) Siena 60

It was an easy win for the Jayhawks who entered the tournament riding high after winning the Big 12 Conference. Kansas eliminates the MAAC Champion Siena Saints and will take on Houston (8) in the round of 32.


(8) Houston 82                                         (9) Marquette 80

In the wildest finish of the day, the Golden Eagles had a shot to win it at the buzzer, but came up short to allow the Cougars to the next round for a date with Kansas. Both teams entered the tournament as at large teams.


(5) Auburn  66                                     (12) Liberty 58

The Flames had the Tigers on the ropes, but Auburn proved to be too strong in the final minutes to thwart the upset and move on to a showdown with Wisconsin (4). Liberty entered the tournament as the Atlantic Sun Champions. It was their first season in the ASun after previously playing in the Big South.


(4) Wisconsin 50                            (13) Western Kentucky 45

The Hilltoppers also had their chance at pulling the upset, but like Liberty, they couldn't hold on late. The Badgers avoided being another Big Ten disappointment as they held off a barrage of three's from the Conference USA Champs. It's an SEC/Big Ten that would make for an equally strong football game.


(11) East Tennessee State 59            (6) Iowa 53

The first upset came at the hands of the SoCon Champs who entered the tournament with 30 wins and added the ranked Hawkeyes to their list. The Buccaneers used their long distance shooting to create space down the stretch and pull away from the Big Ten contender. They'll have to punch their ticket to the Sweet 16 against the ACC Champion Duke Blue Devils.


(3) Duke 66                                      (14) Belmont 60

Always a tough out, OVC Champs gave the ACC Champs everything they had, but Duke was able to thwart a late rally and knock out the Bruins. The hard road continues for the Blue Devils as they get a worthy foe in ETSU with Kentucky waiting likely in the Sweet 16.


(7) Providence 77                                    (10) Arizona State 62

The Friars blitzed the Sun Devils early and buried them in an insurmountable deficit to move on for a date with Kentucky. Both teams entered the tournament as at large bids.


(2) Kentucky 77                                      (15) South Dakota State 65

The Jackrabbits rally fell short as the Summit League Champs gave Kentucky everything they had before the SEC Champs pulled away late. The Wildcats arguably have the toughest road to the Final Four, as does every team in a bracket full of blue bloods and tough mid-majors.

South


(1) Baylor 56                                      (16) Radford 42

The Bears coasted to an easy win over the Big South Champs to move on for a date with a much tougher task in St. Mary's. Despite being a one seed, Baylor entered the tournament as an at large after losing to Kansas in the Big 12 Championship.


(8) St. Mary's 52                                              (9) Rutgers 49

A back and forth affair that featured plenty of lead changes in the final minute before the dust settled and the Gaels avoided a minor upset. The Scarlet Knights became the second Big Ten team to be ousted, but were a few shots away from a different story. St. Mary's will have a tough task ahead in the once No. 1 ranked Baylor Bears.


(5) Ohio State 58                               (12) Sam Houston State 51

The Buckeyes were in control for most of the game, but a late push by the Southland Champion Bearkats made things interesting down the stretch. Ohio State was one of the few bright spots for the Big Ten and will have to carry the torch against Louisville.


(4) Louisville 64                            (13) Stony Brook 50

The Cardinals proved too much for the American East Champion Sea Wolves, who had already stunned Vermont to get to this spot. Louisville built an early lead with Stony Brook unable to hit from three and close the gap. The Cardinals and Buckeyes should provide a more even match-up.


(6) Virginia 53                                             (11) Cincinnati 50

The Bearcats never got off the final shot of the game they needed to tie the game as both teams traded threes late in the game with the defending National Champs coming out on top. The Cavaliers have some time to prepare for the upset minded Northern Iowa Panthers, who pulled off one of the day's upsets.


(14) Northern Iowa 52                                (3) Michigan State 47

The Spartans fell apart late in the game and UNI nailed their big shots, including a basket in the final seconds to put themselves up two scores. The MVC Champs stunned yet another Big Ten squad and it wouldn't be the last on the day. The Panthers hope they can duplicate the magic UMBC had against Virginia back in 2018.


(10) USC 88                                     (7) Illinois 86

A wild back and forth affair with big shot traded for another big shot. Like Cincinnati, Illinois never got the chance to take the game tying shot before the buzzer sounded and thus they became another Big Ten upset. USC will have to get through a tough Creighton team next.


(2) Creighton 54                             (15) Arkansas Little Rock 53

The Big East Champs got more than they bargained for as a late push from the Sun Belt Champs fell just short. Trailing by four the Trojans knocked down a late three, but couldn't force the turnover before time expired and saved the Bluejays. Creighton will face USC next.