The Elite Eight is ready.
The Auburn Tigers and Houston Cougars advance with wins over Michigan and Purdue, respectively, which suggests the 4 No. 1 seeds make up half of the remaining NCAA match area. The two-seed Tennessee Volunteers and Michigan State Spartans are additionally transferring on as March Insanity rolls into its last seven video games.
Relive all of Friday evening’s motion with evaluation from every of the 4 matchups, plus an archive of real-time updates.
Go to: Elite Eight matchups and schedule | Results and analysis | Relive Friday night’s action
Friday outcomes, evaluation
Closing: Houston defeated Purdue 62-60
How Houston received: Purdue performed Houston all the way down to the wire, however the Cougars held the Boilermakers off due to a Milos Uzan game-winning layup with .9 seconds in regulation. It was a back-and-forth sport, that includes 10 lead modifications within the first half alone. Houston finally constructed its largest lead — 10 factors — with simply 7:59 remaining. A 9-1 run from the Boilermakers from there introduced them again inside single digits earlier than a Camden Heide 3-pointer tied it at 60 with 0:35, however the Cougars’ last inbound play punched their ticket to the Elite Eight. Uzan completed with a game-high 22 factors. — ESPN Workers
Closing: Auburn defeated Michigan 78-65
How Auburn received: Within the second half, Tahaad Pettiford hit a turnaround jumper after he was fouled, and made a gesture as if he was taking a telephone name. Maybe he was envisioning calling NBA groups, as a result of his breakout efficiency towards Michigan might need modified his future. Auburn overcame a sloppy first half (32% from the sphere) as Pettiford, Denver Jones and Johni Broome mixed to attain 62 factors and ship a surprising come-from-behind efficiency at State Farm Area in Atlanta, the place it appeared like a Tigers dwelling sport, simply over 100 miles from campus.
Auburn’s defensive changes on Danny Wolf mattered, too. After his layup on the 13:06 mark, Michigan had a seven-point benefit. From there, Auburn labored to disclaim his touches and pressure him into robust photographs. Wolf did not rating once more.
Total, the Tigers who confirmed up within the second half seemed like the identical ones who had been the No. 1 group within the nation for almost three months, and at one level, the favorites to win the nationwide title. — Myron Medcalf
Closing: Tennessee defeated Kentucky 78-65
How Tennessee received: Tennessee jumped out to a double-digit lead throughout the first eight minutes and did not look again, extending the benefit to as many as 19 factors and by no means letting the sport get inside single digits within the second half. It was an entire effort for the Volunteers, who held a 34-24 edge on the glass whereas capturing 50.9% from the sphere to punch their ticket to their second straight Elite Eight. Zakai Zeigler led the Vols with 18 factors, including 4 assists to assert the SEC report for many in a single season. Chaz Lanier additionally completed in double figures with 17 factors, whereas Jordan Gainey added 16 off the bench. — ESPN Workers
Closing: Michigan State defeated Ole Miss 73-70
How Michigan State received: Earlier than Friday’s matchup towards Ole Miss, Tom Izzo stated this Spartans group is likely one of the most “related” Michigan State squads he has ever coached. That chemistry proved to be important for the Spartans in overcoming a double-digit deficit towards the Rebels.
Simply after Jaden Akins scored on a go-ahead layup late, Tre Holloman reduce off Ole Miss star Sean Pedulla on a shot that will have tied the sport. Jase Richardson made huge performs. Coen Carr‘s second-half dunk electrified the Spartans followers at State Farm Area, too. It wasn’t at all times fairly (Michigan State missed 11 of its first 17 area purpose makes an attempt), however that is how these blue-collar Spartans (36-30 benefit in factors within the paint) want to win — and why they’re on their approach to the Elite Eight for the eleventh time beneath Izzo. — Myron Medcalf
