Every year’s March Madness Tournament is crazy. That’s why it’s called March Madness. But this year’s set of matches is even more wild than normal, with a contest considered by some to be the biggest upset in history (thanks, Michigan State). This year, I was able to participate in some of the insanity.
I was lucky to live in a town close to where a couple contests were being held. The beginning stages of the Midwest region were held in the Pepsi Center in Denver and I attend the University of Colorado. But a long journey doesn’t stop some people from trekking to these games, anyway. Fans from all four teams that were being played joined in the festivities. Now, I understand that people move away from their college live once they graduate, but I have trouble accepting the fact that the amount of Utah or Iowa State fans that showed up were all from Colorado.
These were obviously the closest of the four colleges that played, but Gonzaga and Arkansas-Little Rock also had decent showings. I’m not sure if it was planned or by coincidence, but these fan bases had sections where a large amount of support was centered. For example, I was seated by the Utah bunch and across the court on the other side of the stadium was the Arkansas-Little Rock fanatics.
Either way, it led to a great atmosphere. Well, at least to start off the games it did. Some of the biggest loses in the round of 32 were the two games I saw, unfortunately. Let me say it was still a once-a-lifetime experience and I had a great time, but dang if that isn’t my luck.
The fun really started a little after 4 p.m. Iowa State faced up against Arkansas-Little Rock, the 12th seed who upset Purdue (another team I had winning a few games). It was a tough competition for about two minutes, until Iowa State really got into a groove. Little Rock scored first, but once Iowa State sunk two baskets to take the lead they never looked back.
This is where college basketball somewhat confuses me. About half-way through the second half, it was fairly obvious that Iowa State was going to win. It wasn’t impossible for Little Rock to come back, but they couldn’t get anything going and Iowa State continued to do pretty much anything they wanted. Still, Iowa State kept the game’s best player in, senior forward Georges Niang.
Niang had a fairly complete game. He made 11 of his 18 shots, which is a very good 61.1 percent. The forward complimented this with six rebounds a three assists. Still, he was called on late in second half, playing 38 minutes. For a team that won by 17, doesn’t that just increase his probability of getting injured? Still, it was fun to see him play. He got in a groove and made some fun shots. Niang also sunk three from deep. This helped Iowa State shoot 56.6 percent on the game and claim a 78-61 victory.
After this, there was a break between the games. That means it was time for a bathroom break. Well, everyone else also thought that, so there was a long line out the door. It could wait, I didn’t need to go that bad.
Once I returned to my seats, it was the Utah Utes versus the Gonzaga Bulldogs. My wonderful uncle, who made this whole thing possible, was really into the Bulldogs. Secretly, I was rooting for the Utes. As someone in the Pac-12, they have to represent, especially after beating my Buffaloes in conference play, twice.
Either way, my uncle was right (like he normally is). This game wasn’t even close. It was 44-29 at the half in Gonzaga’s favor, and they went on to outscore Utah by eight points in the second half. You could tell it wasn’t the Ute’s game anyway. Their superstar, sophomore forward Jakob Poeltl, couldn’t get anything going either and was kept to 24 minutes of playing time. That’s not an unreasonable amount, but for a guy averaging 30 minutes plus the rest of the time, it was very telling.
Gonzaga also had a heck of a night all around. Four of their starters got in double digits, with senior guard Eric McClellan leading the charge with 22 points. Another telling factor of the Bulldogs team play was the fact that I remember hearing senior forward Kyle Wiltjer and sophomore forward Domantas Sabonis names’ more during the course of the game, but neither led the team.
Sabonis may have had the best game out of any of the Bulldogs. He finished second on the team with 19 points while also adding 10 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block. That’s as complete a stat line as you can get.
Either way, Gonzaga outclassed Utah 82-59. It was so much a blowout that I started to leave with time still on the clock. That may sound sacrilegious, but when the one team’s up by like 30, what else is there? Especially when you’re sitting next to the Utah section, it was not a great ending. Still, like I said before, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. That was a day of madness and great basketball!
