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NCAA March Madness 2024 – Five crazy things that have happened so far!

Photo of Nicky Nicky28/03/2024 - 07:37 am
(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

By Nicky Helfgott / @NickyH3lfgott on Twitter

As the dust settles on the exhilarating first week of NCAA March Madness 2024, basketball fans across the globe find themselves catching their breath from a whirlwind of unexpected twists and turns. From underdog upsets to buzzer-beating victories, this year’s tournament has already delivered loads of jaw-dropping moments that have left fans on the edge of their seats. As we enter the Sweet Sixteen stage, let’s take a moment to recap five of the craziest things that have defined the madness so far.

1. The Oakland Golden Grizzlies knockout the future stars at Kentucky in the Round of 64

Kentucky were one of the favorites for this tournament. In mock 2024 drafts for the NBA, Kentucky consistently have two players who are expected to be drafted in the top ten and will likely see four of their players drafted to the league this year. Reed Shephard and Rob Dillingham are the two guards who are expected to be snapped up relatively early in the draft this year. They each average above 13 points, impressive numbers for college basketball. Yet, it was Jack Gohlke who tore up the Kentucky Wildcats in the Round of 64 as he unleashed three-pointer after three-pointer. He was successful with 10/20 of his shots from outside the arc as he finished on 32 points. He was unstoppable. It wasn’t that Kentucky’s defense was poor, it was that Gohlke was so utterly lethal on offense. He quickly got thrust into the spotlight and signed some brand deals immediately, making the most of the NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) rules. Gohlke dropped another 22 points, with six threes, against NC State but after overtime, his team missed out. The streets will not be forgotten.

2. Jared McCain goes OFF for Duke

Jared McCain is the only guy who will drop thirty points on your head and immediately go to make a dancing TikTok right after. He’s become enormously well-known due to his larger-than-life personality, chilled vibes, and impressive basketball. He’s expected to be drafted in the first round of the draft in June, yet there were lots of doubts over his focus and whether he concentrated on the right things. Clearly, McCain knows how to play basketball as he is helping to propel this impressive Duke side through the tournament. Against Vermont, McCain dropped 15 points, six rebounds and three assists with a steal to accompany it. In the following round, he really took off. He dropped 30 points on 67% shooting, got five boards, no turnovers, and a steal as well. He may well be the real deal.

All-Star and former Blue Devil Paolo Banchero shone in March Madness in 2022 before being drafted by the Magic, could McCain follow in his footsteps? (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

3. Gonzaga reach their NINTH straight Sweet Sixteen at March Madness

Now this is impressive. In a tournament that is known for its upsets, unpredictability, and inconsistency, there has been a constant throughout the last nine years: Gonzaga reaching the Sweet Sixteen. They are only the third team to achieve this feat (no team has more than nine consecutively) and the next best current streak is the Houston Cougars with five. Gonzaga now faces the No. 1 seed, Purdue, as they look to progress to just its seventh Elite Eight in program history.

4. UConn is thriving

The UConn Huskies are the clear favorite to win this year’s tournament, and so far, they have been proving exactly why. They’ve blown out both Stetson and the Northwestern Wildcats and face San Diego State in the next round. They have two players, Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan, who are expected to be drafted in the top fifteen to twenty, and they play incredible basketball. Anything less than a Finals appearance for UConn would signify that something has gone very wrong.

5. Dalton Knecht is tearing it up for Tennessee

Dalton Knecht tore up the SEC this year and is now tearing up March Madness. He was the unmistakable SEC Player of the Year and was awarded an All-American honor. The shooting guard averaged 25.5 points in 18 SEC games while shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 42.4 percent from behind the arc. For Tennessee in March Madness, he is averaging 20.5 points across the first two games as well as 8.5 rebounds. He was key as Tennessee edged past Texas and NBA scouts will be watching with eagle eyes as he lines up to face Creighton on Saturday. He is a projected top-ten pick, and it is easy to see why. If he can continue his explosive form, it’ll be a lock.

Keep up with all the latest March Madness scores and news on the 365Scores website and app!

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Photo of Nicky Nicky28/03/2024 - 07:37 am

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