And Then There Were 4…

03/27/2023 And Then There Were 4…

By: Jeff Yoder

Men’s Final Four: #9 Florida Atlantic, #5 San Diego State, #5 Miami & #4 UConn

If you don’t believe in the madness, it will find you anyway. We entered Sweet 16 & Elite 8 weekend with two 1-seeds, two 2-seeds, and a trio of 3-seeds. None of those top seven squads remain, and we have one historic Cinderella-filled Final Four. It’s the first time in NCAA Tournament history that no 1-seeds even reached the Elite 8. By Sunday night, four teams are still alive — one 4, two 5s, and a 9. Two of the three March Madness weekends are in the books. It’s Owls vs. Aztecs and Hurricanes vs. Huskies. Let’s do it.

 

Fun With Seeds: The 2023 Final Four features the second-highest combination of seeds in NCAA Tournament history (23). Only 2011 featured a higher seed count — UConn (3), Kentucky (4), Butler (8), and VCU (11). All four of this year’s teams finished the regular season in the AP top-25 — UConn (10), Miami (16), San Diego State (18), and Florida Atlantic (25).

 

Elite 8 Highlights

 

#9 Florida Atlantic def. #3 Kansas State (79-76)

History in the East! The 9-seed Florida Atlantic outplayed 3-seed Kansas State in Saturday’s opener. The Owls weathered a scorching-hot performance from K-State’s Markquis Nowell (30 points, 12 assists, 5 steals) to carry a seven-point lead into the final minutes before K-State made it interesting. FAU hit nine of their last ten free throws in the final four minutes to escape. And in their second trip to the NCAA Tournament, the Florida Atlantic Owls of Conference USA punched the first ticket to the Final Four.

 

#4 UConn def. #3 Gonzaga (82-54)

Saturday’s nightcap was a no-contest as UConn flexed their muscles on Gonzaga in the West region. The Huskies got 20 points on six 3s from Jordan Hawkins and used a 21-5 run to open the second half and stroll into Houston. Connecticut held Gonzaga to just 2-for-20 from deep (10 percent), and the Huskies boast an average margin of victory of 22.5 points per game through four games in the NCAA Tournament. They’re heading back to the Final Four for the sixth time and the first since they won the title in 2014.

 

#5 San Diego State def. #6 Creighton (57-56)

A thriller in the South! Sunday’s Elite 8 games started with a bang as San Diego State and Creighton went down to the wire. Neither team led by more than eight, and neither team could connect from deep — a combined 5-for-30. Low turnovers and strong defense led to a low-scoring game that came down to the final possession. SDSU’s Darrion Trammell drew a foul on a floater with 1.2 seconds left. He hit the second free throw to give the Aztecs the advantage and their first Final Four appearance in program history.

 

#5 Miami def. #2 Texas (88-81)

Comeback, ‘Canes! The last Elite 8 matchup of the weekend might’ve provided the best comeback of the tournament. Texas led Miami by double digits with just eight minutes to play (70-60), but Miami went on a run to tie the game at 77-all. The Canes hit ten consecutive free throws down the stretch, and they outscored Texas by 20 in the final 12 minutes to complete the comeback. Jordan Miller (27 points) made NCAA Tournament history as the second player ever with a perfect game — 7-for-7 from the floor and 13-for-13 from the line — joining only Christian Laettner. Head coach Jim Larranaga is leading the Hurricanes to their first Final Four in program history. It’s Larranaga’s first since leading 11-seed George Mason to the Final Four in 2006.

 

Elite 8 Top Performers

Markquis Nowell (KSU): 30 points, 12 assists, 5 steals

Jordan Miller (MIA): 27 points (Perfect 20-for-20)

Jordan Hawkins (CONN): 20 points, 6 rebounds

LaMont Butler (SDSU): 18 points

Johnell Davis (FAU): 13 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists

 

Final Four Team History

#9 Florida Atlantic: 1st Final Four | 0 National Titles

#5 San Diego State: 1st Final Four | 0 National Titles

#5 Miami: 1st Final Four | 0 National Titles

#4 Connecticut: 6th Final Four | 4 National Titles

 

Last year was a blue-blood Final Four with Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, and Villanova boasting a combined 61 Final Four appearances and 17 championships. This year’s group comes in with just five previous Final Fours and four titles — all belonging to UConn.

 

Final Four (Saturday)

#4 UConn vs. #5 Miami (6:09 pm ET)

#5 San Diego State vs. #9 Florida Atlantic (8:49 pm ET)

 

Additional Storylines

USA Today: UConn is the Team to Beat in Final Four — And the Huskies Know It

ESPN: The FAU Owls & The 10 Most Amazing Runs to the Final Four

SI: Drew Timme’s Gonzaga Era Accomplished Everything But the Ultimate Prize

CBS Sports: Miami Stages Massive 2nd-Half Rally to Knock Off Texas & Reach Final Four

 

Photo: Jamie Schwaberow / Getty Images