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March Madness 2022 live updates: Arkansas stuns No. 1 Gonzaga; Duke looks to extend Coach K's career
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Lace up those dancing shoes. The Sweet 16 has arrived.
Four men’s games tonight will kick off an exciting weekend of March Madness that will set the Final Four in both the men’s and women’s brackets. (The women’s Sweet 16 round begins on Friday.)
And the first upset of the night was a huge one. Arkansas upended No. 1 overall seed Gonzaga 74-68 to reach the Elite Eight for the second consecutive season. The Zags fell short once again after playing the national title game last year.
And in a rematch of the 2018 national championship game, No. 2 seed Villanova is playing 11th-seeded Michigan.
The evening’s marquee event — No. 2 Duke vs. No. 3 Texas Tech in what could be the final game of coach Mike Krzyzewski’s career — will begin at 9:39 p.m. ET on CBS.
Another No. 1 seed, Arizona, faces fifth-seeded Houston to wrap up the action. Follow along for the latest updates and analysis from the USA TODAY Sports staff.
CLICKER:Breaking down Thursday’s Sweet 16 games in men’s South, West regionals
FAREWELL EXPLANATION:Mike Krzyzewski on why he announced plans to retire before Duke’s 2021-22 season began
PENALTIES COMING? Arizona and Kansas are Sweet 16 favorites who could also face NCAA punishment after tourney
Villanova, Michigan locked in back-and-forth battle
On the strength of 11 points from senior forward Jermaine Samuels, second-seeded Villanova holds a 31-28 edge over No. 11 Michigan at halftime in San Antonio. Samuels connected on five of his seven field goal attempts, and hit his only free throw.
Center Hunter Dickinson leads the Wolverines with eight points, however he picked up his second foul with just under four minutes remaining in the half.
No. 1 Gonzaga has its hands full with Arkansas at halftime
Top-seeded Gonzaga saw an early eight-point lead disappear as No. 4 seed Arkansas closed the first half on a 13-2 run to take a 32-29 advantage into the locker room at halftime of their Sweet 16 game in San Francisco.
Both teams have struggled from the field, with Arkansas shooting 37.5% and Gonzaga connecting on 35.3% of its shots.
Razorbacks senior guard JD Notae is the only player in double figures with 10 points on 5-of-14 shooting. Three Gonzaga players, including forward Drew Timme, pace the Zags with eight points. Seven-foot center Chet Holmgren was held scoreless.
Mike Krzyzewski’s coaching tree reaches far beyond Duke
For decades, Mike Krzyzewski has crafted a coaching tree with branches in nearly every conference, as programs look to capture Duke’s style and success through hiring one of his top assistants.
“It’s like getting a freaking TED talk or some kind of company seminar or retreat. You get that every day,” said first-year Austin Peay coach Nate James] “It’s just an endless amount of knowledge that’s consistently poured into you each and every day, each and every season. You try to soak up and drink up as much as you possibly can.”
Along with the record-setting win total, the national championships and the laundry list of All-America and NBA players, this coaching tree is part of Krzyzewski’s deep impact on college basketball. Including James, 11 former Duke players or assistants are currently head coaches on the college or NBA level, including Arizona State’s Bobby Hurley, Notre Dame’s Mike Brey, Pittsburgh’s Jeff Capel, Northwestern’s Chris Collins and Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz.
The next to follow is Jon Scheyer, who will assume full control of the Blue Devils’ program as soon as Thursday evening or as late as the day after the national championship game in early April.
— Paul Myerberg
Arkansas coaches get visit from Steph Curry before Gonzaga tipoff
Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry met the Arkansas men’s basketball coaches prior to the Razorbacks facing Gonzaga in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
The Arkansas men’s basketball Twitter account shared a photo of Curry offering “some tips on playing in @ChaseCenter.”
The game is being played at the Warriors’ home court in San Francisco.
Curry played for current Arkansas assistant coach Keith Smart, who was the Warriors head coach during Curry’s rookie NBA season in 2010-11.
Former Arkansas men’s basketball player Moses Moody is a teammate of Curry’s on the Warriors.
— Erik Hall, Fort Smith (Ark.) Times Record
Top-seeded Arizona has some weaknesses exposed in early wins
SAN DIEGO — After storming into the NCAA men’s basketball tournament as a fashionable pick to win it all, the No. 1-seeded Arizona Wildcats almost didn’t last past the opening weekend.
But here they are in the Sweet 16, getting ready to face Houston on Thursday in San Antonio.
The Wildcats could be a team that finds ways to win even when they let their guard down and play a little sloppy. Or they might be a team that has weaknesses waiting to be exploited by better teams than TCU, a physical bunch that sometimes pushed around the Wildcats (33-3) in an 85-80 nail-biter on Sunday.
Tenacious defense also tends to muck up Arizona’s balanced offensive attack, as it would for any team. The Wildcats have only lost to three teams this season: Tennessee, UCLA and Colorado. Two of those teams (Tennessee and UCLA) rank in the national top 16 in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to the advanced metrics of basketball analytics maven Ken Pomeroy.
So does TCU.
Guess who also ranks 10th, ahead of both UCLA and TCU?
Houston.
— Brent Schrotenboer
Why did Coach K choose public farewell?
SAN FRANCISCO — Mike Krzyzewski says the public nature of his farewell tour as Duke’s basketball coach has come with a price.
“It wears on you a little bit because everywhere you walk, everyone is taking a picture of you and they’re watching everything,’’ Krzyzewski said Wednesday. “Look, that gets old. You know, that gets old.’’
He says recruiting played a factor in announcing his decision prior to the season.
— Josh Peter
Gonzaga freshman’s highlights are must-see TV
PORTLAND, Oregon — Typically, it’s easy to spot the father of Chet Holmgren, the freshman phenom from Gonzaga, in a sea of red and navy blue. Just look for the tall, lanky guy — where do you think Chet, who is 7 feet tall, weighs 195 pounds and has a 7-foot-6 wingspan, gets it anyway? — holding a video camera.
Yes, a video camera. Dave Holmgren, who checks in at 7 feet tall himself and played college hoops at Minnesota, is old school. He has recorded every single one of Chet’s games since childhood. As such, there is quite the library of highlights.
Some of Holmgren’s teammates were asked about their favorites.
Sophomore guard Julian Strawther: “Probably in Vegas against UCLA, coast to coast, behind-the-back, into the dunk in transition.”
Senior guard Rasir Bolton: “It was one day in practice he had came down in transition and he had tried a 360 lay-up.”
Perhaps there will be even more highlights coming when the Zags take on Arkansas tonight in San Francisco.
— Lindsay Schnell
Arkansas coach Eric Musselman familiar with Bay Area
Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman led the Golden State Warriors from 2002 to 2004 — and, as he noted, was also head coach of the Sacramento Kings from 2006 to 2007. Now his Razorbacks will be playing in the Chase Center, home of the Warriors.
“The day that I was either fired from the Kings or the Warriors, to think that I would be coaching in a Sweet 16 in the Bay Area, if anybody would have asked me that at that particular time, I would have told them there was zero chance,’’ he said. “Not 5%. Not 10%. Literally zero chance of that happening.
“I guess the world has a funny way of working itself out.’’
— Josh Peter
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Travel
Razzies royally torch 'Diana' musical and 'Space Jam 2,' show love to Oscar favorite Will Smith
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In its proclamation of the worst films of 2021, the Razzies lambasted a critically reviled Princess Diana musical and LeBron James’ “Space Jam” sequel, but spread love instead of hate for Will Smith.
The Golden Raspberry Awards, annually announced the day before the Academy Awards, bestowed five dishonors on Netflix’s “Diana: The Musical,” a filmed production of the recent Broadway show that closed after 33 performances. “Diana” beat out “Infinite,” “Karen,” “Space Jam: A New Legacy” and “The Woman in the Window” for worst picture, plus picked up worst screenplay and worst actress for star Jeanna de Waal.
“New Legacy,” the live-action/animated hybrid basketball comedy featuring James hooping it up with Bugs Bunny and Co., earned three Razzie awards. James was named worst actor and also was saddled with worst screen couple – which went to James and “Any Warner Cartoon Character (or WarnerMedia Product) He Dribbles On” – while the movie snagged worst sequel.
How to watch the 2022 Oscars:Everything you should know about Sunday’s Academy Awards
“House of Gucci” star Jared Leto lost his Screen Actors Guild race for best supporting actor but nabbed the Razzie for worst. And Bruce Willis does so many VOD movies now that he received his own special category (worst performance by Bruce Willis in a 2021 movie) that, to no one’s surprise, he won – for “Cosmic Sin.”
Smith, who’s expected to win the best actor Oscar Sunday for “King Richard,” received this year’s Razzie Redeemer Award for previous Razzie honorees who’ve come back with quality efforts. Recent winners include Ben Affleck, Sylvester Stallone, Melissa McCarthy and Eddie Murphy.
The full list of this year’s Razzie “winners”:
Worst picture: “Diana: The Musical”
Worst actor: LeBron James, “Space Jam: A New Legacy”
Worst actress: Jeanna de Waal, “Diana: The Musical”
Worst supporting actress: Judy Kaye, “Diana: The Musical”
Worst supporting actor: Jared Leto, “House of Gucci”
Worst performance by Bruce Willis in a 2021 movie: Bruce Willis, “Cosmic Sin”
Worst screen couple: LeBron James and Any Warner Cartoon Character
(or WarnerMedia Product) He Dribbles On, “Space Jam: A New Legacy”
Worst remake, rip-off or sequel: “Space Jam: A New Legacy”
Worst director: Christopher Ashley, “Diana: The Musical”
Worst screenplay: “Diana: The Musical”
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Business
As more marijuana dispensaries get targeted by robbers, SAFE Banking Act lingers in Congress
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A bill that could allow electronic transactions at weed dispensaries nationwide is again make its way through Congress but the SAFE Banking Act might not be the cure-all that supporters envision.
In over a decade of operating cannabis shops in Washington, Shea Hynes never once worried about his stores getting robbed at gun point – until recently: In a span of three weeks, his stores were robbed three different times at gun point.
Reports of armed robberies at cannabis dispensaries like Hynes’ have nearly doubled in the first quarter of this year compared with all of last year, according to data maintained by the Craft Cannabis Coalition. The group, which represents more than 50 stores in Washington, has recorded more than 65 armed robberies so far this year, compared with 35 in 2021 and 29 in 2020.
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CHICAGO — In a ridiculous coincidence, the Saint Peter’s Peacocks wrote NCAA Tournament history on National Peacock Day with a thrilling upset of Purdue.
The mid-major became the first-ever No. 15 seed to reach the Elite Eight, outdoing previous No. 15 seeds Oral Roberts (2021) and Florida Gulf Coast (2013). Exactly 0.8% of people picked the Peacocks to get this far, with the school from Jersey City, New Jersey, defying all odds. Is Saint Peter’s the best Cinderella of all time?
Meanwhile, the ACC is sitting pretty with three teams – Duke and now North Carolina and Miami (Fla.) – in the Elite Eight on the same day the Big Ten saw its last team go down.
A look at three key takeaways from Friday:
Saint Peter’s writes NCAA history
Coach Shaheen Holloway has this team playing inspired basketball, and now the Peacocks (22-11) are just one win from the Final Four. The best Cinderellas of the last two decades to reach Final Fours – George Mason in 2006, VCU in 2011, Loyola-Chicago (2018) all were double-digit seeded mid-majors. But none was as highly seeded as this Saint Peter’s team that’s now beaten No. 2 seed Kentucky, No. 7 Murray State and No. 3 Purdue.
WINNERS, LOSERS:Poised Saint Peter’s keeps the dream alive; bye-bye, Big Ten; hello, ACC
OPINION:Saint Peter’s embodies wackiness and uncertainty of this NCAA Tournament
ANALYSIS:Purdue’s loss leaves Big Ten shut out of Elite Eight. We could see this coming.
MORE:Legendary Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson: Coach K’s farewell tour ends Saturday
OPINION:Houston is leaving Phi Slama Jama in the 1980s for good
While other bracket-busting NCAA Tournament darlings of yesteryear have had flair (FGCU’s “Dunk City”) or a lovable fan (Loyola’s Sister Jean), this team from the MAAC is doing it with defense, namely with nine steals. In spite of being undersized against the Boilermakers, the Peacocks used aggressiveness and hustle to outduel their seemingly superior opponent behind 6-8 freshman Clarence Rubert and 6-7 junior Hassan Drame. Daryl Banks III (14 points) is the go-to scorer for Saint Peter’s, but Mr. Clutch has been guard Doug Edert (10 points) off the bench. One stat to note: a 19-for-21 clip from the free-throw line. What’s been most impressive is the Peacocks’ ability to stay hungry and poised under pressure, winning close games in all three NCAA Tournament matchups.
Blue-bloods show title potential
Duke and Villanova advanced on Thursday, and fellow blue-bloods Kansas and North Carolina will now join them in the Elite Eight. And yes, if both the Blue Devils and Tar Heels win Sunday, we could see them meet in the Final Four.
Ever since North Carolina embarrassed Duke in coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final home game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, the Heels have been red-hot – knocking out No. 1 Baylor in the previous game in overtime. That continued against a UCLA team that reached the Final Four last year and seemed destined to get back. Caleb Love was brilliant again, finishing with 30 points off six three-pointers. Armando Bacot’s tip-in with 22 seconds left sealed the win in another impressive outing for coach Hubert Davis’ resilient team.
The last remaining No. 1 in the NCAA Tournament, Kansas stayed alive, escaping Providence by five points. It’s coach Bill Self’s ninth trip to the Elite Eight with Kansas and 11th of his career, as the Jayhawks (31-6) are one win from the Final Four. They’ve now won eight in a row and are looking like a title contender after entering the NCAA Tourney having won the Big 12 tournament.
The secret weapon for Kansas has been guard Remy Martin. For the third consecutive tournament game, Kansas got a jolt off the bench from the fiery Martin (23 points), the Arizona State transfer who has erupted in these NCAAs after playing a reserve role throughout 2021-22.
ACC > Big Ten
Despite garnering nine NCAA Tournament bids on Selection Sunday – the most of any conference – the Big Ten is out following Purdue’s stunning exit vs. Saint Peter’s. The league tanked in the first two rounds, with No. 5 Iowa – the conference tourney champ – getting upset by Richmond in the first round. No. 3 Wisconsin, No. 4 Illinois, No. 7 Michigan State and No. 7 Ohio State all lost in the second round. And now, with Michigan’s loss to Villanova, the overall underachievement is on full display. That’s a 9-9 finish in the tournament.
No Big Ten team has cut down the nets since 2000 (the Spartans), and it’s a depressing outlook for the league that posted the second-best NET score in 2021-22 and showcased several teams with Final Four potential.
The ACC, which finished with the sixth-worst NET score as a league, has Duke, North Carolina and Miami all in the Elite Eight. That’s after the Tar Heels, Hurricanes and Notre Dame were all bubble teams in early March. The NCAA Tournament is about matchups and pathways. No matter how well the Big Ten did in the regular season, much like the Pac-12’s surprising finish last year, the ACC is well-positioned with three teams still alive and two of them title contenders.
Follow college basketball reporter Scott Gleeson on Twitter @ScottMGleeson.
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