You realize that feeling you get when a brand new workforce goes to win the title? You have a look at the finals matchup and say, “Suns-Bucks? Cool.” Often, that feeling can occur within the semis, nevertheless it’s uncommon. Often, there’s a blueblood just like the Patriots, Duke, Alabama, Golden State, the Astros, or some workforce that you just’re dreading as a result of we’ve seen it and need a completely different fan base to expertise euphoria — or simply not the identical fan base.

Properly, we’ve reached the Elite 8 of the boys’s NCAA tourney, and there are solely two “powerhouses” left within the area, they play one another subsequent spherical, and one in every of them (Gonzaga) doesn’t have a title. The opposite program is UConn, and despite the fact that the Zags or the Huskies will likely be within the Remaining 4, this tourney has that new champion scent.

I might be unsuitable, and UConn will proceed beating opponents by 20 en path to a fifth title since 1999, which might be essentially the most titles within the time interval by two titles. Yeah, wild stat, proper? If it looks like there are two, three, possibly even 4 faculties which have had a bigger impression on school basketball over the previous 24 years, it’s since you’re proper. Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, and Villanova come to thoughts, however what’s actually on my thoughts is that we’re getting a non-traditional Remaining 4.

This doesn’t really feel like an outlier

Right here’s a fair crazier stat (that you just’ve possible already heard which is why I didn’t lead with it): That is the primary 12 months since seeding started in 1979 that no No. 1 seed has made it to the Elite 8. That might be why 2023 feels so unusual. I imply, Alabama and Houston each misplaced, and neither recreation was a fluke.

San Diego State led on the break, and though Bama had a nine-point lead halfway by means of the second half, the Aztecs wanted a timeout and all of a minute and a half to erase the deficit. Then it was SDSU’s flip to construct a lead, one they wouldn’t give up, bringing the Brandon Miller period/saga to a merciful finish with a 71-64 loss within the Candy 16.

Houston… nicely, Houston had a fair harder go of it, getting drubbed by a Miami backcourt that did no matter they needed. Isaiah Wong and Nijel Pack mixed for 46 factors, and compelled the Cougars to play catch-up a lot of the recreation. The U went on a 16-4 run to push their cushion to 17 on the 10:06 mark of the second half, and cruised the remainder of the way in which to an 89-75 W and their second-straight Elite 8.

The 4 groups becoming a member of UConn, Gonzaga, San Diego State, and Miami are FAU, Kansas State, Texas, and Creighton. So far as seedings go, we’ve got a 2, two 3’s, a 4, two 5’s, a 6, and a 9 remaining. It’s not fairly Reservoir Canine degree “Actually, that’s who’s left alive?” vibes, nevertheless it’s shut.

It’s as much as you, UConn and Gonzaga, to keep up order

In case you’ve been following the tourney intently — and who is aware of if you’re as a result of brackets began spontaneously combusting on opening day and haven’t stopped — UConn is the one squad within the Elite 8 that’s been comfy in all three wins. All people else has had a recreation determined by single digits, and I don’t must be the 16 millionth author to let you know the hierarchy of energy within the DC Universe is about to alter.

Wait, that’s The Rock’s line.

The hierarchy of energy in school basketball has modified, and it’s as much as you to determine easy methods to really feel about it.

My feeling is that this: I’m all the time going to get pleasure from that new champion scent. It’s actually higher than the monotony of school soccer.

Positive, if the Huskies win, it’ll be simply one other bizarre UConn 12 months the place they caught hearth on the good time. Nevertheless, if it’s one of many different seven faculties, even Gonzaga (however not Creighton; Cornhusker basketball till I die), I’ll be happy.

March Insanity lastly, actually matches the invoice, and I’m completely satisfied lighting a few entry charges on hearth to observe all the things else burn.