And Then There Were 2

There are fewer SEC males’s groups remaining within the NCAA Event (2) than there are males’s head teaching openings (3 or 4).

No. 3 seed Tennessee failed to succeed in the Candy 16 for the third time in 4 NCAA Event journeys beneath coach Rick Barnes because it misplaced 76-68 loss to No. 11 seed Michigan on Saturday. No. 2 seed Kentucky and No. 6 seeds Alabama and LSU misplaced within the first spherical on Thursday and Friday.

That’s 4 closings out of six invitees. The SEC teaching openings stay at South Carolina, Mississippi State, LSU and Missouri, although Mizzou was near hiring Cleveland State coach Dennis Gates as of Sunday morning.

After which there have been two. Solely No. 2 seed Auburn (28-5) and No. 4 seed Arkansas (27-8) stay from the SEC. Auburn performs No. 10 seed Miami (24-10) at 7:45 p.m. japanese Sunday on TruTV with the Candy 16 on the road.

Arkansas survived an offensive quagmire Saturday night time to carry off No. 12 seed New Mexico State, 53-48, in Buffalo, New York, and advance to the Candy 16 in San Francisco. Arkansas, which is in back-to-back Candy 16s for the primary time for the reason that “40 Minutes Of Hell” days produced 4 straight from 1993-96, performs general No. 1 seed and No. 1-ranked Gonzaga (28-3) on Thursday. Gonzaga beat a decided No. 9 seed Memphis, 82-76, within the late recreation Saturday.

“We spent the final 48 hours or no matter solely speaking about protection,” mentioned Arkansas coach Eric Musselman, whose staff held New Mexico State guard Teddy Allen to a mere 12 factors after he scored 37 in an upset over No. 5 seed Connecticut within the first spherical.

“I assumed it was a defensive clinic,” Musselman mentioned. “However I’m undecided I’ll have a job tomorrow due to our offense.”

Arkansas scored the fewest factors by an SEC staff in an NCAA Event recreation within the shot clock period, which started in 1985. It was the fewest by an SEC staff within the Massive Dance since a 56-53 win by the Razorbacks over 12 seed Wofford in 2015. The Hogs shot 27 p.c from the sector (14 of 51) and 18 p.c from 3-point vary (3 of 16) with 12 turnovers, however as of Sunday morning Arkansas didn’t have SEC opening No. 7 for the reason that finish of the common season.

“Not a cosmetically pleasing offensive sort of recreation,” he mentioned.

Gonzaga will rating greater than New Mexico State. The Zags are No. 1 within the nation in scoring with 87.8 factors a recreation. Arkansas is No. 48 at 76.2. Gonzaga permits 66 factors a recreation for No. 73 within the nation. Arkansas is No. 140 in scoring protection with 68 allowed a recreation.

Musselman, whose father Invoice was seen as a defensive genius, beat New Mexico State along with his protection, which held the Aggies to 34 p.c capturing (18 of 53) and 23 p.c from 3-point vary (6 of 26) and compelled 19 turnovers.

“We scrapped numerous stuff we did all 12 months defensively,” Musselman mentioned. “And we spied on Allen. We did a fantastic job on Allen. All our guys examine him, noticed what he did. Simply an unimaginable job.”

The Hogs led 26-17 on the half, holding New Mexico State to the fewest factors by an Arkansas opponent within the first half of an NCAA Event recreation since Wyoming bought 18 earlier than dropping 52-40 to Arkansas in 1941. That was the 12 months the Hogs reached the primary of their six Ultimate Fours.

Allen, who hit 4 of seven from 3-point vary within the win over UConn, had simply 5 factors on the half on 2-of-7 capturing, together with 1 of 4 from 3-point vary together with two turnovers. He completed 5 of 16 and a pair of of 6 from 3-point vary. Arkansas guard Au’Deise Toney blanketed him all through the sport as Musselman threw a myriad of defenses at him.

“Toney, wow was he phenomenal individually,” Musselman mentioned. “Nearly as good as any defender I’ve ever coached.”

Guard J.D. Notae led Arkansas with 18 factors, eight steals and added 4 rebounds earlier than fouling out with 1:22 left and the Hogs up 46-43. Ahead Jaylin Williams added 10 factors and 15 rebounds. Davonte Davis had solely two factors and one help, however that help was a magnificence. His lengthy bounce move on a quick break hit Toney in stride for a slam dunk to shut a 9-0 run and provides Arkansas a 41-33 lead with 6:06 to play.

Arkansas hit 22 of 25 free throws to safe the win. Chris Lykes hit 7 of seven free throws over the ultimate 5:24 to complete with seven factors.

Johnny McCants scored 16 factors with 12 rebounds, two steals and two blocked pictures for New Mexico State (27-7).

Musselman now returns to the Bay Space, the place he was Golden State’s head coach within the NBA from 2002-04.

“Oh, man,” he mentioned. “I’ve a lifetime of associates there. My sons grew up there. I imply it’s going to be wild to return and play there. To go to a Candy 16 in San Francisco and the Bay Space, ain’t nothing higher.”