Kansas or Duke to the Final Four?

Photo credits to New York Post

Some have said that the Midwest Regional is one of the toughest brackets in the tournament. Traditional names like Kansas and Duke, along with Michigan State, Syracuse and Auburn were among the names in the Midwest regional.

Duke upended a scrappy eleven seeded Syracuse 69-65, while Kansas found a way to win against Clemson 80-76, after the Tigers stormed back, cutting into a 20-point deficit.

Only two could compete for a berth in the Final Four, and a variation of great Elite Eight games could have come from this bracket, but Coach K vs Bill Self was among the most glamorous and most realistic.

Penn’s Upset Bid Falls Short in KS

(Photo: Denny Medley, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 16 Penn stood tall to the very end against a very good Kansas team that swept the Big 12 and captured it’s, NCAA record, 14th straight Big 12 title.

Despite hitting 11-of-29 from distance, the Quakers struggled mightily from the line converting just 4-of-12 in the second half as Kansas pulled away 76-60.

Devonte Graham poured in 29 points on 24 shots with six assist and six rebounds. Lagerald Vick finished with 14 points, while Svi Mykhailiuk and Malik Newman both finished with 10 respectively.

Rhode Island’s Matthews buries OU

Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

With just under two minutes, after Trae Young threw up back-to-back 35-footers that clanked off the rim, Rhode Island redshirt senior E.C. Matthews put up a wide open three, following a beautiful jab-step that sent Sooner star freshman to the floor, and the shot found the bottom of the net to give the Rams a lead that they would never relinquish.

Cyril Langevine extended the lead with 1:03 left at the free-throw line to 76-72, and Oklahoma answered as they marched right down the floor and Kameron McGusty pulled the Sooners within two with a floater.