Arizona catches poison Ivy

A glance at Thursday's NCAA Tournament schedule might've given the impression that the first day would be blowouts and routine games. But you never doubt the Big Dance. Thursday delivered just about everything we wanted in the tournament.

Let's get to it.

1. Princeton pulls off an all-time upset (again)

Many believe this is the best group of 12-15 seeds in years. They may be right.

That includes teams with NBA-level talent (like Furman), Hall of Fame coaches (like Iona) and programs with a history of pulling upsets. Like Princeton. You do remember, Princeton, right? A team that shocked a Pac-12 powerhouse on the biggest stage?

But surely 15-seed Princeton wouldn't be able to derail 2-seed Arizona, a trendy national title pick with an elite frontcourt and sometimes unstoppable offense? You know what they say about history. Sometimes it results in a 59-55 Princeton victory on Thursday in the South Regional.

The Tigers controlled the pace (67 possessions; 5 fewer than Arizona usually has), forced the Cats into bad shots (42 percent from the floor) and did what all March underdogs do: kept it close and watched the favorite slowly crumple under the pressure. Arizona led 47-35 with just under 12 minutes left, but when it couldn't push the pace, Princeton made its run, taking a one-point lead with two minutes remaining.

Arizona scored just four points (!) in the final eight minutes. Guards Kerr Kriisa and Courtney Ramey couldn't find any gaps in the Princeton defense, and the Tigers earned the day's biggest upset. It was a nice bit of symmetry for Princeton coach Mitch Henderson, who was on that 1996 team that beat UCLA. This marked the 11th time a 15 seed has beaten a 2, with seven coming in the last decade.

Princeton (22-8) had just one player in double figures, and it was all-around star Tosan Ovbuomwan with 15 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. This was a team that had lost two key players last offseason to the portal in Ethan Wright (Colorado) and Jaelin Llewellyn (Michigan) and managed to be just as good, if not better, this year.

For Arizona (28-7), the major concern heading into the tournament was the inconsistent backcourt. Azuolas Tubelis and Oumar Ballo did fine, combining for 35 points and 17 rebounds. But Kriisa, Cedric Henderson and Ramey, along with sixth man Pelle Larsson, combined for just 15 points on 7-of-24 shooting and six turnovers.

They certainly stepped into it today. It's a bad loss against a winnable opponent. The good news for Arizona is that it can return its top four players next season, assuming both Tubelis and Ballo come back. But the key is the backcourt, which was a question at the beginning of the season.

Think we have an answer, with the Wildcats going home very early.

2. Virginia throws it away against Furman

Kihei Clark's been an essential Virginia piece for five seasons, a steady and sometimes overlooked presence at point guard. Few Virginia fans will ever forget the pass he threw to Mamadi Diakite during the 2019 national title run.

He also ended his career with a pass people won't forget.

Furman, seeded 13th, overcame multiple double-digit deficits during their first-round matchup in the South Regional. The Cavaliers had a 67-63 advantage with 19 seconds left. After two free throws by the Paladins cut the lead to two points, Virginia inbounded the ball to hold on for the win. Then this happened.

In one of the more inexplicable end-of-game moves, Clark's errant pass set up JP Pegues' game-winning 3-pointer and gave Furman a remarkable 68-67 win. Jalen Slawson had 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead all players, making up for All-SoCon guard Mike Bothwell's foul trouble.

Pegues, who spoke to Rob Dauster after the game, was understandably elated and surprised.

It's an unfortunate end for the career of Clark, who leaves the sport as an all-time leader in minutes and games played in the ACC, along with assists at Virginia. He's a national champion, and he'll eventually shake off the sting in this one. But there's no denying that without that title, Virginia just can't seem to shake bad mojo in the NCAA Tournament.

It's a rough pattern for the program, having either won a national title or lost to a mid-major in the Round of 64, including UMBC in the historic 16 over 1 upset. Similar to Arizona and its guard play, the slow-paced system implemented by head coach Tony Bennett makes them vulnerable to upsets by talented underdogs.

Virginia has now fallen to a mid-major in three of its past four NCAA Tournament appearances, and the team is likely losing at least three starters, including Clark. Could this loss create a style change for the program? Only time will tell.

More results from Thursday

Duke 74, Oral Roberts 51A 15-0 run from Duke (27-8) to start the game took out any suspense. The Blue Devils coasted to the win, led by 23 points from Jeremy Roach. Max Abmas, a former Cinderella in the Big Dance, was held to just 12 points on 4-of-15 shooting from the field for Oral Roberts (30-5).

San Diego State 63, College of Charleston 57The Mountain West got a win in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018, with San Diego State (28-6) outlasting the 31-win Cougars. Matt Bradley led all scorers with 17 points for the Aztecs. Charleston (31-4) had three double-digit scorers in the game but as a team, they shot just 32 percent from the field and 5-of-24 from 3-point range.

Missouri 76, Utah State 65Despite shooting just 4-of-24 from deep, Utah State (26-9) did just about everything right to stay within range. But it wasn't enough to stave off Missouri (25-9), who got 23 points from D'Moi Hodge and 19 from Kobe Brown via a highly efficient 7-of-8 shooting.

Tennessee 58, Louisiana 55This game was on blowout alert early in the second half, with Tennessee (24-10) up by as many as 18 points. But a 13-0 run by Louisiana (26-8) made this a game. The 4-seed was able to hold on, with Jamal Mashack as the lone double-digit scorer for the winners with 11 points.

3. How did the Big Ten do?

Anyone waiting on the Big Ten to lay an egg in the tournament will have to wait a little longer. The conference might not end its national title drought, but its members were 3-2 on Thursday, with three more playing today, including No. 1 seed Purdue (More on them in the Field of 68 Premium.)

Arkansas 73, Illinois 63The up-and-down season for the Illini finally came to a close after a lethargic effort. Arkansas (21-13) and its defense caused problems overall but the lack of a point guard and overall ball movement was too much to overcome against a team just as athletic as Illinois (20-13).

Auburn 83, Iowa 75It's another exit before the second weekend for coach Fran McCaffery and Iowa (19-14), making it the third straight year of wasting a 20-point scorer. Star forward Kris Murray had a rare off-game, going for 15 points on 5-of-18 shooting. Peyton Sandfort led all scorers with 21 points off the bench and led the Hawkeyes on a big second-half rally, but the poor shooting woes doomed them against Auburn (21-12), which got 19 points from Johni Broome.

Maryland 67, West Virginia 65It was a game of runs. The Terrapins were down double-digits in the first few minutes, and up double-digits in the first few minutes of the second half, before surviving a game-winning 3-point attempt from Kedrian Johnson of WVU (19-15) at the very end. Julian Reese led the team with 17 points and nine rebounds, one of four starters in double figures for Maryland (22-12).

Northwestern 75, Boise State 67As the backcourt of Boo Buie and Chase Audige goes, so do Northwestern's (22-11) chances of winning. This time, it was a good thing. Buie finished with 22 points and five assists, while Audige had 20 points and six rebounds. The defense did its part as well, limiting the Broncos (24-10) to 6-of-23 shooting from 3-point range.

Penn State 76, Texas A&M 59The margin of the win doesn't even show how lopsided a game this was from tip-off. Penn State (23-13) went 13-of-22 from deep, led by Andrew Funk's eight trifectas and game-high 27 points. Jalen Pickett was once again on triple-double watch, producing 19 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. Dexter Dennis turned in a nice game individually, scoring 19 points for Texas A&M (25-10).

4. Top seeds handled business

There were six matchups featuring 1 or 2 seeds on Thursday, with most of them being blowouts as expected.

Alabama 96, Texas A&M-Corpus Christie 75Star freshman Brandon Miller wasn't 100 percent and ended up going scoreless in 19 minutes. Alabama (30-5) had plenty of depth to deal with the Southland champs, led by Nick Pringle off the bench with 19 points and 15 rebounds. Guards Mark Sears and Jahvon Quinerly finished in double figures.

Houston 63, Northern Kentucky 52Marcus Sasser's groin injury from last week remains a problem; he did not play in the second half. Had NKU's best player (Marques Warrick) not gone 2-of-18 from the field, Houston (32-3) could've lost this game. Jamal Shead finished with 13 points and six rebounds in the win but coach Kelvin Sampson mentioned that his starting point guard is also dealing with a knee issue.

Kansas 96, Howard 68The Bison put up a tough fight for the first 15 minutes, with the game tied at 33. Kansas (28-7), who was without coach Bill Self, ran away with the game for the final 25 minutes. All five starters were in double figures, led by Jalen Wilson with 20 points, followed by Gradey Dick with 19 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.

Texas 81, Colgate 61Colgate (26-9) was viewed as a potentially dangerous 15-seed and they played like it, staying within striking range of the Longhorns. Texas (27-8) eventually got the game comfortable, led by 23 points off the bench by Sir'Jabari Rice, going 7-of-10 from 3. Both Marcus Carr and Dylan Disu chipped in with 17 points each.

UCLA 86, UNC Asheville 53UCLA (30-5) started with a 14-0 run, making it a no-contest. Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Amari Bailey each had 17 points to lead the way, while Mac Etienne had 10 off the bench.

5. Previewing EVERY Friday Round of 64 game

Just like yesterday, we'll be skipping the "what to watch" section (since you need to be watching every game going forward). Here's a preview of the second group of 1st round matchups. (All times Eastern)

USC (22-10) vs Michigan State (19-12), 12:15 pm, CBSThis game doesn't have star power, but plenty of solid players who should be evenly matched. Tyson Walker and AJ Hoggard going up against Drew Peterson and Boogie Ellis is a nice way to start the day. The Spartans are a top-3 three-point shooting team, while Ellis can go for 30-plus points if he gets hot from the field.

Xavier (25-9) vs Kennesaw State (26-8), 12:40 pm, truTVIt's the Owls' first trip to the NCAA Tournament and they've already passed their first postseason test, surviving star guard Darius McGhee of Liberty in the ASUN Tournament. Their next test is All-Big East guard Souley Boum of Xavier. The Musketeers are favored, but Kennesaw State has some athletes that can make this game closer than expected.

Baylor (22-10) vs UC Santa Barbara (27-7), 1:30 pm, TNTThe Bears have the backcourt of a national champion, with a trio of guards capable of going for 20-plus points. They also have the defense of an early-round exit, especially inside. That makes this matchup with the Big West champions interesting, as UC Santa Barbara has a pair of former Pac-12 frontcourt players in Miles Norris and Andre Kelly who can match up inside. And while he might not be as good as Baylor's guards, Conference Player of the Year Ajay Mitchell (16.4 ppg) will be a handful.

Saint Mary's (26-7) vs VCU (27-7), 2 pm, TBSTwo of the most consistent non-power conference programs will face off in the 12 vs 5 matchup, with the Gaels as a four-point favorite. Saint Mary's is the slow-paced analytical darling that has a freshman star in Aidan Mahaney, but did get dominated by Gonzaga and has struggled against backcourt pressure. That's what VCU is known for, as they're an elite defensive unit with a star two-way guard in Ace Baldwin.

Marquette (28-6) vs Vermont (23-10), approx. 2:45 pm CBSRiding a nine-game win streak and a Big East Tournament title, Marquette has become a legit Final Four threat. Star point guard Tyler Kolek and leading scorer Kam Jones are an elite backcourt, while the athletic frontcourt duo of Oso Ighodaro and Olivier-Maxence Prosper will give anyone problems. Vermont is smaller, but they're also one of the oldest teams in the country and John Becker is one of the better coaches in the country. I won't predict an upset but I also won't predict a blowout either.

Iowa State (19-13) vs Pittsburgh (23-11), approx. 3:10 pm truTVAfter beating Mississippi State in the play-in game, Pittsburgh looks to continue the tradition of 11-seeds who make a run in the tournament. They won with Jamarius Burton in foul trouble and without starting center Federiko Federiko, who is questionable for this game with a knee injury. The sharpshooting ability for the Panthers will go up against the stout defense of Iowa State, who outside of beating Baylor a few times has struggled down the stretch. They need guards Jaren Holmes and Gabe Kalscheur to have good games from the field to avoid the upset.

Creighton (21-12) vs NC State (23-10), approx. 4 pm TNTThis is a 6-11 matchup that features two teams capable of making a run. All five starters for Creighton are averaging in double figures and when fully healthy, look like a top-10 caliber team. On the other side, the backcourt duo of Jarkel Joiner and Terquavion Smith is one of the five best in this tournament field. A key matchup to watch is NC State big man DJ Burns taking on two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year Ryan Kalkbreener of the Bluejays inside.

UConn (25-8) vs Iona (27-7), approx. 4:30 pm TBSCoach Dan Hurley is looking for his first NCAA Tournament win at UConn, hoping for redemption after Teddy Allen and New Mexico State broke their hearts a year ago. But in rare circumstances, the coaching advantage is on the opposing sidelines with Rick Pitino at Iona. The Gaels have a trio of 15-plus point scorers but they're going to have a tough time with the frontcourt of Adama Sanogo and Donovan Clingan. The Huskies have been picked by some to go far but this won't be an easy matchup for them.

Purdue (29-5) vs Fairleigh Dickinson (20-15), 6:50 pm, TNTMost 1 vs. 16 matchups are mismatches, but this one is literally true from a size perspective. The Knights of Fairleigh Dickinson only has a 6-7 forward to go up against 7-4 center Zach Edey, who could go for 30 points and 20 rebounds in just 20 minutes. Purdue may have some questions concerning how deep a run they'll make in this tournament but it won't be Friday that's an issue. In fact, some think it could be a blowout.

Kentucky (21-11) vs Providence (21-11), 7:10 pm, CBSThis is a game that features several storylines on the court and on the sidelines. Both coaches (John Calipari and Ed Cooley) have been linked to other jobs at some point this season, while this is also the "revenge game" for Bryce Hopkins, the leading scorer and rebounder at Providence who was a transfer from Kentucky a year ago. The Wildcats were a preseason Final Four contender and have been inconsistent, yet still capable.

Miami (25-7) vs Drake (27-7), 7:25 pm, TBSThe status of Miami big man Norchad Omier is in question. They still have the elite backcourt duo of Isaiah Wong and Nijel Pack, along with All-ACC wing, Jordan Miller. They take on a Drake squad filled with seniors on the rotation, led by MVC Player of the Year, Tucker DeVries (19.0 ppg). The Hurricanes have a potent offense but at times, a suspect defense. If the Bulldogs can take advantage, this could end up as a vintage 12 over 5 upset.

Gonzaga (28-5) vs Grand Canyon (24-11), 7:35 pm, truTVThe last time Mark Few and Gonzaga lost a first-round game, was in 2008. It's hard to envision this being the team to end that streak, once again the No. 1 scoring offense, and have an All-American big man in Drew Timme. But the Bulldogs have been vulnerable to talented scoring guards and the Lopes have one in Rayshon Harrison (17.7 ppg and 3.6 apg). This is the kind of game that can end up in a shootout, though Grand Canyon will need to be firing on all cylinders to have a chance late.

Memphis (26-8) vs Florida Atlantic (31-3), approx. 9:20 pm, TNTThis is going to be a nice case study of whether individual starpower or real depth is more important. Memphis has the two best players in the game in Kendric Davis and Deandre Williams, but FAU may have the next six best guys afterward. The Owls have 31 wins overall and dominated the regular season but can they handle the athletic and explosive Tigers?

Kansas State (23-9) vs Montana State (25-9), approx. 9:40 pm, CBSThe Wildcats were one of the sport's biggest surprises during the regular season, led by the dynamic duo of Keyontae Johnson and Markquis Nowell. Can they remain successful in the postseason? The Big Sky champions have some athletes to pose a potential threat, led by former Washington guard and current leading scorer for Montana State, Raequan Battle (17.4 ppg).

Indiana (22-11) vs Kent State (28-6), approx. 9:55 pm, TBSThe Hoosiers have the best player in this game in All-American big, Trayce Jackson-Davis. The second-best player is Sincere Carry, the star guard and former MAC Player of the Year who can go for 20-plus points anytime. The backcourt play for Indiana will decide if this is a close game or a convincing win, as the group, led by freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino, has been hot or cold. A bad game by them could put them in the same spot as Arizona.

TCU (21-22) vs Arizona State (23-12), approx. 10:05, truTVAfter dominating Nevada in the play-in game, Arizona State is looking to turn that momentum into an upset win over the Horned Frogs. TCU doesn't have big man Eddie Lampkin, but still has Mike Miles and Emanuel Miller to make a potential run. The Sun Devils' offense can be erratic at times but as Wednesday showed, can be very potent.

Either Princeton or Missouri will make the Sweet 16

With Arizona being the first big domino to fall, that opens things up in the bottom half of the South Region. It sets up a matchup between a pair of Tigers with plenty of stakes. Either Missouri will obliterate expectations in the first season with Dennis Gates as a coach (recently signed extension as well) or Princeton will be the first Ivy League program to make the Sweet 16 since Cornell in 2010. It would also join Oral Roberts and Saint Peter's as 15-seeds to make the Sweet 16. (Saturday, 6:10 pm ET, TNT)

• Furman (28-7) vs San Diego State (28-6), 12:10 pm (CBS)

• Duke (27-8) vs Tennessee (24-10), 2:40 pm (approx) (CBS)

• Kansas (28-7) vs Arkansas (21-13), 5:15 pm (approx) (CBS)

• Houston (21-12) vs Auburn (21-12), 7:10 pm (TBS)

• Texas (27-8) vs Penn State (21-13), 7:45 pm (approx) (CBS)

• UCLA (30-5) vs Northwestern (22-11), 8:40 pm (approx) (TNT)

• Alabama (30-5) vs Maryland (22-12), 9:40 pm (approx) TBS

Rock Chalk concern?

Keep an eye on this one on Saturday: Arkansas vs. Kansas. Bill Self may not be on the sideline and Arkansas has enough talent to play with 1-seed Kansas.

If there's a game that could send a 1 seed home early, this might be it, as the AFTER DARK team discusses.

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Links as you're careful to not end up with a freezing cold take, unlike those who picked Arizona to win it all.

• Illinois transfer Skyy Clark picked Louisville, minutes after the Fighting Illini lost in the NCAA Tournament.

• La Tech transfer Keaston Willis rejoined his old HC Erik Konkol at Tulsa.

• New McNeese State coach Will Wade landed another commitment, this time landing JUCO transfer and former UMass guard, Javohn Garcia.

• SI's Pat Forde made the case that the 2019 national title run by Virginia was a fluke.

• Minnesota starting forward Jamison Battle was the latest high-profile entrant to the transfer portal.

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