Oral Roberts (a 15-seed) reached the sweet 16 (after going through Ohio State and Florida). First time a 15-seed has reached the S16 since FGCU in 2013.
Back in 2018, Loyola Chicago reached the Final 4. This year they reached the Sweet 16.
The Oregon State Beavers knocked them off to reach the Elite 8 (before losing to Houston).
There were actually 5 Pac-12 teams in and 3 of them reached the Elite 8. If the Ducks didn't have to play USC in the Sweet 16, there may have been 4. UCLA advanced to the Final 4.
And this was the 2nd time Gonzaga reached the NCAA Championship.
You notice who's not in the tournament this year? Neither Kentucky or Duke. Been decades since that happened.
Without further ado, I give to you, the 2021 gallery...
BEAVS REACH ELITE 8
This was a pretty improbable run. Not too many outside Oregon pay attention to the Beavers, but they have had some solid players - like Gary Payton - come through their program. Still, the last time they did anything significant was the 80s and they were picked to finish dead last this year. When they lost to Portland and Wyoming (early in the year), everyone figured, here we go again. But the Beavs - probably not even on the bubble at season's end - won the Pac-12 tournament to earn an auto-berth. And anyone who saw them play, knew they were capable of advancing in March. Well, they beat Tennessee, Oklahoma State, and when they faced Loyola-Chicago, everyone said the Beavs would lose, mainly because Loyola reached the Final 4 back in '18. When the Beavs won and shut everyone up, it was sweet. They couldn't get past Houston, but still, it was a magical run and a beautiful thing to watch.
They were led by Ethan Thompson, a versatile guard who led the team in scoring, and Alatishe, an athletic post guy who led the team in rebounds and blocked shots. #GoBeavs!
BRUINS REACH FINAL 4
This is another pretty improbable run, mainly because UCLA was a play-in team, an 11-seed, and nobody in the nation gave them a fighting chance. Especially given that they limped into the tournament, losing their last 4 games and 6 of their last 10. But what's interesting is Mick Cronin (long-time Cincinnati coach) took over last year (Covid), so the first time UCLA is post-season eligible - under his watch - he gets them to the final 4. They beat 11-Michigan State in their play-in, beat 2-seed Alabama (by 10 in OT) and 1-seed Michigan, then lost to Gonzaga (by 3 in OT).
Johnny Juzang was their high scorer at 16 ppg, but 6 guys averaged 10+ ppg on the year. A lot of guys pounded the glass, they got after it defensively, and they shot the ball well. Cronin did a good job.
Wooden Watch
Over the last 4 years, this award has gone to Frank Mason III (Kansas), Jalen Brunson (Nova), Zion Williamson (Duke), Obi Toppin (Dayton), and now...
Luka Garza, Iowa
He is the 2021 recipient of the Wooden Award after averaging 24 points and 9 boards per game. His Hawkeyes were ousted by the Ducks before the Sweet 16. He was drafted in the 2nd round by Detroit.
Corey Kispert, Gonzaga
This guy started 7 games his Freshman year and averaged 6.7 ppg. By his Senior year, he was averaging 19 ppg while shooting over 50% from the floor and 44% downtown. He really developed into a star and was up for Player of the Year honors, ultimately landing him with the 15th pick in the NBA draft.
Jared Butler, Baylor
Most Outstanding Player of Final 4
STUDS
Moses Wright, Georgia Tech
Like Kispert, he improved every year. By his Senior season, he was Mr. Everything - passing, rebounds, scoring, dunking, blocking. He got Georgia Tech into the dance, where they made a quick exit at the hands of Loyola Chicago.
Evan Mobley, USC
Propelled USC to the Elite 8. Won Player of the Year, Defensive P.O.Y, and Freshman of the Year.
The Journey
Highlights of 2021:
Covid is still fresh on everyone's minds. Many games throughout the season had been cancelled. And the first-four-out were named as replacements should any schools have to bow out. Those teams were Louisville, Colorado St., St. Louis, and Mississippi.
Gonzaga was named the top overall seed. Michigan, Baylor, and Illinois were the other 1-seeds.
Illinois was the first domino to fall (to Loyola-Chicago in the 2nd round).
The Pac-12 had a good showing...
UCLA reached the Final 4 as a play-in (11-seed)
7-seed Oregon got a forfeit win over VCU, then knocked off 2-seed Iowa to reach the sweet 16
USC reached the Elite 8 after beating the Ducks
Oregon State reached the Elite 8 after beating Loyola-Chicago
Colorado did get 1 win, so the Pac-12 finished with a 14-5 tournament record.
The final 4 was 1-Gonzaga vs 11-UCLA and 1-Baylor vs 2-Houston
Gonzaga did reach the finals where they got throttled by Baylor.
Lowest seed to sneak into the Final-4:
11-UCLA beat 11-Michigan St (play-in game), 6-BYU, 14-AbileneC, 2-Bama, 1-Mich
Lowest seeds to sneak into the Elite-8:
12-Oregon State (beat 5-Tennessee, 4-Oklahoma State, 8-Loyola Chicago)
11-UCLA
6-USC (beat 11-Drake, 3-Kansas, 7-Oregon)
Lowest seed to advance into the Sweet-16:
15-seed Oral Roberts (beat 2-Ohio State and 7-Florida)
12 Oregon State
11 Syracuse (beat San Diego St and West Virginia)
11 UCLA
Top seeds bounced before the Sweet-16:
1-Illini
2-Ohio St
2-Iowa
3-Texas
3-Kansas
4-West Virginia
4-Virginia
4-Purdue
4-Oklahoma St.
At least 1 of every 1-8 seed reached the Sweet 16
West got 1-5-6-7 seeds to the Sweet 16
East had 1-2-4-11
South 1-3-5-15
MW 2-8-11-12 (Upset City)
Elite 8:
1 Zags over 6-USC
11 UCLA UPSET 1 Mich
1 Baylor over 3-Arkansas (about the only sane game)
2 Houston over 12-Oregon St.
Final 4:
1-Gonzaga over 11-UCLA
1-Baylor over 2-Houston
THE UPSETS...
Based on seeds, there were 18 upsets, none bigger than...
ORU over OSU
15-seeded Oral Roberts took down 2-seed Ohio State Buckeyes in the 1st round
ORU also eliminated 7-seed Florida
...en route to the Sweet 16
Abilene Christian hooked the Horns
ACU's 2nd time dancing, 1st tournament win
Ayo Dosunmu after Illini lost
Illinois was the 1st 1-seed to fall, to Loyola-Chicago in the 2nd round
These are other upsets not already mentioned...
13-N.Texas beat 4-Purdue
13-Ohio over 4-UVA
7-Oregon beat 2-Iowa
11-Syracuse over 3-WVU
10-Maryland over 7-UConn
9-Wisconsin over 8-UNC
11-Syracuse beat 6-SDSU
10-Rutgers over 7-Clemson
Coaches...
q1Roy Williams retired, Mark Few had a 2nd chance, Scott Drew got his first National Championship, and Bill Self continues to disappoint, by fans' standards.
Scott Drew, Baylor. This year was his 12th year at Baylor and aside from an early exit at the hands of Georgia State, this might have been his best work, because 2 BIG men left after last season, and many did not predict this team to make it to the tournament.
Mark Few, Gonzaga
He's been the head coach of Gonzaga since 1999. The Zags seem to dance every year, but never won it all. They were a runner up back in '17 and that's how far they got this year.
Few has made the Gonzaga program what it is today. Many schools in larger conferences have tried to pry him, but he's stayed put, showing loyalty to the school and his players.
Roy Williams, North Carolina
Coached 15 years at Kansas, but previously was an asst to Dean Smith (at UNC). He began coaching the Tar Heels in 2003. This year, the Heels got throttled by Wisconsin in the first round and that's the first time that's happened to Roy. His first round record is now 29-1. Following the loss, he stepped down as head coach.
Only missed NCAA tourney twice and won it all 3 times. He's a legend and already in the Hall of Fame.
Dana Altman, Oregon
Dana came to Oregon by way of Creighton back in 2010 and he's signed through 2027-28 season. He's a master strategist with a fiery spirit, and shown a great ability to reload the roster after studs have departed. The Ducks got a free pass to the 2nd round, then upset Garza 2-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes, before losing to USC in the Sweet 16.
Bill Self, Kansas
He's been at Kansas as long as Roy Williams has been at North Carolina, because he took over for him when he left. Fans continually criticize Bill, because he only has 1 title in 14 years at KU and his teams always seem to under-achieve. As a 3-seed they got slaughtered by USC in the 2nd round, so they failed to reach the Sweet 16.
John Calipari, Kentucky
Calipari is the inventor of the motion offense, and continually recruits the top players in the nation. He's considered one of the best coaches in basketball, but he was fired from the 76ers and has only 1 NCAA championship. Still, he turned UMass and Memphis into contenders. Back in 1996 he coached a Marcus Camby-led UMass team to a Final 4 and was named coach of the year that year. After that is when he was hired by the 76ers and eventually fired. He coached at Memphis for 10 years. He was there when Dorsey and Rose lost to Bill Self's Jayhawks in the 2008 championship. Small world huh? Calipari has been at UK since 2009 and won it all when Anthony Davis was there back in 2012. They were undefeated in the SEC that year and had 2 losses all year. In 2015 they were undefeated all year until they lost in the Final 4. Calipari's main problem at Kentucky is that many of his recruits go pro after 1 year, so they're typically young teams.
He is the 2021 recipient of the Wooden Award after averaging 24 points and 9 boards per game. His Hawkeyes were ousted by the Ducks before the Sweet 16. He was drafted in the 2nd round by Detroit.
This guy started 7 games his Freshman year and averaged 6.7 ppg. By his Senior year, he was averaging 19 ppg while shooting over 50% from the floor and 44% downtown. He really developed into a star and was up for Player of the Year honors, ultimately landing him with the 15th pick in the NBA draft.
Most Outstanding Player of Final 4
Like Kispert, he improved every year. By his Senior season, he was Mr. Everything - passing, rebounds, scoring, dunking, blocking. He got Georgia Tech into the dance, where they made a quick exit at the hands of Loyola Chicago.
Propelled USC to the Elite 8. Won Player of the Year, Defensive P.O.Y, and Freshman of the Year.
15-seeded Oral Roberts took down 2-seed Ohio State Buckeyes in the 1st round
...en route to the Sweet 16
ACU's 2nd time dancing, 1st tournament win
Illinois was the 1st 1-seed to fall, to Loyola-Chicago in the 2nd round
