The 2024 NCAA Tournament was predicted by many analysts to be one of the crazier ones in recent memory. With the committee making some head-scratching decisions when it came to seeding teams and leaving some strong teams out of the field, the potential for chaos existed.
But, entering the Sweet 16 of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, things were as chalky as ever. Only one double-digit seed, North Carolina State, advanced past the first weekend. All four No. 1 seeds and all four No. 2 seeds advanced as well.
But, that chalk has disappeared after the first set of Sweet 16 games. While Connecticut asserted their dominance once again, defeating San Diego State 82-52, they were the only favorite on Thursday night to come away victorious. In the process, some history was made.
Arizona lost to Clemson, one of the Cinderellas of the tournament, if you can even consider them such a thing as a No. 6 seed, 77-72. That loss has led to the Wildcats making some ugly NCAA Tournament history.
According to OptaSTATS, that is now six consecutive NCAA Tournaments which Arizona has lost to a team seeded at least four spots below them. That is the longest streak by any team since seeding began in 1979.
Clemson will be matching up with another one of the underdogs who were victorious in the Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama defeated North Carolina in a barnburner, winning 89-87. They trailed by double-digits earlier in the game but eventually, their fast-paced style got to North Carolina, who surprisingly struggled at times offensively.
With Alabama and Clemson on a collision course in the Elite 8, more history will be made in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. As shared by Jon Rothstein, whoever wins that game will be making their first Final Four in program history.
They call it March Madness for a reason, as something wild happens every year. This has already been a historic NCAA Tournament but there is time for more history to be made with 12 teams still alive to take home the championship this season.
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