Save the most effective for final.
The last recreation of the men’s NCAA Tournament first spherical was, after all, an exciting bracket-buster. Abilene Christian, a mid-major program that simply joined Division I in 2013, shocked No. 3 Texas — a Final Four contender — 53-52 on Saturday.
The Wildcats (24-4) are the most recent Cinderella, following within the footsteps of Oral Roberts (upset Ohio State on Friday), No. 13 North Texas (upset Purdue on Friday) and No. 13 Ohio (upset Virginia on Saturday).
Abilene Christian ahead Joe Pleasant – a 59% free-throw shooter – made two free throws with 1.2 seconds left to seal the large win.
Senior guard Coryon Mason led the cost for the Wildcats offensively, ending with 11 factors – together with a vital working lay-up with 4:29 left to tie the rating at 47 and take again the sport’s momentum. It was a collective effort for coach Joe Golding’s group, with Pleasant (11 factors and 7 rebounds) arising huge towards a extra athletic Texas group.
The Wildcats, the Southland Conference champions, did not beat the Big 12 match champion Longhorns with a hot-shooting offense, solely going 3-for-18 from three-point vary. But they took down Texas with hustle performs, out-rebounding the Longhorns 39-32 and forcing them right into a season-high 23 turnovers. Abilene had 12 second-chance factors, in contrast to zero for Texas.
Those defensive stats ought to come as no shock, although. Abilene Christian leads the nation in turnover margin and has a stifling protection that ranks seventh nationally with 60.5 factors allowed.
UCLA coach Mick Cronin instructed reporters after his group’s first-round win over BYU: “Obviously they have a great coach. If somebody forces 20 (plus) turnovers a game, that’s unbelievable. Somebody told me Texas had 23 turnovers. They’ve got seniors. They’ve got serious guards. That means Abilene Christian is really, really good.”
Andrew Jones led Texas with 13 factors. The loss brings a disappointing shut to Texas’ season, ending 19-7. Coach Shaka Smart’s job standing was in query in the beginning of the season and now a disappointing NCAA Tournament exit may restart that narrative.
Follow faculty basketball reporter Scott Gleeson on Twitter @ScottMGleeson.
