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NCAA Tournament: UCLA Basketball Advances; Villanova, Duke and USC Do Not

By Mike Regalado

Mar 19, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) shoots the basketball against Cincinnati Bearcats forward Kyle Washington (24) during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) shoots the basketball against Cincinnati Bearcats forward Kyle Washington (24) during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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The first weekend of the NCAA Tournament is over and Go Joe Bruin takes a look at the winners and shockers (sorry Wichita St.) in the Big Dance, which includes the UCLA Basketball team advancing to the Sweet 16.

Well that was an eventful first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. For UCLA Basketball fans, the fervor of beating #6 Cincinnati will echo all week long, but there are other fan bases that have reason to cheer… and then there are those that do not.

The Sweet 16 is set, but not before four days of intense college basketball, which has been very fun to watch.

So let us take a look at the winners, losers, upsets and the next set of games in the Sweet 16.

Movie’ On Up

Three #1 seeds are moving on as Kansas, Gonzaga and North Carolina took care of business. The outlier… defending champion Villanova, which we will get into later, is done.

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Along with that, two #2 seeds, Arizona and Kentucky advanced as well as #3 seeds UCLA, Oregon and Baylor (who played a tough game against USC).

All four #4 seeds have advanced as Florida, Purdue, West Virginia and Butler all handled their own and have made it to the Sweet 16.

And then there are the four upsets…

Upset City, Baby!

#11 Xavier had brutalized #3 Florida State, 91-66, though it can be argued that #8 Wisconsin’s win over reigning champ Villanova was more of an upset… but was it? This is the fourth year in a row the Badgers have made the Sweet 16, the only team that can make that claim.

And how about South Carolina knocking off #2 Duke, a team many believed to be a 1-seed? Though they weren’t the only #2 seeded team to fall flat on their face. #7 Michigan punched #2 Louisville in the face to move on to the Sweet 16.

It’s Over, Go Home!

That is right, Michigan State, Wichita State, St. Mary’s, Notre Dame and Virginia are all going home. Additionally, certain fanbases will express joy knowing that Duke, Villanova, Florida State and Louisville are all going home.

Well Played!

And how about the teams that put forward a huge effort in this NCAA Tournament? Though we were sad to see them go, Northwestern put up two hard-fought games, but their magical season came to an end against Gonzaga. Middle Tennessee St. had one of the first upsets in the tourney against Minnesota, but could not keep up against Butler.

Finally, and some of you may not like this, but congrats to USC Basketball for their amazing season. They beat UCLA in conference, beat Providence in a First Four game, smacked around SMU and then nearly beat Baylor. Well played, Trojans. Hey, at least they aren’t USC Football.

Next: Alford Can Prove a Point With a Sweet 16 Win

Here are the Sweet 16 Matchups: (East Region) #8 Wisconsin vs. #4 Florida, #3 Baylor vs. #7 South Carolina, (Midwest Region) #1 Kansas vs. #4 Purdue, #3 Oregon vs. #7 Michigan, (West Region) #1 Gonzaga vs. #4 West Virginia, #11 Xavier vs. #2 Arizona, (South Region) #1 North Carolina vs. #4 Butler, #3 UCLA vs. #2 Kentucky