March Madness Round 2 winners, losers spawn Big Ten dominance
USA Today • • sports
Key Points:
- The Big Ten leads all conferences with six teams advancing to the Sweet 16, including No. 1 Michigan, No. 2 Purdue, and No. 9 Iowa, showcasing strong performance in the second round with a 6-1 record.
- No. 9 Iowa upset No. 1 seed and defending champion Florida with a last-second three-pointer, marking Iowa’s first Sweet 16 appearance since 1999 and adding unexpected drama to the tournament.
- Nebraska secured a dramatic win over No. 5 Vanderbilt with a last-second layup, continuing their strong tournament run following their first-ever tournament win earlier in the week.
- John Calipari’s Arkansas team advanced to the Sweet 16 for the second straight year, improving their three-point shooting significantly in their win over No. 12 High Point.
- Several notable programs were eliminated, including Florida, Kentucky (in a lopsided loss to Iowa State), and Kansas, who fell to St. John’s on a buzzer-beater, highlighting the unpredictability and competitiveness of this year’s tournament.
