Something had to give way on Saturday night, when number 3 for the Houston head team and number 11 for the Syracuse team met at Sweet 16. The Cougars came in as one of the best 3-point defenses in the country, but Orange it was going a long way from some prolific shooting by junior guard Buddy Boeheim.
In the end, the defense won the day when Houston took down Syracuse 62-46 and limited Orange to just 5 of 23 shots beyond the arc. Overall, Syracuse hit only 28% of the shots.
Houston’s offensive effort against zone 2-3 of Syracuse was by no means excellent, but the Cougars did enough to advance to play 12th place at Oregon State at Monday’s Elite Eight. Quentin Grimes led Houston with 14 points, Justin Gorham contributed 13 and Marcus Sasser with 12.
The Cougars were among the four teams that got their ticket to the Elite Eight on Saturday, joining Oregon State, Baylor and Arkansas. Four more will join the group on Sunday. But for now, here are some topics from Saturday’s Sweet 16 action.
Coach children face off
When Baylor and third-placed Arkansas come into play on Monday with a Final Four seat in play, it will be a battle of great strains of basketball. Baylor coach Scott Drew’s father Homer Drew is the most winning coach of all time at Valparaiso University. Arkansas coach Eric Musselman’s father Bill was a former college and NBA coach during his career.
“Everyone has their own story, but when you’re around, or you fall in love with it – and I know a lot of coaches’ kids who don’t do it because it’s a difficult life,” said Musselman. “It’s a conversation that my mother and I had several, several times when I decided to get into coaching, how difficult it is. Coaches are fired and it affects the family. But it is what I loved. But I was warned by my mother, I love you. I promise that. “
Easy way to Houston
If Houston wins 12th place at Oregon State on Monday, he will have defeated four double-digit seed heads on the way to Final Four. There is no doubt that it is a remarkable stroke of luck for the Cougars, who reached the Final Four in 1984. In fact, Houston will become the first team to play four double-digit seeds in the same NCAA Tournament.
Of course, taking down the Beavers will not be easy. Oregon State defeated Loyola Chicago 65-58 on Saturday. But there is no doubt that the confrontation is much more favorable than having to play first place in Illinois, which was defeated in the second round by Loyola Chicago. The first games of Illinois, West Virginia number 3 and Oklahoma State seed No. 4 opened the door to Houston, and the Cougars are taking advantage.
Saluting Villanova
The Wildcats were left to die by many when point guard Collin Gillespie was lost this season due to a knee injury earlier this month. Villanova lost his first two games without Gillespie and was a fashion choice to be defeated by number 12 of the Winthrop championship in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
But instead of giving up without a key player, Villanova won two games in the NCAA Tournament and reached his seventh Sweet 16 under coach Jay Wright. Before giving up with a 62-51 loss to first-placed Baylor on Saturday, the Wildcats scared the Bears by winning 30-23 at halftime. Altogether, Villanova can keep his head up based on what he has achieved and surpassed this season.
2021 NCAA Tournament TV schedule
CBS Sports will be with you all the way, updating this story with the latest news from each game in the second round on Saturday. Keep it locked here for scores, analysis and highlights throughout the night.