COLUMBUS- The number three seeds failed to display the strength of final four teams so far in the NCAA Tournament.
Iowa State and Baylor failed to advance to round 3 as the offenses looked flat-out dismal. The Cyclones scored a meager 59 points in the loss to the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) while Baylor was equally as ineffective as they scored 56 points in the 57-56 loss to Georgia State. Notre Dame barely survived against Northeastern 69-65.
The Oklahoma Sooners faces the 14 seed Albany Great Danes tonight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on TruTV. Albany has one of the best defenses in the nation, giving up 60.2 points per game, ranking 23rd in the nation. The Great Danes score only 65.5 points per games, ranking 102nd in the nation.
The Sooners are more balanced, ranking 43rd in points per game (71.9) and 44th in points given up (62.8).
The Great Danes will likely hinder the Sooner’s offense. If brief history is any indication, this will be a very close game with the possibility of a game winning shot at the buzzer. Sooners head Coach Lon Kruger must have his team ready to battle from the tipoff to the final buzzer.
The 14 seeds played outstanding defense so far including Northeastern. College basketball fans, even Sooners fans, have to feel a sense of nervousness as the number 3 seeds were outplayed with the exception of Notre Dame.
Iowa State, Baylor, VCU and Baylor were early victims. Number 4 seed North Carolina, #8 Cincinnati and #8 North Carolina State almost joined their fate.
Oklahoma could be the third number three seed to be eliminated in what was a turbulent round 2 for several top seeds.