Saturday has a loaded slate with some of the biggest brands in college sports on a huge stage, but the schedule also features two of the year’s big upset darlings with No. 13 seed Furman and 15-seed Princeton looking to establish themselves as true Cinderellas by punching a ticket to the tournament’s second weekend.
The No. 1 seeds from the West Region (Kansas), Midwest Region (Houston) and South Region (Alabama) all face tough tests with their seasons on the line, and each has their own concerns about being able to perform to peak potential. Throw in the expansive reach that comes with programs like Duke, UCLA, Texas and Penn State, AND Saturday’s second round will demand the attention of sports fans everywhere regardless of how broken anyone’s bracket may be.
LIVE updates: Follow along with live scores and highlights in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.
Here’s some of the biggest storylines to keep in mind for Saturday’s second-round action.
Princeton, Furman look to keep magical seasons alive
For the third season in a row, a 15 seed upset a No. 2 seed in first round of the NCAA Tournament. The last two — Oral Roberts in 2021 and Saint Peter’s in 2022 — won the next game and advanced to the Sweet 16. That’s now the challenge at hand for 15-seed Princeton, which broke the bracket open with its upset win against No. 2 seed Arizona on Thursday. Princeton has not reached the Sweet 16 since the tournament expanded, with its best finish coming from a Final Four appearance in 1965. The Tigers do have Round of 32 appearances in 1983, 1996 and 1998 but lost in each of those games. Head coach Mitch Henderson was a Princeton player for the 1996 and 1998 teams, and now he’s looking to lead his alma mater to new tournament heights when the Tigers face 7-seed Missouri.
Furman might have delivered one of the best shots and most thrilling moments we’ll get all tournament with its game-winning steal and 3-pointer in the final seconds against 4-seed Virginia. The Paladins, the 13 seed in the South Region, had not won an NCAA Tournament game since 1974, and prior to Thursday, that was the only tournament win in program history. Furman’s efforts to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since the tournament expanded will kick off Saturday’s action as the Paladins face 5-seed San Diego State.
Availability questions for Alabama, Houston and…
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