By: Anthony Evangelista
I had the pleasure of traveling to Providence, R.I. this past weekend to watch a thrilling sector of matchups in the Midwest region of the NCAA Tournament. With four fairly close games in the first round and a major upset in the second, the competition was fierce, with each team fighting to keep its season alive. From stunning victories to dominant second-half performances, the action in Providence set the tone for an unpredictable March Madness.
Purdue rolls past High Point
No. 4 seed Purdue took care of business against High Point, securing a convincing win in their first tournament game since its championship loss to UConn last year. The Boilermakers, led by Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn, controlled the game from the outset, using their experience and rebounding ability to overwhelm the Panthers. Despite High Point’s Juslin Bodo Bodo being one of the most talented offensive rebounders in the NCAA this season, Purdue cleared the Panthers in the category, scoring 20 second chance points and racking up a staggering 38 points in the paint.
High Point, under second-year head coach Alan Huss, battled throughout the game but struggled to find an offensive rhythm against Purdue’s defensive pressure. With just over seven minutes left, the Panthers went on a run to slice Purdue’s lead to just three, but were unable to cut into the lead any further and fell to the Boilermakers, 75-63.
High Point, in its first ever NCAA Tournament appearance, were faced with a tough Boilermaker squad that took advantage of their weaknesses and cruised to victory. High Point was able to generate its name on a national stage, but will have hurdles to overcome in the offseason, as star forward Kimani Hamilton has already entered the transfer portal with more names expected to follow.
McNeese upsets Clemson with historic first half
McNeese held off Clemson’s late comeback, squeaking out a 69-67 win against a Tigers team that couldn’t hit the side of a barn in the first 20 minutes of the game. Clemson’s 13 points in the first half were the second-least of any team in March Madness since 2010, something extremely shocking from an efficient squad like the Tigers.
With McNeese head coach Will Wade all but confirming his departure from the team to take the NC State coaching job before the game even began, the Cowboys came out with something to prove, delivering a defensive masterclass that stunned Clemson. McNeese set the tone early with relentless pressure and aggressive rebounding. Despite the off-court distractions, the Cowboys played with confidence and composure, executing their game plan to perfection. McNeese capitalized on Clemson’s offensive struggles and never let up, securing one of the tournament’s most impressive upsets.
Clemson ends their season on a sour note, with multiple question marks going into next year. Meanwhile, McNeese manager Amir Khan got to continue his reign of virality for another game, showing off his Under Armour tracksuit and raking in that NIL money. As someone who spoke with him briefly, I can confirm the rumors are true—the man has aura.
Arkansas outlasts Kansas in tight finish
Arkansas closed out a hard-fought win over Kansas, edging the Jayhawks in a back-and-forth battle, 79-72. The Razorbacks made crucial plays in the final minutes, sealing the victory with clutch free throws and key defensive stops. Kansas kept the game close, but couldn’t match Arkansas’ late surge. Hunter Dickinson closes out his collegiate career with a forgettable performance, going 4-13 with four turnovers and four fouls.
In what was the most entertaining game of the day, a Johnell Davis dagger three with just under two minutes remaining gave Arkansas a four-point lead, something that Kansas was never able to recover from. Arkansas was the second double-digit seed to win in Providence, making the Midwest region one of the more exciting sections of the bracket considering the lack of upsets this year.
St. John’s storms past Omaha after slow start
St. John’s shook off a sluggish first half to dominate Omaha in the second, using a surge of defensive intensity and transition offense to pull away. Head coach Rick Pitino’s halftime adjustments made the difference, as the Red Storm overwhelmed Omaha in the final 20 minutes, destroying the Mavericks by 30 in the Johnnies’ first NCAA Tournament win in 25 years.
Kadary Richmond and RJ Luis Jr. led the charge, combining for a significant portion of St. John’s 50-point second half. Postgame, Pitino praised his team’s ability to respond after a slow start, while players expressed confidence in their momentum heading into the next round.
ROUND OF 32- McNeese dismantled by Purdue’s fast start
Matt Painter’s squad started strong and never looked back. Purdue’s Kaufman-Renn led the charge with another standout performance, recording 22 points and 15 rebounds. Teammates Fletcher Loyer and C.J. Cox contributed 15 and 11 points, respectively. The Boilermakers established dominance early, hitting seven of their first nine field goals and building a substantial lead in the first half.
While McNeese was able to lock down Clemson in the first round, their defensive abilities didn’t hold strong for their second game, as Purdue shot 45% from the field and 42% from beyond the arc. The team’s loss marked the conclusion of a season that had been defined by resilience and defensive grit. With Wade heading to Raleigh, N.C. and most likely taking players from the roster with him, McNeese now faces an uncertain future, needing to find a new leader to build on the momentum of this historic tournament appearance.
Purdue’s victory sets up a Midwest region semifinal matchup against top-seeded Houston in Indianapolis.
ROUND OF 32- Arkansas upsets St. John’s in coaching battle for the ages
Pitino and John Calipari have faced off plenty of times in their illustrious careers, but Calipari finished off the Johnnies in an incredible manner. No. 10 seed Arkansas upset No. 2 seed St. John’s 75-66, advancing to the Sweet 16. The Razorbacks led for over 34 minutes, establishing an early advantage and maintaining control despite multiple comeback attempts by the Red Storm. Arkansas held a 13-point lead in the first half and were up by eight with eight minutes remaining. St. John’s rallied to cut the deficit to two points on three separate occasions, the last being 62-60 with 6:11 left. However, Arkansas responded with a 9-2 run to close out the game.
Pitino’s run of second half shenanigans came to a close, as the Johnnies had a good run of starting slow and finishing strong. Their first half offensive numbers were beyond subpar, shooting just 7% from beyond the arc and failing to space the floor the way they typically can. With this victory, Arkansas advances to face third-seeded Texas Tech in the Sweet 16 on Thursday.
