{"id":13870,"date":"2018-03-19T17:03:47","date_gmt":"2018-03-19T21:03:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=13870"},"modified":"2024-12-14T17:04:14","modified_gmt":"2024-12-14T22:04:14","slug":"ncaa-tournament-storylines-from-round-2-east-region","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2018\/03\/19\/ncaa-tournament-storylines-from-round-2-east-region\/","title":{"rendered":"NCAA Tournament: Storylines from Round Two of the East Region"},"content":{"rendered":"

Unlike other areas<\/a> of this year\u2019s NCAA brackets<\/a>, the East region has been one with few upsets or surprises thus far. With that being said, these storylines from Round 2 of the East Region prove why this portion of the bracket<\/a> will still provide excitement throughout the month of March.<\/p>\n

NCAA Tournament: Storylines from Round 2 of the East Region<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Villanova is No Joke<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Aside from Villanova\u2019s Donte DiVincenzo<\/a> <\/strong>putting up a clinic from behind the arc in the first half, there was not much to ride home about for the Wildcats as both Mikal Bridges<\/a> <\/strong>and Jalen Brunson<\/a><\/strong> were practically nonexistent.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, Jay Wright\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> team opened up the second half with a 9-0 run and never looked back from there. Bridges also woke up and scored 22 second-half points, finishing 5-8 from three-point range. Collin Sexton\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> 17 points were not enough to help the Crimson Tide pull of the upset in what was likely his final collegiate game before he enters the NBA Draft.<\/p>\n

Thanks to their 17 3-pointers against the Tide, the Wildcats of Villanova will be heading back to the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in the last five seasons.<\/p>\n

The Mountaineers still own the State of West Virginia<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Although the Marshall Thundering Herd looked as if they might be able to compete with the in-state rivals, West Virginia shattered those thoughts early as they led by 17 points at the half. Behind 28 points from senior Jevon Carter<\/strong><\/a> and forward Lamont West<\/strong><\/a> notching his first career double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds), the Mountaineers were able to knock off Marshall for the sixth straight time.<\/p>\n

For the second consecutive season, Bob Huggins<\/strong><\/a> has his West Virginia squad in the Sweet 16 as they will be forced to take on the top-seeded Villanova Wildcats.<\/p>\n

Texas Tech holds on Against the Gators<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Red Raiders avoided heartbreak in their second-round matchup after the Gators missed multiple open looks from three in the closing seconds of the game. The performance of Texas Tech guard Zhaire Smith<\/strong><\/a> proved to be a difference maker as he finished with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists.<\/p>\n

This means that for the first time since 2005, Texas Tech is headed to the Sweet 16 for a date with the 2-seed Purdue Boilermakers.<\/p>\n

Purdue Gets the Job Done without Haas<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Although he had been ruled out for the remainder of the season less than 24 hours prior, reports surfaced early Sunday morning that Purdue center Isaac Haas<\/strong><\/a> may actually be able to play despite a broken elbow. Nevertheless, the elbow brace for Haas was not cleared by the NCAA and ultimately meant that Purdue would be forced to keep their dreams alive without the 7-foot center.<\/p>\n

Even with Butler\u2019s Kelan Martin<\/strong><\/a> putting up a game-high 29 points, the Boilermakers were able to hold on for the 76-73 victory thanks to Vincent Edwards\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> 20 points. This marks the first time in program history that Purdue has reached 30 wins in a season, with multiple games still potentially left to be played.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n