In a ridiculously short amount of time, two SEC teams fought in closely tight games they were supposed to win. And in a short amount of time, both of them lost.

And while it certainly isn’t the only cause, sportsmanship mattered. In the game that ended first, the 7 seed Florida Gators were playing play-in winner 10 seed Colorado Buffaloes. With about 8 minutes left in the game, Eddie Lampkin Jr scored a layup and got fouled to go up 79-72. Then, the Florida Coach Todd Golden started arguing with the referees about the call until he got a technical foul. Colorado made the two technical foul shots as well as the free throw for the original foul – and were then up 10. The Buffalos grew the lead to 13 after a dunk by Tristan da Silva.

But the Gators came storming back. While I was watching the other game, apparently Walter Clayton Jr scored 14 points, including two three pointers in the final 40 seconds to tie the game at 100 with 11 seconds.

But Colorado got the ball into the corner to KJ Simpson, he took a dribble down the baseline and shot the ball – and after hitting what seemed to be every part of the rim, the ball rolled in. Florida quickly threw it in to Clayton Jr, who threw a desperation three-quarter court shot that hit the backboard and almost went in. But instead the Buffaloes celebrated their trip to the second round.

Maybe it was just fate – a First Four team seems to always do damage in the tournament – so maybe it was always going to be Colorado’s game. And there was plenty of time after the technical. But Gators’ fans are going to have to ask, would the game have gone to overtime and end up a victory if the coach had not gotten a technical foul.

Meanwhile, #4 Auburn, the SEC tournament champion found themselves in a battle with Yale. Every time they would build a lead, the Bulldogs would come back. And then, with about 2 minutes left in the game, Yale’s John Poulakidas hit a three pointer to take a 73-72 lead. Yale played great defense to keep Auburn from scoring multiple times despite the Tigers getting offensive rebounds – nothing would go down, and after the teams traded a few free throws, the stage was set with 13 seconds and the Bulldogs up 4 points. Auburn passed the ball quickly up field to KD Johnson who fake a three pointer and drove to the basket for a made layup while getting fouled.

But Johnson missed the free-throw, there was a scrum for the rebound ending in a jump ball – giving the ball back to Auburn down 2 points. Off the inbounds, Auburn found Tre Donaldson under the basket, who was immediately fouled instead of being allowed to get the easy layup.

And Donaldson, a 83% FT shooter, missed the first free throw. And then he missed the second free throw (although I guess there is a question on if that was intentional). Auburn got the offensive rebound and got the ball to Jaylin Williams in the lane – but his layup to tie the game was blocked by Samson Aletan. The ball gets hit out to the three-point line, where KD Johnson picked up the ball and shot a desperate three-pointer – but it goes off the backboard and rim to end in a 2 point update for Yale’s 2nd tournament win in school history.

But you have to wonder if sportsmanship mattered here as well. That is because in the first half – just 3 minutes into the game – John Broome hit a layup to put the Tigers up 7 points. And as the players came up the court, Chad Baker-Mazara, the junior guard who is the Tiger’s 3rd best scorer at 10.3 points per game, decided it was necessary to throw an elbow at the Yale player next to him. Auburn Coach Bruce Pearl said he was wrong to do it but was retaliating for getting his in the throat earlier. But it didn’t matter – not only was it a dumb thing to do, he did it right in front of the official coming up the court. The referees reviewed it, and called a Flagrant 2 foul, which ejected Baker-Mazara from the game.

Obviously, with 37 minutes left, there was plenty of time to deal with the loss of a starter. But you have to wonder when losing a game by 2 points at the buzzer, would the result have been different if the starter had kept his cool and got to play 30+ minutes instead of 3.

And the Lunatic regrets that the two rules he remembered to follow when filling out his bracket (which after the fact is a lot more chalk than he likes to do – old age and sleep deprivation are poor partners) was that the defending champion always loses pretty early and that the national champion tends to be a top team in the KenPom ratings. The team that fit the most checkmarks from UConn’s bracket was Auburn. And UConn’s game reminded me of the Florida team from 2007 that just destroyed everyone. I forgot to put a double digit seed to the Sweet 16. I forgot that double digit ACC teams almost tend to be great upset picks. But sure – I remember to pick against the #1 overall seed by picking a team that loses to the Ivy League champion.

Don’t get me wrong – I am not bitter – complaining a little, maybe – but the Lunatic is OK. When Katie asked who we were rooting for, I told her that I sadly have to root for Auburn because they were in my final four, and yet, normally I would be rooting for Cinderella. And without missing a beat, Katie said, “Go Yale!!!!”

But for the Lunatic’s really small amount of sanity that is left, it would be really helpful for him if the next game he is going to watch is a very boring blowout. BOILER UP!!!!