In a game of runs, the team that went on the final streak was the UConn Huskies.  Shabizz Napier scored 25 points and hit some key shots at the end of the game as the Spartans were trying to tie the game.

It was an amazing run for Tom Izzo.   Izzo has now coached at Michigan State for 19 years, and this is the first time one of his recruiting classes did not make it to the Final Four.  Unfortunately for him (and fortunately for the rest of the Big 10), that recruiting pitch will now have to say the Elite 8 (which is still an incredible streak).

In an interesting turn of events, this year’s tournament is trying to make it hard for me to make my statement.   Almost every year, you get to the point that the final teams remaining have either won a share of their conference’s regular season championship or they won their conference tournament.   However, with three teams now having made it to the Final Four, only Florida can make that claim.  Wonder if that bodes well for Kentucky in the final regional championship.