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Defending Champs Have Early Exit

It didn't take long for the first major upset of the NCAA Tournament. After an opening round of several blowouts, the second round featured three buzzer beaters with lower seeds eliminating favorites.

None was bigger than ninth-seeded Iowa upending the defending champions, Florida Gators 73-72 in front of a pro gator crowd in Tampa. The Hawkeyes stunned Florida on a three-point shot by Alvaro Folgueria with 4.5 seconds remaining to send Iowa to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999.

Iowa outplayed Florida throughout the game building a 12-point lead. However, the champs came storming back to take a four-point lead in the final minutes only see it get snatched away in the end.

Florida, who beat their opening round opponent, Prairie View A&M by 59 points two days earlier became the first No. 1 seed to exit this year's tournament This means that eight of the past nine national champions have failed to make the Sweet 16 one year after winning it all. The loss also ensures there will not be an all-No. 1 seed Final Four after all the top teams in the bracket made it last season.

Earlier in the day, St John's defeated Kansas 67-65 on Dylan Darling's first made bucket of the game with 3.9 seconds to go. St. John's wilted away 13 with point lead in the final seven minutes of the game as Kansas had an opportunity to steal away the win.

Braden Frager made a driving layup with 2.2 seconds to go to lift Nebraska past Vanderbilt in another thriller. Nebraska won their very first NCAA Tournament game in school history on Thursday and now are advancing to their first Sweet 16.

Sweet 16

Thursday, West Regional in San Jose

4:10 PM - #11 Texas vs. #2 Purdue -7.5

6:45 PM - #4 Arkansas vs. #1 Arizona -8-5

Thursday, South Regional in Houston

4:30 PM - #9 Iowa vs. #4 Nebraska -1.5

7:05 PM - #3 Illinois vs #2 Houston -3.5

Friday, East Regional in Washington DC

4:10 PM - #5 St. John's vs #1 Duke -6.5

6:45 PM - #3 Michigan State vs #2 UConn -2.5

Friday Midwest Regional in Chicago

4:30 PM - #4 Alabama vs #1 Michigan -9.5