How’s your looking?
No, don’t want to talk about it? You’re not alone. Thankfully I have three of my four Final Four teams alive, but my West bracket has just one team left.
However, if some solace from the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament, there were some amazing moments — some — from those games.
Here’s a look at some of the best highlights from the opening weekend of the 2016 NCAA Tournament:
No. 12 Arkansas-Little Rock’s comeback to beat No. 5 Purdue 85-83 in double overtime ()
With five minutes to go in regulation, Purdue was up 14 points and looked as if the Boilermakers were well on their way to the second round.
Enter Josh Hagins. In those final minutes, the Trojans senior guard heated up, dishing out two assists and scoring 11 points — including a clutch 30-foot 3-pointer to force overtime.
As columnist Mark Kiszla wrote: “”
The newly turned 22-year-old Hagins finished with 31 points to send as Little Rock powered through two overtimes to advance to the second round.
No. 15 Middle Tennessee State stuns No. 2 Michigan State ()
Can you say bracket buster?
Middle Tennessee State ran off to an early 15-2 lead, putting a huge scare on the perenial favorite Spartans. But Michigan State battled back, getting the lead down to just one midway through the second half. Middle Tennessee stayed strong and finished with a 90-81 over the heavily favored Spartans.
For just the eighth time ever, a No. 15 seed advanced to the second round.
No. 11 Northern Iowa’s last-second miracle ()
Down two with mere seconds to go, Texas’ Isaiah Taylor drove down the lane and hit a clutch one-handed shot to tie the game with 2.7 seconds remaining.
Not calling a time out, Northern Iowa looked to senior guard Paul Jesperson. He received the inbounds, took a dribble and heaved a desparation 3-pointer from just beyond half court. The shot hit backboard and went in.
Northern Iowa’s last-minute blunder ()
With a 69-59 lead over No. 3 Texas A&M with 31.1 seconds left in regulation, it looked as if Northern Iowa was going to continue its Cinderella run into the Sweet Sixteen. However the Aggies had other plans on their minds, going on a 14-2 run to close out regulation and force overtime.
A&M battled through two overtimes, eventually winning 92-88 and advancing to the next round.
Late tip lifts No. 6 Notre Dame past No. 14 Stephen F. Austin ()
With 20 seconds to go, Notre Dame trailed the upstart the Lumberjacks 75-74. Jackson drove the right side of the lane and tried a circus shot that missed horribly. August grabbed the rebound and failed on his putback, before No. 0 tipped it in with his right hand to give the Fighting Irish the lead with 1.5 seconds remaining.
Iowa’s overtime buzzer-beater ()
This one was a barn-burner. Down by three with 8.4 seconds to go in the second half, Temple’s Quenton DeCosey was fouled taking a 3-pointer. Ice in his veins, he sinks all three free throws to force overtime.
In overtime, tied 70-all with seconds remaining, Iowa’s Mike Gesell overshoots the basket, but Adam Woodbury was in the right place at the right time. The center snagged the board and laid it in as time expired to carry the Hawkeyes to the win.
Cincinnati was just too late ()
Down one, St. Joseph’s Isaiah Miles nailed a 3-pointer to give the Hawks a two-point lead with seconds to go. Cincinnati pushed down the court and the ball found its way to Octavius Ellis who connected on a last-second dunk. After a review, the referees determined that it had barely missed beating the buzzer, thus ending the Bearcats’ season.
Yale holds on late to upset Baylor ()
Yale looked like it was the latest team to get an upset, holding a 13-point lead with less than seven minutes remaining in the second half. However, Baylor powered back to come within a point with seconds remaining. With seconds to go and down two, the Bears’ Lestor Medford loses the ball and ending Baylor’s hopes for 2016.
Providence bounces USC ()
Down one point, Providence freshman Drew Edwards found Rodney Bullock with an inbound bounce pass for the easy lay in with 1.4 seconds to go.
It was Providence’s first NCAA Tournament win in 19 years when the Friars made a run to the Elite Eight behind Austin Croshere and God Shammgod.
CHEW ON THIS
• Gary Kubiak says the .
• Check out on “Dancing With the Stars.”
• Peyton Manning’s .
• Rockies pitcher , MLB reporter Patrick Saunders writes.
• Former Regis High star Josh Perkins’ 2016 NCAA Tournament run continues as .
WATCH THIS
Nuggets center on Monday night.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Legendary sportscaster Bob Costas turns 63. Here’s the .
Joe Nguyen: jnguyen@denverpost.com or @joenguyen
