March Madness Sweet 16 Recap: Alabama Upsets North Carolina, Terrence Shannon Jr. Shines, and Clemson Makes History

basketball
March 29, 2024
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After a few days without a game, March Madness resumed tonight with the start of the Sweet 16. The 16 best teams in the country meet with the goal of reaching the quarterfinals. Spoiler, there will be no North Carolina, despite being seeded #1. Results, performances, highlights, highlights… here’s the full recap!

The scores

West Region

North Carolina (#1) – Alabama (#4) : 87-89
Arizona (#2) – Clemson (#6) : 72-77

East Region

UConn (#1) – San Diego State (#5) : 82-52
Iowa State (#2) – Illinois (#3) : 69-72

La surprise : Alabama tape North Carolina

As one of the four #1 seeds in March Madness 2024, North Carolina will not see the Final Four. Not even the Elite Eight. The men of Hubert Davis (former Knicks player in the 1990s) fell against Alabama, the fault of a poor start to the second half. The Tar Heels’ executioner is called Grant Nelson: 24 points (10/13 on free throws), 12 rebounds and 5 blocks for him! The latter also showed himself well clutch in the last five minutes to swing the match in favor of Alabama. Opposite, Armando Bacot (19 points, 12 rebounds) and RJ Davis (4/20 shooting, 0/9 3-pointers) were unable to do anything.

This is only the second time in its history that Alabama – a university best known for its US Football team – has qualified for the Elite Eight of March Madness.

Alabama’s 6’11 Grant Nelson went off today

24 points
12 rebounds
5 blocks
67% FG

A very rare combination of athleticism, skill and defensive versatility as a 6’11 4… made money this game

Alabama to the elite 8 pic.twitter.com/WwNJg8HIHg

— PDT (@PDTScouting) March 29, 2024

The performance: the 29 points of Terrence Shannon Jr. (Illinois)

Facing the best defense in the country (Iowa State), Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr. pulled out all the stops: 29 points (10/19 shooting, 4/10 3-pointers, 20 points in the first half). time), 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 interceptions in… 22 minutes. Yes, only 22 minutes, Shannon Jr. being hampered by fouls. Needless to say, he was super hot when he was on the floor at TD Garden (Boston). It was he, Terrence Shannon Jr., who carried Illinois on offense, and who made the decisive interception to bury Iowa State.

Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 29 to lead Illinois to its first Elite 8 appearance in 19 years pic.twitter.com/0ekoG0FZl9

— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) March 29, 2024

Terrence Shannon Jr. and Illinois will now face defending champion UConn, who defeated San Diego State (finalist last year) by winning 82-52.

The highlight: the madness at Clemson

For only the second time in the history of Clemson University (South Carolina), the basketball team will play in the Elite Eight of March Madness. The Tigers ate the Arizona Wildcats – although favorites – at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. You only need to see the incredible atmosphere on the university campus to understand the magnitude of the feat.

The scenes from downtown Clemson after the Tigers defeated No. 2 Arizona to advance to the Elite Eight for the second time in program history. pic.twitter.com/XHBG8aXmqu

— Justin Robertson (@j_probertson) March 29, 2024

Clemson will now meet Alabama for a unique place in the Final Four, which will take place this year in… Arizona.