03/20/2008

13 of today's games were decided by double digits which ties a record for most in one day.

Portland State was the 8th team that played their first tournament game against Kansas.  That ties a tournament record with Notre Dame.

Belmont's 70 points is the most they have scored in 3 tournament games.  Their previous high was 55 against Georgetown in last year's first round.  The 71 points that Duke scored is also the fewest Belmont has allowed.  The previous low was by UCLA in the 2006 first round.

With Arizona's loss, they have failed to make the Sweet Sixteen for the third consecutive year.  This is the longest such streak since 11 straight years without a Sweet Sixteen from 1977-1987.

With their loss, Brigham Young extends their record of most appearances without a final four.  They have now appeared in 24 tournaments with no final four.

Brigham Young has now lost 7 tournament games in a row.

UCLA is now 24-1 when playing in the state of California in the tournament.

Mississippi Valley's 29 points are tied for the 5th fewest points in a game in tournament history and the fewest since 1946.  It is the fewest points that UCLA has ever allowed in the tournament in 129 games.  Their previous low allowed was 38 vs. New Mexico State in the 1969 Sweet Sixteen.

Cal State-Fullerton's 56 points is the fewest they have scored in 4 tournament games.  Their previous low was 58 vs. Arkansas in the 1978 Elite Eight.

Kansas State wins in the tournament for the first time since 1988 when they defeated Purdue 73-70 in the Sweet Sixteen.

Frank Martin of Kansas State gets his first ever tournament victory.

Southern Cal is now 0-6 when allowing 80 or more points.

Southern Cal has now played a tournament record 27 games without playing the same school twice.

Notre Dame's victory was their first in the tournament since 2003 when the defeated Illinois 68-60 in the second round.

With Pittsburgh and Notre Dame's victories in Denver, the Big East Conference is now 12-0 when playing in Denver.  That is the best record by any conference at a single location city.

Purdue's victory is their 10th consecutive in the first round.

Baylor has the longest drought of any school since their last tournament win.  They last won a tournament game on March 23, 1950.

Marquette's victory over Kentucky was their 6th all-time in the tournament.  It ties a record for the most victories by one school over another.  Kentucky has also defeated Utah in 6 tournament games.

It was also Marquette's first tournament victory since the 2003 Elite Eight when they also defeated Kentucky.

Marquette's victory was their first as a member of the Big East.  They lost in the first round the previous 2 years.

With Kentucky's loss, it will be the first time since 1991 that Kentucky has not been in the second round of the tournament.  They were not in the tournament that year.  It was their first opening round loss since 1987 when they lost to Ohio State.

Oral Robert's 63 points were their lowest in 6 tournament games.  Their previous low was 78 versus Memphis in the 2006 first round.  The 82 points allowed tied the fewest they have allowed.  They also allowed 82 against Syracuse in the 1974 first round.

Michigan State is now 2-0 vs Temple in the tournament.  They also defeated Temple 69-62 in the 2001 Elite Eight.

Michigan State ends a 3 game losing streak in even numbered years.  Their last win in an even numbered year was the 2000 National Championship game.

After losing the first 6 years, the automatic qualifier from the Mountain West Conference has won in the first round two consecutive years.  UNLV was also the automatic qualifier last year.

UNLV is now 6-0 when allowing fewer than 60 points in the tournament.

Lon Kruger of UNLV becomes the first coach to ever win 3 tournament games with 4 different schools in the tournament (Kansas State, Illinois, Florida and UNLV).

Mt. St. Mary's victory on Tuesday was their first in 3 tournament games.  It also was the most points they have scored in a tournament game and the fewest they have allowed.

Coppin State became the first team with a losing record to lose the play-in game.  The previous four teams that had losing records won the play-in game.