Always one of the most competitive first round games, both UConn and Butler held on down the stretch to advance on to Saturday where they await their next opponent in the NCAA Tournament.
For the Huskies, they rallied from an 11-point deficit to beat Colorado 74-67, using their stifling defense to overwhelm the Buffaloes throughout the second half. For the Bulldogs, their offensive efficiency was eventually too much for Texas Tech, using 41 second half points to extend their two-point lead at halftime.
Rodney Purvis and Daniel Hamilton ran the show for Kevin Ollie and company, while it was Kellen Dunham who lit up the Red Raiders for 23 points. Awaiting each school will likely be a No. 1 seed, and the challenge of overcoming the odds to reach the Sweet 16.
UConn looks like they’ll get Kansas, who is in the midst of blowing out Austin Peay in Des Moines. Butler will see a Virginia team taking care of Hampton in the first round, though the top storyline there is the fact that head coach Tony Bennett collapsed on the sideline and had to be treated in the locker room.
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