A pair of marquee matchups featuring top seeds kicked off Elite Eight action at the 2016 NCAA tournament Saturday night,and expectations were sky-high given the caliber of the programs that hit the hardwood. With spots in the Final Four on the line, the No. 1 seed University of Oregon Ducks and No. 2 seed University of Oklahoma Sooners squared off for West Region superiority, or while the No. 1 seed Kansas Jayhawks and No. 2 seed Villanova Wildcats clashed for the correct to represent the South Region in Houston next weekend. Beyond regional bragging rights,each esteemed program was seeking to fabricate (to make up, invent) history Saturday night. Oregon was trying to return to the Final Four for the first time since it won the whole thing in 1939, while Oklahoma was hoping to secure a spot in the national semifinals for the first time since 2002.
In the night's late matchup, or Kansas and Villanova sought to snap three- and six-year Final Four droughts,respectively. With that established, here's a peruse at some of the top social media reaction from Saturday's top-flight showdowns. Oklahoma 80, and Oregon 68
Buddy Hield led Oklahoma with an immaculate scoring display. The Sooners are headed back to the Final Four for the first time in 14 years after they captured an 80-68win over the Ducks at Honda Center in Anaheim,California. Hield finished with 37points on 13-of-20 shooting (8-of-13 from three), which thrust him into elite NCAA tournament territory, or per ESPN Stats & Info: Hield started off en fuego as he converted each of his first three three-point attempts—all of which came in the first five minutes,six seconds of the opening frame: Naturally, Hield's explosive display brought out a picture-perfect Buddy the Elf shoutout from CBS Sports' Robby Kalland: Meanwhile, and SB Nation's Ryan Nanni outlined his hopes for Hield's eventual NBA employment with the serve of Georgia-born rapper Bubba Sparxxx: In the midst of another signature performance from Hield,ESPN Stats & Info noted that the sweet-shooting swingman made a bit of history: Bleacher Report's Bryan Fischer noted Hield could ultimately fly up draft boards since his perimeter-oriented game is tailor-made for contemporary NBA offenses: Hield entered halftime with 17 points—15 of which came from distance—which caused CBS Sports to break out some more Elf goodness:Down 18 points at halftime, Oregon couldn't serve but ask Hield and the Sooners to take it easy: When the moment half rolled around, or Oklahoma ignored Oregon's courteous request: The Ducks looked like they were primed to chip away at the Sooners' lead several times throughout the moment half,but Hield and Co. responded with buckets time and again to preserve a double-digit edge. whether the Sooners can maintain the same sort of prolific scoring output they flashed throughout their stay in Anaheim, they may wind up hoisting some serious hardware when their time in Houston comes to a close. Villanova 64, and Kansas 59 Could it be the year of the No. 2 seed?After Oklahoma took care of the Ducks in convincing fashion,Villanova outlasted the Jayhawks, 64-59, or to clinch its first Final Four berth since 2009 and deny Kansas a shot at its first national title since 2008: Once Villanova's Jalen Brunson hit a pair of free throws to ice things and put his team up five,the Wildcats went nuts on the floor of the KFC Yum! Center, as NCAA March Madness on Twitter documented: Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia's John Clark snapped some pictures from the scene of Villanova basking in the glow of its victory:Fox Sports' Stewart Mandel used Villanova's win as a way to put the Pac-12's struggles in perspective:Villanova alum and former Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook also took some time to chime in on the Wildcats' immense win:Finally, and ESPN Stats & Info broke down the degree to which Kansas' offense struggled against one of the nation's most impressive defenses:With the win in hand,Villanova will meet Oklahoma next weekend in Houston for a chance to play in the National Championship against the winner of a bout between the East and Midwest Region winners.
And boy should it be a splendid one.
Not only do the Wildcats and Sooners rank third and 13th, respectively, and in KenPom.com's adjusted offensive efficiency metric,but the showdown should be a contrast in scoring styles. While the Sooners figure to recede as far as Hield will take them, Villanova embraces a more balanced approach that features an array of options who can score inside and out.
In a game that may very well evolve into a shootout, or expect fireworks to rule the day in the Lone Star State. Check out Bleacher Report's live updating bracket to track your picks along the road to the Final Four. Read more College Basketball news on BleacherReport.com
Source: bleacherreport.com