For the first time in NCAA tournament history, zero one-seed teams advanced to the Elite Eight. San Diego State and Miami both upset their one-seed opponents Friday night to knock out the two remaining one seeds. This also led to a lot (and I mean a lot) of trashed brackets.

Thursday night saw two of the best played games to this point in the tournament. First Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell had a performance for the ages.

HISTORIC PERFORMANCE FROM MARKQUIS NOWELL‼️

He dished 19 assists to set the NCAA Tournament single-game record 😳 pic.twitter.com/ne5u0ogKCW

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 24, 2023

And he’s fun to watch. Really fun.

Fake arguing with your coach to distract the defense before throwing a half-look pass for a reverse alley-oop to break a 92-92 tie in the final minute of OT in a Sweet 16 game at MSG might be the coolest shit I’ve ever seen pic.twitter.com/10E8CJEvkW

— Mike Rutherford (@CardChronicle) March 24, 2023

Oh and this happened right before the play. Baller.

“Watch this.” 👀

Markquis Nowell (@MrNewYorkCityy) had some words for IT & Mateen Cleaves before he dropped that ridiculous lob to Keyontae Johnson 🥶#MarchMadness @KStateMBB pic.twitter.com/hDu5eu4e4q

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 24, 2023

Nowell’s Wildcats survived overtime, this first and only overtime game this year, and a tough Michigan State to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1964.

Gonzaga and UCLA renewed acquittances once again. These two teams battled in a classic at the 2021 Final Four with Jaden Suggs hitting the game winner in overtime.

COMPARE THE CALLS: CBS / ESPN / Russia / Westwood One English / Westwood One Spanish pic.twitter.com/3wg5MufE8Z

— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) April 4, 2021

Thursday night saw UCLA take a double-digit lead into half. Gonzaga rallied to take the lead and pullaway in the second half when UCLA went scoreless for over nine minutes. Amazingly ULCA rallied from down eight with 1:04 to take the lead.

And then Gonzaga’s Julian Strawther buried a three and UCLA’s hopes.

JULIAN STRAWTHER FROM THE LOGO‼️

Gonzaga comes back in the final seconds against UCLA to advance to the Elite Eight.

🎥 @MarchMadnessMBB | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/rorTaSNTtd

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) March 24, 2023

Just another incredible game between these two schools.

So now the Elite Eight field is set.

How could have seen this group schools? Well based on our pool not many. Of the remaining schools, here’s the list of champions selected with the number of brackets.

Texas (14)
Gonzaga (5)
Connecticut (2)
Kansas St. (1)
Miami Fla. (1) **

Note: the Miami entry was disqualified for non-payment.

Speaking of which I did not received payment for only one bracket. This means that the official pool pot is $710 (142 x $5), a $95 increase from last year. This increase led to adding another bracket getting paid and increased amounts to others. Here’s the payout for this year with any increase noted. 

1	$300 (+$20)
2	$150
3	$100
4	$75 (+$25)
5	$50 (+$25)
6	$25 (+$25)
7	$10

You can use the Best Results report on Pick Hoops to see if your bracket is the running.

https://www.pickhoops.com/HoopsHysteria/bestresults

Good luck to all and enjoy the four game this weekend.