Purdue coach Matt Painter talks about the value of veteran leadership during March Madness
Purdue coach Matt Painter explains why veteran experience and trust helps his team stay stable and perform during high-pressure March Madness moments.
The second round of the NCAA Tournament was dominated by top-seeded teams, with Texas, one of the most iconic brands in college sports, the only double-digit seed to make it to the Sweet 16.
Texas being a “Cinderella” in 2025-2026 is fitting for where men’s college basketball is as a sport in an era of name, image and visibility. Last season, the only double-digit seed to make it to the Sweet 16 was the University of Arkansas, a talented team led by one of the greatest coaches of all time in John Calipari.
No. 12 seed High Point did everything it could to break that mold on Saturday, March 21, but ultimately lost to No. 4 Arkansas, 94-88, in a hard-fought game. No. 11 VCU also had a chance to become the last mid-major to advance to the Sweet 16, but was crushed by No. 3 Illinois, 76-55.
Only 16 teams remain, and there’s only one week left until the Final Four returns to Indianapolis. Here are the five worst moments from the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
5 worst moments from the second round of the NCAA Tournament
Vanderbilt star Tyler Tanner nearly made a game-winning shot in the second round against No. 4 Nebraska, but the ball bounced off the backboard and the rim multiple times and went off the rim.
Tanner was already putting on a career performance with 27 points, four assists, and four steals. With 2.2 seconds left, he caught an inbounds pass on the other side of the court and swung it from behind half court, but it just missed, causing the entire Vanderbilt bench to kneel in disappointment.
Nebraska’s Braden Frager hit the game-winning driving layup, giving his school its second NCAA Tournament title and its first Sweet 16 appearance. Unfortunately, either Vanderbilt or Nebraska ends up going home after one of the best second-round games in recent memory.
“We were so close to making the Sweet 16,” Vandy coach Mark Byington said. “It’s going to take a while for us to get back on our feet.”
Florida was shocked in the second round by No. 9 seed Iowa, losing 73-72 when Alvaro Folgueiras hit the game-winning 3-pointer with less than five seconds left. It was a brutal end to the season for the Gators, who won 16 of their final 17 games of the regular season and returned to the No. 1 seed.
Florida looked like a top favorite to win the national championship, especially with an impressive frontcourt of Alex Condon, Thomas Ho and Ruben Chiniel. But sometimes March Madness hits and unfortunately that happened to Florida before the first weekend was over.
Iowa finished the game on a 7-3 run, which was the ultimate difference in a tight back-and-forth game.
Kentucky made bad history
Kentucky overcame a scare in the first round against Santa Clara, but Otega Oweh’s wild shot at the buzzer forced overtime. The Wildcats kept Iowa State within reach for the first half of the March 22 game, but the Cyclones pulled away and won a dominating 82-63 victory.
Kentucky played sloppy basketball against Iowa State, setting a program record for most turnovers (20) in an NCAA Tournament game. The 19-point loss was also Kentucky’s worst loss in a March Madness game since 1972.
Second-year coach Mark Pope faces a pivotal offseason, especially with Oweh’s eligibility exhausted.
david punch nose
TCU star David Punch took a shot in the face from Duke University’s Cameron Boozer late in the second half of a close game on Saturday, March 21, but his situation remained the same after he returned to the game. Boozer was called for flagrant 1 on the play, but Punch failed to shoot the free throw and returned to the bench with blood running down his face.
Punch Jr. briefly went to the locker room but missed the remainder of the first half, returning in the final 20 minutes of the game.
TCU led 38-34 at halftime, but then collapsed and lost to Duke, 81-58, ending the season. In the first-round game against Ohio State, he had 16 points and 13 rebounds, but against the Blue Devils he was limited to 4 points on 1-of-10 shooting.
High Point season ends
High Point’s program’s best season ended in the fourth round against the University of Arkansas, where they won their first NCAA Tournament game before losing 94-88. The Panthers dominated the regular season, finishing the regular season with a 30-4 record and winning the Big South Conference Tournament.
Chase Johnston became the latest March Madness legend in High Point’s win over Wisconsin, and Rob Martin led his inner Kemba Walker with 30 points and five assists in High Point’s loss to Arkansas.
High Point is a junior high school program in the NCAA Tournament and hopes to continue the momentum it has just returned from a highly respected road trip.
