HoopsHD continues its simulation of what would have happened in TTTW (The Tournament That Wasn’t). Up next it is time to continue the NCAA Tournament with a trip back to Dayton for the last two games of the First Four. Tonight, we have another battle of 16-seeds as Texas Southern take on North Carolina A&T. After that, a pair of 11-seeds battle as the defending national runners-up Texas Tech take on North Carolina State. What would have happened? It is time to find out!
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FIRST FOUR – MIDWEST REGION – DAYTON, OHIO
(16) North Carolina A&T vs (16) Texas Southern
The 2020 The Tournament That Wasn’t NCAA Tournament continues in Dayton, Ohio with the First Four matchup between MEAC Champion North Carolina A&T and SWAC Champion Texas Southern. Head coach Johnny Jones’s Texas Southern Tigers have been one of the dominant forces for the past decade in the SWAC, though this was Jones’ first NCAA bid after taking over for Mike Davis at the start of last season. North Carolina A&T had announced earlier this season that next year would be their last in the MEAC. Despite being a year away from leaving, the Aggies captured the league tournament championship and were looking for the school’s second-ever win in the Big Dance.
The game itself was close for a half, with the Tigers taking a 39-34 lead into the break. An and-one play by the Tigers’ Eden Ewing seven minutes into the second period extended their lead to double-digits, and Texas Southern did not look back from there. When the dust had settled, the Tigers had claimed an 85-64 win and a date in Omaha with the Baylor Bears in the Round of 64. Tyrik Armstrong’s 18 points led the way for Texas Southern while Ronald Jackson (14 points) was the top scorer for A&T. Texas Southern had a win, though it did not turn many heads. If they are able to get another in the next round, the college basketball world would certainly take notice.
Final Score: (16) Texas Southern 85, (16) North Carolina A&T 64
FIRST FOUR – EAST REGION – DAYTON, OHIO
(11) Texas Tech vs (11) North Carolina State
Last season, the Texas Tech Red Raiders advanced to the national championship game and almost cut down the nets as national champions. This year, the team stumbled a few too many times and found themselves on the Bubble during Championship Week, getting one of the last four at-large spots in the field and being sent to Dayton for a First Four matchup. Their opponent is the ACC’s North Carolina State Wolfpack. NC State had an up-and-down season, losing a few games that practically made no sense, while at the same time picking up a share of very notable wins, including beating Duke and Wisconsin and winning at Virginia. For both teams, therefore, the question was which version of their teams would show up for the First Four game.
The answer to that question looked like it was going to be found really early as NC State jumped out to a fast 7-0 lead and later extended it to 28-19 with 7 minutes left in the first half. The Red Raiders tried to fight back in the second, with a Terrence Shannon free throw cutting the lead down to 2 five minutes in. However, a 15-6 Wolfpack run built the lead to double-digits, and Texas Tech was not able to pull any closer than 6 points the rest of the way. The final score was 70-60 in favor NC State as Devon Daniels led the way with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Davide Moretti scored 14 to lead Texas Tech, but for the Red Raiders, all that was left was a trip home to Lubbock and the start of the offseason. The North Carolina State Wolfpack, on the other hand, were on their way to Albany and a Round of 64 date with 6-seed Penn State.
Final Score: (11) NC State 70, (11) Texas Tech 60
Updated Bracket:
