(Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
Well say it ain't so, the second round of the NCAA tournament is over and I can say for a fact it was much more exciting.
We were able to see teams that can actually compete, and other then the Memphis game they were all close for the most part of the game.
Arizona Headed To the Sweet 16
Apparently I was wrong when saying the bubble teams can never make a run. Arizona, a team who received an at-large bid, is now in the Sweet 16 after defeating hopeful Cinderella Cleveland St.
If the Wildcats play the way they have the past two games, they will have a chance to steal one from Louisville, who had a tough time with Siena.
Controversial Calls by the Refs, Did It Cost Marquette and Western Kentucky A Spot?
We had a lot of good games in the second round that ended in the final minute.
Two of them, however, are still being talked about today as being snubbed out of a spot in the next round.
Two quality teams, Marquette and Western Kentucky, were believed to get the wrong end in the final minute of their games.
In the Marquette-Missouri game, the call was made due to Lazar Hayward stepping over the line while trying to inbound.
The coach, the fans were furious about the call, and felt it shouldn't have been called at the time. Personally, from the angle I saw it, it was a good call by the refs.
There was also more controversy after J.T. Tiller's " injury" in the final seconds. Because it was believed he would be unable to make the free throws, Kim English replaced him, supposedly the best free-throw shooter on the bench.
Due to this controversy, it led to Missouri's four-point win where Marquette didn't have enough time to make a comeback.
However, Western Kentucky-Gonzaga was a different story. With under 10 seconds left to play, Western Kentucky gets a quick layup to tie the game. Yet, Gonzaga quickly inbounds the ball and scores to take the lead 81-79.
It was after that play that Western Kentucky coach, Ken McDonald, called a timeout, but never received it.
The discussion has been brought to our attention. The referee should have seen the call, and in that position should have been looking for it.
You can't rely on the kids to call the timeout because so much pressure is going through their heads.
Who knows whether it would have made a difference in the game. The last shot they had to end the game was a close Hail Mary, but with a timeout they could have set something up to win the game.
Xavier Heads to Next Round After Win Over Badgers
Xavier is back in the Sweet 16 for the second time in three years after their 11 point win over upset-minded Wisconsin.
The Musketeers won despite committing eight turnovers in the first half.
Xavier will face No. 1 Pittsburgh in the next round.
Can they get back to the Elite Eight?
Duke Defeats Texas, Meets Wildcats in Next Round
Duke survives another upset in the tourney after a win over Texas.
The game was tied going into the final minute, but due to clutch free-throws by Gerald Henderson, the Blue Devils will meet Villanova, who easily defeated UCLA in the Sweet 16.
Louisville makes late comeback, pulls away against Siena
The Cardinals of Louisville did face the so-called "trap game" against the Siena Saints on Sunday.
Siena, coming over a double-overtime victory over Ohio State, lead 63-59 with four minutes left in the game. However, led by Earl Clark in the end, it showed that the Cards were the most talented team on the court, prevailing 79-72 and will now face Arizona.
Matt Miselis is a writer for BleacherReport.com
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