Even before the brackets came out, March Madness was a muddled mess.
“It was one of the most difficult that I’ve been involved in,” Charles McClelland, the chairman of the selection committee, said of the process that had everyone up until 2:30 a.m. the night before Selection Sunday. “And I talked to some of the staff that’s been in that room for the last 20 years, and they said this is probably the most difficult selection process that they’ve been a part of.”
Through the first two rounds of the tournament, it didn’t go well for local men’s teams: Baylor, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech nor TCU all failed to advance to the Sweet 16. But Baylor made the Sweet 16 and Texas the Elite 8 in the women’s bracket.
North Carolina State head coach Kevin Keatts hands the trophy to his team as forward DJ Burns Jr. (30) dumps confetti after a victory over Duke in the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Duke guard Jared McCain (0) tries to drive around North Carolina State forward DJ Burns Jr. (30) during the first half of the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas. (Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Duke guard Tyrese Proctor (5) drives the lane againsgt North Carolina State guard Jayden Taylor (1) during the first half of the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas. (Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Duke guard Jared McCain (0) drives the lane past North Carolina State forward Ben Middlebrooks (34) during the first half of the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas. (Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Duke guard Jaylen Blakes (2) dives for a loose ball against North Carolina State guard Michael O’Connell (12) during the first half of the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas. (Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State head coach Kevin Keatts motions to his bench during the first half of the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas. (Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State forward Mohamed Diarra (23) blocks a shot by Duke center Kyle Filipowski (30) as forward Ben Middlebrooks (34) also defends during the first half of the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas. (Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State head coach Kevin Keatts looks on during the first half of the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas. (Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State forward Mohamed Diarra (23) is fouled by Duke guard Jaylen Blakes (2) as center Kyle Filipowski (30) also defends during the first half of the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas. (Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Duke cheerleaders prepare for a free throw during the second half of the NCAA South Regional Final against North Carolina State on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State forward Ben Middlebrooks (34) celebrates after drawing a charge from Duke center Kyle Filipowski (30) during the second half of the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State head coach Kevin Keatts motions toward guard DJ Horne during the second half of the NCAA South Regional Final against Duke on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State guard Casey Morsell (14) goes baseline around Duke center Kyle Filipowski (30) during the second half of the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State forward Ben Middlebrooks (34) fights for a rebound with Duke center Kyle Filipowski (30) and guard Jeremy Roach (3) during the second half of the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State guard DJ Horne (0) gets past Duke guard Tyrese Proctor (5) during the second half of the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State forward DJ Burns Jr. (30) scores past Duke forward Sean Stewart (13) during the second half of the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State forward DJ Burns Jr. (30) celebrates with guard Michael O’Connell (12) and guard Casey Morsell (14) after a basket and a foul during the second half of the NCAA South Regional Final against Duke on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State forward DJ Burns Jr. celebrates during the second half of the NCAA South Regional Final against Duke on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State head coach Kevin Keatts talks with an official during the second half of the NCAA South Regional Final against Duke on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State guard Michael O’Connell (12) hits a 3-pointer during the second half of the NCAA South Regional Final against Duke on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State guard DJ Horne (0) scores over Duke center Kyle Filipowski (30) during the second half of the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State guard Michael O’Connell (12) gets tangled with Duke guard Jared McCain (0) chasing a loose ball during the second half of the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State forward Ben Middlebrooks (34) celebrates with forward Ernest Ross at the final buzzer of a victory over Duke in the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State forward Mohamed Diarra (23) celebrates with fans during the second half of the NCAA South Regional Final against Duke on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State forward DJ Burns Jr. celebrates with the school’s band after a victory over Duke in the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State players celebrate with the game trophy as confetti falls after a victory over Duke in the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State forward DJ Burns Jr. cuts the net after a victory over Duke in the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State DJ Burns Jr. (right) dumps confetti on head coach Kevin Keatts as the team celebrates after a victory over Duke in the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)A North Carolina State player cuts the net after a victory over Duke in the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State forward Ben Middlebrooks celebrates while cutting the net after a victory over Duke in the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State head coach Kevin Keatts celebrates after cutting the net following a victory over Duke in the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)The North Carolina State band poses with the regional bracket following a victory over Duke in the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State head coach Kevin Keatts leaves the court after cutting the net following a victory over Duke in the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)North Carolina State guard Jayden Taylor wears a piece of the net as he celebrates after a victory over Duke in the NCAA South Regional Final on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
Final Four matchups
Matchup
Time
TV
(1) UConn vs. (4) Alabama
Saturday, 7:49 p.m.
TBS
(1) Purdue vs. (11) NC State
Saturday, 5:09 p.m.
TBS
Elite Eight results
Matchup
(4) Alabama def. (6) Clemson, 89-82
(1) Purdue def. (2) Tennessee, 72-66
(11) NC State def. (4) Duke, 76-64
(1) UConn def. (3) Illinois, 77-52
Sweet 16 results
Matchup
(6) Clemson def. (2) Arizona, 77-72
(1) UConn def. (5) San Diego St., 82-52
(4) Alabama def. (1) North Carolina, 89-87
(3) Illinois def. (2) Iowa State, 72-69
(11) NC State def. (2) Marquette, 67-58
(1) Purdue def. (5) Gonzaga, 80-68
(2) Tennessee def. (3) Creighton, 82-75
(4) Duke def. (1) Houston, 54-51
Second round results
Matchup
(2) Tennessee defeated (7) Texas, 62-58
(1) Houston defeated (9) Texas A&M, 100-95 (OT)
(6) Clemson defeated (3) Baylor, 72-64
First round results
Matchup
(7) Texas defeated (10) Colorado State, 56-44
(11) NC State defeated (6) Texas Tech, 80-67
(7) Baylor defeated (14) Colgate, 92-67
(9) Texas A&M defeated (8) Nebraska, 98-83
(8) Utah State defeated (9) TCU, 88-72
Local players to watch
This year’s tournament featured two D-FW players who are projected to get drafted — Baylor freshman Ja’Kobe Walter and North Carolina junior Harrison Ingram — if they decide to leave college early.
