Iowa's last‑second shock
Iowa stunned No. 1 and defending champion Florida with a last‑second three to reach its first Sweet 16 since 1999 — the tournament’s biggest upset this weekend (usatoday.com). The weekend reshaped the bracket heading into the regional rounds — full bracket updates available from the NCAA as the Sweet 16 set in (ncaa.com).
Alvaro Folgueiras buried a corner 3 with 4.5 seconds left off a Bennett Stirtz pass to put Iowa ahead 73-72, and Florida failed to get a shot off before the horn. (espn.com) Folgueiras finished with 14 points, shooting 3-for-5 from the floor and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in 18 minutes off the bench. (sports-reference.com) Iowa improved to 23-12 while Florida dropped to 27-8, and sportsbooks had entered the game with Florida as a 10.5-point favorite and an over/under near 145.5. (sports-reference.com) A first-half tie-up between Folgueiras and Florida’s Alex Condon sparked a scuffle that drew double technical fouls and a heated sideline exchange involving coaches Todd Golden and Ben McCollum. (africa.espn.com) The Hawkeyes’ win made them the first No. 9 seed to knock off a No. 1 seed in the tournament since 2018, turning the South Region bracket on its head. (espn.com) Iowa now travels to the Toyota Center in Houston to face No. 4 Nebraska in the South Region Sweet 16 on Thursday, March 26, with tipoff listed at 6:30 p.m. CT (7:30 p.m. ET). (hawkcentral.com)
