Jared Berson

College basketball is the best and I tweet its stats. Proud @UMich alum, @ESPN alum, and @bclaw alum.

[Jared Berson @JaredBerson]

Surreal.

UConn is the reason I LOVE college hoops. With no pro sports growing up in CT, UConn was IT.

But I made the decision when I started at Michigan in 2014 that if this game happened, I wouldn’t waver.

To the best college team I’ve ever rooted for: let’s hang a banner.

[Jeff Borzello @jeffborzello]

WILD stat from ESPN Research ..

Illinois' fewest points in a game over the last three seasons:

52 points: 2024 Elite Eight vs. UConn
61 points: Nov. 28, 2025 vs. UConn
62 points: 2026 Final Four vs. UConn

[Jared Berson @JaredBerson]

@BrooksCarp64936 Agreed. Hurley won the game-planning battle big-time.

[Jared Berson @JaredBerson]

Illinois was held under 65 points twice this season: November 28 vs UConn and tonight vs UConn.

Illinois was held under 35% shooting twice this season: November 28 vs UConn and tonight vs UConn.

[Rick Pitino @RealPitino]

The second half of that Uconn vs Duke game is why college basketball is the Best sport.

[Jared Berson @JaredBerson]

UConn’s Braylon Mullins’ game-winner is the deepest game-winning three ever hit in the final seconds of an NCAA Tournament game for a team trailing by 2.

UConn’s 19-point comeback is 2nd-largest ever to go to the Final Four, trailing only Louisville in 2005 (20).

[Jared Berson @JaredBerson]

Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg in tonight’s win over Alabama:

- 23 points
- 12 rebounds
- 7 assists

He’s the 3rd player with at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists in the Sweet 16 or later since 1985 expansion, along with Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade, both in 2003.

[Jared Berson @JaredBerson]

@Stuckey2 @zfinley15 Stirtz is the only player since turnovers became official to play the full game in consecutive NCAA Tournament games without committing a turnover (his last 2 games).

Only 1 other player has played 3 full NCAAT games & had 1 turnover across them: Temple’s Alex Wesby in 2001.

[Jared Berson @JaredBerson]

Arizona scored 60 points in the paint and 30 points from the free throw line—the first team to do that in an NCAA Tournament game this century.

[Jared Berson @JaredBerson]

6 Arizona players scored 14+ points in tonight’s win over Arkansas.

It’s the first time in NCAA Tournament history that 6 players on a team have scored 14+ points in a game and it’s the first time that’s happened in any Division I game this season.

[Jared Berson @JaredBerson]

Arizona shot 63.8% from the field tonight—the highest by any team in a 2nd weekend game since 2005, when Arizona shot 66% in a Sweet 16 win over Oklahoma State.

[Jared Berson @JaredBerson]

Alabama’s 19 3-pointers tonight are 3rd-most in a game in NCAA Tournament history.

The Crimson Tide made 15 more 3s than Texas Tech, the 3rd-largest differential in Tournament history.

Alabama set both of those records in its Sweet 16 win over BYU last year.

[Jared Berson @JaredBerson]

Tarris Reed Jr. ends up with 41 points and 40 rebounds this weekend in Philadelphia—the first player to go 40-40 the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament since Tim Duncan in 1997.

[Jared Berson @JaredBerson]

UConn’s Tarris Reed Jr. tonight in the win over Furman:

- 31 points
- 27 rebounds
- Out-rebounded Furman by 4

It’s the first 30-point, 25-rebound game in Division I in 11 years and the first in the NCAA Tournament since Elvin Hayes in 1968.

[Jared Berson @JaredBerson]

Iowa-Nebraska will be the first Big Ten vs Big Ten matchup in the second weekend or later since Michigan State beat Wisconsin in the 2000 National Semifinals.

It will be the first all-Big Ten meeting in the Sweet 16 round since Purdue beat Indiana in 1980.

[Jared Berson @JaredBerson]

Per @sports_ref, St. John’s’ Dylan Darling is the first player in NCAA Tournament history to make a true buzzer-beater for his only points of a game.

[Jared Berson @JaredBerson]

Iowa State’s Tamin Lipsey in today’s win over Kentucky:

- 26 points
- 10 assists
- 5 steals

He’s the 3rd player with 25 points, 10 assists & 5 steals in an NCAA Tournament game since steals became official in 1986, along with Markquis Nowell in 2023 and Anderson Hunt in 1990.

[Jared Berson @JaredBerson]

Purdue in today’s win over Miami:

- 53.2% from the field (25-47)
- 57.1% from 3 (8-14)
- 95.5% from the line (21-22)

The Boilermakers are the 3rd team in NCAA Tournament history to shoot 50-50-95 in a game, along with Marquette in the 2003 R32 and Syracuse in the 1996 R64.

[Jared Berson @JaredBerson]

Darius Acuff Jr. is the 3rd player to average 30 points and 5 assists the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament en route to the Sweet 16, joining Jimmer Fredette in 2011 and Billy Donovan in 1987.

[Jared Berson @JaredBerson]

Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. is the first freshman with 35 points & 5 assists in a game in NCAA Tournament history.

Acuff Jr. and Rob Martin are the first pair of opposing players each with 30 points & 5 assists in a Tournament game since 1987—Mitch Richmond vs Willie Anderson.

[Jared Berson @JaredBerson]

Darius Acuff Jr. scored 60 points this weekend in Portland, the most all-time by a freshman in his first 2 NCAA Tournament games.