Congratulations to the University of Florida Gators for their third NCAA men’s basketball championship.  Florida defeated the University of Houston Cougars 65-63.  Florida trailed by as many as 12 points in the game.  They trailed by at least five points in four different games during this tournament.

This year’s Final Four consisted of all 1-seeds.  It was the first occurrence of this since 2008.  Two 1-seeds met in the championship final for the 11th time.  It was the second consecutive year that the Final consisted of two 1s.  This two-year span of 1-seeds previously happened in the 2007-2008 championships.

For the first time since 2012, no 5-seed or worse reached the Final Four.  No 4-seed or worse reached the Final Four for the first time since 2009.  Further emphasizing the ‘chalkiness’ of this tournament, no 13 through 16-seed won a Round of 64 game for the first time since 2017.  Nevertheless, two 12-seeds (Colorado State, McNeese State) advanced into the Round of 32 for the third year out of the last four.  It was the first tournament win for the McNeese State Cowboys after three previous visits.

The Gonzaga University Bulldogs had their streak of nine straight Sweet Sixteen appearances come to an end.  They were defeated by championship runner-up Houston 81-76 in the Round of 32.  Houston now holds the longest active streak of Sweet Sixteens with six consecutive seasons.