March Madness is off to a wild start with 15-seed Princeton achieving a massive upset against 2-seed Arizona in the South region of the 2023 men’s NCAA Tournament.
Tosan Evbuomwan and the Tigers hit a late run in the second half, outscoring the Wildcats by nine points and achieving the school’s first NCAA Tournament win in 25 years.
The game was a rollercoaster ride for both teams, with Arizona taking a 10-point lead in the second half before Princeton mounted its comeback. Princeton’s defense also stepped up in the game’s closing moments, holding the Pac-12 Tournament champion scoreless over the final 4:43 to clinch the win.
The final score was 59-55 in favor of the Tigers, a result that stunned the basketball world. Arizona was widely considered one of the favorites to win the NCAA Tournament, while Princeton was an underdog with a 15-9 record going into the game.
Guard Matt Allocco summed up the team’s feelings after the game, saying, “To beat a great team like that on this stage is a pretty special feeling. But also, I can’t say I’m surprised. This team has been so good all year, so gritty. On paper, it’s going to look like a big upset. But we believe in each other and we think we’re a really good team. When we’re at our best, then I think we can beat anybody in the country.”
Princeton’s victory has shaken up the South region of the March Madness bracket, putting Alabama out of total control of it. The Tigers will now face the winner of the game between 7-seed Utah State and 10-seed San Diego State.
This win marks Princeton’s first tournament victory since beating UNLV in 1998 when Henderson was a player for the Tigers. The team will be looking to build on this success and make a deep run in this year’s NCAA Tournament.
In conclusion, Princeton’s stunning upset victory over Arizona is a reminder that anything can happen in March Madness. With talented underdogs like the Tigers capable of taking down the tournament’s top seeds, fans around the world will be eagerly anticipating the rest of this year’s NCAA Tournament.
