Record Low Scoring?

In 1989, the average score in the Round of 64 was 77.86.  In 2013, on the first day of the Round of 64 finished, only 5 of the 32 teams scored more than that:

• VCU 88
• Colorado State 84
• Arizona 81
• Syracuse 81
• Louisville 79

Last year (2012),  the average score in the Round of 64 was 66.375 which tied for the lowest in the shot-clock era.  Halfway through the round in 2013, the average is 62.56 which is almost 4 points lower than the LOWEST average score.

To not break the record, the 32 teams on Friday will need to average 70.2 points per game.  To illustrate how unlikely that is to happen, only 8 (or 25%) of the today's teams even scored 70 points.

To illustrate how historically bad the scoring has been, I decided to go back and look at the average score for each tournament.  From 1939 to 1952, the highest average score was 65.1.  In 1953, the average score jumped to 71.5 and most of the scores were more in line with the long-term scores:







Since 1953, here are the 10 lowest scoring years in the tournament (counting the 20 games so far this year):

Year	Avg Score
1983	62.63725
2013	63.55
1985	63.69048
1982	65.54255
1981	66.35417
1984	66.39423
2012	66.46269
1967	67.48148
2000	67.52381
1954	67.53571

The 5 years before the shot clock was instituted were very low scoring.  This was one of the reasons why the shot-clock was introduced.  The scoring in the tournament this year is the second lowest since 1953 with only 1983 lower.

Syracuse - Montana Tournament Facts

Here are some NCAA Tournament facts about Syracuse and Montana:

Post-Game:
The 47-point victory by Syracuse is their second largest in tournament history.  They defeated Brown by 49 points in the 1986 Round of 64.

It is tied for the 6th largest margin of victory in tournament history.

The 34 points by Montana is the fewest they have scored in 13 tournament games.  Their previous low was 49 vs. Wisconsin in the 2012 Round of 64.

The 34 points by Montana is also the fewest that Syracuse has allowed in 92 tournament games.  Their previous low allowed was 43 vs. Princeton in the 1992 Round of 64.

Montana's 34 points is also the 3rd fewest in the shot-clock era (since 1986).  Mississippi Valley vs. UCLA in 2008 had 29 and Wisconsin vs. Missouri State in 1999 had 32.

The Big East is now 5-0 vs. the Big Sky.

Pre-Game: 
Syracuse has played one Big Sky team in the tournament.  They defeated Montana State 88-55 in the 1996 Round of 64.

Syracuse is 20-4 in the Round of 64.

Syracuse is 0-3 is when playing in the state of California.

Montana is 1-7 in the Round of 64.

Montana is 0-2 when playing in the state of California. 

New Mexico - Harvard Tournament Facts

Here are some NCAA Tournament facts about New Mexico and Harvard:

Post-Game:
Harvard wins their first ever tournament game in 4 tries.

Steve Alford is 5-7 in the tournament.

New Mexico has been a top 4 seed four times, but has failed to reach the Sweet Sixteen each time.

Pre-Game:
The last 6 times that New Mexico has been a single-digit seed, they have won their first game, but lost their second game.

Harvard is 0-3 all-time in the tournament.  They made the tournament last year after a 66 year drought.

  

VCU - Akron Tournament Facts

Here are some NCAA Tournament facts about VCU and Akron:

Post-Game:
The 46-point victory by VCU is their largest in tournament history.  Their previous high was 18 done twice in 2011 vs. Georgetown in the Round of 64 and Purdue in the Round of 32.

The margin of victory was tied for the 9th largest in tournament history until Syracuse recorded a 47-point victory later tonight.  It is now the 10th largest.

It is also the biggest loss for Akron.  Their previous high was 13 vs. Gonzaga in 2009 and Notre Dame in 2011 both in the Round of 64.

The 42 points by Akron is the fewest that VCU has allowed in 23 tournament games.  Their previous low allowed was 46 vs. Southern California in the 2011 First Four.

The 88 points was their second most points scored only surpassed by 94 that they scored against Purdue in 2011.

With VCU winning, it is the second time in Atlantic Ten history that 4 teams have won a tournament game.  The other time was in 1993 when George Washington, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Temple each won.

Shaka Smart is now 7-2 in the tournament.

Akron is now 0-4 in the tournament.

Pre-Game:
Shaka Smart has the most tournament wins in VCU history with 6.

This is the 3rd time that VCU has been a #5 seed.  The other two times, they won their first round game in 1981 vs. Long Island-Brooklyn 85-69 and in 1983 vs. La Salle 76-67.

Akron has their highest seed at #12.  They have lost all three of their previous tournament games.  Their closest game was a 6 point loss to Michigan in 1986.  

Colorado State - Missouri Tournament Facts

Here are some NCAA Tournament facts about Colorado State and Missouri:

Post-Game:
While Colorado State ends their 4 game tournament losing streak, Missouri loses their 4th straight.

It is only the second win for the Mountain West vs. the Southeastern Conference.  BYU defeated Florida 99-92 in the 2010 Round of 64.

Colorado State's 84 points is their most in 14 tournament games.  Their previous high was 77 vs. Drake in the 1969 Elite Eight.

Missouri is 5-12 in the tournament when unranked.

Pre-Game:
Colorado State's last tournament win was in 1989.  They have lost their last 4 tournament games.

Larry Eustachy is coaching in the tournament with his fourth team.

The #8 seed is Colorado State's best ever seed.  They were a #10 seed two times previously.

All 3 of Colorado State's tournament wins have come in the Midwest Regional.

Colorado State is 1-1 vs. the Southeastern Conference.  The defeated Florida 68-46 in the 1989 Round of 64 and lost to Alabama 71-54 in the 1990 Round of 64.

Missouri has been a #9 seed 3 other times.  They are 1-2 as #9 vs. #8:

• Lost to Lamar 71-67 in 1981
• Lost to North Carolina 84-70 in 2000
• Defeated Georgia 70-68 in 2001

Missouri is 1-2 when playing in Kentucky.  Colorado State is 0-1.

Missouri is 10-7 on Thursdays and 12-18 on other days.

UNLV - California Tournament Facts

Here are some NCAA Tournament facts about UNLV and California:

Post-Game:
UNLV's 5th consecutive tournament loss is their longest in school history.

The Pacific Twelve is now 6-1 vs. the Mountain West.  The only Mountain West victory was by Utah over Oregon 60-58 in the 2003 Round of 64.

California is 6-0 in games decided by 3 points or less.  Only Georgia Tech has a better record in one-possession games at 7-0.

UNLV is 3-7 in games decided by 3 points or less.

UNLV is 1-6 when in the tournament when unranked.

Pre-Game:
UNLV has lost their last 4 tournament games.  Their last win was in 2008. Since 1991 tournament where they went to the Final Four, they are just 3-7 in the tournament.

UNLV is 1-2 vs. the Pacific Twelve.  Their only win came against Arizona 68-67 in the 1989 Sweet Sixteen.  They lost to Colorado in the Round of 64 last year.

California has been a #12 seed two other times and lost both times.  In 1996, they lost to Iowa State 74-64 in the Round of 64, and in 2012, they lost to South Florida 65-54 in the First Four.

California is 5-2 when playing in their home state.



  

Arizona - Belmont Tournament Facts

Here are some NCAA Tournament facts about Arizona and Belmont:

Post-Game:
The Pacific Twelve is now 3-0 vs. the Ohio Valley.  The other wins were Oregon State over Middle Tennessee State 78-67 in 1975 Round of 32 and Arizona over Eastern Illinois 101-76 in 2001 Round of 64.

Belmont joins Boise State and Long Island-Brooklyn as the third team to lose their first 6 tournament games.  Eastern Kentucky and Louisiana-Monroe have the most losses without a win with 7 and Nebraska is also 0-6.

Arizona's 81 points is the most that Belmont has allowed.  Their previous high allowed was 80 vs. Georgetown in the 2007 Round of 64.

Pre-Game:
Sean Miller is second in Arizona history in tournament wins with 3 behind Lute Olson who has 39.

Arizona has faced an Ohio Valley team one time before in the tournament.  They defeated Eastern Illinois 101-76 in the 2001 Round of 64.

Arizona is 5-2 when playing in the state of Utah.

Belmont has their highest seed ever at #11.

Belmont is 0-5 all-time.  The closest they came to winning a game was a 71-70 loss to Duke in 2008.