The 2023 NCAA Tournament provided a lackluster first round with minimal upsets, as no teams seeded lower than No. 12 made it past the opening weekend for the first time since 2017. Only five double-digit seed teams advanced, which tied for the fewest wins since 2007. The games lacked excitement, with most not being closely contested; only four out of 32 matches were within two possessions. This leaves fans and tournament-watchers questioning whether this trend will continue or if it was an anomaly for this season.
Trailing by one with less than eight minutes remaining, Robert Morris guard Amarion Dickerson swatted a shot attempt by Alabama guard Mark Sears, sending the first-team All-American to the floor and the ball caroming out of bounds. It seemed like a moment of potential for an upset.
It was the story of the round of 64 in this year's NCAA Tournament, with no team seeded lower than No. 12 making it to the Saturday of the first weekend, illustrating a lack of major upsets.
Only five double-digit seeds advanced over the past two days: two No. 10s, one No. 11 and two No. 12s, tying for the fewest first-round wins by double-digit seeds since 2007.
The fact that most of the games weren't particularly close didn't help this year's early shortage of March magic, with only four of the 32 first-round games decided by two possessions or less.
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