Day 1 in Des Moines

March 18, 2016 at 6:00AM
Stat of the day

23 points: A career high for 6-8 Kansas sophomore Svi Mykhailiuk on 9-for-11 shooting. Mykhailiuk is averaging 5.2 points per game on the season.

Quote of the day

"I don't know if they got their wake-up call in the first half. I think they were still back at the hotel, but I think the bus came and picked 'em up and we started playing in the second half."

— UConn coach Kevin Ollie

Best pep band

UConn won on style points with striped white-and-blue painted faces, bandanas, sunglasses and spirit galore. But Indiana took the prize on technique, busting out the "William Tell Overture" and some top-notch pop interpretations.

green with envy

Colorado, after losing an 11-point lead; Austin Peay coach Dave Loos, whose contract is about to expire; Chattanooga, for getting the worst possible matchup.

Moment of the day

In case anyone needed an excuse to keep watching what turned out to be a blowout, Indiana's OG Anunoby went soaring for a pair of show-stopping dunks — first an NCAA tournament-rare 360-degree slam and then a reverse flush later. Whew! Is it hot in here.

By the numbers

7-0 UConn coach Kevin Ollie's record in the NCAA tournament after Thursday's victory over Colorado.

1 Percent of perfect brackets remaining when Thursday's evening games began, according to CBS Sports.

Random madness

The NCAA unveiled new court designs for the first- and second-round matchups. The center logo has the words "March Madness" bookended by mini bracket emblems. Each site boasted a different color stripe on part of one of the goal lines and sidelines; Des Moines got St. Patrick's green.

Amelia Rayno

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