The first two rounds of the 2016 NCAA tournament were perhaps the most exciting first weekend in the event's history.
The encore — Thursday's four Sweet 16 games — was a huge step down: .Four double-digit victories, and the top two seeds in the South and West regions advanced.
Where was the madness? MIA on Thursday.
► No. 2 Villanova shot lights out to dispatch No. 3 Miami, 92-68.
► No. 2 Oklahoma proved it's more than just Buddy Hield in a dominant 77-63 win vs. No. 3 Texas A&M.
► No. 1 Kansas played like the top-overall seed by shaking off No. 5 Maryland, 79-63.
► No. 1 Oregon proved to be too much for No. 4 Duke with an 82-68 win to knock out the defending champs.
No buzzer-beaters. No upsets.
The second weekend always tends to lack the adrenaline-jolting mayhem that derives from Cinderella stories and bracket busters. But Thursday's games were tough to watch.
MARCH SADNESS: THE AGONY OF DEFEAT IN THE NCAA TOURNEY
