Big Dance: It's a Queen City Massacre; Xavier and Cincinnati Both Fall

Chiquita Bananas has long since ditched Cincinnati as its corporate headquarters, but it appears there are a few loose peels scattered around there.

The Xavier Musketeers and Cincinnati Bearcats found a couple of them the hard way.

Both slipped up on their presumed way to the Sweet 16.

Xavier was the West regions' No 1 seed and Cincinnati was the South's No 2. Proof yet again that seedings mean little in this year's Dance.

 

At least the Bearcatss made history on their way out the door. Unfortunately, for them, they were on the wrong side of it.

Nevada stormed back from a 22-point deficit to register a tie for the second-largest recovery in tournament history.

What's really impressive is the Wolf Pack did it all in the game's final 11 minutes:

 

So, how's a club nestled away in a conference that's often ignored nationally -- which might change if Gonzaga moves into it -- become a tournament force?

How else? Graduate transfers.

Not to mention having a coach who may be batshit crazy but has a clue nevertheless.

 

Dude's been doing the Chippendale's thing from 2016 when Nevada won the CBI in his first season there. He was taking off his dress shirt, preparing to put on a championship T-shirt, and got mobbed by teammates and fans in mid-change.

That's how traditions start.

Combining this victory with their 14-point comeback against Texas in the first round, the Wolf Pack may have found another, which beats the hell outta this:

 

Meanwhile, who knows if the X was looking ahead to a rematch with Gonzaga? One would think -- with their tourney experience -- that wouldn't be the case.

But it sure looked like they hit the cruise-control button too early against a Florida State squad that also had long memories of last year's Dance and did something about it:

 

Thus, the Dance goes on with one particular tune well and truly absent from the playlist.

Besides, Xavier and Cincinnati know the ending all to well.