NCAA Bracket Update 2010: Michigan St. Gets Past New Mexico St.

The NCAA bracket update 2010 for last night closed the first round. After the last scoring update, there are now 32 teams left on the road to Indianapolis. All told, the favorites had an easier time advancing yesterday than they did on Thursday, yet a few tripped up or got scared. But there are some more conventional second round matchups for Sunday than there are for today. The NCAA bracket update 2010 today will see eight more teams out, but 16 more will have one more day of rest.

Last night formed the final second round match-ups, with a scare or two sprinkled in. Michigan State looked like they would have it easy against New Mexico State, but lost a double digit lead in the second half. Yet a few controversial calls, including a lane violation, stopped the comeback as the Spartans pulled out a 70-67 win.

Maryland won their expected shootout against Houston, 89-77, to get Michigan State next. In the other NCAA bracket update 2010 from the Midwest, Georgia Tech used free throws to overcome Oklahoma State, 64-59, while second seeded Ohio State took care of UC Santa Barbara, 68-51. The Buckeyes and Yellow Jackets meet on Sunday, along with the Terrapins and Spartans.

In the West, the NCAA bracket update was quite conventional for that region. Syracuse jumped all over Vermont, 79-56, after Gonzaga held off Florida State, 67-60. The Orange and Bulldogs meet on Sunday's first game, as Gonzaga is back to their old position as NCAA underdogs. Thus far, every higher seed but Vanderbilt has won in the West, in the one region that's held form.

The final two games last night also had higher seeds win, as Duke easily beat Arkansas Pine-Bluff, 73-44, and California knocked off Louisville, 77-62. Most expected the next NCAA bracket update to have Duke face Louisville in round 2, despite the Cardinals being a lower seed. Instead, Cal will get Duke, in their first NCAA tournament meeting since Jason Kidd's Bears upset the two-time champs in 1993.

With the NCAA tournament first round completed, it is clear that Thursday's action was much crazier than Friday's. Only one game today will have two first round favorites facing off, in Kansas State vs BYU. Tomorrow, five games will have those matchups, so for those who are rooting for underdogs, they may have better luck today.

After the first round NCAA bracket update 2010, there are 11 mid-majors left, with one guaranteed Sweet 16 berth from the Butler/Murray State game. Four teams are left in the ACC, Big East and Big Ten, with five from the Big 12 and two each from the SEC and Pac-10.

The next eight NCAA bracket updates 2010 come from today's second round kickoff, starting at 1 pm est.

Sources

CBS Sports- "Division I Men's Basketball Tournament Bracket"

SI.com- "New Mexico St gets rough but it's Michigan St who moves on"