They were 1A and 1B, Auburn and Duke. The two favorites to be the last team standing in San Antonio. 

Then, Saturday came. Top-ranked Auburn was overwhelmed by No. 6 Florida in its own building. No. 2 Duke lost at unranked Clemson. Another Final Four favorite, No. 3 Alabama, nearly blew an 18-point lead at Arkansas. 

Was this a sneak peek into an unpredictable March? Or just one Saturday in early February with some wonky results? 

You can make a case for either narrative. What should be clear is that there isn’t a 2024 Connecticut, a team that is vastly superior to everyone else. That’s not a knock on Auburn, Duke or Alabama.