The Most animated and Worst from Day 1 of March Madness

A 15-seed prevailing for a third straight one year, a 13-seed successful on a loopy shot within the closing seconds, a 1-seed being pushed deep into the 2nd half; The first Thursday of the NCAA match step by step appears to be like to whisper, and this one year used to be no numerous.

Let’s dive headfirst into the total handiest and worst from the most most valuable “factual” day of March Madness.

The three Most animated March Madness Video games Of Day 1

1. (13) Furman 68, (4) Virginia 67 (South)

Maybe Thursday being the 5 one year anniversary of Virginia turning into the most most valuable 1-seed in NCAA match history to lose to a 16-seed will must grasp given away the ending to this one.

Whereas the Cavaliers’ fine loss in 2018 used to be slack, painful, and finally decisive, this one used to be more admire a vicious left-hook smashing in out of nowhere from out of physique.

Virginia used to be ready to withhold upset-minded Furman at arm’s length for a variety of of the afternoon, but would possibly also never reasonably compose the stage of separation mandatory to truly feel at ease. Light, UVA led by 12 with not as a lot as 12 minutes to play, a teach in which a most smartly-liked Tony Bennett coached crew is quite step by step a sure thing. Toss within the reality that Furman’s leading scorer, Mike Bothwell, fouled out with 6: 30 aloof to play, and the total lot seemed to point against being ready to pencil the Cavaliers into round two.

A Kihei Clark made free-throw to whisper the ranking to 67-63 with 19 seconds to dart place UVA within one cease of being ready to all it a day. Even after an iffy heinous call on Virginia’s Kadin Shedrick and two made free-throws by Garrett Hien, Furman significant something factual making an try a miracle to grasp their madness moment.

The gods of March answered.

Clark’s uncommon decision to chuck the ball down the flooring despite having a timeout to make exercise of resulted in JP Pegues, who had been 2-for-8 from the discipline and zero-for-3 from three prior to that shot, turning accurate into a Huge Dance immortal.

Virginia’s Reece Beekman obtained a fine factual peep at a doable sport-winner, but his shot came across nothing but glass and rim.

The dramatic victory would had been an out of this world moment for any 13-seed in any teach, but it absolutely used to be especially candy for this group of Furman players. A one year within the past, the Paladins built upon a tough most as a lot as the moment history of noxious fair appropriate fortune within the SoCon match by losing to Chattanooga within the championship sport on a 30-footer on the buzzer.

Each Bothwell and 2022-23 SoCon Participant of the Yr Jalen Slawson would possibly also grasp transferred to most most valuable programs within the offseason and as regards to assured themselves a shot at experiencing March Madness, but they selected to achieve support and uncover Furman to its first NCAA match since 1980.

One in all the cooler moments of Championship Week used to be, within the closing seconds of Furman’s SoCon championship victory, Bothwell making it a checklist dart over to the identical deliver on the flooring where he had been lying in agony 12 months earlier. Now, the ‘Dins are a rob over San Diego Bid far from the most most valuable Sweet 16 look in program history.

For Virginia, the loss marked their 2nd straight in a 4/13 matchup, and their fourth match defeat on the fingers of a double-digit seed since 2016.

Thank goodness for that limited nationwide title sprinkled in between the total chaos.

2. (8) Maryland 67, (9) West Virginia 65 (South)

It’s step by step nice when the early window delivers on the most most valuable day, and the preliminary wave of video games on Thursday afternoon used to be colossal.

Setting the tone used to be the very first sport of the day to tip-off, which featured Maryland and West Virginia trading ridiculous runs for 40 minutes prior to the Terrapins finally prevailed by a bucket.

Maryland trailed 16-4 to open the sport, but carried a 2-point lead into the locker room after hitting nine of their final 13 photos (and all seven of their free-throws) to shut the most most valuable half. That stretch put of residing up a support-and-forth closing 20 minutes, which ended with West Virginia’s Kedrian Johnson getting a shot to play hero.

First-one year head coach Kevin Willard, who won factual one NCAA match sport in 12 seasons at Seton Hall, can fabricate himself the toast of The Light Line Bid if he can engage out No. 1 total seed Alabama on Saturday.

3. (15) Princeton 59, (2) Arizona 55 (South)

In 1996, Mitch Henderson used to be a starter who had eight functions, four steals and three assists in Princeton’s infamous first round upset of reigning nationwide champion UCLA. On Thursday, he used to be the head coach of a Tiger crew that grew to alter into factual the 11th 15-seed within the history of the NCAA match to rob a first round sport.

The shocker marked the third straight season in which we’ve had a 15-seed advance to the 2nd round, and this one would possibly also had been the strangest of all of them.

In total when a teen seed advances within the match, it’s on account of the limited man going nuts from the out of doorways, or feasting on the free-throw line, or residing off of a slew of uncharacteristic turnovers from their opponent. None of that truly took put in this sport.

Princeton shot factual 4-of-25 from three and used to be handiest 3-of-5 from the charity stripe, but they took down one of many ideal pre-match favorites by appearing to grasp a superior sport conception, controlling the tempo, and by being the more poised aspect down the stretch. The Tigers scored the closing nine functions of the sport and held Arizona scoreless for nearly 5 minutes to notch their first NCAA match rob since 1998 (a crew Henderson additionally played for).

After the sport, Henderson couldn’t assist but notify his legendary passe Princeton coach, Pete Carril, who died final August.

“He would possibly be very ok with the group,” Henderson said. “He wouldn’t need any attention to be introduced numerous than what these guys did. They played to rob. We knew we needed to withhold the sport low possessions.”

The 5 Groups That Acquired It The Most animated

1. Duke

Sight, I don’t admire this any better than you create, but the Blue Devils appear to yet once more be a arena that we’re going to grasp to address this month.

Duke scored the most most valuable 15 functions of the sport in opposition to as a lot as the moment upset snatch Oral Roberts — some idiots even conception the Golden Eagles would be the most most valuable 12-seed to wreck the Final Four — on their technique to a dominant 74-51 victory. ORU, the handiest crew in college basketball to trail the desk of their convention this season, observed their successful proceed snapped at 17 video games.

Jeremy Roach, who scored 23 functions, appears to be like to grasp recaptured the identical March magic that he came across a one year within the past. Dariq Whitehead is at final healthy and enjoying admire the one who used to be a high 5 recruit within the 2022 class. Jon Scheyer didn’t point to any indicators of jitters in his first March Madness trip as a head coach. It’s all coming together for a Duke crew that has now won 10 in a row and which is 19-1 this season when enjoying with its bulky complement of players.

Oh, and the Blue Devils are additionally enjoying within the discipline that feels the presumably to grasp fully crumbled by the time we uncover to the 2nd weekend.

2. Penn Bid

So mighty of the controversy surrounding the 7-10 matchup between Texas A&M and Penn Bid used to be centered around the Aggies being under-seeded and additionally staring down a doable showdown in opposition to passe rival Texas within the 2nd round.

The Nittany Lions made snappy work of every narratives Thursday evening.

Micah Shrewsberry’s crew drilled 10 of its first 14 three-point makes an try, performed with 13 makes from previous the arc for the sport, and led by as many as 26 on their technique to a dominant 76-59 victory. Andrew Funk, who scored a sport-high 27 functions (the most of any player on day one) used to be 8-of-10 alone from three.

The rob used to be Penn Bid’s first within the NCAA match since 2001, and it came of their first NCAA match look since 2011.

Every 10 years these Nittany Lions are something special.

3. UCLA

No. 2 seeds are losing admire flies within the most most valuable round within the mean time, so we can’t factual gloss over UCLA’s 86-53 thrashing of UNC Asheville.

Fiddling with out Jaylen Clark and spacious man Adem Bona, who would be support on Saturday, the Bruins scored the most most valuable 14 functions of the sport and never allowed the Bulldogs to guage for a moment that they’d a shot at pulling off the 2nd 15/2 upset of the day.

UCLA players admitted after the sport that they were smartly responsive to what had took put to Virginia and Pac-12 brethren Arizona earlier within the day.

“It’s admire the most most valuable day and there’s already so many upsets,” point guard Tyger Campbell said. “It factual makes us lock in further due to we’re conscious of it’s that you simply would possibly also notify. Especially earlier on the present time, Princeton and Arizona. I judge it made us attain out and factual realize that, you know, every crew in this match can play.”

A rob over Northwestern on Saturday will ship UCLA to a third straight Sweet 16 for the most most valuable time since 2006-08.

4. Auburn

Did you know that Auburn is 11-0 all-time within the most most valuable round of the NCAA match? Resulting from Auburn is 11-0 all-time within the most most valuable round of the NCAA match.

That’s uncommon, appropriate?

The Tigers controlled things from fine mighty open to withhold out of their 83-75 “upset” of Eighth-seeded Iowa. They’ll face a wounded No. 1 seed Houston in Birmingham, on Saturday.

5. Northwestern

Moreover undefeated all-time in first round video games? Northwestern.

The Wildcats moved to 2-0 in tourney openers with a ambitious 75-67 rob over Boise Bid.

The 5 Largest Disappointments

1. Arizona

I don’t judge this one requires an clarification, but factual whereas you significant to peep a pointers, Arizona …

—Grew to alter into the most most valuable program in NCAA match history to lose a few 2/15 video games.

The Wildcats were additionally upset by Steve Nash in Santa Clara within the most most valuable round of the ‘93 match, the 2nd 2/15 upset ever.

—Misplaced to Princeton despite the Tigers taking pictures factual 4-of-25 from three.

In total in enormous upsets, the limited man shoots greater than 40.6 p.c from the discipline and 16.0 p.c from previous the arc, and makes better than three free-throws, but that wasn’t the case here.

—Misplaced to a Princeton crew that used to be one of many most inexperienced squads within the country.

Yet again, not exactly fitting the mould of a conventional David-Goliath upset.

—Went scoreless over the final 4: 45 of the sport.

Arizona led by double figures on the under eight timeout and had seemed to place Princeton’s upset tell to mattress. Then, the Wildcats inexplicably started to play admire the double-digit looked that used to be blinded by the gleaming lights of the sport’s ideal stage. They neglected their closing seven photos of the sport and turned it over thrice within the final four minutes.

—Misplaced a one year after taking a disappointing upset as a 1-seed in 2022.

Tommy Lloyd’s first two normal seasons as Arizona’s head coach had been wildly successful. A one year within the past, the Wildcats won 33 video games, captured every the Pac-12 normal season and match titles, and earned a No. 1 seed for the NCAA match. They then significant beyond regular time to dwell on TCU within the 2nd round of the Huge Dance prior to being manhandled by fifth-seeded Houston within the Sweet 16.

That disappointment used to be nothing in contrast to the anxiety that Lloyd experienced in his 2nd March Madness on Thursday.

—Added to an unprecedented history of March disappointments.

This graphic has to reduce appropriate on the coronary heart of the ravishing other folks of Tucson.

Yeah, but 1997 used to be aloof superior.

2. Texas A&M

Buzz Williams and Texas A&M followers were enraged about being neglected of the NCAA match a one year within the past, and they let everybody know about it. Twelve months later, Buzz Williams and Texas A&M followers were enraged about being a 7-seed, and they let everybody know about it.

With a probability to point to the college basketball world that College Put deserves a jolt of appreciate from the college basketball world, the Aggies laid an absolute egg Thursday evening in opposition to Penn Bid.

3. Iowa

One other one year, one other first weekend exit for Fran McCaffery, who has been a head coach for 27 seasons (13 at Iowa) and never been to a Sweet 16.

His fan cross is conscious.

Iowa’s loss to Auburn additionally allowed the SEC to engage an early lead within the “I instructed you idiots our convention used to be the handiest” flee. SEC teams went 5-1 on day one. The Huge Ten is aloof off to a solid 3-2 open.

4. Houston

I know the Cougars are banged up, but shew, that used to be horrifying to survey for anybody who has Kelvin Sampson’s crew enjoying deep into this match. UH looked fully disjointed on offense and turned the ball over a whopping 17 times, permitting Northern Kentucky to withhold things technique more animated than they’d any enterprise being.

5. Oral Roberts

On Sunday, I said Duke-Oral Roberts used to be going to be the handiest sport of the most most valuable round. On Wednesday, I picked the Golden Eagles to alter into the most most valuable 12-seed ever to manufacture the Final Four.

Is this interior most? You’re rattling appropriate it is.

ORU couldn’t even pick this thing remotely animated for a minute, and now we’ve obtained everybody agreeing that Duke more or less looks admire the crew to beat within the East.

We’ll step by step grasp 2021, Max.

5 Day 1 Cheers

1. Locker room celebrations

One in all the handiest substances of this time of the one year used to be support in bulky force on Thursday.

2. Furman’s “FU” free-throw cheer and followers

The entirety about Furman on Thursday used to be spectacular, including their cheerleader’s free-throw occasion cheer.

You would possibly perhaps presumably also’t assist but smile.

Moreover love the showcasing of the two kinds of Furman followers within the sport’s closing moments.

Fan 1: Can’t cease smiling and announcing “what the fuck”:

Fan 2: Frantically praying and on the verge of a total worried breakdown:

They every obtained the job performed.

3. SDSU breaking the Mountain West losing proceed

Following Nevada’s blowout loss to Arizona Bid on Wednesday evening within the First Four and Utah Bid’s loss to Missouri earlier within the day on Thursday, the Mountain West used to be utilizing an 11-sport NCAA match losing proceed when San Diego Bid took the court to face Charleston in a 5/12 matchup.

Although they would possibly also had been aided reasonably by a bogus heinous call within the closing minute (more on that coming), SDSU used to be finally ready to withhold on for a 63-57 rob over a Cougar crew that performed its season with 31 wins.

With Boise Bid’s loss to Northwestern a few hours later, the Mountain West is now 4-18 within the NCAA match since 2015, and has despatched factual one crew to the match’s 2nd weekend over that very same time span. The convention is additionally now 2-14 in first round video games since 2016.

However hiya, not not as a lot as they evaded having all four of their participants out prior to Friday for a 2nd straight one year. Brian Dutcher says you’re welcome.

4. This gentle Northern Kentucky fan

I wonder at what age it used to be that his partner — who’s noticeably not wearing any form of costume in any blueprint — factual accredited that this used to be going to be a thing.

Northern Kentucky has handiest been a Division-I program since 2012. Turned into this man wearing his Norse tools to Huge Lakes Valley Convention video games within the leisurely ‘80s? Did the partner dress up at any point within the previous? And who the hell is she texting appropriate now? Is it about the uncover-up? Resulting from we every knew this used to be happening once we bought the tickets, CYNTHIA.

So many questions.

5. The persevered upward thrust of the 15-seeds

The match expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Between then and 2011, we witnessed factual four occurrences of 15-seeds upsetting 2-seeds within the most most valuable round of the Huge Dance.

Then, in 2012, something improbable took put. A pair of 15-seeds — Norfolk Bid and Lehigh — pulled off first round stunners on the identical day. A one year later, Florida Gulf Cruise grew to alter into the most most valuable 15-seed to ever advance out of the match’s opening weekend. The upset took put once more in 2016, nevertheless in 2021, after which final season Saint Peter’s grew to alter into the most most valuable 15-seed to play in a regional closing.

Now, for the most most valuable time in match history, we’ve had not not as a lot as one 15-seed advance out of the most most valuable round in three consecutive years.

Could perhaps perhaps even Princeton engage this thing the total technique to the Final Four? Could perhaps perhaps even Vermont join the membership on Friday?

At this point it feels admire it’s all that you simply would possibly also notify for the 2nd littlest of the limited guys.

BONUS CHEER: Dexter Dennis’ pin block

All due appreciate to Xavier Rhodes, this used to be the handiest particular individual highlight of the day, so we needed to acquire one blueprint to work it in here someplace.

Appropriate two or 25 more of those and A&M would had been appropriate within the sport.

5 Day 1 Jeers

1. Houston’s smartly being issues

After lacking the AAC match championship sport thanks to a groin pain, Marcus Sasser — the convention Participant of the Yr and an All-American — used to be support to beginning with lineup Thursday evening for Houston’s NCAA match opener in opposition to Northern Kentucky. He played factual 14 minutes prior to appearing to irritate the pain and limp to the Cougar bench. Sasser did not peep the court within the 2nd half of the sport.

If that weren’t ample, Jamal Shead — a double-settle scorer and the crew chief in assists — hyperextended his knee finally of the rob. Shead instructed reporters after the sport that he expects to play on Saturday, but it absolutely’s sharp to bellow how shut to 100 p.c he’ll be.

“I’m very engaging,” Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson said of his crew’s pain feature after the sport.

Including to that teach is the reality that Houston now must take care of an Auburn crew that looked very impressive of their first round rob over Iowa on Thursday, and they must take care of them in Birmingham.

2. The wedgies in Des Moines

Four wedgies, one court, finally.

Something’s happening in Des Moines, and I’m shy of what that would possibly even be.

Fortuitously, we’ve obtained Ricky with boots on the flooring.

3. Boise Bid’s winless proceed

The Mountain West would possibly also grasp snapped its 11-sport losing proceed with San Diego Bid’s afternoon victory over Charleston, but Boise Bid’s all-time winless proceed within the Huge Dance moved to nine. No crew has looked in further NCAA tournaments with out posting s single victory than the Broncos.

On the flip aspect, Northwestern — which knocked off Boise by a closing of 75-67 — has aloof never lost a first round NCAA match sport. The Wildcats, making factual their 2nd look in March Madness ever, will peep for his or her first time out to the Sweet 16 after they face UCLA on Saturday.

4. Kihei Clark’s closing March moment

In a single of the strangest juxtapositions in NCAA match history, Kihei Clark saved Virginia’s nationwide title trail asa factual freshman in 2019 by making one of many best, headiest passes in March Madness history.

Then, as a fifth-one year senior point guard on Thursday, his college occupation came to an cease thanks largely to one of many more inexplicably depressed dart makes an try in NCAA match history.

It used to be such an ordinary decision that Furman star Jalen Slawson aloof couldn’t notify it took put at the same time as he used to be strolling into the locker room to grasp an ideal time.

As step by step, March gives and March takeaways. It factual in total doesn’t create so in such extremes.

5. The heinous call on the cease of San Diego Bid/Charleston

With factual 25 seconds to play and San Diego Bid clinging to a 58-55 lead, Charleston’s Jaylon Scott seemed to manufacture a clear block on a 3-point try by Matt Bradley that would possibly allow the Cougars to grasp a shot to achieve down and even the ranking or diagram to within some degree.

Except for the whistle blew.

Bradley made 2-of-3 from the free-throw line, and that used to be fine mighty all she wrote.

I am contractually obligated to bellow that this single call “fully did not stamp Charleston the sport,” but it absolutely sure would had been nice to know the blueprint things would grasp played out had play not been interrupted.

All Day-1 Personnel

Andrew Funk, Penn Bid

The Nittany Lion senior guard went 8-of-10 from three and scored a day one high 27 functions to steer Penn Bid to its first NCAA match victory since 2001.

Jeremy Roach, Duke

The one who saved his handiest basketball for March final season appears to be like to be at it once more. Roach led the Blue Devils with 23 functions, three assists and handiest one turnover in Duke’s impressive thumping of Oral Roberts.

Kedrian Johnson, West Virginia

Johnson picked a heck of a time to put up a brand new occupation-high, scoring 27 functions on 8-of-13 taking pictures, but finally it wasn’t ample in West Virginia’s 67-65 loss to Maryland.

Boo Buie, Northwestern

The senior guard with one of many handiest names in college basketball led Northwestern into the 2nd round with a 22-point, 5 rebound and 5 abet effort.

Reduce Pringle, Alabama

All-American Brandon Miller didn’t ranking a single point for the Tide on Thursday, but it absolutely didn’t matter thanks largely to the play of Pringle. The junior entered the afternoon averaging factual 3.0 functions and 2.7 rebounds, but went off for 19 and 15 in exactly 21 minutes in a 96-75 rob over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

5 Most animated Day 1 Dunks

1. Jalen Slawson, Furman

It wasn’t a spectacular opening day for crams, but here’s your very early chief for dunk of the match. And it came from one of many day’s ideal stars.

2. Naje Smith, Boise Bid

Extra of a “thunk,” but we’ll allow it.

3. KJ Adams, Kansas

Easily the most impressive lob of Thursday.

4. Julian Reese, Maryland

You knew it used to be going to be a slugfest with West Virginia, and Reese used to be appropriate within the center of it.

5. Naje Smith, Boise Bid

Nothing thunky about this reverse.

5 Most animated Day 1 Images

1. The agony and the ecstasy

Describe by Lance King/Getty Images

2. Share II

Describe by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

3. Walk the lane

Describe by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

4. Logan Cremonesi’s hair

@marchmadnesscbb

5. All eyes on Brandon Miller

Describe by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The All-American freshman, who used to be accompanied to the sport by armed security, did not ranking in Alabama’s blowout rob over Texas A&M Corpus-Christi. Afterward, Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats said Miller has been nursing a groin pain for the reason that SEC title sport.

5 Basic Quotes From Day 1

1. “In that moment, it’s a fine surreal feeling. However I additionally can’t inform I’m taken aback. This crew has been so factual all one year, so gritty. On paper, it’s going to peep admire a spacious upset. However we predict in every numerous and we judge we’re a terribly factual crew. After we’re at our handiest, then I judge we can beat anybody within the country.” —Princeton guard Matt Allocco

2. “I knew when it used to be goin’ up. I had bulky perception. Full perception within the shot. I’d been lacking all evening, but that doesn’t matter. On the cease of the day, I wish to be in those moments. I was born for those moments.” —Furman’s JP Pegues on his sport-winner in opposition to Virginia

3. “Effectively I don’t know if we were smartly-oiled. I know Invoice Self is gonna damage me once we uncover support to the lodge.” —Kansas assistant coach Norm Roberts (filling in for Self) on his crew’s slack open in opposition to Howard

4. “I’ve loved coaching him in his occupation. We would not be in this deliver with out him. You mostly peep to that final moment and there’s so many what-ifs and who’s conscious of. However, in time, that would possibly go. And what he’s performed, what he’s intended — it’s a sharp technique to total, but additionally there’s a total bunch of factual whereas you peep on the total image.” —Virginia head coach Tony Bennett on Kihei Clark

5. “It’s over, you know what I suggest. I don’t know what else to bellow. It’s a numerous feeling. I’m able to’t thank this program ample. I’m able to’t thank coach Huggins ample.” —West Virginia’s Erik Stevenson, who played at Wichita Bid, Washington and South Carolina prior to at final attending to the NCAA match with West Virginia in his closing college season

Full Friday schedule for 2023 men’s NCAA match

Put together your mind, physique and soul to do that total thing all the blueprint through once more.

Can’t wait.