Every single year, the NCAA Tournament features upsets that nobody is prepared for; this year is no exception. This year’s tournament saw the 9 seeds sweep the 8 seeds—the 6th occurrence in tournament history and the first time since 2019—and a plethora of talent go down in the first round.
TCU(9) vs. Ohio State(8)
The first game of the tournament did not disappoint. This game came down to a last shot opportunity where Ohio State would ultimately fall just short, 66-64. TCU was led by forwards Micah Robinson(18pts, 5reb) and David Punch(16pts, 13reb).
Iowa(9) vs. Clemson(8)
This matchup was expected to be even, and it was. Iowa jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. Led by starting point guard Bennet Stirtz(16pts, 5reb), the Hawkeyes won the game 67-61.
Saint Louis(9) vs. Georgia(8)
Saint Louis delivered one of the most dominant performances of the first round of the tournament in this expectedly even game, beating Georgia 102-77. The game quickly turned into a blowout as Saint Louis controlled the pace early on. Saint Louis was led by Dion Brown(18pts, 9/10fg)
Utah State(9) vs. Villanova(8)
The back-and-forth battle concluded with Villanova leading by 2 at halftime. The even-keeled matchup continued into the second half, before the Aggies closed the game on a 13-3 run. The backcourt duo of Mason Falslev and MJ Collins Jr. combined for 42 points, leading Utah State to an 86-76 upset.
VCU(11) vs. North Carolina(6)
VCU pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, completing a 19-point comeback and defeating North Carolina in an overtime thriller, 82-78. VCU was pushed over the finish line by a monster performance from Terrence Hill Jr.(34pts, 5reb, 5ast).
Texas(11) vs. BYU(6)
Many people had little hope for Texas completing the upset as they had just barely skated by in their first four games a few days earlier. Despite a 35-point, 10-rebound game from AJ Dybantsa, the Longhorns, led by Matas Vokietaitis(23pts, 16reb), won the game 79-71.
Texas A&M(10) vs. Saint Mary’s(7)
Texas A&M displayed pure defensive dominance in this lopsided game. The Aggies controlled the game early and never looked back. Rashaun Agee(22pts, 9reb) led Texas A&M to their 63-50 victory over Saint Mary’s.
High Point(12) vs. Wisconsin(5)
This 12-5 matchup was an instant March Madness classic. Wisconsin led early, but High Point rallied back and won the game, 83-82, with a fastbreak layup that left roughly 11 seconds on the clock. Rob Martin(23pts, 10ast) and Chase Johnston(14pts, 4/6 3pt, game-winning layup) led High Point to its first-ever March Madness victory.
