Ready for another day of March madness? How is your brace?? The first round of 2021 NCAA tournament continues on Saturday.
The first round games on Friday weren’t good for the Big Ten. The league lost two top-4 seeds (Ohio State and Purdue). According to ESPN Stats & Information, this marked the first time the league has happened since the tournament’s expansion in 1985.
The day wasn’t good for the ACC either. The league lost four teams (Clemson, UNC, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech) on the same day in the NCAA tournament for the first time in conference history. But, Buddy Buckets and Syracuse started.
Here’s a look at the best stuff from Saturday’s NCAA tournament action:
The defending champions go down!
For the second time in three NCAA tournaments, the Virginia Cavaliers were upset in the first round. This time the loss came from the 13th seed Ohio Bobcats. The Cavs are the fourth reigning champion to be eliminated in the 64th round (UConn 2012, UCLA 1996 and Indiana 1988) according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Ohio dethrones the defending champions! 👀@ OhioMBasketball | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/N1Sy6a8zcw
– NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 21, 2021
For Bobcats fans, however, the game was not without nerves.
Do you have your emotional support buddy, @ OhioMBasketball Fans? pic.twitter.com/XJGEWf0sRn
– March Madness TV (@MarchMadnessTV) March 21, 2021
Big 3s and Clutch free throws helped send the Bobcats through to the next round. It was the team’s third straight win in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.
– Ohio Basketball (@OhioMBasketball) March 21, 2021
YUP!
– Ohio Bobcats (@OhioBobcats) March 21, 2021
The win was a reminder that another Ohio state team deserves respect.
THE. OHIO. UNIVERSITY. 🙃#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/46EEBJvQ3T
– NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 21, 2021
And the Bobcats even got a call from Joe Burrow, who attended Athens High School in Ohio.
How about these bobcats?
– Joey Burrow (@JoeyB) March 21, 2021
The Jabari Walker Show
Andy Lyons / Getty Images
Colorado absolutely dusty Georgetown. It was the Buffaloes’ biggest NCAA tournament win, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
student in the first year Jabari Walker had a career high of 24 points and was 5 out of 5 from the 3-point line, his most 3 in a game in his career and a Colorado NCAA tournament single-game record. Walker hadn’t even tried four threes in a game before Saturday. Teammate D’Shawn Schwartz also hit 5 threes on Saturday and now shares that record with Walker.
McKinley Wright IV had 13 assists, a CU tournament record. That included 8 assists in the first half alone. In the last six NCAA tournaments, only one player had at least 13 assists in a game: Murray State’s Ja Morant in 2019 (16).
0:25
Colorado’s McKinley Wright IV drives to an impressive bucket and has a moment with his father in the stands.
Socially distant madness
Unprecedented times call for new solutions. The Gonzaga Kennel Club found a unique way to bring the game closer to fans.
March Madness in Covid times. @ ZagKennelClub hosts an outdoor clock party here on campus where students could sign up in groups of six for socially distant pods to watch the game on a 27-foot outdoor screen. pic.twitter.com/TddvB9GXtP
– Austin Getz (@AustinGetzTV) March 21, 2021
Garden State pride
There’s no question who the New Jersey Devils care about after seeing UConn Junior RJ Cole‘s shoulder, especially after Rutgers advanced on Friday.
We feel the love @rjuice_.#MarchMadness | #JerseyPride pic.twitter.com/zIwSYR72lu
– New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) March 21, 2021
Boomers used to be
Oklahoma controls both ends ✋@OU_MBBall | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/skWvgFOtDa
– NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 20, 2021
Great jams!
MILES OF NORRIS THROWING IT DOWN 😳@UCSBbasketball | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/CXamN6U1kS
– NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 20, 2021
BISHOP REVERSE 🌪@BluejayMBB |#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/ZywVkvRTPO
– NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 20, 2021
Michigan Isaiah liversAs a side effect, fashion statement
Isaiah livers in the #NotNCAAProperty FTW shirt pic.twitter.com/IkTBBrKOFr
– Tammi Gaw (@tammigaw) March 20, 2021
The rising cult heroes in east Washington
No. 14 Set up seeds of EMU a fight against No. 3 seeds Kansas. That was in large part thanks to the Groves brothers. Tanner (Saturday’s bearded star) had 35 points and Jacob 23.
The Groves Brothers fill it up for EMU! 🦅@EWUMBB | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/jGIvSyw5XD
– NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 20, 2021
2. 16:55 | More great ball movement through the eagles results in a Tanner Groves Triple! In the second half he got all seven for Eastern!
🦅 51
🐻 17#GoEags #BigSkyinBoise pic.twitter.com/vyazWD76BG
– EWU MBB (@EWUMBB) March 13, 2021
Early top games
Florida State hates rims 😤@FSUHoops | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/x9rVaHB7cS
– NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 20, 2021
The buffs dropped 11 threes in the first half 🎯@CUBuffsMBB | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/HOA1NY6Dha
– NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 20, 2021
WHOLE SQUARE HYPED! 🔥🔥🔥@CUBuffsMBB #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/qtz3O2jYYJ
– NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 20, 2021
Michigan’s managers work
They don’t call them our managers THE LEADERS & BEST for nothing! #GoBlue 〽️🏀#MarchMadness#ForCompetitorsOnly pic.twitter.com/ZVIGJUAYxj
– Michigan Men’s Basketball (@umichbball) March 20, 2021
We’re all those drummers today
#MarchMadness Energy right here pic.twitter.com/Ka8Hak7ogb
– Kansas Jayhawks (@KUAthletics) March 20, 2021
Soccer shoutouts
I wish @ CoachEwing33 and the Hoyas good luck in the tournament! #HoyaSaxa x #MarchMadness https://t.co/sW8ZqqUOP5 pic.twitter.com/iEUECWLqKu
– Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) March 20, 2021
Time to dance @FSUHoops & @fsuwbb!!#NoleFamily | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/08EitIY6Ro
– FSU football (@FSUFootball) March 20, 2021
You missed the following on Friday:
16 games.
3 OTs.
What a day. 🥵 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/4Lc16RCUvf
– NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 20, 2021
0:32
Javion Hamlets Floater is in the middle of North Texas 11-0 run with 13 seeds in overtime when they stun Purdue with 4 seeds.
