#12 seed High Point's win over #5 Wisconsin was a nice Cinderalla start to the main bracket action this week in the NCAA Tournament. High Point's student radio call of the victory made the rounds on social. Check it out:
High Point student radio call of the game is what it is all about pic.twitter.com/LL3QEaoR5m
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) March 20, 2026
March Madness Delivers Chaos on Day 1: Upsets, Comebacks and Bracket Busting Drama
The NCAA Tournament wasted no time reminding everyone why it’s the best event in sports.
Day 1 of March Madness — Thursday, March 19, 2026 — brought a little bit of everything: stunning upsets, near disasters for blue bloods, and the kind of late-game drama that instantly wrecks brackets across the country.
Upsets Take Center Stage
The story of the day belonged to 11-seed VCU, which pulled off one of the most improbable wins in recent tournament memory. The Rams erased a 19-point deficit to stun 6-seed North Carolina 82-78 in overtime. It was the largest comeback of the day and an early contender for the defining moment of the first round.
Not to be outdone, 12-seed High Point delivered another bracket-buster, edging 5-seed Wisconsin 83-82. The hero? Chase Johnston, who scored the game-winning layup despite not making a two-point shot all season. That’s March Madness in a nutshell.
Texas also joined the upset parade, as the 11-seed knocked off 6-seed BYU to continue the trend of double-digit seeds making noise early.
Blue Bloods Survive Scares
While some favorites fell, others narrowly escaped.
Top-seeded Duke found itself in serious trouble against 16-seed Siena, trailing by double digits at halftime. But the Blue Devils regrouped in the second half and avoided history with a 71-65 comeback win. It wasn’t pretty, but it was enough to survive and advance.
Heavyweights Handle Business
Elsewhere, the top teams looked the part.
Michigan rolled past Howard 101-80, Houston cruised by Idaho 78-47, and Illinois overwhelmed Penn 105-70 in one of the most dominant performances of the day.
Nebraska added a feel-good storyline, blowing out Troy 76-47 to secure the program’s first NCAA Tournament win.
March Moments: Close Games and Late Drama
If the upsets weren’t enough, there was no shortage of late-game tension.
TCU knocked off Ohio State 66-64 on a clutch bucket in the final seconds, while Louisville survived a near-collapse after blowing a massive lead before holding off South Florida 83-79.
Several other teams — including Michigan State, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, and Gonzaga — advanced, though not all without a fight.
The Takeaway
Day 1 delivered exactly what fans expect from March Madness: unpredictability, excitement, and chaos.
VCU’s historic comeback, High Point’s Cinderella moment, and Duke’s close call were just the beginning.
And if your bracket isn’t busted yet… it’s probably hanging by a thread.
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