The opening day of the 2024 NCAA Tournament was filled with excitement, shock, and heartache. Just five days earlier, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) was basking in the glow of having a record-tying eight teams in the tournament, equaling the Big 12 for the most teams in the field. However, Friday’s first-round action delivered a tough reality for the SEC, as a series of upsets and disappointing losses left many questioning the conference’s strength.
The first blow came when No. 9 seed Michigan State dominated No. 8 seed Mississippi State. This was followed by No. 11 seed Oregon delivering a thrashing to No. 6 South Carolina, and things took a turn for the worse when No. 3 seed Kentucky, a powerhouse known for its exceptional 3-point shooting, fell to No. 14 seed Oakland in one of the biggest upsets of the day. Kentucky’s loss was a stunning turn of events, as they were defeated at their own game, with Oakland pulling off an 80-76 victory, fueled by an extraordinary 3-point shooting performance.
The SEC’s troubles didn’t end there. By the time half of the first-round games had been completed, five of its eight teams were already out. This left the conference with just three teams still vying for a shot at the Final Four: Tennessee, Auburn, and Alabama. Despite these still-living hopes, the early losses dampened the conference’s prospects and raised questions about its competitiveness.
However, while the SEC was reeling, other teams across the nation were taking advantage of the chaos, with a number of teams advancing and setting themselves up for deeper tournament runs. Let’s break down some of the standout performances and significant results from the opening day of March Madness.
Winners
Oakland Golden Grizzlies
Oakland’s victory over Kentucky was the headline upset of the day, and for good reason. After a sluggish start that saw them miss their first seven shots, the Golden Grizzlies rebounded with a scorching 3-point shooting display. Led by Jack Gohlke, who made an incredible 10 of 16 from beyond the arc, Oakland finished the game with 15 made 3-pointers. Gohlke’s 10 3-pointers tied a record for the most in an NCAA Tournament game, leaving Kentucky stunned and sending the Grizzlies to the next round with an 80-76 win.
No. 11 Seeds
It was a perfect day for the No. 11 seeds, as they went 3-0 in Thursday’s action. Duquesne kicked things off with a tight win over BYU, followed by Oregon’s dominant performance against South Carolina, where Jermaine Couisnard, a transfer from South Carolina, dropped 40 points in a spectacular performance. NC State capped off the evening with a strong second half to overcome Texas Tech. No. 11 seeds have had a strong history of upsetting No. 6 seeds in the tournament, and this year was no different. In fact, it marked the second time since 2022 that three No. 11 seeds advanced to the second round, with New Mexico eyeing a chance to make it a perfect 4-0 sweep.
Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State’s convincing win over Mississippi State was a classic example of March Madness brilliance, led by coach Tom Izzo’s consistent ability to elevate his teams in the postseason. Many had questioned whether Michigan State even deserved a spot in the tournament, but they proved their doubters wrong with a dominant 69-51 win. Michigan State hit the ground running with early 3-point shooting, and Mississippi State was never able to recover, even after an impressive showing from their star player, Josh Hubbard. This victory continued Izzo’s remarkable track record, securing his 14th first-round win in 17 tournament appearances.
Top Seeds Stand Strong
Though a few of the top seeds faced challenges early in their games, they all eventually flexed their muscle to avoid upsets. Creighton, Arizona, and Illinois were all in tight battles at halftime but pulled away with strong second-half performances. Creighton overcame Akron 77-60 after a dominant second half. Arizona erased a first-half deficit against Long Beach State with a blistering 21-2 run, cruising to an 85-65 win. Illinois, too, fought off a fast start from Morehead State to win 85-69, with Dain Dainja contributing a strong second-half performance.
Dayton Flyers
Dayton provided one of the most dramatic comebacks of the day, rallying from a 17-point deficit with under eight minutes left to defeat Nevada 63-60. Known for their three-point shooting, the Flyers drained several key shots late in the game, including three consecutive 3-pointers, to ignite a 20-2 run. Dayton’s resilience was highlighted by a clutch performance from guard Nate Santos, who contributed key shots in the closing moments. After a disappointing showing in the Atlantic 10 tournament, Dayton showed their toughness and advanced to the next round.
Gonzaga Bulldogs
Gonzaga proved their tournament pedigree once again, easily handling No. 12 seed McNeese State with an 86-65 victory. The Bulldogs limited McNeese to just 33.3% shooting while dominating offensively. Gonzaga’s victory marked their 25th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and their 15th consecutive first-round win. Despite not having the same star power as in previous years, Mark Few’s squad continues to perform at a high level.
Losers
No. 6 Seeds
Thursday was a rough day for the No. 6 seeds, with South Carolina, BYU, and Texas Tech all suffering defeats. No. 6 seeds have struggled historically against double-digit seeds, and this year was no exception. After Thursday’s games, the No. 6 seeds were 17-22 against such teams since 2014. With only Clemson remaining, No. 6 seeds will need a miracle to reverse their tournament misfortune.
Nevada Wolf Pack
Nevada’s heartbreaking collapse against Dayton was one of the most painful outcomes of the first round. Leading by 17 points with just over seven minutes to play, the Wolf Pack’s offense faltered, scoring only four more points the rest of the way. Nevada made a series of crucial mistakes down the stretch, including turnovers and missed shots, allowing Dayton to make their comeback. The Wolf Pack were left wondering what could have been after a promising season in the Mountain West Conference.
BYU Cougars
BYU’s first-round exit was a huge disappointment, especially after a solid showing in their inaugural season in the Big 12. The Cougars started the game poorly, missing their first eight shots and allowing Duquesne to take an early lead. Although BYU fought back, they failed to contain Duquesne in the final moments, losing by a narrow margin. This loss extended their frustrating streak of tournament failures, as they have now lost four consecutive first-round games.
Samford Bulldogs
Samford’s loss to Kansas was expected, but the way they lost was especially gut-wrenching. After cutting a 22-point deficit to just one point with 20 seconds left, a controversial foul call on the Bulldogs gave Kansas a chance to hold on for the win. Samford had a real shot at what would have been their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, but the final moments left them with only “what ifs” as they walked off the court.
The first day of the NCAA Tournament lived up to the madness with incredible upsets and memorable performances. While the SEC’s hopes took a hit, teams like Michigan State, Oakland, and Dayton showed that anything can happen in March. As the tournament continues, more surprises are sure to come.
