USF played hard for a potential upset as No. 6 seed Louisville faced off against No. 11 seed South Florida. The Cardinals appeared to be cruising after building a commanding 23-point lead. Yet, South Florida refused to go quietly, mounting a relentless second-half rally that threatened to flip the script. Ultimately, Louisville held on for an 83-79 win, advancing to the Round of 32 for the first time since 2017. Isaac McKneely was instrumental for the Cardinals, leading the way with 23 points, including seven made threes. USF’s comeback bid fell just short, but their fight nearly provided the day’s second seismic shock.
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Nebraska Earns First NCAA Tournament Win
A historic drought ended for Nebraska on Thursday as the No. 4 seed Cornhuskers earned their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, defeating No. 13 seed Troy 76-47. Previously 0-8 in the tournament, Nebraska broke through in style, led by Pryce Sandfort’s 23 points and seven three-pointers. The win set off celebrations back home, where Bud Light fridges in bars across Omaha and Lincoln unlocked automatically after the final buzzer. Nebraska now looks ahead to a second-round matchup against the winner of Vanderbilt and McNeese, hoping to build on its long-awaited breakthrough.
High Point Stuns Wisconsin in Opening Day Thriller
The 2026 NCAA Tournament wasted no time delivering heart-stopping moments and upsets. The day’s first major headline came courtesy of No. 12 seed High Point, who pulled off a dramatic 83-82 victory over No. 5 seed Wisconsin. In a game packed with twists, Chase Johnston, known primarily for his long-range shooting, clinched the win with a breakaway layup—his first two-point basket of the entire season. High Point, who had never before defeated a Power Four opponent in 57 tries, trailed by ten points in the second half but stormed back by burying 15 three-pointers. Despite a stellar 27-point effort from Wisconsin’s Nick Boyd, it was the Panthers’ poise and perimeter shooting that made history and sent shockwaves through brackets everywhere.
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