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UMBC wins: 1
— SB Nation (@SBNation) March 17, 2018
Perfect brackets: 0
( : @UMBCAthletics)pic.twitter.com/XCJbuI1dqc
Yep, that’s 16 seed UMBC slapping their sticker up on the bracket after knocking off #1 Virginia last night.
Yes, you read that right. A #16 seed beat a #1 seed. I suppose you’re asking right now “well, who hit the buzzer beater to drop the Cavs?” Well, my friend, you are horrifyingly wrong. The Retrievers won by TWENTY. It wasn’t close. UMBC ended the myth that Bennett Ball is somehow a good and proper way to play basketball by obliterating a #1 seed off the face of the earth.
Life is good.
In fact, the only people upset about this are 1) Virginia fans, 2) ACC fans (they lost all those sweet expected #1 seed NCAA tournament game shares), and 3) Marshall fans, because the #13 seeded Thundering Herd were set to be the big story of the day after knocking off #4 seed Wichita State, 81-75. We also got upsets from Butler and Syracuse, but hey: They beat Arkansas and TCU respectively, so were those really upsets? I don’t think so.
As for today’s action, we’ve got two Big East teams playing, which means a chance to elevate the league from 10 shares to 12 shares. The way I see it, as long as you leave the first round with 10 shares in your pocket, you’re doing things right. Past that, it’s all gravy. Although, if Villanova loses to Alabama, I will have the jokes.
Other highlights for the day: Loyola-Chicago and Buffalo trying to upset their way to the Sweet 16, and a 4/5 game between Ohio State and Gonzaga that ought to be a hoot.
If you find yourself away from a television and in need of streaming options, there’s always March Madness Live, but don’t forget about Hulu, CBS All Access, or Fubo.
All times Central.
11:10am - #1 Villanova vs #9 Alabama, CBS
1:40pm - #2 Duke vs #7 Rhode Island, CBS
4:15pm - #5 Kentucky vs #13 Buffalo, CBS
5:10pm - #3 Tennessee vs #11 Loyola-Chicago, TNT
6:10pm - #1 Kansas vs #8 Seton Hall, TBS
6:45pm - #4 Gonzaga vs #5 Ohio State, CBS
7:40pm - #3 Texas Tech vs #6 Florida, TNT