The Sportsletter - The Day 1 Hero of March Madness

BY JEFF YODER

MAR. 22, 2024 |  SUBSCRIBE  |  WEB VIEW

Happy Friday 🙌

Day 1 of March Madness is in the books and .00038% of verified brackets remain perfect (in the world). We had 1 bracket in our pool (out of 700+) who hit 15 out of 16 games (Bracket Name: Rob8819733) while 25 participants went 14-for-16. Yours truly went 13-for-16. Many of you bested the sportswriter. Kudos.

There are 32 more games today (16 men and 16 women). Buckle up, team. But first, let's rewind Day 1 and spotlight the unlikely hero of the moment.

Letter Rip!

  NCAA  

The Unlikely Day 1 Hero of March Madness

Photo: Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images

#14 Oakland Downs #3 Kentucky (80-76) Behind Jack Gohlke’s 10 3-Pointers (11-Seeds Go Perfect 3-0)

Did you miss Day 1 of the NCAA Tournament? Unlikely (if you’re part of our audience). We’ll tell you a little about it anyway. The 11-seeds went 3-0 on Day 1 — #11 Duquesne, #11 Oregon and #11 NC State are all moving on. But the story of the day belonged to 14-seed Oakland (that's Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan) and the newest NCAA Tournament darling, Jack Gohlke. The Golden Grizzlies knocked off 3-seed Kentucky (80-76) for the biggest upset so far. Gohlke, a fifth-year senior and Division II transfer, caught fire in a game that will live in March Madness lore. He actually came off the bench to knock down 10 triples (10-for-20) for 32 points in a shooting blitz that ended UK’s hopes in heartbreaking fashion.

Most 3s in NCAA Tournament Game

1. Jeff Fryer (Loyola Marymount, 1990): 11

T2. Jack Gohlke (Oakland, 2024): 10

T2. Carsen Edwards (Purdue, 2019): 10

T2. Freddie Banks (UNLV, 1987): 10

T2. Roburt Sallie (Memphis, 2009): 10

*Nine Different Players With Nine 3s

Upset of the Day: It was a one-point game with less than 30 seconds left (75-74) before Oakland's D.Q. Cole hit a dagger 3 from the corner. The Golden Grizzlies just never went away. Kentucky has now suffered three straight first-weekend exits in the NCAA Tournament. The previous year (2021), the Wildcats didn’t make the tournament. That's four straight seasons without advancing to the second weekend. Believe it or not, UK head coach John Calipari may be on the hot seat. Gohlke, on the other hand? Instant March hero.

Watch: 14-Seed Oakland Shatters 3-Seed Kentucky Behind Jack Gohlke’s 10 3-Pointers

11-Seed Perfection: Outside of Oakland’s upset, the 11-seeds were the secondary story of Day 1. Oregon toppled South Carolina easily (87-73) behind Jermaine Couisnard's 40-point explosion. NC State ran away from Texas Tech (80-67). And the Duquesne Dukes — led by LeBron James’ former high school coach, Keith Dambrot — took down BYU in a close one (71-67). 

Fun Fact: Duquesne’s tourney win ended a 55-year NCAA Tournament drought (1969). It’s the third longest span between NCAA tourney wins. Only Holy Cross and Baylor had longer droughts.

Day 1 NCAA Tournament Highlights

#1 N. Carolina def. #16 Wagner (90-62)

#2 Arizona def. #15 Long Beach State (85-65)

#2 Iowa State def. #15 S. Dakota State (82-65)

#2 Tennessee def. #15 Saint Peter’s (83-49)

#3 Creighton def. #14 Akron (77-60)

#3 Illinois def. #14 Morehead State (85-69)

#14 Oakland def. #3 Kentucky (80-76)

#4 Kansas def. #13 Samford (93-89)

#5 Gonzaga def. #12 McNeese (86-65)

#11 Duquesne def. #6 BYU (71-67)

#11 Oregon def. #6 South Carolina (87-73)

#11 NC State def. #6 Texas Tech (80-67)

#7 Dayton def. #10 Nevada (63-60)

#7 Texas def. #10 Colorado State (56-44)

#7 Washington State def. #10 Drake (66-61)

#9 Michigan State def. #8 Miss. State (69-51)

🏀 Updated NCAA Tournament Bracket (Men)

🗓️ Today’s NCAA Tournament Schedule (Men)

Read More

AP: Jack Gohlke Makes 10 3s as Oakland Delivers First True Shock of March Madness

Yahoo! Sports: Duquesne Stuns BYU for First Tournament Win in Over 50 Years

B/R: Men’s NCAA Tournament 2024: Thursday’s First Round Winners & Losers

  NCAA  

Women's Tourney Tip-Off Guide

Photo: Tom Pennington / Getty Images

Everything You Need to Know Before the Women’s NCAA Tournament Tips Off Today

Double Madness! Thursday was great. Friday is even better. That’s because the Women’s NCAA Tournament joins the fun. Sixteen more games are on today’s slate, and we’re cracking open the women’s tourney with a preview of who to watch (coaches, players, trends and more).

Top Teams/Players to Watch (The Favorites)

Unlike the chaos that often follows the men’s tournament, the women’s bracket is usually much more “chalky.” That’s not a bad thing, it’s just a more predictable spread of talent where the top teams are usually so skilled and disciplined that falling early in the tourney is less likely. The top eight teams are all viable candidates to win it all. Realistically, ten teams are head and shoulders above the competition. Those are the 1s, 2s, and a pair of 3-seeds in LSU (defending champs) and UConn (perpetual power). Obviously, undefeated South Carolina (33-0) is the juggernaut favorite. Iowa and the NCAA record-breaking phenom, Caitlin Clark, will be the top ticket. But if you haven’t seen USC’s Juju Watkins, try. She’s a bucket, and she could flip this tournament on its head.

Top Seeds

1s: South Carolina, Iowa, USC, Texas

2s: Notre Dame, UCLA, Stanford, Ohio State

3s: UConn, LSU, Oregon State, NC State

4s: Gonzaga, Va. Tech, Indiana, Kansas State

Don’t Expect to Find Cinderella

No team seeded beyond the 3-line has ever won the women’s bracket. That’s not to say it couldn’t change, but it’s highly unlikely. This year’s champion is almost certainly in the top-4 seeds (above). In fact, 1-seeds have won 22 of the 29 women’s tournaments, while 2-seeds (4) and 3-seeds (3) have captured the other seven. Stanford (2), Notre Dame (2), LSU (3) and UConn (3) appear to be the non-1-seeds with a legit chance to do damage. Cinderella? Hard to say.

South Carolina’s Chance at Perfection

Dawn Staley’s South Carolina team was undefeated last year before they ran into Iowa in the Final Four. They’re back in the tourney with another perfect record on the line (33-0). Nine teams in women’s college hoops history have run the table and completed a perfect season with a national championship. UConn owns six of those seasons. Texas (1985-86), Tennessee (1997-98), and Baylor (2011-12) own the other three. The Gamecocks have never pulled it off, but it might be the year.

Last 5 Women’s Champs

2023: LSU (34-2)

2022: South Carolina (35-2)

2021: Stanford (31-2)

2020: Canceled (COVID-19)

2019: Baylor (37-1)

When Do The Top Players Start?

South Carolina takes the court this afternoon. So does 3-seed LSU and Kim Mulkey’s bunch. The star draws of Caitlin Clark (Iowa) and Juju Watkins (USC) will hit the women’s tourney tomorrow. Click the link below for the full schedule and enjoy some more basketball.

🏀 Women’s NCAA Tournament Bracket

🗓️ Women’s NCAA Tournament Schedule

Read More

ESPN: Player Profiles: The Top-25 Players to Watch in Women’s March Madness

Yahoo! Sports: Undefeated South Carolina is the Overwhelming NCAA Women’s Tournament Favorite

  HIGHLIGHTS  🎥

🏀 NBA

Bucks def. Nets (115-108)

Suns def. Hawks (128-115)

Wizards def. Kings (109-102)

Mavericks def. Jazz (113-97)

Magic def. Pelicans (121-106)

*Paolo Banchero (20-10-11) Notches Triple-Double

Nuggets def. Knicks (113-110)

*Nikola Jokic (30-14-11) Has Triple-Double

Rockets def. Bulls (127-117)

*Dillon Brooks & DeMar DeRozan Scuffle

🏒 NHL

Hurricanes def. Flyers (3-2, OT)

Predators def. Panthers (3-0)

Devils def. Jets (4-1)

Golden Knights def. Kraken (3-1)

Oilers def. Sabres (8-3)

*Edmonton Scores 5 in 3rd-Period Runaway

Rangers def. Bruins (5-2)

*Artemi Panarin (3G) 3rd Hat Trick of Season

Red Wings def. Islanders (6-3)

*Dylan Larkin Scores 2 in Return from Injury

⚽️ Concacaf Nations League

USMNT def. Jamaica (3-1)

The U.S. Men’s National Team needed late-game heroics to outlast Jamaica and reach the finals of the Concacaf Nations League. Jamaica scored on a header in the 1st minute of play, and the U.S. didn’t respond until a last-ditch stoppage-time goal (96’). Haji Wright sealed it with two strikes in extra time (3-1). The USMNT will face Mexico in the finals on Sunday (9:15 pm ET).

⚾️ MLB (Seoul Series)

Padres def. Dodgers (15-11)

The second game of the Seoul Series in South Korea was an absolute shootout on Thursday. Dodgers’ new ace, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, got rocked in his debut. He lasted less than one inning and gave up five runs. The Dodgers rallied to pull within one (12-11), but Manny Machado cracked a three-run blast in the 9th to ice it. The teams split the Seoul Series, 1-1.

  NEWS   📰 

⚽️ NWSL Goalkeeper Coach for Houston Dash Fired for Fraternization With Player (ESPN)

🏛️ ACC Files Countersuit Against Clemson Over Grant of Rights, Withdrawal Fee (B/R)

🏀 Warriors’ Draymond Green at Center of Shoving Match in Game With Grizzlies (CBS Sports)

🏈 Michigan DL Coach Gregg Scruggs Resigns After Drunk Driving Arrest (FOX Sports)

🏀 Cavs Head Coach JB Bickerstaff Reveals Threats From Gamblers, Says Sports Betting Has ‘Gone Too Far’ (Yahoo! Sports)

⚾️ Mets Sign J.D. Martinez to 1-Year, $12 Million Contract (B/R)

🏀 NBA Cites NCAA’s NIL Policy as Reason for Ending G-League Developmental League (CBS Sports)

🏈 WR Odell Beckham Jr. to Visit Dolphins as Free Agent Interest Ramps Up (SI)

🏀 LeBron James Gifted Duquesne New Shoes Ahead of March Madness (ESPN)

  WEEKEND SCHEDULE   🗓️

The Weekend Must-Watch List

The opening weekend of March Madness is front and center in this weekend’s must-watch. There are some NBA and NHL games we’re keeping an eye on, as well as the Concacaf Nations League finale, but it’s bracket weekend. Buckle up for 3-4 more days of first and second round action.

🏀 Men’s NCAA Tournament Schedule

🏀 Women's NCAA Tournament Schedule

⚽️ Concacaf Nations League

Final: USMNT vs. Mexico (Sun. 9:15 pm, Par+)

⛳️ PGA Tour

Valspar Championship (All Weekend)

🏀 NBA

76ers at Lakers (Fri. 10:30 pm, NBATV)

Thunder at Bucks (Sun. 7:00 pm, NBATV)

Full NBA Weekend Schedule

🏒 NHL

Bruins at Flyers (Sat. 1:00 pm, NHLN)

Panthers at Rangers (Sat. 8:00 pm, ABC)

Penguins at Avalanche (Sun. 2:00 pm, TNT)

Full NHL Weekend Schedule

*All Times ET

  THE TEAM  

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Assistant Writer: Marissa Kasch

Social Media: Aaron Yorke

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