March Madness: Broken Brackets and Broken Hearts

Bailey Bitetto, Sports Editor

11.57 million people created an ESPN March Madness Bracket; however as of right now, none of those people have a perfect bracket, but don’t worry: no one else in the world does either.

This absolute mayhem can only be explained by the series of unbelievable upsets within the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

One of the most shocking upsets came very early in the first round. No. 3 ranked Iowa State Cyclones took on No. 14 ranked University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers.

Clearly, the favored team was Iowa State, but the Blazers showed their dominance and pure drive to win by out-rebounding the Cyclones 52-37, including 19-9 on the offensive glass. The game came down to a last ditch effort by the Cyclones; however it wasn’t enough – UAB came out victorious 60-59. Most bracket-goers had Iowa making it to the sweet sixteen round, first day in, and their brackets were broken.

No. 14 Georgia State Panthers’ victory over No. 3 Baylor Bears not only made headlines for the outstanding 75-67 win, but because of head coach’s Ron Hunter’s reaction on the sideline. Ron Hunter’s son, R.J Hunter sunk a 3-point buzzer beater to advance over the Bears to the 2nd round against No. 6 Xavier Musketeers. Despite falling short in that game, the Panthers’ Cinderella story is not one to be forgotten in the hearts of human interest fans, or the brackets of those who suffer from the madness.

The No. 8 ranked North Carolina Wolfpack gave No. 1 ranked Villanova Wildcats a true run for their money. With Villanova being ranked No. 1 in the East, most bracket makers had the Wildcats going to the Final 4. No one saw a 68-71 loss to NC State, knocking them out of the tournament.

Some more notable upsets: No. 7 Wichita State Shockers beat No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks 78-65, and finally No. 11 Dayton Flyers upset No. 6 Providence Friars 66-53.

‘What’s to come next in the Sweet Sixteen round?,’ you may be asking yourself. Well, according to the pattern of events seen in the first two rounds, only time (and many upset “bracket connoisseurs”) can tell.