Particle.news
Download on the App Store
663 ARTICLES
·
1h ago

Favorites Dominate First Round as Florida Sets Records and High Point, VCU Break Through

A mostly chalk bracket heads into Saturday with Florida surging, two true underdogs still alive and Iowa State awaiting clarity on Joshua Jefferson.

Image
Mar 20, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Jacari White (6) drives to the basket for a lay up as Wright State Raiders forward Kellen Pickett (4) defends during the second half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Image
Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Overview

  • Favorites went 16-0 on Friday, and 14 teams won by 20-plus points over the first two days, the most blowouts in Round of 64 history, according to CBS Sports.
  • No. 1 Florida routed Prairie View A&M 114-55 and set single-game NCAA Tournament marks for points, field goals, field-goal percentage, assists and margin of victory.
  • No. 12 High Point claimed its first NCAA Tournament win by topping No. 5 Wisconsin 83-82, and No. 11 VCU rallied from 19 down to beat North Carolina 82-78 in overtime, the largest first-round comeback on record.
  • Kentucky advanced after Otega Oweh banked a buzzer 3 to force overtime and finished with 35 points in an 89-84 win over Santa Clara, with the Wildcats slated to face No. 2 Iowa State on Sunday.
  • Iowa State leading scorer Joshua Jefferson left the opener with an ankle injury and later appeared on crutches in a boot, leaving his Round of 32 availability uncertain.