This year’s March Madness is an underdog’s dream. Nobody, literally nobody, predicted this many upsets in the first two rounds. Out of the 8.15 million brackets submitted to ESPN.com, there are no perfect brackets remaining. This is not surprising, considering that three out of the four 5-seeded teams lost in the first round this year. Several bracket-busters, including La Salle, Mississippi and California, defeated their highly-favored opponents.
One of the more surprising games in the first round was Harvard’s shocking 68-62 victory over no. 3 seed New Mexico. Harvard has qualified for March Madness only twice since 1947. New Mexico did not, in my opinion, deserve to win the game. At one point, they were shooting a mere 9% from the floor, and finished the first half with 10 for 28 made field goal attempts.
However the most shocking upset by far in the first two rounds was Florida Gulf Coast University’s (FGCU) 78-68 win over no. 2 seeded Georgetown.
Otto Porter, Georgetown star and Big East Player of the Year, was expected to dominate the Eagles the way he’s been dominating his opponents all season. FGCU came prepared, though, as they held Porter to only 13 points in one of his worst games this season. This victory is ever more surprising as it was FGCU’s first ever appearance in March Madness.
This year’s March Madness wasn’t all upsets though. All no. 1 seeded teams still remain in the quest for the championship.
Although my bracket is completed busted, I will still watch the games with enthusiasm. Shocking upsets make the tournament all the more exciting. Without them, March Madness wouldn’t be Madness at all.