NCAS Tounament winners break UVA

 

NCAA Tournament winners, losers: Paladins break UVA's heart; playing Sasser will haunt Houston

This is what we want on the first day of March Madness: Brackets breaking all over the country and double-digit seeds shocking everyone.

Lindsay Schnell

USA TODAY

And now, finally, an answer to one of the biggest questions as the men's NCAA Tournament started on Thursday: What the heck is a Paladin? 

Turns out, it’s a heartbreaker. Specifically, it’s a heartbreaker to the Virginia Cavaliers. 

In all seriousness, a Paladin is a knight, often renowned for honor and heroism. 

Maybe they should also get credit for good defense. 

The 13th-seeded Paladins of Furman stole the show on Day 1, topping No. 4 seed Virginia 68-67 in a wild finish that gave us our first major upset of the day. A couple of hours later, No. 15 seed Princeton joined the party, knocking off No. 2 seed Arizona. 

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This is what we want on the first day of Madness: Brackets breaking all over the country and double-digit seeds shocking everyone (except themselves, at least if you’re Princeton). 

MEN'S TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:Complete 2023 NCAA men's tournament schedule, results and times

Winners

Cinderella

There’s nothing like an upset — or two! 

First, in the Virginia-Furman game, the Paladins’ suffocating, trapping defense made Virginia senior Kihei Clark panic, and he heaved a dangerous, cross-court pass as the game’s final seconds wound down. That pass was intercepted by Furman’s Garrett Hien, who kicked it to JP Pegues, who’d missed his three previous attempts from long distance. Pegues calmly buried the 3 to go up 68-67. After a timeout, Virginia’s game-winning attempt was off. 

Then, in Arizona-Princeton, the Wildcats went ice cold from the field in the final 4:43 (0-for-7) as Princeton pulled off an improbable 59-55 upset. Arizona missed numerous shots in the final couple of minutes that could have won it, and Princeton iced the win with free throws. It’s the third consecutive year a 15 has beaten a 2. 

Maryland