Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

No Shockers on Day One

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 20, 2009 7:32 AM CDT
Email

(Newser) – It was a disappointingly sane opening to March Madness yesterday, writes ESPN’s Mark Schlabach. Only four out of the 16 games were won by the lower seeds, and only one of those—12-seed Western Kentucky over 5-seed Illinois—approached headline status. Top seeds UNC and UConn rolled, with UConn scoring the third-largest rout ever, despite the last-minute hospitalization of coach Jim Calhoun, who was being treated for dehydration.

The most exciting games were actually the upsets that nearly happened. Memphis, which had complained that it deserved a top seed, found itself down 6 points to 15-seed Cal State with 10 minutes to play. Third-seeded Villanova trailed by a whopping 10 at the half, and Gonzaga needed a 19-1 run to beat Akron. Most epic of all was the UCLA/Virginia Commonwealth tilt, in which VCU missed a 17-foot buzzer shot to fall 65-64.

Western Kentucky forward Steffphon Pettigrew, right, shoots over Illinois' Dominique Keller. Pettigrew scored 17 points to lead Western Kentucky past Illinois 76-72, in yesterday's one notable upset.
Western Kentucky forward Steffphon Pettigrew, right, shoots over Illinois' Dominique Keller. Pettigrew scored 17 points to lead Western Kentucky past Illinois 76-72, in yesterday's one notable upset.   (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
UCLA's Darren Collison (2) drives past Virginia Commonwealth's Larry Sanders, March 19, 2009. UCLA won 65-64.
UCLA's Darren Collison (2) drives past Virginia Commonwealth's Larry Sanders, March 19, 2009. UCLA won 65-64.   (AP Photo/Michael Perez)
Morgan State's Reggie Holmes (11) shows his dejection after Morgan State lost to Oklahoma 82-54, March 19, 2009.
Morgan State's Reggie Holmes (11) shows his dejection after Morgan State lost to Oklahoma 82-54, March 19, 2009.   (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

Calhoun watches from the hospital
Hartford Courant (Conn.)

Unlikely hero rescues Memphis
ESPN

Hoops fans loving Kansas City
Kansas City Star

 
UCLA Bruins • Jim Calhoun • Connecticut Huskies • North Carolina Tar Heels • March Madness • college basketball • 2009 NCAA Tournament

More Newser Stories

UConn Beats Butler for NCAA Title

VCU Stuns Kansas, Heads to Final Four

Obama's Pick to Win the NCAA Tourney Is ...

March Madness Expands to 68 Teams

President Schools Hoops Analyst in H-O-R-S-E
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne