INDIANAPOLIS, MARCH 20, 2026 —
Key Takeaways
- Duke survived a stunning halftime deficit against 16-seed Siena — the No. 1 overall seed trailed 43-32 at the break before rallying to win 71-65
- Three upsets on Day 1 — High Point stunned Wisconsin, VCU eliminated North Carolina in the largest first-round comeback in tournament history, and Texas knocked off BYU
- AJ Dybantsa’s college career is almost certainly over — the nation’s leading scorer dropped 35 points in defeat and is headed for the NBA Draft
March Madness needed exactly one day to remind America why it is the greatest three weeks in sports. The No. 1 overall seed nearly became the third top seed in history to lose to a 16. The most storied program in college basketball collapsed in overtime after leading by 19. A freshman phenom played what may be his only NCAA tournament game and still scored 35 points in defeat. And somewhere in Oregon, a senior who had never made a two-point field goal all season hit the biggest layup of his life.
Thursday delivered everything the bracket promised — and a few things nobody saw coming.
Duke’s Wake-Up Call
The most alarming result of Day 1 had nothing to do with the teams that lost. It came from the team that won — barely.
Duke, the No. 1 overall seed, trailed Siena 43-32 at halftime and found itself staring at the possibility of becoming only the third No. 1 seed in tournament history to fall to a 16. Coach Jon Scheyer acknowledged after the game that Siena head coach Gerry McNamara — the former Syracuse star nicknamed G-Mac — had completely outcoached him in the first half.
“He out-coached me. He out-coached us,” Scheyer said. “And that’s one of the hardest moments for me in sport — period.”
Duke eventually rallied in the second half, winning 71-65 — but the performance raised serious red flags. The Blue Devils struggled defensively, struggled on the glass, and looked shorthanded. With injury concerns still lingering around Patrick Ngongba and Caleb Foster, and a second-round matchup with TCU on Saturday, the bracket’s favorite is suddenly looking vulnerable.
Day 1 — Full Results
| Matchup | Score | Storyline |
|---|---|---|
| No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 Siena | 71-65 Duke | Survived 11-point halftime deficit |
| No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 16 Howard | 101-80 Michigan | Dominant second half |
| No. 2 Houston vs. No. 15 Idaho | 78-47 Houston | Comfortable win |
| No. 3 Michigan State vs. opponent | Win | Advanced to Round of 32 |
| No. 12 High Point vs. No. 5 Wisconsin | 83-82 High Point ⚡ | First upset — Johnston’s winning layup |
| No. 11 VCU vs. No. 6 North Carolina | VCU Win OT ⚡ | Largest comeback in tournament history |
| No. 11 Texas vs. No. 6 BYU | 79-71 Texas ⚡ | Dybantsa scores 35 in likely final college game |
| No. 9 TCU vs. No. 8 Ohio State | 66-64 TCU | Edmonds hits winner with 4.3 seconds left |
| No. 9 Saint Louis vs. No. 8 Georgia | 102-77 Saint Louis | Six players in double figures — blowout |
| No. 10 Texas A&M vs. No. 7 Saint Mary’s | 63-50 Texas A&M | 18 Saint Mary’s turnovers proved fatal |
| No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State | Gonzaga Win | Survived late scare — faces Texas Saturday |
The Shot That Started Everything
The first great moment of the 2026 tournament came from the most unlikely source. Chase Johnston, a senior guard for No. 12 seed High Point, had made exactly zero two-point field goals all season — going 0-for-4 from inside the arc across 32 games. With seconds remaining and High Point trailing Wisconsin by one, an outlet pass found Johnston streaking toward the basket. He laid it in. High Point won 83-82. Johnston passed Steph Curry on the all-time NCAA three-point list earlier in the game — then won it with a two.
North Carolina’s Historic Collapse
The most stunning result of the day was not an upset by a double-digit seed. It was the total implosion of a program that should have known better.
North Carolina led VCU by 19 points with 14:58 remaining — a margin that should have been insurmountable. Then the Tar Heels stopped scoring. They missed their final nine shots from the floor. They botched critical free throws in overtime. They committed two turnovers in the final 30 seconds of regulation. When VCU’s Terrence Hill Jr. hit a three-pointer with 15 seconds left in overtime — capping a performance of 34 points, five assists, and five rebounds — it completed the largest first-round comeback victory in NCAA tournament history.
AJ Dybantsa’s Final College Game
Before BYU’s season ended Thursday night, the nation got one last look at AJ Dybantsa — and it was everything college basketball could have asked for. The freshman guard, ranked No. 2 in CBS Sports’ NBA Draft prospect rankings, scored 35 points in BYU’s 79-71 loss to Texas — becoming only the second freshman in tournament history with that many points in a debut, joining De’Aaron Fox’s 39-point performance in the 2017 Sweet 16.
It almost certainly was not enough to keep him in college. Dybantsa is expected to declare for the NBA Draft after leading the nation in scoring. Thursday night in Portland was, in all likelihood, the last time America will watch him play for free.
Pro Tips for Your Bracket
Pro Tip 1: Duke is in serious trouble. The Blue Devils’ halftime deficit against a 16-seed, combined with injury concerns and the hardest regional path of any No. 1 seed, makes them a risky Final Four pick. Consider Arizona — who won comfortably Thursday — as the safer championship selection.
Pro Tip 2: Miami (Ohio) is now officially the most dangerous team in the bracket. After surviving the First Four against SMU, the RedHawks — with their 31-1 regular season record and a massive chip on their shoulder — have already proven the committee wrong once. Their second-round opponent should be very concerned.
Pro Tip 3: The Big Ten is having a terrible tournament. Wisconsin lost as a 5-seed. Ohio State fell as an 8. North Carolina — while an ACC team — added to the Power Conference carnage. When power conference teams struggle in Round 1, upsets multiply in Round 2. Watch for more bracket chaos on Friday and Saturday.
Why This Matters
In a week dominated by war coverage, inflation fears, and economic anxiety, March Madness delivered exactly what American sports fans needed — genuine unpredictability, genuine drama, and the reminder that in a 40-minute basketball game, anything can happen to anyone. Duke nearly joined Virginia and Purdue in infamy. North Carolina lost a 19-point lead. A player who had never made a two-point shot all season hit the most important basket of his life.
Friday brings 16 more games. The bracket is already broken for millions of Americans. And that, more than anything, is why March exists.
