Duke Survives Scare as March Madness Delivers Upsets and Drama

The opening rounds of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament have once again proved why March Madness stands as one of the most thrilling spectacles in sports. With upsets, nail-biters, and eye-popping individual efforts, the first round on March 19 set the stage for a tournament brimming with unpredictability and excitement. Fans across the country are glued to their screens, and for good reason—this year’s Big Dance is already living up to its name.

Selection Sunday on March 15 kicked off the frenzy, with 64 teams learning their fate and plotting their paths to Indianapolis, where the Final Four will unfold at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 4 and 6. The SEC leads all conferences this year, sending a whopping 10 teams to the tournament, while the Big Ten follows with nine and the Big 12 with eight. Florida enters as the reigning champion, but all eyes are on Duke, the No. 1 overall seed, as they chase another title in a tournament that’s already seen brackets busted and favorites tested.

Thursday’s first round delivered a buffet of drama. None was more electrifying than the East Region clash between Duke and Siena. The top-seeded Blue Devils found themselves in unfamiliar territory, trailing by as many as 13 points in the second half—an unprecedented deficit for their season. Siena’s starters played nearly every minute, and their relentless effort had Duke faithful sweating bullets. But as fatigue set in, Duke clawed back, eventually seizing the lead with just over five minutes left. Cameron Boozer, the ACC Player of the Year, was spectacular, posting 22 points and 13 rebounds. His brother, Cayden Boozer, chipped in 19 points, and Duke’s late defensive intensity proved just enough for a 71-65 escape. According to ESPN, "Siena shot just 8-of-34 from the floor over the final 20 minutes, allowing the Blue Devils to claw their way back into the game."

That wasn’t the only close call for a blue blood. Louisville, playing without star freshman Mikel Brown Jr., managed to hold off South Florida 83-79. Isaac McKneely stepped into the spotlight for the Cardinals, scoring a team-high 23 points on 8-for-11 shooting, including a torrid 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg noted, "McKneely was 7-of-10 from beyond the arc—tied for most 3s made by a Louisville player in an NCAA tournament game." Despite a late surge by the Bulls, Louisville’s hot shooting from deep (52%) was the difference.

Meanwhile, TCU delivered the tournament’s first upset, edging Ohio State 66-64 in a back-and-forth contest. Xavier Edmonds was the hero, sinking the game-winning basket with just 4.3 seconds left after a nifty assist from David Punch. ESPN’s David Hale highlighted Punch’s impact: "Punch was the late-game hero for the Horned Frogs, racking up 13 of his 16 points, seven of his 13 rebounds and two assists in the second half to keep his team dancing." TCU’s victory sets up a tantalizing second-round showdown with Duke.

Other notable results included Michigan State’s commanding 92-67 win over North Dakota State. The Spartans, under Tom Izzo, were firing on all cylinders, with Carson Cooper leading the way with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Jeremy Fears Jr. dished out 10 assists, joining an elite group of Spartans to accomplish that feat in NCAA tournament play. The win propels Michigan State into a second-round clash with Louisville—a matchup sure to test both teams’ mettle.

Perhaps the most jaw-dropping comeback belonged to VCU, which erased a 19-point second-half deficit to stun North Carolina 82-78 in overtime. Terrence Hill Jr. was unstoppable, pouring in 34 points, including five of VCU’s last six baskets and a clutch 3-pointer with 15 seconds left in OT. As ESPN reported, "The Rams finished a ridiculous comeback, erasing a 19-point second-half deficit to knock off North Carolina in overtime." The victory ties the record for the largest comeback in the round of 64 since 1985 and sets up a date with Illinois in the next round.

Elsewhere, upsets continued to shake the bracket. High Point, a No. 12 seed, toppled Wisconsin 83-82, notching the program’s first ever NCAA tournament win. Chase Johnston, known for his three-point shooting, delivered the go-ahead layup—his first two-point basket of the season—to seal the deal. Three Panthers finished with double-doubles, including Rob Martin’s 23 points and 10 assists. They’ll face Arkansas next, after the Razorbacks put up 97 points in a dominant win over Hawai’i, led by SEC Player of the Year Darius Acuff Jr.’s 24 points and Meleek Thomas’ 21.

Other first-round highlights saw Nebraska finally break through, earning its first NCAA tournament win in school history with a 76-47 rout of Troy. Junior forward Pryce Sandfort lit it up from deep, hitting a program-record seven threes. Illinois flexed its offensive muscle, dropping 105 points on Penn behind David Mirkovic’s 28 points and 17 rebounds. Michigan, another No. 1 seed, overcame a spirited effort from Howard to win 101-80, with Morez Johnson Jr. going a perfect 8-for-8 from the field en route to a 20-point, 10-rebound performance.

As the dust settles on the first round, 20 teams have already been sent packing, leaving 48 still in contention for a shot at glory. The action resumes Friday, March 20, with heavyweight matchups like Kentucky vs. Santa Clara and Florida vs. Prairie View A&M. Fans can catch every game live across CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV, with streaming available on the March Madness Live app, Paramount+, and HBO Max. The voices of Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, and Grant Hill will guide viewers through the madness, while studio analysts like Charles Barkley and Clark Kellogg provide their signature insights.

With the second round looming and bracket-busting upsets already in the books, the 2026 NCAA Tournament is shaping up to be another unforgettable ride. Will Duke’s resilience carry them deeper, or will more underdogs seize the spotlight? Stay tuned—March Madness is just heating up, and anything can happen.