RELATED: Our First Four superlatives
Stick with us this afternoon as we follow all of the biggest stories to come out of the early games of the Big Dance – the upsets, the buzzer-beaters and whatever other viral moments might emerge:
As the afternoon winds down, we have an upset brewing -- at least by seed.
Middle Tennessee received a 12 seed, but the Blue Raiders were favored slightly heading into their game with Minnesota.
They showed why early.
Middle Tennessee is doing it again!
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 16, 2017
No. 12 Blue Raiders lead No. 5 Minnesota, 37-31, at the half. #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/LU5HXEpHiw
Meanwhile, history has already occurred no matter what else happens in the Northwestern-Vanderbilt (Eight seed v. nine) game.
History! Bryant McIntosh scores the first bucket ever for Northwestern in the NCAA Tournament. #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/d2u5yOYthx
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 16, 2017
*****MIDAFTERNOON ACTION ******
As we hit 4 o’clock, a lull had also fallen upon the first day of the tournament after a couple of near-upsets early in the day.
Enter Steve Forbes.
Who is that? He is East Tennessee State’s coach, and his pregame speech evoking some Florida greats who would not be suiting up for the Gators when the two teams took the court injected a little life into the proceedings as favorites were rolling elsewhere.
"Horford, Noah and Brewer aren't coming out that tunnel!" #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/UoHXoPPtPM
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 16, 2017
Then the Buccaneers went out and pushed the fourth-seeded Gators for the first 20 minutes, trailing by just a point at the half.
ETSU with the fancy up-and-under! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/jYbqZgvvyp
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 16, 2017
Where would Florida be without Canyon Berry’s underhanded free throws?
A thing of beauty. #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/uizA6I2H9j
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 16, 2017
Alas, an upset was not in the cards for ETSU, which trailed by double digits for most of the second half.
Florida rocks the rim! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/T1qRcCMGyx
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 16, 2017
Elsewhere, West Virginia had a big lead early against Bucknell, but the Bison hung around throughout the second half.
Press Virginia doing its thing! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/OqK4Ita8Bh
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 16, 2017
West Virginia holds on!
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 16, 2017
No. 4 Mountaineers beat No. 13 Bucknell, 86-80, and will play No. 5 Notre Dame in the 2nd round. #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/8N8PNDDN2d
EARLY GAMES
The first game of the day reached halftime with No. 5 seed Notre Dame leading No. 12 Princeton 36-30.
Meanwhile, UNC-Wilmington has gotten off to a hot start against Virginia in another 5-12 matchup.
UNCW on an 8-0 run and leads Virginia, 23-11! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/Wdcym1i1LW
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 16, 2017
A rack attack! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/CGZIuJjfVR
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 16, 2017
But the Cavaliers came back with their own 15-2 run to draw within 28-26 by the time the teams reached the last media timeout of the first half.
12-0 run for Virginia! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/J6bn6zefDR
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 16, 2017
Virginia came all the way back to take the lead (30-29) before the end of the first half.
Meanwhile, Princeton is hanging tough with the Fighting Irish as that one goes down the stretch.
Scoring four points in one trip can help.
4-point play! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/sqAQz33Ata
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 16, 2017
The Tigers had a chance to take the lead with a little more than two minutes left, but they air-balled a three.
With an eye on the second window of games, Bob Huggins’ West Virginia squad seems ready to go.
Time to get loose. #Mountaineers pic.twitter.com/PpnbsCvizY
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) March 16, 2017
When they finished stretching, West Virginia's players huddled and then chanted, "1, 2, 3, road kill." Watch out, Bucknell. #MarchMadness
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) March 16, 2017
As for Princeton... they had a great look at the first game-winner of the tournament, but it wouldn’t go down.
59-58! 10.6 seconds! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/DqmCYnYqQt
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 16, 2017
Notre Dame held on for a 60-58 win..
Oh, hey, remember UNC-Wilmington?
The Seahawks trailed for most of the second half, but they drew within two a couple of times in the last four minutes.
With 15 seconds left, they were down four and turned the ball over.
Virginia claimed a 76-71 victory, making 5 seeds a perhaps surprising 2-0 to start the tournament.
No. 1 seed Gonzaga did not have a real good time with South Dakota State in the first half.
South Dakota State keeping it close, but Gonzaga leads, 26-22, at the half. #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/KEPgVZ2Z3n
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 16, 2017
The Bulldogs pulled away in the second, though, and ended up winning by 20.
After slow start, No. 1 Gonzaga rolls to 66-46 win over No. 16 South Dakota State and a date in the second round. #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/gYN9Kf5xwW
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 16, 2017
******ORIGINAL STORY*********
The first game of the day is No. 5 seed Notre Dame against No. 12 Princeton, a game that has upset written all over it not just because it is one of the famed 5-12 matchups but because venerable Verne Lundquist is handling the play by play.
RELATED: What the No. 16 seeds in Dayton said about their next challenge
There’s another 5-12 matchup at 12:40 when No. 5 Virginia takes on No. 12 UNC Wilmington, an intra-regional matchup that has some intrigue.
Here is the full TV schedule via CBS Sports.
Also by the time most folks get off work: We will see No. 4 Butler take on No. 13 Winthrop, No. 1 Gonzaga against No. 16 South Dakota State, No. 4 West Virginia against No. 13 Bucknell, No. 4 Florida against No. 13 East Tennessee State, No. 5 Minnesota against No. 12 Middle Tennessee and No. 8 Northwestern making its tournament debut against No. 9 Vanderbilt.
Let’s all enjoy the ride!
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