The opening day of March Madness 2026 saw a series of upsets and hard-fought victories. Gonzaga secured their place in the second round, but not without a challenge from Kennesaw State.
Upsets Dominate First Round
The tournament kicked off with several unexpected results. No. 11 VCU overcame a 19-point deficit to defeat No. 6 seed UNC in overtime. No. 11 Texas also upset No. 6 BYU, with a final score of 79-71. Earlier in the day, No. 5 Wisconsin lost to No. 12 High Point, 83-82, after squandering a late lead.
Despite scares, high seeds such as Nebraska, Arkansas, Michigan, Houston and Duke managed to advance.
Gonzaga’s Gritty Win
Gonzaga faced a tough challenge from 14th-seeded Kennesaw State, eventually winning 73-64. Graham Ike led the way for Gonzaga with 19 points and eight rebounds. Davis Fogle contributed 17 points off the bench. Jalen Warley stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals.
The game was described as ugly and slow for extended periods. Kennesaw State even held a lead of as much as seven points in the first half, preventing Gonzaga from making a 3-pointer until the final moments of the period. Gonzaga finished the game with only three successful 3-pointers out of 18 attempts.
Few’s Frustrations
The tense nature of the game led to Gonzaga coach Mark Few expressing his frustrations. He was seen yelling at both the officiating and, at times, his own players. Few admitted to TBS that he had exhausted his vocal chords after the game.
Second Round Bound
With the win, Gonzaga advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the 17th consecutive time. The last time Gonzaga lost in the first round was in 2008 to Davidson College. Graham Ike’s floater extended Gonzaga’s lead to seven points late in the game, effectively sealing the victory.
The Kennesaw State band played “No Scrubs” during a timeout.
The opening day of March Madness has concluded, with more action to follow.