The Winners and Losers of the First Round of the Men’s NCAA Tournament
The Ringer • • general
Key Points:
- Duke narrowly escaped a first-round upset against Siena, with coach Jon Scheyer making a key defensive adjustment that helped the top-seeded team rally after trailing by double digits; however, concerns remain about Duke's perimeter defense and the absence of key player Patrick Ngongba.
- North Carolina suffered a historic collapse, blowing a 19-point lead in an overtime loss to VCU, raising questions about coach Hubert Davis's roster-building and game management, especially as the program's talent pipeline appears to be weakening.
- Nebraska secured its first NCAA tournament win in program history with a dominant 76-47 victory over Troy, showcasing coach Fred Hoiberg's effective five-out offense and aggressive defense, signaling a promising future for the Huskers.
- Vill
