Sat Mar 22 16:10:00 UTC 2025: **NCAA Tournament Sees Upsets on Opening Day**
WICHITA, Kan. – The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament kicked off with a series of stunning upsets on Thursday, defying expectations and proving that March Madness lives up to its name. Two of the biggest shocks came courtesy of 11th-seeded Drake University and 12th-seeded McNeese State.
Drake, led by first-year coach Ben McCollum, defeated the sixth-seeded University of Missouri Tigers, 69-67, in a game punctuated by Drake fans chanting “Overrated SEC.” This victory marks Drake’s first second-round appearance since 1971. McCollum, a four-time Division II national champion, confidently predicted the win post-game.
The day’s most significant upset, however, belonged to McNeese State, who notched their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory by defeating fifth-seeded Clemson University, 69-67. This win is particularly noteworthy considering McNeese State coach Will Wade has already accepted the head coaching position at North Carolina State.
Despite these upsets, top seeds Auburn and Houston advanced, defeating Alabama State and SIU-Edwardsville respectively. Houston coach Kelvin Sampson used the occasion to advocate for continued inclusion of teams from smaller conferences in the tournament.
The tournament continues Friday, with a clash between two-time defending champion Connecticut and Oklahoma, as well as the start of the Women’s NCAA Tournament, where the debate continues over the top seed between UCLA and South Carolina. The women’s tournament will culminate in the Women’s Final Four in Tampa.
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