Cinderella’s slipper might need a little tailoring this year—it’s not quite a perfect fit yet.
The opening day of the men’s March Madness first round brought its usual dose of excitement, though it leaned more toward mild chaos than full-on madness. We saw the classic 12-seed-over-5-seed upset and an 11-seed pushing past a 6-seed—nothing too shocking there. For the most part, though, the big dogs stayed in control. Could this tame Thursday set the stage for a wild Friday full of surprises? Let’s break down the winners and losers from Day 1.
Winners
Bracket Safe Players
If you played it safe with your bracket picks on Thursday, you’re probably feeling pretty good right now. Sure, no first-round day is complete without a handful of upsets, but sticking to the higher seeds paid off. A chalk-heavy picker would’ve gone 12-for-16—not a bad start heading into Friday. Two “upsets”—No. 9 Creighton and No. 10 Arkansas pulling off wins—were more like technicalities than true shockers. All in all, it was a solid day for the cautious crowd.
Gonzaga
Blink, and you missed it. If you tuned into the Gonzaga-Georgia matchup a few minutes late, you didn’t catch the memo: this one was over fast. The Bulldogs bolted out to a 13-0 lead before the first timeout, and that was that. Mark Few, still the best active coach without a national title, added another feather to his cap. Gonzaga’s streak of reaching at least the second round now stretches to 16 straight NCAA Tournaments—a testament to Few’s steady hand and the program’s rock-solid consistency.
Will Wade
From FBI headlines to redemption in Lake Charles, Will Wade’s coaching comeback is the stuff of March lore. A few years back, his LSU tenure went up in flames, landing him at McNeese State—a program with zero NCAA Tournament wins to its name. Until now. Wade’s No. 12 McNeese Cowboys took down No. 5 Clemson in a historic upset, proving he’s still got the magic touch. Rumors are swirling that he’s a top pick for NC State’s head coaching gig once McNeese’s run ends—and after this win, he didn’t exactly squash the buzz. “We’re focused on the moment,” Wade said postgame. No FBI investigation needed to see he’s back in the game.
Ben McCollum
Is there a hotter name in coaching right now than Drake’s Ben McCollum? If Iowa isn’t knocking on his door, someone in Hawkeye land needs to check the playbook. McCollum, who racked up four Division II titles at Northwest Missouri State, is making waves in his first year at Drake. His No. 11 Bulldogs cruised past Missouri with poise, marking Drake’s first NCAA win (outside the First Four) since 1971. Four starters who followed him from Division II—including star Bennett Stirtz, who dropped 21 points—showed they belong on this stage. Drake’s got Sweet 16 potential, and McCollum’s stock is soaring.
Losers
Clemson
Ouch. Clemson’s performance was a clunker for the ages. Coach Brad Brownell, fresh off hot-seat chatter and a new contract extension, watched his team lay an egg in a 69-67 loss to No. 12 McNeese. The scoreline flattered them—this one wasn’t that close for most of the night. Last year’s Elite Eight run feels like a distant memory now. Clemson’s back to looking like a team that can’t quite find its footing when it counts.
The ACC
If Clemson’s flop stung, Louisville’s faceplant might’ve hurt worse. Playing just 80 miles from home in Lexington, the Cardinals got smoked 89-75 by No. 9 Creighton. The Bluejays’ trio of Steven Ashworth, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Arizona State transfer Jamiya Neal (who erupted for 29 points) made it look easy. This beatdown should put No. 1 Auburn on notice—Creighton’s got the chops for a second-round surprise. With Clemson and Louisville out, the ACC’s down to just Duke and North Carolina. Rough start for the conference.
The SEC
The SEC strutted into March with a record 14 bids and a reputation as the season’s top conference. So far, though? It’s been a humbling reality check. No disaster—Auburn, Tennessee, and Texas A&M rolled, and Arkansas took down Kansas in a fun one—but three teams are already gone. Texas blew a late lead in the First Four, Georgia got steamrolled by Gonzaga, and Missouri couldn’t keep up with Drake. Eleven squads remain, but the SEC’s “it just means more” mantra is taking a hit.
Missouri
Postseason trips aren’t the issue for Missouri—it’s what happens once they get there. The Tigers have a long NCAA Tournament history but zero Final Fours, and that drought lives on after Drake’s 67-57 win. The Bulldogs’ defense and rebounding were too much, turning an “upset” into something that felt inevitable. Missouri’s last seven tournament trips? Six first-round exits, with the lone exception ending against No. 15 Princeton. Same song, different year.
Kentucky Fans
Big Blue Nation, this one’s gotta sting. John Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks marched into the second round, and while it’s not a banner-worthy feat for a team with that talent, it’s enough to make Kentucky fans squirm. New coach Mark Pope faces Troy on Friday with Calipari’s shadow looming large—especially after the ex-UK boss beat his old team at Rupp Arena earlier this year. Now, with Arkansas set to face No. 2 St. John’s, Calipari’s making this breakup messier than a reality TV finale.
What did Day 1 teach us? The favorites mostly held firm, but the underdogs—like McNeese and Drake—are ready to shake things up. Buckle up for Friday—it might just bring the madness we’ve been waiting for.
