Nebraska finally ended the streak.
The Cornhuskers entered Thursday as the only Power 5 program without an NCAA Tournament win, losing their first eight appearances. That changed in emphatic fashion, as Nebraska routed Troy 76-47 to advance to the second round.
While chalk largely held in the opening window, the annual 12-5 upset did not take long to arrive. High Point rallied late to stun Wisconsin 83-82. Like Miami (OH), the Panthers did not face a single Power 5 opponent in the regular season, largely due to scheduling challenges. The Big South champions showed exactly why the big names might have been fearful, executing down the stretch and proving they were more than capable of taking down a major program.
Here’s a look at reactions from the first wave of games on Thursday.
Lack of Shooting Hurt South Florida
If Bryan Hodgson sticks around in Tampa instead of taking a Power 5 job, finding shooters has to be the top priority. South Florida did almost everything right in its attempt to beat Louisville. The Bulls forced 22 turnovers while committing just nine. They generated 25 more shot attempts and executed well over the final 10 minutes to get back within striking distance.
But they could not make shots, and that ultimately cost them in an 83-79 loss. Louisville led by as many as 23, but South Florida chipped away late and gave itself a chance. Still, when Wes Enis goes 0-for-11 from three and Joseph Pinion finishes 5-for-14, it is difficult to overcome.
That has been the Bulls’ Achilles’ heel, and it is something that has to be addressed. With eight seniors graduating, change was already coming. Now the focus has to be on adding perimeter shooting to make the offense a more reliable path to winning.
On the Louisville side, turnovers remain a concern. If that does not improve, their tournament run could be short-lived.
Nebraska Looked Rested And Relaxed
Nebraska may have needed a break from Big Ten play to get back on track. The Cornhuskers went just 6-6 over their final 12 games, but that stretch came against the toughest part of their schedule. Against Troy, they looked locked in from the start and never let the Trojans into the game.
Nebraska did not lose to a team seeded lower than No. 9 this season, and that profile showed. The offense can be inconsistent, which contributed to some of the late-season struggles, but the defense is capable of suffocating opponents. That was on full display against Troy.
It also helped that the matchup favored Nebraska. Troy is not built around perimeter shooting and relies on scoring inside, which plays directly into Nebraska’s strengths. Against stronger shooting teams, the Cornhuskers will need that defense to continue to carry them.
Experience and Opponents’ Fear Motivated High Point
High Point looked like a team on a mission. The Panthers reached the field a year ago and pushed Purdue before falling short. This time, they showed they had learned from that experience and were ready for a Big Ten opponent.
They also had added motivation. Power 5 programs largely avoided scheduling them, wary of taking a loss, despite the intent of NET to discourage that. High Point responded by going 30-4 and using that slight as fuel.
Down the stretch, that experience showed. The Panthers played with composure, executed when it mattered, and made the key plays late. In the NIL era, that continuity can help smaller programs stay competitive. High Point had the chemistry, cohesion, and enough talent, and Wisconsin did not have the answers.
TCU Struck a Blow
TCU raised eyebrows by saying it would beat Ohio State nine times out of 10, but the Horned Frogs backed it up with a win. More impressive was how they did it, disrupting Ohio State’s offense and holding the Buckeyes to just 64 points.
TCU could be set up for a deeper run. The defense looks better than expected, and Duke is still not close to full strength. If the Frogs defend at this level again, the second-round matchup could be a real challenge for Duke.
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