Run Up To March Madness: Round 1 Bracket Updates, Upsets, and Highlights

Have you been keeping up with your tourney bracket? Get your bracket updates, upset info, and highlights from round 1 of March Madness right here.

Okay, here we are. March Madness is in full swing and there has been plenty to discuss regarding your bracket. Here at Culturess, we fully understand how confusing this whole bracket thingy can get. This is why we have stepped up to give you a quick and easy update of your teams. We’ll cover your upsets, leading teams, and highlights, along with an updated bracket for each round. We have lots to cover here, so let’s start with the highlights from the No. 1 seeds.

No. 1 Seed Highlights:

Villanova pushed on with what began as a slow start, but conquered easily in the second-half against 16-seed, Mount St. Mary’s. The final score was 76-56, and the Wildcats move on to play against Wisconsin, who sit at #8.

Their next game will air on Saturday 3/18, at 2:40 p.m. on TBS.

Kansas wiped out UC Davis, with a final score of 100-62. Was there really any doubt about this match up? Their leading scorer was Frank Mason, who shot 22 pts, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds. The Jayhawks next mash up will be against #9 Michigan St. You can

You can catch the game this Sunday, 3/19.

North Carolina was another No. 1 seed team to blow right through the first round. They played against Texas Southern, and they made it clear that their ready to get this show on the road. They finished Texas So. off, with a score of 103-64.

The Tar Heels next stop will be against #8 Arkansas, on Sunday, 3/19.

Nobody wants to hear the word survive when it comes to a headline during March Madness. Your first thoughts following such a headline, would be that win or lose, the game was a struggle for the team in question. This was the headline given by the NCAA, for the first-half of the Gonzaga Bulldogs first-round game against the South Dakota St. Jackrabbits, who apparently kept Gonzaga from scoring for most of the first half. However, they also reported that Gonzaga brought it back in the second half, and have advanced on to the second round.

"Nothing comes easy for the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the NCAA Tournament. That much, we all know. The Gonzaga Bulldogs overcame a wretched first half to take down the No. 16 South Dakota State Jackrabbits, 66-46, to advance to the second round."

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are set to play against #8 Northwestern, on Saturday, 3/18, at 5:15 pm, on CBS.

Upsets:

On Thursday the #11 seeded, Xavier Musketeers leading scorer found a rhythm, and couldn’t be stopped by the #6 seed, Maryland Terrapins. ESPN reported that Trevon Bluiett shot 6 of 7, in the last 20 minutes to get them an eleven point lead.

"“Once I get a couple to go in and get a rhythm going then everything starts to fall,” said Bluiett, the Musketeers’ leading scorer. “Everything you shoot just feels good.”"

The final score was 76-65 and the Musketeers advance to Round 2, and will be playing against Florida State.

The #12 seeded, Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders pulled off a 81-72 upset against the #5 seeded, Minnesota. According to Sports Illustrated, the Blue Raiders Coach Davis feels that his team has what they need to make it into the Sweet Sixteen.

"“We’re totally different than we were last year,” Davis said after Thursday’s win over Minnesota, adding that this year’s Blue Raiders are in a better position to move on to the Sweet 16, “with our depth and our experience and the amount of games we’ve won.”"

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders are advancing to play Butler.

The third major upset came when #11 Rhode Island took down Creighton, #6. This is the Rhode Island Rams first March Madness in 18 years. ESPN reported that their leading scorer, Jeff Dowtin, scored his career-best with 23 points.

"Jeff Dowtin scored a career-high 23 points with a perfect day at the free-throw line, upstart Rhode Island answered every threat and the Rams ran right into the next round of the NCAA Tournament by stunning cold-shooting No. 6 seed Creighton 84-72 on Friday in an opener of the Midwest Region."

Rhode Island University will advance to play #3 seeded Oregan in Round 2

So here’s your updated March Madness Bracket:

3/18 March Madness Bracket Updated. Image Provided by FanSided.

Be sure to check back on the 20th for your March Madness Second Round Bracket Updates, Upsets, & Highlights!

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