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The third time is not a charm.
It is just lovely.
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Ohio, a 13-seeded, upset reigning national champion Virginia 62-58 at the NCAA tournament on Saturday. It was part of a record breaking weekend as four teams ranked No.13 or below won in the first round for the first time in the era of extended support, which began in 1985. The Bobcats joined the No.1 15 Oral Roberts, No.14 Abilene Christian and No.13 from North Texas won major upheavals.
The Golden Eagles, Wildcats, and Mean Green are wonderful Cinderella stories, but Ohio has the best story because it’s part of a trilogy.
The Bobcats are now tied with Richmond for most first-round wins as a No.13 seed or less with three apiece. The spiders were this teamed with legendary Upsets of No. 4 Indiana in 1988 and No. 2 Syracuse in 1991. Richmond won another against No. 3 South Carolina in 1998.
In the 21st century, however, there has been no better first-round bracket breaker than the Bobcats. This is why they were such a popular choice against Virginia, although part of it was based on the Cavaliers’ withdrawal from the ACC tournament due to COVID-19 concerns.
Still, you could see that upheaval coming in the second half when the Bobcats took the lead. Ohio’s been there, did that.
No.3 Georgetown found out in 2010 when Armon Bassett scored 32 points and the Bobcats hit 13 from a 3-point distance in a 97-83 upset.
The Michigan No.4 found out in 2012 when DJ Cooper beat Trey Burke in a 65-60 win. Ohio turned that into a Sweet 16 round and nearly became the first No.13 seed to reach the Elite Eight until a 73-65 overtime loss to North Carolina. Both of these races were led by trainer John Groce before taking the job at Illinois.
Now Virginia # 4 knows it. Ben Vander Plas hit 3-point back-to-back in the second half for a 45-40 lead the Bobcats didn’t want to return. Star goalie Jason Preston almost had a triple-double with 11 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists. Second-year coach Jeff Boals – who was a forward on the 1994 Ohio NCAA Tournament team with Gary Trent – guided the Bobcats through a season that was cut twice due to COVID-19. It’s a dangerous team that is hot at the right time.
AFTER: History of 13-4 upheavals | History of 14-3 upheavals
Ohio burned through the Mid-American Conference with wins over Kent State, Toledo and Buffalo, and it showed its high-end potential in a 77-75 loss to Illinois on Nov. 27.
Once again, Ohio is the Cinderella that March Madness can rally to for a few more days as she heads into a second round matchup against No.5 Creighton. Preston continues to gain the attention of the NBA and Boals is able to create a MAC program that could run an Elite Eight like Kent State did as a No.10 seed in 2002.
The Bobcats are a fun story. The elders know all the television references. Court Street. Red brick tavern. Harvard on the Hocking. Athens, Ohio’s favorite son, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, also had something to say afterwards.
Burrow knows it. Athens is one of those special places where those crazy March 1st round moments mean a little more, and this tournament needs a few who know VCU couldn’t play on Saturday due to COVID issues. -19. Oral Roberts, Abilene Christian, North Texas and, yes, Ohio make this tournament even more appealing in these uncertain times.
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There is also a potential twist in this fairy tale. A win over Creighton could set up a clash with No. 1 Gonzaga – a Cinderella turned Blue Blood who continues the undefeated first season in Men’s Division I since Indiana in 1976.
Imagine the Bulldogs needed a win over the Bobcats to achieve this.
It’s a March Madness tale that we haven’t seen yet.
Nothing looks more charming than this.
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