High Point Upsets Wisconsin in First Round of 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

In Brief

High Point's victory over Wisconsin highlights the unpredictability of March Madness and underscores the potential of lower-seeded teams.

Key Facts

• No. 12-seed High Point defeated No. 5-seed Wisconsin 83-82 in the first round at Moda Center.
• Former Duke player Jay Bilas discussed Coach Mike Krzyzewski's method of breaking down the tournament into micro tournaments.
• Jay Bilas and other analysts have identified several potential 'Cinderella' teams for this year's tournament.
• TCU edged Ohio State 66-64 with a late layup by Xavier Edmonds in another first-round matchup.
• High Point head coach Flynn Clayman criticized major conference teams for avoiding games against mid-majors after the upset.

What Happened

High Point secured a narrow 83-82 win over Wisconsin in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, marking the first major upset of this year's event. Other first-round games included TCU's close victory over Ohio State.

Why It Matters

The upset by High Point demonstrates the competitive balance in college basketball and brings attention to mid-major programs. Such results can influence perceptions of tournament seeding and scheduling practices.

What's Next

High Point advances to the next round, where they will face a higher-seeded opponent. The tournament continues with additional first-round games and ongoing analysis of potential upsets and standout performances.