March Madness 2017: Middle Tennessee upsets Minnesota, Twitter gets hype

For the second-straight year in March Madness, Middle Tennessee pulled off a First Round upset and busted brackets, ousting Minnesota this time around

In March of last year, the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders put themselves on the map, despite being just a No. 15 seed in March Madness. They took it to one of the title favorites in Michigan State and left fans everywhere looking at busted brackets. This time around in the 2017 NCAA Tournament, they entered as the No. 12 seed. However, the results were essentially the same as they took on the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

With a host of returning players from last season that included Reggie Upshaw, Giddy Potts and JaCorey Williams, the Blue Raiders absolutely put on a clinic on Thursday in the First Round.

Middle Tennessee built a lead, and then made sure to thwart any run that Minnesota tried to go on. Whenever they needed an answer, they always seemed to find it—and then some. Ultimately, the Gophers ran out of steam and the Blue Raiders were able to pull off the first upset of the tournament. Of course, there’s always mixed opinions when it comes to upsets. On one hand, it’s what March Madness is all about. But of course, anyone who had Minnesota winning was likely none too pleased.

The world of Twitter basked in the first upset of 2017 March Madness appropriately, with hype mixed with busted brackets:

I feel like the middle Tennessee game isn't an upset
— Landon (@Stover156) March 16, 2017

Middle Tennessee stays messing up my brackets 😒
— Abir (@AbirRahaman3) March 16, 2017

https://twitter.com/J_BYRD_/status/842499601781338112

That technical just shows that @ncaa wants #MiddleTennessee to bust bracket. @GopherMBB #Gophers
— Doc W (@fuzzy60wuzzy) March 16, 2017

https://twitter.com/king_0f_hearts/status/842500520090701825

Something told me to pick Middle Tennessee too smh
— TRAP RENTO (@TopFlightRento) March 16, 2017

TAKE ME TO EAST MIDDLE TENNESSEE TO LEARN BEAST MODE.#MarchMadness
— Luis Miguel Echegaray (@lmechegaray) March 16, 2017

Middle Tennessee ended my bracket last year. Glad I didn't make that mistake again this year. #MarchMadness
— Korey Hanover (@KoreyHanover) March 16, 2017

https://twitter.com/mgoforth10/status/842500264225574912

Failed to pick Middle Tennessee in any of my brackets. I feel like an idiot.
— Parker Cyza (@ParkerCyza) March 16, 2017

Why wasn't Middle Tennessee State a 1-seed
— Jeremy Schneider (@J_Schneider) March 16, 2017

I've been a Middle Tennessee State fan my whole life
— Cody Wilkins (@cody_cw) March 16, 2017

Feel like Middle Tennessee be upsetting every year lol
— Keith 🏀🇵🇷🗽 (@KeithKill) March 16, 2017

Next: 12 Biggest Cinderellas In March Madness History

If you’re bracket was busted by Minnesota losing, however, you really have no one to blame but yourself. Not only were Richard Pitino’s Golden Gophers a cautionary tale of a team that over-achieved in the regular season, but they were playing a Middle Tennessee team that’s been here before, that was favored by 1.5 points (and that probably should’ve been seeded substantially higher than No. 12). That’s a recipe for an upset, which is what was served on Thursday afternoon.