Bucknell Bison guard Avi Toomer passes the ball right into West Virginia Mountaineers forward Elijah Macon’s face in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The 2017 NCAA Tournament has gotten off to an exciting start. While nobody has been upset, a few of the first-round games have gone down to the wire. One game to keep an eye on is the No. 13 Bucknell Bison versus the No. 4 West Virginia Mountaineers at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo.
Near the end line, Bucknell guard Avi Toomer panics to pass the ball to avoid going out of bounds. He didn’t hit the target he planned to, but his pass essentially pies West Virginia forward Elijah Macon right in the face.
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— Deadspin (@Deadspin) March 16, 2017
Macon would be alright after getting drilled in the face by Toomer’s pass of desperation. However, it’s incredible that his nose didn’t break on that pass from close range. Then again, this is a single-elimination tournament where nobody holds anything back.
Earlier in the afternoon, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Virginia Cavaliers were able to hold off their first-round opponents to avoid being upset. Bucknell has battle all afternoon to keep things interesting in Buffalo with the Mountaineers.
Bison are buffalo, so maybe Bucknell gets to be the first team that advances in March Madness as an underdog. No. 13 seeds rarely beat No. 4 seeds, but it seems that a No. 12 upsets a No. 5 annually. It could happen if the Bison can connect on a few shots from outside, as well as the Mountaineers leave a few points here and there at the line.
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The physicality of Bucknell is making things interesting in their Round of 64 bout with West Virginia. If the Bison can keep it close deep into the second half, then we might be on the verge of seeing the first upset of the NCAA Tournament.