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Updated 2017 NCAA Tournament bracket: Middle Tennessee State upsets Minnesota

By Chris Barnewall

Mar 16, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders guard Edward Simpson (11) celebrates during the first half of the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders guard Edward Simpson (11) celebrates during the first half of the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 2017 NCAA tournament had its first upset thanks to Middle Tennessee State defeating Minnesota

Middle Tennessee State entered their game against Minnesota massively under-seeded. According to seeding, they’re this year’s first “upset” as the 12 seed, but some Vegas books had them as the favorite. On top of this, they came into the tournament as a 30 win monster out of the C-USA. They had a single conference loss all year and four total. Their roster is full of upperclassmen that went to the second round of last year’s tournament. This was an extremely good Middle Tennessee team.

Minnesota, on the other hand, was a fun story filled with inexperience. They made the tournament for the first time in four years and turned around a program that was one of the worst in basketball last season. They may have earned a five seed, but the team they faced was arguably superior to them in every way. With their loss, they go down as the first high seed to lose in the tournament. Here is an updated version of the bracket, click on the image to enlarge.

Mid Tenn state didn’t just beat Minnesota. They dominated them. Almost everybody who touched the floor for Mid Tenn State scored and they hit timely 3-pointers to increase their lead. Anytime Minnesota would try to make a run that run was met with one from the Blue Raiders. Their experience showed through and never once did they look shaken by pressure. Teams in big situations will sometimes force shots or get discouraged when runs don’t go their way. That didn’t happen to this group largely thanks to their experience.

Minnesota will now head home after a disappointing end, but plenty to be proud of. The team they lost to was very good and they have a lot to build on for next season. It can’t be iterated enough how impressive their turnaround was. Their roster is young and has a lot of players who will return next season. Expect them to be back and better next year. Mid Tenn State, however, will move on to play Butler.

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