NCAA Tournament 2017: 10 best moments from opening weekend

Mar 19, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wichita State Shockers guard Daishon Smith (2) controls the ball against Kentucky Wildcats guard Dominique Hawkins (25) during the first half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 16, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders forward JaCorey Williams (22) reacts during the second 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 /

6. Middle Tennessee With the Upset…Again

Granted, most people saw this coming from a mile away. The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders were no strangers to pulling off a big upset entering the 2017 NCAA Tournament. As previously mentioned, they did the same a year ago when they knocked off Sparty as a No. 15 seed. What’s even more impressive, though, is that the trio of lead contributors (Reggie Upshaw, Giddy Potts, JaCorey Williams) from that team all returned for this season and this return to March Madness.

After a 30-win regular season and with clear tournament experience, the committee slotted them as the No. 12 seed in the South Region. What made the upset even more foreseeable was the fact that they were pitted against an over-seeded Minnesota Golden Gophers team that also over-achieved. Minnesota was projected to finish last in the Big Ten in the preseason, but shocked everyone with a great season, though not one deserving of being on the 5-line in the tournament.

No matter how easy it was to see coming given all of these factors, though, that doesn’t make the end result of actually seeing it less enjoyable. For one, this Middle Tennessee team was a ton of fun with the way the likes of Upshaw, Potts and Williams meshed together as a unit. Perhaps more than that, it’s both fun and impressive to see a smaller program be able to build at least somewhat sustained success on a national level.

It’s possible it goes away after Year 2 of an upset in March Madness—but if you see Middle Tennessee on the bracket next season, are you going to be the one to pick against them?

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