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NCAA Tournament Round 1 KO: Down Goes Kentucky

No. 11 Seeds Fuel March Madness Upsets

· Mar 22 - 5 minutes read

Few people had Oakland topping Kentucky on Thursday in their NCAAB predictions, but there is a reason we keep tuning into March Madness year after year. If your bracket is already busted, join the club.

All Oakland guard Jack Gohlke did was drop 32 points on Kentucky. Gohkle looked like that dude in the pickup game that could not miss, except Oakland was facing a No. 3-seeded Kentucky that many were labeling as a title contender.

NCAA Tournament Round 1 KO: Down Goes Kentucky — Zvonimir Ivisic #44 of the Kentucky Wildcats | Joe Sargent/Getty Images/AFP

“I know they have draft picks, and I know I’m not going to the NBA…. but on any given I can compete with those type of guys”

Jack Gohlke’s confidence level is unmatched 🔥 pic.twitter.com/SwAhBpSkyz

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 22, 2024

In case you were wondering, Kentucky was a massive 13-point favorite against Oakland in the NCAA basketball lines heading into this matchup. If you were one of the few bold bettors who snagged the Oakland moneyline, kudos to you.

Head coach Greg Kampe has been at Oakland for more than 40 years and is finally getting his flowers during the NCAA Tournament.

Greg Kampe took the head coach job at Oakland in 1984.

Over 40 seasons, he’s guided the Golden Grizzlies from Division II to Division I, won 699 games, and made four NCAA Tournaments.

Tonight, his #14 Oakland upset #3 Kentucky—the biggest win in school history. pic.twitter.com/Pf2xmT6ak9

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) March 22, 2024

What’s Next for Oakland?

Things do not get any easier for the Golden Grizzlies, who face a red-hot No. 11 seed North Carolina State team with a Sweet 16 spot on the line. The Wolfpack were left for dead before the team went on an improbable run to win the ACC tournament.

NC State kept the hot streak going by upsetting No. 6 Texas Tech to advance. Will Oakland’s magic be able to stop an NC State team that now has gone through North Carolina, Duke, Virginia and Texas Tech?

Time to see if Gohlke used up all of his threes in the opening round. A few betting related facts about Oakland.

“We’re not a Cinderella”
JACK GOHLKE off the bench in the upset win vs Kentucky

32 Points
10/20 Threes
10/20 Shooting
2/3 Free Throws
0 Assists

He attempted 355 shots this season. Only 8 of them were two-point attempts!!!pic.twitter.com/55Pvx50xZw

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) March 22, 2024

The Cinderella team has been extremely profitable at the window, going 22-13 against the spread this season. The Golden Grizzlies are an impressive 7-6 straight up as an underdog.

Oakland has gone over in 20 matchups, with the under hitting 14 times. The Golden Grizzlies’ bandwagon may be getting full for March Madness betting.

Kansas Escapes vs Samford (Barely)

Samford lived up to their mascot’s name as the Bulldogs were just that against Kansas. Heading into this matchup, Kansas was put on upset alert as Samford was a popular pick in the NCAAB odds.

Samford was able to come back from 22 points down in the second half to make it a one-possession game. Kansas deserves some credit for taking Samford’s best punches and still advancing.

The Jayhawks are short-handed without Kevin McCullar Jr., but the Kansas bench stepped up to survive against Samford. It remains to be seen if Kansas has enough firepower to top Gonzaga, which played one of their best games of the season against McNeese.

No. 11 Seeds Shine in March Madness

There has been a strong trend of No. 11 seeds making runs in recent NCAA tournaments, and it looks like 2024 is no different. Three No. 11 seeds not only advanced on day one but NC State and Oregon both won by double digits.

Both teams have a legitimate chance to advance to the Sweet 16. The Ducks and Wolfpack both won their conference tournaments just to make March Madness.

Duquesne surprised BYU, which was favored by 9.5 points. It was a disappointing start for the Big 12 with the team’s two No. 6 seeds bowing out in BYU and Texas Tech.

Duquesne faces a major challenge against the Big Ten champs Illinois in the Round of 32. Illinois opens as a sizable 10 ½-point favorite in the latest college basketball odds, per BetUS.

Izzo’s March Madness Continues

Don’t look now but North Carolina is just a 4-point favorite against Michigan State. The Spartans came away with an 18-point victory against Mississippi State.

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo is a scorching 56-24 in the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans have rewarded bettors going 19-14-1 ATS this season. Michigan State has gone under the total 20 times, with the over hitting 14 times.