AVRIL KING
Social Media Manager and Assistant Sports Editor
In a surprise twist last week, the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) dominated over University of Virginia 74-54 in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
A number 16 seed has not beaten a number 1 seed since 1985, when the competition grew to include the 64 teams that still play today.
That’s 135 games where the odds have been against the lowest-seeded teams, and they lost.
Yet, as the final score suggests, the game that beat the odds was not even close. Regardless of the fact that the teams were tied 21-21 at halftime, UMBC shot up to take the lead by seven and did not trail once in the second half.
Virginia, on the other hand, played in a manner that is uncharacteristic for a dominant team. Even though they have one of the best defenses in men’s college basketball, the Cavaliers let their opponents set the rhythm for the game. As UMBC grew more confident, Virginia seemingly crumbled.
In spite of the Retrievers losing in the second round to Kansas State 50-43, fans everywhere have been celebrating. Some are even looking forward to free pizza.
As part of their “If Crazy Happens” promise on social media, Little Caesar’s pizza will be handing out free four-slice deep-dish pepperoni pizzas to anyone who comes in from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, April 2.
Yet, despite this historic upset, Fredonia has been nearly unfazed by the news.
“I have not watched many games up to this point,” said Philip Seymore, head coach of the men’s basketball team. “I did not watch that game. I’ve been on the road recruiting.”
The head coach of the women’s basketball team, Linda Hill-MacDonald, said that her main interests did not lie with the NCAA tournament.
“I really do not follow the men’s tournament closely and did not see that game,” she said. “As a women’s coach, I am much more inclined to be excited about the upsets that University at Buffalo and Central Michigan had over their opponents in the women’s tournament.”
Even though both teams went home in the tournament’s first weekend, one was welcomed back with celebrations and the other with shocked silence. Virginia may hope and practice for a better outcome next year, but they will never change the fact that they were at the brunt of history in March of 2018.