The day is finally here. March Madness has begun. There has not been the upset-filled, drama-packed, bracket-busting, 12-hours-on-the-couch first day of the tournament in two years. The 2021 NCAA tournament begins in earnest today after Thursday’s First Four action.
Texas Southern, Drake, Norfolk State and UCLA survived. No. 1 seeds Illinois and Baylor play Friday, as does Oklahoma State‘s Cade Cunningham, one of the top NBA draft prospects.
When Butler Blue met Sister Jean
Butler Blue IV, the Butler mascot, has already become an unofficial ambassador for the NCAA tournament in Indianapolis.
Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the 101-year-old chaplain for Loyola-Chicago’s basketball team, is a March Madness icon and international celebrity after Loyola’s Final Four run in 2018. It was announced this week that she would travel with the team to its tournament opener against Georgia Tech.
These members of college hoops royalty met Friday.
I got to meet Cinderella before the ball. ? #MarchMadness | #MayorofMarch pic.twitter.com/BPRieuCMod
— Butler Blue IV (@TheButlerBlue) March 19, 2021
The @marchmadness content we’ve all been waiting for ? pic.twitter.com/lHo6GsHweA
— Loyola Men’s Basketball (@RamblersMBB) March 19, 2021
Here’s some of the best action from Friday:
OT for Hokies-Gators
Virginia Tech blew a 10-point lead to Florida before rallying back and forcing overtime with a clutch 3-pointer from Nahiem Alleyne. Colin Castleton had a huge game for the Gators with 19 points and a huge block near the end of regulation. Anthony Duruji‘s huge overtime dunk then set the tone for the Gators, who held on to win 75-70. There were huge plays at the end:
BIG BLOCK BY CASTLETON ?@GatorsMBK | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/XAMNTEgP6U
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 19, 2021
MARCH MADNESS IS ALIVE AND WELL@HokiesMBB | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/eOkO4jsUpP
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 19, 2021
ON. HIS. HEAD. ?@GatorsMBK | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/i7eMVhLHDy
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 19, 2021
Alleyne’s 30 points were a Virginia Tech single-game NCAA tournament record.
Florida shot 56.5% from the field, its best mark in an NCAA tournament game since 2013, and its third-best mark in an NCAA tournament game in the past 25 years.
Send it in, Kofi
KOFI COCKBURN THROWS IT DOWN ?@IlliniMBB | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/Ki6XlyuOLp
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 19, 2021
Illinois, a No. 1 seed, cruised to a 78-49 win over Drexel, to open its tournament run.
