March Madness has arrived, and with it, a mix of excitement and heartbreak. The First Four winners have already made history, while the losers are left to pick up the pieces. For Alabama State, Mount St. Mary’s, North Carolina, and Xavier, beating their next opponents will be crucial in maintaining one of the most remarkable statistical anomalies – winning as lower-seeded teams.
Since 2011, at least one First Four team has beaten its next opponent in 12 out of 13 tournaments. This trend has led to several upsets, including VCU’s historic victory in 2011 and UCLA’s impressive run in 2021. Will North Carolina’s dominant win over San Diego State be enough to propel them forward? Can Xavier overcome its 30-point deficit against Texas?
The winners are looking to continue their winning streaks, while the losers will have to regroup and reassess their chances. For Alabama State and Mount St. Mary’s, facing top-ranked teams Auburn and Duke respectively, it’s a daunting task. “It doesn’t matter how big they are, how they’re ranked,” said Mount St. Mary’s coach Donny Lind. “They’ve still got to tie their shoes just like me.”
The losers, on the other hand, will have to come to terms with their defeat and move forward. For American Eagles player Matt Rogers, who suffered a knee injury in his 137th game, it was a heartbreaking experience. Despite going down twice, he refused to quit, saying “I wasn’t going to stop – I only got this chance once in my life, so I’m not going to quit by any means.”
As the tournament progresses, the emotional rollercoaster will continue. Will the winners keep their winning streaks going, or will the losers find a way to bounce back? One thing is certain – March Madness is never predictable, and it’s always an exciting ride.
Source: https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2025-03-20/first-four-survivors-heartbreaks-and-whats-next-road-title