Eye On College Basketball 2026 March Madness Round 1 Thursday Recap! UNC crumbles in VCU comeback; Duke's serious Siena scare; High Point! Chase Johnston! + a first Nebraska tournament W & more
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Mar 20, 2026 A wild Thursday recap packed with a 19-point VCU comeback that topples North Carolina. Duke survives a second-half scare from Siena. High Point wins on a buzzer beater and Chase Johnston shines. Texas handles BYU while AJ Dybantsa’s college future is questioned. Nebraska celebrates its first-ever tournament victory and several blowouts and breakout performances steal the spotlight.
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VCU's Historic 19-Point Comeback
- VCU executed a historic comeback, overcoming a 19-point deficit to beat North Carolina and record the largest first-round comeback in tournament history.
- Terrence Hill Jr. scored 34 off the bench and VCU hit 62% in the second half, illustrating the Rams' depth and late-game tempo control under first-year coach Phil Martelli Jr.
Alum's Take On Carolina's Collapse
- Chip Patterson, a UNC alum, described persistent 'connectivity' issues within North Carolina's roster that made the 19-point collapse feel predictable despite regular-season wins.
- He recounted on-court miscommunications and poor bench contributions (bench points 42-7) as examples of systemic problems under Hubert Davis.
UNC's Rare Halftime Collapses Under Davis
- North Carolina is now 48-2 when leading by 10-plus at halftime in the NCAA tournament, with both losses occurring under Hubert Davis including 2022 title game versus Kansas and this VCU loss.
- That stat reframes the collapse as part of a troubling pattern for Davis in big spots, not an isolated fluke.