The NCAA men’s basketball tournament is known for its unpredictability, with the first day often setting the tone for unexpected upsets throughout the competition. This year was no exception as 11th-seeded Drake University pulled off an upset win over sixth-seeded University of Missouri Tigers, causing a stir among fans and sparking debate about the strength of conferences like the SEC. Despite losses by other SEC teams earlier in the day, Auburn managed to hold up the conference’s reputation with their victory against Alabama State. The NCAA tournament has seen only two instances since 1979 where a No. 16 seed defeated a No. 1 seed, but Houston coach Kelvin Sampson believes that schools from lesser-known conferences should still be included in the field to provide more competitive games and unpredictability for fans. The NCAA selection committee plays an important role in determining which teams are invited to participate, and their decisions can have a significant impact on the outcomes of these high-stakes matches.
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