Reaction: SEC starts 4-0 in NCAA Tournament
The SEC is a football basketball conference!
Finishing 4-0 on the opening day of the NCAA Tournament, the conference shined on the biggest stage. While Kentucky trashed Abilene Christian, Auburn, Florida and LSU all had survive-and-advance-type wins.
Kentucky wiped the floor with Abilene Christian 79-44, and the Cats allowed just 13 first-half points, the lowest in school history for the NCAA Tournament. Keldon Johnson led the Cats with a game-high 25 points. However, the biggest story of the game may have been the cast on P.J. Washington’s foot.
Florida jumped out to a huge 18-point lead, but Nevada came marching back in the second half. The Gators eventually won 70-61, but it wasn’t too pretty late, with Florida making bone-headed mistakes. Kevarrius Hayes led the Gators with 16 points, while Jalen Hudson scored 15.
LSU held on to defeat Yale, a team most thought would upset the Tigers without head coach Will Wade. Yes, Yale had a big second-half, but LSU held on late. Skylar Mays led LSU with a team-high 19 points.
The closest game of the day came from Auburn against New Mexico State. The Tigers nearly had an absolute meltdown in the second half, but they were able to pull it out late. Jared Harper led the Tigers with 17 points, hitting 4-of-8 three pointers. Charles Barkley’s reaction was every Auburn fan.
Three more SEC teams will play Friday. Ole Miss takes on Oklahoma at 12:40 p.m. ET; Tennessee plays Colgate at 2:45 p.m. ET, while Mississippi State takes on Liberty at 7:27 p.m. ET.
Social media reacted to the SEC’s 4-0 start:
the NCAA committee watching the SEC go 4-0 after they tried setting them up pic.twitter.com/yp9qkWitWW
— Auburn Athletics Grief Counselor (@sheabooskyy) March 22, 2019
SEC is 4-0 to start the tournament. Let's see what you got ACC.
— Danny Palmer (@palmer102) March 22, 2019
Great start for the @SEC. 4-0.
— Gregg G. Ellis (@GreggGEllis) March 22, 2019
Well, so far in the #NCAATourney, the @SEC is 4-0. pic.twitter.com/PUHsqiBlgY
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) March 22, 2019
Good start for the @SEC; 4-0 today, with #2, 3, 5 and 10-seeds winning.
— RepublicanDore (@RepublicanDore) March 22, 2019
10th seeded Florida takes down the 7 seed Nevada 70-61. The SEC is 4-0 in the NCAA Tournament so far. Three more teams play tomorrow. All will be favored to win.
— Kamen Entchev (@KamenKRCG13) March 22, 2019
The SEC is 4-0 after Day 1 of the NCAA Tournament.
Tennessee, a favorite of many analysts to reach the Final 4, tips tomorrow.#ItJustMeansMore pic.twitter.com/rK90Rp3aIK
— Jesse Simonton (@JesseReSimonton) March 22, 2019
According to some, the SEC isn't considered a basketball conference. So far, they're 4-0 with three more teams to play tomorrow and three, maybe four, have a legitimate shot to cut down the nets in Minneapolis.
— Jerrod Baker (@JerrodBaker1) March 22, 2019