March Madness upsets remind us what metrics, Bruce Pearl get wrong

PHILADELPHIA – Travis Steele tried to warn everyone Wednesday night.

“This is not an upset,” the Miami of Ohio coach said after his team crushed SMU in the First Four. “There’s some really good mid-major teams – really good.”

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Like High Point, which took down Wisconsin.

Like VCU, which rallied from 19 points down to stun North Carolina.

VCU Rams guard Brandon Jennings (0) celebrates as the game ends Thursday, March 19, 2026, after the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament first round game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. VCU Rams won 82-78 in OT.

Like Santa Clara, which pushed Kentucky to overtime and would have advanced but for a miracle shot.

“Those teams could compete with anybody,” Steele said, “but they don’t get the opportunity in the regular season, quite honestly, to put them in position for an at-large bid.”

High Point coach Flynn Cayman echoed that point.

“High Point and Miami Ohio are 2-1 in Quad 1 games,” he said. “We couldn’t get games, they couldn’t get games…We won 22 of our last 23 games and we didn’t move up one spot in the metrics – not one.”

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How many High Points, VCUs and Miami of Ohios got left out of the Big Dance because computers are doing the work of people? Because algorithms have replaced common sense?

Mar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; High Point Panthers center Youssouf Singare (24) embraces Wisconsin Badgers guard Nick Boyd (2) during the second half of a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

March Madness is still America’s greatest sporting event. It’s bigger than sports. It’s Americana. And that’s because the mid-majors and small schools still have a seat at the table and a shot at an upset.

For now.

The power conferences continue to tilt the field in their favor, championing a NET that penalizes good mid-majors who can’t schedule quality opponents, then…

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Publish date : 2026-03-21 09:06:00

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