Here is the latest SEC sports news from The Associated Press
Source: Colorado Springs Gazette
Author: Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Jack Gohlke made 10 3-pointers and 14th-seeded Oakland delivered the first true shock of this year's March Madness, beating third-seeded Kentucky 80-76 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Grizzlies sent the Wildcats and coach John Calipari to another early March exit behind Gohlke and some late shot-making by his teammates. The graduate transfer finished with 32 points. Antonio Reeves led Kentucky with 27 points. The Wildcats fell to 1-4 in their last five NCAA Tournament games. Oakland picked up the second NCAA Tournament win in school history.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Kentucky and coach John Calipari didn't get through the first round of the NCAA Tournament again. For the second time in three years, the Wildcats were bounced by a double-digit seed. Oakland's Jack Gohlke made 10 3-pointers and Oakland shocked Kentucky 80-76 in the opening round of the Midwest Region at Pittsburgh. Two years ago, Saint Peter's knocked out the Wildcats. Calipari has lost four of his past five NCAA Tournament games. While his legacy as one of his era's greatest coaches is secure, he's far removed from his early-2010s heyday, when he took Kentucky to four Final Fours in five years and won the 2012 national title.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Dalton Knecht scored 23 points and Tennessee shot 64% in the first half to build a huge lead before beating Saint Peter's 83-49 on Thursday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Jonas Aidoo added 13 of his 15 points by halftime for the Midwest Region's No. 2 seed. Tennessee quickly erased any chance of another improbable March Madness run for the 15th-seeded Peacocks. That included going up by 29 points before halftime. Latrell Reid scored 17 to lead Saint Peter's, which reached the Elite Eight in 2022. The Vols next play coach Rick Barnes' former Texas program.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Jamal Mashburn Jr. feels the New Mexico Lobos are peaking at the right time. They don't care some believe they were seeded 11th. They dismiss the idea the Mountain West Conference tournament champs face extra pressure to make a deep run to follow San Diego State's amazing run to the national championship game a year ago. The Lobos earned the program's 16th NCAA Tournament berth and first in a decade by knocking off a trio of teams. So New Mexico isn't worried about trying to measure up to anyone else Friday when they play sixth-seeded Clemson.
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) -- Virginia Tech spent much of the past week joyous at being selected to host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament for a second consecutive year. Unfortunately for the Hokies, they will be doing so without their best player. Virginia Tech coach Kenny Brooks announced Thursday that Elizabeth Kitley had torn the ACL in her left knee in the Hokies' regular-season finale March 3 and will miss the tournament. The Hokies (24-7) open play Friday as a No. 4 seed in the Portland 3 regional against 13th-seeded Marshall (26-6). Fifth-seeded Baylor will face Vanderbilt in the other contest.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina coach Dawn Staley understands why leading scorer Kamilla Cardoso will miss the women's NCAA Tournament opener Friday against 16th-seeded Presbyterian. But she's not sure why others involved in the conference tournament scuffle weren't penalized as well. Cardoso was ejected late in the SEC Tournament final win over LSU for pushing the Tigers' Flau'jae Johnson to the floor. Staley believes there were others involved who should be penalized. The top-overall seed Gamecocks will take on the Blue Hose on Friday in the Albany 1 Regional. Play begins with No. 8 seed North Carolina facing ninth-seeded Michigan State.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Tyson Walker scored 19 points and Michigan State coach Tom Izzo picked up his 20th win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament as his ninth-seeded Spartans beat eighth-seeded Mississippi State 69-51. Michigan State improved to 20-6 in March Madness openers under Izzo, who is making his 26th straight NCAA Tournament appearance -- an NCAA Division I record for a coach at one school. Jaden Akins added 15 points and seven rebounds and Malik Hall scored 10 points for the Spartans. Freshman Josh Hubbard scored 15 points for the Bulldogs, who haven't won an NCAA Tournament game since 2021.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Marquette is determined to do more with a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament than it did last year. The Golden Eagles squandered their high seed a year ago, losing in the second round to 10th-seeded Michigan State. Their first task is to play like a big favorite against No. 15 seed Western Kentucky in the first round of the South Region on Friday. Marquette should be closer to full strength with the return of point guard Tyler Kolek, who's expected to play after missing six games with an oblique strain. Elsewhere in the South Region, fourth-seeded Duke won't have Caleb Foster because of an ankle injury.