History that some thought might never happen finally did on Friday night, as the No. 16 UMBC Retrievers stunned No. 1 Virginia in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Not only did UMBC win, they blew out one of the best teams in the country, going from tied up at 21 at the half to a stunning 74-54 win in the greatest upset in tournament history.
The UMBC Twitter account had the time of its life during the game, as it should when the Retrievers beat the best defense in the country on Thursday to the tune of 20 points. And the NBA world certainly noticed history being made. While Arizona alums in the NBA were furious when they got upset by Buffalo on Thursday, most of the Association was loving the Retrievers toppling Virginia. https://twitter.com/VicOladipo/status/974849383933112320
Praise was high for Jairus Lyles, who was stellar for UMBC on Friday night.
Jarius Lyles is looking like he next mid-major NBA star
— Ryan Hollins (@TheRyanHollins) March 17, 2018
Yes sirrrr #JairusLyles killing.. #UMBC #UpsetAlert #NCAA #MarchMadness
— Troy Daniels (@troydaniels) March 17, 2018
John Henson loved this game, gleefully Tweeting his way through the night as UMBC held off and then built a lead against Virginia.
https://twitter.com/Johnhenson31/status/974843412917743617
Seriously, he was feeling the Retrievers on Friday night.
LEGENDS. https://t.co/Ck4oQMDo5S
— John Henson (@Johnhenson31) March 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/Johnhenson31/status/974848694309748736
Chandler Parsons wasn’t worried about his bracket; he loved seeing history get made.
so the worst team in the tournament, beats the best team in the tournament…I LOVE MARCH!!
— Chandler Parsons (@ChandlerParsons) March 17, 2018
Jared Sullinger was down with it, too.
Enjoy watching history y’all. No 1 seed ever lost
— Jared Sullinger Sr. (@Jared_Sully0) March 17, 2018
Frank Kaminsky understood the improbability of what was going down.
Currently witnessing history #UMBC
— Frank Kaminsky III (@FSKPart3) March 17, 2018
Cory Jefferson was out there rooting for busted brackets.
You can’t tell me anybody has a perfect bracket after tonight.. sheesh
— Cory Jefferson (@CoryJay34) March 17, 2018
Jarrett Jack was concerned about brackets, too.
Welp everybody bracket done now
— JARRETT JACK (@Jarrettjack03) March 17, 2018
Spencer Dinwiddie threw in a “sheesh” and shouted the Buffs after watching what UMBC did to one of the nation’s top teams.
Well sheesh…They might as well have let @CUBuffsMBB in the tourney if that’s what UVA was gonna do 🤦🏾♂️ https://t.co/2VMIlQmLn1
— Spencer Dinwiddie (@SDinwiddie_25) March 17, 2018
Al Horford claimed to have known all along, though we’d like to see some receipts on that one.
UMBC! I picked the upset 👀… #underdog #MarchMadness2018
— Al Horford (@Al_Horford) March 17, 2018
A lot of players were just in shock, or at least felt like their followers needed a news update.
Wow About to Be the First #1 seed to go down to a 16 seed!!! #MarchMadness
— Langston Galloway (@LangGalloway10) March 17, 2018
Landry Fields was fed up.
I quit. #Madness
— Landry Fields (@landryfields) March 17, 2018
So was Mike Scott, a UVA alum.
https://twitter.com/mikescott/status/974851538299564032
Another UVA player, Justin Anderson, got roasted by Reggie Bullock as his team was going down in flames.
— Reggie Bullock (@ReggieBullock35) March 17, 2018
Ian Clark, much like the rest of us, just couldn’t believe the deficit.
By 20 tho?
— Ian Clark (@IanClark) March 17, 2018
But it happened. Virginia lost to UMBC, and those watching finally got to see a piece of NCAA history.
