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NCAA Tournament 2019: Flecthcer Magee, Florida Gators among top Day 1 performers

By Logan Butts

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 21: Ja Morant #12 of the Murray State Racers celebrates scoring at the end of the first half during the first round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the Marquette Golden Eagles at XL Center on March 21, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 21: Ja Morant #12 of the Murray State Racers celebrates scoring at the end of the first half during the first round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the Marquette Golden Eagles at XL Center on March 21, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – MARCH 16: The Kansas Jayhawks walk onto the court after a timeout in the Big 12 Basketball Tournament Finals against the Iowa State Cyclones at Sprint Center on March 16, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – MARCH 16: The Kansas Jayhawks walk onto the court after a timeout in the Big 12 Basketball Tournament Finals against the Iowa State Cyclones at Sprint Center on March 16, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Kansas Jayhawks

Kansas made a statement on Thursday. The Jayhawks were entered the day on shaky ground. After a 10-0 start to the season, KU skidded to a 15-9 record down the stretch, which isn’t bad but is far from what we expected from the perennial contenders.

Kansas was facing a feisty Northeastern team fresh off of a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) tournament title. In what could have been a classic Kansas first weekend upset (see Bucknell or Northern Iowa), the Jayhawks turned that narrative on its head.

They shot 55 percent from the field, had four players in scoring position, won the rebounding margin by nearly 20, and beat the Huskies by 34.

Elijah Childs – Bradley

The Braves may have fallen to Michigan State despite a spirited effort, but Childs came away with a memorable trip to the Big Dance.

The Bradley sophomore had a team-high 19 points and six rebounds and threw down one of the best dunks of the day.

Bradley were an unexpected tournament crasher from the wide-open Missouri Valley. I hope to see the Braves back next year.

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