NCAA Basketball: 10 biggest takeaways from opening week of 2021-22 season

Feels like Madness

There was no shortage of anticipation, nor was there a shortage of excitement during the first week of the NCAA basketball season. It was all very reminiscent of the feeling that happens in March when the madness is about to begin.

In fact, due to the span of time since the last NCAA basketball game took place – that meant anything –  the anticipation was built up more so than anything that could be built up during the two days between Selection Sunday and the tip-off for the First Four and with a little effort it could be even grander. This is in no way a suggestion that the NCAA should inject themselves – or interfere – more in college basketball, but imagine the possibilities of a concerted effort to make a spectacle of at least opening night.

The first week had everything one would expect from the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.  There were favorites such as Houston overcoming a six-point deficit at halftime, led by a25 point performance by Marcus Sasser to defeat Hofstra 83-75 in overtime. As well as Rutgers getting a 73-70 victory over Lehigh that was sealed by two free throws by Geo Baker.

There were power conference teams that were “seeded too high” who stave off a defeat from a lower seed as Indiana got by Eastern Michigan 68-62 thanks to  21 points from Trayce Jackson-Davis. As well as Xavier defeating Niagara after piling up 17 points of off turnovers and Ohio State squeaking a one-point victory from Akron.

There were high seeds who struggled but won like Maryland defeating George Washington 71-64 and favorites who managed to save your bracket as Michigan defeated a very good Buffalo squad 88-76 thanks to a 27 point performance by Hunter Dickinson. Of course do not forget Virginia getting upset, just for old-time sake.