The first round of this year's NCAA Tournament gave us eight true upsets from the first 32 games, including some big shockers. We had some specific "winners" from the Round of 32, thanks to some historic moments overall.
Here are the top 8 overall.
8. Jaedon Ledee - San Diego State Aztecs
The senior forward had a breakout senior campaign and it felt as if no one noticed outside of the Mountain West. The Conference Player of the Year averaged 21.4 ppg and 8.4 rpg on the season to lead the Aztecs to a 5 seed in the Big Dance. But they faced a team with another star forward in Yaxel Lendeborg of the UAB Blazers.
Jaedon Ledee was BORN to get BUCKETS
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 22, 2024
He's going OFF for @Aztec_MBB pic.twitter.com/jKpDQvaVzJ
It was Ledee who ultimately stood out, scoring a game-high 32 points and eight rebounds on 11/18 shooting from the field. The senior led San Diego State to a 69-65 win, giving the conference a needed win in what was an up-and-down opening weekend of the tournament.
7. Grand Canyon Antelopes
The Lopes have been viewed as the next potential mid-major in NCAA Basketball, being compared to Gonzaga at times. The problem is that while they've been making regular trips to the NCAA Tournament as of late, they'd yet to get their first win.
GRAND CANYON UPSETS SAINT MARY’S 🦌
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 23, 2024
The Antelopes earn the first NCAA Tournament win in school history in the final game of the night 🙌 #MarchMadness @GCU_MBB pic.twitter.com/GmBWCQLJE7
That changed on Friday, pulling off the 75-66 upset over Saint Mary's in the 12/5 matchup. Tyon Grant-Foster, the WAC Player of the Year and all-around great story on the season, finished with 22 points and seven rebounds. They take on Alabama next, who dropped 109 points in a win over College of Charleston on Friday.