Basketball ON The Brain

Kentucky falls to 14-seed Oakland in major March Madness bracket-buster

One blue blood already has exited March Madness.

And the NCAA Tournament quickly has one of its breakout stars.

No. 3-seeded Kentucky was stunned by No. 14 Oakland, 80-76, on Thursday night in its first-round South Region clash at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.

Jack Gohlke reacts during Oakland's win over Kentucky on March 21. 2024.
Jack Gohlke reacts during Oakland’s 80-76 upset win over Kentucky.Getty Images
John Calipari reacts during Kentucky's loss to Oakland on March 21, 2024.
John Calipari reacts during Kentucky’s loss to Oakland.Getty Images

The first round featured a few milder upsets earlier in the day, including No. 11 Duquesne beating No. 6 BYU and No. 11 Oregon beating No. 6 South Carolina, but Kentucky later found itself on the wrong side of what might already be the upset of the year.

The Grizzlies, who will face the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the second round, led almost the entire game, never letting the Wildcats get over the hump.

Grizzlies guard Jack Gohlke, who spent the first five seasons of his collegiate career with Division II program Hillsdale before transferring to Oakland for the final year of his eligibility, led all scorers, erupting for 32 points — nearly all on 3-pointers.

“It’s just something I’ve worked so hard for my whole career,” Gohlke said in his on-court interview after the win. “Coach just instills the confidence in me, gives me the freedom to go out there and play and influence the game in a positive way. I’m just having fun. … It’s a dream. This is why players work so hard, to get to this stage.”