High Point criticizes major conferences for avoiding their team after March Madness upset: ‘They have to play us’
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High Point is riding high after its first March Madness victory in school history.
The 12th-seeded Panthers came back from double digits to defeat No. 5 Wisconsin in the first upset of the tournament in a thrilling 83-82 victory.
High Point didn’t have much of a chance to put the country on notice, as its entire schedule was filled with other mid-major schools.
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Head coach Flynn Clayman of the High Point Panthers celebrates after the High Point Panthers defeated the Wisconsin Badgers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photos by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA via Getty Images)
But head coach Flynn Clayman criticized Power Four schools for seemingly avoiding High Point and other mid-majors all season.
“It seems pretty obvious to me that the majors need to play the mid-majors at the beginning of the season. Because they said we don’t play anyone. We play somebody now,” Clayman said shortly after the win.
“I know what a good team we are. But no one would play us, just like they wouldn’t play Miami (Ohio). But they have to play us in this tournament.”
Head coach Flynn Clayman of the High Point Panthers is hugged by guard Scotty Washington and forward Terry Anderson after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photos by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA via Getty Images)
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High Point guard Chase Johnston scored the game-winning basket with 11.7 seconds left on a breakaway layup after Wisconsin guard Nick Boyd missed a layup that would have put the Badgers up 84-81. High Point guard Rob Martin grabbed the rebound and fired toward a rushing Johnston. Surprisingly, Johnston’s layup was his first two-point basket of the season.
After Johnston’s basket gave High Point the lead, Owen Aquino blocked a Boyd layup. The Panthers’ Cam’Ron Fletcher was fouled and missed a free throw, giving the Badgers a chance with 1.8 seconds left, but Terry Anderson stole Andrew Rohde’s long pass, and the celebration began for High Point and first-year coach Flynn Clayman.
High Point earned a spot in the tournament by winning the Big South title for the second straight season. This was the first March Madness win for the Panthers, who lost to Purdue in the first round last year.
Braden Hausen of the High Point Panthers celebrates his block with teammate Terry Anderson against the Wisconsin Badgers during the second half of the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026, in Portland, Oregon. (Soobum Im/Getty Images)
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Johnston finished with 14 points, including four 3-pointers for the Panthers, who trailed by 10.5 points.
Ryan Canfield of News and The News contributed to this report.
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