The first couple days of the college basketball season were headlined by multiple massive upsets for mid-majors, which led us to ask which was your favorite. And there was a tie at the top of the poll.
East Texas A&M surprising Oklahoma on opening night and Valpo defeating Purdue in double overtime last Friday night led the voting with 29% apiece. Saint Louis picking off in-state rival Missouri was next with 18%. Northern Illinois topping Dayton has 12%, while Memphis’ win over Iowa State and South
Dakota State beating Kansas State each had 6%.
So, why were ETAMU and Valpo so popular?
First, East Texas A&M. A new verb entered the college basketball lexicon following this one: von Rosenberg.
The Lions head coach Jaret von Rosenberg could be a budding star at age 39. He has led the program beginning in the 2017-18 season and has overseen its transition to Division I. Not familiar with this team? The school used to be call Texas A&M Commerce.
Anyway, more on the upset of the Sooners in Norman, Okla. East Texas A&M won 68-64 for the program’s first-ever in over a power-conference team. It was also the program’s first season-opening win at the DI level (in five seasons). Bo Aldridge led the way with 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting while also dishing out five assists. The Lions shot 11-for-27 (40.7%) from deep.
On to Valpo.
The Beacons have struggled since moving from the Horizon League to the Missouri Valley nine years ago. Their first winning record in the MVC came last season (11-9). They faced a Boilermaker team who has participated in the last 11 NCAA Tournaments with three straight Sweet 16 appearances and a run to the 2024 title game.
But all that history was thrown out last week. Valpo won 83-80 in double overtime thanks to Rakim Chaney knocking down a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the first OT and Justus McNair sinking the game-winning triple at the horn in double OT.
The win marked the program’s first true road win over a ranked opponent as the Boilers were No. 24. It also sent Purdue to its first 0-2 start since the 1976-77 season.
Chaney poured in 35 points on 14-of-22 shooting, including 4-of-8 from deep. He also pulled down eight rebounds and dished six assists in 41 minutes.
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