The first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament wrapped up this Friday with a mix of dominant displays from top seeds and narrow escapes that kept fans on the edge of their seats. While Thursday delivered the historic upsets, Friday was all about the “Blue Bloods” and top contenders asserting their dominance.
The Kansas Scare: Peterson Takes Over
The headline of the night was No. 4 Kansas fending off a late-game surge from NCAA newcomer Cal Baptist. After the Jayhawks built a massive 26-point lead, the Lancers clawed back with an 18-2 run to make it a two-possession game in the final minutes. However, freshman superstar Darryn Peterson proved why he’s a projected No. 1 NBA draft pick, dropping 28 points to secure the 68–60 victory.
Florida and Purdue Put on a Clinic
If you like high-scoring offenses, Florida was the place to be. No. 1 seed Florida delivered one of the most lopsided victories in tournament history, dismantling Prairie View A&M 114–55. Meanwhile, in St. Louis, No. 2 Purdue showed no signs of an early exit this year, cruising past Queens University 104–71.
Friday’s Key Scores
| Matchup | Final Score | Top Performer |
| (1) Florida vs. (16) Prairie View | 114–55 | Boogie Fland (16 pts, 6-6 FG) |
| (4) Kansas vs. (13) Cal Baptist | 68–60 | Darryn Peterson (28 pts) |
| (2) Purdue vs. (15) Queens | 104–71 | Matt Painter’s squad (76% ATS) |
| (7) Kentucky vs. (10) Santa Clara | 89–84 (OT) | Wildcat Resilience |
| (2) UConn vs. (15) Furman | 82–71 | The Champs Advance |
The Road Ahead
The Round of 32 is now set. We’re looking forward to a heavyweight coaching clash on Sunday between Bill Self’s Kansas and Rick Pitino’s St. John’s (who handled Northern Iowa with ease, 79–53).
With zero double-digit upsets on the Friday slate, the bracket might look a bit “chalkier” than usual, but the intensity is only ramping up.
Peterson Scores 28 Points, Kansas Holds off Cal Baptist in NCAA Opener
This video provides a deep dive into the highlights and analysis of the tournament’s opening rounds, including key player performances that shaped Friday’s results.
