First major surprise of the NCAA Tournament

THE first hero of March Madness said he always believed in him and his team as the NCAA Tournament burst into life with a big shock.

Sharpshooter Jack Gohlke made 10 3-pointers and 32 points in all as No.14 seed Oakland University stunned the Golden Grizzlies with an 80-76 victory.

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Gohlke celebrates after scoring for Oakland on a famous night for him and his teamCredit: Getty

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Gohlke shoots a 3-pointer on a night when Oakland stunned KentuckyCredit: Getty
This was Oakland’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2011, and it was certainly a memorable one.

And a delighted Gohlke showed he can also talk a good game when he spoke to reporters.

“Obviously we come in as the underdog by all measures but as a player you can’t think that way,” he said.

“You’ve to go out and there and think you’re on the same talent level as them.”

“I know they have draft picks and I know I’m not going to the NBA.”

“I know on any given night I can compete with those type of guys and our team can compete with those type of guys.”

“That’s why I was so confident going into it and ithat’s why I say we’re not a Cinderella because when we play our A game, we can be the best team on the floor.”

March Madness is a beloved institution in American sport and this was an early reminder why,

Posting on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, one fan said, “I don’t see why he can’t be in the NBA.”

Another fan wrote: “Love this dude. He just showed you that if you have a dream and you work your a** off to reach it, nothing is impossible.”

Oakland coach Greg Kampe said: “We wanted Kentucky because they’re the best.

“What this means to our university, it’s just unbelievable. I’m happy for my players.”

This result will doubtless have brought a real sense of satisfaction and achievement to Kampe, who has doing the job for an amazing forty years.

Gohlke just relishes taking his chances from distance.

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Kampe pulled off one of his finest victories as head coachCredit: Getty
He has had 335 shots this season, with 327 of them coming from behind the three-point arc.

For Kentucky, it was a truly miserable night at the office.

They now face a major money decision to make when it comes to the future of John Calipari.

If the Wildcats decided to cut ties with Calipari, it has been reported that they would owe him $33 million.

That would mean Kentucky would have to buyout the remainder of his contract.

After the 2024-25 season, the buyout cost would go down to $27 million.