Chalk Dust: Top-Ranked Teams Upset in Openers

11/07/2023 Chalk Dust: Top-Ranked Teams Upset in Openers

By: Jeff Yoder

How #1 LSU (Women) & #4 Michigan State (Men) Got Upset on Opening Night

Down go the champs! The opening night of college basketball was full of surprises across 300-plus Division I games, but none were bigger than a pair of top-5 upsets. LSU, the defending champions and No. 1 team in women’s college hoops — with two of the game’s best players in Angel Reese and Hailey Van Lith — were stunned in a season-opening home upset against #20 Colorado. Up in Lansing, #4 Michigan State (men) took an ‘L’ to unranked James Madison in an overtime shocker at the Breslin Center. An unreal tip-off to college basketball immediately served up some humility. Here’s a look at those upsets and a lengthy list of the best highlights from Monday’s games.

 

WOMEN: #20 Colorado def. #1 LSU (92-78)

Did this really happen?! LSU was the reigning national champion, and they had just reloaded (and then some) with the addition of Hailey Van Lith. Kim Mulkey’s juggernaut squad was a potential threat to run the table this season, and they flopped in Game 1. The Lady Buffaloes took the lead in the second quarter and never surrendered it. Not just an upset, but a 14-point road win against the top team in the country. Yikes.

 

MEN: James Madison def. #4 Michigan State (79-76, OT)

A historic upset at the Breslin Center had Spartan fans stunned in what was expected to be an early-season tune-up game. It took 35 points from MSU’s Tyson Walker just to keep the Spartans alive and force OT, but a gritty win from James Madison marked the first monumental upset of the year in men’s ball. It was the first home loss for Michigan State in the month of November since Tom Izzo took over the program in 1995 (previously 73-0).

 

Other College Basketball Highlights

W: #3 Iowa def. Fairleigh Dickinson (102-46)

W: #4 UCLA def. Purdue (92-49)

W: #6 South Carolina def. #10 Notre Dame (100-71)

W: #21 USC def. #7 Ohio State (83-74)
M: #1 Kansas def. NC Central (99-56)

M: #2 Duke def. Dartmouth (92-54)

M: #3 Purdue def. Samford (98-45)

M: #5 Marquette def. N. Illinois (92-70)

 

Must-See Highlight: South Carolina Freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley Dazzles With Behind-the-Back Finish

 

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images