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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

The crowd at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn was in for a huge turn of the tides moment. The 2024 March Madness MBB had its very first upset today as the 12th-seed James Madison Dukes took over the 5th-seed Wisconsin completely. Seems like the fans had a lot of emotions built up as JMU’s continuous success does not bode well with the Badgers fans. Consequently, some rough language was used against each other as the James Madison alumnus Eric Sollenberger, also known as the PFT commenter, tried to cheer for his beloved team.

According to an X post by the Pardon My Take podcast, a Wisconsin fan asked PFT and another Dukes follower to sit down. However, it was not as delicately put. The video shows the two members of the JMU crowd recording themselves cheering for their team, repeatedly chanting, “Let’s go!”

A Badger did not like it and retorted, “Why don’t you watch the game and celebrate in your..” However, the man was cut in between by Sollenberger as he continuously yelled back, “Why don’t you shut the f**k up?” While the Badger also kept bantering from behind saying, “Why don’t you stop being a d*******g? You f*****g c**t.” 

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While passion, celebration, and disappointments are a big part of any sporting event, looks like the PFT commenter never backs down on siding with his alma mater JMU. Nevertheless, seems like it was an occasion of celebration for the Dukes fans as they made the 5-seed Wisconsin look over-seeded in the very first round of the tournament.

JMU sends the Wisconsin Badgers down the March Madness abyss

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The Dukes, who have been creating a seismic saga for themselves this season, added another boasting right under their caps. JMU displayed its impactful defense against the Badgers from the very beginning of the game. They went up by a maximum of 17 points in the first half and ended it successfully at 33-20. Overall, they had 10 steals, forced Wisconsin to 13 turnovers, and held them to only 26% shooting today.

USA Today via Reuters

While Wisconsin favorite Max Klesmit tried to go full beast mode in the second half of the game by shooting four shots from beyond the arc, it did not affect the Dukes. Proving their worth to the world, JMU was not only the name that echoed throughout Barclays Center but brought in their 14-game winning streak. This fact alone makes them the only team to do so in the nation this season.

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Further, this time, the Dukes recreated JMU history by entering the second round for the first time after 1983. It was an unbelievable matchup and a Cinderella story worth remembering for Wisconsin. Next, we will see the Dukes go against Duke in Brooklyn itself to see if they can repeat an upset. Will the Blue Devils have an easy road to win over JMU? Hopefully, the fans will now control their emotions no matter what the result will be.

Read More- Despite Spending $21.3 Million More Than Oakland, Kentucky Faces Elimination in the Opening Game of March Madness