Lehigh vs. Duke: How the Shocking Upset Reshapes the 2012 NCAA Tournament

Just a few hours after Norfolk State became the first No. 15 seed to beat a No. 2 seed since 2001, Lehigh did the magical feat again with a 75-70 shocker win over Duke. 

Before Friday, a No. 15 seed hadn't defeated a No. 2 seed since Hampton upset Iowa State in 2001. We got two such upsets this tourney. 

Obviously, this insane win will reshape the South region as well as the whole NCAA tournament. With powerhouse Duke out of the Big Dance, No. 1 seed Kentucky and No. 3 seed Baylor suddenly find their road to the Final Four a whole lot easier. 

The Baylor Bears could make the Elite Eight without ever having to beat a team seeded higher than 10th. If they take care of No. 11 Colorado on March 17 at 8:40 pm ET, then the Bears will face either No. 15 Lehigh or No. 10 Xavier in the Sweet Sixteen. 

Baylor has been more up-and-down this season than the hills in Tiny Wings.

But this win by Lehigh has to give them hope. If Scott Drew’s boys can muster up the same energy that saw them start the season with a 17-0 record, then the Final Four isn’t far away. 

They will have to rely on star Perry Jones III to win games but they won’t have to face Duke. That alone should have the Baylor faithful heaving a sigh of relief. 

As for favorite Kentucky, their road looks almost the same as it did before the huge upset. They will have to beat No. 8 Iowa State in the Round of 32 and either No. 12 VCU or No. 4 Indiana in the Sweet Sixteen. 

This upset shouldn’t change the face of the South region since Kentucky and Baylor were always the favorites. 

But I know I will be watching to see if Lehigh can pull off yet another upset. Or will the clock strike midnight on this Cinderella?