High Point HC Calls Out Critics of Team's Schedule on Video After March Madness Upset vs. Wisconsin

After No. 12 High Point secured an 83-82 upset victory over No. 5 Wisconsin in the 2026 NCAA tournament, Panthers head coach Flynn Clayman called out critics of the team's schedule.

"It looks pretty obvious to me that high-majors need to play mid-majors early in the season," Clayman said in an interview following the win. "Because they said we didn't play nobody. We played somebody now."

"It feels unreal because I know how good of a team we had," he added. "But nobody would play us. Just like they wouldn't play Miami (OH). But they gotta play us in this tournament."

High Point entered March Madness with a 30-4 record while ranking No. 328 in the country in strength of schedule, per KenPom.

Still, Clayman's squad was able to defeat a Wisconsin team that owned a 24-10 record while navigating through the Big Ten and held the No. 19 spot in the latest AP Top 25 poll.

Thursday's game was initially one-sided, as the Badgers opened the contest with a 15-5 lead. High Point quickly responded with a 7-0 run to stay within striking distance, though.

Wisconsin would go on to extend its lead to nine points multiple times in the first half, but the Panthers continued to fight back and only trailed 41-39 at halftime.

The Badgers excelled offensively in the second half, holding an eight-point advantage with just under four minutes remaining in the game.

Three-pointers from Chase Johnston and Terry Anderson brought High Point back before finally taking a one-point lead with 11 seconds left following a layup by Johnston.

Wisconsin guard Nick Boyd couldn't convert on a layup of his own and a last-second pass by the Badgers was stolen by Anderson to seal the final result.

High Point guard Rob Martin led the way with 23 points and 10 assists while shooting 9-of-23 from the field.

Anderson also made his presence felt for the Panthers by scoring 15 points on 7-of-15 shooting, as Johnston chipped in with 14 points and four threes off the bench.

The victory marked High Point's first March Madness win.