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After completing the biggest comeback in March Madness first-round history, No. 11 VCU head coach Phil Martelli Jr. made it a point to shout out specific reporters.
Ben Rekosh, director and live commentator for WVCW Sports, the school’s radio station, was in the middle of asking Martelli a question about his return to No. 6 UNC when Martelli interrupted.
“I’m going to yell at them. I know there are a lot of professional media, our student media, the best in the country. They are unreal. Unreal, unreal,” Martelli said. “Three of these guys drove in a blizzard (not sure why they did it) to Davidson to cover us in Davidson. They came to St. Louis, they’ve been everywhere along the way.
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VCU Rams head coach Phil Martelli Jr. answers questions during a practice session before the first round of the 2026 NCAA men’s tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. (Jim Dedmon/Image Images)
However, Martelli angered reporters by saying they had to miss a game for Valentine’s Day.
“We won’t talk about that. I understand that young love is young love,” Martelli joked. “But to this team here, I told you in Pittsburgh, I’ll say it again, I can’t thank you enough. You are what this is about, right there. The rest of these [media members] They pay them, not enough. They don’t get paid enough, but they get paid to be here; “They don’t get paid to be here, and they show up every day, every game, and I can’t thank them (enough).”
Rekosh said he appreciated the kind words and asked his question again, the last of the conference.
Terrence Hill Jr. of the VCU Rams reacts to a basket during the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026, in Greenville, South Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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UNC was up by 19 with about 15 minutes left in the game, but the Commodores were never dead, and were led by Terrence Hill Jr., who scored 34 points on 13-of-23 shooting, including 7-of-10 from three. Twenty-three of those points came in the second half and overtime, including the game-winning 3-pointer.
Still, the job wasn’t done, as Henri Veesaar was fouled in the other lane and sent to the line for two free throws. With a deficit of 80-78, he had the perfect opportunity to tie, but missed the first attempt. That was the end for the Tar Heels as they hung their heads as the clock hit zero.
Henri Veesaar of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts after a game against the VCU Rams in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026, in Greenville, South Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
It was VCU’s first. NCAA They’ve won tournament games since 2016, and needed to shoot 62% from the field in the second half, including 7 of 10 from three, to post a 47-36 score in those 20 minutes to force overtime.
