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After completing the greatest 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 on-air commentator for WVCW Sports, the school’s radio station, was in the middle of asking Martelli a question about their return to No. 6 UNC when Martelli interrupted him.
“I’m going to yell at you. I know there’s a lot of professional media, our student media, the best in the country. They’re unreal. Unreal, unreal,” Martelli said. “Three of these guys drove in a snowstorm – I don’t know why they did it – all the way to Davidson to cover us in Davidson. They came to St. Louis, they were everywhere along the way.
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VCU Rams head coach Phil Martelli Jr. answers questions during a practice session before the first game of the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. (Jim Dedmon/Imagn Images)
Martelli blasted reporters, however, saying they had to miss a game on Valentine’s Day.
“We won’t talk about it. I understand that young love is young love,” Martelli joked. “But this team here, I told them in Pittsburgh, I’ll tell them again, I can’t thank you guys enough. You guys are what it’s all about, right there. The rest of them [media members] are paid – 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 you (enough). »
Rekosh said he appreciated the kind words and immediately returned to asking his question, 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 led by 19 with about 15 minutes to play, but the Commodores were never dead and they were carried by Terrence Hill Jr., who had 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-point basket.
Still, the job wasn’t done, as Henri Veesaar was fouled in the lane at the other end and sent to the line for two free throws. With a deficit of 80-78, he had the perfect opportunity to tie, but he missed the first attempt. That was the end for the Tar Heels, who 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 A tournament win since 2016, and they had to shoot 62% from the field in the second half, including 7 of 10 from three, to post a score of 47-36 over those 20 minutes to force overtime.
