High Point head coach calls out teams for not scheduling mid-majors after Wisconsin upset: 'Nobody would play us' originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The High Point Panthers delivered the first 12-seed–5-seed upset of the 2026 NCAA Tournament with an 83–82 win over Wisconsin.
After the game, coach Flynn Clayman was hyped up about the huge win. In a courtside postgame interview, Clayman mentioned that High Point tried scheduling games against Power Five schools but was rejected.
Let’s take a look at Clayman’s comment and how High Point’s schedule stacks up.
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High Point coach interview
After the team's one-point win, Clayman was interviewed and asked for his thoughts on the game. Here's what the Panthers' coach said.
“Nobody would play us, just like they wouldn’t play Miami (Ohio), but they gotta play us in this tournament.” 👀@HPUMBB's Flynn Clayman was HYPED after the upset of Wisconsin. #MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/emT4EMx0PK
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2026
According to the coach, "It looks obvious high-majors need to play mid-majors during the season. They said we didn't play nobody. … Nobody would play us, just like they wouldn't play Miami (Ohio). But they have to play us in this tournament."
Clayman may have a point, after High Point's narrow victory against the No. 5 Badgers, and Miami (Ohio) winning their First Four game against SMU on Wednesday.
MORE: Meet High Point's Chase Johnston, a 3-point specialist who helped the Panthers stun Wisconsin.
High Point schedule
High Point plays in the Big South Conference. They finished the season with a 31-4 record. Here is the Panthers' 2025-2026 schedule.
| Opponent | Result |
| vs. Furman | 97-71 (W) |
| vs. Averett | 127-52 (W) |
| vs. Jacksonville | 85-64 (W) |
| at UAB | 91-74 (L) |
| vs. Canisius | 93-50 (W) |
| vs. UIC | 90-80 (W) |
| vs. Incarnate Word | 91-80 (W) |
| vs. Western Carolina | 93-73 (W) |
| vs. Southern Illinois | 86-84 (L) |
| vs. NJIT | 89-72 (W) |
| vs. Appalachian State | 86-78 (L, OT) |
| vs. Mary Baldwin | 129-47 (W) |
| vs. La Salle | 84-72 (W) |
| vs. Bryant | 93-47 (W) |
| vs. Pfeiffer | 123-64 (W) |
| at UNC Asheville | 87-69 (W) |
| vs. Longwood | 80-67 (W) |
| vs. Gardner-Webb | 104-49 (W) |
| at Charleston Southern | 84-82 (W, OT) |
| at Winthrop | 92-75 (L) |
| vs. South Carolina Upstate | 89-69 (W) |
| at Radford | 93-83 (W) |
| vs. Presbyterian | 84-81 (W) |
| at Longwood | 71-59 (W) |
| vs. Charleston Southern | 80-55 (W) |
| vs. Radford | 86-77 (W) |
| at South Carolina Upstate | 95-70 (W) |
| at Gardner-Webb | 112-87 (W) |
| vs. UNC Asheville | 74-48 (W) |
| vs. Winthrop | 89-87 (W) |
| at Presbyterian | 79-73 (W) |
| vs. Gardner-Webb | 81-59 (W) |
| vs. UNC Asheville | 75-71 (W) |
| vs. Winthrop | 91-76 (W) |
MORE REGION PREVIEWS: East | West | Midwest | South
Who did High Point try to play?
At the moment, the teams that refused to play High Point this season are unknown. However, Power-5 schools traditionally play badly-ranked mid-majors for a higher chance of stacking wins.
This season, Miami (Ohio) and High Point were two of the better mid-major schools that had reached out to Power 5 schools, but to no avail.
According to Extra Points MB, here is a list of schools Miami reached out to. According to Clayman, High Point had a similar experience.