Eastern Washington's Groves brothers briefly stole basketball fans' hearts before NCAA tournament exit
Tanner and Jacob Groves combined for 58 points in Eastern Washington's loss to Kansas.
It happens all the time during March Madness. Fans fall in love with a team, a player, a parent or someone like Sister Jean, and then usually at some point, that team loses in the NCAA tournament and hearts are broken.
Saturday during the men’s tournament, it was all about No. 14 seed Eastern Washington’s Groves brothers, Tanner and Jacob, who dominated in the first-round matchup against No. 3 seed Kansas despite ultimately losing.
Junior forward Tanner Groves led the entire game with a whopping 35 points, five rebounds and three blocks, while sophomore guard Jacob Groves was tied for second-most points in the game with 23, along with nine boards. They were a big reason why Eastern Washington had a 46-38 halftime lead.
The Groves brothers combined for an incredible 58 points in the Eagles’ 93-84 loss to the Jayhawks. According to CBS Sports, that’s the second-most points scored by bothers in an NCAA tournament game since 1953.
If Eastern Washington had pulled off the upset, these guys could have been huge March Madness stars this year.
“ANOTHER ONE”
Eastern Washington’s Groves brothers are going off against Kansas pic.twitter.com/RXMF7zZqP3
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 20, 2021
Bucket on one end. Block on the other.
It's all Tanner Groves right now. pic.twitter.com/SmPVc38wIJ
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 20, 2021
“It was hard,” Kansas coach Bill Self told CBS Sports after the game. “They out-played us today. Those brothers were terrific, and I guess they combined for 58 [points]. I didn’t even realize they had that many.”
But in addition to the Groves brothers’ dominating performance in the loss, fans loved their big-hair looks, plus older brother Tanner’s lumberjack beard. At one point, even the broadcasters compared the pair with Bill Walton and Napoleon Dynamite, and when you think about it, those are actually kind of accurate comparisons.
Announcers just compared the Groves brothers to Bill Walton and Napoleon Dynamite
pic.twitter.com/Mpw7ezbkHq
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 20, 2021
Regardless of why fans fell for the Groves brothers, for a brief moment Saturday, they captured the hearts of college hoops fans everywhere.
The Groves bros are filling it up for EWU!
@EWUMBB | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/jGIvSyw5XD
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 20, 2021
They’re gritty, talented, tough and gave people a lot of hope they could lead Eastern Washington to an upset against Kansas.
That hope evaporated about midway through the second half, but people were no less amazed by the pair. At least we’ll always have the West Region first-round game and the dream of what could have been for the Groves brothers this year.
Groves brothers are FEELING it pic.twitter.com/cGICmfYui8
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 20, 2021
Despite the loss to Kansas, the Groves Brothers balled out for Eastern Washington
Tanner:
35 Pts
5 Reb
11-18 FG
5-11 3-PT FGJacob:
23 Pts
9 Reb
8-11 FG
4-5 3-PT FG pic.twitter.com/jjFdywl7jU— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 20, 2021
The Groves brothers on Eastern Washington look like pic.twitter.com/Nbo9aoQBAm
— BetMGM
(@BetMGM) March 20, 2021
What an effort.
Brothers Tanner and Jacob Groves combined for 58 points in their loss vs. Kansas. pic.twitter.com/qEAy0HQES0
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 20, 2021
Kansas is currently getting beaten by Lil Dicky and Napoleon Dynamite.
Classic March Madness. pic.twitter.com/mGAedUuJ88
— Ben Portnoy (@bportnoy15) March 20, 2021
I need Groves brothers apparel after this game #SkoEags
— Ty Graham (@TyGraham07) March 20, 2021
58 combined points for the Groves brothers today on 66% shooting.
They didn’t beat Kansas, but I think it’s safe to say it was one of the best NCAA Tournament performances by a pair of brothers ever.
The NCAA Tournament is so great. pic.twitter.com/QAFSoH5iHf
— Jared Berson (@JaredBerson) March 20, 2021
Tanner Groves giving off STRONG Will Ferrell vibes
pic.twitter.com/nhPIdSHsH1
— Brothers Talkin’ Sports (@PodThat) March 20, 2021
RESPECT. Groves Brothers. pic.twitter.com/H1EXfcD1Oo
— ROM (@nbaers82) March 20, 2021
When Eastern Washington’s Groves brothers aren’t dominating on the court, they’re starring in Disney movies @EWUMBB pic.twitter.com/EsoX8dnHGx
— San Diego Joe (@joehendry_) March 20, 2021
The Groves brothers about to give Kansas fans nightmares for years pic.twitter.com/MKCFXZ6uF0
— George Jarjour (@GeorgeOnTap) March 20, 2021
The Groves Brothers. @EWUMBB #MarchMadness Go Eags. pic.twitter.com/n3HdViBI0O
— FowlerJ (@iamjokelberry) March 20, 2021
Gotta hand it to them. Those Groves brothers played one hell of a game. #kubball #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/J0AAZRpw1Y
— NotARaja (@NotARaja) March 20, 2021
The Groves Brothers, March 20, 2021-March 20, 2021. One of the greatest runs in NCAA Tournament history. pic.twitter.com/19M9Zd1P0S
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) March 20, 2021
