More than an hour after an overtime loss to NC State brought an end to his team’s remarkable season, Jack Gohlke found himself still caught up in the whirlwind of March madness.
The atmosphere in PPG Paints Arena remained charged as fans from adjacent sections rose to their feet, offering applause to the Oakland guard while chanting his name with fervor on Saturday night. Gohlke, still adorned in his full uniform, graciously made his way into the crowd to greet friends and family.
With a humility that belied his newfound celebrity, he proceeded to sign autographs and pose for photographs as a throng of Oakland supporters eagerly queued up in the aisle to meet him.
In the span of just three days, Gohlke had transitioned from relative anonymity in the Horizon League to becoming an overnight sensation. The sharpshooting specialist’s heroics had earned him a coveted spot on “SportsCenter” alongside Scott Van Pelt, while his Instagram following had skyrocketed to over 50,000. Notably, endorsement deals with major brands such as TurboTax and OOFOS quickly followed suit.
Gohlke’s meteoric rise to prominence commenced on Thursday night when his remarkable performance off the bench saw him bury an astounding 10 three-pointers against Kentucky, propelling the 14th-seeded Golden Grizzlies to a stunning upset victory in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Despite facing off against multiple future NBA guards who sought to thwart his scoring prowess, Gohlke, a graduate transfer from Division II Hillsdale College, proved to be unstoppable as he navigated through screens with ease.
Just two days later, Gohlke once again showcased his talent, playing a pivotal role as Oakland pushed NC State to the brink in a thrilling second-round matchup. Despite facing relentless defensive pressure from the Wolfpack throughout the game, Gohlke managed to tally an impressive 22 points while sinking 6 of 17 attempts from beyond the arc.
Reflecting on the bittersweet conclusion of his team’s journey, Gohlke expressed a mix of disappointment at the loss and gratitude for the unforgettable experience.
“We really wanted to win today,” Gohlke remarked. “I wanted to go to Dallas really bad. All the guys wanted to go to Dallas really bad, but I told them in the locker room, the thing I wanted the most really was to see everyone at practice on Monday. That’s the thing I’m going to miss the most is just seeing my guys every single day.”
