NCAA Tournament first spherical video games ranked

Be certain to observe USA TODAY Sports’ stay March Madness bracket updates and scores, conserving observe of all of NCAA Tournament’s Day 1 video games.

The day has arrived, faculty basketball followers. The Thursday that marks the primary full slate of video games within the Men’s NCAA Tournament is like unto a nationwide vacation for a lot of. If which means you, we’re right here to benefit from the insanity with you.

This is your viewers’ information to the 16 video games on the docket, together with channel info and scheduled tip instances. Keep in thoughts, after all, that the second recreation at a venue in a selected window may – and possibly will – begin a couple of minutes later than the time listed because of spillover from the prior contest, however that may change into obvious as outcomes unfold.

REGION BREAKDOWNS, PREDICTIONS: East | South | Midwest | West

PRINTABLE BRACKET: Fill out your picks for NCAA Tournament swimming pools

March Madness at the moment: Ranking greatest video games in Thursday first spherical

1. No. 6 North Carolina vs. No. 11 VCU

Time/TV: 6:50 p.m. ET, TNT

The Cinderella Final Four run by the Rams in 2011 makes them a well-liked upset decide, although they haven’t superior past the primary spherical of their final 5 match appearances. Nevertheless, the short-handed Tar Heels have a significantly decrease ceiling with out main scorer Caleb Wilson and should hope Henri Veesaar can dominate the paint towards VCU’s smaller lineup.

2. No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 11 South Florida

Time/TV: 1:30 p.m. ET, TNT

This was already going to be a troublesome draw for the Cardinals, and the absence of standout freshman Mikel Brown because of ongoing again points makes the task that rather more tough. The Bulls – a classy upset decide – are among the many hottest groups within the discipline coming into on an 11-game profitable streak paced by the inside-outside tandem of Izaiyah Nelson and Wes Enis.

3. No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 9 Saint Louis

Time/TV: 9 :45 p.m. ET, CBS

It’s the final recreation of the session, however these two groups that each prefer to run and gun ought to maintain the power degree excessive. While Robbie Avila has the identify recognition, six of his Billikens’ teammates additionally common over 9 factors a recreation and will match the Bulldogs’ depth.

4. No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 TCU

Time/TV: 12:15 p.m. ET, CBS

The spherical of 64 begins with what needs to be a detailed affair between energy convention members. The Buckeyes completed the season sturdy thanks largely to the efforts of long-time mainstay guard Bruce Thornton, whereas the Horned Frogs are led by the front-court duo of David Punch and Xavier Edmonds.

5. No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 Texas

Time/TV: 7:25 p.m. ET, TBS

The well-traveled Tramon Mark confirmed he nonetheless has the clutch gene within the Longhorns’ nail-biting First Four win in Dayton. It will now be as much as Matas Vokietaitis and the massive Texas entrance line to maintain A.J. Dybantsa, BYU’s one-man wrecking crew, from taking on.

6. No. 7 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 10 Texas A&M

Time/TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, truTV

In addition to the deliberate tempo and hard-nosed protection which have outlined the Gaels’ program below long-time mentor Randy Bennett, this 12 months’s squad truly has extra long-range capturing choices in Mikey Lewis and Joshua Dent. Even so, their type contrasts with “‘Buckyball,” the frenetic approach preached by Aggies coach Bucky McMillan that has this season’s staff placing up 87.3 factors a recreation.

7. No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 High Point

Time/TV: 1:50 p.m. ET, TBS

Expect a breakneck tempo on this one; the Panthers put up 90 factors a recreation whereas the Badgers aren’t far behind at 83. High Point ground chief Rob Martin and prolific ahead Terry Anderson will attempt to sustain with Wisconsin’s high-volume guard duo of Nick Boyd and John Blackwell.

8. No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 12 McNeese State

Time/TV: 3:15 p.m. ET, truTV

Vanderbilt’s run to the SEC title recreation that included an upset of Florida didn’t produce a lot of a seed increase. As such, the Commodores get a reasonably robust opening draw with the battle-tested Cowboys, dancing for a 3rd consecutive season as first-year coach Bill Armstrong maintained this system’s momentum.

9. No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 13 Troy

Time/TV: 12:40 p.m. ET, truTV

One of those applications will win its first ever NCAA tourney recreation. The Cornhuskers, that are the one Power Four staff by no means to perform the feat, are led by sharpshooter Pryce Sandfort, They shall be favored, however they shouldn’t overlook the Trojans making their second consecutive journey to the Big Dance led by double-double candidate Thomas Dowd.

10. No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 13 Hawaii

Time/TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, TBS

Darius Acuff and the Razorbacks received a brief turnaround and a protracted flight to Portland as a reward for profitable the SEC match. The Rainbow Warriors characteristic seven-footer Isaac Johnson, who’s conversant in the NCAA match stage from his two seasons at Utah State.

11. No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 14 Penn

Time/TV: 9:25 p.m. ET, TNT

It took only a 12 months for Fran McCaffery to take his alma mater again to the Big Dance, using the extremely sizzling hand of T.J. Power. The proven fact that the Quakers gained each Ivy League tourney video games in additional time may be of concern to Fighting Illini followers, as their staff hasn’t fared so nicely in further intervals of late, so Illinois will do its utmost to construct a double-digit cushion as rapidly as potential.

12. No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 14 North Dakota State

Time/TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, TNT

The Spartans and Tom Izzo have been in each NCAA Tournament since 1998, and although they often bow out prematurely they’ll have a substantial depth benefit on this 12 months’s opener. The Bison do, nonetheless, have a number of guys able to heating up from lengthy vary, together with Damari Wheeler-Thomas and Trevian Carson.

13. No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State

Time/TV: 10:00 p.m. ET, TBS

This is the second Big Dance for the Owls and the primary representing Conference USA, although KSU just isn’t with out hoops historical past having claimed the Division II title in 2004. Nonetheless, they’ll be punching above their weight significantly towards Graham Ike and the Zags, now a match fixture however nonetheless searching for the last word prize.

14. No. 2 Houston vs. No. 15 Idaho

Time/TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, truTV

The day concludes with a second within the solar for the Vandals, the unlikely Big Sky champs making their first match look since 1990. Their keep figures to be quick, because the Cougars have the items in place to return to Championship Monday and end the job this time.

15. No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 16 Howard

Time/TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS

The Bison’s first ever NCAA tourney win Tuesday night time in Dayton supplied a well-deserved highlight for Bryce Harris and Ose Okojie. The run nearly definitely ends right here, nonetheless, as these second-chance alternatives is not going to be there towards the Wolverines’ rim protectors.

16. No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 Siena

Time/TV: 2:50 p.m. ET, CBS

The Blue Devils will look to make quick work of this one as they’ll nonetheless be down a few starters. Despite being coached by former Syracuse marksman Jerry McNamara, the Saints don’t shoot three-pointers significantly nicely (30.4%), making a first-round stunner unlikely.