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VCU coach Phil Martelli Jr celebrates upset of UNC declaring that is March
VCU coach Phil Martelli Jr praises his group’s resilience after upsetting UNC and delivering a real that is March second.
- Friday’s motion consists of a number of shut matchups, equivalent to No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Utah State.
- Several prime seeds, together with No. 1 Arizona and No. 1 Florida, are scheduled to play.
- The closing recreation of the primary spherical pits No. 7 Miami (Fla.) in opposition to No. 10 Missouri.
Be certain to comply with USA TODAY Sports’ reside updates maintaining monitor of all of NCAA Tournament’s Friday first spherical video games.
Half of the primary spherical of the lads’s NCAA basketball match is full. But we’re removed from accomplished, March Madness followers.
The motion Friday continues with one other full slate of 16 contests. Once once more, this might be your information for the day with all of the matchups, channels and tip instances. Stick with us all day as groups advance and brackets are busted.
Once once more, the instances listed can fluctuate barely if previous contests run lengthy, however there ought to all the time be one thing taking place all through the afternoon and night hours. Here’s the rating of all of the video games and every part you must find out about find out how to watch Friday’s contests.
1. No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Utah State
Time/TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, TNT
The Aggies have appeared in each NCAA Tournament however one since 2019 however personal only one victory in that stretch, one thing this veteran lineup with leaders MJ Collins Jr. and Mason Falslev hopes to alter. They ought to match up nicely with the Wildcats, although Duke Brennan may give Villanova the sting within the paint.
2. No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio)
Time/TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, TBS
You’d be hard-pressed to discover a first-round contest that includes extra contrasting kinds. The free-wheeling RedHawks gained over loads of skeptics in Wednesday evening’s First Four victory in opposition to SMU, however the Volunteers will do their finest to make this affair a grind with a premium on controlling the boards.
3. No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 Iowa
Time/TV: 6:50 p.m. ET, TNT
The closing 8-9 matchup ideas off the night session, although it, too, offers one thing of a distinction. The Hawkeyes have a real ground basic in Bennett Stirtz, who not often leaves the ground. But the Tigers’ potential to unfold the offensive load may serve them nicely given their current damage woes. This appears to be tight all through.
4. No. 7 Kentucky vs. No. 10 Santa Clara
Time/TV: 12:15 p.m. ET, CBS
One of the game’s name-brand applications seems within the leadoff spot, although this yr’s Wildcats can hardly be thought of Final Four contenders. They determine to get a formidable first-round problem from the Broncos, a well-rounded squad led by veteran coach Herb Sendek that shares the ball and holds its personal on the glass.
5. No. 7 Miami (Fla.) vs. No. 10 Missouri
Time/TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, truTV
The closing recreation of the spherical of 64 options what’s as de facto house recreation for Mizzou regardless of its decrease seed. The Tigers, nonetheless, enter the tourney on a three-game dropping streak, so a quick begin by the Hurricanes may neutralize the home-state crowd in St. Louis. Missouri main scorer Mark Mitchell should maintain tempo with the Miami duo of Malik Reneau and Tre Donaldson.
6. No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 Central Florida
Time/TV: 7:25 p.m. ET, TBS
The Bruins’ late push within the crowded Big Ten may elevate them solely up to now up the seeding hierarchy, however they need to not less than be at full energy for this project. The Knights weren’t at their finest within the closing weeks of the season however have sufficient weapons to be harmful.
7. No. 5 Texas Tech vs. No. 12 Akron
Time/TV: 12:40 p.m. ET, truTV
Unfortunately, the lack of All America ahead JT Toppin to a season-ending knee damage severely dampened Final Four hopes for the Red Raiders. They didn’t cellphone in the remainder of their season, after all, however they now discover themselves as credible upset picks in opposition to the skilled and really proficient Zips, paced by lead guard Tavari Johnson and versatile ahead Amani Lyles.
8. No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Hofstra
Time/TV: 3:15 p.m. ET, truTV
While courts of a distinct type have stored Alabama within the information for a lot of this season, the Crimson Tide are nonetheless able to making noise in March if Labaron Philon has his A-game. His reverse quantity right here might be Hofstra’s Cruz Davis, a high-usage level guard who places up 20.2 factors and 4.6 assists a recreation.
9. No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 Cal Baptist
Time/TV: 9:45 p.m. ET, CBS
With loads of questions on their total chemistry and the uncertainty round star freshman Darryn Peterson getting into the tourney, the Jayhawks arguably want a straightforward first-round tuneup greater than most upper-tier squads. They won’t get it in opposition to the Lancers and WAC participant of the yr Dominique Daniels (23.2 ppg).
10. No. 5 St. John’s vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa
Time/TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS
Big East champion St. John’s and its supporters have loads of causes to be displeased with the committee for his or her match draw, not the least of which is that this first-round matchup in far-off San Diego in opposition to a program with a veteran coach, Ben Jacobson, and a popularity as a March big killer. Be that as it could, the Panthers won’t have a solution for Red Storm large man Zuby Ejiofor.
11. No. 3 Virginia vs. No. 14 Wright State
Time/TV: 1:50 p.m. ET, TBS
The new-look Cavaliers have a distinct taking part in type than the previous variations that proved inclined to the occasional first-round exit. Nonetheless, they should be prepared for a problem from the Horizon League champion Raiders, who additionally wish to play quick and join on 36.1% of their three-point tries.
12. No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 15 Tennessee State
Time/TV: 2:50 p.m. ET, CBS
When every part is working, the Cyclones can seem like a Final Four group. But this system has been right here earlier than as a No. 2 seed that suffered a memorable loss to Hampton within the first spherical. The high-scoring guard tandem of Aaron Nkrumah and (17.6 ppg) and Travis Harper (17.3) may maintain the Tigers in it for some time.
13. No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Queens
Time/TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, truTV
The Boilermakers had been undoubtedly pleased to see their title on the Friday slate on Selection Sunday after a tough weekend of labor within the Big Ten match. And the advance to a No. 2 seed means a good matchup with the Royals, newcomers to the large stage, not less than hope to make a very good first impression.
14. No. 2 Connecticut vs. No. 15 Furman
Time/TV: 10:00 p.m. ET, TBS
All UConn coach Danny Hurley has to do to get his gamers’ consideration is remind them what Furman did the final time it performed on this occasion. Bob Richey remains to be teaching the Purple Paladins, as he was in 2023 after they despatched Virginia packing within the first spherical, and he as soon as once more has a reliable ground chief in Alex Wilkins (17.7 ppg, 4.7 apg). But the Huskies look primed to make a title run this yr.
15. No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 Long Island
Time/TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, TNT
Arizona has a historical past of underachieving in March, however that normally comes on the second weekend. This well-constructed model of the Wildcats ought to make brief work of this one. Jamal Fuller, a 43.8% marksman from the arc, is a man to look at for coach Rod Strickland’s Sharks.
16. No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M
Time/TV: 9:25 p.m. ET, TNT
Congratulations are to ensure that the Panthers as they claimed their first ever March Madness victory. The run nearly definitely stops right here in opposition to the defending champion Gators, although Prairie View’s Dontae Horne could make issues occur at each ends of the ground.
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