As the late great Jackie Gleason would say, “And awaaay we go!” Google him, kids. He was terrific. But we digress.
The NCAA men’s basketball tournament starts in earnest Thursday, with 16 first-round games spread throughout the day. The first two No. 1 regional seeds will take the court in the afternoon session, and the prime-time lineup features some of the sport’s big-name programs and coaches with difficult draws.
Here is your complete viewer’s guide for the first full day of March Madness, including game times, channels, and a few notes on the matchups. Happy hooping, and best of luck with your brackets.
No. 8 Louisville vs. No. 9 Creighton
Time, TV: 12:15 p.m. | CBS (Fubo)
The day tips off in Lexington, Kentucky, where the Cardinals were perhaps seeded lower than expected but at least get to play in their home state. The Bluejays are accustomed to hostile environs, having just played in the Big East final before a St. John’s crowd at Madison Square Garden, but they’ll need to avoid a similar second-half barrage to get by Louisville.
No. 4 Purdue vs. No. 13 High Point
Time, TV: 12:40 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)
The Boilermakers’ quest to get back to the Final Four opens against a tournament newcomer. After knocking on the door for a number of years, the Panthers finally broke through in the Big South tournament and now hope to make the most of the experience. High Point is deeper than most non-power conference squads, and Purdue does not exactly have momentum on its side having dropped six of its last nine.
REGIONAL BREAKDOWNS: East | West | Midwest | South
UPSET-MINDED: Six potential surprising results in the first round
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No. 3 Wisconsin vs. No. 14 Montana
Time, TV: 1:30 p.m. | TNT (Sling TV)
This might be a tougher assignment for Big Ten runner-up Wisconsin than it might appear. It’s a quick turnaround for the Badgers after playing in the league finale Sunday afternoon, and the Grizzlies, though dancing for the first time since 2019, won’t be bothered by playing at altitude in Denver. Still, it will be difficult to match the production of John Tonje and the Badgers from the three-point arc.
No. 1 Houston vs. No. 16 Southern Illinois-Edwardsville
Time, TV: 2 p.m. | TBS (Sling TV)
For the uninitiated, SIUE are the Cougars, not the Salukis, and the Ohio Valley champions are dancing for the first time since moving up from Division II in 2008. They probably won’t last long against the more accomplished Cougars, but they can at least hope for a nice play or two to make the ‘One Shining Moment’ montage.
No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 16 Alabama State
Time, TV: 2:50 p.m. | CBS (Fubo)
After prevailing in a thriller in Dayton against St. Francis, the Hornets now look to become only the second 16 seed to topple a No. 1 after winning in the First Four, a feat achieved just two years ago by Fairleigh Dickinson. It’s a tall order, and the Tigers have almost certainly spent the last week reiterating attention to detail after dropping three of their last four games.
No. 5 Clemson vs. No. 12 McNeese State
Time, TV: 3:15 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)
Will Wade, a Clemson grad for what it’s worth, has led the Cowboys back in the dance as a No. 1 12 seed for a second consecutive year. The Tigers will be a bit short-handed with reserve guard Dillon Hunter out with an injury, but his brother Chase is among several veterans of last year’s Elite Eight squad.
No. 6 Brigham Young vs. No. 11 Virginia Commonwealth
Time, TV: 4:05 p.m. | TNT (Sling TV)
One of the most promising matchups of the round of 64 pits VCU, a strong A-10 program with a history of March success including an improbable First Four to Final Four run in 2011, against the Cougars, perhaps underseeded considering the solid second half of their Big 12 season. Both teams take nearly half their shots from beyond the arc, so expect plenty of long-range fireworks.
No. 8 Gonzaga vs. No. 9 Georgia
Time, TV: 4:35 p.m. | TBS (Sling TV)
An all-Bulldogs affair rounds out the early session. Recent Sweet 16 fixture Gonzaga has been at its best down the stretch and having the steady hand of Ryan Nembhard at the point helps, but Georgia is battle tested after negotiating the SEC and has plenty of athletes capable of generating turnovers.
No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 15 Wofford
Time, TV: 6:50 p.m. | TNT (Sling TV)
The Volunteers lead off the evening slate as they begin their quest to escape the ‘never made the Final Four’ club. They defend as well as any team in the field, and an early run could put the Southern Conference champion Terriers away quickly. Wofford has faced high-end competition this season, but its early November visit to Duke didn’t provide much cause for optimism.
No. 7 Kansas vs. No. 10 Arkansas
Time, TV: 7:10 p.m. | CBS (Fubo)
From a coaching standpoint, this pod in Providence arguably offers the most intrigue of the first round. Long-time KU mentor Bill Self squares off with John Calipari, in his first year helming the Razorbacks, for the right, barring a colossal upset, to meet Rick Pitino and St. John’s in the second round. The Jayhawks, ranked No. 1 in the preseason, picked up some valuable wins early but struggled in Big 12 play. Arkansas did just enough in the ultra-competitive SEC to make the field, and now those frequent encounters with ranked opponents could serve the Razorbacks well.
No. 4 Texas A&M vs. No. 13 Yale
Time, TV: 7:25 p.m. | TBS (Sling TV)
After sending Auburn packing from the round of 64 a season ago, Yale will not be sneaking up on anyone. Nevertheless, the Aggies can be prone to cold spells, which could allow a smart bunch like the Bulldogs to hang around well into the second half. The backcourt matchup between Yale’s John Poulakidas and A&M’s Wade Taylor should be one to watch.
No. 6 Missouri vs. No. 11 Drake
Time, TV: 7:35 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)
Yet another SEC squad in the middle of the bracket faces a dangerous group of Bulldogs. This Drake team looks considerably different from the one that came up just short against Washington State last year, but new coach Ben McCollum reloaded quickly to keep the Bulldogs atop the Missouri Valley. Mizzou has more overall scoring depth but might need all its options to contribute in what figures to be a full 40-minute battle
No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 Utah State
Time, TV: 9:25 p.m. | TNT (Sling TV)
The Bruins, one of the two Big Ten west-coast additions to make the dance, embark on a treacherous bracket draw. Utah State reached the second round a season ago and has the fire power to do so again. UCLA lacks a true super star but can mount relentless ball pressure that results in its opponents committing over 15 turnovers a game. That can be an issue for the Aggies, who must use their screen game to get open looks from three-point range.
No. 2 St. John’s vs. No. 15 Nebraska-Omaha
Time, TV: 9:45 p.m. | CBS (Fubo)
The Mavericks already knew they’d be dancing when they reach the Summit League final against St. Thomas, which is still in its transition period and not eligible to play in the NCAA Tournament yet. To its credit, Omaha won the game anyway to be the true conference champ. The Mavericks’ run likely ends here, however, as the Red Storm completed their takeover of the Big East in Rick Pitino’s second season. St. John’s has shot the ball much better of late, a scary proposition for future opponents.
No. 5 Michigan vs. No. 12 UC San Diego
Time, TV: 10 p.m. | TBS (Sling TV)
With a lofty victory total and a high NET ranking, the Tritons figured to be a popular upset pick before the actual bracket was unveiled. They still might be, but they were dealt a tough hand by having to face the Big Ten tournament champion Wolverines. On the plus side for UCSD, Michigan will be on shorter rest in the altitude of the Mile High City. Even so, getting points at the rim could be difficult for the Tritons against the Wolverines’ seven-footers, so they might be more reliant than usual on hitting treys.
No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 14 UNC Wilmington
Time, TV: 10:10 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)
The final game of the day to tip features the Red Raiders, the lone Big 12 club that managed to beat Houston during the regular season, hoping to begin a journey to the program’s second Final Four appearance. Up first are the Seahawks, who claimed their first CAA crown and NCAA berth since 2017. UNCW got a taste of the Big 12 back in November in an 18-point loss at Kansas, which as a footnote was Jayhawks’ coach Bill Self’s 800th career victory.