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Day one of the NCAA Tournament is in the books and even if there weren’t many upsets, it was still a fun start to the madness. Today, there are 16 more games to be played, which means plenty of hours of adrenaline, thrilling triumphs and tear-inducing defeats. Here’s how you can watch it all and what to root for while you’re doing that watching.
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No. 7 Michigan vs. No. 10 Oklahoma State
Region/Location: Midwest/Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Time: 12:15 p.m.
TV/Stream: CBS/NCAA.com
Announcers: Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Bill Raftery (analyst), Grant Hill (analyst), Tracy Wolfson (sideline reporter)
Line: Michigan -3
Who/what to root for: The Wolverines won four games in four days to win the Big 10 Tournament championship. Oklahoma State hasn’t won since Feb. 25 and does this thing called “play efficient offense,” ranking first in adjusted offense. That might be neat to see.
No. 3 Baylor vs. No. 14 New Mexico State
Region/Location: East/BOK Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Time: 12:40 p.m.
TV/Stream: truTV/NCAA.com
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst), Dan Bonner (analyst), Dana Jacobson (sideline reporter)
Line: Baylor -13
Who/what to root for: The Aggies sure shoot a lot of free throws, taking the 17th-most in the country this season. Everyone loves/hates free throws. So if you love them, then go NMSU, if you hate them, then go Baylor.
No. 8 Arkansas vs. No. 9 Seton Hall
Region/Location: South/Bon Secours Welness Arena, Greenville, South Carolina
Time: 1:30 p.m.
TV/Stream: TNT/NCAA.com
Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Chris Webber (analyst), Lewis Johnson (sideline reporter)
Line: Arkansas -1
Who/what to root for: Seton Hall’s Angel Delgado can rebound better than anybody in the country. Watching the best ply his trade, even if it isn’t scoring, is worth a tune in and my temporary fanhood.
No. 3 Oregon vs. No. 14 Iona
Region/Location: Midwest/Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California
Time: 2 p.m.
TV/Stream: TBS/NCAA.com
Announcers: Spero Dedes (play-by-play), Steve Smith (analyst), Len Elmore (analyst), Ros Gold-Onwude (sideline reporter)
Line: Oregon -16
Who/what to root for: The Gaels are back for their second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance while the Chris Boucher-less Ducks are on their fifth-straight. While losing a dynamic player like Boucher breeds some sympathy, remember Oregon made the Elite Eight last year. Its time for high-flying Iona to put on the glass slipper.
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No. 2 Louisville vs. No. 15 Jacksonville Gamecocks
Region/Location: Midwest/Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Time: 2:45 p.m.
TV/Stream: CBS/NCAA.com
Announcers: Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Bill Raftery (analyst), Grant Hill (analyst), Tracy Wolfson (sideline reporter)
Line: Louisville -19
Who/what to root for: You should hate Louisville and everything it stands for. That’s not actually true, but Cincinnati and Louisville have played 91 times (more than any other opponent) and the Cardinals have won 52 of those contests. Don’t root for rivals, especially after they left us for the golden fields of the ACC.
No. 6 SMU vs. No. 11 USC
Region/Location: East/BOK Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Time: 3:10 p.m.
TV/Stream: truTV/NCAA.com
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst), Dan Bonner (analyst), Dana Jacobson (sideline reporter)
Line: SMU -6.5
Who/what to root for: I’m of two minds here. SMU has beaten UC the last two times they’ve played, including in last weekend’s American Athletic Conference Tournament final. However, as the only other AAC team in the tourney, an advancement from the Mustangs would be good for the league and thus UC. So the question is, can I put aside a grudge for the greater good of the league? Absolutely not. Give them hell, USC.
No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 16 Texas Southern
Region/Location: South/Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, South Carolina
Time: 4 p.m.
TV/Stream: TNT/NCAA.com
Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Chris Webber (analyst), Lewis Johnson (sideline reporter)
Line: UNC -25
Who/what to root for: This is easy. Root for history. Do it for glory. Clear Eyes. Full Heart. Can’t Lose.
No. 6 Creighton vs. No. 11 Rhode Island
Region/Location: Midwest/Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California
Time: 4:30 p.m.
TV/Stream: TBS/NCAA.com
Announcers: Spero Dedes (play-by-play),Steve Smith (analyst), Len Elmore (analyst), Ros Gold-Onwude (sideline reporter)
Line: Creighton -2
Who/what to root for: You think I forgot about Nov. 19, Rhode Island? Did you? DID YOU?! Well I did not. May Doug McDermott have mercy on your soul.
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No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 16 UC Davis
Region/Location: Midwest/BOK Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Time: 6:50 p.m.
TV/Stream: TNT/NCAA.com
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst), Dan Bonner (analyst), Dana Jacobson (sideline reporter)
Line: Kansas -22.5
Who/what to root for: I’d love to push for the No. 16 seed but damnit if I don’t love to watch Frank Mason III play hoops. Does the fact that I picked Kansas to win it all have anything to do with this? Oh most definitely. If you are a lover of Mason like I am, then you know what to do. If not, then UC Davis may be for you.
No. 7 Dayton vs. No. 10 Wichita State
Region/Location: South/Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV/Stream: CBS/NCAA.com
Announcers: Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Bill Raftery (analyst), Grant Hill (analyst), Tracy Wolfson (sideline reporter)
Line: Wichita State -6
Who/what to root for: OHIO PRIDE! Go Flyers, who are somehow the underdogs despite being the higher seed. That speaks to how undervalued the Shockers were by the selection committee.
No. 2 Duke vs. No. 15 Troy
Region/Location: East/Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greensville, South Carolina
Time: 7:20 p.m.
TV/Stream: TBS/NCAA.com
Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Chris Webber (analyst), Lewis Johnson (sideline reporter)
Line: Duke -19
Who/what to root for: If you want to root for Grayson “The Trip Master” Allen, then more power to you.
No. 6 Cincinnati vs. No. 11 Kansas State
Region/Location: South/Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California
Time: 7:27 p.m.
TV/Streams: truTV/NCAA.com
Announcers: Spero Dedes (play-by-play), Steve Smith (analyst), Len Elmore analyst) and Ros Gold-Onwude (sideline reporter)
Line: Cincinnati -3
Who/what to root for: What the @#$% do you think?
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No. 8 Miami (Florida) vs. No. 9 Michigan State
Region/Location: Midwest/BOK Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Time: 9:20 p.m.
TV/Stream: TNT/NCAA.com
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst), Dan Bonner (analyst), Dana Jacobson (sideline reporter)
Line: Miami -2
Who/what to root for: The Spartans are here despite a 19-14 overall season. That seems like more of an NIT resume than an NCAA one. Curse them for their prestigious name.
No. 2 Kentucky vs. No. 15 Northern Kentucky
Region/Location: South/Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Time: 9:40 p.m.
TV/Stream: CBS/NCAA.com
Announcers: Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Bill Raftery (analyst), Grant Hill (analyst), Tracy Wolfson (sideline reporter)
Line: Kentucky -19
Who/what to root for: Next season, the Norse are being kind enough to allow the Bearcats to play home games at their BB&T Arena. Plus NKU is just about 10 miles from UC. Oh, and who wants to root for Kentucky?
No. 7 South Carolina vs. No. 10 Marquette
Region/Location: East/Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greensville, South Carolina
Time: 9:50 p.m.
TV/Stream: TBS/NCAA.com
Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Chris Webber (analyst), Lewis Johnson (sideline reporter)
Line: South Carolina -1.5
Who/what to root for: Before I read this piece from Anonymous Eagle, I was ready to throw my support to our old Big East buddies at Marquette. BUT NO LONGER!
No. 3 UCLA vs. No. 14 Kent State
Region/Location: South/Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California
Time: 9:57 p.m.
TV/Streams: truTV/NCAA.com
Announcers: Spero Dedes (play-by-play), Steve Smith (analyst), Len Elmore analyst) and Ros Gold-Onwude (sideline reporter)
Line: UCLA -17
Who/what to root for: The winner of this game will face the winner of Cincinnati/Kansas State. Lonzo Ball and UCLA will be more of a challenge for the Bearcats should they move on so you should be hoping for a Golden Flash of an upset.