The 32-game feast of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday and Friday, is one of the most anticipated TV stretches of the sports year. You need to watch as many games as possible, but if you need to prioritize, here are the things you “cannot” to watch. AthleticBrendan Marks, CJ Moore, and Lindsay Schnell. – Dan Shanov
Thursday
The best game
(7) Missouri (10) Drake
7:35pm, Trutv
Inexplicably, the best first round game is avoided by Trutv. This is mostly known for perennial March queries. “How do I find trutv?”
Missouri has gone through the gauntlets of the SEC schedule, but Drake has an official “No one wants to play” label, led by former DII coaching legend and some uptransfers he brings. Mizzo loves to push pace. Drake slows down the lowest pace it can. A engaging game at all levels.
CJ Moore: Drake is a trendy upset pick and for good reason. The Bulldogs are 3-0 against the Haimajor team this year, and Ben McCollum is one of the best coaches in college basketball, and he has Bennett Stilltz. The Tigers rely on sales and prefer to play faster. McCollum's team always controls the tempo. He has also not lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament since 2018.
To make things even more complicated, the other two games on that early evening Thursday block are outstanding. (“Multiview” ftw!)
Blowing away work…
(4) Purdue vs. (13) High Point
12:40pm, Trutv
Another possible upset special! High Point is probably most of America say, “Who?” but also: Who cares and the confusion is amazing! High Point keeps it close (it's the personnel that adjusts it to match its high octane attack and Purdue nicely), and your group chat will be a game where you're texting.
Brendan Marks: Purdue has lost six of the last nine games, and its interior defenses have been exposed. In these last nine games? Nationally frightening 196th in adjusted efficiency per Torvik. The opponent earns 63.3% of 2 during that stretch, which is the second worst in all DIs. No, thank you! High Point is the first dance in program history for the Alan Huss' Top-25 attack. It smells like a mismatch. High Point is the easiest upset in the area.
Amazing back to back
(5) Clemson vs. (12) McNice
3:15pm, Trutv
(6) BYU vs (11) VCU
4:05pm ET, TNT
(8) Gonzaga vs. (9) Georgia
4:35pm, TBS
The second half windows are calming as they are the best game strings of the entire first round.
• Clemson will check in as the 12th most likely team and get it all. That tournament could end Thursday afternoon against Will Wade's fearless McNeese team.
•BYU's “size, depth, offensive execution” and VCU's “guard play and defensive power” (due to the large board of brackets). If style fights, this is an incredible battle.
• Ranked ninth in the country by Essential Kenpom, Gonzaga was stuck with the number 8 seed. Georgia is under pressure as the first SEC team to record the league's record 14 NCAA spots.
It's worth staying late
(5) Michigan vs. (12) UC San Diego
10pm, TBS
Part of the fun of these first few days of the tournament is that they are glued to the TV after midnight, getting upset by the teams you all know at school, and enjoying the nasty eye sensations when the morning alarm goes off, knowing you've caught the classic.
On the other hand, all “12-5” games are self-welcome as they can be upset (or because at this point the 12 seeds that break the number 5 seed are considered normal). UC San Diego has all the traits of the classic 12 seeds (this feature on the team is a must-see). Michigan has won the Big Ten Tournament Championship run.
Moore: Michigan-UC San Diego may be one of the most interesting matchups of the 64 round. Michigan's dreadall season is a turnover, with Triton ranking second in Division I. The only problem with UC San Diego is its small frontcoat. Michigan is huge ahead of time along with 7 Foots Danny Wolf and Vladislav Goldin.
Friday
The best game
(4) Maryland vs. (13) Grand Canyon
4:35pm, TBS
Lindsay Schnell chooses Grand Canyon: This choice is not personal to Maryland. Because GCU is one of the best and most consistent medium-sized programs in the country (this is the appearance of Antelope's fourth NCAA in the last five years.
Blowing away work…
(5) Memphis vs. (12) Colorado st
2pm, TBS
Moore: 10 consecutive wins Colorado is one of the hottest teams in the country and has one of the best wings in the country at Neek Clifford. His matchup with PJ Haggerty will be fun. The Rams were able to bet their favorites. I like them because Rashan Mbemba has the power to match Memphis big man Dain Dainja.
after that,…
(7) St. Mary's vs. (10) Vanderbilt
3:15pm, Trutv
Schnell, Backing St. Mary's: I take St. Mary to beat Vanderbilt in the first round and upset Alabama in the second round. The Gales are tough, talented and most importantly, a veteran team. They are led by one of my favorite players, crafty point guard Augustus Marschlionis.
It's worth staying late
(5) Oregon vs. (12) Freedom
10:10pm, Trutv
Moore: Oregon Riverty is one of the few spots I've been upset. Like Drake, Liberty is able to control the pace and is one of the best three-point shooting teams in the country. Oregon likes to play at pace. Betting on duck coach Dana Altman in March is not usually a good strategy, but Richie McKay is one of the best coaches at the mid-level, the best team she's taken to the tournament in 2019 when Liberty rambled Mississippi State in the first round.
(Photo: Michael Reeves/Getty Images)
