The Furman Paladins suffered a nearly 40-year men's NCAA tournament drought after 1980, finally emerging from stasis for a brief Cinderella run in 2023. They didn't have to wait nearly as long for their next return trip.

The Paladins made a run as the Southern Conference's sixth seed to claim the league crown and a 15 seed in the 2026 bracket. The reward for their hard work? A date with Connecticut, winner of two of the last three national titles. Friday night's late game will be a massive step up in competition for Furman, who played three non-Division I opponents and zero high major teams across 34 games this winter.

Then again, so was four-seed Virginia in 2023. The Paladins took down the Cavaliers 68-67.

Furman University is located in Greenville, South Carolina

That's in the northwestern corner of the state. It's roughly 100 miles west of Charlotte, North Carolina. It's also 150 miles northeast of Atlanta, Georgia.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Where is Furman University located as Paladins play in March Madness?

March Madness has just about everything, from future NBA stars to unlikely heroes. But sometimes, it can also uncover heartfelt moments, even in the midst of a blowout.

That's what happened during No. 16 seed LIU's 92-58 loss to No. 1 Arizona in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 20. The game was virtually over by halftime, but it still provided the Sharks with lifelong memories – especially one player in particular.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness scores: See the big shots, moments, highlights in today's first round

Sophomore guard Eddie Munyak, a 6-foot-1 walk-on guard, entered for LIU in the final moments of its loss to one of the national championship favorites. He waved for the ball multiple times while the Sharks were down 80-53, and when he finally received the pass, he fired from 3-point range and banked the shot off the backboard through the net for his first career points.

It was only Munyak's second appearance in a game this season, last seeing the floor for two minutes against LeMoyne on Jan. 29. He was expectedly hype after sinking the shot, putting his arms out as he ran back on defense in jubilation.

"HE'LL REMEMBER THAT FOR A LIFETIME."

LIU Sophomore Eddie Munyak is playing in his 2nd game this season for the Sharks.

He just scored in a NCAA Tournament game. pic.twitter.com/HSuIiNCXhb

— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 20, 2026

"He'll remember that for a lifetime," play-by-play commentator Kevin Harlan said on the broadcast. "This is the beauty of this tournament."

Despite Munyak's 3-pointer having no impact on the game's conclusion, his LIU teammates erupted on the bench after he hit his first-career shot. Sometimes it means more than just wins and losses, especially as the Sharks have never won an NCAA Tournament game.

The teams that make deep NCAA Tournament runs in 2026 will be riddled with future professional players. Munyak won't be one of them, but he certainly made a memory that'll last a lifetime against Arizona.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LIU walk-on scores first career points vs Arizona, erupts in celebration

There's a new assists king in college basketball.

Purdue guard Braden Smith is the all-time leader in assists, breaking Bobby Hurley's record in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Queens on Friday, March 20. The senior from Indiana got the record on a dish to Trey Kaufman-Renn in the first half.

Smith now has 1,077 assists in his four year career with the Boilermakers. Purdue fans at the game gave Smith a standing ovation for the achievement.

CONGRATS TO BRADEN SMITH 👏#MarchMadnesshttps://t.co/QOD4ei9qTYpic.twitter.com/mX8sx2kIPC

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 20, 2026

One of the most prolific passers in the sport, Smith entered his senior year within striking distance of reaching Hurley's record from his time at Duke from 1990-93, and has continue to find buckets for teammates. He entered the day averaging nine assists per game, second-most in the country.

Hurley previously told USA TODAY Sports he has "always admired" how Smith plays. He was surprised his record stood for more than 30 years, and while he said he couldn't dictate who was worthy of breaking it, Hurley believed Smith was the right player to become the new leader.

"To have someone that would take it down, (Smith) would be the type of person that I would really respect having the record," Hurley said.

Smith collected the record after a sensational run in the Big Ten tournament that was capped off with the conference title.

He entered conference championship week with 1,029 assists, in fourth place of the leaderboard and 47 assists away from Hurley's record. There was uncertainty if he would be able to beat the record by the time his career was over, but he was dishing it out at an incredible rate in Chicago to set himself up to break the record in the first round of March Madness.

The guard went into March Madness needing just two assists to set the new record.

It was nearly foretold by Purdue coach Matt Painter, who told USA TODAY Sports in January the record would "come because you get to the championship game of the Big Ten tournament, you get to the Final Four." Turns out, he didn't need March Madness to do it.

Smith told USA TODAY Sports ahead of the tournament he was "ready to just get it over with" so he could put all of the attention toward winning Purdue's first national championship. Now with that in hand, the decorated guard can go for the two goals he had for his senior season.

"That's one of the reasons I came back, was to win and to get the record," he said. "Obviously, wanted to do it at a place that I've been for the three years prior. For me, just to be around a great bunch of guys and obviously great coaching staff, and do it with them, I think it makes it more special."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Braden Smith breaks NCAA all-time assists record set by Bobby Hurley

Queens University is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance this year.

As the team embarks on this historic run, it's getting inspiration from an unusual source: Buddy the Street Dog, a two-foot tall ceramic figurine of a golden shepherd.

The statue will surely be featured for as long as Queens is in March Madness, so let's get into what we know about it.

What inspired the statue choice?

Coach Grant Leonard introduced the statue after hearing his players over the summer describe themselves as dogs, according to the Associated Press. One of Leonard's assistants reportedly asked if the players were street dogs or Petco dogs, to which they replied the former, so Leonard took to Amazon to purchase Buddy as a tangible representation of the street dog mentality.

It's now the team's "spirit animal," according to Leonard.

Queens University carries Buddy The Street Dog with them to every game.

HC Grant Leonard says his players say they're a bunch of dogs, so he asked, "What kind of dog are you? A street dog or a Petco dog?"

Players can earn the Street Dog Of The Game. pic.twitter.com/zZwREn0Qzy

— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 8, 2026

Who gets the statue?

Buddy travels with the team each game, and Leonard awards him to the player who exhibits the most grit and hustle plays on a given night. Leonard says it's because "I wanted our guys to identify with being hungry and fighting for everything,” per the AP.

There you have it!

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why does Queens have dog statue? Explaining 'Buddy the Street Dog'

There's nothing like spending your Friday night with some madness.

The 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament first round continues with eight more games tonight.

Will anything match the drama of Otega Oweh's banked-in buzzer-beating 3-pointer that kept Kentucky's season alive against Santa Clara?

Did Santa Clara get hosed? Officials missed Herb Sendek timeout on Otega Oweh buzzer-beater

Guess we'll find out. Tonight's remaining schedule is below:

March Madness games tonight: Men's NCAA Tournament first round schedule, TV listings

• 6:50 p.m.: No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 Iowa, TNT (predictions)
• 7:10 p.m.: No. 5 St. John's vs. No. 12 UNI, CBS (predictions)
• 7:25 p.m.: No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 UCF, TBS (predictions)
• 7:35 p.m.: No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Queens, truTV (predictions)
• 9:25 p.m.: No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M, TNT (predictions)
• 9:45 p.m.: No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 California Baptist, CBS (predictions)
• 10 p.m.: No. 2 UConn vs. No. 15 Furman, TBS (predictions)
• 10:10 p.m.: No. 7 Miami (FL) vs. No. 10 Missouri, truTV (predictions)

March Madness results so far today

• No. 7 Kentucky 89, No. 10 Santa Clara 84, OT
• No. 5 Texas Tech 91, No. 12 Akron 71
• No. 1 Arizona 92, No. 16 Long Island 58
• No. 3 Virginia 82, No. 14 Wright State 73
• No. 2 Iowa State 108, No. 15 Tennessee State 74
• No. 4 Alabama 90, No. 13 Hofstra 70
• No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Utah State, in second half
• No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio), in second half

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness games tonight: Who is playing in NCAA Tournament Friday?

Santa Clara's trip to the big dance ended in heartbreak on Friday afternoon.

The No. 10-seeded Broncos hit a three-pointer to take a lead on No. 7-seeded Kentucky with just 2.4 seconds remaining. However, the Wildcats managed to push the ball up the court, and a tying heave from Otega Oweh went through at the buzzer.

Kentucky ultimately won the game 89-84 in overtime.

Santa Clara coach Herb Sendek wasn't pleased when he addressed the media after the game, with his ire directed at the officials, in particular. Sendek argued that he called a timeout after the go-ahead shot, but it wasn't granted.

"I unequivocally called timeout," Sendek said. "But they didn't grant it. I think the video evidence is clear, and anybody's able to pull it up. Which is a likely response after Allen hits the three, that the coach would be calling timeout to set the defense, which I tried to do and was successful in doing, other than it wasn't acknowledged or recognized. So, that's what happened."

"I unequivocally called timeout. But they didn't grant it."

Santa Clara HC Herb Sendek spoke on the moments leading up to Otega Oweh's buzzer beater. pic.twitter.com/BCrzlYm9id

— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) March 20, 2026

Sendek does have a point. The replay clearly shows Sendek frantically signaling for a timeout, but it seemingly wasn't noticed by the officials.

Santa Clara head coach Herb Sendek was trying to call a timeout before Kentucky nailed a three at the buzzer. #NCAATournament#MarchMadnesshttps://t.co/JuUQfHyYmspic.twitter.com/lGbQvrfOsJ

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 20, 2026

It's a frustrating end to the season for Sendek's Broncos, who had an SEC squad on the ropes but couldn't hang on for the win.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Santa Clara coach criticized refs after Kentucky loss

Wright State has spent nearly four decades as a Division I basketball program. If the Raiders can find a way to upset Virginia Friday afternoon, they'll notch the first men's NCAA Tournament win outside the First Four since the program was crushing Division II competition in the early- to mid-1980s.

Wright State stacked wins under longtime coach Ralph Underhill as a D2 power, but its jump to the highest level of the sport has brought only five NCAA Tournament appearances in 39 seasons. While the program earned a play-in victory in 2022 over Bryant University, every game the team has played as part of the field of 64 has ended in a defeat of 17 points or more.

While the school was named after the godfathers of aviation, the Wright Brothers, nearby University of Dayton had already cornered the market on related nicknames by calling its athletic teams the Flyers for decades before Wright State was founded. Thus, the very different and slightly boring Raiders, personified in logo and mascot form by a... gray wolf. Sure.

Anyway, let's see why the Raiders have a homecourt advantage in any play-in game.

Wright State is located in Dayton, Ohio

It's about 10 miles northwest of the University of Dayton. Fittingly, the school is sandwiched between the Wright Brothers Memorial and the neighborhood of Wrightview.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Where is Wright State located as Raiders play in March Madness?

The 2026 NCAA Tournament has arrived, and so have major upsets.

March Madness officially got underway with first-round games on Thursday, March 19. Sixteen games were played on "opening day" of the NCAA Tournament, with another 16 on Friday, March 20. And we had some shockers already.

March Madness predictions, odds: Picking all 16 games on today's NCAA Tournament schedule

Will Big 10 drought end this year? Big Ten hasn't won March Madness since 2000

The NCAA Tournament continues through April 5, when a national champion will emerge from the Final Four in Indianapolis. Second round coverage begins on Saturday, March 21 and continues through Sunday, March 22.

As March Madness continues to unfold, USA TODAY Sports will be on top of all the action. Here's a look at the March Madness results so far for men's March Madness:

March Madness results so far

First round

Thursday, March 19

• East Region: (1) Duke 71, (16) Siena 65
• Midwest Region: (1) Michigan 101, (16) Howard 80
• South Region: (2) Houston 78, (15) Idaho 47
• East Region: (3) Michigan State 92, (14) North Dakota State 67
• South Region: (3) Illinois 105, (14) Penn 70
• West Region: (3) Gonzaga 73, (14) Kennesaw State 64
• East Region: (9) TCU 66, (8) Ohio State 64
• South Region: (4) Nebraska 76, (13) Troy 47
• West Region: (4) Arkansas 97, (13) Hawai'i 78
• West Region: (12) High Point 83, (5) Wisconsin 82
• South Region: 5) Vanderbilt 78, (12) McNeese 68
• East Region: (6) Louisville 83, (11) South Florida 79
• South Region: (11) Virginia Commonwealth 82, (6) North Carolina 78, OT
• West Region: (11) Texas 79, (6) BYU 71
• South Region: (10) Texas A&M 63, (7) Saint Mary's 50
• East Region: (9) TCU 66, (8) Ohio State 64
• Midwest Region: (9) Saint Louis 102, (8) Georgia 77

March Madness schedule: Today's games in men's NCAA Tournament

• Midwest Region: (7) Kentucky vs. (10) Santa Clara | 12:15 p.m. | CBS (Fubo)
• Midwest Region: (5) Texas Tech vs. (12) Akron | 12:40 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)
• West Region: (1) Arizona vs. (16) LIU | 1:35 p.m. | TNT (Sling TV)
• Midwest Region: (3) Virginia vs. (14) Wright State | 1:50 p.m. | TBS (Sling TV)
• Midwest Region: (2) Iowa State vs. (15) Tennessee State | 2:50 p.m. | CBS (Fubo)
• Midwest Region: (4) Alabama vs. (13) Hofstra | 3:15 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)
• West Region: (8) Villanova vs. (9) Utah State | 4:10 p.m. | TNT (Sling TV)
• Midwest Region: (6) Tennessee vs. (11) Miami (Ohio)/SMU | 4:25 p.m. | TBS (Sling TV)
• South Region: (8) Clemson vs. (9) Iowa | 6:50 p.m. | TNT (Sling TV)
• East Region: (5) St. John's vs. (12) Northern Iowa | 7:10 p.m. | CBS (Fubo)
• East Region: (7) UCLA vs. (10) Central Florida | 7:25 p.m. | TBS (Sling TV)
• West Region: (2) Purdue vs. (15) Queens | 7:35 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)
• Midwest Region: (1) Florida vs. (16) Prairie View A&M/Lehigh | 9:25 p.m. | TNT (Sling TV)
• East Region: (4) Kansas vs. (13) Cal Baptist | 9:45 p.m. | CBS (Fubo)
• East Region: (2) UConn vs. (15) Furman | 10 p.m. | TBS (Sling TV)
• West Region: (7) Miami vs. (10) Missouri | 10:10 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness games yesterday: Results so far from men's NCAA Tournament

Bryce James, LeBron James' son, is approaching his first NCAA Tournament.

He'll have to wait before seeing the floor, however. Bryce, a freshman for No. 1 seed Arizona, will not suit up during March Madness as he is redshirting this season to focus on his development. That means the 6-foot-5 guard will finish his first college season without a game appearance.

It's not entirely surprising James is taking his time to develop. He was a three-star recruit out of Sierra Canyon, where brother Bronny James also attended, with 247Sports' Adam Finkelstein noting in 2023 he was "far from a finished product" physically.

The show goes on for Arizona, though, with the Wildcats having serious championship aspirations. They are the No. 1 seed in the West Region and are riding the momentum of beating fellow top seed Houston in the Big 12 Championship Game.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Is Bryce James playing for Arizona in March Madness?

March Madness officially kicked off on Thursday, March 19.

When the cameras went to the studio analysts for CBS and TNT Sports, some fans were shocked to see Ernie Johnson not present along with Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith, the longtime loved trio of "Inside the NBA," but also regulars hosting the NCAA Tournament.

REQUIRED READING: One day in and March Madness already its usual marvelous self

Instead of Johnson, former NFL player turned "CBS Mornings" host, Nate Burleson, replaced Johnson with his hosting responsibilities. The former wide receiver also does football analysis in the studio with CBS and has been one of the commentators for Nickelodeon's Super Bowl broadcast for kids.

Nate Burleson makes his March Madness studio hosting debut. 🏀🏈📺🎙️ #MarchMadness#NCAATournamenthttps://t.co/3F2OcAG31Bpic.twitter.com/NKcDR0l3Hw

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 19, 2026

But why was Johnson not present for the opening of the NCAA Tournament and who is Burleson? Here's what you need to know:

Where is Ernie Johnson?

Johnson took on the lead role as the host last year, following the death of the legendary Greg Gumbel in December 2024.

However, this year, Johnson requested additional time off, necessitating the need for CBS to bring in a brand new host.

“At my request, I will take a step back from working the first two weeks of March Madness,” Johnson said to NJ.com in a statement. “I appreciate the support from TNT Sports, along with my CBS Sports colleagues. We have a tremendously talented broadcast team, and I look forward to hosting our studio coverage from the Final Four in Indianapolis.”

Johnson is set to return for the Final Four and championship game in Indianapolis on April 4 and 6. (Where he will see Florida will win again).

Who is Nate Burleson?

Burleson, 44, was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on Aug. 19, 1981. His father, Al, was a defensive back in the CFL. His brother, Kevin, played in the NBA.

After attending Nebraska for college, Burleson was a third-round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He enjoyed an 11-year NFL career with the Vikings, Seahawks and Lions, finishing his career with 457 receptions for 5,360 yards and 39 touchdowns.

Burleson began his broadcasting career soon after his playing career ended in 2014, as an analyst for NFL Network. In 2021, the responsibilities for the two-time Sports Emmy Award winner grew as he expanded his work with CBS. He served as the first color commentator for Nickelodeon's NFL Wild Card game and as a host of CBS' reality show "The Challenge: All Stars."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Nate Burleson? Why has he replaced Ernie Johnson?

Let's face it: The upsets from non-blue blood schools in March Madness is what the NCAA tournament is all about.

Now we all know where High Point is located and how fiery coach Flynn Clayman is and how Chase Johnston made his first two-pointer of the season on Thursday.

And now we know the radio voices are awesome, too. Say hello to Jimmy Rosselli and Griffin Wright, who were viral sensations last year and are doing it all again this year. Check out their reactions during the final minutes of the High Point upset over Wisconsin. It's SO SO GOOD:

HELLO SATURDAY!!!! pic.twitter.com/aLqSp4XyC3

— The Jimmy and Griff Show (@JimmyandGriff) March 19, 2026

Magic. Gotta love it.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: High Point radio call of Wisconsin upset is March Madness gold

Half of the first round of the men's NCAA basketball tournament is complete. But we’re far from done, March Madness fans.

The action Friday continues with another full slate of 16 contests. Once again, this will be your guide for the day with all the matchups, channels and tip times. Stick with us all day as teams advance and brackets are busted.

Once again, the times listed can vary slightly if preceding contests run long, but there should always be something happening throughout the afternoon and evening hours. Here’s the ranking of all the games and everything you need to know about 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 every NCAA Tournament but one since 2019 but own just one victory in that stretch, something this veteran lineup with leaders MJ Collins Jr. and Mason Falslev hopes to change. They should match up well with the Wildcats, though Duke Brennan could give Villanova the edge in 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 find a first-round contest featuring more contrasting styles. The free-wheeling RedHawks won over plenty of skeptics in Wednesday night’s First Four victory against SMU, but the Volunteers will do their best 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 final 8-9 matchup tips off the evening session, though it, too, provides something of a contrast. The Hawkeyes have a true floor general in Bennett Stirtz, who rarely leaves the floor. But the Tigers’ ability to spread the offensive load could serve them well given their recent injury woes. This looks to be tight throughout.

4. No. 7 Kentucky vs. No. 10 Santa Clara

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

One of the sport’s name-brand programs appears in the leadoff spot, though this year’s Wildcats can hardly be considered Final Four contenders. They figure to get a formidable first-round challenge from the Broncos, a well-rounded squad led by veteran coach Herb Sendek that shares the ball and holds its own on the glass.

5. No. 7 Miami (Fla.) vs. No. 10 Missouri

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

The final game of the round of 64 features what is as de facto home game for Mizzou despite its lower seed. The Tigers, however, enter the tourney on a three-game losing streak, so a fast start by the Hurricanes could neutralize the home-state crowd in St. Louis. Missouri leading scorer Mark Mitchell will have to keep pace 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 in the crowded Big Ten could elevate them only so far up the seeding hierarchy, but they should at least be at full strength for this assignment. The Knights weren’t at their best in the closing weeks of the season but have enough weapons to be dangerous.

7. No. 5 Texas Tech vs. No. 12 Akron

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

Unfortunately, the loss of All America forward JT Toppin to a season-ending knee injury severely dampened Final Four hopes for the Red Raiders. They didn’t phone in the rest of their season, of course, but they now find themselves as credible upset picks against the experienced and very talented Zips, paced by lead guard Tavari Johnson and versatile forward Amani Lyles.

8. No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Hofstra

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

While courts of a different sort have kept Alabama in the news for much of this season, the Crimson Tide are still capable of making noise in March if Labaron Philon has his A-game. His opposite number here will be Hofstra’s Cruz Davis, a high-usage point guard who puts up 20.2 points and 4.6 assists a game.

9. No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 Cal Baptist

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

With plenty of questions about their overall chemistry and the uncertainty around star freshman Darryn Peterson entering the tourney, the Jayhawks arguably need an easy first-round tuneup more than most upper-tier squads. They might not get it against the Lancers and WAC player of the year 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 plenty of reasons to be displeased with the committee for their tournament draw, not the least of which is this first-round matchup in far away San Diego against a program with a veteran coach, Ben Jacobson, and a reputation as a March giant killer. Be that as it may, the Panthers might not have an answer for Red Storm big 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 different playing style than the past versions that proved susceptible to the occasional first-round exit. Nonetheless, they must be ready for a challenge from the Horizon League champion Raiders, who also like to play fast and connect 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 everything is working, the Cyclones can look like a Final Four team. But the program has been here before as a No. 2 seed that suffered a memorable loss to Hampton in the first round. The high-scoring guard tandem of Aaron Nkrumah and (17.6 ppg) and Travis Harper (17.3) could keep the Tigers in it for a while.

13. No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Queens

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

The Boilermakers were undoubtedly happy to see their name on the Friday slate on Selection Sunday after a hard weekend of work in the Big Ten tournament. And the improvement to a No. 2 seed means a favorable matchup with the Royals, newcomers to the big stage, at least hope to make a 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 players’ attention is remind them what Furman did the last time it played in this event. Bob Richey is still coaching the Purple Paladins, as he was in 2023 when they sent Virginia packing in the first round, and he once again has a dependable floor leader in Alex Wilkins (17.7 ppg, 4.7 apg). But the Huskies look primed to make a title run this year.

15. No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 Long Island

Time/TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, TNT

Arizona has a history of underachieving in March, but that usually comes on the second weekend. This well-constructed version of the Wildcats should make short work of this one. Jamal Fuller, a 43.8% marksman from the arc, is a guy to watch 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 in order for the Panthers as they claimed their first ever March Madness victory. The run almost certainly stops here against the defending champion Gators, though Prairie View’s Dontae Horne can make things happen at both ends of the floor.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness games today: NCAA Tournament first-round schedule Friday

BUFFALO, NY — This was a moment delayed by two years, a coaching change and a transfer.

Two seasons ago, Indiana State won the Missouri Valley regular-season crown, earning the program’s first national ranking since the Larry Bird-led team in 1979 along the way, before losing to Drake in the finals of the conference tournament.

The Sycamores were then snubbed by the NCAA selection committee, who held them out of the at-large field despite a NET rating of 28, the highest of any team to miss the tournament.

“It was kind of the biggest disappointment we’ve ever had,” said former Indiana State and current Saint Louis assistant coach Antone Gray. “It was a huge letdown that night.”

Two years later, the biggest pieces behind that season’s success — coach Josh Schertz and center Robbie Avila — embraced after No. 9 Saint Louis routed No. 8 Georgia, 102-77, in the opening round of the Midwest region, celebrating an achievement rooted in the decision to leave Indiana State after the 2024 season.

“Our goal was from the beginning of the year to reach this moment, so we got here, we kind of accomplished that goal,” Avila said. “But obviously that 2024 year was just what it was. I'm just excited and blessed to have the opportunity to do it here.”

The Billikens advanced to face No. 1 Michigan, which pulled away from No. 16 Howard in the second half of a 101-80 win.

Shertz accepted the Saint Louis opening days after the Sycamores lost to Seton Hall in the NIT championship game. Two weeks later, Avila followed suit to become the centerpiece of the Billikens’ transformation from 13-20 in 2023-24 to a school-record 29 wins and growing this season.

“I wanted to get this team to the NCAA Tournament for a lot of reasons, but he was the biggest,” Shertz said of Avila. “There was a lot of people that helped bring me here, but I just never wanted for him to have ended his career not in the tournament, particularly after what happened to our Indiana State team.”

The player with a collection of the best nicknames in the sport — Bert, Steph Blurry, Larry Nerd and many more — showcased his deft touch near the basket and skills as a passer against the Bulldogs, posting 12 points to go with five rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal before being replaced with 4:45 remaining and the Billikens holding a 38-point lead.

After drilling a 3-pointer to put Saint Louis ahead 86-52 with just over nine minutes left, Avila raised his arms as fans chanted his first name. At this point, Avila and the Billikens had so demoralized the Bulldogs that Georgia fans sitting behind press row began discussing Thursday’s start of spring football.

“Major impact. Energy booster,” said Saint Louis guard Trey Green. “Robbie hit some key buckets. He made some good passes. Defensively, he held his own. To have your leader make an impact like that, you know, it drives us to have his back and do the same thing.”

This was par for the course for one of the top players on the mid-major level and one of the most balanced players in the country, period, even if Avila was not named one of the five finalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award as the nation’s best center.

Avila is now averaging a team-best 12.9 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game and a team-leading 4.1 assists per game, all while shooting 50.9% from the field, a career-best 41.7% from deep and 80.3% from the free-throw line.

All this while looking like, well, someone who shouldn’t be this good. With his goatee, beefy frame and lack of rim-shaking athleticism, Avila is a human version of the Spider-Man-pointing meme for those watching at home: Hey, he looks just like me!

“He’s the most team guy that we have,” said Gray. “He leads us. He could’ve gone anywhere in the country and he came here for a reason. He came back for this.”

Like Avila, Schertz saw his profile grow at Indiana State, which hired him in 2021 after a hugely successful run at Division II Lincoln Memorial. He’s since become one of the hottest names in mid-major coaching, drawing heavy attention for the Syracuse opening before declining the Orange’s overtures and signing a contract extension with Saint Louis last week.

There’s no wonder larger programs are so interested: Schertz has made things happen at every stop, making three Division II Final Four appearances at Lincoln Memorial, winning 62.3% of his games with the Sycamores and now posting a 48-20 mark in his two seasons with the Billikens.

“It’s been everything I’ve ever dreamed of and more,” said his son, Jaden, a walk-on junior guard who followed his dad from Indiana State.

“It’s surreal, man. I’ve known my dad is a great coach since the D-II days. We’ve watched March Madness since we were little. So it’s awesome watching it on this stage.”

Overall, Schertz has won 77.8% of his games, ranking him eighth among active college coaches across all NCAA levels. In four seasons with Avila on the roster, he’s gone 103-40. But this win stands alone.

“This was just a full-circle moment,” said Gray. “I think this was what we deserved and honestly, what Robbie and coach deserved the most.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Saint Louis' NCAA Tournament blowout win was two years in the making

BUFFALO, NY — No. 16 Howard was making No. 1 Michigan sweat. Dusty May thought of the author Malcolm Gladwell, who wrote in his 2013 book "David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants" that David was not, in fact, an underdog.

After all, David had a slingshot.

“David versus Goliath, according to Malcolm, wasn't necessarily an upset because there's a slingshot involved,” May said. “In the first half Howard had their slingshots out. They were shooting the cover off of it off the bounce, off the catch. I was actually thinking, ‘This is how they usually happen.’”

Up by just 50-46 at halftime and then 50-48 after the first possession of the second half, the Wolverines found themselves in the deeply uncomfortable position of battling not only the hot-shooting Bison, who had made 10 of 16 from 3-point range at the break, but an ignominious place in Men's NCAA Tournament history.

Only two No. 1 seeds had lost to a No. 16, both in recent history: Virginia lost to UMBC in 2018 and Purdue lost to Farleigh Dickinson in 2023.

And earlier on Thursday, No. 1 Duke became the first No. 1 seed to trail by double digits at halftime to a No. 16 seed before righting the ship to beat Siena, 71-65.

Michigan might be able to thank Duke for turning a nailbiter into a humdrum, nothing-to-see-here blowout of a game against an overmatched opponent.

Waiting for their turn to come on Thursday night, Michigan players watched Duke struggle against Siena and took away a valuable lesson: There are no cakewalks in March, and if this can happen to the Blue Devils it can happen to us, too.

“Definitely with Duke, we were just watching the game,” guard Roddy Gayle Jr. said.

“We knew that they came out a little flat, but that's just ... 16-1 game, you kind of look at them like this should be a cakewalk, but that's just really never the case. Every team deserves to be here, and you can't look at any team like that.”

The lesson paid off. The Wolverines wrestled away control from Howard five minutes into the second half, turning a 63-56 game into an 18-point lead just three minutes later and eventually winning 101-80 to advance out of the first round for the seventh time in as many tournament appearances.

“Well, these games are tricky, as we saw earlier with Duke and Siena, and I thought Duke handled that near upset with great maturity,” May said. “When things weren't looking great for them, and this is what I learned and we learned from it today, they didn't try to go one-on-one and play hero ball.

“They made some hustle energy plays, and those are the ones that turned the tide, offensive rebounds, second, third shots, maybe a stop that turns into a transition basket.”

In the end, this was nearly a run-of-the-mill win for a team that breezed through the Big Ten before losing to Purdue in the finals of the conference tournament. Michigan shot 67.3% from the field, handed out assists on 27 of 37 field goals, made 11 of 24 attempts from deep, clamped down on Howard’s outside shooting in the second half — the Bison went 4 of 13 from 3-point range after the break — and outrebounded Howard 37-23.

“I thought in the second half we did a really good job of looking up the floor early, recognizing they have advantages, we have advantages, recognizing our advantages,” said May, “and I think those body shots probably affected their shooting and everything else during that stretch when we were able to separate.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan learned from Duke's brush with March Madness infamy

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Sixteen more games get underway from four different host sites on Friday as March Madness continues with full force.

Looking to pick a winner against the spread for these contests? We’ve got you covered with a look at every matchup on the board. 

Here’s what I’m rocking with as my March Madness picks against the spread for Friday’s Round of 64 games.

March Madness picks against the spread for Friday, March 20

Matchup	Pick
Santa Clara vs  Kentucky	+3
Akron vs  Texas Tech	+7.5
LIU vs  Arizona	-30.5
Wright State vs  Virginia	-18.5
Tennessee State vs  Iowa State	-23.5
Hofstra vs  Alabama	+11.5
Utah State vs  Villanova	-1.5
Miami (OH) vs  Tennessee	+10.5
Iowa vs  Clemson	+2
Northern Iowa vs  St. John's	+9.5
UCF vs  UCLA	-5.5
Queens University vs  Purdue	-25.5
Prairie View A&M vs  Florida	+35.5
California Baptist vs  Kansas	+14.5
Furman vs  UConn	-20.5
Missouri vs  Miami	-2

Lines courtesy of bet365.

Expert March Madness Round 1 ATS picks for Friday

No. 10 Santa Clara vs No. 7 Kentucky:  Santa Clara +3

There isn’t much separating these teams over the last two months — the Santa Clara Broncos rank 31st in BartTorvik since January 20, while the Kentucky Wildcats are only one spot ahead at 30th. The Wildcats have been poor when not in Lexington, ranking 355th in Haslametrics’ Away From Home grade and 362nd in Paper Tiger Factor. 

No. 12 Akron vs No. 5 Texas Tech:  Akron +7.5

In a game with a ton of shooting variance where both teams will chuck threes with reckless abandon, I’d rather catch 7.5 points than lay them. The Akron Zips start five seniors and were seemingly built for March. The Texas Tech Red Raiders lost three straight to end the regular season, going 0-3 ATS in that span. 

No. 16 LIU vs No. 1 Arizona:  Arizona -30.5

The LIU Sharks rank outside BartTorvik’s Top 250 over the last two months and should get boat raced by an Arizona Wildcats team with serious aspirations to cut down the nets. It’s a nightmare matchup for the Sharks, who want to score via breakaways and at the rim. Neither will be available in the slightest against the Wildcats, who will also score at will.

No. 14 Wright State vs No. 3 Virginia:  Virginia -18.5

The Virginia Cavaliers showed no mercy against overmatched opponents, winning six different non-conference games by 24 or more points. The Wright State Raiders want to get to the rim, which won’t be an option against a physical Cavaliers defense that ranks fourth in near-proximity field goal defense (Haslametrics) and leads the nation in blocks per game (6.5). 

No. 15 Tennessee State vs No. 2 Iowa State:  Iowa State +23.5

The Iowa State Cyclones are a Top-5 team and have the No. 1 defense over the last two months. They should overmatch a Tennessee State Tigers team that faced one of the worst strengths of schedule (322nd) of any team in the Big Dance. Nolan Smith’s squad wants to force turnovers and get out in a run, but the Cyclones take care of the ball — and will therefore take care of business. 

No. 13 Hofstra vs No. 4 Alabama:  Hofstra +11.5

There’s a lot to like about the Hofstra Pride as a Cinderella nominee. They play up to their competition level, ranking 10th in EvanMiya’s Opponent Adjust metric, and have two go-to guards in Cruz Davis and Preston Edmead (combined 36.1 points per game and +8.05 OBPR). They want to slow the game down (317th in tempo), which could throw an Aden Holloway-less Alabama Crimson Tide off their game plan.

No. 9 Utah State vs No. 8 Villanova:  Utah State -1.5

The Big East just didn’t have it this year, sending only three teams to the Big Dance. The Villanova Wildcats are the lowest-seeded of those three, lost to lowly Georgetown by 14 in the conference tournament, and have some worrisome metrics (352nd in Momentum, 332nd in Paper Tiger Factor). 

No. 11 Miami (OH) vs No. 6 Tennessee:  Miami (OH) +10.5

The Miami (OH) RedHawks play five shooters at nearly all times and possess a ton of ball-handling and veteran experience. You don’t win 32 games if you can’t hoop, no matter if the metrics can’t figure out what to do with you. Meanwhile, the Tennessee Volunteers are just 297th in effective field goal percentage over the last two months and rank 302nd in Away From Home grade and 327th in Paper Tiger Factor.

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No. 9 Iowa vs No. 8 Clemson:  Clemson +2

In a game where both teams are pretty similar on paper, I’ll take the points in a close game with the lowest total (129) of any game on the slate. It was hidden somewhat by the molasses-like tempo, but the Iowa Hawkeyes defense quietly collapsed over the final two months, ranking 347th in effective field goal percentage against.

No. 12 Northern Iowa vs No. 5 St. John's:  Northern Iowa +9.5

Yet another low-scoring game — the total is 131.5 — where I’d rather catch the points. The Northern Iowa Panthers have been strong defensively all season, ranking 24th in adjusted efficiency per KenPom, but now the offense is catching up (eighth in effective field goal percentage since January 20). It’s no coincidence the Panthers are 11-5 ATS in that span.

No. 10 UCF vs No. 7 UCLA:  UCLA -5.5

The UCLA Bruins are a Top-10 team over the last month, whereas the UCF Knights are 69th (BartTorvik). The Bruins are 7-1 ATS in their last eight and are peaking at the right time after the offseason acquisitions took their fair time to gel.

No. 15 Queens vs No. 2 Purdue:  Purdue -25.5

The Queens University Royals are 0-5 in Quad 1 games with an average margin of -30.4 points and rank outside the Top 300 in adjusted defensive efficiency over the last two months. That, uhh, could be a problem against the most efficient offense in the history of college basketball.

No. 16 Prairie View A&M vs No. 1 Florida:  Prairie View A&M +35.5

The Prairie View A&M Panthers have covered the spread in 10 consecutive games and rank fourth in Haslametrics’ Momentum grade. The Panthers found a way to stay within large spreads against Oklahoma State (+30.5), Missouri (+35.5), LSU (+29.5), and Texas A&M (+29.5), whereas the Florida Gators went 0-4 ATS as a favorite of at least 35 points. 

No. 13 California Baptist vs No. 4 Kansas:  Cal Baptist +14.5

The California Baptist Lancers rank 82nd in BartTorvik in the last two months, led by a stellar defense (24th in adjusted efficiency) and star guard Dominque Daniels (23.2 PPG). The Lancers are 12-5-1 ATS in games outside of Riverside, while the Kansas Jayhawks rank 348th in Away From Home grade.

No. 15 Furman vs No. 2 UConn:  UConn -20.5

The Furman Paladins aren’t a great team, but they made the dance because someone had to in a very down year for the SoCon. Dan Hurley is 19-4-1 ATS in postseason tournament games since 2022-23, and his UConn Huskies should shut down looks at the rim, which is what Furman wants offensively.

No. 10 Missouri vs No. 7 Miami:  Miami -2

Dennis Gates hasn’t proven that he can win with the Missouri Tigers in the tournament, going 1-3 in the Big Dance and 1-4 ATS in his last five postseason games. The Miami Hurricanes were 12-8 in Quad 1 and Quad 2 games, whereas Mizzou was 9-12.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Among its many wonderful traits, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament has a way of creating indelible moments and making heroes of the people at the center of them.

It took only the fourth game of the first full day of the 2026 NCAA Tournament for such a moment to arise.

High Point pulled off the first upset of the tournament, with the No. 12 seed Panthers getting a bucket from Chase Johnston with 11.2 seconds remaining to earn an 83-82 victory against No. 5 seed Wisconsin on Thursday, March 19.

REQUIRED READING: 'Nobody would play us': High Point coach gives fiery interview after Wisconsin upset

As impressive as High Point’s players were in earning the win, it was the team’s coach who stole the show in the minutes after the victory.

In a postgame interview with TBS, Panthers coach Flynn Clayman used the opportunity to talk up not only his own team, but other talented mid-major programs who struggle to get non-conference games against squads from the sport’s Power Five (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Big East and SEC) that don’t want to risk a loss to a team from one of college basketball’s smaller conferences.

"It looks pretty obvious to me that high-majors need to play mid-majors during the season," Clayman said. "Because they said we ain't played nobody? We played somebody now."

When later asked about how the win felt, he added that "It feels unreal, because nobody would play us, just like they wouldn't play Miami (Ohio). But they got to play us in this tournament."

"Looks pretty obvious to me that high-majors need to play mid-majors early in the season. Because they said we didn't play nobody. We played somebody now."

-High Point HC Flynn Clayman pic.twitter.com/IpObzgJSGm

— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 19, 2026

The soundbites earned widespread attention and acclaim on social media, with college basketball fans won over by Clayman’s passion and the points he made.

As High Point moves on to face Arkansas in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Saturday, here’s a closer look at Clayman:

Who is High Point basketball coach?

Clayman is in his first season as High Point’s case, having assumed the role after Alan Huss left after last season to become the associate head coach and head-coach-in-waiting at Creighton, his alma mater.

Clayman had been Huss’ top assistant for the previous two seasons, a time in which the Panthers went 56-15 and made one NCAA tournament appearance. When Huss left, Clayman was promoted.

“As associate head coach, Flynn Clayman has played a pivotal role in HPU's recruiting and offensive success during the past two seasons," High Point president Nido Qubein said when Clayman was hired. "Players appreciate his leadership, and his values align with the values of our university. We are excited to have him lead the men's basketball program as head coach."

Clayman has made the most of the opportunity, improving to 30-4 this season after the win over Wisconsin. The 30 wins are a single-season program record and the NCAA tournament victory was the first in High Point’s history.

REQUIRED READING: High Point upset was going to take everything — including a first layup of the season

Flynn Clayman coaching career

Before arriving at High Point ahead of the 2023 season, Clayman had spent the entirety of his Division I coaching career at Southern Utah, where he was an assistant from 2017-23, before serving as the interim head coach for the final three games of the 2022-23 season. He went 2-1 in those contests.

In his two seasons as the associate head coach at High Point, he served as the team’s offensive coordinator. In each of those seasons, the Panthers finished among the top 40 teams nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to KenPom, a remarkable feat for a program from a mid-major conference like the Big South.

Prior to getting into coaching, Clayman played college basketball, first at Colorado State before transferring to Troy, where he played from 2009-11. He played one final college season at the University of the Cumberlands, an NAIA school in Kentucky where his team won the Mid-South Conference Championship and reached the NAIA national tournament. That season, he led the NAIA in 3-point field goal percentage, at 48.1%.

Flynn Clayman record

After Thursday’s upset win over Wisconsin, Clayman has a career record of 32-5 as a Division I head coach, which includes a 2-1 mark as the interim head coach at Southern Utah in 2023.

This season, his first as High Point’s head coach, he was named the Big South Coach of the Year.

When it came to his team’s schedule this season, Clayman wasn’t lying in his post-game interview. The first-round NCAA Tournament game against Wisconsin marked the first time this season the Panthers have played against an opponent from one of the sport’s five major conferences.

Flynn Clayman age

Born Sept. 27, 1988, Clayman is 37 years old.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness: Who is High Point basketball coach Flynn Clayman?

BYU freshman star AJ Dybantsa is showing why he's one of the top college basketball players in the country and surefire lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Dybantsa has paced the No. 6-seed Cougars, scoring most of their points through the first half of their Round of 64 matchup in the NCAA Tournament against No. 11 Texas.

The 19-year-old hoops sensation has scored 20 of BYU's 37 points in the first 20 minutes of play.

However, it's the collective play of the Texas Longhorns that has them holding on to a 46-37 lead going into the break behind a Tramon Mark buzzer-beater three-point to extend their lead to nine. Texas sophomore Matas Vokietaitis already has a double-double at half with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Dybantsa led all of college basketball players in scoring with 25.3 points per game during the 2025-26 season.

Here's how he did in the first round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament:

USA TODAY Sports: March Madness: NCAA Men's basketball Tournament

How many points did AJ Dybantsa score?

Dybantsa torched the Texas Longhorns for 20 points in the first half. Here is what his stats looked like on the box score.

• Points: 20
• Field Goals: 7-of-13
• 3-Point: 0-for-2
• Free Throws: 6-for-6
• Rebounds: 2
• Assists: 0
• Steals: 0
• Blocks: 0

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: AJ Dybantsa points in BYU vs Texas March Madness NCAA Tournament game

Kennesaw State survived the drama of a midseason point shaving scandal to return to the NCAA Tournament.

Its best player will not make the trip. Simeon Cottle, who was among four active players exposed in the scheme, remains suspended from all team activities.

The preseason Conference USA Player of the Year, Cottle started the year hot by averaging 20.2 points, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals over 17 games. Then came the bombshell report that Cottle underperformed in exchange for money, resulting in federal charges and a screeching halt to his basketball career.

When the news first broke, however, Kennesaw State coach Antoine Pettway put the blame on "predators" who influenced Cottle.

"You're being a predator online and you're reaching out to them, getting these dudes to mess up," Pettway said, per ESPN. "Because there's a lot of dudes on that list that you feel bad for, that they've got a long road ahead of them because, in the dark, a grown-up reached out to them and led them down the wrong path."

Credit to Kennesaw State's focus to make it to March Madness despite all the noise.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Will Simeon Cottle play in March Madness after point shaving scandal?

SAN DIEGO – No other freshman class in America has scored more points this season than the five active freshmen on the Arizona men’s basketball team. They have combined for 1,461 points, which leads the nation heading into the NCAA Tournament this week, according to data provided by USA TODAY Sports by Stats Perform.

Which is pretty darn remarkable for two big reasons:

1. This team is on fire. The Wildcats (32-2) have won nine consecutive games and will start the tournament here as a No. 1 seed against Long Island University on Friday, March 20.

2. This kind of youth movement goes against conventional wisdom these days. Isn’t older supposed to be better in the era of wide-open player transfers?

More: John Calipari unleashed Darius Acuff by taking page out of NBA book

More: High Point upset was going to take everything — including a first layup of the season

Wildcats coach Tommy Lloyd instead took a different approach than many others last year, veering away from the transfer portal, where more experienced players typically seek to earn more money from their names, images and likenesses (NIL).

“We were able to get involved with some freshmen that we felt could be just big-time impact players in college basketball, no matter what year or what class they were,” Lloyd told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday.

He had a strategy for it, as he explained Thursday.

Why Arizona built its roster this way

One reason Lloyd built his roster this way was because didn’t think there were going to be many “quality” transfers available in the portal.

Money was a factor, too.

“I thought it was going to be overpriced,” Lloyd said.

Then there was the Duke factor. Duke beat Arizona twice last year with several freshman players, including future No. 1 NBA draft pick Cooper Flagg. Duke even started three freshmen in the Final Four last year while other Final Four teams started mostly seniors. Lloyd noticed.

By the end of the season, Lloyd said the Blue Devils didn’t seem young.

“I just thought they were really good.”

The risks of a freshman-heavy roster at Arizona

Arizona lists seven total freshman players on its roster of 16, including Bryce James, son of LeBron, who is redshirting this year but still drums up interest in his team by having the fourth-biggest social-media following in Division I basketball as of this month, according to Opendorse.

It’s the kind of roster construction that is reminiscent of a bygone era in college sports — recruiting big freshman classes, developing those players and sometimes even redshirting some of them. The problem for Lloyd is that it comes with risk.

The good ones will leave for the NBA after a year. Others might even transfer away in pursuit of more money.

Such freshman-heavy teams also often don’t work out this well, unless they include superstar NBA prospects like Duke freshman forward Cameron Boozer or Arkansas freshman guard Darius Acuff.

Consider the 13 teams that invested eight roster spots or more in freshman players this season, all more than Arizona, according to Stats Perform. Only two of those 13 earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament — SMU and Queens University. New Haven listed the most freshmen on its roster this season with 11 but finished with a 14-17 record.

But there are outliers.

“Age don’t matter,” 19-year-old Arizona freshman guard Dwayne Aristode told USA TODAY Sports. “If you’re good, you’re good.”

How Tommy Lloyd built this roster

Lloyd searches for top players overseas and has eight players from other countries, including freshman forward Ivan Kharchenkov from Germany, Aristode from The Netherlands and 6-11 freshman forward Sidi Gueye from Senegal.

Lloyd also has five transfer players, including senior guard Jaden Bradley, who came to Arizona from Alabama in 2023.

But 49.9% of the team’s scoring has come from five freshmen, who were part of a recruiting class that ranked No. 2 nationally behind fellow No. 1-seed Duke. These Arizona freshmen have scored even more than the four freshman contributors at Duke, which ranked second nationally in freshman scoring before the tournament with 1,417 points, more than half of which comes from Boozer.

The difference is Arizona’s freshmen aren’t projected to be high-lottery NBA draft prospects like Boozer. The Wildcats instead spread it around more between freshman guard Brayden Burries (15.9 points per game), freshman forward Koa Peat (13.6) and Kharchenkov (10.1).

Now comes the NCAA Tournament.

How will freshmen handle this environment?

Arizona senior forward Tobe Awaka had simple answer for this.

“Don't try and reinvent the wheel,” he said Thursday at Viejas Arena in San Diego.

Lloyd doesn’t see a problem.

“I haven't sensed that our freshmen don't know what this is about,” Lloyd said. “And I told our freshmen, 'Hey, you guys won a state championship?' Yeah. Then let's go win another state championship. And the way you win a state championship, you win a state championship game by game.  This just happens to have the word 'national' in front of it.  But it's no different approach.

Ranking college basketball teams with most points by freshmen in 2025-26

As of March 17 in Division I, according to Stats Perform:

1. Arizona 1461
2. Duke  1417
3. Arkansas 1334
4. Central Arkansas 1326
5. New Mexico  1275
6. Fairfield 1270
7. North Carolina-Greensboro 1149
8. Colorado 1138
9. Air Force 1123
10. Houston 1119

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arizona basketball enters March Madness with roster led by freshmen

PORTLAND, OR – Go figure the biggest moment in High Point basketball history hinged on Chase Johnston doing something he hadn’t done all season.

In the final seconds of the NCAA Tournament first round game against Wisconsin, the Panthers were down by a point when Rob Martin got a loose ball, and up ahead was an open Johnston running toward the bucket. Martin passed it perfectly to Johnston. All that was left was for Johnston to make a 2-point spot.

A shot he hadn’t made all season.

March Madness scores: Upsets, close calls, highlights from today's first round

March Madness heroes, legends: High Point's Chase Johnston can take his place on this list

It sounds unusual, but it’s in fact one of the wildest stats in college basketball. Prior to that moment, Johnston attempted 142 shots on the season; 138 were 3-pointers.

The four 2-point shots? All misses.

No pressure for the sharpshooter.

Luckily, it was a layup. Johnston rolled it into the bucket, and sealed High Point’s first NCAA Tournament win in school history. 

It was unusual territory for Johnston, but it didn’t frighten him at all. Because he knew “we can go shock the world.”

“When Rob threw that off, I was just like, ‘I gotta put this in to win this game,’” he said. “I wasn't really thinking whether it's a 2 or 3. I was just trying to put it in and win this game.”

FIRST 2-POINTER OF THE YEAR FOR CHASE JOHNSTON 😱

HIGH POINT LEADS!!! pic.twitter.com/N2ZWYSb9Dz

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2026

A moment that held the breath of every fan donning purple inside Moda Center, knowing it was asking someone for something out of their game. But those on the court knew their fortunate fate was sealed the moment it touched his hands.

In fact, the only thing they wondered was if it was going to be a slam.

“Chase got a little bit of bounce. Chase probably dunk a little bit,” Martin said, drawing laughs from his teammates. “But I knew Chase was gonna make a layup. Of course, I believe in him.”

While it was a one-of-a-kind moment for a one-of-a-kind achievement, it wouldn’t have been possible if Johnston hadn’t done what he does best: drill it from deep.

It was an intense battle between the Panthers and Badgers, but it looked like Wisconsin was about to pull away with an eight-point lead with five minutes left. Then Johnston, who had just three points at the moment, finally drained another 3-point shot.

Then another. And another, including one from the midcourt logo.

A nine-point flurry in four minutes made it a one-point game in the final minute, all to set up the game-winning layup.

But Johnston’s heroics weren’t done. After making the shot of his life, he told his coaches to take him out. He is a reliable defender, but he knew what was needed to preserve the win. Put in a bigger guy to defend the last-second attempt.

Wisconsin wasn’t able to retake the lead, and when it got another chance, wasn’t able to get the shot off as the High Point defenders hounded the long pass.

“He should get way more credit,” coach Flynn Clayman said. “That is not just a defender, but an all-around player.”

And just like that, March gets its new darling. The tournament is all about guys that go largely unnoticed all season, just for them to become the breakout star on the biggest stage in college basketball. Johnston wasn’t even the team’s leading scorer, it was Martin with 23 points.

But when you are the glass slipper for Cinderella, that’s all it takes to become the hero. This may just be the rare case of the guy that got thrust in the spotlight for doing something he isn’t known for.

That’s all OK, because Johnston has High Point still dancing.

“To be on this stage with these guys, and be able to hit a couple shots and finish with the layup,” Johnston said. “It's something that I'll never forget.”

High Point vs Wisconsin highlights

Who does High Point play next in March Madness?

The Panthers play the winner of Arkansas/Hawaii.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: High Point's Chase Johnston newest March Madness hero after Wisconsin upset

Duke basketball avoided a scare against No. 16 seed Siena in the first round of the Men's NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 19 as the No. 1 overall seed, overcoming a 13-point deficit in the second half to win 71-65.

Siena became the first No. 16 seed to lead a No. 1 seed at halftime in Men's NCAA Tournament history, leading 43-32 at the break. The Blue Devils outscored the Saints 39-22 in the second half to secure the victory, although fourth-year coach Jon Scheyer said it was the toughest NCAA Tournament moment he has experienced since taking over for Mike Krzyzewski in 2022.

REQUIRED READING: Duke vs Siena score: Blue Devils avoid March Madness upset to 16 seed

"Toughest one," the longtime Duke assistant-turned head coach told reporters after the win. "Not close. Toughest moment, toughest game, toughest position I've ever been in in the tournament, no question about it. You have to credit Siena for that. Look, I remember a lot of our teams, we've had some games like this. 2018-19, North Dakota State, it's a one-possession game there.

"These games are fragile. Unfortunately, you have to lose some, I've been on the other end of some of these in the past where you have great appreciation for it, but it doesn't mean you can avoid it. ... You gotta show what you're made of, and these guys really did that."

Twins Cameron and Cayden Boozer led the way for Duke, scoring 22 and 19 points, respectively, to lead all scorers. The Blue Devils played a seven-man rotation without starting center Patrick Ngongba II and starting guard Caleb Foster, who are both hoping to return sometime during the NCAA Tournament, depending on how far Duke advances.

Duke had no issues with No. 16 seed Mount St. Mary's last season, winning 93-49 in the first round. Scheyer also cited Duke's 85-62 win over No. 16 seed North Dakota State in 2019, when he was an assistant and the Blue Devils only led by four points at halftime.

Only two No. 16 seeds have ever won an NCAA Tournament game: Fairleigh Dickinson defeated Purdue in 2023 and UMBC took down Virginia in 2018. 16 No. 1 seeds have only beaten No. 16s by single digits in NCAA Tournament history, none of which have gone on to win a national championship.

Scheyer said he isn't concerned with Duke's performance but acknowledged the Blue Devils must rebound before taking on No. 9 TCU in the second round on March 21.

"It's not concerning from the standpoint that, unfortunately this is the nature of the tournament," he said. "Look, I wish it could be just smooth sailing. These guys, even though we have returners from last year's team, were all in different spots. You can face a team like Siena; they were incredibly ready to play.

"We made some mistakes early that they made us pay for, and all of a sudden you want to win very badly. So, you want to start making plays to try and get back in the game that are probably uncharacteristic to who we've been."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jon Scheyer says Siena posed 'toughest moment' of March Madness career

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The West Coast Conference is a three-bid league this year, something that has not gotten enough applause this week. The Saint Mary’s Gaels were the first team to broaden awareness beyond Gonzaga, and now they are rewarded with an at-large bid despite a surprising loss in the conference tournament.

Let that recognition further your confidence in the Gaels against the Texas A&M Aggies tonight.

My Texas A&M vs. Saint Mary’s predictions and March Madness picks are intrigued by the countering wants: the underdogs preferring to play like their shoes are on fire, while the favored Gaels think snails move too quickly.

Texas A&M vs Saint Mary's prediction

Who will win Texas A&M vs Saint Mary's?

Saint Mary's: The casual fan may mistake this for an upset, but the seed lines are correct.

The Gaels have more NCAA Tournament experience, and that will prove the difference in this matchup of contrasting styles.

Texas A&M vs Saint Mary's best bet: Over 147 (-110)

With Bucky McMillan and his “Bucky Ball system” in his first year in College Station, the Texas A&M Aggies play fast. They enjoyed the 29th-quickest tempo in the country this year, per KenPom, while the Saint Mary’s Gaels moseyed at the No. 298 tempo.

Broadly speaking, it is easier to speed up a slow team than it is to slow down a fast team. With depth and ball pressure, Texas A&M should speed up this first-round matchup.

And with both teams showing quality from beyond the arc, any amount of hot shooting could turn the pace into a barnburner.

COVERS INTEL: In five games this season that KenPom considered up-tempo, Saint Mary’s went 4-1 outright, losing to only Vanderbilt. More notably, all five of those games cashed their Overs, though the Gaels went just 2-3 against the spread in them.

Texas A&M vs Saint Mary's same-game parlay

Backing Saint Mary’s to win despite the pace is a vote of confidence in veteran head coach Randy Bennett. The Gaels have advanced past the first round in three of the last four years.

They may also have the best player on the court in sophomore guard Mikey Lewis, who is shooting 37.5% from three and faces a defense that gives up plenty of long-range looks.

Texas A&M vs Saint Mary's SGP

• Over 147
• Saint Mary's moneyline
• Mikey Lewis Over 17.5 points

Our Big Dance SGP: Like Mikey!

This approach applies to most Gaels, who operate with just a six-man rotation. As Texas A&M pushes the pace, partly thanks to its deep bench, Saint Mary’s will rely heavily on a few primary ball handlers.

Mikey Lewis will handle the ball more than anyone else. Taking his Overs makes too much sense. 

Texas A&M vs Saint Mary's SGP

• Mikey Lewis Over 17.5 points
• Mikey Lewis Over 2.5 threes
• Mikey Lewis Over 2.5 assists
• Saint Mary's -3

Texas A&M vs Saint Mary's odds

• Spread: Texas A&M +3 (-110) | Saint Mary's -3 (-110)
• Moneyline: Texas A&M +135 | Saint Mary's -165
• Over/Under: Over 147 (-110) | Under 147 (-110)

Texas A&M vs Saint Mary's betting trend to know

Saint Mary's has covered the spread in 13 of its last 18 games for +7.5 units and a 38% ROI. Find more college basketball betting trends for Texas A&M vs. Saint Mary's.

How to watch Texas A&M vs Saint Mary's

Texas A&M vs Saint Mary's key injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

It's only natural that Duke — the No. 1 overall seed in the men's NCAA tournament and a blue blood — would look at No. 16 seed Siena and take the Saints a little lightly.

But it's an entirely different thing to admit that out loud ... during the game.

That's exactly what Duke's Maliq Brown did in a shocking halftime interview. With the Blue Devils trailing Siena by 11 at halftime, CBS reporter Tracy Wolfson caught up with Brown to discuss what was going wrong for Duke.

The senior forward admitted that Duke thought Siena would be a "cakewalk" and that the team was a little nervous in the first half.

maliq brown cake walk; siena vs duke pic.twitter.com/xe2oVCrABL

— ◇ (@F0RGIAT0) March 19, 2026

He said:

"Like I said, we thought it was going to be a cakewalk going into this game. So now we know what it is and we just gotta respond the way we usually do."

After Virginia and Purdue lost to 16-seeds, you'd think Duke would respect its opponent more. But that clearly wasn't the case early on in Thursday's game.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Duke's Maliq Brown admitted he thought Siena would be a 'cakewalk'

They savored the first men’s NCAA Tournament win in Nebraska basketball history in their own way. 

Coach Fred Hoiberg thought about his father, currently in a nursing home, as the benches emptied. He couldn’t wait to talk to him.

Sam Hoiberg, the youngest of the three, started savoring the moment even earlier. He looked up at the fans at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. There were about five minutes left, with Thursday’s South region first-round matchup between No. 4 seed Nebraska and No. 13 seed Troy no longer in doubt, and the son who initially didn't want to leave Chicago for Lincoln, Nebraska, marveled at the generations of Cornhuskers going bonkers yet again. 

FAMILY TIES: Payton Sandfort surprises brother Pryce at Nebraska March Madness game

“That was a desperate crowd, desperate for a tournament win, and we were a desperate team,” Sam Hoiberg said. "So it worked well together."

Nebraska erased plenty of program baggage with its 76-47 win over Troy, and it played out in front of a noticeably pro-Cornhusker audience in the stands. They turned their first March Madness triumph in 130 seasons of Nebraska basketball into a de facto road environment for the underdog from the Sun Belt Conference. 

There was a sense of relief and satisfaction afterwards that this Nebraska team finally delivered for its longtime supporters in the program's ninth NCAA Tournament appearance. Several players gathered around longtime Nebraska radio broadcaster Kent Pavelka immediately after the elusive first March Madness win was in the books. Fred Hoiberg admitted to having anxiety before tip-off and called this win “the most emotional of all of them.” 

Nebraska has exceeded expectations all season after being picked to finish 15th in the Big Ten during the preseason and will face the winner of Thursday’s first-round game between No. 5 seed Vanderbilt and No. 12 seed McNeese in the second round. 

“It’s almost like a storybook ending getting this tournament win,” Sam Hoiberg said. “I’ve been saying all week, it kind of felt like the last thing that we needed to do to get this program on top.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Nebraska, Fred Hoiberg reacted to first NCAA Tournament win

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No. 11 seed Texas takes on No. 6 seed BYU in a first-round NCAA Tournament matchup tonight.

Led by superstar freshman AJ Dybantsa, the Cougars are well-positioned for a big performance, and my Texas vs. BYU predictions are backing him to deliver.

Here are my best free March Madness picks for this West Region showdown on Thursday, March 19.

Texas vs BYU prediction

Who will win Texas vs BYU?

BYU: This is a bad matchup for the Texas Longhorns, who don't take enough threes to exploit the BYU Cougars atrocious 3-point defense. 

On the other side of the floor, AJ Dybantsa will get to the line at will since Texas fouls at a sky-high rate. 

Texas vs BYU best bet: AJ Dybantsa Over 27.5 points (-112)

AJ Dybantsa leads the country with 25.3 points per game. The BYU Cougars phenom reached another level after Richie Saunders suffered a season-ending injury, clearing 27.5 points in seven games since February.

Dybantsa finished just below this number with 26 points in his last contest, but that came against Houston's elite defense. He'll have an easier team scoring against the Texas Longhorns, who sit outside the top 300 in opponent FT rate and opponent 3PT% (36%). 

Dybantsa can score at all three levels and he averages a whopping 8.4 FTA per game. His improved perimeter shooting and ability to draw fouls will lead to another big game.

COVERS INTEL: Dybantsa sits in the 95th percentile in attacking the rim efficiency per ShotQualityBets, and Texas ranks just 263rd at defending the rim.

Texas vs BYU same-game parlay

Dybantsa has knocked down at least a pair of threes in nine of his last 14 games, and Texas does a poor job defending the arc.

Fading Matas Vokietaitis on his points prop might seem unrelated to our Dybantsa bet, but it's actually heavily correlated.

I'm expecting Dybantsa to live at the line, and that means getting Vokietaitis into foul trouble. The Longhorns center has picked up 4+ fouls in seven straight games and could spend a lot of time on the bench.

Texas vs BYU SGP

• AJ Dybantsa Over 27.5 points
• AJ Dybantsa Over 1.5 threes
• Matas Vokietaitis Under 14.5 points

Our Big Dance SGP: Dybantsa Domination 

With Dybantsa grabbing 6.5+ rebounds in seven of his last 10 games, backing the Over on his rebounds prop makes sense.

If he carries BYU with a performance like this, the Cougars have a strong chance to cover both the first-half and full-game spreads.

Texas vs BYU SGP

• AJ Dybantsa Over 27.5 points
• AJ Dybantsa Over 1.5 threes
• AJ Dybantsa Over 6.5 rebounds
• BYU -2.5
• BYU 1H -1

Texas vs BYU odds

• Spread: Texas +2.5 (-110) | BYU -2.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Texas +112 | BYU -135
• Over/Under: Over 158 (-110) | Under 158 (-110)

Texas vs BYU betting trend to know

Both teams have cashed the Over in 15 of their last 25 games. Find more college basketball betting trends for Texas vs. BYU.

How to watch Texas vs BYU

Texas vs BYU key injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

High Point men's basketball coach Flynn Clayman delivered an impassioned postgame interview after his team's major March Madness upset over Wisconsin on Thursday, 83-82, in Portland.

The Purple Panthers coach led his 12 seed over the fifth-seeded Badgers in the first-round shocker, and he argued postgame that more high-majors should play mid-majors early in the season to showcase how good the mid-majors can be.

High Point’s Chase Johnston chose the perfect time for his first 2-point make

"They said we didn't play nobody," Clayman said. "We played somebody now." Mic drop!

Clayman has every right to brag about the mid-majors after pulling off such a big upset as his team did on Thursday.

"Looks pretty obvious to me that high-majors need to play mid-majors early in the season. Because they said we didn't play nobody. We played somebody now."

-High Point HC Flynn Clayman pic.twitter.com/IpObzgJSGm

— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 19, 2026

Dang.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: High Point coach delivers fiery interview after Wisconsin upset

Michigan "Fab Five" legend Jalen Rose didn't miss an opportunity to troll his school's main rival during Thursday's 2026 March Madness coverage from CBS Sports.

While at the dais to discuss TCU taking down Ohio State in the first round of the 2026 NCAA men's tournament, Rose got in a brutal dig at the Buckeyes.

"It's only right that they're the second best basketball program in their own state," Rose said during his Ohio State diss. "Why don't we just call Miami THE Miami University?"

OUCH. That's absolutely vicious from Rose. We're sure Ohio State fans won't take this jab lightly.

Michigan alum Jalen Rose trolls Ohio State after getting knocked out by TCU.

"It's only right that they're the second best basketball program in their own state. Why don't we just call Miami THE Miami University?" pic.twitter.com/nHQamFJwi3

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 19, 2026

That's March Madness for you!

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Jalen Rose delivers brutal Ohio State diss after March Madness exit

TCU and Ohio State delivered a banger start to the NCAA Tournament.

Xavier Edmonds' shot with 4.1 seconds remaining gave the No. 9 seed Horned Frogs a 66-64 win over No. 8 Ohio State to kick off March Madness action on Thursday, March 19, in the first game of the tournament. Bruce Thornton attempted a halfcourt heave as time expired, but the shot clanked off the top of the backboard.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness bracket, live scores: NCAA Tournament first round update

FROGS OUT FRONT 🔥#MarchMadness@TCUBasketballpic.twitter.com/7zUjY9gv0q

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2026

The Buckeyes trailed 39-24 at halftime but outscored the Horned Frogs 40-27 in the second half to pull within reach. TCU's Micah Robinson gave the Horned Frogs a 64-61 on a 3-pointer with under a minute left, but Thornton responded with a 3-pointer of his own to tie the game at 64-64 with 33.7 seconds left.

Fifty of TCU's 66 points came from Robinson, Edmonds and David Punch, who scored 16 points with 13 rebounds and three blocks. Robinson led all scorers with 18 points with Edmonds adding 16 points with eight rebounds.

The Horned Frogs' 3-point shooting was ultimately their path to victory, despite ranking No. 233 nationally in 3-point percentage (33.11%). TCU made nine 3-pointers and shot 39% from distance in the win, compared to Ohio State's six makes and 26% mark.

Ohio State all-time leading scorer Bruce Thornton, who entered the game averaging 20.2 points per game this season, didn't have his best showing in his final game as a Buckeye. The senior guard was held to 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting with four rebounds, four assists and a turnover in the loss.

Some brackets have likely already busted following the tough No. 8 vs. No. 9 seed matchup. Over 60% of brackets chose Ohio State to win, NCAA March Madness posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

TCU will now likely face No. 1 overall seed Duke in the second round, should the Blue Devils expectedly defeat No. 16 Siena on March 19. The Horned Frogs have never won two NCAA Tournament games in the same season, and will have a tough task ahead to complete the record in 2026.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: TCU busts brackets, beats Ohio State on last-second shot in March Madness

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Welcome to your March Madness hub for the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament.

Our college basketball experts will guide you through the March Madness bracket with March Madness expert picks, matchup breakdowns, and betting analysis for every game, right through to the National Championship.

Bookmark this page and come back for our latest college basketball picks.

March Madness picks for 3/20 & 3/21

Game	Pick	Odds
Iowa vs Clemson	Under 129.5	-116
Northern Iowa vs St. John's	Ejiofor o7.5 rebounds	-120
UCF vs UCLA	Dent o7.5 assists	+102
Queens vs Purdue	Purdue -25.5	-110
Cal Baptist vs Kansas	Kansas TT u36.5 1H	-120
Furman vs UConn	Bowser o11.5 points	-112
Prairie View A&M vs  Florida	Florida TT o95.5	-120
Missouri vs Miami (FL)	Pierce o1.5 threes	-115
Saint Louis vs Michigan	Over 161.5	-116
Louisville vs Michigan State	Michigan State moneyline	-185
TCU vs Duke	TCU TT u64.5	-120
Texas vs Gonzaga	Texas +6.5	-110
Nebraska vs Vanderbilt	Vanderbilt -2	-110

March Madness best bets and SGPs

Friday, March 20

9 Iowa vs 8 Clemson

South Region, 6:50 p.m. ET, TNT

Best bet

Neither the Iowa Hawkeyes nor the Clemson Tigers believe in moving quickly. The Hawkeyes play at a Bottom-10 pace in the country, while the Tigers sit just outside the Bottom-30. 

And neither shoots well from deep, with Iowa generally reluctant to heave from long range and Clemson generally middling at it. Nor does either defense emphasize forcing 3-pointers.

These two defenses will encourage elongated half-court sets, grinding down this game. A la Big Ten Tournament games of 25 years ago, this may be a moment of “first team to 60 wins,” if either team even gets to 60 points.

Read Douglas Farmer's full Iowa vs. Clemson predictions for Friday, March 20.

SGP

15 Queens vs 2 Purdue

West Region, 7:35 p.m. ET, truTV

Best bet

The Purdue Boilermakers boast the highest-rated offense in KenPom history. They take care of the ball, shoot extremely well from everywhere on the floor, and generate second chances on the glass.

Meanwhile, the Queens University Royals are a fast-paced team who are terrible defensively. They sit outside the top 300 in adjusted defense, opponent eFG% (54%), and defensive rebounding rate. 

Queens is 0-5 SU and 1-4 ATS against high-major opponents this season, with the only cover coming by the hook. Purdue has the firepower to build a big lead and the depth to extend it when key starters rest.

Read Rohit Ponnaiya's full Queens vs. Purdue predictions for Friday, March 20.

SGP

12 Northern Iowa vs 5 St. John's

East Region, 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS

Best bet

St. John's forward Zuby Ejiofor averaged more than seven rebounds amongst the trees of the Big East. The 6-foot-9, 245-pound senior will be battling MVC saplings in the Round of 64.

Northern Iowa has a couple of starters who run 6-foot-8 but are nowhere near Ejofor’s strength and athleticism.
 
For the most part, the Panthers don’t bother crashing the offensive glass and face their toughest challenge against this St. John’s defense. Ejiofor is also active on the offensive boards (3.3 per game).

Ejiofor was a beast on the glass in the Big East tournament, and projections call for 8+ rebounds versus UNI.

Read Jason Logan's full Northern Iowa vs. St. John's predictions for Friday, March 20.

SGP

10 UCF vs 7 UCLA

East Region, 7:25 p.m. ET, CBS

Best bet

The Bruins’ late-season surge has a lot to do with Donovan Dent. 

He dished out a dozen assists in his first two Big Ten tournament games before getting hurt and averaged almost 10 assists in the 12 games prior to that minor injury.

Dent is fine for the opener against Central Florida. The Golden Knights are one of the weakest defenses the Bruins have faced in a while, with UCF giving up 14 assists an outing and taking on a UCLA offense that ranks in the Top 40 in assist ratio.

Projections sit as high as 10.3 assists from Dent on Friday.

Read Jason Logan's full UCF vs. UCLA predictions for Friday, March 20.

SGP

16 Prairie View A&M vs 1 Florida

South Region, 9:25 p.m. ET, TNT

Best bet

The Florida Gators have cracked 100 points five times this season, exceeding this lofty prop two other times. Their first two times in triple-digits came against their only two opponents rated worse by KenPom than the Prairie View A&M Panthers.

Both North Florida and Saint Francis play at an accelerated pace, ranking No. 30 and No. 45 in Pomeroy’s pace stat this season.

Uh oh, Prairie View A&M ranks No. 23, even faster.

That many possessions will give the Gators’ talent edge too many chances at easy buckets.

Read Douglas Farmer's full Prairie View A&M vs. Florida predictions for Friday, March 20.

SGP

13 Cal Baptist vs 4 Kansas

East Region, 9:45 p.m. ET, CBS

Best bet

Kansas isn’t thinking about California Baptist. 

The second the bracket dropped, KU saw Duke waiting in the second round, and thoughts of the Blue Devils started dancing in its head.

And then there’s star Darryn Peterson, whose priority has been protecting himself for the upcoming NBA Draft.

Kansas’ offense was in the toilet in the home stretch, especially in the opening 20 minutes. It’s averaged less than 33 first-half points in the past 10 outings, scoring fewer than 30 in four of those games.

The Lancers slow things down, protect the perimeter, and allow the 10th-fewest 1H points per game.

Read Jason Logan's full California Baptist vs. Kansas predictions for Friday, March 20.

SGP

15 Furman vs 2 UConn

East Region, 10:00 p.m. ET, TBS

Best bet

The UConn Huskies may seem like a tall task for Cooper Bowser, especially with shot swatter Tarris Reed patrolling the paint.

However, the Furman Paladins' half-court offense starts with Bowser at the top of the circle, setting on-ball screens and moving a lot without the basketball.

Bowser's recent output was tempered due to lineup changes, with the Paladins going smaller in the conference tournament. He scored 14 points in 24 minutes in each of the first two games before striking for 21 in 30 minutes in the final.

He’s tallied 12 + points in 14 of his last 17 games and is projected for 13 points on Friday.

Read Jason Logan's full Furman vs. UConn predictions for Friday, March 20.

SGP

10 Missouri vs 7 Miami

West Region, 10:10 p.m. ET, truTV

Best bet

The Miami Hurricanes are 324th in the country in opponent 3PT% (37.4%) since January 1. The Missouri Tigers offense will need to take advantage of that weakness which means getting the ball to Trent Pierce.

The 6-foot-10 wing is a matchup nightmare who can stretch the floor. His quick release and catch-and-shoot ability makes him especially dangerous with Miami struggling against movement shooters. 

Pierce is coming off a game against Kentucky where he went 1-for-4 from deep. However, he cleared 1.5 treys in his previous six contests, knocking down 2.5 threes per game at a 42.9% clip.

Read Rohit Ponnaiya's full Missouri vs. Miami predictions for Friday, March 20.

SGP

Saturday, March 21

9 Saint Louis vs 1 Michigan

Midwest Region, 12:15 p.m. ET, CBS

Best bet

Michigan’s defense is a concern without LJ Cason, and it shows up more in high-tempo games, as seen in allowing 80 points to Howard. This matchup could be even faster, amplifying those defensive challenges.

Michigan’s offense is elite across actions, ranking near the top in big cut + rolls, pick + pops, and general inside-out actions. That’s not ideal for Saint Louis, which is smaller and poor defensively at the rim.

Likewise, St. Louis should enjoy some of its own offensive advantages, particularly in transition. Michigan has been well below the national average, allowing 1.02 PPP.

Read Chris Hatfield's full Saint Louis vs. Michigan predictions for Saturday, March 21.

SGP

6 Louisville vs 3 Michigan State

East Region, 2:45 p.m. ET, CBS

Best bet

The Cardinals are already without top threat Mikel Brown Jr., and backcourt mate Ryan Conwell took some hard screens in that win over USF. A tenderized Louisville Cardinals now meets one of the most physical teams — on both ends of the floor — in the MSU Spartans.

The Spartans can bully UL, especially down low. The Cardinals gave up 44 points in the paint to the Bulls and rolled out the red carpet to the rim in the home stretch of ACC play.

Michigan State has capable bodies to battle in the paint, a deeper bench, and fresher legs. Getting MSU shorter than two bucks seems like a steal.

Read Jason Logan's full Louisville vs. Michigan State predictions for Saturday, March 21.

SGP

9 TCU vs 1 Duke

East Region, 5:15 p.m. ET, CBS

Best bet

The TCU Horned Frogs’ first half versus Ohio State was a weird one. 

Texas Christian isn’t a great 3-point team, but its 39 first-half points were fueled by 7-of-13 shooting from deep. That eventually dried up, as TCU made just 2 of 10 from beyond the arc in the second half and scored only 27 points.

The Frogs’ offense is normally driven by fastbreak buckets, points off turnovers, and offensive rebounds. Those are areas in which the Duke Blue Devils deny opponents.

Duke cleans the glass, takes care of the basketball, and its efficient offense forces opponents to start possessions from in-bounds, pushing them into the halfcourt.

Read Jason Logan's full TCU vs. Duke predictions for Saturday, March 21.

SGP

11 Texas vs 3 Gonzaga

West Region, 7:10 p.m. ET, truTV

Best bet

The Longhorns' biggest weakness is their 3-point defense (35.4%) and tendency to foul (307th in opponent FT rate). However, Gonzaga attempts threes at one of the lowest rates in the country while ranking just 277th in FT rate.

On the other side of the floor, the Zags have impressive defensive stats, but that's puffed up by weak competition in the West Coast Conference. 

They struggled to defend more athletic teams earlier in the season, and Texas has a highly efficient offense. Gonzaga doesn't have a wing capable of locking up Dailyn Swain or a rim protector to contain Matas Vokietaitis.

Read Rohit Ponnaiaya's full Texas vs. Gonzaga predictions for Saturday, March 21.

SGP

5 Vanderbilt vs 4 Nebraska

South Region, 8:45 p.m. ET, TNT

Best bet

Congratulations to the Nebraska Cornhuskers for finally winning their first NCAA Tournament game. Here comes the natural letdown.

Nebraska ran through Troy in part thanks to a 26-10 advantage in points in the paint, which is to be expected against a mid-major opponent. The Vanderbilt Commodores will not yield such chances, as they boast one of the best interior defenses in the SEC.

Meanwhile, Vanderbilt has been knocked a bit because it failed to cover -12.5 against McNeese, despite winning by 10 in a rather slow game. If anything, the Commodores should receive a touch of praise, while the Cornhuskers are ripe to be disappointed.

Read Douglas Farmer's full Vanderbilt vs. Nebraska predictions for Saturday, March 21.

SGP

March Madness betting 101

Single elimination changes everything. One cold shooting night or foul trouble can end a season, so aim for good prices and smart risk, not “can’t-miss” takes.

Start with the basics

Spread: In point spread betting, you’re wagering on how close the game stays. In the tournament, late-game fouling can turn a tight cover into a bad beat (or vice versa).

Moneyline:Moneyline betting is often the cleanest way to play a true March Madness upset, but you risk losing more frequently if you wager just on underdogs.

Total: Pace and shot quality matter in Over/Under betting, but so do tournament quirks like neutral rims, tight legs, and whistle changes.

Neutral-site mindset

Games aren’t played in familiar gyms, and crowds can be split. Travel, time zones, and quick turnarounds can matter, especially for teams that rely heavily on energy, depth, or shooting rhythm. When in doubt, lean on repeatable traits: defense, rebounding, and turnover control.

Why single elimination matters

Underdogs can be live because favorites feel pressure and have less room to “play through” a bad stretch. But favorites can also separate late when depth and free throws matter. Think in game scripts:

• Take the underdog + points if they can control tempo, defend without fouling, and protect the ball.
• Sprinkle a unit on the moneyline if they have a clear matchup advantage (e.g., elite 3-point volume vs weak perimeter D).
• Bet on the favorite if they can force turnovers, dominate the glass, or punish inside.

First half vs full game betting

Early nerves and unfamiliar sightlines can create slow starts. If you expect a tactical feel-out period, 1H Unders or 1H underdog spreads can be sharper than full game.

Overtime and endgame chaos

OT is usually included in spreads/totals, and late fouling can add 10–20 “free” points. Totals can swing wildly in the final minute, but don’t panic if you’re on the right side of pace and shot quality.

Still need help? Our Covers hoops analysts are here to provide you with March Madness expert picks from the First Four to the National Championship Game.

Popular March Madness betting markets

March Madness is a betting buffet - the key is picking the right market for your edge.

Futures: Futures are best when you’re early or disagree with the bracket. Conference tourney week and Selection Sunday can create mispriced numbers on title, Final Four odds, March Madness MVP odds, and region winner odds. Shop prices, and remember: a “good team” isn’t always a good futures bet if the path is brutal.

Game lines: The spread, moneyline, and total are the bread and butter once the bracket starts. Neutral courts, quick turnarounds, and unfamiliar sightlines can impact shooting (and totals) especially early. If you have a strong pace or matchup read, consider team totals or 1st half bets to isolate the edge.

Props:March Madness props shine when roles are stable and matchups are clear: usage, minutes, foul risk, and opponent style (rim protection, pace, rebounding). Ladders and alt lines can be powerful, but keep stakes smaller.

Same-game parlays: SGPs can be fun, but value varies. Compare the parlay payout to betting legs individually, and prioritize lines you’d play on their own.

And be sure to check out our expert NCAA bracket picks before the action begins!

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.