Category: NCAA Basketball

It's time for March Madness. Here's the Round 1 schedule for Thursday and Friday of the NCAA tournament, game by game.

The NCAA Tournament is loaded with NBA prospects – the projected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, multiple lottery picks, first-rounders and second-rounders.

Seven of the Bruins' top 10 players have not played in an NCAA tournament game. That will change for seventh-seeded UCLA on Thursday night against Utah State.

In only his second season at St. John's, Rick Pitino has weathered seismic changes in college sports to return the Red Storm to the NCAA Tournament.

The Houston Cougars have gone 22-1 against Big 12 opponents, with an 8-3 record in non-conference play. Houston is third in the Big 12 with 10.7 offensive rebounds per game led by Joseph Tugler averaging 2.5. The SIU-Edwardsville Cougars' record in OVC games is 15-7.

Robert Morris Colonials (26-8, 18-5 Horizon League) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (25-8, 14-6 SEC) Cleveland; Friday, 12:40 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Crimson Tide -22.5; over/under is 165.5 BOTTOM LINE: No. Alabama and Robert Morris square off in the NCAA Tournament first round.

The Gators' record in SEC games is 17-4, and their record is 13-0 in non-conference games. Florida is 1-1 in one-possession games. The Spartans' record in MEAC games is 14-3.

Xavier Musketeers (22-11, 13-8 Big East) vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (21-12, 13-9 Big Ten) Milwaukee; Friday, 9:45 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Fighting Illini -3.5; over/under is 159.5 BOTTOM LINE: Illinois plays Xavier in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The Fighting Illini's record in Big Ten games is 13-9, and their record is 8-3 in non-conference games.

Troy Trojans (23-10, 16-5 Sun Belt) vs. Kentucky Wildcats (22-11, 11-9 SEC) Milwaukee; Friday, 7:10 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Wildcats -11.5; over/under is 152.5 BOTTOM LINE: No. Kentucky faces Troy in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

McNeese Cowboys (27-6, 21-1 Southland) vs. Clemson Tigers (27-6, 19-3 ACC) Providence, Rhode Island; Thursday, 3:15 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Tigers -7.5; over/under is 133.5 BOTTOM LINE: No. Clemson and McNeese meet in the NCAA Tournament opening round.

Arkansas Razorbacks (20-13, 9-11 SEC) vs. Kansas Jayhawks (21-12, 12-10 Big 12) Providence, Rhode Island; Thursday, 7:10 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Jayhawks -5.5; over/under is 145.5 BOTTOM LINE: Kansas and Arkansas meet in the NCAA Tournament first round. The Jayhawks are 12-10 against Big 12 opponents and 9-2 in non-conference play.

Alabama State Hornets (20-15, 15-6 SWAC) vs. Auburn Tigers (28-5, 16-4 SEC) Lexington, Kentucky; Thursday, 2:50 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Tigers -32.5; over/under is 149.5 BOTTOM LINE: No. Auburn plays in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Alabama State.

Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers (23-12, 15-8 MAAC) vs. Duke Blue Devils (31-3, 22-1 ACC) Raleigh, North Carolina; Friday, 2:50 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Blue Devils -32.5; over/under is 141 BOTTOM LINE: No. Duke plays in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament against Mount St. Mary's.

VCU Rams (28-6, 18-3 A-10) vs. BYU Cougars (24-9, 15-7 Big 12) Denver; Thursday, 4:05 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Cougars -2.5; over/under is 146.5 BOTTOM LINE: No. BYU and VCU play in the NCAA Tournament first round.

Missouri has a 1-2 record in one-possession games. The Bulldogs are 20-3 against MVC teams. Drake is sixth in the MVC scoring 32.1 points per game in the paint led by Bennett Stirtz averaging 7.9.