:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49090887/usa-today-9185418.0.jpg)
Only the hardcore fans will get excited about Fairleigh Dickinson versus Florida Gulf Coast and Wichita State versus Vanderbilt will "only" decide who gets to play Arizona, but the First Four will truly be a treat this year.
These kids are battling for a chance to advance to the final 64. This opportunity doesn't come every season - especially for the 16 seeds - and the chance to showcase their talents on national television turns into an all out battle with 10+ players leaving their hearts out on the court.
Guard Darian Anderson (15 points per game) will lead Knights as they try to trip up Joe Dooley, Marc Eddy Norelia and Florida Gulf Coast. The Eagles won't exactly live up to their 'Dunk City' profile this time around as they run a more conventional offense through Norelia in the post, but they should be able to knock off the NEC Champions to play North Carolina in the first round.
The Shockers against the Commodores could be the best game in the short history of the First Four as both teams have plenty of firepower and star-studded players.
Wichita State features the backcourt of Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker while the Commodores have two NBA prospects in Wade Baldwin IV and Damian Jones. These teams have the experience and potential to knock off Arizona in the first round, but on Tuesday, they must go after each other on TruTV.
Play-in Games
| Date | Tip (ET) | Network | Site | Game | Play-by-Play/Analyst//Reporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, March 15 | 6:40 p.m. | truTV | Dayton | Florida Gulf Coast Eagles vs. Fairleigh Dickinson Knights | Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // Jamie Erdahl |
| Tuesday, March 15 | After conc. I | truTV | Dayton | Vanderbilt Commodores vs. Wichita State Shockers | Catalon / Lappas // Erdahl |
| Wednesday, March 16 | 6:40 p.m. | truTV | Dayton | Holy Cross Crusaders vs. Southern Jaguars | Carter Blackburn / Mike Gminski // Jaime Maggio |
| Wednesday, March 16 | After conc. I | truTV | Dayton | Michigan Wolverines vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane | Blackburn / Gminski //Maggio |
Thursday March 17: Round of 64 Games
| TIP (ET) | NETWORK | SITE | Region | GAME | PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST//REPORTER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:15 p.m. | CBS | Providence | West | (4) Duke Blue Devils vs. (13) NC-Wilmington Seahawks | Ian Eagle/Chris Webber/Len Elmore//Evan Washburn |
| 12:40 p.m. | truTV | Raleigh | Midwest | (8) Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. (9) Butler Bulldogs | Kevin Harlan/Reggie Miller/Dan Bonner//Lewis Johnson |
| 1:30 p.m. | TNT | Des Moines | South | (8) Colorado Buffaloes vs. (9) Connecticut Huskies | Jim Nantz/Grant Hill/Bill Raftery//Tracy Wolfson |
| 2:00 p.m. | TBS | Denver | Midwest | (4) Iowa State Cyclones vs. (13) Iona Gaels | Andrew Catalon/Steve Lappas//Jamie Erdahl |
| After conc. I | CBS | Providence | West | (5) Baylor Bears vs. (12) Yale Bulldogs | Eagle/ Webber/Elmore//Washburn |
| After conc. I | truTV | Raleigh | Midwest | (1) Virginia Cavaliers vs. (16) Hampton Pirates | Harlan/Miller/Bonner//Johnson |
| After conc. I | TNT | Des Moines | South | (1) Kansas Jayhawks vs. (16) Austin Peay Governors | Nantz/Hill/Raftery//Wolfson |
| After conc. I | TBS | Denver | Midwest | (5) Purdue Boilermakers vs. (12) Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans | Catalon/ Lappas// Erdahl |
| 6:50 p.m. | TNT | Providence | South | (3) Miami-Florida Hurricanes vs. (14) Buffalo Bulls | Eagle/ Webber/Elmore//Washburn |
| 7:10 p.m. | CBS | Des Moines | East | (5) Indiana Hoosiers vs.(12) Chattanooga Mocs | Nantz/Hill/Raftery//Wolfson |
| 7:20 p.m. | TBS | Raleigh | East | (1) North Carolina Tar Heels vs. (16) Florida Gulf Coast/Fairleigh Dickinson | Harlan/Miller/Bonner//Johnson |
| 7:27 p.m. | truTV | Denver | Midwest | (3) Utah Utes vs. (14) Fresno State Bulldogs | Catalon/ Lappas// Erdahl |
| After conc. III | TNT | Providence | South | (6) Arizona Wildcats vs. (11) Vanderbilt/Wichita State | Eagle/ Webber/Elmore//Washburn |
| After conc. III | CBS | Des Moines | East | (4) Kentucky Wildcats vs. (13) Stony Brook Seawolves | Nantz/Hill/Raftery//Wolfson |
| After conc. III | TBS | Raleigh | East | (8) USC Trojans vs. (9) Providence Friars | Harlan/Miller/Bonner//Johnson |
| After conc. III | truTV | Denver | Midwest | (6) Seton Hall Pirates vs. (11) Gonzaga Bulldogs | Catalon/ Lappas// Erdahl |
Friday March 18: Round of 64
| TIP (ET) | NETWORK | SITE | Region | GAME | PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST//REPORTER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:15 p.m. | CBS | St. Louis | Midwest | (7) Dayton Flyers vs. (10) Syracuse Orange | Brian Anderson/Steve Smith//Dana Jacobson |
| 12:40 p.m. | truTV | Brooklyn | South | (2) Villanova Wildcats vs. (15) UNC-Asheville Bulldogs | Verne Lundquist/Jim Spanarkel//Allie LaForce |
| 1:30 p.m. | TNT | Oklahoma City | West | (7) Oregon State Beavers vs. 910) Virginia Commonwealth Rams | Carter Blackburn/ Mike Gminski//Jaime Maggio |
| 2:00 p.m. | TBS | Spokane | South | (4) California Golden Bears vs. (13) Hawaii Rainbow Warriors | Spero Dedes/Doug Gottlieb//Ros Gold-Onwude |
| After conc. I | CBS | St. Louis | Midwest | (2) Michigan State Spartans vs. (15) Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders | Anderson/Smith//Jacobson |
| After conc. I | TNT | Oklahoma City | West | (2) Oklahoma Sooners vs. (15) CS-Bakersfield Roadrunners | Blackburn/Gminski//Maggio |
| After conc. I | Brooklyn | South | (7) Iowa Hawkeyes vs. (10) Temple Owls | Lundquist/Spanarkel//LaForce | |
| After conc. I | TBS | Spokane | South | (5) Maryland Terrapins vs. (12) South Dakota State Jackrabbits | Dedes/Gottlieb//Gold-Onwude |
| 6:50 p.m. | TNT | St. Louis | East | (7) Wisconsin Badgers vs.(10) Pittsburgh Panthers | Anderson/Smith//Jacobson |
| 7:10 p.m. | CBS | Brooklyn | East | (3) West Virginia Mountaineers vs. (14) Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks | Lundquist/Spanarkel//LaForce |
| 7:20 p.m. | TBS | Oklahoma City | West | (3) Texas A&M Aggies vs. (14) Green Bay Phoenix | Blackburn/Gminski//Maggio |
| 7:27 p.m. | truTV | Spokane | West | (1) Oregon Ducks vs. (16) Holy Cross/Southern U. | Dedes/Gottlieb//Gold-Onwude |
| After conc. III | TNT | St. Louis | East | (2) Xavier Musketeers vs. (15) Weber State Wildcats | Anderson/Smith//Jacobson |
| After conc. III | CBS | Brooklyn | East | (6) Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs.(11) Michigan/Tulsa | Lundquist/Spanarkel//LaForce |
| After conc. III | TBS | Oklahoma City | West | (6) Texas Longhorns vs.(11) Northern Iowa Panthers | Blackburn/Gminski//Maggio |
| After conc. III | truTV | Spokane | West | (8) Saint Josephs (PA) Hawks vs. (9) Cincinnati Bearcats | Dedes/Gottlieb//Gold-Onwude |