This year’s March Madness NCAA tournament officially starts today, Tuesday March 13 with 2 play-in games between 16 and 11th-seeded teams. Is considered the “first round,” or is it a “play-in round”? To me, the first round happens when there’s games on TV all-day long.
Thursday has a great line-up of games spread across the entire day. Games are taking place in 4 cities; Boise, Dallas, Pittsburgh and Wichita.
The 8th and 9th-seeded games should be fun to watch, with dangerous teams like the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Seton Hall Pirates. The 4 late-night games, all happening within a span of 40 minutes, will be special, as it includes the Alabama/Virginia Tech game as well as the Florida Gators taking on the winner of St. Bonaventure and UCLA.
March 15, 2018: Round 1, Day 1
(7) Rhode Island Rams (25-7) vs. (10) Oklahoma Sooners (18-13)
12:15 p.m. ET, CBS
PPG Paints Arena (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Oklahoma Sooner bars: Lincoln Avenue Social, Barn And Company, Joe’s Bar on Weed Street
(3) Tennessee Volunteers (25-8) vs. Wright State Raiders (25-9)
12:40 p.m. ET, TruTV
American Airlines Center (Dallas, Texas)
Tennessee Volunteer bars: Riverview Tavern & Grill / Robey Pizza
(4) Gonzaga Bulldogs (30-4) vs. UNC Greensboro Spartans (27-7)
1:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Taco Bell Arena (Boise, Idaho)
(1) Kansas Jayhawks (27-7) vs. (16) Pennsylvania Quakers (24-8)
2 p.m. ET, TBS
Intrust Bank Arena (Wichita, Kansas)
Kansas Jayhawk bars: Toon’s Bar & Grill, Theory Sports Div Lounge, Kincade’s, Lottie’s Pub
(2) Duke Blue Devils (26-7) vs. (15) Iona Gaels (20-13)
2:45 p.m. ET, CBS
PPG Paints Arena (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
(6) Miami Hurricanes (22-9) vs. (11) Loyola-Chicago Ramblers (28-5)
3:10 p.m. ET, TruTV
American Airlines Center (Dallas, Texas)
Miami Hurricane bars: Mother Hubbard’s, The Hidden Shamrock
Loyola-Chicago Rambler bars: Bar63
(5) Ohio State Buckeyes (24-8) vs. (12) South Dakota State Jackrabbits (28-6)
4 p.m. ET, TNT
Taco Bell Arena (Boise, Idaho)
Ohio State Buckeye bars: Vaughan’s Pub, Woodie’s Flat, Gaslight Bar & Grille, Mcgee’s Tavern & Grille, Old Crow, Butcher’s Tap, Casey Moran / The Ivy
(8) Seton Hall Pirates (21-11) vs. (9) North Carolina State Wolfpack (21-11)
4:30 p.m. ET, TBS
Intrust Bank Arena (Wichita, Kansas)
North Carolina State Wolfpack bars: Sheffield’s Beer & Wine Garden
(1) Villanova Wildcats (30-4) vs. Winner of LIU Brooklyn/Radford
6:50 p.m. ET, TNT
PPG Paints Arena (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Villanova Wildcat bars: Derby
(5) Kentucky Wildcats (24-10) vs. (12) Davidson Wildcats (21-11)
7:10 p.m. ET, CBS
Taco Bell Arena (Boise, Idaho)
Kentucky Wildcat bars: The Pony Inn
(6) Houston Cougars (26-7) vs. (11) San Diego State Aztecs (22-10)
7:20 p.m. ET, TBS
Intrust Bank Arena (Wichita, Kansas)
(8) Virginia Tech Hokies (21-11) vs. (9) Alabama Crimson Tide (19-15)
9:20 p.m. ET, TNT
PPG Paints Arena (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Virginia Tech Hokie bars: Riverview Tavern & Grill / Robey Pizza, Kincade’s, Crossroads Public House
Alabama Crimson Tide bars: Houndstooth Saloon
(3) Texas Tech Red Raiders (28-6) vs. (14) Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (24-9)
9:27 p.m. ET, TruTV
American Airlines Center (Dallas, Texas)
Texas Tech Red Raider bars: Kelsey’s
(13) Buffalo Bulls (26-8) vs. (4) Arizona Wildcats (27-7)
9:40 p.m. ET, CBS
Taco Bell Arena (Boise, Idaho)
Arizona Wildcat bars: Joe’s Bar on Weed Street, Finley Dunne’s Tavern
(3) Michigan Wolverines (28-7) vs. (14) Montana Grizzlies (26-7)
9:50 p.m. ET, TBS
Intrust Bank Arena (Wichita, Kansas)
Michigan Wolverine bars: Westend Bar & Grill, Duffy’s Tavern & Grille, Rockit Burger Bar, Whiskey Business, DIAG, Celtic Crown, Dark Horse Tap And Grill
(6) Florida Gators (20-12) vs. Winner of St. Bonaventure/UCLA
9:57 p.m. ET, TruTV
American Airlines Center (Dallas, Texas)
Florida Gator bars: Sully’s House Tap Room & Grill, Joe’s Bar on Weed Street