It’s officially March Madness time. After First Four games on Tuesday and Wednesday, the first full day of the NCAA tournament kicks off on Thursday with 16 men’s games spread out over 12 hours.
Here’s how Thursday’s schedule will unfold:
Thursday afternoon
No. 9 Michigan State 69, No. 8 Mississippi State 51
No. 11 Duquesne 71, No. 6 BYU 67
No. 3 Creighton 77, No. 14 Akron 60
No. 2 Arizona 85, No. 15 Long Beach State 65
No. 1 North Carolina 90, No. 16 Wagner 62
No. 3 Illinois 85, No. 14 Morehead State 69
No. 11 Oregon 87, No. 6 South Carolina 73
4:30 p.m. — No. 7 Dayton vs. No. 10 Nevada (TBS)
Thursday evening
6:50 p.m. — No. 7 Texas vs. No. 10 Colorado State (TNT)
7:10 p.m. — No. 3 Kentucky vs. No. 14 Oakland (CBS)
7:25 p.m. — No. 5 Gonzaga vs. No. 12 McNeese (TBS)
7:35 p.m. — No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 15 South Dakota State (TruTV)
9:20 p.m. — No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 15 Saint Peter’s (TNT)
9:40 p.m. — No. 6 Texas Tech vs. No. 11 NC State (CBS)
9:55 p.m. — No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 Samford (TBS)
10:05 p.m. — No. 7 Washington State vs. No. 10 Drake (TruTV)
Live55 updates
- Thu, March 21, 2024 at 2:18 PM MST
- Thu, March 21, 2024 at 3:39 PM MST
The Flyers are making things interesting after a 13-0 run.
- Thu, March 21, 2024 at 3:22 PM MST
Final: No. 11 Oregon 87, No. 6 South Carolina 73
The story of the game is Jermaine Couisnard, who transferred from South Carolina in the offseason. He finishes with a tourney school-record 40 points.
- Thu, March 21, 2024 at 3:13 PM MST
The Ducks are up double digits with under 2 minutes left. This wouldn’t technically be an upset as Oregon closed as a small favorite.
- Thu, March 21, 2024 at 2:55 PM MST
The Ducks are in control now with less than 10 minutes left in the game.
- Thu, March 21, 2024 at 2:52 PM MST
- Thu, March 21, 2024 at 2:34 PM MST
Final: Illinois 85, Morehead State 69
Marcus Domask recorded the 10th triple-double in NCAA tournament history with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Terrence Shannon Jr. led the way with 26 points.
- Thu, March 21, 2024 at 2:05 PM MST
Illinois has taken control. Can it stave off the upset?
- Thu, March 21, 2024 at 2:04 PM MST
Oregon leads, but South Carolina ended the first half with a BANG!
Thu, March 21, 2024 at 2:03 PM MST
Meanwhile in Memphis …
The Keisei Tominaga show, coming Friday to your phones and TV screens.
You think Terrence Shannon wants to win today? What a hustle play from the Illinois star!
- Thu, March 21, 2024 at 1:45 PM MST
Final: UNC 90, Wagner 62
The Tar Heels roll in their opener. RJ Davis leads the way with 22 points while Armando Bacot adds 20 and 15 boards.
It’s no surprise that 11th-seeded Oregon is giving 6th-seeded South Carolina all it can handle early. Dana Altman is 7-0 in the first round of the NCAA tournament as head coach of the Ducks. That includes wins as a No. 12 seed in 2013 and 2019.
Altman’s Oregon teams are notorious for starting in non-league play but getting stronger over the course of a season. This year’s team has lived up to that reputation, winning the Pac-12 tournament as a bid stealer to secure its spot in the NCAA tournament.
- Thu, March 21, 2024 at 1:26 PM MST
The Tar Heels have pulled away. Armando Bacot is leading the way with 18 points and 14 boards.
If it’s up to Dan Monson, Long Beach State’s 85-65 loss to Arizona will not be his final game as a head coach. Monson, 62, told me earlier this week that he hopes coach somewhere next season, that he’s not ready to sit on the couch without a team to lead.
“I really want to coach,” he said. “This has rejuvenated me.”
- Thu, March 21, 2024 at 1:14 PM MST
Final: Arizona 85, Long Beach State 65
The Wildcats shook off a sluggish start and pulled away for an easy first-round win. Dan Monson’s time at The Beach has come to an end.
- Thu, March 21, 2024 at 1:01 PM MST
Morehead is 5 of 9 from 3-point range so far, a big reason the 14 seed is leading 3rd-seeded Illinois early:
- Thu, March 21, 2024 at 12:47 PM MST
Oh, hello Morehead State 👀
Up early on the Big Ten tournament champion Illini
- Thu, March 21, 2024 at 12:43 PM MST
North Carolina, the first 1 seed to play today, is looking good at the half.
- Thu, March 21, 2024 at 12:42 PM MST
Arizona looking good against Long Beach State. The dream may be over for Dan Monson and the Beach.