March Madness is here! Here is what to know, including the favorites and underdogs as well as key games and how to watch the NCAA Tournament:
TOP SEEDS The top four seeds in the tournament are Alabama, Houston, Kansas, and Purdue. Each is in a region, some tougher than others (on paper). We break them down for you: EAST REGION: The Boilermakers got a No. 1 seed for the fourth time after edging Penn State 67-65 in the Big Ten championship game, but they face potential hurdles in Memphis and surging Duke. Memphis (26-8) is fresh from a big upset of top-ranked Houston and led by Kendric Davis. Duke (26-8) shut down Virginia in a 59-49 ACC title game win. SOUTH REGION: Alabama is a No. 1 seed for the first time after sweeping the Southeastern Conference regular season and tournament titles behind league player of the year Brandon Miller, capped by an 82-63 romp over Texas A&M. They will open the tourney not far from home, in Birmingham, Alabama. Potential hurdles for the Crimson Tide could include Baylor, Arizona. There’s an intriguing early matchup between No. 5 seed San Diego State and No. 12 Charleston, which has 31 wins. Furman is making its first tourney appearance since 1980. MIDWEST REGION: Houston (31-3) got a top seed despite stumbling 75-65 against unranked Memphis in the American Athletic Conference title game, minus league player of the year Marcus Sasser (strained groin). They will open against Northern Kentucky (22-12). Potential hurdles could include Penn State, which took Purdue down to the wire in the Big Ten, and SEC Tournament runner-up Texas A&M. WEST REGION: The Jayhawks fell 76-56 to Texas in the Big 12 championship game and they wound up with the top seed in a stacked region. They will open against Howard (22-12), making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1992. Potential hurdles include No. 6 TCU (21-12), which beat Kansas at Allen Field House 83-60 on Jan. 21, and Arkansas (20-13).
GAMES TO WATCH
No. 7 Texas A&M (25-9) vs. No. 10 Penn State (22-13)., Thursday, 9:55 p.m. ET (TBS) The Aggies, who felt snubbed last season, are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018, and the Nittany Lions’ drought dated to 2011. Both flirted with league tournament titles and have been hot. Texas A&M went 19-4 after a loss to Wofford and Penn State has won eight of 10.
No. 8 Arkansas (20-13) vs. No. 9 Illinois (20-12), Thursday, 4:30 p.m. ET (TBS). The Razorbacks have made back-to-back trips to the Elite Eight. Top prospect and potential top NBA draft pick Nick Smith Jr. has only played in 14 games because of knee issues, but has scored 20-plus in half of the team’s last six. Illinois won the Big Ten season title before being ousted by Penn State in the first round of the league tournament. Illinois is led by transfers Terrence Shannon Jr. (Texas Tech) and Matthew Mayer, who helped lead Baylor to the 2021 national championship.
No. 5 Miami (25-7) vs. Drake (27-7), Friday, 7:35 p.m. ET (TBS). The game features two conference players of the year, Miami’s Isaiah Wong in the ACC for the regular-season co-champions, and Drake’s Tucker DeVries from the Missouri Valley Conference tournament champs. DeVries is averaging 19 points while Wong leads the team in scoring (16.2 points per game), assists and steals. Drake made the Elite Eight three years running, though it has been a while (1969-71).
No. 6 Kentucky (21-11) vs. No. 11 Providence (21-11), Friday, 7:10 p.m. ET. (CBS). Led by last year’s AP player of the year Oscar Tshiebwe, the Wildcats are trying to avoid back-to-back first-round exits after that infamous defeat to Saint Peter’s. The Friars, meanwhile, went to the Sweet 16 before losing to eventual champion Kansas. They’re led by Kentucky transfer Bryce Hopkins.
GO FIGURE
Texas Southern and Kennesaw State are in. North Carolina is not.
The Tar Heels are the first team since the bracket expanded to 64 teams in 1985 to start the season ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 poll and finish it with an NCAA tourney airball.
Kennessaw State, three years removed from a 1-28 season, made the field. So did Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament champion Texas Southern, which is 14-20. Southern Conference champ Furman is dancing for the first time since 1980 and MEAC winner Howard makes its first appearance since 1992.
HOW TO WATCH
Every game of the men’s tournament will be aired somewhere, either on CBS, TBS, TNT or TruTV and their digital platforms. CBS will have the Final Four semifinals and national title game this year.
There are multiple sites listing game times, channel and announcing team, including the NCAA and CBS. The NCAA will again stream games via its March Madness Live option and CBS games will be streamed on Paramount+.
BETTING GUIDE
Who’s going to win the national championship? With the regular season over, the betting favorites as of this week to reach the Final Four are Houston, Alabama, Kansas and Purdue, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
MARCH MADNESS CALENDAR Selection Sunday set the bracket matchup s for the First Four and first- and second-round games that stretch from Florida to California. Sweet 16 weekend will see games in New York City (East Region), Las Vegas (West), Kansas City, Missouri (Midwest), and Louisville, Kentucky (South). Where is the Final Four? In Houston, on April 1, with the championship game on April 3. Basketball aficionados, take note: The women’s NCAA Tournament will hold its Final Four in Dallas, a four-hour drive up the road from Houston.
TOURNEY AT-A-GLANCE
All Times EDT
FIRST FOUR
Wednesday, March 15
At UD Arena
Dayton, Ohio
Texas Southern (14-20) vs. Fairleigh Dickinson (19-15), 6:40 p.m.
Arizona St. (22-12) vs. Nevada (22-10), 9:10 p.m.
Tuesday, March 14
At UD Arena
Dayton, Ohio
Texas A&M-CC (23-10) vs. SE Missouri (19-16), 6:40 p.m.
Mississippi St. (21-12) vs. Pittsburgh (22-11), 9:10 p.m.
EAST REGIONAL
First Round
Friday, March 17
At Nationwide Arena
Columbus, Ohio
Purdue (29-5) vs. Texas Southern-Fairleigh Dickinson winner, 6:50 p.m.
Memphis (26-8) vs. FAU (31-3), 9:20 p.m.
At Greensboro Coliseum
Greensboro, N.C.
Kentucky (21-11) vs. Providence (21-11), 7:10 p.m.
Kansas St. (23-9) vs. Montana St. (25-9), 9:40 p.m.
At Nationwide Arena
Columbus, Ohio
Michigan St. (19-12) vs. Southern Cal (22-10), 12:15 p.m.
Marquette (28-6) vs. Vermont (23-10), 2:45 p.m.
Thursday, March 16
At Amway Center
Orlando, Fla.
Duke (26-8) vs. Oral Roberts (30-4), 7:10 p.m.
Tennessee (23-10) vs. Louisiana-Lafayette (26-7), 9:40 p.m.
Second Round
Sunday, March 19
At Nationwide Arena
Columbus, Ohio
Purdue_Texas Southern-Fairleigh Dickinson winner vs. Memphis-FAU winner, TBA
At Greensboro Coliseum
Greensboro, N.C.
Kansas St.-Montana St. winner vs. Kentucky-Providence winner, TBA
At Nationwide Arena
Columbus, Ohio
Marquette-Vermont winner vs. Michigan St.-Southern Cal winner, TBA
Saturday, March 18
At Amway Center
Orlando, Fla.
Tennessee-Louisiana-Lafayette winner vs. Duke-Oral Roberts winner, TBA
At Madison Square Garden
New York
Regional Semifinals
Thursday, March 23
Purdue_Texas Southern-Fairleigh Dickinson_Memphis-FAU winner vs. Tennessee-Louisiana-Lafayette_Duke-Oral Roberts winner, TBA
Marquette-Vermont_Michigan St.-Southern Cal winner vs. Kansas St.-Montana St._Kentucky-Providence winner, TBA
Regional Championship
Saturday, March 25
Semifinal winners, TBA
SOUTH REGIONAL
First Round
Thursday, March 16
At Legacy Arena at BJCC
Birmingham, Ala.
Alabama (29-5) vs. Texas A&M-CC-SE Missouri winner, 2:45 p.m.
Maryland (21-12) vs. West Virginia (19-14), 12:15 p.m.
At Amway Center
Orlando, Fla.
San Diego St. (27-6) vs. Coll. of Charleston (31-3), 3:10 p.m.
Virginia (25-7) vs. Furman (27-7), 12:40 p.m.
At Golden 1 Center
Sacramento, Calif.
Missouri (24-9) vs. Utah St. (26-8), 1:40 p.m.
Arizona (28-6) vs. Princeton (21-8), 4:10 p.m.
Friday, March 17
At Ball Arena
Denver
Creighton (21-12) vs. NC State (23-10), 4 p.m.
Baylor (22-10) vs. UC Santa Barbara (27-7), 1:30 p.m.
Second Round
Saturday, March 18
At Legacy Arena at BJCC
Birmingham, Ala.
Alabama_Texas A&M-CC-SE Missouri winner vs. Maryland-West Virginia winner, TBA
At Amway Center
Orlando, Fla.
Virginia-Furman winner vs. San Diego St.-Coll. of Charleston winner, TBA
At Golden 1 Center
Sacramento, Calif.
Arizona-Princeton winner vs. Missouri-Utah St. winner, TBA
Sunday, March 19
At Ball Arena
Denver
Baylor-UC Santa Barbara winner vs. Creighton-NC State winner, TBA
At KFC Yum! Center
Louisville, Ky.
Regional Semifinals
Friday, March 24
Alabama_Texas A&M-CC-SE Missouri_Maryland-West Virginia winner vs. Virginia-Furman_San Diego St.-Coll. of Charleston winner, TBA
Arizona-Princeton_Missouri-Utah St. winner vs. Baylor-UC Santa Barbara_Creighton-NC State winner, TBA
Regional Championship
Sunday, March 26
Semifinal winners, TBA
MIDWEST REGIONAL
First Round
Thursday, March 16
At Legacy Arena at BJCC
Birmingham, Ala.
Houston (31-3) vs. N. Kentucky (22-12), 9:20 p.m.
Iowa (19-13) vs. Auburn (20-12), 6:50 p.m.
At Wells Fargo Arena
Des Moines, Iowa
Texas A&M (25-9) vs. Penn St. (22-13), 9:55 p.m.
Texas (26-8) vs. Colgate (26-8), 7:25 p.m.
Friday, March 17
At MVP Arena
Albany, N.Y.
Miami (25-7) vs. Drake (27-7), 7:25 p.m.
Indiana (22-11) vs. Kent St. (28-6), 9:55 p.m.
At Greensboro Coliseum
Greensboro, N.C.
Iowa St. (19-13) vs. Mississippi St.-Pittsburgh winner, 3:10 p.m.
Xavier (25-9) vs. Kennesaw St. (26-8), 12:40 p.m.
Second Round
Saturday, March 18
At Legacy Arena at BJCC
Birmingham, Ala.
Houston-N. Kentucky winner vs. Iowa-Auburn winner, TBA
At Wells Fargo Arena
Des Moines, Iowa
Texas-Colgate winner vs. Texas A&M-Penn St. winner, TBA
Sunday, March 19
At MVP Arena
Albany, N.Y.
Indiana-Kent St. winner vs. Miami-Drake winner, TBA
At Greensboro Coliseum
Greensboro, N.C.
Xavier-Kennesaw St. winner vs. Iowa St._Mississippi St.-Pittsburgh winner, TBA
At T-Mobile Center
Kansas City, Mo.
Regional Semifinals
Friday, March 24
Houston-N. Kentucky_Iowa-Auburn winner vs. Indiana-Kent St._Miami-Drake winner, TBA
Texas-Colgate_Texas A&M-Penn St. winner vs. Xavier-Kennesaw St._Iowa St._Mississippi St.-Pittsburgh winner, TBA
Regional Championship
Sunday, March 26
Semifinal winners, TBA
WEST REGIONAL
First Round
Thursday, March 16
At Wells Fargo Arena
Des Moines, Iowa
Kansas (27-7) vs. Howard (22-12), 2 p.m.
Arkansas (20-13) vs. Illinois (20-12), 4:30 p.m.
At Golden 1 Center
Sacramento, Calif.
Northwestern (21-11) vs. Boise St. (24-9), 7:35 p.m.
UCLA (29-5) vs. UNC-Asheville (27-7), 10:05 p.m.
Friday, March 17
At MVP Arena
Albany, N.Y.
Saint Mary’s (Cal.) (26-7) vs. VCU (27-7), 2 p.m.
UConn (25-8) vs. Iona (27-7), 4:30 p.m.
At Ball Arena
Denver
TCU (21-12) vs. Arizona St.-Nevada winner, 10:05 p.m.
Gonzaga (28-5) vs. Grand Canyon (24-11), 7:35 p.m.
Second Round
Saturday, March 18
At Wells Fargo Arena
Des Moines, Iowa
Kansas-Howard winner vs. Arkansas-Illinois winner, TBA
At Golden 1 Center
Sacramento, Calif.
UCLA-UNC-Asheville winner vs. Northwestern-Boise St. winner, TBA
Sunday, March 19
At MVP Arena
Albany, N.Y.
UConn-Iona winner vs. Saint Mary’s (Cal.)-VCU winner, TBA
At Ball Arena
Denver
Gonzaga-Grand Canyon winner vs. TCU_Arizona St.-Nevada winner, TBA
At T-Mobile Arena
Paradise, Nev.
Regional Semifinals
Thursday, March 23
Kansas-Howard_Arkansas-Illinois winner vs. UConn-Iona_Saint Mary’s (Cal.)-VCU winner, TBA
UCLA-UNC-Asheville_Northwestern-Boise St. winner vs. Gonzaga-Grand Canyon_TCU_Arizona St.-Nevada winner, TBA
Regional Championship
Saturday, March 25
Semifinal winners, TBA
FINAL FOUR
At NRG Stadium
Houston
National Semifinals
Saturday, April 1
TBD vs. TBD, TBA
TBD vs. TBD, TBA
National Championship
Monday, April 3
Semifinal winners, TBA
___ AP March Madness coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness and bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25