South Region Bracket Breakdown
Friday
No. 8 Nebraska vs. No. 9 Texas A&M, 6:50 p.m. ET on TNT
The No.8 vs. No.9 seed matchup is always one of the closest matchups in March Madness, and this matchup should follow suit. Nebraska and Texas A&M both earned themselves at large bids with Nebraska being led by Keisei Tominaga, who is averaging 14.9 points on 37.2% shooting behind the arc. The Cornhuskers’ main threat is the 3-point shot, as they have hit a total of 312 threes, with 71 coming from Tominaga. Texas A&M, who are the No.9 seed, are led by its backcourt duo of Wade Taylor IV and Tyrece Radford, who average 18.9 and 16 points per game. The Aggies pride themselves on the glass, as they average 42.9 rebounds per game, which ranks third in the nation.
Prediction: Texas A&M.
No. 1 Houston vs. No. 16 Longwood, 9:20 p.m. ET on TNT
The second overall No.1 seed was awarded to the Houston Cougars, as they finished the season with a 30-4 record. Longwood earned a bid by winning the Big South Conference tournament. Houston is led by L.J. Cryer, Jamal Shead, and J’Wan Roberts. Cryer leads the team with 15.7 points per game. Shead averages 6.2 assists and 2.3 steals per game this year, and Roberts averages 7.0 rebounds per game. Longwood is led by senior Walyn Napper, averaging 14.6 points, 4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game.
Prediction: Houston
No. 4 Duke vs. No. 13 Vermont, 7:10 p.m. ET on CBS
The Duke Blue Devils earned themselves the No.4 seed after having a disappointing ACC Tournament run. Vermont won the America East Tournament for the third consecutive year, earning themselves another bid. Duke has five scorers averaging over 10 points per game: Kyle Filipwoski with 17.1, Jeremy Roach with 14, Jared McCain with 13.4, Mark Mitchell with 12.3, and Tyrese Proctor with 10.5. Vermont does not have one pure scorer, as TJ Long averages 12.2 points and 4 rebounds, Shamir Bogues with 11 points and 5.3 rebounds, and Aaron Deloney with 10.9 points and 3 assists.
Prediction: Duke
No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 James Madison, 9:40 p.m. ET on CBS
The Badgers earned themselves an at-large bid, after losing the Big Ten Championship, to Illinois. The Dukes, who boast a 31-3 record this year, won the Sun Belt Conference tournament. AJ Storr is leading the Badgers in scoring as he is averaging 16.9 points per game. Terrence Edwards Jr. is leading the Dukes with 17.4 points. Both teams will need their supporting cast to step up, as each team will look to limit the opposing team’s star player.
Prediction: James Madison
Thursday
No. 3 Kentucky vs. No. 14 Oakland, 7:10 p.m. ET on CBS
The Kentucky Wildcats received an at-large bid and Oakland won the Horizon Conference tournament. The Wildcats are led by Antonio Reeves, who is averaging 20 points per game. The two most impactful players for the Wildcats though, have been their two freshmen that come off the bench. Rob Dillingham is averaging 15.4 points and Reed Sheppard is averaging 12.8 points, on 52.5% shooting from behind the arc. Oakland is led by Trey Townsend, averaging 16.9 points and 7.8 rebounds. The Golden Grizzlies also have Jack Gohlke, who has only eight attempted shots that have not been three-pointers. Gohlke is 121-327 from three-point land and is 4-8 from inside the arc.
Prediction: Kentucky
No. 6 Texas Tech vs. No. 11 North Carolina State, 9:40 p.m. ET on CBS
After NC State entered its conference out of the bubble, the Wolfpack won five games in five days to win the ACC Tournament and receive an automatic bid. Texas Tech received an at-large bid. The Raiders are led by Pop Isaacs, who is averaging 15.9 points. Darrion Williams is led by 11.4 points and 7.5 rebounds. The Wolfpack is a 2 headed monster, led by DJ Horne and DJ Burns Jr.. Burns Jr. has become a fan favorite and is averaging 12.4 points per game and 4 rebounds.
Prediction: Texas Tech
Friday
No. 2 Marquette vs. No. 15 Western Kentucky, 2 p.m. ET on TBS
Marquette comes into this tournament with a recent loss to the overall number 1 seed, UConn, in the Big East Championship. Western Kentucky, though, comes into this tournament with a CUSA Conference championship. Marquette is led by Kam Jones, averaging 16.8 points, Tyler Kolek, averaging 15 points and 7.6 assists, and big man Iso Ighodaro. Western Kentucky is led by Don McHenry, who is averaging 15.2 points per game. Western Kentucky also has five players averaging 4-6 rebounds per game.
Prediction: Marquette
No. 7 Florida vs. No. 10 Colorado, 4:30 p.m. ET on TBS
Florida, earning an at-large bid from the SEC Conference, will take on Colorado, who won their First Four game against Boise State. Florida will have to figure out how to win without its star big man Micah Handlogten. Florida is led by Walter Clayton Jr., averaging 17.1 points, Zyon Pullin who is averaging 15.6 points, and Tyrese Samuel averaging 14 points and 7.5 rebounds. Colorado is led by KJ Simpson, who is averaging 19.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.8 rebounds. Tristan Da Silva is averaging 15.9 points per game as well.
Prediction: Colorado
Midwest Region Bracket Breakdown
Friday
No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 16 Grambling, 7:25 p.m. ET on TBS
Purdue, who earned an at-large bid, will take on Grambling State, who defeated Montana State in the First Four. Purdue is led by Zach Edey, averaging 24.4 points and 11.7 rebounds this season, as he continues to improve. In Grambling’s 88-81 overtime win over Montana State, the squad was led by Jimel Cofer, who usually gets under 10 minutes per game, but played 22 minutes and had 19 points. Antwan Burnett and Jourdan Smith each had 18.
Prediction: Purdue
No. 8 Utah State vs. No. 9 TCU, 9:55 p.m. ET on TBS
Utah State and TCU each earned themselves at-large bids, coming from the Mountain West Conference and Big 12. The Aggies are led by Great Osobor, who is averaging 18 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Darius Brown II is averaging 12.4 points and 6.5 assists for Utah State. TCU is led by Emanuel Miller, who is averaging just under 15.9 points and 5.9 rebounds.
Prediction: Utah State
Thursday
No. 5 Gonzaga vs. No. 12 McNeese State, 7:25 p.m. ET on TBS
In arguably the most enticing matchup of the first-round games, Gonzaga and McNeese State will face off. Gonzaga, who earned themselves an at-large bid from the West Coast Conference, is led by Graham Ike, averaging 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds, and Anton Watson, averaging 14.4 points and 7.1 rebounds. The Zags also have Creighton transfer Ryan Nembhard, averaging 12.9 points and 6.7 assists. McNeese State, with former LSU Coach Will Wade, has led them to a 30-3 record, and a Southland Conference Championship. The Cowboys are led by Shahada Wells, averaging 17.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. Christian Shumate is averaging 11.9 points and 9.5 rebounds for the Cowboys.
Prediction: Gonzaga
No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 Samford, 9:55 p.m. ET on TBS
The injury-riddled Jayhawks got themselves an at-large bid, and Samford won the Southern Conference tournament. The Jayhawks will be without leading scorer, Kevin McCullar Jr., as he has been ruled out for the tournament due to injury. Michigan transfer Hunter Dickinson is expected to be back, averaging 18 points and 10.8 rebounds this season. Samford is led by Achor Achor, averaging 15.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
Prediction: Kansas
No. 3 Creighton vs. No. 14 Akron, 1:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Creighton received an at-large bid from the Big East Conference, and Akron won its conference championship in the MAC. Creighton has its trio that will need to step up in this tournament: Baylor Scheierman, averaging 18.4 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists, Trey Alexander, averaging 17.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.8 assists, and Ryan Kalkbrenner, averaging 17.1 points and 7.4 rebounds. Akron is led by Enrique Freeman, averaging 18.6 points and 12.9 rebounds. Ali Ali is also averaging 15.6 points per game.
Prediction: Creighton
No. 6 South Carolina vs. No. 11 Oregon, 4 p.m. ET on TNT
South Carolina earned an at-large bid from the SEC Conference, and Oregon won the Pac-12 Conference tournament to earn themselves a spot in the Big Dance. The Gamecocks are led by Meechie Johnson, averaging 13.8 points and 4.2 rebounds, while B.J. Mack is averaging 13.6 points and 4.7 rebounds. The Ducks are led by N’Faly Dante, averaging 16.2 points and 8.8 rebounds. Jermaine Cousinard is averaging 15.4 points for the Ducks.
Prediction: Oregon
No. 7 Texas vs. No. 10 Colorado State, 6:50 p.m. ET on TNT
Texas rewarded themselves with an at-large bid, and Colorado State is coming off a dominant win against Virginia in the First Four. Texas is led by Max Abmas and Dylan Disu. Abmas, an Oral Roberts transfer, is averaging 17.1 points, and Dylan Disu is averaging 15.8 points. In the Rams win against Virginia, Joel Scott led the team with 23 points and 11 rebounds.
Prediction: Texas
No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 15 Saint Peter’s, 9:20 p.m. ET on TNT
Tennessee earned themselves the 2 seed with an at-large bid, and Saint Peter’s won the MAAC tournament. Tennessee is led by Dalton Knecht, the transfer from Northern Colorado, who is averaging 21.1 points per game. Jonas Aidoo and Zakai Zeigler are both averaging 11.9 points. Saint Peter’s, who made a famous Elite 8 run in 2022, is led by Corey Washington, who is averaging 16.5 points and 6.6 rebounds.
Prediction: Tennessee
West Regional Bracket:
Thursday
No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 16, Wagner, 2:45 p.m. ET on CBS
Heading into the West Region, North Carolina gets the No. 1 seed after coming off a loss in the ACC Tournament Final to North Carolina State. They will face Wagner at 12:45, Thursday, in Charlotte. Armando Bacot and R.J. Davis will lead the Tar Heels, as they have done all season, and look for a dominant opening win.
Prediction: North Carolina
No. 8 Mississippi State vs. No. 9 Michigan State, 12:15 p.m. ET on CBS
The opening game of the 2024 March Madness Tournament will be held between the Bulldogs and Spartans. Led by Tyson Walker, Michigan State looks to seal the first upset of the tournament. However, Josh Hubbard, who is averaging 17.1 points per game, can help take the opening game victory. Mississippi State’s stifling defense has let up less than 70 points per game this year and looks to complement Hubbard’s offense.
Prediction: Michigan State
No. 2 Arizona vs. No. 15 Long Beach State, 2 p.m. ET on TBS
Moving away from Charlotte, we head to Salt Lake City Utah, which will be an appearing city in the first round of the tournament this Thursday. The Wildcats are a threat to any team; however, have some interesting losses against Oregon and USC this past month. Long Beach State looks to commit a massive upset led by Marcus Tsohonis. Tsohonis averages 17.8 points per game.
Prediction: Arizona
No. 7 Dayton vs. No. 10 Nevada, 4:30 p.m. ET on TBS
Whoever the winner between the Wildcats and Beach is will take on the winner of either the Dayton Flyers or Nevada Wolfpack. The Flyers who have had inconsistent play towards the end of their season are led by DaRon Holmes II who is averaging 20.4 points per game and has a 54.5% shooting percentage. In comparison to the Wolfpack, who finished 10-2 in its last twelve games, Dayton will need to stop guard duo Jarod Lucas and Kenan Blackshear, as they dominate the floor.
Prediction: Nevada
Friday
No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 College of Charleston, 7:35 p.m. ET on truTV
The second-best scoring team in the country, that being the Alabama Crimson Tide (90.8 ppg), will face off against a Charleston team that also averages high points per game as well (80.5 ppg). The Tide, led by Mark Sears, will need to bounce back from its 2-4 record in its past six games. The Cougars on the other hand are “red hot”, as they are on a 12-game winning streak heading into the tournament.
Prediction: Alabama
No. 5 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 12 Grand Canyon (GCU), 10:05 p.m. ET on truTV
Playing in the same Spokane arena as Alabama/Charleston will be GCU and Saint Mary’s. The GCU Lopes have tallied 29 wins this season, with its best against the current No. 5 seed in the tournament San Diego State. The Lopes are averaging close to 80 points per game, in part due to Tyon Grant-Foster. Grant-Foster averages 19.8 points per game and shoots 44.8% from the field. The Gaels will look to stop the GCU offense as they only allowed 58.7 points per game in the regular season. Center, Mitchell Saxen will lead Saint Mary’s with his inside scoring and high field goal percentage.
Prediction: Saint Mary’s
No. 3 Baylor vs. No. 14 Colgate, 12:40 p.m. ET on truTV
The Colgate Raiders are looking for their first win in March Madness history as they are 0-6 coming into their 7th appearance. Braeden Smith will be the spark for the Raiders as he leads in points per game, assists per game, and steals per game. Overall this year, Colgate has struggled against top-25 opponents as they have been blown out by Illinois and Arizona earlier this season. On the bright side, the Raiders are 17-1 in their last eighteen games. How will the Baylor Bears be able to stop this hot streak? The answer is Ja’Kobe Walter and RayJ Dennis. Walter and Dennis are the two guard leaders for the Bears as they have kept their team in close games against top-25 opponents. Although that record against those top-25 opponents is 7-4, without these two playmakers, the Bears most likely will not have more than three wins.
Prediction: Baylor
No. 6 Clemson vs. No. 11 New Mexico, 3:10 p.m. ET on truTV
To end off the West region, we have arguably the best first-round game of the entire tournament. Led by Syracuse transfer, Joseph Girard III, and one of the top centers in college basketball PJ Hall, the Tigers will go far in this tournament. Girard is averaging close to 16 points a game and is shooting over 40% from three. His shooting and driving ability will prove difficult to match up against. However, look for PJ Hall to continuously dominate the paint and glass. This duo, complemented by the depth on the bench, can be a threat in March Madness. New Mexico on the other hand, shows no signs of backing down against Clemson. The Lobos are led by Jaelen House, who is averaging 16.1 points per game and is shooting 33.1% beyond the arc. JT Toppin will be matched up against Hall and this matchup on the inside will be physical.
Prediction: Clemson
East Regional Bracket:
Friday
No. 1 Connecticut vs. No. 16 Stetson, 2:45 p.m. ET on CBS
Heading into the Eastern Regional Bracket as the No. 1 seed is the defending champions, the
UConn Huskies. One of the most dominant teams in the nation, led by senior guard Tristen Newton who is averaging 15 points per game and 7 rebounds per game, this team has only lost 3 games the entire season with a 28-3 record, and they are looking to run through this tournament. Stetson came into this one as a 16 seed after winning the ASUN tournament. Stetson has some key wins this season against UCF and Austin Peay.
Prediction: UConn
No. 8 Florida Atlantic vs. No. 9 Northwestern, 12:15 p.m. ET on CBS
Also playing that Friday in Brooklyn is another 8-9 seed matchup between FAU and Northwestern. The Owls are led by guard Johnell Davis; he is scoring 18.2 points per game with 3 assists. FAU has shown some great fight this year as they beat the two-seed Arizona Wildcats earlier this year. Boo Buie, a fifth-year senior and a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, leads the Northwestern Wildcats, having an impressive 18.9 points per game this season. As they enter the upcoming tournament, the Wildcats are on first-round exit radar due to their reliance on Buie to be their main scorer. If Buie has an off-game, it raises the question of where their scoring
support will come from.
Prediction: Northwestern
No. 5 San Diego State vs. No. 12 Alabama-Birmingham, 1:45 p.m. ET on TNT
The San Diego State Aztecs are going to rely on Jaedon LeDee to win this first-round game. LeDee puts up 21.1 points per game and shoots 55.7% from the field. The Aztecs will look to go on another final four-run like last year.
Prediction: San Diego State
No. 4 Auburn vs. No. 13 Yale, 4:15 p.m. ET on TNT
The No. 7 seed in the country, and fourth seed in the tournament, Auburn Tigers look to start their march madness run against the Yale Bulldogs. The Tigers have gone 7-1 in their last eight games and look to score big with forward Johni Broome. Broome averages 16 points per game and will need to step over the Bulldog defense who averages 66.6 points per game led up.
Prediction: Auburn Tigers
Thursday
No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 14 Morehead State, 3:10 p.m. ET on truTV
The Fighting Illini will take on Riley Minix and the Eagles in each of their first games of the tournament. Minix averages a tall 20.8 points per game with 54.6% shooting to go along with it. Illinois on the other hand is led by Terrence Shannon Jr. who leads the team in scoring at 21.5 points per game. All-Big Ten First Team selection Marcus Domask will need to continue his all-around game for the Fighting Illini to make a run. He’s averaging 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Prediction: Illinois
No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 15 South Dakota State, 7:35 p.m. ET on truTV
Iowa State will take on South Dakota State in Omaha on Thursday. Iowa State went 24-7 during the regular season along with a 13-5 conference record. The team is led by Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey, as they average nearly identical stats. Gilbert, who is a junior, averages 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Lipsey, who is a sophomore, averages 12.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.8 steals per game. The Cyclones also dealt the Houston Cougars one of its three losses this year.
Prediction: Iowa State
No. 6 Brigham Young vs. No. 11 Duquesne, 12:40 p.m. ET on truTV
BYU will play Duquesne in the second game of the tournament on Thursday. BYU’s offense averages 81.8 points per game which is the 26th best in the country. Led by guard Jaxon Robinson, the Cougars will need to cut short the Dukes eight-game winning streak. Duquesne comes off with a win against Dayton and a conference tournament victory over VCU.
Prediction: BYU
No. 7 Washington State vs. No. 10 Drake, 10:05 p.m. ET on truTV
The Washington State Cougars come into the tournament after a Pac-12 semifinal loss; however, the Cougars have beaten the No.2 seed Arizona Wildcats twice. On the other hand, the Bulldogs come in after defeating the No.1 seed (in the conference) Indiana State in the MVC conference final. It will be a one-man show for Drake as Tucker Devries averages 21.8 points per game, 3.6 assists per game, and shoots 44.8% from the field.
Prediction: Washington State
