March Madness Day 1 - Full Slate Preview

March Madness begins tomorrow - the greatest day of the calendar year. Kick rocks Christmas Morning, give me Creighton/Louisville at 11:15 a.m. (shoutout Central Time Zone - the GOAT time zone of March Madness). And the 2025 Tournament has no shortage of great match-ups and storylines to get fans excited. Let's dive into the first wave of 1st round games tipping off on Thursday 3/20.

9 Creighton vs 8 Louisville

Tip-off: 11:15 am

Lexington, KY

LOU -2.5

The first game to tip-off should be a good one in an 8/9 matchup. Louisville was criminally disrespected by the committee as an 8-seed when they probably were deserving of a 5 or 6. Creighton is coming off a Big East Tournament Championship loss to St. John's, while Louisiville just lost in the ACC Finals to Duke. This is a battle of 1-2 punches - Terrence Edwards and Chucky Hepburn for Louisville, and Ryan Kalkbrenner and Steven Ashworth for Creighton. The X-factor in this one will be the return of Reyne Smith for the Cardinals - if he comes back firing from 3, I don't think Creighton has the firepower to keep up. If he's rusty, the Blue Jays could clip them.

13 Hight Point vs 4 Purdue

Tip-off: 11:40 am

Providence, RI

PUR -7.5

Purdue is back in the NCAAT coming off a runner-up finish in 2024, losing to UConn. Zach Edey has departed, but Matt Painter's team is back with a different construction than previous years. They'll get a red-hot, plucky High Point team that won nearly 30 games, including 14 straight. B1G POTY Braden Smith runs the show for Purdue, and the main beneficiary of his near 9 assists per game has been Trey Kaufman-Renn - who has seen his minutes skyrocket this year and is averaging 20 ppg. High Point has a balanced scoring attack led by Kezza Giffa and D'Maurian Williams, but keep an eye out for Bobby Pettiford - a former Kansas commit who resurrected his career last season at East Carolina. These are 2 teams that play fast and shoot high %'s from the field, and if High Point can get it rolling from 3-pt range, I think they're a really dangerous matchup for Purdue.

14 Montana vs 3 Wisconsin

Tip-off: 12:30 pm

Denver, CO

WIS -16.5

Wisconsin was one of the last teams to finish their regular season after advancing to the Big Ten Tournament Finals, but fell short to Michigan. They wind up with a 3-seed (2 seeds better than Mich), but get the unlucky draw of traveling to altitude to face the Montana Grizzlies. John Tonje was a revelation for the Badgers - a Colorado State/Missouri transfer that made 2nd Team All-B1G and averaged nearly 20 ppg. John Blackwell is a great secondary scorer as well, and they have plenty of size to match-up with bigger teams. Montana is sneakily one of the hotter teams in the nation, taking out a really good Northern Colorado in the Big Sky finals. Money Williams was made for March (I hope they win a game or two so he gains more publicity) and they have a strong supporting cast - especially Joe Pridgen who's built like a bulldog. Wisco is a big favorite, but don't count out the Grizzlies, who are NCAA Tourney veterans with 15 appearances (and checks notes a 2-13 record in those games).

16 SIUE vs 1 Houston

Tip-off: 1:00 pm

Wichita, KS

HOU -28.5

I'm not going to spend a whole lot of time on this one because Houston's resume and statistics speak for themselves - #2 Defense, #4 3-pt %, #5 point differential in one of the better conferences in the country. They need no introduction. And as much as I'd love to wax poetic on the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars - a school I used to play HS summer basketball camps at and is making their first NCAAT appearance ever - I actually wouldn't love to talk about them at all. Ray'Sean Taylor is really good though. Houston's going to win by 72.

16 Alabama State vs 1 Auburn

Tip-off: 1:50 pm

Lexington, KY

AUB -32.5

The #1 overall seed in this year's tournament are the Auburn Tigers. Led by a NPOY Candidate Johni Broome, a star-in-the-making freshman Tahaad Pettiford, and a bunch of 25-year olds that floss their teeth with barbwire - Bruce Pearl once again has a team that looks poised to make a run. I'm very interested to see if they can break through to a National Championship Game, or if foul trouble and poor-shooting continues to haunt them in March. Alabama State won in the First Four on a really awesome last second shot, and that's where their Cinderella Story will end.

12 McNeese vs 5 Clemson

Tip-off: 2:15 pm

Providence, RI

CLEM -7.5

Brad Brownell's Clemson Tigers are back following an Elite 8 run just a year ago with a revamped roster that finished 2nd in the ACC this year. They're led by Chase Hunter, a 16 ppg scoring guard who has a knack for big shots. Ian Schieffelin has March Madness star qualities (he's a funny looking guy that devours offensive boards and makes every hustle play). Cincy transfer Victor Lahkin has been great at times this year, but forgettable at others, so it will be interesting to see his production against a small McNeese team. Speaking of, Will Wade has his team back in the dance for the 2nd straight year. They were a hot upset pick last year, but got the doors blown off by Gonzaga. I liked last year's team a lot better actually - but this is a team that went toe to toe with Alabama and Miss State in the non-conference. Javohn Garcia has been their go-to scorer, but look out for SLU transfer Sincere Parker off the bench if they start slow. Amir Khan is also potentially the greatest vibes guy of a team manager that we've ever seen - appreciate greatness, and don't underestimate the power of a vibes guy when it comes to winning games in March.

11 VCU vs 6 BYU

Tip-off: 3:05 pm

Denver, CO

BYU -2.5

The BYU Cougars were able to maintain their success despite losing head coach Mark Pope to Kentucky in the offseason. This is a team that can flat out score the rock, and they get up and down the court as fast as anyone. They led the Big 12 in 3-pt makes and attempts, shooting them at a respectable 37.4% clip. They are also highly-efficient from the field at 48% (top 30 nationally). Richie Saunders is a fun watch - 6'5 guard that shoots the shit out of the ball (43% 3-pt) and averages 16 a night. On any given night you can see Trevin Knell, Dawson Baker, Kanon Catchings, or Fousseyni Traore go for 15+. The X-factor is projected lottery pick Egor Demin and whether he can handle himself against a hounding VCU defense. The Rams are one of the best defensive units in the country and can make even the best scorers have an off-night. Max Shulga is their offensive leader who stuffs the stat-sheet, but Joe Bamisile has provided secondary scoring. They don't shoot the 3 very well, but when they force turnovers and get out in transition, it's really tough to slow down.

9 Georgia vs 8 Gonzaga

Tip-off: 3:35 pm

Wichita, KS

Zags -6.5

I find it slightly disrespectful to Georgia that this 8/9 matchup has such a wide spread, but when you're playing Mark Few's Bulldogs who have been to 9 STRAIGHT Sweet 16's, it's hard to argue. Gonzaga has been a second weekend staple for nearly a decade - but that will be a tall task with Houston lurking. But this team has the make-up of a contender - good size, solid shooting, a star ball-handler/playmaker in Ryan Nembhard (leads the nation with nearly 10 assists per game). What they've lacked all season is toughness - but perhaps following a MWC Tourney win over Saint Mary's, they've found some toughness. But don't count out Georgia - a team that has had to take some lumps in a loaded SEC and finished just 8-10 in conference. But this is a team with a lot of size, strength and athleticism. Star Freshman Asa Newell will likely be a 1st round pick after averaging 16/7 and 2 stocks a night with a promising jump shot. They will need their guards to step up in a major way on both sides of the ball by slowing down Nembhard and Khalif Battle, plus relieving pressure offensively for the forwards who will have to deal with Graham Ike, Ajayi, Gregg, and Huff all night.

15 Wofford vs 2 Tennessee

Tip-off: 5:50 pm

Lexington, KY

Tenn -18.5

I'm not one to completely count out a 15-seed against a 2-seed after seeing the Saint Peter's, Norfolk State's, and Florida Gulf Coast's of the 21st century. And as a big fan of Spartanburg South Carolina, I'd love nothing more than to see the Terriers make a run. That being said, this is a team that finished 6th in the SoCon with a 10-8 record before going on a great run in the conference tourney. They're 19-15, they lost to Duke by 51, their Center shoots FT's granny-style. If they beat Tennessee, I'll take that L.

10 Arkansas vs 7 Kansas

Tip-off: 6:10 pm

Providence, RI

KU -5.5

One of the most intriguing match-ups of the Opening Round in my opinion between teams that entered the season with lofty expectations, have been broadly disappointing, and will leave this game feeling really bad about 2025. It's also a Battle of the Titans coaching-wise between Calipari and Self. There are injury concerns for Arkansas - leading scorer Adou Thiero will not be playing in this game. But the Hogs hope to have Boogie Fland suited up for the first time in 2 months. Fland averaged nearly 15 ppg in his 18 appearances, but worth noting they were 2-7 against Power 5 opponents in games he played in (0-5 in SEC play). You know the story with Kansas: Hunter Dickinson Dajuan Harris, and KJ Adams are back, their transfers have had varying levels of success (Zeke Mayo on the high-end, AJ Storr on the rock-bottom-end), and an exciting freshman that doesn't play enough minutes because Dickinson refuses to enter the workforce in Flory Bidunga. I think the Jayhawks take care of a bruised up Arkansas team, earning the right to get their skulls mashed in by St. John's.

13 Yale vs 4 Texas A&M

Tip-off: 6:25 pm

Denver, CO

A&M - 7.5

For those suffering from March Madness brain like myself, you can't help but notice a feeling of déjà vu with this matchup. That's because last season, the very same Yale Bulldogs took out another SEC big dog in Auburn in the Round of 64. The Ivy League has won in each of the past two NCAAT's between Yale in 24' and Princeton beating Arizona in 23'. Danny Wolf now plays for Michigan, but Yale returned a lot of production and dominated the Ivy to a 13-1 conference record. John Poulakidas is a stud - 19.2 ppg on 45/41/89 splits. Nick Townsend is a do-it-all 6'7 forward getting 15.5/7.2/3.5 with 26 3pms at a 50% clip. Bez Mbang (13.5/5.5/5.5) stuffs the stat sheet and hits 37% of his 3's. This team lost Danny Wolf, and might be even more dangerous. Especially against a Texas A&M team that doesn't have a ton of size, they don't shoot 3's well whatsoever, and were near the bottom of the SEC in ppg. What A&M does do, is get inside of their opponent's arse on defense, set up camp and stay for a spell. They also absolutely punish opponents on the glass - over 1.5 more offensive boards per game than any team in the country (16.2) and 4th in the nation rebounding overall. They also have an elite shot-creator in Wade Taylor IV who has been pitiful from the field this year (35%/33% from 3) but has a knack for hitting the clutchest of shots.

11 Drake vs 6 Missouri

Tip-off: 6:35 pm

Wichita, KS

MIZ -6.5

To call this matchup a clash of styles wouldn't even begin to explain it. This is like if Reba McEntire made a song with the Wu-Tang Clan. Dennis Gates' Tigers play at the highest tempo possible - leading to them being 4th in the SEC in ppg and 9th in the nation. Drake, on the other hand, wants to grind the game to a halt. They are the only team in the country averaging under 62 possessions per game, and in their 3 Missouri Valley conference tournament games, that number came all the way down to 58. Long possessions on both ends of the floor is what Ben McCollum (future Iowa Head Coach please God) wants his team to do. Bennett Stirtz is one of four players that followed Coach McCollum from Division II Northwest Missouri State this year, and all he did was become the MVC Player of the Year leading his team to a 30-3 season. Mitch Mascari is a scary shooter on the wing while Daniel Abreu, Cam Manyawu, and Tavion Banks piece together an under-sized frontcourt. Mizzou is led by Duke Transfer Mark Mitchell, but really have a big 3 including Caleb Grill (77 made 3's in 28 games off the bench, 40.5% clip) and Tamar Bates (50/40/90 club, 13.4 ppg). My prediction is if this game is 67 possessions or more, it means Missouri won. If Drake can keep it in the 60-65 possession range, I like their chances.

10 Utah State vs 7 UCLA

Tip-off: 8:25 pm

Lexington, KY

UCLA -5.5

I love a late night 7/10 match-up - every year it seems like these games give us some great finishes. Even though I'm less excited about this particular 7/10 than I am of others, this is still a rock-solid matchup between teams that are kind of flying under the radar right now. UCLA is a very good team that finished 4th in a strong B1G conference in their first year. Mick Cronin is a bit of a whiner, but gotta give credit where it's due and he did a nice job turning this season around. They were the best defensive team in the B1G on a ppg basis, but they have struggled at times defending opposing bigs this season. They make up for it by forcing turnovers and getting steals - largely in thanks to Kobe Johnson, Skyy Clark, and Sebastian Mack. Tyler Bilodeau is a fun stretch-four that leads this team in scoring and 3pt shooting. Utah State is criminally overlooked in my book as a team that went 26-7 with zero bad losses. They shoot 49% from the field, make the most 3's in the MWC, top 10 in the nation in assists, and a shockingly good offensive rebounding team. Look out for the 1-2 punch of Ian Martinez (17 ppg, 38% from 3) and Mason Falslev (15/6/4, 2.3 steals per game).

15 Omaha vs 2 St. John's

Tip-off: 8:45 pm

Providence, RI

SJU -18.5

Omaha is a really fun 15-seed and has a very fun story. I love the trash-can kicking thing after wins, they won 18 of 21 to finish the season, won the Summit League and were fun to watch in the conference tourney - so much good about Omaha. It saddens me that they have to be steamrolled by St. John's. It honestly crushes me. But St. John's is both the unstoppable force and the immovable object in this match-up, and I'm afraid Pitino's squad is going to wreak havoc on the poor Mavericks of Omaha.

12 UC San Diego vs 5 Michigan

Tip-off: 9:00 pm

Denver, CO

MICH -2.5

Yes, you're reading that spread correctly. Mighty Michigan, who just won the Big 10 Tournament, have multiple Top 25 wins, and boast two 7-footers combining for about 30 ppg, 17 rpg, and 3 blocks a night, are a measly 2.5 point favorite against the newly-eligible, Division II-transitioned UC San Diego Tritons. Off the top, Michigan was seeded so poorly and should have dodged this matchup. But in this spot, on paper, the Wolverines should handle business. They defend well, are solid offensively, have two incredible post players with complimentary skillsets, are well-coached. But UCSD is no typical 12-seed. They were 30-4 on the season, and didn't play the greatest schedule but beat a great Utah State team, James Madison, La Salle, and played SDSU close on the road. They hoist 3's at a rapid rate, they turn you over and score off those TOs better than anyone, and they rarely give their opponent takeaways. They're small - their biggest player that plays real minutes is 6'8 - but they have a potential breakout star in New Zealand native Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones. This is probably the most fascinating first-round matchup in the entire tournament to me. The contradicting styles, the vastly different size/builds of the rosters, and the opposite-ends-of-the-spectrum programs going head-to-head make this a #must-watch for me.

14 UNC-Wilmington vs 3 Texas Tech

Tip-off: 9:10 pm

Wichita, KS

TT -14.5

The Final game of the night will be between the Seahawks of UNC-Wilmington and the Red Raiders of Texas Tech. UNCW is a program I love seeing in March Madness - I remember watching them as a kid thinking they had cool jerseys, cool mascot, cool players. They're a team that has played a pretty weak schedule in the grand scope of the NCAA, but they had an excellent showing in the CAA tournament to earn a berth. Donovan Newby is a player to watch for the Seahawks - a team that excels on the offensive glass. Texas Tech also loves to get on the offensive boards, so it will be interesting to see who wins the rebound battle in this one. Texas Tech is a very good offensive team - they rank inside the Top 3 of the Big 12 in fg %, 3pm, 3 pt %, FT %, and points per game. JT Toppin, younger brother of Dayton star and NPOY Obi Toppin, is a sensational talent. He transferred from New Mexico (imagine how fucking good that team would be with Dent, Toppin, and Junior Joseph) and averaged 18 ppg with over 9 rpg. Elijah Hawkins is an excellent playmaker at the point guard position, while Chance McMillan (14.2 ppg, 43% 3 pt) and Darrion Williams (14.3 ppg, 5 rpg) provide elite secondary scoring on the wings. I really like this Tech roster and think they have the makings of an Elite 8 team if they can stay out of foul trouble and avoid injury.

PHEW - that was a lot. But it's for the love of the game. Come back tomorrow for a breakdown of the Friday Round of 64 slate.