Preview Roundups
March 22, 2019
Iowa at Cincinnati 12:15 PM ET
Seventh-seeded Cincinnati looks to ride the momentum from an American Athletic Conference Tournament title as it makes the short drive to Columbus, Ohio to take on 10th seed Iowa in the first round of the South Regional on Friday. The Bearcats knocked off Houston 69-57 in Sunday’s championship game of the American behind 33 points from conference player of the year Jarron Cumberland, but defense may be the key to its NCAA Tournament hopes.
Oklahoma at Mississippi 12:40 PM ET
In his first season as coach of Ole Miss, Kermit Davis has turned a team which finished last in the SEC last campaign – and was predicted to do so again in a preseason poll - into a squad that claimed an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for this first time since 2002. The eighth-seeded Rebels will square off against No. 9 seed Oklahoma on Friday in the first round of the South Region in Columbia, South Carolina.
Northern Kentucky at Texas Tech 1:30 PM ET

After an impressive run to the Elite Eight a year ago, Texas Tech has earned a No. 3 seed for the second consecutive time and hopes to make another deep foray into the NCAA Tournament. The Red Raiders will begin their quest Friday against No. 14 seed Northern Kentucky in a West Region first-round matchup in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

UC Irvine at Kansas State 2:00 PM ET

Kansas State advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight as a ninth seed a season ago, and with still virtually the same roster, is aiming for its first Final Four appearance in 55 years as a No. 4 seed in the South Region. The Wildcats open that quest Friday in San Jose, Calif., as they take on 13th-seeded UC Irvine.

Colgate at Tennessee 2:45 PM ET
Tennessee has shown all season it is a Final Four contender, and will be eager to atone for an ugly performance in the SEC championship game when it opens the NCAA Tournament in the first round of the South Region on Friday as a No. 2 seed against No. 15 Colgate in Columbus, Ohio. The Volunteers lost 84-64 to Auburn on Sunday, but have defeated three top-five teams this season and feature SEC Player of the Year Grant Williams along with All-SEC honoree Admiral Schofield.
Gardner-Webb at Virginia 3:10 PM ET
With a victory in the Big South championship game, Gardner-Webb earned its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since the program moved to Division I in 2000. Their reward is a No. 16 seed and a South Region meeting with No. 1 seed Virginia on Friday in Columbia, S.C.
Arizona State at Buffalo 4:00 PM ET
The mentor and the protege will match wits Friday when No. 11 seed Arizona State and sixth-seeded Buffalo square off in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Tulsa, Okla. Nate Oats, who has guided the Bulls to their most successful season, got his start under Bobby Hurley, who led Buffalo to their first tournament appearance before taking over the Sun Devils.
Oregon at Wisconsin 4:30 PM ET
Oregon did not have the look of an NCAA Tournament team as recently as a month ago, sitting at 15-12 after dropping three straight on a winless road trip. The 12th-seeded Ducks have done nothing but win since, and they'll attempt to parlay an eight-game winning streak into a deep run in the Big Dance beginning Friday when they face No. 5 seed Wisconsin in the first round of the South Region in San Jose, Calif.
Washington at Utah St. 6:50 PM ET
Two teams trending in opposite directions meet Friday in a first-round Midwest Region matchup of the NCAA Tournament as ninth-seeded Washington faces No. 8 seed Utah State in Columbus, Ohio. Washington won the Pac-12 regular-season title but was 4-3 in its final seven games, while surging Utah State has won 10 straight and 17 of its last 18 contests.
North Dakota State at Duke 7:10 PM ET

Freshman sensation Zion Williamson makes his NCAA Tournament debut when top-seeded Duke takes on No. 16 seed North Dakota State in the first round of the East Region on Friday in Columbia, S.C.  The Blue Devils are seeking their sixth national title, while the Bison are playing in the NCAA Tournament for just the fourth time.

Georgia St. at Houston 7:20 PM ET
Third-seeded Houston can match the program record for wins in a season set in 1984-85, when it takes on Sun Belt champion Georgia State in the first round of the Midwest Region Friday in Tulsa, Okla. The Cougars lost to Cincinnati 69-57 in the American Athletic Conference championship game on Sunday, after beating the Bearcats twice in the regular season, and know they must be focused as the NCAA Tournament begins against the dangerous 14th-seeded Panthers.
Liberty at Mississippi State 7:27 PM ET
Back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009, Mississippi State is hoping to make its return a memorable one. The fifth-seeded Bulldogs begin their journey in San Jose, Calif., with Friday’s first-round East Region matchup against 12th-seeded Liberty, which tied its school record with 28 wins and boasts one of the nation’s top defenses.
Memphis at Creighton 8:30 PM ET
Creighton has just a two-point loss in more than a month of otherwise winning basketball, and the second-seeded Bluejays look to keep their successful run going when they host third seed Memphis in the second round of the NIT on Friday. After winning their final five games of the regular season and falling to Xavier 63-61 in the Big East Tournament, Creighton got past Loyola Chicago in the opening round of the NIT on Tuesday.
Iona at North Carolina 9:20 PM ET
Iona takes on North Carolina in the first round of the Midwest Region on Friday from Columbus, Ohio. The 16th-seeded Gaels earned their way to the NCAA Tournament by winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference for the fourth consecutive season, while the Tar Heels are a No. 1 seed despite falling to Duke in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament.
Central Florida at VCU 9:40 PM ET
Central Florida earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history and received the ninth seed in the East Region, where it will face No. 8 VCU in a first-round matchup on Friday in Columbia, South Carolina. After being predicted to finish seventh in the conference in a preseason poll, VCU shattered expectations and claimed the Atlantic 10 regular-season title with a 16-2 league record.
Ohio St. at Iowa State 9:50 PM ET
Iowa State no doubt helped its NCAA Tournament seeding with a 78-66 victory over Kansas in the Big 12 Tournament championship game, landing the No. 6 seed in the Midwest Region and drawing 11th-seeded Ohio State in a first-round game Friday in Tulsa, Okla. The Buckeyes, considered a bubble team entering the weekend, helped solidify a spot in the field for the second straight year with a win over Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament.
Saint Louis at Virginia Tech 9:57 PM ET
Virginia Tech received a No. 4 seed - the highest ever under coach Buzz Williams - in the NCAA Tournament, and also learned that Justin Robinson will be back from an injury to play a first-round game in the East Region against 13th-seeded Saint Louis on Friday in San Jose, Calif. Robinson has been sidelined for 12 games with an injured foot.