NCAA Tourney Opens Play Today

The “March Madness” NCAA men’s basketball tournament gets underway today with the First Four games, one year after 2020’s tournament was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Even though it is being played this year, the pandemic is still affecting the tournament, with players, coaches and staff under tight restrictions about where they can go, although they’re not calling it a “bubble,” and with daily Covid testing.

Additionally, nearly all games are being played in the Indianapolis area because of Covid, with limited fan attendance.

NCAA Tournament

East Region

Saturday's Games

No. 5 Colorado (22-8) vs. No. 12 Georgetown (13-12), 11:15 a.m. at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis 

No. 4 Florida State (16-6) vs. No. 13 UNC-Greensboro (21-8), 11:45 a.m. at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

No. 8 LSU (18-9) vs. No. 9 St. Bonaventure (16-4), 12:45 p.m at Assembly Hall in Bloomington

No. 1 Michigan (20-4) vs. No. 16 Mount St. Mary's (12-10) or Texas Southern (16-8), 2 p.m. at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette

No. 2 Alabama (24-6) vs. No. 15 Iona (12-5), 3 p.m. at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

No. 7 Connecticut (15-7) vs. No. 10 Maryland (16-13), 6:10 p.m. at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette

No. 6 BYU (20-6) vs. No. 11 Michigan State (15-12) or UCLA (17-9), 8:40 p.m. at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

No. 3 Texas (19-7) vs. No. 14 Abilene Christian (23-4), 8:50 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis

West Region

Saturday's Games

No. 3 Kansas (20-8) vs. No. 14 Eastern Washington (16-7), 12:15 p.m. at Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis

No. 5 Creighton (20-8) vs. No. 12 UC-Santa Barbara (22-4), 2:30 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis

No. 6 USC (22-7) vs. No. 11 Wichita State (16-5) or Drake (25-4), 3:30 p.m. at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. vs. No. 10 (19-7), 8:57 p.m. at Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis

No. 2 Iowa (21-8) vs. No. 15 Grand Canyon (17-6), 5:25 p.m. at Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis

No. 4 Virginia (18-6) vs. No. 13 Ohio (16-7), 6:15 p.m. at Assembly Hall in Bloomington

No. 8 Oklahoma (15-10) vs. No. 9 Missouri (16-9), 6:25 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis

No. 1 Gonzaga (26-0) vs. No. 16 Appalachian State (17-11) or Norfolk State (16-7), 8:20 p.m. at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

No. 7 Oregon (20-6) vs. No. 10 VCU (19-7), 8:57 p.m. at Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis

South Region

Friday's Games

No. 7 Florida (14-9) vs. No. 10 Virginia Tech (15-6), 11:15 a.m. at Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis

No. 3 Arkansas (22-6) vs. No. 14 Colgate (14-1), 11:45 a.m. at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis

No. 6 Texas Tech (17-10) vs. No. 11 Utah State (20-8), 12:45 p.m. at Assembly Hall in Bloomington

No. 2 Ohio State (21-9) vs. No. 15 Oral Roberts (16-10), 2 p.m. at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette

No. 1 Baylor (22-2) vs. No. 16 Hartford (15-8), 2:30 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis

No. 8 North Carolina (18-10) vs. No. 9 Wisconsin (17-12), 6:10 p.m. at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette

No. 4 Purdue (18-9) vs. No. 13 North Texas (17-9), 6:25 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis

No. 5 Villanova (16-6) vs. No. 12 Winthrop (23-1), 8:57 p.m. at Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis

Midwest Region

Friday's Games

No. 1 Illinois (23-6) vs. No. 16 Drexel (12-7), 12:15 p.m. at Farmers Coliseum, Indianapolis

No. 8 Loyola-Chicago (24-4) vs. No. 9 Georgia Tech (17-8), 3 p.m. at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

No. 5 Tennessee (18-8) vs. No. 12 Oregon State (17-12), 3:30 p.m. at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

No. 4 Oklahoma State (20-8) vs. No. 13 Liberty (23-5), 5:25 p.m. at Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis

No. 2 Houston (24-3) vs. No. 15 Cleveland State (19-7), 6:15 p.m. at Assembly Hall in Bloomington

No. 7 Clemson (16-7) vs. No. 10 Rutgers (15-11), 8:20 p.m. at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

No. 6 San Diego State (23-4) vs. No. 11 Syracuse (16-9), 8:40 p.m. at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

No. 3 West Virginia (18-9) vs. No. 14 Morehead State (23-7), 8:50 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis