College basketball’s fan-friendly and productivity-destroying annual playoff tournament begins Thursday, as teams including defending champs Villanova, Duke, Kansas and UCLA battle it out for the right to cut down the nets at the Final Four in greater Phoenix.
While hardcore fans get the treat of essentially wall-to-wall basketball over the next four days, there are some particularly juicy matchups worth DVRing — or catching during a “long lunch.” Here are some choice Thursday and Friday games (all times Eastern).
(12) Princeton vs. (5) Notre Dame, 12:15 p.m. ET Thursday, CBS
The first matchup of the entire tournament is a good one: The Ivy League champions have played spoiler before — and the Fighting Irish have taken a first-round nose dive in the past. This year’s Notre Dame squad has been getting plenty of love from prognosticators after a strong close to the season, but the Tigers should give a competitive effort.
(12) UNC Wilmington vs. (5) Virginia, 12:40 p.m. ET Thursday, TruTV
The 5-12 matchup often produces upsets, and UNC Wilmington is one of the best small-school “Cinderella” teams this year. But behind coach Tony Bennett’s schemes, Virginia’s defense can be tough to crack.
(13) East Tennessee State vs. (4) Florida, 3:40 p.m. ET Thursday, TruTV
East Tennessee State is also getting some upset love, and their high-octane offense should be a crowd pleaser. And with the game in Orlando, Florida’s fans should show up in force too.
(12) Middle Tennessee vs. (5) Minnesota, 4:00 p.m. ET Thursday, TNT
Minnesota coach Richard Pitino — son of legendary Louisville coach Rick — led his team to a 16-win turnaround from last year. His reward: Middle Tennessee, one of the most dangerous small school teams, which knocked off blue-blood Michigan State as a No. 15 seed last year.
(9) Vanderbilt vs. (8) Northwestern, 4:30 p.m. ET Thursday, TBS
Vanderbilt has 15 losses, the most-ever by any team to receive an at-large bid to the tournament. Northwestern is making its first NCAA appearance ever. Someone’s going to the second round.
(13) Vermont vs. (4) Purdue, 7:27 p.m. ET Thursday, TruTV
Vermont went undefeated in its conference, and memorably knocked off Syracuse on a shot from basically New Hampshire as a 13 seed in 2005. Could they do it again?
(14) Florida Gulf Coast vs. (3) Florida State, 9:20 p.m. ET Thursday, TNT
Florida Gulf Coast earned the moniker Dunk City after a previous appearance where they dunked their way to the second weekend of the tournament as a lowly 15 seed. With this game in Orlando, both teams should bring a lot of fans and plenty of energy.
(10) Oklahoma State vs. (7) Michigan, 12:15 p.m. ET Friday, CBS
After a scary plane accident, Michigan eventually landed in Washington, D.C. just hours before its first game of the Big Ten tournament — and proceeded to win the whole thing. Can they keep the momentum going against a dangerous Oklahoma State team?
(11) Rhode Island vs. (6) Creighton, 4:30 p.m. ET Friday, TBS
Rhode Island needed a late run — and maybe even its Atlantic 10 tournament title — to make it in the field, but with scoring guard E.C. Matthews, they have the talent to make a deep run. But Creighton, despite missing some key players, is a tough out.
(10) Wichita State vs. (7) Dayton, 7:10 p.m. ET Friday, CBS
Wichita State got a 10 seed despite ranking in the top 25 of both polls. They might take that out on Dayton — and could put a scare into Kentucky in a likely round-two game.
(14) Kent State vs. (3) UCLA, 9:57 p.m. ET Friday, TruTV
The last game of the first round might not be close, but UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball — who could be the top pick in the upcoming NBA draft — is worth staying up late for.