The Athletic College Basketball Staff
March 18, 2022 at 3:57 PM EDT
Who is next?
A day after No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s beat No. 2 seed Kentucky, after No. 12 seed Richmond beat No. 5 seed Iowa and another No. 12 seed, New Mexico State, beat No. 5 seed UConn, we get ready to do it all over again with 16 more first-round NCAA Tournament games.
So far, though, chalk has been the big winner: No. 7 Ohio State and No. 2 Auburn won the first two game of the day, and will be followed by No. 3 Texas Tech and No. 3 Purdue. Games of interest that are coming up: No. 11 seed Notre Dame plays No. 6 Alabama (4:15 p.m., TNT), tries to become latest First Four team to make a run; and No. 6 Texas takes on ACC tournament champ/No. 11 seed Virginia Tech (4:30 p.m., TBS).
Here is a full schedule and how to watch each game.
Read on below for a ton of bracket analysis and tips. And here’s a printable bracket to follow along.
- Seth Davis picks every game today against the spread
- Seth Davis reveals his entire bracket
- Every team Eamonn Brennan thinks can win the national championship
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March 18, 2022 at 3:57 PM EDT
Texas Tech throttles Montana State 97-62
The Red Raiders left no doubt Friday in their blowout win over Montana State. They shot nearly 70 percent overall and 60 percent from 3, along with 23 assists and dominance on the glass. Kevin Obanor became only the third Texas Tech player since 2010 to record a double-double in the NCAA Tournament.
Texas Tech leaders: Terrence Shannon Jr. (20 points, six assists), Bryson Williams (20 points), Adonis Arms (15 points, five rebounds)
Montana State leader: Xavier Bishop (12 points)
What’s next: Texas Tech will play the winner of Alabama-Notre Dame on Sunday
Matthew Gutierrez·
Staff Writer, NFL
March 18, 2022 at 3:53 PM EDT
St. Peter’s Shaheen Holloway was a gametime decision
And is probably not getting a McDonald’s deal out of this Cinderella run.
Kyle Tucker·
Staff Writer, Kentucky
Shaheen Holloway’s food poisoning came from McDonald’s, he says.
“I got fries and a shake and it didn’t go well for me. I was down for the count.” Came to Indy two days late, got an IV yesterday.
“No matter what happened, I wasn’t missing this game for anything.”
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) March 18, 2022
March 18, 2022 at 3:44 PM EDT
The Blue Hens are chirping, though Nova is the better team
Spring is almost here (Sunday, March 20, let us rejoice!) and the Blue Hens were out chirping, having fun and making Villanova really earn this one. But the Wildcats are no doubt the superior team, and they take a 35-25 lead into the half. UDel’s Jyare Davis and Kevin Anderson are leading the way, but UDel is only 1-for-10 from deep, which is a problem.
No. 2 seed Villanova, on the other hand, is shooting 50 percent from deep with eight assists. In other words, they’re playing Villanova basketball, true to form.
Just a gritty first half all around of quality hoops: not many turnovers, well-run offenses and strong defensive pressure.
Matthew Gutierrez·
Staff Writer, NFL
March 18, 2022 at 3:34 PM EDT
Villanova, Delaware going back and forth
It’s 27-23 Wildcats with 3:10 to play in the first half, but the Blue Hens made their presence known early with a 7-0 run to start the game and are holding on since. Jyare Davis leads Delaware having made 4 of his first 5 shots. Could we have another 15-2 upset? It’s too early to say all of that, but it bears watching.
Hugh Kellenberger·
Senior Managing Editor, College Basketball
March 18, 2022 at 3:25 PM EDT
So, uh, Texas Tech is not taking its foot off the gas pedal
My goodness are the Red Raiders having some fun today in a 30-point rout of Montana State. They might give up fewer than 50 points today for the sixth — yes, sixth — time this season. It’s clear why they won 25 games this year.
Matthew Gutierrez·
Staff Writer, NFL
March 18, 2022 at 3:13 PM EDT
Jabari Smith’s teammates joined the Auburn meme team
The reactions to Smith’s epic dunk are almost as good as the dunk, and the dunk is pretty great.
Colton Pouncy·
Staff Writer, Michigan State
Auburn guard KD Johnson on Jabari Smith’s dunk:
“Did y’all see that? That was crazy. He never did that in practice. That was the first time he showed me he can get that high.” https://t.co/XfJyJ2mbif
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) March 18, 2022
March 18, 2022 at 3:08 PM EDT
Michigan’s DeVante’ Jones a game-time decision for Saturday
Coach Juwan Howard confirmed Devante Jones practiced Friday after missing Thursday’s first-round game while in concussion protocol. Jones took an elbow to the nose in practice before the team left Ann Arbor and wasn’t in attendance when the Wolverines beat No. 6 seed Colorado State in the opening round.
Austin Meek·
Staff Writer, Michigan
March 18, 2022 at 2:53 PM EDT
Auburn beat Jacksonville State but all you need to see is this Jabari Smith dunk
Good lord Jabari, that man has a family.
What a dunk. What a talent.
(Oh yeah, Jabari Smith had 20 points, 14 rebounds and four assists, Walker Kessler came a block away from a triple-double and the Tigers won 80-61. Good stuff. But mostly … wow that dunk.)
Hugh Kellenberger·
Senior Managing Editor, College Basketball
March 18, 2022 at 2:45 PM EDT
A near-flawless half
Texas Tech is punishing Montana State in nearly all areas. I mean, just look at this ball movement.
Matthew Gutierrez·
Staff Writer, NFL
March 18, 2022 at 2:35 PM EDT
The Raiders are rolling
It’s all Texas Tech this afternoon over Montana State. The Raiders own a 20-plus point lead as halftime approaches behind Terrence Samuel Jr.’s 13 points. They’re shooting nearly 75 percent from the floor, have 12 assists, four blocks, five steals and only four turnovers.
As Seth Davis might note, Texas Tech: sharpie.
Dana O’Neil·
Senior Writer, CBB
Appreciate the bravery of Montana State attempting to go inside against @TexasTechMBB but just no.
— Dana O’Neil (@DanaONeilWriter) March 18, 2022
March 18, 2022 at 2:28 PM EDT
No. 7 seed Ohio State advances past Loyola Chicago and Sister Jean
It’s not often you shoot 1-for-15 from beyond the arc and win an NCAA Tournament game by 13 points. But here we are. The Buckeyes played one heck of a defensive game Friday afternoon to advance to the Round of 32 over Loyola Chicago. The final score was 54-31. Sadly, no more Sister Jean this March, as her Ramblers whiffed on just about everything, either from deep or close range. They shot under 30 percent from the field and just 30 percent from the free-throw line in a brutal showing.
The Buckeyes move to 20-11 on the year, despite going just 1-for-15 from 3. This game wasn’t exactly a shooting clinic.
Ohio State leaders: EJ Liddell (16 points, 10 rebounds), Malaki Branham (14 points, five rebounds), Kyle Young (nine points, seven rebounds)
Loyola Chicago leader: Braden Norris (14 points)
What’s next: Ohio State plays the winner of Villanova and Delaware on Sunday
Sam Vecenie·
Senior Writer, NBA Draft
Don’t think it can be overemphasized how important Kyle Young is for Ohio State. His presence allows them to switch on defense and bring different looks. He’s tough as hell and makes all the hustle plays. Grabs big rebounds and loose balls. Not having him late this year was huge.
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) March 18, 2022
March 18, 2022 at 2:26 PM EDT
Creighton will be without center Ryan Kalkbrenner
The Bluejays will be without the 7-1 Ryan Kalkbrenner in their second-round game against Baylor on Saturday, coach Greg McDermott said on Twitter.
Kalkbrenner is Creighton’s second-leading scorer (13.1 points per game) and rebounder (7.7 rebounds per game) in 2021-22 and ranks first in blocks (2.6 per game).
Mark Cooper·
Staff Editor, News
While Big Ryan will be out the rest of the tournament, his knee injury was not as significant as originally thought. We expect a full recovery in the next 2-3 months. Our ? were answered! #RDJ
— Coach McDermott (@cucoachmac) March 18, 2022
March 18, 2022 at 2:00 PM EDT
Lefty swag
Texas Tech star guard Terrence Shannon Jr. is already up to nine points…at the first media timeout. The third-seeded Raiders all over No. 14 Montana State, 15-4, in the early going.
Matthew Gutierrez·
Staff Writer, NFL
March 18, 2022 at 1:52 PM EDT
Florida is hiring San Francisco’s Todd Golden: Sources
The Athletic’s Seth Davis and Dana O’Neil can confirm that Todd Golden is expected to become Florida’s next head men’s basketball coach.
Golden has earned acclaim for the job he’s done with San Francisco, and is the second-straight Dons head coach to use the position to move into the power six. Kyle Smith is now the head coach at Washington State. USF made the NCAA Tournament as a No. 10 seed, but lost to Murray State Thursday night in the first round.
The Athletic College Basketball Staff
March 18, 2022 at 1:41 PM EDT
Ohio State pulling away, slightly
Does Sister Jean’s club have some second-half magic in it? We’ll soon find out. But Ohio State closed a dud of a first half on a good note, and now the Buckeyes have a 10-point lead. They’re starting to knock down shots and rebound, though the turnover number (12) isn’t ideal. Loyola still can hardly buy a shot right now.
Matthew Gutierrez·
Staff Writer, NFL
March 18, 2022 at 1:31 PM EDT
Auburn pulling away from Jacksonville State after 20 minutes
Auburn has ended the half on a 11-0 run, putting some distance between it and Jacksonville State, 39-27 at halftime. The Tigers, the No. 2 seed, are 6-of-12 from 3-point range, led by a pair of 3s each from KD Johnson and Jaylin Williams. The Gamecocks out of the Atlantic Sun were trading baskets with the Tigers early, but are missing everything now. Jalen Gibbs leads all scorers with 15 points though.
Hugh Kellenberger·
Senior Managing Editor, College Basketball
March 18, 2022 at 1:20 PM EDT
Some Kenny Payne love
We interrupt your regularly scheduled program with this Kenny Payne update. Louisville just hired the alumnus and former Knicks, Kentucky assistant as head coach. Payne, 55, joins the Cardinals on a six-year contract through the 2027-28 season. Check out more on the hire here.
Matthew Gutierrez·
Staff Writer, NFL
March 18, 2022 at 1:08 PM EDT
Buckeyes command halftime lead
It wasn’t a pretty first half, but Ohio State leads the Ramblers 23-18 at the break. It was 11-11 with about six minutes to go, before OSU enjoyed a nice little run to pull ahead. Ohio State guard Malakai Branham leads all scorers with 10 points.
Loyola Chicago, meanwhile, is shooting just 23.3 percent from the field. Ouch!
Matthew Gutierrez·
Staff Writer, NFL
March 18, 2022 at 12:59 PM EDT
Auburn’s problem right now
Auburn could win the national championship if its guards would understand that they play with a top-three NBA Draft pick who is a total matchup nightmare for 95 percent of college hoops teams, and a 7-footer who makes everything within 5 feet.
The Tigers’ late-season slide, which cost them a No. 1 seed, was born out of those guards wanting to control late-game situations.
So Auburn, down 14-11 to No. 15 Jacksonville State midway through the first half, would do well to feed Jabari Smith (5 points, 2-of-2 from the field) and Walker Kessler (2 points, 1-of-1) and commit less to the Zep Jasper/KD Johnson/Wendell Green show.
Hugh Kellenberger·
Senior Managing Editor, College Basketball
