March Madness Round of 64: Friday’s Viewer Guide – A Deep Dive

The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament roars on, and Friday promises another exhilarating slate of 16 games to complete the Round of 64. After a thrilling opening day, the remaining top seeds will finally take the court, joined by a couple of familiar faces from last year’s Final Four. Most notably, the reigning, defending, and two-time champion Connecticut Huskies embark on their ambitious quest for a three-peat, but this time from a less advantageous position in the bracket. Three teams who battled their way through the First Four in Dayton will also be looking to capitalize on their momentum and extend their tournament runs.

Let’s break down each matchup with a detailed viewer’s guide, offering insights into potential storylines and key factors.

Baylor Bears vs. Colgate Raiders – 12:15 p.m. ET, CBS

The action kicks off with a classic 8-9 matchup, a contest typically considered a true toss-up. Both Baylor and Colgate navigated challenging conference landscapes, and neither consistently dominated the upper tiers of their respective leagues. Baylor’s early-season non-conference victories against Arkansas and St. John’s likely played a significant role in securing their tournament bid. The Raiders rely heavily on the three-point shot, but their 31.4% accuracy rate from beyond the arc could be a vulnerability. Baylor possesses an advantage at the free-throw line, and if they can draw fouls and get to the line with frequency, they can control the tempo of the game. Watch for Baylor to attack the paint and try to get Colgate in foul trouble.

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Charleston Colonials – 12:40 p.m. ET, TruTV

The Crimson Tide, known for their high-octane offense that averages a field-leading 91.1 points per game, aim to return to the season’s final weekend for the second consecutive year. The availability and effectiveness of key forward Grant Nelson, who missed time due to a leg injury, will be a crucial factor. His absence was clearly felt in Alabama’s SEC Tournament loss to Florida. However, the Colonials represent the Horizon League, and last year’s champion, Oakland, produced one of the tournament’s biggest upsets by defeating Kentucky. Charleston will look to replicate that magic and pull off a similar shocker. Alabama’s defense will need to be sharp to prevent Charleston from gaining confidence early.

Iowa State Cyclones vs. North Dakota State Bisons – 1:30 p.m. ET, TNT

Iowa State’s quarterfinal loss to Brigham Young in a high-scoring Big 12 Tournament game may have inadvertently provided them with valuable rest and recovery time, especially for key guard Tamin Lipsey. Iowa State will be playing without their second-leading scorer, Keshon Gilbert, who is out for the tournament. However, the Cyclones face a potentially tricky matchup against the Bisons, who consistently knock down nearly 10 three-pointers per game. Iowa State’s defense will be tested by North Dakota State’s perimeter shooting prowess. While the casual fan might snicker at the Bisons’ team name, don’t sleep on their ability to make this a close, hard-fought game. Iowa State will need to control the paint and limit second-chance opportunities for North Dakota State.

Colorado State Rams vs. Memphis Tigers – 2 p.m. ET, TBS

This game could be a bracket buster, with both conference champions possessing the potential to make a deep tournament run. The Rams enter as slight favorites despite their lower seed, fueled by a 10-game winning streak and the high-scoring exploits of guard Nique Clifford. The Tigers boast an eight-game winning streak of their own and a prolific backcourt scorer in PJ Haggerty. Colorado State’s lack of a true rim protector could be exploited by Memphis, as well-traveled big man Dain Dainja could emerge as a difference-maker. This game will likely be decided in the paint and on the boards. Rebounding and interior defense will be key.

James Madison Dukes vs. Duke Blue Devils – 2:50 p.m. ET, CBS

The First Four has historically favored James Madison, who now boasts three wins in Dayton. However, their run is almost certain to end here against the Blue Devils. The primary question for Duke is the extent to which star freshman Cooper Flagg will participate, given his ankle injury. The Blue Devils secured the ACC title even with Flagg’s limited playing time and likely possess sufficient depth to manage this contest with him seeing limited minutes. Look for Duke to establish an early lead and control the pace of the game. James Madison will need to play a near-perfect game to have a chance at the upset.

Saint Mary’s Gaels vs. Vanderbilt Commodores – 3:15 p.m. ET, TruTV

This is one of the more intriguing matchups of the entire Round of 64. Saint Mary’s has become a regular fixture in the tournament, but only their 2010 squad managed to reach the Sweet 16 in the modern, expanded era. Vanderbilt hired coach Mark Byington from James Madison, hoping to elevate the program and make March Madness appearances more commonplace. Saint Mary’s will be well-rested and will deploy their stingy defense against the Commodores, who enter the tournament on a three-game losing streak but have faced top-tier competition throughout the season. The Gaels’ disciplined approach could frustrate Vanderbilt’s offense. Watch for a low-scoring, defensive battle.

North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Wagner Seahawks – 4:05 p.m. ET, TNT

The Tar Heels’ dominant victory over San Diego State in Dayton has only temporarily quieted their critics. They will look to silence the doubters further by defeating Wagner. UNC will need to continue their hot shooting from beyond the arc to compensate for their lack of interior depth.

Maryland Terrapins vs. Grand Canyon Antelopes – 4:35 p.m. ET, TBS

Maryland’s fans expressed displeasure with the selection committee’s decision to send the team to Seattle to face an opponent already known for its upset potential in March Madness. The Antelopes pulled off a victory against Saint Mary’s in their first NCAA tournament appearance last season. Grand Canyon also benefited from the return of key guard Tyon Grant-Foster from injury just in time for the WAC tournament. Maryland’s earlier trip to the Pacific Northwest during Big Ten play did not go well, but the young Terps have shown progress since. Look for a closely contested game with Grand Canyon trying to leverage their tournament experience.

Florida Gators vs. Norfolk State Spartans – 6:50 p.m. ET, TNT

While winning one’s major conference tournament isn’t always a reliable predictor of success in the Big Dance, the Gators’ dominant run to the SEC title is difficult to ignore. The Spartans claimed their third MEAC conference tournament title since 2021. The Gators will be a heavy favorite going into this game.

Kentucky Wildcats vs. Troy Trojans – 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS

The Wildcats are under new leadership with Mark Pope at the helm, but their passionate fans are hoping to avoid a repeat of past disappointments as the team enters as a No. 3 seed once again. The Sun Belt champion Trojans will aim to replicate James Madison’s tournament upset from a year ago. Kentucky should have Lamont Butler, who has been dealing with a shoulder issue for much of the season, available to lead their high-powered offense. Troy’s Tayton Conerway, the Sun Belt player of the year, is a formidable floor leader in his own right. This game could be closer than some expect, with Troy looking to push the pace and create turnovers.

Marquette Golden Eagles vs. New Mexico Lobos – 7:25 p.m. ET, TBS

This is a challenging game to predict. The Golden Eagles struggled against the upper echelon of the Big East after the calendar turned to 2024, while the Lobos must overcome a poor track record for Mountain West representatives in this event. However, the game will feature impressive backcourt talent, including Marquette’s Cam Jones and New Mexico’s Donovan Dent. The team that controls the tempo and limits turnovers will likely prevail.

Arizona Wildcats vs. Akron Zips – 7:35 p.m. ET, TruTV

This Arizona team has been the definition of streaky, making them a difficult team to forecast in the tournament. They have a plethora of perimeter scoring options, but prolific bomber Caleb Love often attracts the most attention, for better or worse. The Zips, back-to-back champions in the Mid-American Conference, have multiple three-point shooters of their own who can capitalize if Arizona has a cold shooting night. If Arizona is on, they could blow out Akron. If they are cold, Akron has a chance to pull off the upset.

Connecticut Huskies vs. Stetson Hatters – 9:25 p.m. ET, TNT

The two-time defending national champion Huskies headline the late-night window, positioned squarely in the middle of the bracket following an inconsistent season with impressive wins but also puzzling losses. Their first opponent is Stetson. UConn will need key contributions from experienced players like Alex Karaban to make another deep run. The Hatters will need to take smart shots against the Huskies’ disciplined defense. UConn will have to fight hard to achieve their three-peat this year.

Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Morehead State Eagles – 9:45 p.m. ET, CBS

As the second team to emerge from the at-large pool in Dayton, Illinois next takes on the Morehead State Eagles, another team whose performance can be inconsistent. The Illini are fearless when it comes to launching three-pointers. The team struggles to find alternate ways to score when they are not falling. While also relying on the long ball, the Musketeers also have Zach Freemantle in the middle. This might give them the edge against the Illini.

Michigan State Spartans vs. Bryant Bulldogs – 10 p.m. ET, TBS

The Spartans are the last of the top eight seeds to take the court, and given the difficulty of this region, they will appreciate the extra hours to prepare. Michigan State’s depth should benefit them, and coach Tom Izzo will look to distribute minutes effectively in this round. The leader for Bryant, one of six teams nicknamed Bulldogs in the tournament, is America East player of the year Earl Timberlake. The team has a lot of players with "dog" like names, which might make them a hard competitor.

Oregon Ducks vs. South Carolina Gamecocks – 10:10 p.m. ET, TruTV

One of the newest members of the Big Ten Conference concludes the first round. Last year, the Ducks reached the second round as part of a strong showing from the former Pac-12. This year’s Oregon team is led by the inside-out duo of Nate Bittle and Jackson Shelstad. The Gamecocks are in the tournament for the sixth time overall and the first since joining Conference USA. They secured victories against Kansas State and McNeese State in the Virgin Islands prior to league play, so the Ducks should not underestimate them.