In an astonishing turn of events, the brackets have been completely shattered, leaving fans and pundits alike in disbelief. The unexpected victories of Grand Canyon and James Madison have thrown the NCAA Tournament into an uproar. As the men’s competition forges ahead, today promises eight thrilling second-round games, kicking off at 12:45 p.m. ET.
In a surprising twist, SEC teams found themselves on the back foot, posting a 3-5 record in the first-round games, a shocking outcome highlighted by Yale’s upset over Auburn, the conference tournament champion. The spotlight now turns to an eagerly anticipated showdown as Tennessee squares off against Texas. This matchup is particularly poignant as Rick Barnes, once at the helm of the Longhorns, now leads Tennessee against his former team, now under the guidance of Rodney Terry. For an in-depth look at Barnes and Dalton Knecht, the SEC’s standout player this season, Dan Wolken’s column is a must-read.
For those looking to catch up on the full tournament schedule and viewing options, all the details are readily available. Additionally, you can revisit all the action from Friday’s first-round games.
**Today’s Second Round Games (All times ET):**
**EAST**
– No. 11 Duquesne (25-11) vs. No. 3 Illinois (27-8), 8:40 p.m., TNT
**WEST**
– No. 2 Arizona (26-8) vs. No. 7 Dayton (25-7), 12:45 p.m., CBS
**MIDWEST**
– No. 5 Gonzaga (26-7) vs. No. 4 Kansas (22-10), 3:15 p.m., CBS
– No. 3 Creighton (24-9) vs. No. 11 Oregon (24-11), 9:40 p.m., TBS
**SOUTH**
– No. 14 Oakland (24-11) vs. No. 11 North Carolina State (23-14), 7:10 p.m., TBS
Experts Dan Wolken and Paul Myerberg have shared their predictions, adding an extra layer of intrigue to these matchups. As the tournament progresses, the excitement only intensifies, with fans eagerly awaiting to see which teams will emerge victorious and advance further in this unpredictable and exhilarating journey toward the championship.