2018 NCAA Tournament: First round schedule and scores

The process of trimming down the 2018 NCAA Tournament field from 68 teams to one champion starts this week around the country. The annual men’s college basketball tournament is one of the most thrilling sporting events of the year, and this spring should be no different. It’s time for underdogs and buzzer-beaters galore.

Xavier, Virginia, Villanova, and Kansas are the No. 1 seeds in this year’s bracket, which was revealed Sunday. The Cavaliers, looking to bounce back from last season’s second-round knockout, are the No. 1 overall seed after defeating North Carolina to win the ACC tournament.

Tony Bennett’s team brings a fierce defense that’s No. 1 in the country in adjusted rating, according to KenPom.com. There are two teams entering the NCAAs with top-10 rankings in offense and defense (Duke, Michigan State), but the Cavs are atop the website’s overall rankings.

The first round of the tournament begins Thursday, while the second round will be played Saturday and Sunday. The Sweet Sixteen is set for March 22-23, the Elite Eight for March 24-25, and the Final Four for March 31. The national championship game will be played April 2 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

2018 NCAA Tournament schedule and scores

All times CT, some tip off times depend on conclusion of other games

First Four

Tuesday, March 13

No. 16 Radford 71, No. 16 LIU Brooklyn 61

No. 11 St. Bonaventure 65, No. 11 UCLA 58

Wednesday, March 14

No. 16 Texas Southern 64, No. 16 N.C. Central 46

No. 11 Syracuse 60, No. 11 Arizona State 56

First round

Thursday, March 15

No. 7 Rhode Island 83, No. 10 Oklahoma 78 (OT)

No. 3 Tennessee 73, No. 14 Wright State 47

No. 4 Gonzaga 68, No. 13 UNC Greensboro 64

No. 1 Kansas 76, No. 16 Penn 60

No. 2 Duke 89, No. 15 Iona 67

No. 11 Loyola 64, No. 6 Miami 62

No. 5 Ohio State 81, No. 12 South Dakota State 73

No. 8 Seton Hall 94, No. 9 NC State 83

No. 1 Villanova 87, No. 16 Radford 61

No. 5 Kentucky 78, No. 12 Davidson 73

No. 6 Houston 67 No. 11 San Diego State 65

No. 3 Texas Tech 70, No. 14 Stephen F. Austin 60

No. 9 Alabama 86, No. 8 Virginia Tech 83

No. 13 Buffalo 89, No. 4 Arizona 68

No. 3 Michigan 61, No. 14 Montana 47

No. 6 Florida 77, No. 11 St. Bonaventure 62

Friday, March 16

No. 7 Texas A&M 73, No. 10 Providence 69

No. 2 Purdue 74, No. 15 Cal State Fullerton 48

No. 13 Marshall 81, No. 4 Wichita State 75

No. 2 Cincinnati 68, No. 15 Georgia State 53

No. 2 North Carolina 84, No. 15 Lipscomb 66

No. 10 Butler 79, No. 7 Arkansas 62

No. 5 West Virginia 85, No. 12 Murray State 68

No. 7 Nevada 87, No. 10 Texas 83 (OT)

No. 9 Kansas State 69, No. 8 Creighton 59

No. 3 Michigan State 82, No. 14 Bucknell 78

No. 1 Xavier 102, No. 16 Texas Southern 83

No. 4 Auburn 62, No. 13 Charleston 58

No. 16 UMBC 74, No. 1 Virginia

No. 11 Syracuse 57, No. 6 TCU 52

No. 9 Florida State 67, No. 8 Missouri 54

No. 5 Clemson 79, No. 12 New Mexico State 68