How’s your bracket looking? Only 0.04% are still perfect after day one of the NCAA Tournament. Eight teams were in our city for the First Round on Thursday, March 19, and four advanced to the Second Round on Saturday, March 21. Plus, we’ve got what you need to know about the five SC teams still dancing.
First Round highlights
Advancing teams are in bold.
No. 9 TCU defeated No. 8 Ohio State 66-64, and it came down to the final seconds in typical March Madness fashion.
No. 16 Siena almost made history, but couldn’t see it across the finish. Despite leading the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils most of the game, they fell 71-65.
Legendary coach Roy Williams was at The Well to support No. 6 UNC, but they ultimately lost to No. 11 VCU after the Rams forced overtime with just 11 seconds left.
Of course, they couldn’t all be nail-biters with No. 3 Illinois securing a decisive victory over No. 14 Penn, 105-70.
Second Round
- No. 1 Duke vs. No. 9 TCU | Saturday, March 21 at 5:15 p.m.
- No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 11 VCU | Saturday, March 21 at 7:50 p.m.
SC storylines to watch
No. 15 Furman men vs. No. 2 UConn men
- Friday, Mar. 20 at 10 p.m. on TBS
- Watch party at the Champions Club at Fluor Field
It was 1974 when the Paladins beat South Carolina in Philadelphia for their first-ever tournament win. Earlier this week, the team practiced in the same arena — The Palestra. Who remembers the last time the Dins were in when they busted 89.33% of brackets?
No. 8 Clemson men vs. No. 9 Iowa men
- Friday, Mar. 20 at 6:50 p.m. on TNT
The Tigers are in Tampa (hey, TBAYtoday) for their third straight NCAA Tournament appearance, and experts are calling their game the closest matchup of the entire tournament.
No. 8 Clemson women vs. No. 9 University of Southern California women
- Saturday, March 21 at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN2
This is the first time since 1997-1998 that both the Clemson men’s and women’s teams are in the NCAA Tournament. It’s also the first tournament appearance of the Coach Poppie Era, and the first appearance for the Tigers in seven years.
No. 1 South Carolina women vs. No. 16 Southern women
- Saturday, Mar. 21 at 1 p.m. on ABC
The Gamecocks will host the first two rounds in Columbia (hey, COLAtoday). All eyes are on round two. It will either be a battle of the USCs or an in-state rival matchup against Clemson (which has never happened before in the tournament).
No. 14 College of Charleston women vs. No. 3 Duke women
- Friday, Mar. 20 at 11:30 a.m. on ESPN2
It’s the Cougs inaugural dance, and they’re in Durham for the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
