WEST REGIONAL
AT SALT LAKE CITY (1) Gonzaga vs. (16) South Dakota St.
When: 1 p.m.; TV: TBS The big question about Gonzaga all year: How will the Bulldogs fare against the big boys when the time finally arrives? That time is not Thursday, though South Dakota State is a bit scary. The Jackrabbits have won nine of 11, including three straight in the Summit League tournament, where they were seeded fourth.
(8) Northwestern vs. (9) Vanderbilt
When: 3:30 p.m; TV: TBS After more than 100 years of basketball, Northwestern finally made it. Led by Vic Law and a group of believers in coach Chris Collins’ vision, the Wildcats are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance.
AT BUFFALO, N.Y. (5) Notre Dame vs. (12) Princeton
When: 11:15 a.m.; TV: CBS The Fighting Irish are the nation’s only team to reach the Elite Eight in each of the past two years, and their six Tournament wins over that span are a school record. Princeton has won 19 straight, which is the second-longest streak in the nation.
(4) West Virginia vs. (13) Bucknell
When: 1:45 p.m.; TV: CBS Though Bob Huggins-coached teams are known for playing a smothering press defense, these Mountaineers can also score. West Virginia leads the nation in forcing 20.4 turnovers and 10.4 steals a game, and it is 21st in scoring by averaging 82 points.
AT ORLANDO, FLA. (6) Maryland vs. (11) Xavier
When: 5:50 p.m.; TV: TNT The Terrapins limp into the NCAA Tournament having lost four of their last six games, including a first-round loss to Northwestern in the Big Ten tournament. The Musketeers lost six straight toward the end of the regular season but did manage to win two games in the Big East tourney.
(2) Florida St. vs. (14) Florida Gulf Coast
When: 8:20 p.m.; TV: TNT Don’t expect a lot of great defense, but this game has a chance to be one of the most explosive matchups of the first round. Florida Gulf Coast has 157 dunks this season, which exceeds its season high of 148 set during the 2012-13 season that ended with a Sweet 16 trip.
AT SALT LAKE CITY (7) St. Mary’s vs. (10) VCU
When: 6:20 p.m.; TV: TBS Saint Mary’s has the nation’s secondstingiest defense, allowing just 56.5 points per game, trailing only Virginia. VCU earned an NCAA Tournament bid for the seventh consecutive year but is trying to recapture the magic of its 2011 Final Four run.
(2) Arizona vs. (15) North Dakota
When: 8:50 p.m.; TV: TBS Arizona has advanced to the Elite Eight three times under coach Sean Miller but has not reached the Final Four since 2001. The Fighting Hawks are making their NCAA Tournament debut as a Division I program.