Catholic Guide to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

The NCAA Tournament is back today with some exciting matchups in the First Four held at the Catholic University of Dayton in Ohio.

This round will feature the last four teams selected and the bottom four automatic qualifiers from winning their conference tournament championships.

Times Eastern: 

Tuesday on TruTV:

6:40 pm: 16 Wagner College Seahawks (NY) v.s. 16 Howard University Bison (DC)

9:10 pm: 10 University of Virginia Cavaliers v.s. 10 Colorado State University Rams 

Wednesday on TruTV:

6:40 pm: 16 Montana State University Bobcats v.s. 16 Grambling State University Tigers

9:10 pm: 10 Boise State University Broncos v.s. 10 University of Colorado Boulder Buffaloes

Thursday and Friday will be the iconic Round of 64, when all the upsets tend to happen. These games will take place all across the nation.

This is when the Catholic schools will enter.

Of the 68 four year institutions, 7 are Catholic.

The two teams with the highest chances to win the national championship are the Marquette University Golden Eagles (Jesuit) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the Creighton University Bluejays (Jesuit) of Omaha, Nebraska. The Golden Eagles enter as the #7 team having gone 25-9 this season. Their Big East Conference foes, Creighton, are the #10 team at 23-9. Both have the same chances to win the National Championship and both are favored in their first games. 

Less high chances rest with the next three: Saint Mary's College of California Gaels (De La Salle Brothers) of Moraga, California is #20, Gonzaga University Bulldogs (Jesuit) of Spokane, Washington is #21, and the University of Dayton Flyers (Marianists) of Dayton, Ohio is #28. These numbers are within the range for a National Championship expectation, but these teams are likely to only win their first games.

Best Finish for Saint Mary's: Elite Eight in 1959.

Best Finish for Gonzaga: Runners-up (2017 aand 21)

Best Finish for Dayton Flyers: Runners-up (1967)

Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit Dukes (Spiritan Fathers) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania are the #46 team and are likely to be eliminated in their first game. However, Duquesne is within the sweet spot of having a credible deep run.

Best Finish: Final Four (1940)

Lastly are the Saint Peter's College Peacocks (Jesuit) of Jersey City, New Jersey who are ranked #62 of the 68 teams. Thy are expected to be eliminated in their first game.

 Best Finish: Elite 8 (2022)

A schedule can be seen below.

East Region in Boston (MA):

Friday on CBS in Brooklyn (NY):

12:15 pm: 8 Florida Atlantic University Owls v.s. 9 Northwestern University Wildcats (IL)

2:45 pm: 1 University of Connecticut Huskies v.s. 16 Stetson University Hatters (FL)

Friday on TNT in Spokane (WA):

1:45 pm: 5 San Diego State University Aztecs (CA) v.s. 12 University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers 

4:15 pm: 4 Auburn University Tigers (AL) v.s. 13 Yale University Bulldogs (CT)

Thursday on TruTV in Omaha (NE):

12:40 pm: 6 Bringham Young University Cougars (UT) v.s. 11 Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit Dukes (PA)

3:10 pm: 3 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Illini v.s. 14 Morehead State University Eagles (KY)

7:35 pm: 2 Iowa State University of Science and Technology Cyclones v.s. 15 South Dakota State University Jackrabbits 

10:05 pm: 7 Washington State University Cougars v.s. 10 Drake University Bulldogs (IA)

West Region in Los Angeles (CA):

Thursday on CBS in Charlotte (NC):

12:15 pm: 8 Mississippi State University for Agriculture and Applied Science Bulldogs v.s. 9 Michigan State University Spartans

2:45 pm: 1 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Tar Heels v.s. the winner of the 16 Howard v.s. 16 Wagner game

Friday on TruTV in Spokane (WA):

7:35 pm: 4 The University of Alabama Crimson Tide v.s. 13 College of Charleston Cougars (SC)

10:05 pm: 5 Saint Mary's College of California Gaels v.s. 12 Grand Canyon University Antelopes (AZ)

Friday on TruTV in Memphis (TN):

12:40 pm: 3 Baylor University Bears (TX) v.s. 14 Colgate University Raiders (NY)

3:10 pm: 6 Clemson University Tigers (SC) v.s. 11 University of New Mexico Lobos

Thursday on TBS in Salt Lake City (UT):

2:00 pm: 2 University of Arizona Wildcats v.s. 15 California State University, Long Beach Beach 

4:30 pm: 7 University of Dayton Flyers (OH) v.s. 10 University of Nevada, Reno Wolf Pack

South Region in Dallas (TX):

Friday on TNT in Memphis (TN):

6:50 pm: 8 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cornhuskers v.s. 9 Texas A&M University Aggies

9:20 pm: 1 University of Houston Cougars (TX) v.s. 16 Longwood University Lancers (VA)

Friday on CBS in Brooklyn (NY):

7:10 pm: 4 Duke University Blue Devils (NC) v.s. University of Vermont and State Agricultural College Catamounts

9:10 pm: 5 University of Wisconsin-Madison Badgers v.s. 12 James Madison University Dukes (VA)

Thursday on CBS in Pittsburgh (PA):

7:10 pm: 3 University of Kentucky Wildcats v.s. 14 Oakland University Golden Grizzlies (MI)

9:40 pm: 6 Texas Tech University Red Raiders v.s. 11 North Carolina State University Wolfpack

Friday on TBS in Indianapolis (IN): 

2:00 pm: 2 Marquette University Golden Eagles (WI) v.s. 15 Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers 

4:30 pm: 7 University of Florida Gators v.s. the winner of the 10 Boise State v.s. 10 Colorado game

Midwest Region in Detroit (MI):

Friday on TBS in Indianapolis (IN): 

7:25 pm: 1 Purdue University Boilermakers (IN) v.s. the winner of the 16 Montana State v.s. 16 Grambling State

9:55 pm: 8 Utah State University Aggies v.s. 9 Texas Christian University Horned Frogs

Thursday on TBS in Salt Lake City (UT):

7:25 pm: 6 Gonzaga University Bulldogs (WA) v.s. 11 McNeese State University Cowboys (LA)

9:55 pm: 3 University of Kansas Jayhawks v.s. Samford University Bulldogs (AL)

Thursday on TNT in Pittsburgh (PA):

1:30 pm: 3 Creighton University Bluejays 14 University of Akron Zips

4:00 pm: 6 University of South Carolina Gamecocks v.s. 11 University of Oregon Ducks

Thursday on TNT in Charlotte (NC):

6:50 pm: 7 University of Texas at Austin v.s. the winner of the 10 Virginia v.s. 10 Colorado State

9:20 pm: 2 University of Tennessee, Knoxville Volunteers v.s. 15 Saint Peter's University Peacocks

All of the Round of 32 games will be played this weekend. For more information on the games, check out this link.