Thursday is the first day of “fun” for hardcore NCAA men’s basketball enthusiasts.
Thursday is when the marathon run to the championship begins with 16 basketball games. It is followed by 16 more games on Friday.
The eight winners on Thursday play on Saturday and the eight Friday winners play on Sunday. And the end result is the “Sweet Sixteen” that will play on weekend #2 of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
Based on this frantic schedule, here are the predictions for Thursday’s games. They are listed in chronological order based on U.S. Eastern Time. The following list of games also uses these acronyms: PPG = points per game, RPG = rebounds per game, APG = assists per game.
@ 12:15 pm in The Palace of Auburn Hills (Auburn Hills, MI)
Midwest Regional - Valparaiso Crusaders (27-7) - #14 vs. Michigan State Spartans (26-8) - #3
Who to Watch on Valparaiso – #45 senior forward Ryan Broekhoff (15.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG)
Who to Watch on Michigan State – #5 junior forward Adreian Payne (10.4 PPG, 7.5 RPG)
Pick – Michigan State
@ 12:40 pm. in Rupp Arena (Lexington, KY)
East Regional - Bucknell Bison (26-7) - #11 vs. Butler Bulldogs (25-8) - #6
Who to Watch on Bucknell – #31 senior center Mike Muscala (19.0 PPG, 11.2 RPG)
Who to Watch on Butler – #15 senior guard Rotnei Clark (16.7 PPG, 2.7 APG)
Pick – Butler
@ 1:40 pm in Energy Solutions Arena (Salt Lake City, UT)
West Regional – Wichita State Shockers (26-8) - #9 vs. Pittsburgh Panthers (24-8) - #8
Who to Watch on Wichita State – #11 junior forward Cleanthony Early (13.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG)
Who to Watch on Pittsburgh – #1 senior guard Tray Woodall (11.8 PPG, 5.2 APG)
Pick – Pittsburgh
@ 2:10 pm in the HP Pavilion (San Jose, CA)
Midwest Regional – New Mexico State Aggies (24-10) - #13 vs. Saint Louis Billikens (27-6) - #4
Who to Watch on New Mexico State – #23 sophomore guard Daniel Mullings (14.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG)
Who to Watch on Saint Louis – #21 junior forward Dwayne Evans (13.7 PPG, 7.7 RPG)
Pick – New Mexico State
@ 2:45 pm in The Palace of Auburn Hills (Auburn Hills, MI)
Midwest Regional - Saint Mary's Gaels (28-6) - #11 vs. Memphis Tigerss (26-8) - #33
Who to Watch on Saint Mary's – #4 senior guard Matthew Dellavedova (22 poimts. 6 rebounds and 4 assists in first round win over Middle Tennessee)
Who to Watch on Memphis – #1 junior guard Joe Johnson (13,6 PPG, 4.8 APG)
Pick – Memphis
@ 3:10 pm. in Rupp Arena (Lexington, KY)
East Regional - Davidson Wildcats (26-7) - #14 vs. Marquette Golden Eagles (23-8) - #3
Who to Watch on Davidson – #15 senior forward Jake Cohen (14.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG)
Who to Watch on Marquette – #13 junior guard Vander Blue (14.3 PPG, 1.9 APG)
Pick – Davidson
@ 4:10 pm in Energy Solutions Arena (Salt Lake City, UT)
West Regional – Southern University Jaguars (23-9) - #16 vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs (31-2) - #1
Who to Watch on Southern – #33 junior guard Malcolm Miller (15.8 PPG, 6.0 RPG)
Who to Watch on Gonzaga – #13 junior forward Kelly Olynyk (17.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG)
Pick – Gonzaga
@ 4:40 pm in the HP Pavilion (San Jose, CA)
Midwest Regional – Oregon Ducks (26-8) - #12 vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys (24-8) - #5
Who to Watch on Oregon – #25 senior forward E.J. Singler (11.6 PPG, .4.9 RPG)
Who to Watch on Oklahoma State – #33 freshman guard Marcus Smart (15.4 PPG, .4.2 APG)
Pick – Oklahoma State
@ 6:50 pm in Rupp Arena (Lexington, KY)
Midwest Regional -North Carolina A&T Aggies (20-16) - #16 vs. Louisville Cardinals (29-5) - #1
Who to Watch on North Carolina A& T – #1 senior forward Adrian Powell (12.4 PPG, 5.0 RPG)
Who to Watch on Louisville – #2 junior guard Russ Smith (18.1 PPG, 3.0 APG)
Pick – Louisville
@ 7:15 pm in The Palace of Auburn Hills (Auburn Hills, MI)
South Regional - South Dakota State Jackrabbits (25-9) - #13 vs. Michigan Wolverines (26-7) - #4
Who to Watch on South Dakota State – #3 senior guard Nate Wolders (22.7 PPG, 5.8 APG)
Who to Watch on Michigan – #3 sophomore guard Trey Burke (19.2 PPG, 6.7 APG)
Pick – Michigan
@ 7:20 pm in Energy Solutions Arena (Salt Lake City, UT)
West Regional – Belmont Bruins (26-8) - #11 vs. Arizona Wildcats (25-7) - #6
Who to Watch on Belmont– #21 senior guard Ian Clark (18.1 PPG, 2.5 APG)
Who to Watch on Arizona –#2 senior guard Mark Lyons (14.8 PPG, 5.2 APG)
Pick – Belmont
@ 7:27 pm in the HP Pavilion (San Jose, CA)
East Regional – California Golden Bears (20-11) - #12 vs. UNLV Rebels (25-9) - #5
Who to Watch on California – #23 junior guard Allen Crabbe (18.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG)
Who to Watch on UNLV – #15 freshman forward Anthony Bennett (16.1 PPG, 8.1 RPG)
Pick – UNLV
@ 9:20 pm in Rupp Arena (Lexington, KY)
Midwest Regional - Missouri Tigers (23-10) - #9 vs. Colorado State Rams (25-8) - #8
Who to Watch on Missouri – #21 senior forward Laurence Bowers (14.4 PPG, 6.2 RPG)
Who to Watch on Colorado State – #45 senior forward Colton Iverson (14.7 PPG, 9.8 RPG)
Pick – Missouri
@ 9:45 pm in The Palace of Auburn Hills (Auburn Hills, MI)
South Regional - Akron Zips (27-7) - #12 vs. Virginia Commonwealth Rams (26-8) - #5
Who to Watch on Akron – #44 senior center Zeke Marshall (13.0 PPG, 7.1 RPG)
Who to Watch on Virginia Commonwealth – #21 sophomore guard Treveon Graham (15.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG)
Pick – Virginia Commonwealth
@ 9:50 pm in Energy Solutions Arena (Salt Lake City, UT)
Western Regional – Harvard Crimson (26-8) - #14 vs. Nex Mexico Lobos (24-8) - #3
Who to Watch on Harvard– #23 sophomore forward Wesley Saunders (16.5 PPG, 4.1 RPG)
Who to Watch on New Mexico – #10 senior guard Kendall Williams (13.5 PPG, 5.0 APG)
Pick - New Mexico
@ 9:57 pm in the HP Pavilion (San Jose, CA)
Eastern Regional – Montana Grizzlies (25-6) - #13 vs. Syracuse (26-9) - #4
Who to Watch on Montana – #32 junior forward Kareem Jamar (14.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG)
Who to Watch on Syracuse – #5 junior forward C.J. Fair (14.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG)
Pick – Syracuse
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