March Madness is back and it’s time to fill out your brackets. But before you do, here are a few things you should know about the most exciting month in basketball.
How to watch:
The games will air on Turner Sports networks and CBS, both of which can be viewed in the comfy confines of Greeley Avenue. If you are away from the bar – heaven forbid – you can also stream the games on the the NCAA March Madness website by logging in with your cable tv or streaming service credentials.
Selection and first games:
Selection Sunday is March 13. The show will air on CBS and starts at 3 PM PST. The first four games follow on March 15 and 16 on CBS and truTV.
The Gonzaga Bulldogs, led by All-American duo Drew Timme and Chet Holmgren, are one of the favorites to win it all.
First round
The first round starts at noon Friday, March 17. This is also the bracket deadline, so make sure you have those filled out by by 8:59 AM PST. Friday’s games will be live on CBS and all Turner Sports stations.
Second round
The following week, the teams that survive move on to Round 2 on March 19 and 20. All games start at 12 noon and are once again on CBS and all Turner Sports stations. If there is a Cinderella emerging, we could find out during this round of games.
Sweet 16
The first round of top teams starts on March 24 and 25 on CBS and TBS. Day two begins at 1 p.m. ET on the same stations.
#2 ranked Auburn, which was the nation’s top-ranked team earlier in the season, is led by forward Jabari Smith.
Elite 8
These four games are all played in evening spots at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Games will be played March 26 and 27 and will air on TBS.
Final Four
The Final Four starts on April 2 and will air on CBS. Then, it’s onto the Big Dance at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans!
NCAA National Championship
The title game will be held on April 4 at 6 p.m. PST on CBS.
In 42 seasons, Coach K has led Duke to 12 Final Four appearances and 5 championships.
Who to watch:
Here are some teams to watch in the tournament: Gonzaga, Baylor, Arizona, Auburn, Tennessee, Duke, Kentucky and Kansas. That doesn’t mean there won’t be some upsets, however. Let’s not forget that the unranked Oregon Ducks beat #4 UCLA just a few weeks ago.
Some of these teams will have won their perspective conference championship and others have been on a hot streak all season. When you fill out your bracket, you may want to take a second look at where you place them. Also, keep in mind that this is final curtain call for Coach K of Duke, so you know his team will be hell bent to send him off in style.
How to get a bracket
ESPN, CBS and Yahoo are three of the more popular sites for brackets, but here’s a link to a printable one: Official NCAA March Madness Bracket Here’s a link to some other free brackets, many of which are offering some great prizes, such as trips, cars and tickets to future Final Four games! Top 10 websites for March Madness brackets
How to fill out your bracket
Don’t over think it. Keep your picks simple and go with your first gut reaction. Or just do it randomly by color or mascot. It’s up to you and there is no right or wrong answer. If there was, everyone would be a millionaire.
If your bracket gets “busted,” meaning your champion ends up losing before the big game, make a new bracket for fun starting where your team lost. Or just sit back and watch the Tournament unfold. And remember, you can always drown your sorrows in front of the Big Screen.
Good luck!
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