NCAA First Round Viewing Guide (Thursday):

It's the most exciting time of year for College Basketball fans...March Madness is set to begin! Forgive me if I skip over tonight's play-in game and go right to Thursday's 1st Round action.
Here's what you can expect that day. The games that will be shown on WDBJ in Roanoke/Lynchburg are so noted.

#8 LSU vs. #9 Butler (12:20, WDBJ) - An intriguing 8/9 game between the SEC's best team (which doesn't count for much) and a Butler Bulldog team that is always strong in March. Don't be at all surprised if Butler pulls off the win.
#2 Memphis vs. #15 Cal St. Northridge (12:25) - Not a whole lot of reason to watch this one. Memphis has been rolling and will continue to roll.
#8 BYU vs. #9 Texas A&M (12:30) - The Tournament is starting with a bang with two 8/9 games in the first time slot. BYU has been excellent this year out of the Mountain West, and Texas A&M has hit its stride in the second half of the year. Should be a good battle.

#5 Purdue vs. #12 Northern Iowa (2:30) - Purdue is one of my favorite teams in the Tournament, and I think they'll do good things this year. They should get it started with a win over the Missouri Valley's only entrant.
#1 North Carolina vs. #16 Radford (2:50, WDBJ) - This is worth seeing to see just how long Radford can stay with the much more talent and much deeper Heels, even if Lawson can't play.
#7 California vs. #10 Maryland (2:55) - Should be a compelling game between two teams that have good guard play. Look out for Jerome Randle of Cal against Greivis Vasquez of Maryland.
#1 UConn vs. #16 Chattanooga (3:00) - 95% of the time the 1/16 games are not interesting past the first 20 minutes. This should be no exception.

#4 Washington vs. #13 Mississippi State (5:00) - Every year there is one lone game from a West Coast spot in this time slot. It actually has the possibility to be down to the wire with Mississippi State playing great ball in the SEC Tournament.

And the night games:

#7 Texas vs. #10 Minnesota (7:10) - The Longhorns have underachieved this year. I saw them play in Maui and at no point thought they would be a 7 seed this year. Minnesota is a nice story but doesn't have near the talent of the Horns.
#7 Clemson vs. #10 Michigan (7:10, WDBJ) - A contrast of styles with Beilein's 1-3-1 zone at Michigan against Clemson's press. This has the potential to be a very entertaining game. My money's on Clemson.
#3 Villanova vs. #14 American (7:20) - Villanova is playing in their own backyard against an inferior talented team. I wouldn't be surprised if this one was over by halftime.
#4 Gonzaga vs. #13 Akron (7:25) - The Zags have been knocked out of the Tournament in the first round the last couple years, but have more talent this year. I don't know much about Akron, and I know the MAC has had decent teams in the past (see: Kent State), but Gonzaga should win easily.

#2 Duke vs. #15 Binghamton (9:40, WDBJ) - Tony Kornheiser's Binghamton Bears will be hoping to pull off a Belmont, who played Duke very well as a 15 seed last year. But Duke is much more talented and driven to succeed this year.
#2 Oklahoma vs. #15 Morgan State (9:40) - Blake Griffin and the Sooners have something to prove in this tournament after struggling at the end of the year. Many people (including myself) have them being upset early, just not in this game.
#6 UCLA vs. #11 VCU (9:50) - This is the game I am looking forward to the most out of at least Thursday, probably the first two days. UCLA has gone to 3 straight Final Fours, and while they have lost a lot of talent from last year, I think they are still a very dangerous opponent. VCU pulled off one of the more memorable upsets two years ago over Duke.
#5 Illinois vs. #12 Western Kentucky (9:55) - Western KY is the trendy pick to win this game, and I am going with them as well. They pulled off a memorable upset of Drake last year and are one of those mid-majors who always plays well against the big conference teams. Illinois is struggling with injuries.