The scores and results from the 2022 NCAA Tournament have started pouring in, and for many there is a feeling that their bracket game entry has already been busted. Maybe you had Colorado State making a run to the Sweet 16 or the sweet-shooting Jackrabbits of South Dakota State taking down No. 4 seed Providence, but don't worry if you did get started on the wrong foot because we're only halfway through the first round action and there's plenty of basketball ahead on Friday.
The day starts with a March Madness favorite in No. 10 seed Loyola Chicago taking on No. 7 seed Ohio State at 12:15 p.m. ET in the South Region, as first-year coach Drew Valentine hopes to replicate the success the Ramblers have had making it at least to the Sweet 16 in two of the last three NCAA Tournaments. Ohio State has its own recent history in mind, looking for a different outcome after getting bounced by Oral Roberts as a No. 2 seed in last year's tournament.
The rest of the early wave is highlighted by action with top teams with No. 2 seed Auburn, No. 2 seed Villanova, No. 3 seed Texas Tech and No. 3 seed Purdue all tipping off before 3 p.m. All four teams are listed as double-digit betting favorites, but the tournament has proven many times before that expecting chalk across the board is a bad bet โ just ask last year's Ohio State team.
Things should get a little bit tighter in the afternoon and early evening with a couple of matchups between teams on the No. 6 and No. 7 seed lines with No. 10 and No. 11 seeds, including one of the early darlings of the tournament Notre Dame. All of those games are expected to have a final margin of one or two possessions, giving fans plenty of buzzer beater potential. The headliners will then take center stage with No. 1 seed Arizona, No. 2 seed Duke and No. 3 seed Wisconsin all helping wrap up the first round action on Friday night.
But enough about who is…