The first two full days of the NCAA Tournament always are among the best sports days of the year, replete with upsets and last-second drama that only college basketball can provide in such massive doses.
You have to believe the selection committee has a sense of humor, too — or at least nostalgia — when it set some of the pairings for the opening round, which will be played on Thursday and Friday at various sites across the country.
Here’s a look at the most intriguing matchups in each region for the opening round later this week:
No. 7 Wofford vs. No. 10 Seton Hall, Midwest
No one at Seton Hall should be looking ahead to a potential second-round matchup against No. 2 Kentucky, even after the Pirates upended John Calipari’s Wildcats in December. To advance, Kevin Willard’s team needs to get past this year’s mid-major darling, Wofford, which completed an unbeaten run (21-0) in Southern Conference play (29-4 overall) behind seniors Fletcher McGee and Cameron Jackson. Seton Hall will need contributions from an inconsistent supporting cast around star guard Myles Powell against the Terriers, who haven’t lost since Dec. 19 against tourney-bound Mississippi State.
No. 7 Louisville vs. No. 10 Minnesota, East
Another 7-10 pairing with plenty to unpack pits Richard Pitino’s Golden Gophers (21-13) against Louisville, which fired Pitino’s father, Rick, amid a recruiting scandal in 2017. The Cardinals (20-13) limped to the finish line in the ACC under first-year coach Chris Mack, losing seven of their final 10 games. Minnesota posted wins over Purdue (twice), Wisconsin and Iowa in the Big Ten this season. No chance this matchup is a coincidence from the selection committee.
• Printable NCAA bracket: Complete 2019 March Madness field
No. 5 Marquette vs. No. 12 Murray State, West
Yes, please. This figures to be the offensive showcase game of the first round, pitting two of college hoops’ most explosive guards, Marquette’s Markus Howard (the Big East Player of the Year) and lottery-bound Murray State point man Ja Morant, who leads the nation in assists while scoring 24.6 points per game. The Racers (27-4) are riding an 11-game winning streak, while the Golden Eagles (24-9) could be primed to be upset with five losses in their last six games.
No. 6 Villanova vs. No. 11 St. Mary’s, South
The defending champs lost much of their talent from last year’s run, but Jay Wright still kept the Wildcats (25-9) atop the Big East in both the regular season and the conference tournament. The Gaels (22-11) knocked off No. 1 Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference tourney, limiting the Bulldogs to 47 points with longtime coach Randy Bennett’s slowdown approach.
