NCAA first-round games to watch (when Kentucky isn't playing)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, Big Blue Nation. On Thursday, the 2025 NCAA Tournament’s first round will tip off at 12:15 p.m. in Lexington. Rupp Arena will host the first first-round game of the best four days in sports before your University of Kentucky Wildcats play on Friday night in Milwaukee.

You will obviously be tuned in Friday for the first NCAA game of the Mark Pope era. Before that one begins, there are five can’t-miss Thursday games, plus one to watch after Kentucky-Troy on Friday night.

#7 Kansas vs. #10 Arkansas (West)

Bill Self vs. John Calipari used to be an NCAA championship matchup. They met in 2008 when Self’s Kansas beat Calipari’s Memphis in overtime in the title game thanks to Mario Chalmer’s late 3-pointer and the Tigers’ inability to make free throws in regulation. Calipari got his revenge in 2012 when Kentucky beat Kansas in the national championship game in New Orleans.

This year, the Hall of Fame head coaches will meet on the first day of the tournament as the No. 7 and 10 seeds in the West Region. Much has been made of a potential Calipari-Pitino game in the second round, but the Jayhawks have Hunter Dickinson, who Calipari tried recruiting to Kentucky, and a talented roster that still has a high ceiling, even after losing 11 games in the regular season.

Arkansas also has a talented roster with Boogie Fland returning to the backcourt, and the Razorbacks turned a corner lately. This is the game I am most interested in watching on Thursday because the winner is capable of going on a run, with Rick Pitino likely waiting in the next round.

Thursday, 7:10 p.m. | CBS | Providence

#8 Louisville vs. #9 Creighton (South)

The first game of the entire tournament is always one to watch. This year’s opener is more exciting than many in the past because Rupp Arena is the host, and the Louisville Cardinals will be the home team in Lexington, playing Creighton.

One of the major storylines from Selection Sunday was Louisville under-seeded as a No. 8, so the Cards are motivated to make a statement. On the other side, Creighton is a tough opponent in its fifth straight NCAA Tournament. The Bluejays reached the Sweet Sixteen in the last two tournaments and the Elite Eight in 2023. Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner and Louisville’s Chucky Hepburn are two of the stars of the South Region.

Thursday, 12:15 p.m. | CBS | Lexington

#5 Clemson vs. #12 McNeese (Midwest)

Clemson went 18-2 in the ACC and beat Kentucky in the SEC/ACC Challenge in December. Now, standing in its way in the NCAA Tournament is one of its own, Will Wade. Wade, a Clemson alum and former Clemson assistant, coached McNeese State to its second straight NCAA Tournament appearance. McNeese won the Southland’s regular season and conference tournament championships, winning all but one game since December 14.

Can Wade take down his alma mater in what is likely his last season with McNeese? Clemson is on upset alert in the Midwest’s 5 vs. 12 game, a popular spot for upsets.

Thursday, 3:15 p.m. | truTV | Providence

#4 Purdue vs. #13 High Point (Midwest)

High Point is a trendy double-digit upset pick in its first-round matchup with Purdue. The No. 13 seed has the longest winning streak in college basketball (14 games) and one of the highest-scoring offenses at 81.7 points per game (15th).

Purdue made last year’s championship game, but the Boilermakers had two first-round losses in three years before breaking through to the Final Four in 2024. High Point could do what No. 13 North Texas did in 2021, and No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson did to No. 1 Purdue in 2023.

Zach Edey isn’t walking through that door, but Purdue’s Braden Smith, the Big Ten Player of the Year, is. He’ll need to play a good game to keep Purdue alive.

Thursday, 12:40 p.m. | truTV | Providence

#8 UConn vs. #9 Oklahoma (West)

Oklahoma lost a second heartbreaker to Kentucky in the SEC Tournament last week. On Friday, the Sooners have a chance to put that emotional loss in the past by ending UConn’s NCAA dynasty in the first round of the Big Dance.

UConn won the last two NCAA Tournaments, and Dan Hurley thinks he’s “the best coach in the ****ing sport”–his words, not mine. But Hurley’s Huskies had a disappointing regular season and a semifinal loss to Creighton in the Big East Tournament.

Oklahoma, with a projected lottery pick in Jeremiah Fears, will be America’s team against UConn. A first-round loss may be ahead for the two-time defending champs.

Friday, 9:25 p.m. | TNT | Raleigh

#2 Tennessee vs. #15 Wofford (Midwest)

Wofford head coach Dwight Perry played college basketball at Kentucky from 2006-09 alongside his cousin, Bobby Perry. Perry’s time as a Wildcat is best known for his one career start when UK’s coaching staff accidentally wrote his name instead of Bobby’s on the starting lineup card in a first-round NCAA game against Villanova. Dwight immediately fouled so Tubby Smith could make a sub.

Now, Perry is the head coach at Wofford, playing No. 2 Tennessee in the first round. Perry will have some familiarity on his side because the game will be in Rupp Arena. If he can pull off the upset and save Big Blue Nation from a potential run-in with Tennessee in the Sweet Sixteen, Dwight Perry will forever be remembered as the Vol slayer, not the accidental starter. Go Wofford.

Thursday, 6:50 p.m. | TNT | Lexington