Here’s a brief look at some of the key March Madness games happening on Friday:
10 Santa Clara vs. 7 Kentucky
12:15 p.m., CBS
After struggling through the regular season, will the Wildcats face their third first-round exit in five years?
But can they make it to the second weekend of the tournament for just the second time under coach Mark Pope?
Senior guard Otega Oweh, who’s averaging 18.2 points per game, will be pivotal in their efforts, but first, they need to get past Santa Clara, who hasn’t been in this position since 1996.
10 Miami (Ohio) vs. 6 Tennessee
4:25 p.m., TBS
The RedHawks had a solid performance in Dayton and are looking to upset a Tennessee squad that’s been a consistent Sweet 16 contender in recent years. Yet, they often seem to fall short. Nate Ament and Jacobi Gillespie need to step up to change that narrative.
10 UCF vs. 7 UCLA
7:25 p.m., TBS
No matter how it unfolds, Bruins head coach Mick Cronin is likely to have a lot to say in the postgame presser. His UCLA teams have gone deep in March, but they need to contain a UCF team that thrives on three-pointers, especially following strong wins against Kansas and Texas Tech.
16 Prairie View A&M vs. 1 Florida
9:25 p.m., TNT
This matchup offers a glimpse of the defending champions as they aim to avoid the pitfalls that have tripped up other No. 1 seeds, like Duke. Coach Todd Golden’s group hopes to replicate recent back-to-back championships, despite their stumble in the SEC Tournament. They have some capable players, including Thomas Ho, who averages 17.1 points, and Alex Condon at 15.0 points.
15 Furman vs. 2 Yukon
10:00 p.m., TBS
Fans of St. John’s will want to keep an eye on this game. If both teams progress, the Huskies could become a potential opponent in the Elite Eight. Alex Karavan is aiming for his third national title with UConn, but Furman is known for surprises, having previously upset a No. 13 seed, Virginia, in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
10 Missouri vs. 7 Miami
10:10 p.m., TruTV
The Hurricanes, under first-year coach Jay Lucas, turned around a rough season, finishing with 24 wins after a previous 24 losses. This might make them an appealing team for fans, but the challenge against Missouri won’t be easy.
The Tigers, coming in as a No. 10 seed, are led by guards Mark Mitchell and Jaden Stone, but they’ve had tough losses to Florida, Vanderbilt, and Tennessee.
