BOISE - The matchups are set for the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, and Boise will host several powerhouse programs as March Madness gets underway.
The marquee teams that will compete at Taco Bell Arena include, Kentucky, Ohio State, Arizona, and the premier basketball program in the Northwest - Gonzaga.
The Round 1 games will take place on Thursday, with the winners moving on to Round 2, also at Taco Bell Arena, on Saturday.
Here's a look at the matchups. For more information on how to obtain tickets to the games, check out our Event Guide.
No. 4 Gonzaga (30-4) vs No. 13 UNC-Greensboro (27-7)
Region: West
Time: 11:30 a.m. MT
TV: TNT
Line: GU by 11.5
Gonzaga is back in the Big Dance for the 20th straight season. The Bulldogs have won 14 straight games, which is the longest active streak in the country. Although Gonzaga lost their top three scores of last year's team that finished No. 2 in the country, they still have plenty of fire power to make a run this year. The Zags have five guys who averaged 10+ points per game this season.
Best Player: F - Killian Tillie, So. - 13.4 PPG, 6.0 RPG
UNC-Greensboro was the best team in the Southern Conference due to their ability to defend. Sophomore forward James Dickey the the play that sets the tone on that end of the floor. The SoCon Defensive Player of the Year ranked 33rd in the NCAA this season, averaging 2.2 blocked shots per game.
Best Player: G - Francis Alonso, Jr. - 15.6 PPG, 3.0 APG
No. 5 Ohio State (24-8) vs No. 12 South Dakota State (28-6)
Region: West
Time: 2:00 p.m. MT
TV: TNT
Line: OSU by 8.5
Ohio State spend all season exceeding expectations. Picked to finished 11thin the Big Ten, the Buckeyes ended up finishing third in the standings. Ohio State is led by star junior Keita Bates-Diop, however, they had three addition players average 10+ points per game this season.
Best Player: F - Keita Bates-Diop, Jr. - 19.4 PPG, 8.8 RPG
South Dakota State has rattled off 11 straight wins entering the NCAA Tournament, and boast the third longest active winning streak in the country. While they struggle at times on defense, the Jack Rabbits boast one of the best 1-2 scoring punching in the NCAA Tournament this season, between junior Mike Daum (23.8 PPG) and freshman David Jenkins, Jr. (16.1 PPG)
Best Player: F - Mike Daum, Jr. - 23.8 PPG, 10.4 PRG
No. 5 Kentucky (24-10) vs No. 12 Davidson (21-11)
Region: South
Time: 5:10 p.m. MT
TV: CBS
Line: KU by 5.5
Kentucky wrapped up the SEC Tournament with a 77-72 victory in the championship game against 13th-ranked Tennessee, on Sunday. The Wildcats lost four straight games in early February, but roll in to the NCAA Tournament having won seven on their last eight games.
Best Player: F - Kevin Knox, Fr. - 15.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG
Davidson effectively knocked Notre Dame out of the NCAA Tournament with an upset victory over 25th-ranked Rhode Island in the A-10 Tournament Title Game, on Sunday. The Wildcats clinched an automatic bid with a 58-57 victory. Davidson needed a win to get in, and they got it.
Best Player: F - Peyton Aldridge, Sr. - 21.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG
No. 4 Arizona (27-7) vs No. 13 Buffalo (26-8)
Region: South
Time: 7:40 p.m. MT
TV: CBS
Line: UA by 8.0
Arizona is one of the more polorizing teams in the country, for more reasons than one. Just last month, both star forward Deandre Ayton and head coah Sean Miller will named in an ESPN report that accused Miller of paying Ayton to attend Arizona. Both have since denied the allegations. The Wildcats responded by cruising through the Pac-12 Tournament with three wins - all by double-figured - en route to a conference championship.
Best Player: F - Deandre Ayton, Fr. - 20.3 PPG, 11.5 RPG
Buffalo dominated the MAC East this season. The Bulls went 15-3 in league play, and wound up winning their division by six games. Buffalo then went on to dominate the MAC Tournament with three double-digit wins.
Best Player: G - CJ Massinburg, Jr. - 16.9 PPG, 7.4 RPG
