Thursday's evening games feature historical NCAA Tournament powerhouses North Carolina, Michigan and Houston, dangerous squads Illinois, Gonzaga and BYU, and potential Cinderellas VCU, St. Mary's and St. Louis. Take the jump to remember a special NCAA Tournament first-round experience for each team playing Thursday night.
Game #9: (11) VCU vs. (6) North Carolina
- Remember when then #11 seed VCU upset a fellow ACC giant #6 Duke during the first round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament.
- Remember when North Carolina last was a #6 seed, surviving Providence during the first round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament.
Game #10: (16) UMBC/Howard vs. (1) Michigan
- Remember when UMBC was the first #16 seed to defeat a #1 seed, with its stunning victory against Virginia during the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
- Remember when Michigan defeated Texas Southern the last time the Wolverines were a #1 seed during the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
Game #11: (11) Texas/N.C. State vs. (6) BYU
- Remember when Texas began its only Final Four run with a first round victory against #16 UNC-Asheville during the 2003 NCAA Tournament.
- Remember when N.C. State began an improbable journey to the Final Four as a #11 seed with a first-round victory against #6 Texas Tech during the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
- Remember when BYU began a Sweet 16 run as a #6 seed just one year ago, with a first round victory against #11 VCU during the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Game #12: (10) Texas A & M vs. (7) St. Mary's (CA)
- Remember Texas A & M's last run to the Sweet Sixteen, which began when the #7 Aggies survived a first-round game against #10 Providence during the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
- Remember St. Mary's first-round victory as a #7 seed against #10 VCU during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament.
Game #13: (14) Penn vs. (3) Illinois
- Remember the last time Penn won a first-round game, as a #11 seed against #6 Nebraska during the 1994 NCAA Tournament. Note: Penn has lost its last nine first round games.
- Remember the last (and only) time Illinois played Penn in the NCAA Tournament, a first-round victory as a #4 seed against the #13 Quakers during the 2000 NCAA Tournament.
Game #14: (9) St. Louis vs. (8) Georgia
- Remember St. Louis' last first-round victory, a three-point triumph as a#5 seed against #12 N.C. State during the 2014 NCAA Tournament.
- Remember Georgia's last first-round victory, way back in 2002, when the #3 Bulldogs defeated the #14 Murray State Racers at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Game #15: (14) Kennesaw State versus (3) Gonzaga
- Remember Kennesaw State's only prior first-round game, a loss as a #14 seed to #3 seed Xavier during the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
- Remember when Gonzaga first got the ball rolling with its upset against #7 Minnesota during the first round of the 1999 NCAA Tournament.
Game #16: (15) Idaho vs. (2) Houston
- Remember Idaho's only NCAA Tournament victory, a first-round win against Iowa during the 1982 NCAA Tournament.
- Remember the last time Houston began the tournament as a #2 seed, with its first-round victory against #15 Cleveland State during the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
In the comments share your recollections of a favorite/memorable NCAA Tournament game with one of the schools participating in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Thursday evening.
RSS Feed