How Purdue’s Braden Smith is preparing for Men’s NCAA tournament
Purdue’s Braden Smith joins us ahead of the NCAA tournament to talk March Madness prep and his partnership with Great Clips.
It’s March Madness time.
The 2026 NCAA Tournament starts on Thursday with the first round beginning with 16 games being played all day long throughout the country.
St. John’s enters this year’s tournament as a No. 5 seed in the East Region fresh off a second consecutive Big East title where they cruised to a dominant 72-52 victory over UConn in the championship game at Madison Square Garden last Saturday.
The Red Storm bowed out early in the 2025 NCAA Tournament when they were upset by Arkansas in the second round last year.
So when does St. John’s play in the first round of this year’s tournament?
Here’s key information you need to know about St. John’s first round matchup against No. 12 Northern Iowa in the NCAA Tournament:
When is No. 5 St. John’s vs No. 12 Northern Iowa NCAA Tournament game?
Date: Friday, March 20
Time: 7:10 p.m.
What channel is No. 5 St. John’s vs No. 12 Northern Iowa in NCAA Tournament?
TV channel: CBS
How to stream No. 5 St. John’s vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa NCAA Tournament game
Streaming: NCAA March Madness Live app | Fubo
Watch St. John’s vs Northern Iowa live on Fubo
Is No. 5 St. John’s favored to win NCAA Tournament game? See odds
Odds according to BetMGM as of Thursday, March. 19:
Spread: St. John’s by 9.5 points
Over/under: 131.5 points
Moneyline: St. John’s (-550), Northern Iowa 4/1 (+400)
Who plays in NCAA Tournament today? See first round schedule
Here’s the full Thursday slate for all 16 games in the first round of the NCAA Tournament:
Odds according to BetMGM as of Thursday, March. 19:
No. 8 Ohio State vs No. 9 TCU March Madness game time, channel, odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 12:15 p.m.
TV channel: CBS
Region: East
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Fubo
Watch Ohio State vs TCU live on Fubo
Spread: Ohio State by 2.5 points
Over/under: 146.5 points
Moneyline: Ohio State (-145), TCU (+120)
No. 4 Nebraska vs No. 13 Troy March Madness game time, channel, odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 12:40 p.m.
TV channel: truTV
Region: South
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Watch Nebraska vs Troy live on Sling
Spread: Nebraska by 12.5 points
Over/under: 137.5 points
Moneyline: Nebraska (-1100), Troy (+650)
No. 6 Louisville vs No. 11 South Florida March Madness game time, channel, odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 1:30 p.m.
TV channel: TNT
Region: East
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Watch Louisville vs South Florida live on Sling
Spread: Louisville by 4.5 points
Over/under: 164.5 points
Moneyline: Lousiville (-200), South Florida (+165)
No. 5 Wisconsin vs No. 12 High Point March Madness game time, channel, odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 1:50 p.m.
TV channel: TBS
Region: West
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Watch Wisconsin vs High Point live on Sling
Spread: Wisconsin by 10.5 points
Over/under: 163.5 points
Moneyline: Wisconsin (-500), High Point (+375)
No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 Siena March Madness game time, channel, odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 2:50 p.m.
TV channel: CBS
Region: East
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Fubo
Watch Duke vs Siena live on Fubo
Spread: Duke by 28.5 points
Over/under: 135.5 points
Moneyline: Duke (-10000), Siena (+3300)
No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 12 McNeese March Madness game time, channel, odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 3:15 p.m.
TV channel: truTV
Region: South
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Watch Vanderbilt vs McNeese live on Sling
Spread: Vanderbilt by 11.5 points
Over/under: 150.5 points
Moneyline: Vanderbilt (-750), McNeese (+525)
No. 3 Michigan State vs No. 14 North Dakota State March Madness game time, channel, odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 4:05 p.m.
TV channel: TNT
Region: East
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Watch Michigan State vs North Dakota State live on Sling
Spread: Michigan State by 16.5 points
Over/under: 143.5 points
Moneyline: Michigan State (-2000), North Dakota State (+950)
No. 4 Arkansas vs No. 13 Hawai’i March Madness game time, channel, odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 4:25 p.m.
TV channel: TBS
Region: West
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Watch Arkansas vs Hawai’i live on Sling
Spread: Arkansas by 15.5 points
Over/under: 160.5 points
Moneyline: Arkansas (-1600), Hawai’i (+850)
No. 6 North Carolina vs No. 11 VCU March Madness game time, channel, odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 6:50 p.m.
TV channel: TNT
Region: South
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Watch North Carolina vs VCU live on Sling
Spread: North Carolina by 2.5 points
Over/under: 152.5 points
Moneyline: North Carolina (-150), VCU (+125)
No. 1 Michigan vs No. 16 Howard March Madness game time, channel, odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV channel: CBS
Region: Midwest
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Fubo
Watch Michigan vs Howard live on Fubo
Spread: Michigan by 30.5 points
Over/under: 151.5 points
Moneyline: Michigan (N/A), Howard (N/A)
No. 6 BYU vs No. 11 Texas March Madness game time, channel, odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 7:25 p.m.
TV channel: TBS
Region: West
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Watch BYU vs Texas live on Sling
Spread: BYU by 2.5 points
Over/under: 159.5 points
Moneyline: BYU (-150), Texas (+125)
No. 7 Saint Mary’s vs No. 10 Texas A&M March Madness game time, channel, odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 7:35 p.m.
TV channel: truTV
Region: South
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Watch Saint Mary’s vs Texas A&M live on Sling
Spread: Saint Mary’s by 3.5 points
Over/under: 146.5 points
Moneyline: Saint Mary’s (-170), Texas A&M (+140)
No. 3 Illinois vs No. 14 Pennsylvania March Madness game time, channel, odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 9:25 p.m.
TV channel: TNT
Region: South
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Watch Illinois vs Pennsylvania live on Sling
Spread: Illinois by 24.5 points
Over/under: 150.5 points
Moneyline: Illinois (-10000), Pennsylvania (+2500)
No. 8 Georgia vs No. 9 Saint Louis March Madness game time, channel, odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 9:45 p.m.
TV channel: CBS
Region: Midwest
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Fubo
Watch Georgia vs Saint Louis live on Fubo
Spread: Georgia by 2.5 points
Over/under: 169.5 points
Moneyline: Georgia (-145), Saint Louis (+120)
No. 3 Gonzaga vs No. 14 Kennesaw State March Madness game time, channel, odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 10 p.m.
TV channel: TBS
Region: West
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Watch Gonzaga vs Kennesaw State live on Sling
Spread: Gonzaga by 21.5 points
Over/under: 154.5 points
Moneyline: Gonzaga (-10000), Kennesaw State (+1650)
No. 2 Houston vs No. 15 Idaho March Madness game time, channel, odds
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 10:10 p.m.
TV channel: truTV
Region: South
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Watch Houston vs Idaho live on Sling
Spread: Houston by 23.5 points
Over/under: 137.5 points
Moneyline: Houston (-10000), Idaho (+2500)
