NCAA Scores 2024: First Four Day 1 Results, Updated Men's Bracket and Schedule
Since 2011, when the NCAA tournament expanded to 68 teams, the First Four has served to reduce the number of teams from 68 to 64 for the first round.
Casual March Madness fans may not tune in until Thursday to see how their brackets fare. But real ones know that the First Four is not to be missed and can often have lingering effects through the subsequent rounds of the tournament.
How so? Well, since 2011, 12 First Four teams have advanced through two or more tournament rounds. In 2023, Fairleigh Dickinson defeated Purdue 63–58 to become the first No. 16 seed out of the First Four to defeat a No. 1 seed in the Division I tournament and just the third 16 seed ever to defeat a 1 seed in college basketball.
In 2011 and in 2021, respectively, VCU and UCLA advanced all the way from the First Four to the Final Four.
But do any of this year's First Four teams possess the potential to make a deep run in the tournament? Let's break down the results of Tuesday's Day 1 action and look at the updated bracket and schedule.
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First Four Day 1 Results
First Four Day 1 Results
No. 16 Wagner 71; No. 16 Howard 68
The Wagner Seahawks are enjoying their first tournament win in program history after holding off a furious comeback by the Howard Bison.
Down at one point by 17 points in the second half, Howard, which outscored Wagner 41-33 in the second half, could have tied the game with a three-pointer in the final seconds, but couldn't get it done.
Seahawks guard Melvin Council Jr. scored a game-high 21 points in the statement win.
Wagner will celebrate its accomplishment with its next matchup looming large: the Seahawks will face the No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels in Thursday's first round.
No. 10 Colorado State 67; No. 10 Virginia 42
Unfortunately, there was no phase of their game in Tuesday that the Virginia Cavaliers could point to as the reason why the program deserved a First Four spot.
In the first half, the Cavaliers managed just 14 points, going just 5-for-29 from the field. The defense kept Virginia in the game, holding the Rams to just 27 points in the first half, but the offense couldn't capitalize.
When all was said and done, Colorado State had built a 25-point victory to win its first NCAA tournament game in 11 years.. Joel Scott had 23 points and 11 rebounds and Nique Clifford had 17 points and 10 rebounds.
The No. 10 Rams will face No. 7 Texas in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Thursday.
Updated Men's Bracket and Schedule
NCAA Tournament Remaining Schedule
First Four: March 19-20
First round: March 21-22
Second round: March 23-24
Sweet 16: March 28-29
Elite Eight: March 30-31
Final Four: Saturday, April 6 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
NCAA championship game: Monday, April 8 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
See the full schedule at NCAA.com
Updated Men's Bracket
First Four
No. 16 Grambling vs. No. 16 Montana State, 6:40 p.m. ET
No. 10 Colorado vs. No. 10 Boise State, 9:10 p.m.
Round 1
Thursday, March 21
No. 9 Michigan State vs. No. 8 Mississippi State, 12:15 p.m.
No. 11 Duquesne vs. No. 6 BYU, 12:40 p.m.
No. 14 Akron vs. No. 3 Creighton, 1:30 p.m.
No. 15 Long Beach State vs. No. 2 Arizona, 2 p.m.
No. 16 Wagner vs. No. 1 North Carolina, 2:45 p.m.
No. 14 Morehead State vs. No. 3 Illinois, 3:10 p.m.
No. 11 Oregon vs. No. 6 South Carolina, 4 p.m.
No. 10 Nevada vs. No. 7 Dayton, 4:30 p.m.
No. 10 Colorado State/Virginia vs. No. 7 Texas, 6:50 p.m.
No. 14 Oakland vs. No. 3 Kentucky, 7:10 p.m.
No. 12 McNeese vs. No. 5 Gonzaga, 7:25 p.m.
No. 15 South Dakota State vs. No. 2 Iowa State, 7:35 p.m.
No. 15 Saint Peter's vs. No. 2 Tennessee, 9:20 p.m.
No. 11 NC State vs. No. 6 Texas Tech, 9:40 p.m.
No. 13 Samford vs. No. 4 Kansas, 9:55 p.m.
No. 10 Drake vs. No. 7 Washington State, 10:05 p.m.
Friday, March 22
No. 9 Northwestern vs. No. 8 Florida Atlantic, 12:15 p.m.
No. 14 Colgate vs. No. 3 Baylor, 12:40 p.m.
No. 12 UAB vs. No. 5 San Diego State, 1:45 p.m.
No. 15 Western Kentucky vs. No. 2 Marquette, 2 p.m.
No. 16 Stetson vs. No. 1 UConn, 2:45 p.m.
No. 11 New Mexico State vs. No. 6 Clemson, 3:10 p.m.
No. 13 Yale vs. No. 4 Auburn, 4:15 p.m.
No. 10 Colorado/Boise State vs. No. 7 Florida, 4:30 p.m.
No. 9 Texas A&M vs. No. 8 Nebraska, 6:50 p.m.
No. 13 Vermont vs. No. 4 Duke, 7:10 p.m.
No. 16 Grambling State/Montana State vs. No. 1 Purdue, 7:25 p.m.
No. 13. Charleston vs. No. 4 Alabama, 7:35 p.m.
No. 16 Longwood vs. No. 1 Houston, 9:20 p.m.
No. 12 James Madison vs. No. 5 Wisconsin, 9:40 p.m.
No. 9 TCU vs. No. 8 Utah State, 9:55 p.m.
No. 12 Grand Canyon vs. No. 5 Saint Mary's, 10:05 p.m.