NCAA Bracket 2017: Updated Schedule and Predictions After Wednesday First Four

After the First Four play-in games, we can all focus on the 64-team field. On Wednesday, UC Davis and Southern California earned victories to continue their respective chases for an NCAA title.

Similar to Mount St. Mary’s and New Orleans, UC Davis and NC Central fought down to the final possessions of the game. Junior forward Chima Moneke led the Aggies to victory with a double-double, scoring 18 points and pulling down 12 rebounds. Two of his teammates accumulated double-digit scoring totals. The school won its first NCAA Tournament game in the process:

Do the Aggies stand a chance against Kansas? Probably not. A No. 1 seed has yet to lose to a No. 16 seed in the tournament, but hey, it's March Madness. As Kevin Garnett once said: "Anything is possible."

USC won a seesaw matchup against Providence, which means they'll compete against Southern Methodist on Friday. Let's take a look at the viewing details for the new matchups:

Date	Matchup	Time (ET)
March 17	No. 6 SMU vs. No. 11 USC	3:10 p.m.
March 17	No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 16 UC Davis	6:50 p.m.

The bracket below reflects Wednesday's outcomes:

USC Reaches Sweet 16 Round 

It's not about drinking the Trojan Kool-Aid or being a prisoner of the moment. Sophomore forward Bennie Boatwright puts USC on the map. As a No. 11 seed, they belong in the bracket-buster category.

Boatwright immediately established his dominance against the Friars on Wednesday:

He's a smooth 6'10" big who shoots three-pointers with confidence. The junior forward knocked down three triples in the play-in contest.

Don't expect SMU to solve the Boatwright riddle on Friday. The Mustangs have a better chance at beating the Trojans by matching their firepower with better efficiency. USC’s next opponent ranks No. 6, tied with Purdue, in three-point shooting percentages in the nation.

Nonetheless, the inside-outside combination between Boatwright's dynamic play and guard Jordan McLaughlin's ability to collapse a defense should be enough to edge the Mustangs.

Assuming Baylor advances over New Mexico State, the Bears don't have the offensive ammunition to keep pace with the Trojans in the second round. Freshman forward Nick Rakocevic scored nine points against Providence; he adds another wrinkle on the interior.

Iowa State Reaches Final Four 

How about a bold prediction? Take the Big 12 champions seriously in this tournament. College basketball's most recognized voice already received the memo:

Many people have picked Kansas to shake off an early conference tournament loss and advance to the Final Four—and in some cases, the championship game. Everyone pump the brakes on the Jayhawks for just a second. 

The Cyclones have a regular-season overtime victory over the Jayhawks. In that game, guard Frank Mason III put up a career-high 32 points, but Steve Prohm's group came up huge in the second half and in the extra period to earn the victory.

Iowa State's top four players put their best work on display during the Big 12 tournament, and they can all shoot from three-point land. Furthermore, it's a senior group looking to make one final splash on the collegiate level. Pay close attention to Deonte Burton, a 6'5", 250-pound guar, who shoots a high percentage at the free-throw line and plays above the rim:

The Midwest Region will pose tough challenges en route to the Final Four. Before meeting Kansas in the Sweet 16, Purdue should advance to meet the Cyclones in the second round. Iowa State will likely face off against Michigan, a team riding positive momentum, for a captivating Elite 8 matchup.

It'd be a shock to see a No. 5 seed compete in April, but the Cyclones have the roster and play scheme to advance deep in the tournament.

Louisville Falls in 2nd Round

According to FiveThirtyEight's Nate Silver, Louisville has the second-highest probability of winning the Midwest Region:

Nonetheless, the Cardinals stumbled through the ACC Conference with a 12-6 record. Once the competition tightens up, Louisville is prone to shrinking under the bright lights. The team's best players have disappeared in recent games. The program alternated wins and losses before bowing out of the conference tournament in a loss to Duke.

As Sam Vecenie of Sporting News points out, the Cardinals will draw a tough matchup in the second round:

Aside from Iowa State, Michigan, who won the Big Ten tournament looks like the scariest program in the Midwest Region. Senior guards Derrick Walton Jr. and Zak Irvin have answers for the nation's toughest competition, including the top seeds.

If Oklahoma State advances, the Cardinals would have their hands full with standout sophomore guard Jawun Evans. He scored 29 points in two of his last three outings. Nonetheless, the Cowboys lost their last three games to Big 12 giants, Iowa State and Kansas. Michigan should win a close contest in the first round.

Wolverines junior D.J. Wilson has been a timely spark and complement to Walton on offense. He also competes on the defensive end as a shot-blocker. The 6'10" forward accumulated double-digit point totals in three of four Big Ten tournament games. Occasionally, he'll step out for a three-pointer, much to the chagrin of defenders.

The Cardinals have an athletic squad, but they'll struggle to limit the Wolverines on the offensive end. Typically, head coach Rick Pitino pushes the right buttons with his players, but coaching won't be able to overcome the talent gap if Michigan advances to the second round. 

Stats provided by Sports Reference unless otherwise noted.