NCAA Bracket 2018: Updated Schedule and Predictions After Thursday's 1st Round

It's going to be hard for the rest of the 2018 NCAA men's basketball tournament to top Thursday's action.

On a day filled with drama, No. 11 Loyola of Chicago and No. 13 Buffalo produced the biggest upsets in different ways.

Loyola knocked off No. 6 Miami on a game-winning three-pointer with 0.3 seconds left, while the 13th-seeded Bulls obliterated Final Four favorite No. 4 Arizona.

Although 13 favorites won Thursday, plenty of those results could have gone in the other direction, as Kansas, Kentucky, Gonzaga and Ohio State faced tests.

Thursday's 16 victors have a day off to rest and prepare for difficult second-round contests Saturday that will send eight teams to the Sweet 16.

NCAA Tournament Schedule

All Times ET.

Friday

No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Providence (12:15 p.m., CBS)

No. 2 Purdue vs. No.15 CSU Fullerton (12:40 p.m., truTV)

No. 4 Wichita State vs. No. 13 Marshall (1:30 p.m., TNT)

No. 2 Cincinnati vs. No. 15 Georgia State (2 p.m., TBS)

No. 2 North Carolina vs. No. 15 Lipscomb (2:45 p.m., CBS)

No. 7 Arkansas vs. No. 10 Butler (3:10 p.m., truTV)

No. 5 West Virginia vs. No. 12 Murray State (4 p.m., TNT)

No. 7 Nevada vs. No. 10 Texas (4:30 p.m., TBS)

No. 8 Creighton vs. No. 9 Kansas State (6:50 p.m., TNT)

No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 14 Bucknell (7:10 p.m., CBS)

No. 1 Xavier vs. No. 16 Texas Southern (7:20 p.m., TBS)

No. 4 Auburn vs. No. 13 Charleston (7:27 p.m., truTV)

No. 1 Virginia vs. No. 16 UMBC (9:20 p.m., TNT)

No. 6 TCU vs. No. 11 Syracuse (9:40 p.m., CBS)

No. 8 Missouri vs. No. 9 Florida State (9:50 p.m., TBS)

No. 5 Clemson vs. No. 12 New Mexico State (9:55 p.m., truTV)

Saturday

No. 1 Villanova vs. No. 9 Alabama (12:10 p.m., CBS)

No. 2 Duke vs. No. 7 Rhode Island (2:40 p.m., CBS)

No. 5 Kentucky vs. No. 13 Buffalo (5:15 p.m., CBS)

No. 3 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Loyola-Chicago (6:10 p.m., TNT)

No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 8 Seton Hall (7:10 p.m., TBS)

No. 4 Gonzaga vs. No. 5 Ohio State (7:45 p.m., CBS)

No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 6 Florida (8:40 p.m., TNT)

No. 3 Michigan vs. No. 6 Houston (9:40 p.m., TBS)

Predictions

Loyola-Chicago Uses Momentum Gained from Game-Winner to Beat Tennessee

Although there were plenty of dramatic moments Thursday, No. 11 Loyola-Chicago was one of two mid-majors to pull off an upset.

Donte Ingram's game-winning three-pointer against No. 6 Miami sent the Ramblers into the round of 32 to take on No. 3 Tennessee.

Ingram was one of four Loyola players to reach double digits in the point column, and it received contributions in all areas of the court from those who didn't thrive in the scoring department.

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Starting guard Ben Richardson didn't score a point in 29 minutes, but he added eight assists, five rebounds, a block and a steal.

In addition to guards Ingram, Clayton Custer and Marques Townes, Loyola has a dominant big man in freshman Cameron Krutwig, who has the potential to challenge any of Tennessee's frontcourt stars.

With all due respect to No. 14 Wright State, Saturday presents the Volunteers with their first test of the tournament, and although they would have gained confidence from the 73-47 first-round win, they won't have felt the pressure of the Big Dance.

Given the momentum Loyola gained from Thursday's win and Tennessee's jitters from its first dose of true tournament experience, the Ramblers have a solid chance of progressing to the Sweet 16.

Kansas-Seton Hall Is Saturday's Best Game

Saturday's round-of-32 slate is chock-full of intriguing matchups, but the one that sticks out is No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 8 Seton Hall.

The Jayhawks faced a bit of a struggle against No. 16 Penn before pulling away in the second half behind a 29-point performance from senior guard Devonte' Graham.

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

In the 76-60 victory, Udoka Azubuike played three minutes, as he works his way back from a knee injury.

The good news for Kansas is it didn't have to utilize Azubuike while receiving contributions from Mitch Lightfoot and Silvio De Sousa.

In most years, Kansas would be an overwhelming favorite against Seton Hall, but because of the frontcourt instability, it's at risk of not making the second weekend of the NCAA tournament.

What makes the eighth-seeded Pirates so dangerous is the duo of Angel Delgado and Ismael Sanogo.

Elsa/Getty Images

Delgado didn't have the opportunity to flex his muscles on the glass against No. 9 NC State because of foul trouble, but he still picked up 13 points and nine rebounds.

Sanogo picked up the slack down low when Delgado was off the court, as he recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Although the assumption is Kansas has the better backcourt, it would be naive to overlook Seton Hall's Khadeen Carrington and Myles Powell.

If the Pirates are able to trade barbs with Kansas on the perimeter and the paint players challenge Azubuike when he's on the court, we could be set for an entertaining affair in Wichita, Kansas.

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.