NCAA Basketball: 10 most compelling 1st round 2023 NCAA Tournament matchups

There may not be a day all year that I look forward to more than Selection Sunday. My birthday is always fun. Christmas is a great time with the family. My wedding anniversary is a special day. But there’s something missing from each of these days. I can’t quite put my finger on it. Oh yeah, that’s right… BRACKETS.

The committee has finally bestowed the bracket upon us, and it’s absolutely littered with intriguing matchups. From top teams facing would-be Cinderellas to fascinating 8/9 games, there’s no doubt that the first round is going to kick the tournament off in style.

We’re past the point of comparing bubble resumes, Quad 1 wins, and strength of schedule. The conference tournaments are in the rearview mirror. And whether your team made the field, or got mercifully Old Yellered like my Tar Heels, nothing should dampen your enjoyment of the greatest sporting event in the world.

It’s always fascinating to see the various ways people fill out their brackets each year. If you’re like me, you stay up well past midnight on Selection Sunday agonizing over things like Marcus Sasser’s injury and the effect it has on Houston’s title chances. Or you could pick each game based on mascot fighting ability, uniform font, or which team’s coach is better dressed. There’s no wrong way to enjoy March, but enjoy it we will.

The beauty of this tournament is that surprises can come from anywhere. Think Arizona looks untouchable after rolling through the Pac-12 Tournament? Maybe Princeton will shock the world and Pete Carril their way past the Wildcats. UMBC over Virginia proved that anything can happen in any game, and there’s no doubt that there will be some absolute classics that aren’t on our list. But today we’ll be looking at 10 of the most intriguing matchups in the first round. These games are just an appetizer for the three-week long feast, so let’s dive in.