NEW YORK – On Wednesday, Xavier is the first of nine BIG EAST men’s basketball teams set to compete in postseason action this spring. Xavier takes on Texas in the First Four in Dayton, Ohio, before the 68-team NCAA tournament field gets underway on Thursday.
 
UConn, Creighton, Marquette, St. John’s and Xavier will each participate in the NCAA Tournament, while Butler, DePaul, Georgetown and Villanova accepted invitations to take part in the inaugural Crown Tournament in Las Vegas.
 
Fresh off its first BIG EAST Tournament title in 25 years, fifth-ranked St. John’s (30-4, 18-2 BIG EAST) earned the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and will square off against Summit League Champion Omaha Thursday at 9:45 p.m. ET in Providence on CBS. The Red Storm have lost four games by just a combined seven points and hold a 17-4 record in Quad 1 and 2 games this season.
 
Ranked No. 25 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, No. 7 seed Marquette (23-10, 13-7 BE) is set to take on No. 10 seed New Mexico at 7:25 p.m. in Cleveland on TBS. The Golden Eagles are making their 37^th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and fourth straight, reaching the Sweet 16 for the 17^th time last season.
 
The back-to-back national champions, UConn (23-10, 14-6 BE), are heading back to the NCAA Tournament for a fifth straight season looking to defend its crown. The Huskies earned the No. 8 seed in the West Region and will face No. 9 seed Oklahoma Friday at 9:25 p.m. in Raleigh, N.C., on TNT. The Huskies have won 12 consecutive NCAA Tournament games by double digits.
 
Ninth-seeded Creighton (24-10, 15-5 BE) will make its 26th NCAA Tournament appearance on Thursday when it faces ninth-seeded and No. 10 ranked Louisville at 12:15 p.m. in Lexington, Ky., on CBS. The Bluejays have won at least one game in the NCAA Tournament in four consecutive seasons, reaching the Sweet 16 in 2023-24.
 
Xavier (21-11, 13-7 BE) takes on Texas Wednesday night in the First Four round.  Tip off is scheduled for 9:10 p.m. on truTV. The winner will advance to Friday and square off against No. 6 seed Illinois at 9:45 p.m. on TNT. The Musketeers enter the field winning seven of their last eight games, and are competing in the NCAA Tournament for the 30^th time in program history.
 
Starting March 31, four BIG EAST teams will compete in the inaugural Crown Tournament in Las Vegas. Launched by FOX Sports and AEG, the College Basketball Crown is a premier postseason college basketball tournament debuting at MGM Grand Garden Arena and T-Mobile Arena. 
 
Butler (14-19, 6-14 BE) will play in the first game of the event on March 31 at 3 p.m. against Utah. At 11 p.m. on March 31, Georgetown (17-15, 8-12 BE) will battle Washington State.
 
Resuming first round action on April 1, DePaul (14-19, 4-16) faces Cincinnati at 3 p.m., before Villanova (19-14, 11-9 BE) takes on Colorado at 8:30 p.m.
 
A total of seven conferences have teams in the field, which also includes Arizona State, Boise State, Cincinnati, Colorado, George Washington, Nebraska, Oregon State, Tulane, UCF, USC, Utah, and Washington State.
 
FOX Sports' lead college basketball play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson and two-time All-American and NBA veteran Jim Jackson are on the call for the quarterfinals, semifinals and championship. Allison Williams serves as sideline reporter for the quarterfinals, while Kristina Pink joins for the semifinals and championship.
 
For the first round, play-by-play announcer Tim Brando pairs with analyst Donny Marshall and reporter Nick Bahe, while play-by-play announcer Kevin Kugler teams with analyst Robbie Hummel and reporter Kim Adams. FOX Sports' studio coverage is anchored by hosts Rob Stone and Mike Hill, with insight and analysis from LaPhonso Ellis, Casey Jacobsen and Marshall.

NCAA Tournament Schedule
South Region
First Round, Thursday, March 20 (Lexington, Ky.)
No. 9 seed Creighton vs. No. 8 seed Louisville, 12:15 p.m. | CBS
First Round, Friday, March 21 (Cleveland)
No. 7 seed Marquette vs. No. 10 seed New Mexico, 7:25 p.m. | TBS
 
Midwest Region
First Four, Wednesday, March 19 (Dayton, Ohio)
No. 11 seed Xavier vs. No. 11 seed Texas, 9:10 p.m. | TruTV
First Round, Friday, March 21 (Lexington, Ky.)
No. 11 seed Xavier/Texas vs. No. 6 seed Illinois, 9:45 p.m. | TNT
 
West Region
First Round, Thursday, March 20 (Providence)
No. 2 seed St. John’s vs. No. 15 seed Omaha, 9:45 p.m. | CBS
First Round, Friday, March 21 (Raleigh, N.C.)
No. 8 seed UConn vs. No. 9 seed Oklahoma, 9:25 p.m. | TNT

College Basketball Crown Tournament Bracket
Left side of the bracket
Utah vs. Butler — Monday, March 31, 3 p.m. ET at MGM Grand Garden Arena (TV: FS1 and FOX Sports app)
George Washington vs. Boise State — Monday, March 31, 5:30 p.m. ET at MGM Grand Garden Arena (TV: FS1 and FOX Sports app)
Nebraska vs. Arizona State — Monday, March 31, 8:30 p.m. ET at MGM Grand Garden Arena (TV: FS1 and FOX Sports app)
Georgetown vs. Washington State — Monday, March 31, 11 p.m. ET at MGM Grand Garden Arena (TV: FS1 and FOX Sports app)
 
Right side of the bracket
DePaul vs. Cincinnati — Tuesday, April 1, 3 p.m. ET at MGM Grand Garden Arena (TV: FS1 and FOX Sports app)
Oregon State vs. UCF — Tuesday, April 1, 5:30 p.m. ET at MGM Grand Garden Arena (TV: FS1 and FOX Sports app)
Colorado vs. Villanova — Tuesday, April 1, 8:30 p.m. ET at MGM Grand Garden Arena (TV: FS1 and FOX Sports app)
Tulane vs. USC — Tuesday, April 1, 11 p.m. ET at MGM Grand Garden Arena (TV: FS1 and FOX Sports app)
 
Second round
Utah/Butler vs. George Washington/Boise State — Wednesday, April 2, 7 p.m. ET at MGM Grand Garden Arena (TV: FS1 and FOX Sports app)
Nebraska/Arizona State vs. Georgetown/Washington State — Wednesday, April 2, 9:30 p.m. ET at MGM Grand Garden Arena (TV: FS1 and FOX Sports app)
DePaul/Cincinnati vs. Oregon State/UCF — Thursday, April 3, 7 p.m. ET at MGM Grand Garden Arena (TV: FS1 and FOX Sports app)
Colorado/Villanova vs. Tulane/USC — Thursday, April 3, 9:30 p.m. ET at MGM Grand Garden Arena (TV: FS1 and FOX Sports app)
 
Semifinals
Utah/Butler/George Washington/Boise State vs. Nebraska/Arizona State/Georgetown/Washington State — Saturday, April 5, 1:30 p.m. ET at T-Mobile Arena (TV: FOX and FOX Sports app)
DePaul/Cincinnati/Oregon State/UCF vs. Colorado/Villanova/Tulane/USC — Saturday, April 5, 4 p.m. ET at T-Mobile Arena (TV: FOX and FOX Sports app)
 
Final
Winner of left side of the bracket vs. winner of right side of the bracket — Sunday, April 6, 5:30 p.m. ET at T-Mobile Arena (TV: FOX and FOX Sports app)