2018 ScheduleAll times ET

2018 Schedule
1st in Southland
Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports
221d

Privateers' Thibodeaux apologizes for scuffle

New Orleans forward Travin Thibodeaux has issued a lengthy apology for a scuffle with a teammate that resulted in his benching late in an NCAA tournament First Four loss Tuesday.

Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports
222dAustin Ward

UNO players scrap during First Four defeat

New Orleans' Travin Thibodeaux and Christavious Gill got into an altercation during the team's First Four loss to Mount St. Mary's that resulted in Thibodeaux being benched in the second half.

Dave Tuley ESPN Staff Writer 

Mount St. Mary's beats New Orleans 67-66 in the first game of the NCAA tournament (a No. 16 seed play-in game in Dayton, Ohio) to earn the right to face East No. 1 seed Villanova on Thursday. The ViewFromVegas is the Mountaineers did it as 1-point underdogs and the game went over the betting total of 131.5. We'll have a file with the betting results (like this) of every NCAA tournament game at ESPN.com/chalk starting Thursday and keep track of how favorites/underdogs and over/unders are faring all the way through the championship game.

Austin Ward ESPN Staff Writer 

Even without its best effort, Mount St. Mary's had just enough to edge New Orleans and advance from the First Four at UD Arena in a thriller that came down to the final possession. Leading scorer Elijah Long didn't get on the scoreboard for more than 30 minutes for the Mountaineers and finished with just 6 points, and he'll obviously have to be much better with Villanova looming on Thursday night in Buffalo.

Austin Ward ESPN Staff Writer 

There might not have been much that would scare Villanova on display in the opening half of the First Four, but both Mount St. Mary's and New Orleans have come to play and are doing everything they can to earn a shot at the defending champs. The Mountaineers are creating good shots and knocking them down, and the Privateers are getting another productive outing from Erik Thomas. The second half is shaping up to be competitive and entertaining.

Austin Ward ESPN Staff Writer 

The competition never stops at the First Four: Emmit S. Burg (Mount St. Mary's) and Lafitte the Instigator (New Orleans) dance-battled at midcourt during a timeout of a tight game in Dayton. The winner? Everybody at UD Arena.

Austin Ward ESPN Staff Writer 

New Orleans had one of the country's best 3-point defenses during the season, but it's having some issues closing out and forcing bad shots against Mount St. Mary's. Mountaineers guards Miles Wilson and Junior Robinson combined to hit their first four attempts from beyond the arc while jumping out to an early lead.

Austin Ward ESPN Staff Writer 

The NCAA tournament is officially underway. New Orleans and Mount St. Mary's are tipping off the madness at UD Arena in the First Four. Buckle up!

Austin Ward ESPN Staff Writer 

The one and only Emmit S. Burg is already loose and ready for action supporting Mount St. Mary's tonight against New Orleans. He even did a little flexing as the Privateers warmed up in front of his baseline.

Austin Ward ESPN Staff Writer 

Time to get loose at UD Arena. New Orleans is out getting stretched and putting up a few shots ahead of tipoff at the First Four

Austin Ward ESPN Staff Writer 

The Dance starts right here. UD Arena is quiet for now, but it should be rocking in a couple hours for tonight's doubleheader in the First Four, with New Orleans and Mount St. Mary's providing the official tipoff of this year's tournament.

ESPN Stats and Information  

How important are Tuesday's and Wednesday's games? Since the First Four was introduced in 2011, one of the eight teams has advanced at least to the Round of 32 in each season. One even went from the First Four to the Final Four (VCU in 2011).

ESPN Stats and Information  

Who will earn the privilege to face No. 1 overall seed Villanova in the NCAA tournament? ESPN's BPI sees Mount St. Mary's as slight favorites against New Orleans in Tuesday's First Four matchup.

ESPN Stats and Information  

New Orleans enters the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1996, but the Privateers haven't won a game in the Big Dance since 1987. That year was New Orleans' first-ever trip to the tournament. (Photo by Steve Dalmado/Icon Sportswire)

Ben Queen-USA TODAY
223dDavid Tuley and Andrew Lange

How to bet Tuesday's First Four games

The NCAA tournament begins on Tuesday night with Mount Saint Mary's-New Orleans and Kansas State-Wake Forest facing off, and our experts think there is plenty of betting value tonight.

ESPN Stats and Information  

If 16th-seeded New Orleans, which hasn't made the tournament in more than 20 years, beats Mount Saint Mary's in the First Four, it will likely be but a speed bump for top-seeded Villanova.

ESPN Stats and Information  

The four non-major participants in the First Four were all picked 4th or lower in their league's preseason coaches poll: Mount St. Mary's (4th in NEC), North Carolina Central (4th in MEAC), U.C Davis (5th in Big West) and New Orleans (9th in Southland).

Dave Tuley ESPN Staff Writer 

NCAA First Four openers (Tuesday and Wednesday play-in games) from the South Point: New Orleans -1.5 vs. Mount St. Mary's, Kansas State -1 vs. Wake Forest, NC Central -2 vs. UC-Davis, USC -1 vs. Providence.

ESPN Stats and Information  

Defending national champion Villanova grabs the top seed in the East region. UNC Wilmington is back for the second straight year, and an intriguing 5-12 upset could be on tap as the Seahawks face Virginia.

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New Orleans wins Southland tournament (0:55)

Team Stats

Points Per Game72.8183rd
Rebounds Per Game35.6Tied-182nd
Assists Per Game15.746th
Points Allowed69.295th

Tournament History

Final Fours0
Tournament Record1-4
Championship SeasonsNone
Tournament Appearances4