CLOSE

Take a look at some at the faces of celebration and dejection from the third day of March Madness.
USA TODAY Sports

The NCAA tournament officially begins today. Join us for 12 hours of action-packed college basketball. And then tomorrow, come back for more.

Not near a TV? We’re sorry to hear that – and we’re here to help. USA TODAY Sports has got you covered with all of the day’s highlights, results, crazy plays and more on one page:

(Also subscribe to our Twitter list, featuring coverage from reporters all over the country)

Florida takes down East Tennessee State 

After a bit of a slow start, the Gators clawed back to defeat East Tennessee State 80-65.

Boy are Northwestern fans excited! 

The Northwestern Wildcats are playing in their first NCAA tournament ever. They’ve been waiting 78 years fro this moment.

Update: Notre Dame’s Rex Pflueger got stitches 

And shared the gross photo on his personal Snapchat account.

Gonzaga starts slow, dominates South Dakota State in second half

A No. 16 seed topping a No. 1 seed for the first time in the NCAA tournament will have to wait at least another game. Gonzaga looked vulnerable during the first half, but picked it up to easily win the first-round matchup 66-46.

Oof. That’s going to leave a mark

Butler handles Winthrop, 76-64

The Butler Bulldogs cruise past the Winthrop Eagles to advance to the second round. Butler will face 5-seed Minnesota or 12-seed Middle Tennessee State.

Virginia will likely be without forward Isaiah Wilkins for the second round

After playing through a progression of strep throat and a sinus infection over the past three weeks, Isaiah Wilkins said he has a “mono thing.”

“I’ve been playing through it but today it really caught up with me,” he said following Virginia’s 76-71 win over No. 12 North Carolina-Wilmington.

“I’m probably done for the rest of this weekend.”

Virginia fights off UNC Wilmington

The Cavaliers trailed by 15 points in the first half, but had rallied back by halftime and went on to beat the Seahawks 76-71.

Hustle, a play in three acts

Notre Dame survives

Princeton missed a go-ahead three-pointer in the closing seconds and Notre Dame held on for a 60-58 win, becoming the first team to advance to the second round.

Block party at Butler’s

Who says Virginia can’t score?

Indiana fires Tom Crean

Talk about a news dump! Minutes before Thursday’s first game tipped off, the Hoosiers parted ways with their coach, who spent nine seasons with the program. USA TODAY Sports’ Nicole Auerbach takes a look at candidates to replace Crean – all of whom are coaching in the tournament this year.

Not even 10 minutes in and we have blood …

Bracket trouble?

If you’re problems accessing your bracket on CBSSports.com and its mobile app, you’re not alone. A Twitter search shows there are many who couldn’t make last-minute tweaks to their brackets.

Prepare for Day 1

? Ranking Thursday’s 16 first-round matchups. From No. 12 Princeton vs. No. 5 Notre Dame to No. 2 Arizona vs. No. 15 North Dakota, here are the games that should be most worthy of your attention.

? Previewing every game on Thursday’s slate. Get ready for all the action with our capsule previews for every game on the schedule as the field of 64 starts to narrow down on the road to Glendale, Ariz.

? The 11 best individual player matchups in the tournament. The individual positional matchups can be the difference-maker in winning, losing and bracket-busting.

? Eight hottest tournament teams poised for a run. The teams that are heating up at the right time and could be primed to go deep.

? Final Four? Arizona, Gonzaga on collision course. Here begins an opportunity to forever smash a narrative and untangle a name from the best/worst label in all of college basketball.

? The highs and lows of college basketball’s top freshmen. Harry Giles, Jayson Tatum, Lonzo Ball, Josh Jackson, Malik Monk, De’Aaron Fox, Lauri Markkanen are all likely one-and-done players.

  • March Madness emotional roller coaster: Day 3

    March Madness emotional roller coaster: Day 3

  • NCAA tournament Celeb Pick 'Em with Nick Lachey

    NCAA tournament Celeb Pick ‘Em with Nick Lachey

  • How have First Four teams fared in NCAA Tournament?

    How have First Four teams fared in NCAA Tournament?

  • UC Davis and USC advance to first round

    UC Davis and USC advance to first round

  • Barack Obama's NCAA bracket is here

    Barack Obama’s NCAA bracket is here

  • Warren Buffett offers $1 million NCAA bracket prize

    Warren Buffett offers $1 million NCAA bracket prize

  • What are the odds of upsets during March Madness?

    What are the odds of upsets during March Madness?

  • Here's how you can stream every March Madness basketball game

    Here’s how you can stream every March Madness basketball game

  • Dickie V breaks down March Madness

    Dickie V breaks down March Madness

  • NCAA tournament: South region preview

    NCAA tournament: South region preview

  • NCAA tournament preview: Title favorites to biggest snubs

    NCAA tournament preview: Title favorites to biggest snubs

  • NCAA tournament: Midwest region preview

    NCAA tournament: Midwest region preview

  • 2017 NCAA tournament: West region preview

    2017 NCAA tournament: West region preview

  • NCAA tournament: East region preview

    NCAA tournament: East region preview

  • Northwestern makes NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history

    Northwestern makes NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history