The 2011 NCAA Tournament gets underway Thursday, and that also means first- and second-round games at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. will take place. The Verizon Center will host games on two sides of the NCAA bracket, with two Southeast Region games followed by two West Region games.
Here is a complete list of games for Thursday and where you can find them on television if you cannot attend. Tim Brando and Mike Gminski will have the call for all four games.
12:40 p.m.: No. 8 Butler vs. No. 9 Old Dominion: The defending NCAA runner-ups in Butler look to try another magical run through the NCAA Tournament, but it's unlikely to happen. Meanwhile, we're all big advocates of Old Dominion and believe the CAA champions could make a surprising deep run. (truTV)
3:10 p.m.: No. 1 Pittsburgh vs. No. 16 UNC-Asheville: Pittsburgh, led by guards Ashton Gibbs and Brad Wanamaker, won't lose this early. UNC-Asheville, meanwhile, is coming off a thrilling play-in game overtime victory over Arkansas-Little Rock, so they at least know how to rally from big deficits. (truTV)
7:20 p.m.: No. 3 Connecticut vs. No. 14 Bucknell: All I need to do is say that Kemba Walker is involved, and you're excited. See, I just got you excited. Bucknell is an underrated team, but at least this time the Huskies are taking their opponent seriously. (TNT)
9:45 p.m.: No. 6 Cincinnati vs. No. 11 Missouri: Cincinnati is imitating their coach and generally having a good time. Missouri? Well, we've heard nothing. (TNT)
March Madness resources: Printable 2011 NCAA Tournament bracket ... Full 2011 NCAA Tournament schedule.