Kentucky vs Santa Clara: March Madness Showdown

0:00On March 19th, the number 7 seed Kentucky Wildcats face off against the Santa Clara Broncos in the first round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Kentucky finished the regular season at 21 wins and 13 losses, earning their first ever 7 seed after a tough SEC schedule. Santa Clara comes in strong at 26 and 8, marking their first appearance since 1996. Maine tips off Friday at 1215 PM, eastern time from the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Kentucky's coach, Mark Pope, has the team eyeing another deep run after reaching the sweet 16 last year. They boast veteran guards and a deep bench to handle pressure moments. Meanwhile, Santa Clara packs a punch with one of the country's top offenses, especially from beyond the arc. Fans are split on this matchup, with plenty calling Santa Clara a sneaky upset threat on mine. Broncos excel at rebounding and forcing turnovers, led by a sharp shooting back court. Kentucky holds the edge from their only prior meeting back in 2006, but March Madness loves surprises.

1:05You can catch the action live on CBS, with streams available on Fubo or Paramount Plus. Radio coverage hits Serious XM Channel 201. Expect fireworks as both squads chase a spot in the second round, setting the tone for the rest of this bracket.