With 16 games on tap, you’ve got screens everywhere. Your laptop has a game on, as does your friend’s. You’ve also fired up two TVs and a tablet, all streaming the Madness. It’s the first day of the NCAA Tournament and the only plan is to watch it all.

As you settle in, The Athletic has you covered. Here are the biggest things to look for on Day 1 of the Big Dance:

No. 8 Creighton vs. No. 9 Louisville

12:15 p.m. ET on CBS

It’s remarkable what Creighton has been able to do without its biggest splash in the transfer portal, guard Pop Issacs (hip surgery), who averaged 16.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game across just eight games this season. According to KenPom, the Bluejays have a top-50 offense and a top-50 defense, led by star center Ryan Kalkbrenner.

As for Louisville, the Cardinals suffered massive injuries to two additions this offseason — Koren Johnson and Kasean Pryor — but still rank in the top 50 in adjusted offense and defense. The Cardinals will rely on Terrence Edwards and Chucky Hepburn, who both average a little more than 16 points per game.

Something to watch is Louisville’s interior defense when James Scott isn’t on the floor.

No. 13 High Point vs. No. 4 Purdue

12:40 p.m. ET on truTV

This could be one of the most entertaining, high-scoring matchups of the first round, as each team features a top-tier point guard.

High Point Frenchman Kezza Giffa doesn’t shoot the 3-ball at a high clip but is highly efficient around the rim and puts a lot of pressure on opposing defenses.

Purdue has one of the premier PGs in the sport, AP First Team All-American Braden Smith. Smith is second in the country in assists at 8.7 per game, while also chipping in 16.1 points.

High Point’s rim-running offense poses potential issues for Purdue’s sub-par defense, as it is 15th in the country in two-point percentage. As Zach Edey went on to the NBA, Purdue has had to get creative defensively to force turnovers, often sending traps or extending its defense, thus causing the interior to be a bit weaker than in years past.

The Panthers have the second-longest winning streak in the country and pack a punch offensively. As for defense, High Point will have its hands full with the Boilermakers dynamic duo of Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn.

No. 16 Alabama State vs. No. 1 Auburn

2:50 p.m. ET. on CBS

Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good, and Alabama State pulled off a come-from-behind win over Saint Francis (PA) on a Hail Mary pass from Micah Simpson to Amarr Knox. The Hornets will need more than luck to take down Auburn, the No. 1 overall seed.

Auburn is led by AP First Team All-American Johni Broome, who leads the Tigers in points (18.9), rebounds (10.6), assists (3.1) and blocks (2.3).

Alabama State is at a disadvantage in just about every statistical category, but the Hornets have won seven in a row, led by Knox and CJ Hines, who shoots 38.9 percent from 3-point range.

Auburn hasn’t played its best basketball down the stretch, losing three of its last four games. Also, offenses typically don’t travel well early in the tournament, and the Tigers have been prone to start slow. The Tigers are heavily favored, as they should be, but how they start games could be crucial.

No. 5 Clemson vs. No. 12 McNeese

3:15 p.m. ET on truTV

One of the biggest keys to a Cinderella run is 3-point shooting, McNeese’s fourth-leading scorer, DJ Richards, is one of the best long-range shooters in the country, ranking No.1 in the Southland Conference and No. 6 in the country.

As for Clemson, if you haven’t heard of Ian Schieffelin, familiarize yourself with the 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward who averages 12.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.

If you are looking for pace and offensive fireworks, this might not be the game for you. These teams are among the slowest-paced in the country, so the importance of each possession will be heightened.

It should be noted that McNeese’s Will Wade has reportedly agreed to be the next coach at NC State. Will he be focused on this game?

The Tigers are on upset watch, as the Cowboys are one of the better teams nationally at guarding the 3-point line and attacking the offensive glass.

Since 2001, No. 12 seeds are 55-101 in first-round games.

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No. 10 Arkansas vs. No. 7 Kansas

7:10 p.m. ET on CBS

Five months ago, neither of these fan bases thought their teams would be outside the top 25, let alone seeded anything lower than a 4-5, but here we are. Two of the sport’s most influential coaches, Bill Self and John Calipari, square off for the 13th time. Last season, Calipari’s 89-84 victory over the Jayhawks evened the series at 6-6.

This matchup features a ton of star power as well as future NBA players, including Arkansas’ leading scorer and rebounder Adou Thiero (15.6 ppg and 6.0 rpg)

The Razorbacks received a major boost last week with the news that freshman sensation Boogie Fland will return to action despite originally being expected to miss the rest of the season following hand surgery on Jan. 22.

Fland was averaging 15.1 points, 5.7 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game.

As for Kansas, it’s led by AP Third Team All-American Hunter Dickinson, who averaged 17.6 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.

No. 11 Drake vs. No. 6 Missouri

7:35 p.m. on truTV

Like Clemson, Drake is one of the slowest-paced teams in the country but makes the most of its possessions, slotting in at No. 58 in effective field goal percentage (53.8) and No. 56 at two-point percentage (54.6). The Bulldogs are a popular upset pick led by MVC Player of the Year Bennett Stitz, who is the only player in Division I to lead his conference in points, assists and steals.

As for Missouri, the Tigers haven’t played their best ball of late, losing four of their last five. However, the Tigers have one of the best offenses in the country, ranking 18th in effective field goal percentage (56.2) and 36th in 3-point percentage (37.0). Missouri has three players who average between 13.4-14.1 points per game and have had 10 play in at least 28 games.

Since 2001, No. 11 seeds are 61-95 in first-round games.

No. 15 Omaha vs. No. 2 St. John’s

9:45 p.m. ET on CBS

This is the first tournament appearance for the Red Storm since 2019, and Omaha’s first since 2010.

Styles make fights, and something has to give in this matchup. The Red Storm have the most efficient defense in the country, with opponents shooting only 31.8 percent from 3.

Omaha, the No. 43-ranked 3-point shooting team in the country, is 12-1 when it shoots 39 percent or better from behind the arc.

Omaha doesn’t have a ton of size, and it shows. Its defense ranks 283rd in opponent two-point field goal percentage, allowing teams to make 53.5 percent around the rim. Unfortunately for Omaha, St. John’s makes 51.5 percent of those shots.

An individual matchup to watch in this one is Omaha’s Marquel Sutton versus St. John’s Zuby Ejiofor.

(Photo: Mitchell Layton / Getty Images)