The 68-team tournament field has gotten smaller after a first weekend of madness in the Big Dance. From surprises like #15-seed Florida Gulf Coast winning their first two tournament games in school history in their first ever appearance to #13-seed La Salle making it into the Sweet 16 after playing in a “First Four” play-in game last week just to make it into the 64-team tournament field.
We saw that the mid-major conference (non power) teams are closing in on the powerhouses of years past. The level of competition has increased extremely well, which makes for even more storylines. No team is safe, and Thursday and Friday night will be full of thrills with the fourth round of the tournament. On Saturday and Easter Sunday, the Elite Eight games will be played, by the way.
Here is the schedule for the Sweet 16. I will have a breakdown of the games this week and a recap on the weekend coming to you, so stay tuned. It’s another week of madness, and the place to read up on it is “Cutting Down the Nets.”
Note- All times are eastern.
Thursday, March 28
East Region
#3-Seed Miami vs. #6-Seed Marquette – Tip-off at 7:15 pm at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.
#1-Seed Indiana vs. #4-Seed Syracuse – Tip-off at approximately 9:45 pm at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.
Both games will be televised on CBS. The hall of fame crew of Verne Lundquist, Bill Raftery, and Rachel Nichols has the call.
West Region
#2-Seed Ohio State vs. #6-Seed Arizona – Tip-off at 7:47 pm at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California
#9-Seed Wichita State vs. #13-Seed La Salle – Tip-off at approximately 10:17 pm at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California
Both games will be televised on TBS. Kevin Harlan, Len Elmore, Reggie Miller, and Lewis Johnson bring the action from LA.
Friday, March 29
Midwest Region
#1-Seed Louisville vs. #12-Seed Oregon – Tip-off at 7:15 pm at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana
#2-Seed Duke vs. #3-Seed Michigan State – Tip-off at approximately 9:45 pm at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana
Both games will be televised on CBS. Jim Nantz, Clark Kellogg, and Tracy Wolfson have the broadcasts in Indy.
South Region
#1-Seed Kansas vs. #4-Seed Michigan – Tip-off at 7:37 pm at Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas
#3-Seed Florida vs. #15-Seed Florida Gulf Coast – Tip-off at 10:07 pm at Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas
Both games will be televised on TBS. Marv Albert, Steve Kerr, and Craig Sager have all of the hoops going on in the Lonestar state on Friday.
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