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The national holiday - basketball Christmas, if you will - is here!
Let this serve as an open thread for all smarting from St. John's loss to Robert Morris in the first round of the NIT, who want to think of better things and capable hoops. And let this serve as an open thread for those who just love watching teams prominent and unknown competing on the largest stage for the sport.
Of particular interest, judging by Vegas odds, is:
- 11 Dayton/ 6 Ohio State game (OSU -6)
- 12 Harvard/ 5 Cincinnati (CIN -3)
- 10 BYU/ 7Oregon (ORE -5)
- 10 St. Joseph's/ 7Connecticut (CONN -5.5)
- 12 North Carolina State/ 5 St. Louis (SLU -3)
- 12 North Dakota State/ 5 Oklahoma (OKL -3.5)
- 10 Arizona State/ 7 Texas (TEX -2)
Which of those games did you pick as an upset today? Or did you pick a different game? What was your reasoning?
If it's before first tip, you might still be able to get your picks in on the Rumble Bracket Challenge on Yahoo! USE THIS INVITE LINK.
Thursday's Game Schedule
| Region | Game | Venue | Tip Time | TV | Announcers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South | Dayton Flyers (11) vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (6) | First Niagara Center (Buffalo, NY) | 12:15p | CBS | Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery/Allie LaForce |
| West | American University Eagles (15) vs. Wisconsin Badgers (2) | BMO Harris Bradley Center (Milwaukee, WI) | 12:40p | truTV | Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel/Lewis Johnson |
| South | Pittsburgh Panthers (9) vs. Colorado Buffaloes (8) | Amway Center (Orlando, FL) | 1:40p | TBS | Brian Anderson/Dan Bonner//Kristine Leahy |
| East | Harvard Crimson (12) vs. Cincinnati Bearcats (5) | Spokane Memorial Arena (Spokane, WA) | 2:10p | TNT | Spero Dedes/Doug Gottlieb//Jaime Maggio |
| South | Western Michigan Broncos (14) vs. Syracuse Orange (3) | First Niagara Center (Buffalo, NY) | 2:45p | CBS | Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery/Allie LaForce |
| West | BYU Cougars (10) vs. Oregon Ducks (7) | BMO Harris Bradley Center (Milwaukee, WI) | 3:10p | truTV | Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel/Lewis Johnson |
| South | Albany Great Danes/ Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers (16) vs. Florida Gators (1) | Amway Center (Orlando, FL) | 4:10p | TBS | Brian Anderson/Dan Bonner//Kristine Leahy |
| East | Delaware Blue Hens (13) vs. Michigan State Spartans (4) | Spokane Memorial Arena (Spokane, WA) | 4:40p | TNT | Spero Dedes/Doug Gottlieb//Jaime Maggio |
| East | Saint Joseph's (PA) Hawks (10) vs. Connecticut Huskies (7) | First Niagara Center (Buffalo, NY) | 6:55p | TBS | Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery/Allie LaForce |
| Midwest | Wofford Terriers (15) vs. Michigan Wolverines (2) | BMO Harris Bradley Center (Milwaukee, WI) | 7:10p | CBS | Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel/Lewis Johnson |
| Midwest | North Carolina State Wolfpack/Xavier Musketeers (12) vs. Saint Louis Billikens (5) | Amway Center (Orlando, FL) | 7:20p | TNT | Brian Anderson/Dan Bonner//Kristine Leahy |
| West | North Dakota State Bison (12) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (5) | Spokane Memorial Arena (Spokane, WA) | 7:27p | truTV | Spero Dedes/Doug Gottlieb//Jaime Maggio |
| East | Milwaukee Panthers (15) vs. Villanova Wildcats (2) | First Niagara Center (Buffalo, NY) | 9:25p | TBS | Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery/Allie LaForce |
| Midwest | Arizona State Sun Devils (10) vs. Texas Longhorns (7) | BMO Harris Bradley Center (Milwaukee, WI) | 9:40p | CBS | Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel/Lewis Johnson |
| Midwest | Manhattan Jaspers (13) vs. Louisville Cardinals (4) | Amway Center (Orlando, FL) | 9:50p | TNT | Brian Anderson/Dan Bonner//Kristine Leahy |
| West | New Mexico State Aggies (13) vs. San Diego State Aztecs (4) | Spokane Memorial Arena (Spokane, WA) | 9:57p | truTV | Spero Dedes/Doug Gottlieb//Jaime Maggio |