What are you doing the first two mornings of the Tournament? We’re going to have you covered here at Rumble in the Garden. Don’t fret!
We know you’re going to try to “work” tomorrow. Here’s my tip for desk jockeys - as best you can, GET YOUR WORK DONE EARLY. Anticipate what you need to get done in the day, get in a little early, hammer it hard and then, you know, take your breaks, have a long lunch, set up a window to “monitor world hoops events”.
Here are some "streaming at your desk" ideas for games to watch so you’re not trying to bounce from game to game:
If you like Nerds Who Can Shoot: Notre Dame/ Princeton
Notre Dame vs Princeton at 12:15 kicks things off and if that game isn’t hot fire, I don’t know what is.
The Princeton Tigers are winners of 19 straight - including the first-ever Ivy League Conference Tournament. And while they slow things down, they end most of their possessions with a shot and have one of the 11 lowest turnover rates in college hoops.
Of course, Notre Dame has the lowest turnover rate in all of college hoops.
There will be three-pointers shot in this game. Lots of them. There will be ball movement in this game. Someone will say both teams “play the right way”.
(Neither of these teams will win a National Championship, though, so is that REALLY the right way?)
If you like rooting for a 16 to beat a 1 seed: Gonzaga/ South Dakota State
I don’t think this will happen. BUT.
Gonzaga drew a South Dakota State team that has a high level player in Mike Daum. And no, the South Dakota State Jackrabbits can’t stop anyone, but sometimes, an opponent can stop themselves. The Jackrabbits have won six straight.
Then again, the Gonzaga Bulldogs have three of the best centers you will see in college basketball, a point guard who transferred from Washington and is a legit contender for Player of the Year, and the ability to play fast.
The potentially best game in each time frame:
12-1.30
(5) Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. (12) Princeton Tigers, but all three will be good, though slow, games.
2-4.30
(5) Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. (12) Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, because Minnesota is good... and so is MTSU. A 12/5 upset?
6 - 8 pm
(7) Saint Mary's Gaels vs. (10) VCU Rams is a very good prime time game. Both teams are really good, but St. Mary’s may surprise you.
9-10 pm
(8) Wisconsin Badgers vs. (9) Virginia Tech Hokies, because we are pretty sure Wisconsin is no 8-seed. But Buzz Williams always has aggressive and tough teams.
Or you can watch Arizona vs North Dakota, because North Dakota has one played named “Hooker” and another named “Shanks”.
Big East teams playing tomorrow
Butler Bulldogs vs Winthrop Eagles, 1:30 on TNT, from Milwaukee.
Xavier Musketeers vs Maryland Terrapins, 6:50 on TNT, from Orlando
Villanova Wildcats vs Mount Saint Mary’s Mountaineers, 7:10 on CBS, from Buffalo
The full slate of games
NCAA Tournament Games: Thursday, March 16 2017 (Round of 64)
Game | Tip Time (ET) | Network | Site |
---|---|---|---|
Game | Tip Time (ET) | Network | Site |
(5) Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. (12) Princeton Tigers | 12:15 p.m. | CBS | Buffalo |
Verne Lundquist / Jim Spanarkel / Allie LaForce | |||
(5) Virginia Cavaliers vs. (12) UNC Wilmington Seahawks | 12:40 p.m. | truTV | Orlando |
Ian Eagle / Steve Lavin / Evan Washburn | |||
(4) Butler Bulldogs vs. (13) Winthrop Eagles | 1:30 p.m. | TNT | Milwaukee |
Carter Blackburn / Mike Gminski / Debbie Antonelli / Lisa Byington | |||
(1) Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. (16) South Dakota State Jackrabbits | 2 p.m. | TBS | Salt Lake City |
Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas / Jamie Erdahl | |||
(4) West Virginia Mountaineers vs. (13) Bucknell Bison | Approx. 2:45 | CBS | Buffalo |
Verne Lundquist / Jim Spanarkel / Allie LaForce | |||
(4) Florida Gators vs. (13) East Tennessee State Buccaneers | Approx. 3 p.m. | truTV | Orlando |
Ian Eagle / Steve Lavin / Evan Washburn | |||
(5) Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. (12) Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders | Approx. 4 p.m. | TNT | Milwaukee |
Carter Blackburn / Mike Gminski / Debbie Antonelli / Lisa Byington | |||
(8) Northwestern Wildcats vs. (9) Vanderbilt Commodores | Approx. 4:30 p.m. | TBS | Salt Lake City |
Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas / Jamie Erdahl | |||
(6) Maryland Terrapins vs. (11) Xavier Musketeers | 6:50 p.m. | TNT | Orlando |
Ian Eagle / Steve Lavin / Evan Washburn | |||
(1) Villanova Wildcats vs. (16) Mt. St. Mary's Mountaineers | 7:10 p.m. | CBS | Buffalo |
Verne Lundquist / Jim Spanarkel / Allie LaForce | |||
(7) Saint Mary's Gaels vs. (10) VCU Rams | 7:20 p.m. | truTV | Salt Lake City |
Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas / Jamie Erdahl | |||
(4) Purdue Boilermakers vs. (13) Vermont Catamounts | 7:27 p.m. | TBS | Milwaukee |
Carter Blackburn / Mike Gminski / Debbie Antonelli / Lisa Byington | |||
(3) Florida State Seminoles vs. (14) Florida Gulf Coast Eagles | Approx. 9:20 p.m. | TNT | Orlando |
Ian Eagle / Steve Lavin / Evan Washburn | |||
(8) Wisconsin Badgers vs. (9) Virginia Tech Hokies | Approx. 9:40 p.m. | CBS | Buffalo |
Verne Lundquist / Jim Spanarkel / Allie LaForce | |||
(2) Arizona Wildcats vs. (15) North Dakota Fighting Hawks | Approx. 9:50 p.m. | TBS | Salt Lake City |
Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas / Jamie Erdahl | |||
(5) Iowa State Cyclones vs. (12) Nevada Wolf Pack | Approx. 9:57 p.m. | truTV | Milwaukee |
Carter Blackburn / Mike Gminski / Debbie Antonelli / Lisa Byington |