NCAA Tournament 2018: Day 2 matchups, odds, announcers, streaming, how to watch

Rhode Island and Oklahoma started yesterday off with overtime; Loyola-Chicago knocked off the higher-seeded Miami; Gonzaga, Kansas and Texas Tech got far stiffer challenges than they might have thought. And Buffalo ended the evening by shaming Arizona.

How will we kick off the true Day 2 of the Tourney?

(10) Providence Friars (21-13) vs. (7) Texas A&M Aggies (20-12)

Time: 12:15 p.m.

How to watch: CBS | Stream

Announcers: Jim Nantz, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson

Odds: Texas A&M, -3

The Aggies are sixth in the country in total blocked shots and 17th in total rebounds. Texas A&M is going to defend and rebound, and trust 6’10” junior center Tyler Davis to lead them to victory.

Providence is coming in hot off of their appearance in the Big East Tournament Championship. Providence is going to defend the perimeter, ranking 29th in opposing three-point percentage. The Friar offense will likely also feature fireworks from 6’7” junior forward Rodney Bullock (14.0 PPG) and 6’7” sophomore guard Alpha Diallo (13.0 PPG) from New York, New York.

(15) CSU Fullerton Titans (20-11) vs. (2) Purdue Boilermakers (28-6)

Time: 12:40 p.m.

How to watch: truTV | Stream

Announcers: Ian Eagle, Jim Spanarkel, Allie LaForce

Odds: Purdue, -21

Purdue shoots a lot of three-pointers. They are very experienced. They are tall.

Cal State Fullerton are none of those things. But they have a strong interior defense, play fast, and draw fouls at the highest rate (as a ratio of shots taken) in the country.

Not gonna happen, Titans.

(13) Marshall Thundering Herd (24-10) vs. (4) Wichita State Shockers (25-7)

Time: 1:30 p.m.

How to watch: TNT | Stream

Announcers: Carter Blackburn, Debbie Antonelli, John Schriffen

Odds: Wichita State -12

For years, Wichita State has thrived on stout defense, tough players and great execution, but they have received lower seeds than most statistical analysts feel would be deserved, despite playing in weak conferences. This season, the Shockers are in the AAC, with two other Tournament teams and received a 4 seed. But the defense has been suspect, despite the record, allowing foes to shoot well from distance. Still, that may be a fluke against the Shocker height, forcing teams to avoid the paint. Landry Shamet provides perimeter punch while forwards Shaq Morris and Rashard Kelly provide buckets and defense inside.

Marshall spreads the floor, looks to shoot threes and is constantly on the attack. Their shooting and spacing leaves room for drives and on defense they can be disruptive. The shooting itself isn’t elite, but they could get hot and make this quite a game.

(15) Georgia State Panthers (24-10) vs. (2) Cincinnati Bearcats (30-4)

Time: 2 p.m.

How to watch: TBS | Stream

Announcers: Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Jamie Erdahl

Odds: Cincinnati, -14

D’Marcus Simonds and the Georgia State Panthers will cause trouble for Cincy; the pace will be dead slow and the defense will be physical; and it will be ugly enough to be anyone’s game.

But Cincy knows how to win ugly. Forward Gary Clark will get his touches even if he has to chanse them from the offensive glass. Cincinnati should have too much talent to go out with the upset.

(15) Lipscomb Bisons (23-9) vs. (2) North Carolina Tar Heels (25-10)

Time: 2:45 p.m.

How to watch: CBS | Stream

Announcers: Jim Nantz, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson

Odds: UNC, -19.5

Wait a damned minute, the Lipscomb team is the Bisons? Isn’t the plural of Bison still Bison? The Bison...s play at the 5th fastest pace in the NCAA and run their attack through wings Garrison Matthews and Rob Marberry, with Kenny Cooper at the point.

The Tar Heels hope to make their 3rd straight championship appearance. North Carolina is a collection of offensive rebounding (first in offensive rebounds) and scoring (fifth in points scored) monsters. Opponents will either have to bottle 6’7” junior forward Luke Maye (17.2 PPG) or 6’0” senior guard Joel Berry (17.1 PPG), if not both.

(10) Butler Bulldogs (20-13) vs. (7) Arkansas Razorbacks (23-11)

Time: 3:10 p.m.

How to watch: truTV | Stream

Announcers: Ian Eagle, Jim Spanarkel, Allie LaForce

Odds: Butler, -1

Butler Blue III may be banned from the Butler game, but unfortunately for Arkansas, 6’6” senior forward Kelan Martin is not. The Bulldogs are going to make shots (22nd in made field goals) are make their opponents outscore them.

The Razorbacks and 6’3” sophomore guard Jaylen Barford (18.0 PPG) bring a high-powered offense of their own. Arkansas ranks 14th in made field goals. With neither team being particularly interested in the three (Butler 108th most three-points attempts, Arkansas 222nd most three-points attempts), we can hope for some highlight finishes at the basket.

(12) Murray State Racers (26-5) vs. (5) West Virginia Mountaineers (24-10)

Time: 4:00 p.m.

How to watch: TNT | Stream

Announcers: Carter Blackburn, Debbie Antonelli, John Schriffen

Odds: West Virginia, -10.5

The Racers, making their first tournament appearance since 2012, come into the tournament riding the longest current win streak of 13 games. Murray State is a balanced team that is not elite at anything, but not poor at anything either. The Racers offense is led by 6’0” red-shirt senior guard Jonathan Stark who averages 21.8 points per game.

West Virginia, or “Press Virginia”, plays an aggressive brand of defense resulting in committing the fifth most fouls in the country. That aggression pays dividend on the offensive end, where the Mountaineers are third in the country in total offensive rebounds. The 6’2” senior guard Jevon Carter will be worth keeping an eye on, as he averaged 17.0 points per game as well as 2.9 steals.

(10) Texas Longhorns (19-14) vs. (7) Nevada Wolfpack (27-7)

Time: 4:30 p.m.

How to watch: TBS | Stream

Announcers: Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Jamie Erdahl

Odds: Nevada, -1

Texas is missing a pair of integral players from the start of the season — one with cancer. Nevada has a number of players nursing injuries, and one lost to a torn Achilles and another, Darien Williams, formerly of St. John’s, who was dismissed from the program.

The Wolfpack are long and talented, but can they score around Mo Bamba of Texas? Can Texas score on Nevada’s so-so interior defense?

(9) Kansas State Wildcats (22-11) vs. (8) Creighton Blue Jays (21-11)

Time: 6:50 p.m.

How to watch: TNT | Stream

Announcers: Jim Nantz, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson

Odds: Creighton, -2

While Khyri Thomas is considered a great defender, overall, the Bluejay defense isn’t great. They rebound, they do not pressure and mostly they work not to make mistakes of fouling. A skilled opponent can make shots on them. The offense is, generally, excellent, with a lot of jump shooting all over the roster, starting with Marcus Foster, who first played two years at...

...Kansas State. This game looks like a setup for storylines [here is a good one about how Marcus Foster’s dismissal from K-State was a positive fork for both him & his former program]. K-State has Barry Brown to be the shot-seeking guard with passing ability Foster was. The Wildcats hope to have leading scorer, 6’10” forward Dean Wade, back on the floor.

While we want more Big East teams that are not Xavier to win, we have a feel about Kansas State in this one.

(14) Bucknell Bison (25-9) vs. (3) Michigan State Spartans (29-4)

Time: 7:10 p.m.

How to watch: CBS | Stream

Announcers: Ian Eagle, Jim Spanarkel, Allie LaForce

Odds: Michigan State, -14

This should be one to watch. Despite missing backup forward Bruce Moore, Bucknell has a combination of size, attack mentality, solid-and-low-mistake defense and post skill Michigan State may not expect to see from a 14-seed.

How good are the Spartans, anyway? Michigan State has an elite combination of high-end offense and high-end defense — without forcing turnovers and without shooting many three-pointers.

Expect some of the lowest turnover numbers you have seen in a hoops game, and enjoy a game that will likely have solid inside-out flow on both ends of the floor.

(16) Texas Southern Tigers (16-19) vs. (1) Xavier Musketeers (28-5)

Time: 7:15 p.m.

How to watch: TBS | Stream

Announcers: Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Jamie Erdahl

Odds: Xavier, -21

Can we all agree to be angry at Xavier after the matchup against St. John’s in the Big East Tournament? No? Well let’s consider this tidbit:

Kid Rock? Isn’t he well retired? Also, we have a better idea of the style icon Mr. Mack follows.

Anyway, Texas Southern is gonna get roasted by Trevon Bluiett, but they will make a game of it for ten minutes, especially if they succeed in slowing things down.

(13) College of Charleston Cougars (26-7) vs. (4) Auburn Tigers (25-7)

Time: 7:27 p.m.

How to watch: truTV | Stream

Announcers: Carter Blackburn, Debbie Antonelli, John Schriffen

Odds: Auburn, -11

Have you had the strong desire to see a team win with a 1:2 assist:turnover ratio? The College of Charleston, apparently a squad of step back shooters and slashers, record assists relatively rarely, play a sluggish pace, but still get shots to fall and earn free throws.

I’m excited to see what this looks like, helmed by a major up-and-comer in the college ranks. Joe Cheasley and Grant Riller get the party started from the perimeter, and forwards Nick Harris and Jarell Brantley do the work inside.

Auburn has Connecticut product Mustapha Heron, who chose Auburn over St. John’s. Suspensions have forced the Tigers to turn to freshman forward Chuma Okeke, who has performed well in the aggressive, uptempo style.

Should be a good one to watch.

(16) UMBC Retrievers (24-10) vs. (1) Virginia Cavaliers (31-2)

Time: 9:20 p.m.

How to watch: TNT | Stream

Announcers: Jim Nantz, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson

Odds: Virginia -23

The well-coached Maryland-Baltimore County Retrievers have some talented size, a good scorer in Jarius Lyles and a speedy guard in KJ Maura.

I think they will break 40 points against the slowest team in the country, a team that will force multiple shot-clock violations this evening, a team that has multiple ways to find scoring but only one way to play defense — pack line and tough.

(11) Syracuse Orange (21-13) vs. (6) Texas Christian Horned Frogs (21-11)

Time: 9:30 p.m.

How to watch: CBS | Stream

Announcers: Ian Eagle, Jim Spanarkel, Allie LaForce

Odds: TCU, -3.5

Dammit, Syracuse is still here?

The zone defense-loving Orange face a TCU squad with enough height (look out for Vladimir Brodziansky) to generate offense inside, and enough skill to shoot their way over the zone. If TCU is patient and defends a little, they will be able to outlast the Orange.

We would tell you why the Orange can win, but prefer not to face that possibility.

(9) Florida State Seminoles (20-11) vs. (8) Missouri Tigers (20-12)

Time: 9:50 p.m.

How to watch: TBS | Stream

Announcers: Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Jamie Erdahl

Odds: Missouri, -1

The Missouri Tigers have gained a top NBA prospect about as soon as they lost a top scorer. The 6’10” freshman forward Michael Porter Jr.’s 12 point performance off of 5-17 shooting from the floor in his second game of the season against Georgia in the first round of the SEC Tournament paired with his claim afterward that he was only 65%, likely validate some concern regarding how productive he can be. To add to the volatility, 6’6” red-shirt senior forward Jordan Barnett (13.7 PPG) has been suspended after he was arrested for suspicion of DWI on Saturday.

Florida State hopes to build on their relative success from last year where they made it past Florida Gulf Coast only to get blown out by Xavier in the next game. In the back-court, the Seminoles will feature both 6’0” junior guard Terance Mann (13.3 PPG) and 6’6” sophomore guard Braian Angola-Rodas (12.9 PPG). Florida State should be able to put up some points, as they were 29th in the nation in points per game.

(12) New Mexico State Aggies (28-5) vs. (5) Clemson Tigers (23-9)

Time: 9:57 p.m.

How to watch: truTV | Stream

Announcers: Carter Blackburn, Debbie Antonelli, John Schriffen

Odds: Clemson, - 5.5

Clemson is making their first tournament appearance since 2011. The Tigers overcame the loss of 6’8” senior forward Donte Grantham in January to still finish the season ranked in the top 25. Clemson features 6’3” red-shirt junior guard Marcquise Reed, who average 15.8 points per game this year. Reed is joined in the back-court by 6’3” senior guard Gabe DeVoe, who averaged 13.2 points per game of his own.

New Mexico State is on a six game winning streak and won the WAC Basketball Tournament. The Aggies offense feature 6’4” red-shirt senior Zach Lofton who averaged 19.7 points per game this season. Much of the New Mexico State can be attributed to their defense, as the Aggies are a top ten team in the nation in points allowed per game as well as being fifth in opposing field goal percentage.