For Jon Teitel’s interview with former Michigan/Purdue player Spike Albrecht – CLICK HERE
For yesterday’s News, Notes and Highlighted Games in other postseason action – CLICK HERE
After a 3-day layoff, the NCAA Tournament resumes today with 4 games being played in the South Region and the West Region. While a clear and present favorite remains in the South Region in the form of the Kentucky Wildcats, the West still has a pair of teams remaining that have sniffed the Final Four in recent years.
SOUTH REGION
(11) LOYOLA-CHICAGO VS. (7) NEVADA (7:07 PM, CBS). The Ramblers’ dream season is still alive and well after back-to-back games that featured shots to go ahead in the closing seconds against Miami and Tennessee, respectively. As rare as it is to go back-to-back, it’s even more unlikely for Nevada to be at this point – they have led in their first two games for a combined FIVE minutes, yet came back to force overtime against Texas and subsequently erased a 22-point deficit against Cincinnati to find themselves in the national spotlight in Atlanta tonight.
(8) KANSAS STATE VS. (5) KENTUCKY (approx. 9:37 PM, CBS). Kansas State finds itself here in this round after a blowout win in Round 1 against Creighton and surviving a rock fight against UMBC in Round 2; Kentucky ended up surviving an upset bid against Davidson and had no trouble against Buffalo on Saturday.
WEST REGION
(7) TEXAS A&M VS. (3) MICHIGAN (7:37 PM, TBS). The Aggies had a slow start in their opener before eventually putting away Providence, but they wasted no time in blowing out North Carolina in a de facto road game at Charlotte on Sunday night. They will need a similarly suffocating defense to knock out Michigan; the Wolverines are alive and well after hitting a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to knock out Houston in the 2nd round.
(9) FLORIDA STATE VS. (4) GONZAGA (approx. 10:07 PM, TBS). Both teams have reason to believe this year is their team of destiny. The Seminoles thrashed Missouri in their opener and came back from a 12-point deficit to knock out top-seeded Xavier in the West Region. Gonzaga comes into this game thwarting a pair of potential upset bids against both UNC-Greensboro and Ohio State in their two games in Boise.