For Jon Teitel’s coverage of practices at the NCAA East Regional – CLICK HERE
For Jon Teitel’s interview with LSU Spirit Director/Coach Pauline Zernott – CLICK HERE
For today’s UTR Postseason News, Notes and Highlighted Games – CLICK HERE
After a three-day hiatus, we return to the NCAA Tournament with the regional semifinal games tipping off tonight. In addition to tonight’s games, also follow us at @HoopsHD and @jonteitel for Jon’s coverage of the NCAA East Regional in Washington, DC this week!
WEST REGION
(4) FLORIDA STATE VS (1) GONZAGA (7:09 PM, CBS) – Gonzaga was the lone #1 seed during the first weekend that was not seriously challenged at any point for their first two games; they breezed past Fairleigh Dickinson last Thursday and also beat Baylor on Saturday night without any serious difficulty. Florida State had a close game with Vermont for the first 30 minutes of their opener, but they eventually won that game and blew out Murray State in the second round. Florida State beat Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 last year, but this time Gonzaga will have a healthy lineup in the rematch.
(3) TEXAS TECH VS (2) MICHIGAN (approx. 9:39 PM, CBS) – This could potentially be the best game of the night across the board. Michigan breezed past Montana and gradually pulled away against Florida in their 2nd-round game to advance to the Sweet 16. Texas Tech breezed past Northern Kentucky and Buffalo to reach back-to-back Sweet 16s for the first time in program history, but reaching back-to-back Elite 8s will be more difficult with a postseason-toughened program like Michigan standing in the way.
SOUTH REGION
(12) OREGON VS (1) VIRGINIA (7:29 PM, TBS) – While Oregon was consigned to a 12-seed based on their overall resume when the NCAA Tournament started, they have played like a team on a mission for the past month with a pair of wins against Washington and Arizona State in the Pac-12 before taking out Wisconsin and UC-Irvine in the NCAA Tournament. They still figure to play a lot looser against a Virginia team that is a victim of their success in some ways – will this finally be the year they break through to the Final Four for the first time since 1984?
(3) PURDUE VS (2) TENNESSEE (approx. 9:59 PM, TBS) – Carsen Edwards personally saw to it that Villanova would not make a repeat run to the title game this year; the Boilers hammered the Wildcats in spectacular fashion thanks to a 40-point performance from Edwards. Tennessee also had to walk the tightrope in both of their games in Columbus last week, including a blown 20-point lead against Iowa before eventually winning that game in overtime. Tennessee’s last run to the Elite 8 was in 2010; Purdue last made it to that point back in 2000. Matt Painter is 0-4 in the Sweet 16 at Purdue; will the 5th time be a charm?