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The best four days of the year are here and the Gophers tip off the NCAA Tournament in Des Moines. There are a lot of intriguing games for me today, moreso than the Friday slate. Below is today’s schedule a few key games you may want to be watching.
Schedule
Thurs NCAA Games
| Game | Day | Location | Time (ET) | TV | Commentators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game | Day | Location | Time (ET) | TV | Commentators |
| Louisville vs. Minnesota | Thursday | Des Moines I | 12:15 p.m. | CBS | Kevin Harlan / Reggie Miller / Dan Bonner // Dana Jacobson |
| LSU vs. Yale | Thursday | Jacksonville I | 12:40 p.m. | truTV | Ian Eagle / Jim Spanarkel // Jamie Erdahl |
| Auburn vs. New Mexico State | Thursday | Salt Lake City I | 1:30 p.m. | TNT | Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // Lisa Byington |
| Florida State vs. Vermont | Thursday | Hartford I | 2 p.m. | TBS | Carter Blackburn / Debbie Antonelli // John Schriffen |
| Michigan State vs. Bradley | Thursday | Des Moines II | After conc. 1 | CBS | Kevin Harlan / Reggie Miller / Dan Bonner // Dana Jacobson |
| Maryland vs. Temple OR Belmont | Thursday | Jacksonville II | After conc. 1 | truTV | Ian Eagle / Jim Spanarkel // Jamie Erdahl |
| Kansas vs. Northeastern | Thursday | Salt Lake City II | After conc. 1 | TNT | Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // Lisa Byington |
| Marquette vs. Murray State | Thursday | Hartford II | After conc. 1 | TBS | Carter Blackburn / Debbie Antonelli // John Schriffen |
| Nevada vs .Florida | Thursday | Des Moines III | 6:50 p.m. | TNT | Kevin Harlan / Reggie Miller / Dan Bonner // Dana Jacobson |
| Kentucky vs. Abilene Christian | Thursday | Jacksonville III | 7:10 p.m. | CBS | Ian Eagle / Jim Spanarkel // Jamie Erdahl |
| Villanova vs. Saint Mary's (CA) | Thursday | Hartford III | 7:20 p.m. | TBS | Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // Lisa Byington |
| Gonzaga vs. Prairie View A&M OR Fairleigh Dickinson | Thursday | Salt Lake City III | 7:27 p.m. | truTV | Carter Blackburn / Debbie Antonelli // John Schriffen |
| Michigan vs. Montana | Thursday | Des Moines IV | After conc. III | TNT | Kevin Harlan / Reggie Miller / Dan Bonner // Dana Jacobson |
| Wofford vs. Seton Hall | Thursday | Jacksonville IV | After conc. III | CBS | Ian Eagle / Jim Spanarkel // Jamie Erdahl |
| Purdue vs. Old Dominion | Thursday | Hartford IV | After conc. III | TBS | Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // Lisa Byington |
| Syracuse vs. Baylor | Thursday | Salt Lake City IV | After conc. III | truTV | Carter Blackburn / Debbie Antonelli // John Schriffen |
Games to Watch
- 10-Minnesota vs. 7-Louisville
Obviously the game to watch for those of you coming to The Daily Gopher. Not much for commentary here, this game may set the mood for the rest of your Thursday.
- 10-Florida vs. 7-Nevada
Nevada made a run to the second weekend last year, returned their best player and added a grad transfer. A good team but kind of faded in the last third of the season, or perhaps plateaued. Should be a fun game here.
Upset Alert
- 12-Murray State vs. 5-Marquette
A very good defensive team in Marquette goes up against maybe the most exciting individual player in the tournament. Ja Morant is really a remarkable player who will be a lottery pick this spring. Can he and the Racers get this upset? This is the game of the day in my book.
- 11-Belmont vs. 6-Maryland
I’m all for the Big Ten today (well, most of the the Big Ten) but I think Belmont is going to ride that momentum from Dayton into a win over Maryland. The Bruin’s best player really didn’t do much in their win over Temple, watch for Dylan Windler to have a big game today. And maybe an upset here.
- 15-Bradley vs. 2-Michigan State
Wishful thinking.