The NCAA Tournament Round of 64 is starting to heat up, as the fifth matchup of the first day will feature a perennial March Madness favorite eager to prove it deserved a #1 seed. Tom Izzo and #2 Michigan State were on the outside of the top four discussions despite a Big Ten conference championship, but if they overlook #15 Bradley, their dance could end early.
How to Watch the NCAA Tournament First Round:
Bradley vs. Michigan State
Date: Thursday, March 21
Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
Location: Des Moines, IA
TV Channel: CBS
Live Stream: fuboTV – start your 7-day free trial to watch every NCAA Tournament game
#15 Bradley
After making headlines for the wrong reasons in recent days, the Bradley Braves (20-14) will try to make headlines for the right ones when they start their journey in the NCAA Tournament. Thanks to nine wins in their last 11 games and a shocking Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title run, defeating last season’s March Madness darling, Loyola-Chicago, in the MVC Final, the Braves will try to upset a few big boys in their first appearance in the tournament since 2006, when they made the Sweet 16 as a No. 13 seed.
#2 Michigan State
Michigan State will make a 22nd consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament as coach Tom Izzo looks to advance his legacy after guiding the school to a fourth Big Ten Tournament title in eight years. The veteran shot-caller has taken the Spartans into March Madness every year since 1998 and tied for first in the Big Ten’s regular campaign to boot.
Izzo’s side beat Ohio State (77-70) and Wisconsin (67-55) to set up a Big Ten Tournament decider against rivals Michigan, triumphing 65-60 as senior forward Matt McQuaid notched 27 points. However, star guard Cassius Winston is Michigan State’s man to watch out for. Winston has led the Spartans all season, and after getting snubbed for a #1 seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament, he and his teammates want to prove the committee was wrong.
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