That was easy. After a heart-breaking Round of 32 exit in last year’s NCAA Tournament, Houston arrived to the second round with ease, knocking out #14 Georgia State by 29 points. They’ll face a surprise inclusion to this year’s March Madness group in #11 Ohio State, who upset a good Iowa State team behind a strong first-half performance.
How to Watch the NCAA Tournament Second Round:
Ohio St vs. Houston
Date: Sunday, March 24
Time: 8:40 p.m. ET
Location: Tulsa, OK
TV Channel: TNT
Live Stream: fuboTV – start your 7-day free trial to watch every NCAA Tournament game
#11 Ohio State
Ohio State was very much a bubble team heading into Selection Sunday but snuck into the big dance by the skin of their teeth. The committee granted the Buckeyes the No. 11 seed in the Midwest region after they went 19-14 and were knocked out of the Big Ten tournament in the quarterfinals by the top seed and eventual champions Michigan State. Their resume wasn’t the most spectacular with only one win over a ranked opponent (Feb. 26 vs. No. 22 Iowa). They also limped into the tournament, having won only three of their last 10 games. But the committee’s faith paid off, as Ohio State knocked off #6 Iowa State, looking dominant at times before escaping in the final seconds off a missed Cyclones’ three-pointer. Houston will be a stiffer test for Holtmann’s men.
#3 Houston
The Houston Cougars basketball program was a powerhouse in the 1980s, making three consecutive Final Fours from 1982-84. They’ve certainly had a fall from grace since the glory days, but head coach Kelvin Sampson is slowly leading a resurgence. The former Oklahoma coach has led his team to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, their first trips since 2010. This year was a boon for the Cougars as they put up a very impressive 31-3 record that earned them a No. 3 seed in the tournament. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to convert their sensational regular season into a conference championship win as they were brought down by Cincinnati in the final. Houston may not be the household name it once was, but this year’s team has the best chance of any in a long time to correct that, and a decisive first-round win over Georgia State sent them to their second consecutive second-round appearance. A March Madness Sweet Sixteen is within sight.
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