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2018 NCAA Tournament: Can UMBC Advance to the Sweet 16?

On Friday, UMBC upset #1 seed Virginia. Today, the Retrievers face #9 seed Kansas State, but does that make it an easier game?

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NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament-First Round-Virginia vs UMBC Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

On paper, today’s game between the UMBC Retrievers and the Kansas State Wildcats should be an easier game for UMBC than their previous one in which they upset the #1 seed Virginia Cavaliers because K-State is “only” a #9 seed. But, will it be?

We’ll have to wait until late this afternoon to find out.

But, first, there are some games which should prove interesting. The first of those is today’s first game between #2 seed Purdue and #10 seed Butler. The Bulldogs have played well in years past and it should be interesting to see whether they can upset the Boilermakers.

Michigan State will take on Syracuse in the second game today and that’s followed by North Carolina versus Texas A&M.

#7 seed Nevada, who beat #10 seed Texas on Friday, will face #2 seed Cincinnati this afternoon. With Virginia knocked out, the Bearcats are the highest remaining seed in the South. Bruin fans will remember how those same Bearcats came into Pauley in December and beat the Bruins. Now, they are the most likely team to head to the Final Four from the South Region.

The other game that could be interesting to UCLA fans is the Florida State-Xavier game, if only because Chris Mack has been mentioned as a potential replacement for Steve Alford. It is certainly worth watching, if only to watch a well-coached basketball team.

Here’s today’s full slate:

2018 NCAA Tournament, Round 2, Day 2

Game Site TV Approx. Tip Time (PT) Announcers
Game Site TV Approx. Tip Time (PT) Announcers
Butler vs. Purdue Detroit CBS 9:10 AM Ian Eagle / Jim Spanarkel // Allie LaForce
Syracuse vs. Michigan State Detroit CBS 11:40 AM Ian Eagle / Jim Spanarkel // Allie LaForce
Texas A&M vs. North Carolina Charlotte CBS 2:15 PM Jim Nantz / Bill Raftery / Grant Hill // Tracy Wolfson
Nevada vs. Cincinnati Nashville TNT 3:10 PM Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // Jamie Erdahl
Clemson vs. Auburn San Diego TBS 4:10 PM Carter Blackburn / Debbie Antonelli // John Schriffen
UMBC vs. Kansas State Charlotte TruTV 4:45 PM Jim Nantz / Bill Raftery / Grant Hill // Tracy Wolfson
Florida State vs. Xavier Nashville TNT 5:40 PM Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // Jamie Erdahl
Marshall vs. West Virginia San Diego TBS 6:40 PM Carter Blackburn / Debbie Antonelli // John Schriffen

Just a few more important pieces of info for you in case you are watching online. You can use four different ways to catch games online:

This is your NCAA Tournament, Round 2, Day 2 open thread.


Go Bruins. Fire Alford.