Turner Sports and CBS Sports’ exclusive coverage of the 2018 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship on Monday, April 4 – North Carolina vs. Villanova – will tip off at 9:19 p.m. ET on TBS. Jim Nantz will call the game with analysts Grant Hill and Bill Raftery and reporter Tracy Wolfson.
“Team Stream by Bleacher Report” or team-specific coverage will include the North Carolina Team Stream on TNT and the Villanova Team Stream on truTV. North Carolina Team Stream commentators will include Wes Durham calling the game with analyst Brendan Haywood and reporter Dwayne Ballen. The Villanova Team Stream will be called by Scott Graham with analyst Brian Finneran and reporter Kacie McDonnell. Team Stream coverage on TNT and truTV will begin at 9 p.m.
National Championship coverage on TBS will begin with the Capital One Championship Central pregame show at 7 p.m. Ernie Johnson will host studio coverage with analysts Charles Barkley, Clark Kellogg and Kenny Smith. They will be joined by Greg Gumbel with analysts Steve Smith, Reggie Miller and Seth Davis.
Pregame coverage will include guest appearances by Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo and Connecticut Head Coach Kevin Ollie. Monday’s coverage will include taped performances from Sunday’s NCAA March Madness Music Festival featuring Maroon 5 and Pitbull, airing as part of the pregame show.
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Mostrando las entradas con la etiqueta March Madness 2018. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando las entradas con la etiqueta March Madness 2018. Mostrar todas las entradas
FINAL FOUR March Madness 2018
Hicks has turned himself into the best weapon off the bench in the Final Four this 2018 season. He's averaging 9.1 points per game and 4.7 rebounds in just under 20 minutes per. The 6-foot-8 junior has a real shot next season to be the kind of bust-out player in the frontcourt that Roy Williams has so often had in his career in Chapel Hill (see: Brice Johnson, Ed Davis, John Henson, among others).
That's the kind of talent level we're talking about with Hicks: a tough, athletic big man who has a shot to play a major role running the baseline behind Syracuse's zone and being available to stretch out the backline of the defense with his efficient finishing ability. It's a role he's played well already, as his best game of the season came at the Carrier Dome scoring 21 points and grabbing eight rebounds. If the Tar Heels are to win in the semifinals, Hicks will likely play a big part.
Syracuse -- Tyler Lydon, Forward
Lydon is possibly Syracuse's second-best player, averaging 10.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. Really, that almost disqualifies him from X-Factor status. However, his play against North Carolina is going to be ever so critical off the bench for the Orange due to his size ability to stretch the floor against North Carolina's front line.
He can pull the aformentioned Johnson away from the hoop, and render his weak-side shot-blockin ability moot, as well as stand up defensively in the zone with his athleticism. The key for Lydon will be in his rebounding against that tough frontline. If Lydon can at least be a weapon on the defensive glass and limit the Tar Heels' second chance opportunities, the Orange will have a chance to pull the massive upset.
Oklahoma -- Khadeem Lattin, Forward
A lot will be made this week of Lattin's bloodlines, as the 6-9 forward's grandfather was on the Texas Western team that 50 years ago became the first all-black starting five to win the national championship. However, Lattin's play on the floor will be much more important to Oklahoma's chances than his family. With a 7-foot-plus wingspan, Lattin is a superb shot-blocker with terrific instincts and a great motor. He had one of the 30 best block rates in all of college basketball this season at 9.7 percent, but it's defense on the perimeter that will be more important here.
Lattin is mobile and does a good job of using his length to cut off pick-and-rolls, which will be ever so important against a Villanova team that really uses the screen a lot with its two point guards to get some space. Villanova finished nearly 30 percent of its possessions directly off of some sort of ball-screen action. Lattin -- and also Ryan Spangler -- will need to cut off penetration and also be disciplined against outside shooters off of pops. If he can be a defensive weapon, the Sooners should be in better shape to win.
Villanova -- Jalen Brunson, Guard
You could go a variety of directions here. Kris Jenkins will be important in the way that he stretches the floor against Oklahoma's two true bigs. Mikal Bridges has been a defensive dynamo with his wacky-waving-inflatable-arm-flailing-tube-man arms. But call this one a hunch. Throughout his prep career, Brunson has been absolutely terrific in big spots, and I expect much of the same in this round of games.
Brunson was named the MVP of the FIBA U19 tournament last summer, averaging 14 points and 5.6 assists while getting everybody on that ridiculously talented Team USA team involved. He started and dropped 12 points and six dimes in the 2014 U18 FIBA Americas championship in Colorado Springs. Back in 2014 when Brunson was a high school junior, he broke the Illinois state tournament record for points with 56 in a loss. Then, in 2015, he came back and dropped 30 in the state title game next season to win it. Basically, here's the deal: Brunson, despite being the fifth cog in Villanova's starting five, has always stepped up in the biggest spots with massive performances. My guess is that he does that on Saturday night for Villanova, win or lose.
That's the kind of talent level we're talking about with Hicks: a tough, athletic big man who has a shot to play a major role running the baseline behind Syracuse's zone and being available to stretch out the backline of the defense with his efficient finishing ability. It's a role he's played well already, as his best game of the season came at the Carrier Dome scoring 21 points and grabbing eight rebounds. If the Tar Heels are to win in the semifinals, Hicks will likely play a big part.
Syracuse -- Tyler Lydon, Forward
Lydon is possibly Syracuse's second-best player, averaging 10.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. Really, that almost disqualifies him from X-Factor status. However, his play against North Carolina is going to be ever so critical off the bench for the Orange due to his size ability to stretch the floor against North Carolina's front line.
He can pull the aformentioned Johnson away from the hoop, and render his weak-side shot-blockin ability moot, as well as stand up defensively in the zone with his athleticism. The key for Lydon will be in his rebounding against that tough frontline. If Lydon can at least be a weapon on the defensive glass and limit the Tar Heels' second chance opportunities, the Orange will have a chance to pull the massive upset.
Oklahoma -- Khadeem Lattin, Forward
A lot will be made this week of Lattin's bloodlines, as the 6-9 forward's grandfather was on the Texas Western team that 50 years ago became the first all-black starting five to win the national championship. However, Lattin's play on the floor will be much more important to Oklahoma's chances than his family. With a 7-foot-plus wingspan, Lattin is a superb shot-blocker with terrific instincts and a great motor. He had one of the 30 best block rates in all of college basketball this season at 9.7 percent, but it's defense on the perimeter that will be more important here.
Lattin is mobile and does a good job of using his length to cut off pick-and-rolls, which will be ever so important against a Villanova team that really uses the screen a lot with its two point guards to get some space. Villanova finished nearly 30 percent of its possessions directly off of some sort of ball-screen action. Lattin -- and also Ryan Spangler -- will need to cut off penetration and also be disciplined against outside shooters off of pops. If he can be a defensive weapon, the Sooners should be in better shape to win.
Villanova -- Jalen Brunson, Guard
You could go a variety of directions here. Kris Jenkins will be important in the way that he stretches the floor against Oklahoma's two true bigs. Mikal Bridges has been a defensive dynamo with his wacky-waving-inflatable-arm-flailing-tube-man arms. But call this one a hunch. Throughout his prep career, Brunson has been absolutely terrific in big spots, and I expect much of the same in this round of games.
Brunson was named the MVP of the FIBA U19 tournament last summer, averaging 14 points and 5.6 assists while getting everybody on that ridiculously talented Team USA team involved. He started and dropped 12 points and six dimes in the 2014 U18 FIBA Americas championship in Colorado Springs. Back in 2014 when Brunson was a high school junior, he broke the Illinois state tournament record for points with 56 in a loss. Then, in 2015, he came back and dropped 30 in the state title game next season to win it. Basically, here's the deal: Brunson, despite being the fifth cog in Villanova's starting five, has always stepped up in the biggest spots with massive performances. My guess is that he does that on Saturday night for Villanova, win or lose.
2nd ROUND March Madness 2018
All the questions will be answered when the 2018 NCAA Tournament's second round begins on Saturday. There are eight games on tap for day three of the big dance, and there's plenty to like about this schedule. Indiana and Kentucky will clash in a battle of college basketball royalty. The same goes for a 1-vs.-9 seed matchup between Kansas and Connecticut. On the other side of the spectrum, Yale and Little Rock will try to make history, while Gonzaga and Wichita State work to prove their Cinderella cred is still good.
The day kicks off with the Shockers' attempt to become the third team in NCAA history to win three games in five days and advance from the First Four to the Sweet Sixteen. Wichita State's lockdown defense put the clamps on Vanderbilt and Arizona in its first two games; those two power conference programs managed to shoot just 35.6 percent from the field in defeat. With tournament veterans Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet (9-3 in the NCAAT all-time) leading the way, they'll push No. 3 seed Miami to the limit.
Nine hours later, Providence and North Carolina will cap off the day's action in a rematch of a 2014 big dance thriller. That year, the Tar Heels held off an underdog Friar team in a 79-77 barnburner. Providence's All-American point guard Kris Dunn was just a freshman then, and injuries prevented him from seeing the court. Now, he'll have a chance for revenge after leading his team to a thrilling 70-69 victory over USC.
The day kicks off with the Shockers' attempt to become the third team in NCAA history to win three games in five days and advance from the First Four to the Sweet Sixteen. Wichita State's lockdown defense put the clamps on Vanderbilt and Arizona in its first two games; those two power conference programs managed to shoot just 35.6 percent from the field in defeat. With tournament veterans Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet (9-3 in the NCAAT all-time) leading the way, they'll push No. 3 seed Miami to the limit.
Nine hours later, Providence and North Carolina will cap off the day's action in a rematch of a 2014 big dance thriller. That year, the Tar Heels held off an underdog Friar team in a 79-77 barnburner. Providence's All-American point guard Kris Dunn was just a freshman then, and injuries prevented him from seeing the court. Now, he'll have a chance for revenge after leading his team to a thrilling 70-69 victory over USC.
NCAA Tournament 2018
The 2018 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament will involve 68 teams playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It is scheduled to begin on March 15, 2018, and will conclude with the championship game on April 4 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
A total of 68 teams will enter the 2016 tournament. 31 of the 32 automatic bids teams will be given to the program that wins their conferences tournament. The remaining automatic bid will go to the Ivy League regular season champion since they do not hold a conference tournament. The remaining 36 teams will be granted "at-large" bids, which are extended by the NCAA Selection Committee.
Eight teams-the four lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers and the four lowest-seeded at-large teams-will play in the First Four (the successor to what had been popularly known as "play-in games" through the 2010 tournament). The winners of these games advance to the main draw of the tournament. The Selection Committee will also seed the entire field from 1 to 68.
A total of 68 teams will enter the 2016 tournament. 31 of the 32 automatic bids teams will be given to the program that wins their conferences tournament. The remaining automatic bid will go to the Ivy League regular season champion since they do not hold a conference tournament. The remaining 36 teams will be granted "at-large" bids, which are extended by the NCAA Selection Committee.
Eight teams-the four lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers and the four lowest-seeded at-large teams-will play in the First Four (the successor to what had been popularly known as "play-in games" through the 2010 tournament). The winners of these games advance to the main draw of the tournament. The Selection Committee will also seed the entire field from 1 to 68.
March Madness Predictions
There's something charming about the blind optimism that arrives with the NCAA men's basketball tournament 2018. And I'm talking about the people in the office pool, not the actual athletes on the hardwood. This year is the year! Yeah, sure it is, buddy. Most brackets will be making the short trip from desk to paper shredder.
Minus mine, of course. Because, after all, this year actually is the year. Maybe not a perfect 67-for-67, but close. And with that completely unfounded sense of confidence, it's time to unveil Year 3 of the Impecca-bracket, which provides predictions for every March Madness contest.
Of course, in 2016, the saying is "Kentucky vs. the field." Well, let's enter with no preconceived notions and see where the bracket takes us. The winners of each region advance to the Final Four, where the national semifinals are played on Saturday and the national championship is played on Monday. As noted above, which regional champion will play which, and in which semifinal they play, is determined by the overall rankings of the four #1 ranks in the original bracket, not on the ranks of the eventual Final Four teams themselves.
Minus mine, of course. Because, after all, this year actually is the year. Maybe not a perfect 67-for-67, but close. And with that completely unfounded sense of confidence, it's time to unveil Year 3 of the Impecca-bracket, which provides predictions for every March Madness contest.
Of course, in 2016, the saying is "Kentucky vs. the field." Well, let's enter with no preconceived notions and see where the bracket takes us. The winners of each region advance to the Final Four, where the national semifinals are played on Saturday and the national championship is played on Monday. As noted above, which regional champion will play which, and in which semifinal they play, is determined by the overall rankings of the four #1 ranks in the original bracket, not on the ranks of the eventual Final Four teams themselves.
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