COLUMBUS – March Madness runs rampant in Columbus starting Friday when The Buckeyes open play in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and Nationwide Arena hosts games involving another in-state fan favorite and one of the tournament’s top four teams.
Ohio State (19-4) are the No. 11 seed in the Midwest Regional and face No. 6 Seed Iowa State in a frist-round game in Tulsa, Okla., (approx.. 9:45 p.m./TBS).
The Buckeyes are led by sophomore Kaleb Wesson, of Westerville, who averages 14.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
Big 12 Tournament champion Iowa State knocked off No. 17 Kansas, 78-66, in the championship game Saturday. Senior guard Marial Shayok leads four Cyclones averaging double digits in scoring at 18.6 points per game.
For fans staying in town for the weekend, Nationwide Arena hosts first- and second-round games.
Game 1 (South Regional) – 12:15 p.m. – (7) Cincinnati vs. (10) Iowa
Game 2 – 30 minutes after Game 1 – (2) Tennessee vs. (15) Colgate
Second Session
Game 3 (Midwest Regional) – 6:50 p.m. (8) Utah St. vs. (9) Washington
Game 4 – 30 minutes after Game 3 – (1) N. Carolina vs. (16) Iona
Game times for Sunday’s second-round games will be announced after the conclusion of Friday’s games.
A pair of double-digit seeds were able to advance to the second round out of DeMoines on the tournament’s opening day.
Ja Morant has recorded the ninth triple-double in NCAA Tournament history, delivering 19 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds in No. 12 Murray State’s 83-66 win over No. 5 Marquette.
No. 10 seed Minnesota won its first NCAA Tournament game in six years behind 24 points from freshman Gale Kalscheur in an 86-76 victory against Louisville. The Gophers face Michigan State in an early meeting of two Big Ten teams.