UNDATED – There’s been plenty of hype and excitement regarding Central Indiana hosting the entirety of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. For the first time ever, all 67 games will be housed in one state, with six venues hosting games.
After Sunday’s Selection Show, it’s time to play basketball. Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall at Indiana University Bloomington will host half of the First Four games on March 18, featuring No. 16 seeds batting each other. Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall and Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis will then host first- and second-round games March 19 to 22.
Below are the game times and television information for each game hosted at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall and Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
First Four: Thursday, March 18
No. 16 Texas Southern (16-8) vs. No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s (12-10)
- When and where: 5:10 p.m., truTV, Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
- About the teams: Kicking off the 2021 NCAA men’s basketball tournament is the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, winners of the Northeast Conference, against the Texas Southern Tigers, the Southwestern Athletic Conference champions. The No. 1 seed Michigan Wolverines await the winner of this first-round matchup.
No. 16 Appalachian State (17-11) vs. No. 16 Norfolk State (16-7)
- When and where: 8:40 p.m., truTV, Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
- About the teams: The NCAA tournament drought is over after 21 years for the Appalachian State Mountaineers, who won the Sun Belt Tournament, and after 10 years for the Norfolk State Spartans, the MEAC champions. The winner of this game gets a matchup with tournament favorite and No. 1 overall seed Gonzaga (26-0).
First Round: Friday, March 19
No. 1 Illinois (23-6) vs. No. 16 Drexel (12-7)
- When and where: 1:15 p.m., TBS, Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
- About the teams: The Illini enter as a No. 1 seed for the fourth time in program history after winning the Big Ten tournament title. Drexel received an automatic bid after winning the Colonial Athletic Association tournament title.
No. 6 Texas Tech (17-10) vs. No. 11 Utah State (20-8)
- When and where: 1:45 p.m., TNT, Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
- About the teams: The Texas Tech Red Raiders are looking to continue their past tournament success following 2018’s Elite Eight appearance and 2019’s national championship runner-up finish. Standing in the way is the Utah State Aggies, who lost in the Mountain West title game to San Diego State but was one of the highest mid-major teams to earn a bid.
No. 4 Oklahoma State (20-8) vs. No. 13 Liberty (23-5)
- When and where: 6:25 p.m., TBS, Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
- About the teams: Star freshman Cade Cunningham and the Oklahoma State Cowboys have beaten nine ranked teams this season. They will take on a Liberty squad that enters the tournament on a 12-game winning streak.
No. 2 Houston (24-3) vs. No. 15 Cleveland State (19-7)
- When and where: 7:15 p.m., truTV, Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
- About the teams: Coming off a dominating 91-54 victory over Cincinnati in the AAC title game, the Houston Cougars earned their highest seed since 1984. The Cleveland State Vikings are making their first appearance since 2009 after winning the Horizon League tournament at Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
No. 5 Villanova (16-6) vs. No. 12 Winthrop (23-1)
- When and where: 9:57 p.m., TNT, Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
- About the teams: Villanova has been ravaged by injuries late in the season, which led to an early exit from the Big East tournament. Upset-minded Winthrop has only one loss this season and won all three games in the Big South tournament by at least 21 points.
Saturday, March 20
No. 3 Kansas (20-8) vs. No. 14 Eastern Washington (16-7)
- When and where: 1:15 p.m., TBS, Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
- About the teams: Kansas withdrew from the Big 12 tournament because of positive COVID-19 tests but is confident healthy players will be ready for the NCAA tournament. Awaiting them in the first round is Big Sky champion Eastern Washington.
No. 8 LSU (18-9) vs. No. 9 St. Bonaventure (16-4)
- When and where: 1:45 p.m., TNT, Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
- About the teams: After falling just short in the SEC title game 80-79, LSU earned a No. 8 seed. One of the Tigers’ key players is sophomore Trendon Watford — younger brother of former Hoosier Christian Watford, who was responsible for the buzzer-beating “Wat shot” in 2011 that beat No. 1 Kentucky 73-72. The St. Bonaventure Bonnies enter the tournament after winning the A-10 title game and have over five players averaging double figures.
No. 2 Iowa (21-8) vs. No. 15 Grand Canyon (17-6)
- When and where: 6:25 p.m., TBS, Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
- About the teams: Fran McCaffrey’s Iowa Hawkeyes boast eight wins over ranked opponents and the potential National Player of the Year in Luka Garza. Iowa will meet Grand Canyon in the first round. The Antelopes, under former Valparaiso star Bryce Drew, are making their first NCAA tournament appearance.
No. 4 Virginia (18-6) vs. No. 13 Ohio (16-7)
- When and where: 7:15 p.m., truTV, Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
- About the teams: The Virginia Cavaliers, the defending national champions, had to withdraw from the ACC tournament because of a positive COVID-19 test and will not travel to Indianapolis until March 19 after seven consecutive negative tests from those who were close contacts. The Ohio Bobcats start the tournament as winners of nine of their last 10 games and beat Buffalo in the MAC tournament finals.
No. 7 Oregon (20-6) vs. No. 10 VCU (19-7)
- When and where: 9:57 p.m., TNT, Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
- About the teams: The Ducks won the Pac-12 regular season title, and five of their six losses on the season came against NCAA tournament teams. VCU finished runner-up in both the Atlantic 10 regular season and tournament.
For updates on scores and game times as the tournament progresses, visit ncaa.com. Fans can also stream all games live with the March Madness Live app.
“Making the Madness” is a feature series that explores the IU Bloomington and IUPUI students, staff, faculty, alumni, and venues involved in hosting the 2021 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament.
