No. 8 seed Utah State (27-6) vs. No. 9 seed TCU (21-12)
Tip: 7:55 p.m. MDT.
Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
TV: TBS.
Streaming: Max.
Radio: 97.5 FM/1280 AM.
Collection: Utah State leads 2-0.
The developments
For Utah State: The Aggies received their ultimate 5 video games of the common season and had the No. 1 seed within the Mountain West Convention match. After an time beyond regulation win in opposition to Fresno State, the Aggies fell to San Diego State within the MWC match semifinals. Utah State hasn’t received an NCAA Event recreation since its upset victory over Ohio State in 2001.
For TCU: The Horned Frogs ended the common season with a 10-10 document within the Large 12. That they had the No. 8 seed within the convention match and misplaced to No. 1 seed Houston within the quarterfinals. This 12 months marks TCU’s third straight look within the NCAA Event. The staff made it to the second spherical final 12 months.
Quotable
“Our offense must be nice. Our ball motion and our physique motion must be on level as a result of they’re among the finest offensive transition groups within the nation. I feel they’re averaging 18 or 19 factors in transition, so for those who allow them to begin getting going with that — foolish turnovers and reside ball turnovers — that’s a recipe for catastrophe,” Utah State coach Danny Sprinkle stated Thursday.
“I do know we’ve carried out this earlier than. We’ve carried out this a bunch since I’ve been right here. Nevertheless it by no means will get outdated,” stated TCU coach Jamie Dixon Monday. “And all people goes in with every kind of hope.”
The stakes
For Utah State: The Aggies wish to win their program’s first NCAA Event recreation since 2001 and construct on a profitable season that noticed them go 15-5 in convention play regardless of not having any returning level scorers from final 12 months.
For TCU: A streak of NCAA Event berths doesn’t imply as a lot for those who repeatedly lose within the first or second spherical. The Horned Frogs want to make a extra memorable run this 12 months.
Gamers to observe
For Utah State: Ahead Nice Osobor is averaging 18 factors and 9.2 rebounds per recreation for the Aggies. Earlier this month, he was named the Mountain West Participant of the Yr. Utah State probably received’t have the ability to sustain with TCU if Osobor has an off day.
For TCU: Ahead Emanuel Miller, like Osobor, leads his staff in scoring and rebounding. He’s averaging 15.9 factors per recreation and 5.9 rebounds per recreation.