Game Thread: NCAA Tournament, Round 2/Round of 32 TV schedule, Saturday & Sunday - March 22 & 23, 2025

[Bazza]

(all times ET)

Saturday, March 22

• (4) Purdue vs. (12) McNeese, 12:10 p.m. | CBS
• (2) St. John's vs. (10) Arkansas, 2:40 p.m. | CBS
• (4) Texas A&M vs. (5) Michigan, 5:15 p.m. | CBS
• (3) Texas Tech vs. (11) Drake, 6:10 p.m. | TNT
• (1) Auburn vs. (9) Creighton, 7:10 p.m. | TBS
• (3) Wisconsin vs. (6) BYU, 7:45 p.m. | CBS
• (1) Houston vs. (8) Gonzaga, 8:40 p.m. | TNT
• (2) Tennessee vs. (7) UCLA, 9:40 p.m. | TBS

Sunday, March 23

• (1) Florida vs. (8) UConn, 12:10 p.m. | CBS
• (1) Duke vs. (9) Baylor, 2:40 p.m. | CBS
• (3) Kentucky vs. (6) Illinois, 5:15 p.m. | CBS
• (2) Alabama vs. (7) Saint Mary's, 6:10 p.m. | TNT
• (4) Maryland vs. (12) Colorado State, 7:10 p.m. | TBS
• (3) Iowa State vs. (6) Ole Miss, 7:45 p.m. | truTV
• (2) Michigan State vs. (10) New Mexico, 8:40 p.m. | TNT
• (4) Arizona vs. (5) Oregon, 9:40 p.m. | TBS

 

[BamaMoon]

Thanks @Bazza

 

[AUDub]

I’m genuinely worried about Creighton. We’ve beaten plenty of teams as good and many that were better, but we’re clearly in the doldrums at the moment.

At least with the Bama, UT, UF and aTm losses the energy and effort was there. We simply got beat in those. ASU was the game that has the alarm bells ringing. We had no edge. If we’ve lost our edge we are a prime candidate for an early and disappointing exit.

 

[BamaMoon]

I’m genuinely worried about Creighton. We’ve beaten plenty of teams as good and many that were better, but we’re clearly in the doldrums at the moment.

At least with the Bama, UT, UF and aTm losses the energy and effort was there. We simply got beat in those. ASU was the game that has the alarm bells ringing. We had no edge. If we’ve lost our edge we are a prime candidate for an early and disappointing exit.

None of us would cry over that.

But I suspect AU suffered from a little bit of whatever Bama had yesterday in playing an opponent everyone knows your team can beat with even a subpar game.

FWIW, I didn't see the AU/ASU game, but I'm just guessing that's the case.

 

[AUDub]

But I suspect AU suffered from a little bit of whatever Bama had yesterday in playing an opponent everyone knows your team can beat with even a subpar game.

FWIW, I didn't see the AU/ASU game, but I'm just guessing that's the case.

It was worse. Robert Morris was very much playing up and Bama had to pull on their game face to put them away. Auburn just looked thoroughly uninterested throughout ours. We at least know Bama will try and rise to the occasion in the event of some adversity. We don’t know that about Auburn yet.

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

My West bracket is seeing hard times. The Gators better not choke!

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

The only thing that worries me about St. Mary's is there style of play keeping us out of rhythm. That usually makes for a interesting outing.

 

[BamaMoon]

The only thing that worries me about St. Mary's is there style of play keeping us out of rhythm. That usually makes for a interesting outing.

Do tell. I suppose they want to slow play us?

 

[AUDub]

Do tell. I suppose they want to slow play us?

It’ll come down to pace. Whoever dictates it should be the winner.

And yes they play slow.

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

Do tell. I suppose they want to slow play us?

St. Mary's is very "methodical" on Offense.

 

[ROCKEE]

Can someone tell me how in the …. does Will Wade still have an NCAA coaching job?

 

[CrimsonNagus]

NCAA scheduling is weird. The first 4 games start times are spread out from 12:10-6:10, a 6 hour spread. The last 4 start times are crammed together from 7:10-9:40, a 2 1/2 hour spread.

 

[rolltide_21]

Seeing AU playing Creighton reminds me of the early Grant days when Bama played them. We were:
1) Just glad we made the tourney
2) Happy with a good showing in the first round.

I’m glad those days are behind us. This is much more fun. Where the sweet 16 is the expectation and not the Cinderella year.

 

[rolltide_21]

Can someone tell me how in the …. does Will Wade still have an NCAA coaching job?

Going to NC St. after the tourney. He’ll turn them into a quality team.

 

[Bpilktree]

NCAA scheduling is weird. The first 4 games start times are spread out from 12:10-6:10, a 6 hour spread. The last 4 start times are crammed together from 7:10-9:40, a 2 1/2 hour spread.

I think they know spring weather people will be out doing other things during the days so they want to limit the games during the 12-5 window span. Also don’t forget the Purdue game started at 9 a.m for probably 20% of the U.S. population.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

NCAA scheduling is weird. The first 4 games start times are spread out from 12:10-6:10, a 6 hour spread. The last 4 start times are crammed together from 7:10-9:40, a 2 1/2 hour spread.

thought the same thing. I missed most of the 1st game due to going for a ruck. By the time I got back, the game was a blowout.

Hoping Bacon bits takes out St John's. I cannot stand Pitino.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

I heard one of the announcers during round 1 say that NIL would create parity in the tournament. It has done the opposite. We might not ever see a 16, 15, or 14 ever win again going forward

 

[AUDub]

I took Arkansas here. Let’s see how smart I look.

 

[BigBama]

They letting St Johns be physical but calling Arky for everything. Your money is in danger.

 

[Bpilktree]

I heard one of the announcers during round 1 say that NIL would create parity in the tournament. It has done the opposite. We might not ever see a 16, 15, or 14 ever win again going forward

I don’t think you can judge anything on 1 year. I read there been 6 years in last 30 years where the top 16 (1-4 seeds ) have went 16-0. So it has happened about 20% of the time. I actually think it has more to do with competition teams are playing. The non conference schedules are much tougher now for top teams. Then you add in the major conferences like SEC, Big 10, and Big 12 are very good and deep so if you come out of there you are very battle tested. There used to be some teams that were seated pretty high because of record but didn’t play real good competition.