TODAY’S REGIONAL SEMIFINALS
EAST REGIONAL
at Boston
1 Villanova (32-4) vs. 5 West Virginia (26-10)
Time: 4:15 PDT. TV: TBS.
Update: Villanova, which won the national championship in 2016, is one of two top seeds left in the tournament following losses by Big East Conference rival Xavier and Virginia. The Wildcats were a No. 1 seed in last year’s tournament when they lost to eighth-seeded Wisconsin in the second round. West Virginia has been one of the best-looking teams in the field so far, with wins by 17 and 23 points in the first two rounds. The Mountaineers are trying to get to the Elite Eight for the first time since their Final Four run in 2010.
2 Purdue (30-6) vs. 3 Texas Tech (26-9)
Time: 6:45 PDT. TV: TBS.
Update: Matt Haarms, a 7foot-3 redshirt freshman, is expected to start again at center for Purdue even though senior Isaac Haas got fitted with a new brace to protect his fractured right elbow. The 7-foot Haas, who was hurt in the Boilermakers’ first-round win over Cal State Fullerton, has not been cleared to play. “If I did play, it would just be really short minutes,” Haas said. Texas Tech is in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005 and is looking to make it to the Elite Eight for the first time in program history. Senior guard Keenan Evans has scored 23 and 22 points in the Red Raiders’ first two tournament wins.
MIDWEST REGIONAL
at Omaha
1 Kansas (29-7) vs. 5 Clemson (25-9)
Time: 4 PDT. TV: Channel 2.
Update: Kansas big man Udoka Azubuike, who leads the nation in shooting percentage at 77.5%, is likely to start. Azubuike missed the Big 12 tournament because of a minor knee injury, but he played 22 minutes in an 83-79 win over Seton Hall last weekend. The “neutralfloor” game should be more like a home game for the Jayhawks. Clemson reached its first Sweet 16 since 1997 with a 31-point win over Auburn. This will be the first meeting between the schools.
2 Duke (28-7) vs. 11 Syracuse (23-13)
Time: 6:30 PDT. TV: Ch. 2.
Update: Duke averages 85 points a game but the Blue Devils will face a Syracuse team that has held three straight opponents to 60 points or fewer in the NCAA tournament. The Orange won a play-in game over Arizona State in Dayton, Ohio. Duke and Syracuse met once in Atlantic Coast Conference play, the Blue Devils winning 60-44 on their home court on Feb. 24. The teams combined to miss their first 24 three-point shots.