NCAA announces tighter schedule for March Madness
INDIANAPOLIS — That much-anticipated openi ng Thursday of March Madness will belong to the play-in teams, part of
a scrambled and modestly condensed schedule for the 2021 tournament.
The coronavirus pandemic forced the NCAA to move the entire 67-game tournament to Indiana, which means the schedule doesn't have to be built with travel concerns in mind.
The so-called“First Four” two games pitting the last four at-large teams in the field and another two featuring the lowest-rated conference champions will take place on Thursday, March 18.
That day typically would have marked the start of play in the main bracket. Instead, the first two full days of action are now scheduled for Friday and Saturday, March 19-20, with the round of 32 taking place Sunday and Monday, March 21-22.
The Sweet 16 will run Saturday and Sunday,
March 27-28, with none of the games scheduled to overlap, as they often do when they take place on the second Thursday and Friday nights of the tournament. Those winners will face off i n the Elite Eight on the following Monday and Tuesday evenings.
The Final Four i s still scheduled f or Saturday April 3 and Monday April 5.
Purdue and the University of Indiana will host early games, along with Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Hinkle Field house, Indiana Farmers Coliseum and Lucas Oil Stadium.
All action moves to Lucas Oil Stadium starting with the Elite Eight.
Late Tuesday
NO. 18 ALABAMA 105, LSU
75: John Petty made four 3- pointers before f our
minutes had elapsed, finishing with 24 points on eight 3s, and the 18 thranked Crimson Tide set a Southeastern Conference record by making 23 shots from beyond the arc in a rout of LSU. NO .3 VILLA NOVA 76,
SET ON HALL 74: Stuck in medical isolation, Villanova filled its schedule with YouTube videos, FaceTime calls and video games to stay connected. The Wildcats had to create their own entertainment with basketball on pause.
With a lengthy lay off over, the Wildcats could finally enjoy their own highlight reel.
Cole S wider hit the winning free throw with 1.9 seconds left to help No .3 Villa nova win its first game in 27 days, over Seton Hall.
The Wildcats (9-1, 4-0 Big East) held steady in the Top 25 as their schedule crumbled because of
C OVID-related issues. Two-time national championship coach Jay Wright tested positive around Christmas, and the Wildcats paused their season as more players tested positive.
PITT 79, DUKE 73: Justin Champagnie tied a careerhigh 31 points on 12-for-15 shooting and grabbed 14 rebounds, and Pittsburgh held off Duke.
It was the fifth 20-plus point, 10- plus rebound effort for the sop homore Champagnie in just his eighth game of the season for the Panthers (8-2, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Conference).
The win also marked the first time a former player under Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski beat the Hall of Famer. Jeff Cap el is Pittsburgh's head coach.