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PROVIDENCE — Madness has arrived in Providence.
The NCAA men's basketball tournament opening-round games are downtown on March 20 and 22. And here's who you can see at the Amica Mutual Pavilion this week.
No. 2. St. John's and coach Rick Pitino, the onetime Providence Friars coach, leads the eight-team field heading to Providence. No. 4. Purdue and No. 5 Clemson are a potentially intriguing second-round matchup to watch. And Bill Self's Kansas Jayhawks will also be in Rhode Island, facing off with ex-UMass and Kentucky coach John Calipari, who's bringing his Arkansas Razorbacks.
More: March Madness bracket: Printable 2025 NCAA Tournament page for picks, predictions
Clemson (27-6 overall, 18-2 Atlantic Coach Conference) was bounced in the semifinals of the conference tournament by Louisville, 76-73. The Tigers are led by conference first-team selection Chase Hunter and his 16.4 points per game. Clemson is coached by Brad Brownell, who is in his 15th season with the Tigers.
McNeese (27-6 overall, 19-1 Southland) captured the conference championship, 63-54 over Lamar, to earn an automatic bid to Providence. The Cowboys are repeat champions of their conference and boast four players averaging double-digit points this year.
Purdue (22-11 overall, 13-7 Big Ten) fell to Michigan in the third round of the tournament. The Wolverines won the conference tournament, while the Boilermakers snagged a four seed in March Madness. Trey Kaufman-Renn is averaging 20.2 points per game this season. Purdue lost to UConn in last season's NCAA championship game.
High Point (29-5 overall, 14-2 Big South) is heading to March Madness for the first time in program history. The Panthers won the conference championship with a 15-point comeback in the second half against Winthrop University. Kezza Giffa paces the Panthers this season with 14.8 points per game.
Kansas (21-12 overall, 11-9 Big 12) lost in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. But Bill Self’s group is no stranger to March. Hunter Dickinson, the 7-foot-2 graduate student, is averaging 17.2 points and 10 rebounds per game.
John Calipari, whose previous stops included UMass, Memphis and Kentucky, leads Arkansas (20-13 overall, 8-10 SEC) to Providence in his first year with the Razorbacks. Arkansas was knocked out by Ole Miss in the second round of a loaded conference tournament.
Rhode Islanders are familiar with St. John's (30-4 overall, 18-2 Big East). Pitino’s Red Storm were the best team in the Big East all season and finished on top with an 82-66 thumping of Creighton in the conference championship. It was the first conference title for St. John’s in 25 years. Pitino will be returning to a place he's very familiar with, having coached the Friars in the 1980s.
Omaha (22-12 overall, 13-3 Summit) grabbed an automatic bid to the tournament with an 85-75 triumph against St. Thomas in the conference title game. Marquel Suttonaverages 19.1 points per game for the Mavericks. Omaha’s 22 wins are a Division I program record for the program.
No. 4. Purdue (22-11) vs. No. 13 High Point (29-5) - 12:40 pm (TRU TV)
No. 5 Clemson (27-6) vs. No. 12 McNeese (27-6) - 3:15 pm (TRU TV)
No. 7 Kansas (21-12) vs. No. 10 Arkansas (20-13) - 7:10 pm (CBS)
No. 2. St. John's (30-4) vs. No. 15 Omaha (22-8) - 9:45 pm (CBS)
All first-round games in Providence games will be played Thursday.
Tickets for Providence games are available here.
Looking for a hotel in Providence?
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Here are the teams coming to Providence for March Madness
Continue reading...
The NCAA men's basketball tournament opening-round games are downtown on March 20 and 22. And here's who you can see at the Amica Mutual Pavilion this week.
No. 2. St. John's and coach Rick Pitino, the onetime Providence Friars coach, leads the eight-team field heading to Providence. No. 4. Purdue and No. 5 Clemson are a potentially intriguing second-round matchup to watch. And Bill Self's Kansas Jayhawks will also be in Rhode Island, facing off with ex-UMass and Kentucky coach John Calipari, who's bringing his Arkansas Razorbacks.
More: March Madness bracket: Printable 2025 NCAA Tournament page for picks, predictions
Meet the basketball teams coming to Providence
Clemson
Clemson (27-6 overall, 18-2 Atlantic Coach Conference) was bounced in the semifinals of the conference tournament by Louisville, 76-73. The Tigers are led by conference first-team selection Chase Hunter and his 16.4 points per game. Clemson is coached by Brad Brownell, who is in his 15th season with the Tigers.
McNeese
McNeese (27-6 overall, 19-1 Southland) captured the conference championship, 63-54 over Lamar, to earn an automatic bid to Providence. The Cowboys are repeat champions of their conference and boast four players averaging double-digit points this year.
Purdue
Purdue (22-11 overall, 13-7 Big Ten) fell to Michigan in the third round of the tournament. The Wolverines won the conference tournament, while the Boilermakers snagged a four seed in March Madness. Trey Kaufman-Renn is averaging 20.2 points per game this season. Purdue lost to UConn in last season's NCAA championship game.
High Point
High Point (29-5 overall, 14-2 Big South) is heading to March Madness for the first time in program history. The Panthers won the conference championship with a 15-point comeback in the second half against Winthrop University. Kezza Giffa paces the Panthers this season with 14.8 points per game.
Kansas
Kansas (21-12 overall, 11-9 Big 12) lost in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. But Bill Self’s group is no stranger to March. Hunter Dickinson, the 7-foot-2 graduate student, is averaging 17.2 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Arkansas
John Calipari, whose previous stops included UMass, Memphis and Kentucky, leads Arkansas (20-13 overall, 8-10 SEC) to Providence in his first year with the Razorbacks. Arkansas was knocked out by Ole Miss in the second round of a loaded conference tournament.
St. John's
Rhode Islanders are familiar with St. John's (30-4 overall, 18-2 Big East). Pitino’s Red Storm were the best team in the Big East all season and finished on top with an 82-66 thumping of Creighton in the conference championship. It was the first conference title for St. John’s in 25 years. Pitino will be returning to a place he's very familiar with, having coached the Friars in the 1980s.
Omaha
Omaha (22-12 overall, 13-3 Summit) grabbed an automatic bid to the tournament with an 85-75 triumph against St. Thomas in the conference title game. Marquel Suttonaverages 19.1 points per game for the Mavericks. Omaha’s 22 wins are a Division I program record for the program.
Schedule, TV times for NCAA games in Providence
No. 4. Purdue (22-11) vs. No. 13 High Point (29-5) - 12:40 pm (TRU TV)
No. 5 Clemson (27-6) vs. No. 12 McNeese (27-6) - 3:15 pm (TRU TV)
No. 7 Kansas (21-12) vs. No. 10 Arkansas (20-13) - 7:10 pm (CBS)
No. 2. St. John's (30-4) vs. No. 15 Omaha (22-8) - 9:45 pm (CBS)
All first-round games in Providence games will be played Thursday.
Tickets for Providence games are available here.
Looking for a hotel in Providence?
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Here are the teams coming to Providence for March Madness
Continue reading...
