Get ready for Bulldogs and Jayhawks and Cowboys, Salt Lake City.
March Madness is coming to Utah.
While Utah State and BYU head elsewhere, the Delta Center will host eight teams with dreams of winning it all when the NCAA Tournament tips off later this week.
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.
Thursday at Delta Center
No. 2 Arizona vs. No. 15 Long Beach State
Tipoff: Noon MT
TV: TBS
Arizona guard Caleb Love dunks against Utah during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Chris Coduto)
The Wildcats won the last Pac-12 regular season title. Guard Caleb Love averages 18.1 points per game. Former Ute Pelle Larsson (12.8 ppg) makes a return to Salt Lake City.
Few programs have had a madder March than the Beach. Head coach Dan Monson was fired but allowed to coach in the Big West tournament — and won a title to punch a ticket to the dance. Former Washington Husky Marcus Tsohonis averages 17.8 points per game.
No. 7 Dayton vs. No. 10 Nevada
Tipoff: 2:30 p.m. MT
TV: TBS
(Tom R. Smedes | AP) Nevada coach Steve Alford gives a pat on the chest to guard Kenan Blackshear (13) during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Colorado State on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, in Reno, Nev.
Dayton was upset in the A-10 tournament, but Naismith Trophy semifinalist DaRon Holmes II (20.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg) and the Flyers (24-7) are still dancing.
Coach Steve Alford led the Wolfpack into the NCAA tournament with a record of 26-7. Nevada features guards Jarod Lucas (17.8 ppg) and Kenan Blackshear (15.1 ppg).
No. 5 Gonzaga vs. No. 12 McNeese
Tipoff: 5:25 p.m. MT
TV: TBS
Gonzaga forward Graham Ike (13) dunks during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
The Gonzaga Bulldogs went 25-7 this season, 14-2 in the West Coast Conference. Forward Graham Ike leads the team in scoring (16.5 ppg) and rebounding (7.2 rpg).
The McNeese Cowboys were one of four teams in the country to win 30 games. Guard Shahada Wells averages 17.8 points, 4.8 assists and 3.0 steals per game.
No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 Samford
Tipoff: 7:55 p.m. MT
TV: TBS
Kansas center Hunter Dickinson (1) celebrates a dunk against Kansas City guard Cameron Faas, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lawrence, Kan., Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
The Jayhawks didn’t travel to Provo to face BYU this season. Instead, they’re coming to Salt Lake. Guard Kevin McCullar (18.3 ppg) and center Hunter Dickinson (18 ppg, 10.8 rpg) are the names to watch.
Samford forward Achor Achor leads the Bulldogs in scoring (15.8) and rebounding (6.1). Samford went 29-5 in the Southern Conference.
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