Simplified March Madness schedule for Filipino viewers: Elite Eight

Here is the official schedule of games for the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight.

March 30:

6:09 a.m. (11) Dayton vs (1) Florida

8:49 a.m. (2) Wisconsin vs (1) Arizona

March 31: 

2:20 a.m. (4) Michigan State vs (7) Connecticut

5:05 a.m. (2) Michigan vs (8) Kentucky

Sports5 has acquired the rights to telecast the games here in the Philippines, and here is their schedule of games as of the moment. If game is italicized, game is to be shown LIVE here.

March 30 (Sunday)

6am-8:30am – Dayton vs Florida (TV5 & HYPER)

8:30am-10:30am – Wisconsin vs Arizona (TV5 & HYPER)

7:30pm-11:30pm – Dayton vs Florida & Wisconsin vs Arizona (Aksyon TV)

March 31 (Monday)

2:10am: Connecticut vs Michigan St. (HYPER)

4:55am - Michigan vs Kentucky (HYPER)

9:30am – Michigan vs Kentucky (TV5)

3:30pm: Connecticut vs Michigan St. (Aksyon TV)

8pm: Michigan vs Kentucky (Aksyon TV)

Simplified March Madness schedule for Filipino viewers: Round of 32 edition

Here is the official schedule of games for the NCAA Tournament's Third Round. (Although the diehards maintain that this is really the second round, due to their belief that the First Four does not constitute as the First Round, as what the NCAA insists)

March 23 (in Buffalo, Milwaukee, Orlando and Spokane)

12:15 a.m. (9) Pittsburgh vs (1) Florida
2:45 a.m. (5) Saint Louis vs (4) Louisville
5:15 a.m. (7) Texas vs (2) Michigan
6:10 a.m. (12) North Dakota St. vs (4) San Diego State
7:10 a.m. (11) Dayton vs (3) Syracuse
7:45 a.m. (7) Oregon vs (2) Wisconsin
8:40 a.m. (12) Harvard vs (4) Michigan State
9:40 a.m. (7) Connecticut vs (2) Villanova

March 24 (in Raleigh, San Antonio, San Diego and St. Louis)

12:15 a.m (2) Kansas vs (10) Stanford

2:45 a.m (1) Wichita State vs (8) Kentucky

5:15 a.m (3) Iowa State vs (6) North Carolina

6:10 a.m (11) Tennessee vs (14) Mercer

7:10 a.m (4) UCLA vs (12) Stephen F. Austin

7:40 a.m (3) Creighton vs (6) Baylor

8:40 a.m (1) Virginia vs (8) Memphis

9:40 a.m (1) Arizona vs (8) Gonzaga

Sports5 has acquired the rights to telecast the games here in the Philippines, and here is their schedule of games as of the moment. If game is italicized, game is to be shown LIVE here.

March 23

2:45 a.m. (5) Saint Louis vs (4) Louisville (HYPER)

5:15 a.m. (7) Texas vs (2) Michigan (HYPER)

7:45 a.m. (7) Oregon vs (2) Wisconsin (HYPER)

9:40 a.m. (7) Connecticut vs (2) Villanova (TV5 & HYPER)

Starting 7:30 pm Texas vs Michigan & Connecticut vs Villanova (Aksyon TV)

March 24

2:30am: Kentucky vs Wichita St. (HYPER)

5:00 a.m. North Carolina vs Iowa St. (HYPER)

7:30am: Baylor vs Creighton (HYPER)

10:00 a.m: Gonzaga vs Arizona (TV5 & HYPER)

12:00 nn: Mercer vs Tennessee (HYPER)

2pm: Memphis vs Virginia (HYPER)

4pm: SF Austin vs UCLA (HYPER)

Starting 4:00 p.m. North Carolina vs Iowa St & Gonzaga vs Arizona (Aksyon TV)

Simplified March Madness schedule for Filipino viewers: Round of 64 edition

Here is the official schedule of games for the NCAA Tournament's Second Round. (Although the diehards maintain that this is really the first round, due to their belief that the First Four does not constitute as the First Round, as what the NCAA insists)

March 21 (in Buffalo, Milwaukee, Orlando and Spokane)

12 a.m. - (11) Dayton vs (6) Ohio State
12:30 a.m - (15) American vs (2) Wisconsin
1:30 a.m. - (9) Pittsburgh vs (8) Colorado
2:00 a.m. - (12) Harvard vs (5) Cincinnati
2:45 a.m. - (14) Western Michigan vs (3) Syracuse
3:10 a.m. - (10) BYU vs (7) Oregon
4:10 a.m - (16) Albany vs (1) Florida
4:40 a.m. - (13) Delaware vs (4) Michigan State
6:55 a.m. - (10) Saint Joseph's vs Connecticut
7:10 a.m. - (15) Wofford vs (2) Michigan
7:20 a.m. - (12) NC State vs (5) Saint Louis
7:27 a.m - (12) North Dakota St. vs (5) Oklahoma
9:25 a.m. - (15) Milwaukee vs (2) Villanova
9:40 a.m. - (10) Arizona State vs (7) Texas
9:50 a.m. - (13) Manhattan vs (4) Louisville
9:57 a.m. - (13) New Mexico St. vs (4) San Diego State

March 22 (in Raleigh, San Antonio, San Diego and St. Louis)

12 a.m. - (14) Mercer vs (3) Duke
12:30 a.m. - (11) Nebraska vs (6) Baylor
1:30 a.m. - (10) Stanford vs (7) New Mexico
2:00 a.m. - (16) Weber State vs (1) Arizona
2:45 a.m. - (11) Tennessee vs (6) Massachusetts
3:10 a.m. - (14) La.-Lafayette vs (3) Creighton
4:10 a.m. - (15) Eastern Kentucky vs (2) Kansas
4:40 a.m. - (9) Oklahoma State vs (8) Gonzaga
6:55 a.m. - (9) Geo. Washington vs (8) Memphis
7:10 a.m. - (16) Cal Poly vs (1) Wichita State
7:20 a.m. - (11) Providence vs (6) North Carolina
7:27 a.m. - (12) Steph.F. Austin vs (5) VCU
9:25 a.m. - (16) Coastal Caro. vs (1) Virginia
9:40 a.m. - (9) Kansas State vs (8) Kentucky
9:50 a.m. - (14) N.C. Central vs (3) Iowa State
9:57 a.m. - (13) Tulsa vs (4) UCLA

Sports5 has acquired the rights to telecast the games here in the Philippines, and here is their schedule of games as of late last night. If game is italicized, game is to be shown LIVE here.

March 21 7 a.m. — (15) Wofford vs (2) Michigan (HYPER)
March 21 9:30 a.m. — (10) Arizona St. vs (7) Texas (TV5 & HYPER)
March 21 12 noon — (15) American vs (2) Wisconsin (HYPER)
March 21 2 p.m. — (10) BYU vs (7) Oregon (HYPER)
March 21 4 p.m. — (9) Pittsburgh vs (8) Colorado (Aksyon TV)
March 21 6 p.m. — (16) Albany vs (1) Florida (Aksyon TV)

March 22 3 a.m. — (14) Mercer vs (3) Duke (HYPER)
March 22 5 a.m. — (11) Tennessee vs (6) Massachusetts (HYPER)
March 22 7 a.m. — (16) Cal Poly vs (1)Wichita St. (HYPER)
March 22 9:30 a.m. — (9) Kansas St. vs (8) Kentucky (TV5 & HYPER)
March 22 7:30 p.m. — (9) Kansas St. vs (8) Kentucky (Aksyon TV)
March 22 10:30 p.m. — (16) Cal Poly vs (1) Wichita St. (Aksyon TV)

March 25 2 a.m. — (13) Delaware vs (4) Michigan St. (HYPER)
March 25 4 a.m. — (12) NC State vs (5) St. Louis (HYPER)
March 25 6 a.m. — (12) North Dakota St. vs (5) Oklahoma (HYPER)
March 25 10 a.m. — (13) Manhattan vs (4) Louisville (HYPER)
March 25 10 a.m. — (13) Delaware vs (4) Michigan St. (TV5)
March 25 12 noon — (13) New Mexico St. vs (4) San Diego St. (HYPER)
March 25 2 p.m. — (12) Harvard vs (4) Cincinnati (HYPER)
March 25 3 p.m. — (13) Delaware vs (4) Michigan St. (Aksyon TV)
March 25 10 p.m. — (12) North Dakota St. vs (5) Oklahoma (Aksyon TV)

March 26 6 a.m. — (16) Weber St vs (1) Arizona (HYPER)
March 26 8 a.m. — (9) Oklahoma St. vs (8) Gonzaga (HYPER)
March 26 10 a.m. — (11) Providence vs (6) North Carolina (TV5 & HYPER)
March 26 12 noon — (12) SF Austin vs (5) VCU (HYPER)
March 26 4 p.m. — (9) Oklahoma St. vs (8) Gonzaga (Aksyon TV)
March 26 6 p.m. — (11) Providence vs (6) North Carolina (Aksyon TV)

March 27 10 a.m. — (13) Tulsa vs (4) UCLA (TV5)
March 27 3 p.m. — (16) Weber St. vs (1) Arizona (Aksyon TV)
March 27 10 p.m. — (13) Tulsa vs (4) UCLA (Aksyon TV)

Are you all in with dem Eagles of Dunk City?

 

Welcome to Florida Gulf Coast, where this is your biggest recruiting asset.

Then this happened...

The Eagles just pulled off the third 2-15 upset in the past couple of years. And they they topped that by becoming the first 15-seed to make it to the Sweet 16. Excited would be an understatement.

 

Now they the chance to play against the state's big boys in Florida, at Jerryworld. Who knew that?

Final Four Profile: Connecticut

The scintilating run of Kemba and his pride continues. After winning 5 games in 5 days to seal the Big East Tournament, they continued on their run to reach the Final Four.




Who is UConn, anyway?

Location: Storrs, Connecticut

Head Coach: Jim Calhoun

Key Players: Kemba Walker, Jeremy Lamb, Alex Oriakhi

NBA alums: 30, most of them thanks to Calhoun.

Other famous alums: Moby, Meg Ryan,

Road to Final Four: Bucknell, Cincinnati, San Diego State, Arizona

Final Four Profile: Kentucky

The Big Blue Nation is back in the Final Four for the first time since 1998. Their coach has been "familiar" with this situation before (although those were eventually vacated after certain irregularities coincidentally came out). It is also unique, because this bunch went further than last year with all those major one-and-done contributors that became NBA first-rounders.





Who is Kentucky, anyway?

Location: Lexington, Kentucky

Head Coach: John Calipari

Key Players: Brandon Knight, Doron Lamb, Deandre Liggins, Terence Jones, Josh Harrellson, Darius Miller

NBA alums: 71. That's a whole freakin' lot of people who played in the NBA.

Other famous alum/s: Ashley Judd is really the only one that matters. See pic below:

Road to Final Four: Princeton, West Virginia, Ohio State, North Carolina

Final Four Profile: Virginia Commonwealth

After being panned much during the entirety of Selection Sunday, the Virginia Commonwealth University proved themselves worthy of their selection (and making said prognosticators eat crow), becoming the 2nd team from the Colonial Athletic Association to make it in the Final Four. (George Mason being the other one) Both were 11-seeds in making this accomplishment.





Who is VCU, anyway?

Location: Richmond, Virginia

Head Coach: Shaka Smart

Key Players: Joey Rodriguez, Bradford Burgess, Brandon Rozzell, Jamie Skeen,

NBA alums: 6. Eric Maynor made a name out of beating Duke in the first round in his sophomore season. Gerald Henderson, Sr won a couple of rings in Boston during the 80s. (He is also the dad of current Charlotte Bobcat Gerald Henderson,  Jr, who coincidentally was a freshman at Duke when VCU beat them)

Other famous alums: Patch Adams (Yes, the guy from the movie)

Road to Final Four: USC, Georgetown, Purdue, Florida State, Kansas

The NCAA at a Glance (Sweet 16 edition in San Antonio)

The Southwest Regional is going to be played at the Alamodome where the San Antonio Spurs played before the advent of the AT&T Center.

Here are the matchups to determine who goes to the Final Four:



1st Seed  Kansas vs 12th Seed Richmond: Kansas felt at home in Tulsa, easily putting away Boston University and Illinois. On the other hand, Richmond upset Vanderbilt and blew out Morehead State in Denver on its way to being the lowest seeded team remaining in the Sweet 16.

10th Seed Florida State vs 11th Seed Virginia Commonwealth: Florida State stamped its class defensively in Chicago, shackling Texas A&M and Notre Dame. The much-maligned Rams became the first play-in (now known as the "new" first round - beating USC in Dayton) team to win in the field of 64 by destroying Georgetown and then Purdue in Chicago.

My Original Bracket: Kansas vs Louisville. Purdue vs Notre Dame. Kansas earns Final Four berth beating Purdue.

Revised Bracket: Kansas over Richmond. Virginia Commonwealth over Florida State. Kansas beats VCU to sweep both schools based in Richmond, VA.

Player/s to Watch: Joey Rodriguez. NCAA Tournaments have always been keyed by guard play. He's the main cog of VCU in proving the prognosticators wrong as they keep moving on.

The NCAA at a Glance (Sweet 16 edition at Anaheim)

The Western Regional will be played at the Honda Center in Anaheim (more well known as the Pond). Yes, that might also be the future home of the Sacramento Kings, if all things hold serve.




1st Seed Duke vs 5th Seed Arizona: Duke felt at home in Charlotte, easily dispatching Hampton and then barely fending off a game Michigan squad. Arizona swatted its way past Memphis and took advantage of a 5-second inbound call against Texas in Tulsa.

2nd Seed San Diego State vs 3rd Seed Connecticut: In Tucson, The Aztecs made short work of Northern Colorado, but was taken to double overtime by Temple. UConn got past Bucknell and Cincinnati in DC.

My Original Bracket: Duke vs Arizona. UConn vs SDSU. With the Elite Eight being San Diego State beats Duke.


Revised Bracket: Still sticking with my prediction. Home court advantage comes in handy with the Aztecs.

Player/s to Watch:  Kyrie Irving. Only played in 8 games prior to the tournament. Looks like he is just fine. And the further Duke goes, the better he becomes.

The NCAA at a Glance (Sweet 16 edition in New Orleans)

 The Southeastern Regional is going to be played at the New Orleans Arena (home of the NBA-owned New Orleans Hornets). They were hoping that they can help improve the economy. Then they realized that BYU is one of the teams.


 
2nd Seed Florida vs 3rd Seed Brigham Young University: Florida took care of things in Tampa, easily beating Cal-Santa Barbara then pulling away against UCLA. Denver was all about the Jimmer, as BYU Jimmer'd Wofford and Gonzaga.


4th Seed Wisconsin vs 8th Seed Butler: Wisconsin made amends in Tucson by beating Belmont and Kansas State, putting to bed bad notions of their atrocious 33pt performance against Penn State. Butler epitomized the nature of survival in the Tournament, relying on a buzzer-beater against Old Dominion and then on a bailout free throw against Pitt in Washington, DC.

My Original Bracket: Butler over Utah State. St. John's over Michigan State. St. John's wins the regional.

Revised Bracket: BYU over Florida. Butler over Wisconsin. Butler over BYU to make their return to the Final Four.

Player/s to Watch: Jimmer Fredette. Because he truly is the show in Provo.

The NCAA at a Glance (Sweet 16 edition in Newark)

The Eastern Regional is going to be played at the Prudential Center (Pru for short) in Newark. Yes, that is where the Nets are temporarily based until the Barclays gets built in Brooklyn.




1st Seed Ohio State vs 4th Seed Kentucky. Ohio State showed why they are the top overall seed in the tournament, blowing out Texas-San Antonio and then George Mason in Cleveland. Kentucky fended off Princeton and West Virginia down in Tampa.

2nd Seed North Carolina vs 11th Seed Marquette. In Charlotte, North Carolina easily dispatched Long Island and followed that up by barely escaping from a game Washington team. Marquette, on the other hand, handcuffed Xavier and upset their Big East rival Syracuse in Cleveland.

My Original Bracket: George Mason vs Kentucky. Syracuse vs North Carolina. With the Elite Eight being Syracuse beats Kentucky.


Revised Bracket: Ohio State over Kentucky. North Carolina over Marquette. Ohio State wins Newark Regional.

Player/s to Watch:  The Buckeye shooters. Jon Diebler, David Lighty, William Buford and Aaron Craft have been scintillating in their sniping, especially in their evisceration of the Patriots. They keep the pressure off superfrosh Jared Sullinger.

The NCAA at a glance (Thursday Evening Edition)

The NCAA Tournament really starts tonight (12am here in Manila), because who really took the play-ins that seriously. Then again, this is March Madness, so... Here we go for today's games




Tampa (Announcing Team: Ian Eagle / Jim Spanarkel / David Aldridge)

6:50 pm - Florida vs UC-Santa Barbara (2 vs 15): Gauchos in Gator territory. They ain't roping them reptiles. My pick: Florida

UCLA vs Michigan State (7 vs 10): Pac-10 has been down the past few years, and the Spartans have been totally atrocious and hard to look sometimes. But all those tough losses that Izzo deals with early are designed to pay off come this time of the year. My pick: Michigan State

Washington DC (Announcing Team: Tim Brando / Mike Gminski / Lewis Johnson)

7:20 pm - Connecticut vs Bucknell (3 vs 14): The Bison shocked the world by upsetting the Jayhawks as a 14 before. They'll give the Huskies a tough time before they exit. My pick: UConn

Cincinnati vs Missouri (6 vs 11): Cincy chowed on their lightweight non-conference before their BEast diet. Mizzou gonna press them all night long and give them fits. Another chic upset special. My Pick: Mizzou

Denver (Announcing Team: Verne Lundquist / Bill Raftery / Lesley Visser)

7:15 pm - BYU vs Wofford (3 vs 14): The Terriers is a feisty unit that gave scares last year (and might just do it again this year), but it's all about the Jimmer. My Pick: BYU

St. John's vs Gonzaga (6 vs 11): The Bulldogs of Spokane have been the Cinderella for years. But the story of St. John's and their revival makes a better story. 10 seniors, too. My pick: St. John's

Tucson (Announcing Team: Kevin Harlan / Reggie Miller / Dan Bonner / Sam Ryan)

7:27 pm - Wisconsin vs Belmont (4 vs 13): Badgers scored a total of 33 pts in a loss during the B1G tournament. I think we can't have a team like that advance. Belmont is a 30-win squad. My pick: Belmont

Kansas State vs Utah State (5 vs 12): Kansas State, along with Michigan State, have been the biggest disappointments this season. Maddeningly inconsistent, led by the bearded Jacob Pullen face a fundamentally skilled 30-win Aggies squad. My pick: Utah State

Best game for this session: St. John's vs Gonzaga

Avoid this at all cost: Florida vs UCSB

This is the Ateneo LA Clipper NCAA Bracket

Here is my Bracket. Feel free to take potshots.

The NCAA at a glance (Thursday Afternoon Edition)

 

The NCAA Tournament really starts tonight (12am here in Manila), because who really took the play-ins that seriously. Then again, this is March Madness, so... Here we go for today's games




Tampa (Announcing Team: Ian Eagle / Jim Spanarkel / David Aldridge)


1215pm: West Virginia vs Clemson - (5-12): The Tigers just came out of their play-in game against UAB, a team who did not really showed anything that dissuaded the talking heads from blasting the Committee for their inclusion. Besides, the 'eers are more physical and mean. My pick: West Virginia

Kentucky vs Princeton (4-13). Sydney Johnson, the captain of the 1996 Princeton team who upset then-defending champs UCLA in the RCA Dome, is coaching this latest incarnation of the Tigers. Calipari and his new recruits, led by Terrence Jones, are too athletic. Then again, UCLA were athletic at the time, too in 1996. My pick: Kentucky (only because it's too surreal if they do it again).

Washington DC (Announcing Team: Tim Brando / Mike Gminski / Lewis Johnson)

1240pm: Butler vs Old Dominon (8-9) The Bulldogs, who were a Gordon Hayward heave away from the national title, get a feisty Monarchs squad who some have pegged as a chic pick to break some brackets. I still believe in the Butler magic to get them somewhere. My pick: Butler


Pittsburgh vs UNC-Asheville (1-16) Pitt has virtually seen every kind of Tournament choke job. But nope, the 16-over-1 is too illogical to happen. My pick: Pitt

Denver (Announcing Team: Verne Lundquist / Bill Raftery / Lesley Visser)

140pm: Louisville vs Morehead State (4-13). Insert you own Pitino joke here. But seriously, Peyton Siva might be the next Kemba Walker for 2011-12. On the other hand, Kenneth Faried will be a true NBA contributor to someone. Still, there is too much talent for the Cardinals not to advance. My pick: Louisville.

Vanderbilt vs Richmond (5-12) Some have pegged Richmond as a chic team to upset brackets, but there is too much buzz for my own liking. My pick: Vanderbilt

Tucson (Announcing Team: Kevin Harlan / Reggie Miller / Dan Bonner / Sam Ryan)

210pm: Temple vs Penn State (7-10). The Nittany Lions won their game against Wisconsin 36-33. Yes. they scored less points than minutes in a game. Can't pick a team who does things like that. My pick: Temple

San Diego St. vs Northern Colorado (2-15). The Aztecs have never ever won a game in the NCAA Tournament. This will change. My pick: San Diego State

Best game for this session: Butler vs ODU.

Avoid this at all cost: Temple vs Penn State.