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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Mike McDaniel

2023 March Madness: Men’s Midwest Region Tournament Schedule

With Selection Sunday out of the way, the 2023 men’s edition of March Madness is set to begin Tuesday with the First Four before a full slate of games tips off Thursday.

In the Midwest Region, No. 1 Houston highlights the bracket after a 31–3 season and an American Athletic Conference title. The Cougars will tip off Thursday against No. 16 Northern Kentucky as they try to make a Final Four run under coach Kelvin Sampson.

Below is the entire first-round schedule for the Midwest Region:

First Four

Teams: No. 11 Mississippi State (2112) vs. No. 11 Pittsburgh (2211)

Game Date: Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Game Time: 9:10 p.m. ET
Game Location: UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio
TV: truTV

First Round

Teams: No. 16 Northern Kentucky (2212) vs. No. 1 Houston (313)

Game Date: Thursday, March 16, 2023
Game Time: 9:20 p.m. ET
Game Location: Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama
TV: TNT

Teams: No. 8 Iowa (1913) vs. No. 9 Auburn (20–12)

Game Date: Thursday, March 16, 2023
Game Time: 6:50 p.m. ET
Game Location: Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama
TV: TNT

Teams: No. 5 Miami (257) vs. No. 12 Drake (277)

Game Date: Friday, March 17, 2023
Game Time: 7:25 p.m. ET
Game Location: MVP Arena in Albany, NY
TV: TBS

Teams: No. 4 Indiana (2211) vs. No. 13 Kent State (286)

Game Date: Friday, March 17, 2023
Game Time: 9:55 p.m. ET
Game Location: MVP Arena in Albany, NY
TV: TBS

Teams: No. 6 Iowa State (1913) vs. No. 11 Mississippi State (2112)/Pittsburgh (22-11)

Game Date: Friday, March 17, 2023
Game Time: 3:10 p.m. ET
Game Location: Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C.
TV: truTV

Teams: No. 3 Xavier (259) vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State (268)

Game Date: Friday, March 17, 2023
Game Time: 12:40 p.m. ET
Game Location: Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C.
TV: truTV

Teams: No. 7 Texas A&M (259) vs. No. 10 Penn State (2213)

Game Date: Thursday, March 16, 2023
Game Time: 9:55 p.m. ET
Game Location: Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa
TV: TBS

Teams: No. 2 Texas (268) vs. No. 15 Colgate (268)

Game Date: Thursday, March 16, 2023
Game Time: 7:25 p.m. ET
Game Location: Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa
TV: TBS

Pat Forde’s Analysis, Predictions

Matchup to watch: This region is rife with interesting early matchups, including Indiana taking on a Kent State team coached by Rob Senderoff, who was penalized for NCAA violations that occurred while he was an assistant to Kelvin Sampson at … Indiana. But the thing that jumps off the page is No. 9 seed Auburn getting preferential geographic treatment in Birmingham. That’s a disadvantage to first-round opponent Iowa, and potentially to No. 1 seed Houston in the second round. Questionable work there by the selection committee.

Player to watch: Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis is a first-team All-American and double-double machine who has carried the Hoosiers during his senior year. In his past four games, Jackson-Davis has averaged 25.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists. He’s got a talented sidekick in freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino, but Indiana’s tourney existence will largely depend on how far TJD can take it.

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