The roar of March Madness is set to echo through the TD Garden as the NCAA Tournament blazes into Boston for the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 rounds. The hardwood battles launching on Thursday have New England's very own UConn Huskies, the tournament's top seed, defending their chances against the No. 5 seed San Diego State Aztecs at 7:39 p.m., as reported by CBS Boston.
Following that showdown, the Iowa State Cyclones and the Illinois Fighting Illini, seeded no. 2 and no. 3 respectively, will vie for a victory in the second game of the night at TD Garden, starting at 10 p.m., Boston 25 News notes. Basketball enthusiasts can catch both games on TBS/truTV.
The Huskies are eyeing to repeat as champions, a feat not accomplished in nearly two decades. They barreled into the Sweet 16 with a statement-making 75-58 victory over Northwestern. Guard Tristen Newton and the colossal Donovan Clingan, who goes by the nickname "Cling Kong," were instrumental, each notching double-doubles, according to CBS Boston. Clingan also rejected a monstrous eight shots, affirming his defensive prowess.
San Diego State, on the other flank, enters this clash after securing a 85-57 rout over Yale, driven by a stringent defense that forced opponents to shoot a mere 37 percent from the floor in the tournament. Their offensive charge is spearheaded by senior Jaedon LeDee, who's averaging a dominant 29 points across the tournament games.
Winners of Thursday's combustive contests will face off in the Elite Eight on Saturday, all vying for the coveted opportunity to cut down the TD Garden nets, before advancing to the ultimate basketball mecca: the Final Four in Phoenix, as highlighted by Boston 25 News. The Elite Eight game time is expected to be set following Thursday's match-ups.
