UConn men’s basketball is making waves in the NCAA Tournament, cruising past UCLA with a decisive 73-57 victory in the Round of 32 on Sunday evening.
After kicking off the tournament in Philadelphia, the Huskies are heading south to Washington, D.C. for the Sweet 16, where they’ll face off against Michigan State. This clash is set for Friday night at 9:45 p.m. ET on CBS.
For this matchup, Ian Eagle steps in as the play-by-play commentator, taking the reins from Jim Nantz as the lead voice for CBS and TNT Sports' NCAA Tournament coverage starting in 2024. Joining him in the booth will be former Seton Hall coach Bill Raftery, known for his iconic "onions" catchphrase, and Collegiate Basketball Hall of Famer Grant Hill. Tracy Wolfson will be on the sidelines to complete the CBS crew.
The Spartans are entering the game as slight 1.5-point favorites, according to DraftKings Sportsbook, with the over/under set at 138.5. Silas Demary Jr. made his return from injury on Sunday after missing his first collegiate game, but Jaylin Stewart was absent against the Bruins despite warming up before the game.
Michigan State heads to the nation’s capital with a bit more rest, having secured their Sweet 16 spot on Saturday with a 77-69 victory over Louisville. Forward Coen Carr was a standout, delivering a season-best performance with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while star point guard Jeremy Fears dished out an impressive 16 assists.
UConn has some recent history against Michigan State, having edged them out 76-69 in a preseason exhibition at PeoplesBank Arena last year, despite allowing 44 free-throw attempts. This exhibition highlighted the strong rapport between coaches Tom Izzo and Dan Hurley, a relationship Hurley praised after the win against UCLA.
"Sharing the sideline with one of the greatest coaches, someone so genuine, is an honor. He’s the real deal, no pretense - what you see is what you get. He’s one of the greatest, and I’ve always tried to model myself after him at the college level," Hurley remarked.