University of Minnesota Athletics
Field Set for Minneapolis NCAA Site
3/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The field is set for the 2009 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship and the Minneapolis site was awarded several big names to go along with plenty of regional storylines.
Big Ten regular season champion Michigan State, the No. 2 seed in the Midwest region, is the highest seeded team heading to the Metrodome. The Spartans will face No. 15 seed Robert Morris.
A matchup that will feature plenty of local flavor pits defending NCAA champion and No. 3 seed Kansas, which is led by Bloomington Jefferson product Cole Aldrich, against No. 14 seed North Dakota State. The Bison, champions of the Summit League, boast eight Minnesotans on their roster.
West Virginia, out of the Big East, is the regions’ No. 6 seed and will battle No. 11 seed Dayton, which will be making its 14th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. ACC member Boston College, the No. 7 seed, will take on Pacific-10 Conference Tournament champion and No. 10 seed Southern California.
Fans interested in getting a free sneak peek at the field are invited to the Metrodome for the open practice day on Thursday, March 19. Practices begin at noon and end at 7:20 p.m. The Metrodome will open at 11 a.m. Thursday. Fans attending the workouts should enter the Metrodome through gates F and H.
The practice schedule for Thursday's open practice day is as follows:noon to 12:40 p.m. - North Dakota State
12:45-1:25 p.m. - Dayton
1:30-2:10 p.m. - Kansas
2:15-2:55 p.m. - West Virginia
4:25-5:05 p.m. - Boston College
5:10-5:50 p.m. - Michigan State
5:55-6:35 p.m. - Southern California
6:40-7:20 p.m. - Robert Morris
Tickets remain available but are expected to move quickly now that the participating teams have been announced. All session tickets are priced at $193 and include four games in two sessions on Friday, March 20, and two games in one session on Sunday, March 22.
The easiest way for fans to purchase tickets is online at www.gophersports.com. Fans may also purchase tickets over the phone at 1-800-U-GOPHER or by visiting the Athletics Ticket Office in Mariucci Arena.
First-round game times to be played on Friday, March 20, at the Minneapolis site were announced by the NCAA late Sunday night and are as follows:
Session I
No. 3 Kansas vs. No. 14 North Dakota State, 11:30 a.m. (CT)
No. 6 West Virginia vs. No. 11 Dayton, 30 minutes following completion of KU vs. NDSU
Session II
No. 7 Boston College vs. No. 10. Southern California, 6:20 p.m. (CT)
No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 15 Robert Morris, 30 minutes following completion of BC vs. USC
