NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Open Practice Day Scheduled For Thursday
DETROIT – The 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship first – and second-rounds at Detroit's state-of-the-art Little Caesars Arena in The District Detroit begin on Thursday, March 15, with the traditional open practice sessions for Arkansas, Bucknell, Butler, Cal State Fullerton, Michigan State, Purdue, TCU and either Arizona State or Syracuse.
The teams playing in Detroit will each hold 40-minute workouts that will be open to the public. The University of Detroit Mercy will serve as the host of the first – and second rounds, with games scheduled for Friday, March 16 and Sunday, March 18.
Thursday's open practice session begins at 11 a.m. ET with Cal State Fullerton taking the court at Little Caesars Arena, followed by Butler (11:45 a.m. – 12:25 p.m.), Purdue (12:30 – 1:10 p.m.), Arkansas (1:15 – 1:55 p.m.), Michigan State (3:25 – 4:05 p.m.), TCU (4:10 – 4:50 p.m.), Bucknell (4:55 – 5:35 p.m.) and either Arizona State or Syracuse from 4:55 – 5:35 p.m. The Sun Devils and Orange will play in the First Four in Dayton on Wednesday, March 14, with the winner advancing to Detroit to take on TCU.
The Little Caesars Arena doors will open at 10 a.m. ET on Thursday for open practice day. Admission is free for the public, and parking is complimentary in all Olympia Development lots north of I-75. All seats will be open for general admission, and all four Little Caesars Arena restaurants will open before or at 10 a.m. Concession stands will also be open.
The action in Detroit will tip off at 12:40 p.m. on Friday with No. 2 Purdue taking on No. 15 Cal-State Fullerton, followed by No. 7 Arkansas against No. 10 Butler. The evening session will begin at 7:10 p.m., with No. 3 Michigan State facing No. 14 Bucknell, followed by No. 6 TCU versus either No. 11 Arizona State or No. 11 Syracuse. The second rounds games are set for Sunday with the game times to be determined following Friday's first round contests.
2018 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP OPEN PRACTICE DAY
Thursday, March 14 – 11 a.m. – 5:35 p.m. – Little Caesars Arena, Detroit
Free Admission – Free Parking in Lots North of I-75 – Little Caesars Arena restaurants and concessions open
TIME/TEAM
11 – 11:40 a.m. - Cal-State Fullerton
11:45 a.m. – 12:25 p.m. – Butler
12:30 – 1:10 p.m. – Purdue
1:15 – 1:55 p.m. – Arkansas
3:25 – 4:05 p.m. – Michigan State
4:10 – 4:50 p.m. – TCU
4:55 – 5:35 p.m. – Bucknell
5:40 – 6:20 p.m. – Arizona State or Syracuse