At long last, the NCAA men’s basketball tournament returns to Albany.
Having lost out on early-round games when COVID-19 caused the cancellation of the 2020 tournament, Albany’s MVP Arena will host first- and second-round games this weekend. Games will be held Friday and Sunday, with two teams moving on from here to the round of 16.
In the Midwest Region, Indiana of the Big Ten will meet Kent State, with the Miami Hurricanes facing Drake. In the West Region, it’s No. 5 Saint Mary’s of the West Coast Conference meeting Virginia Commonwealth, and 4 seed Connecticut facing a familiar face to local and national college hoops fans in head coach Rick Pitino and the Iona Gaels.
Here’s a look at each team looking to advance from Albany:
Midwest Region
No. 4 seed Indiana
No secret to the NCAA tourney as a program, the Hoosiers navigated through a tough Big Ten schedule – where seemingly every team was dominant at home – to finish 22-11, 12-8 in the conference. Mike Woodson’s squad boasts a first-team AP All-American in senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, who averaged more than 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. Behind him, Indiana has Jalen Hood-Schifino averaging 13.5 points per game.
No. 13 seed Kent State
Coming off a Mid-American Conference tournament championship win over regular-season conference champion Toledo, the Golden Flashes (28-6) dominated at home this season, going 15-0. Kent State enters the tournament on a six-game win streak, led by guard Sincere Carry’s 17.6 points per game. Guard Malique Jacobs (13.0) and forward Miryne Thomas (10.7) also average in double figures.
No. 5 seed Miami
The Hurricanes (25-7) split the ACC regular-season crown with Virginia, then fell to a hot Duke team in the ACC tournament semifinals. Coach Jim Larranaga’s squad is one of the best shooting teams in the tournament, with a 48.58% field goal percentage. Four Hurricanes – guards Isaiah Wong, Jordan Miller and Nijel Pack, and forward Norchad Omier – are averaging double-figure scoring per game.
No. 12 seed Drake
The Bulldogs (27-7) boast a stingy defense, allowing only about 64 points per game. They’re coming off a Missouri Valley Conference tournament championship, and have won 14 of their last 15 games. Guard Tucker DeVries leads the way, averaging 19 points per game for Drake. They also have a familiar face to the Capital Region, with former Siena guard Roman Penn scoring an average of 12.6 PPG.
West Region
No. 4 seed UConn
The Huskies (13-7) are well-known to college basketball fans for their national championship runs under Jim Calhoun and Kevin Ollie, but these Huskies (25-8) surprised some with a run to the Big East tournament final last week. Prior to a championship-game loss to Marquette, UConn had won six games in a row. The Huskies have beaten a No. 1 seed in this year's tournament (Alabama) and a No. 2 seed (Marquette) in regular-season play. Dan Hurley's squad is led by forward Adama Sanogo (16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds per game) and guard Jordan Hawkins (16.1 PPG).
No. 13 seed Iona
The Capital Region, or at least the Siena fan base, is no stranger to Iona. Casual college basketball fans will recognize the man on the sidelines for the Gaels: longtime Kentucky and Louisville coach Rick Pitino. Iona is the fifth school Pitino has coached to the NCAA tournament, having previously won national championships with Kentucky and Louisville. Iona won the MAAC regular-season and tournament championships, led by three regulars – Walter Clayton Jr., Daniss Jenkins and Nelly Junior Joseph – who average double figures in scoring.
No. 5 seed Saint Mary's
Finishing as West Coast Conference regular-season co-champions with perennial WCC power Gonzaga, the Gaels (26-7) nonetheless earned their No. 5 seed behind regular-season wins over Gonzaga and San Diego State. Saint Mary's most recently fell in the WCC tournament final to Gonzaga, but still boasts strength on the floor behind guards Logan Johnson and Aidan Mahaney. The Gaels were also a 5 seed last year, and are no stranger to opponent VCU. The teams met in the 2017 tournament, with Saint Mary's prevailing in the first round.
No. 12 seed Virginia Commonwealth
Perhaps known best for its improbable 2011 run from the First Four to the Final Four under now-Marquette head coach Shaka Smart, VCU (27-7) won the Atlantic 10 regular-season and tournament championships, and enters the tournament on a nine-game win streak. The Rams are led by guard Adrian Baldwin Jr., who is averaging 12.7 points per game. Forward Jalen DeLoach is averaging 10 points and seven rebounds a game for VCU, and had a double-double in the A-10 tournament championship game win over Dayton.