College Basketball’s signature event, the 2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship begins on St. Patrick’s Day with second and third round games in half the sites, and open practice sessions in the other half. The eight teams participating in second-round action in Chicago will hold 40-minute workouts that will be open to the general public. The Big Ten Conference will serve as the host of the NCAA Second and Third Rounds from March 17-20, with games scheduled for Friday, March 18, and Sunday, March 20.
Thursday’s open practice session begins at Noon CT with a 40-minute session for 15th seed Akron and continues throughout the day with the eighth and final session beginning at 6:40 with the winner of USC/VCU from Wednesday’s First Four contest. In addition, Florida State, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Purdue, Saint Peter’s and Texas A&M will each hold their own open practice times during the day on Thursday.
The United Center doors will open at 11 a.m. on Thursday for open practice day, and parking and admission are free of charge.
The second round of the 2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship will tip off at the United Center on Friday at 12:40 p.m. with second-seeded Notre Dame taking on No. 15 Akron. The game times for the two third-round games on Sunday are yet to be determined.
2011 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP OPEN PRACTICE DAY
MARCH 17, 2011 – NOON TO 7:20 PM – UNITED CENTER, CHICAGO
FREE ADMISSION – FREE PARKING – CONCESSIONS OPEN
TIME TEAM
Noon-12:40 p.m. No. 15 seed Akron
12:45-1:25 p.m. No. 10 seed Florida State
1:30-2:10 p.m. No. 2 seed Notre Dame
2:15-2:55 p.m. No. 7 seed Texas A&M
4:25-5:05 p.m. No. 3 seed Purdue
5:10-5:50 p.m. No. 6 seed Georgetown
5:55-6:35 p.m. No. 14 seed Saint Peter’s
6:40-7:20 p.m. No. 11 seed USC/VCU