Friday Round of 64 NCAA Tournament Location Advantages

Friday Round of 64 NCAA Tournament Location Advantages

The NCAA Tournament field is set and while the seeds and matchups are worthy of most of the attention, the locations can have an impact as well. Most of the brackets printed don’t even list the venues but it is worth paying attention to when and where teams are playing this week. Here is a look at a few location advantages for Friday’s Round of 64 schedule. 

(5) San Diego State vs. (12) UAB – Spokane, WA

Six Mountain West teams made the NCAA Tournament and a San Diego State team that finished fifth in the conference standings earned by far the most attractive seeding. Last year’s Final Four run seemed to give the Aztecs a bump while head-to-head wins over both Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s perhaps influenced the committee to put San Diego State on the same line as the two WCC powers. San Diego isn’t remotely close to Spokane, but the Aztecs avoid having to travel east, though last year’s great tournament run started in Orlando. Birmingham is over 2,200 miles from Spokane for the one of the greatest travel distances that any team in the field will face. UAB will also make the trip on a short turnaround playing Friday after winning the AAC Tournament title on Sunday. An early start time slot does potentially favor the Blazers however. 

Indianapolis is a choice landing spot for Marquette, but their opponent has only about an hour drive to Indianapolis compared to the four-hour trek from Milwaukee. Marquette can’t complain about this draw while also getting to play Friday instead of Thursday to allow for one more day to hopefully get Tyler Kolek back to health. Western Kentucky should have some support in Indianapolis with the short trip and the early time slot on Friday and a venue filled with Purdue fans will likely adopt the Hilltoppers should they find a way to keep the game competitive into the second half. 

(1) Connecticut vs. (16) Stetson – Brooklyn, NY

Being the defending champions and the overall #1 seed affords Connecticut their preferred venue and Brooklyn is a great spot to be for the Huskies. Stetson also is making a long trip from Florida up the Atlantic coast compared to some of the other #16 options that would have been much closer to Brooklyn. Should the Huskies advance to the Sweet 16 they will be in Boston. Last year’s title run also started in the state of New York for the Huskies in Albany for their first two games. 

(6) Clemson vs. (11) New Mexico – Memphis, TN

Clemson is a healthy 500-mile trip to Memphis but other than Charlotte, this is a solid spot for Clemson to land, getting a #6 seed and an appealing location even with losses in three of the final four games of the season, all against non-tournament teams. New Mexico earned its way into the field with four wins in four days in Las Vegas and now must make a long trip east while also facing a relatively early start time on Friday. 

(13) Vermont vs. (4) Duke – Brooklyn, NY

Vermont has an appealing 350-mile drive south to Brooklyn compared to a nearly 500-mile trip northeast for Duke. The popular Blue Devils will certainly be well supported in Brooklyn for a prime time game but compared to #13 seed options Samford and Charleston, this is a much more appealing venue for Vermont than some of the alternatives, though the temptation to put #13 Yale with Duke in this pairing was resisted by the committee. 

(1) Purdue vs. (16) First Four Winner – Indianapolis, IN

Purdue’s infamous loss in the Round of 64 last season came in Columbus and the Boilermakers will be well-supported in a home state venue looking to make amends this season, playing just 70 miles away from campus. This is also the venue where Purdue had a successful non-conference win against Arizona in December for some positive memories and familiarity.  Either Grambling or Montana State will be far from home for Friday’s evening game as Purdue should avoid last season’s humiliation.