Blade NCAA Tournament Coverage: 3/16

Michigan head coach John Beilein, right, complains to an official during the first half of Thursday's NCAA Tournament game against Montana in Wichita, Kan.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Michigan 61, Montana 47

Michigan head coach John Beilein, right, complains to an official during the first half of Thursday's NCAA Tournament game against Montana in Wichita, Kan.

Michigan wins long, ugly game to march to second round

WICHITA, Kan. — The Ides of March were no match for Michigan.

The Wolverines settled their debts, played suffocating defense, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Try as they might, No. 14 seed Montana could not pull off the day’s biggest stunner, falling to third-seeded Michigan 61-47 Thursday at Intrust Bank Arena.

Charles Matthews scored a game-high 20 points — and that’s about all UM had on offense. But the Grizzlies were limited to 32 percent shooting. FULL STORY

Up Next: 3 things to know about Houston

Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson coached his 900th career game in Thursday’s 67-65 win over San Diego State in the NCAA Tournament, and game No. 901 will be Saturday against Michigan in the next round. Here are three quick things to know about the Cougars. FULL STORY 

Former UT assistant Haynes cashing in on big break

WICHITA, Kan. — When Toledo coach Tod Kowalczyk is on the road recruiting, the talent he scouts doesn’t end with AAU basketball players.

Kowalczyk also has an eye pointed toward assistant coaches. Similar to athletic directors who always have a short list of possible head-coaching candidates, Kowalczyk keeps tabs on potential assistants.

DeAndre Haynes was one of those names. FULL STORY

NCAA Tournament has no borders

WICHITA, Kan. — The NCAA tournament extends beyond America’s borders.

As the workflow in the United States comes to a standstill on the first Thursday and Friday of March Madness, the event has an international following.

In Berlin, Germany, home of Michigan junior forward Moritz Wagner, the Wolverines’ game Thursday against Montana will tip off at approximately 2:50 a.m. The late night/early morning won’t deter locals from watching their countryman. FULL STORY

Life is arduous for college basketball's have-nots

WICHITA — Life in Division I for the have-nots is increasingly difficult.

The NCAA tournament selection committee shined a light on that fact Sunday when the likes of Middle Tennessee State and Saint Mary’s were left out of the tournament field and a handful of Power Five schools with losing conference records received at-large bids. FULL STORY

Ohio State 81, South Dakota State 73

Ohio State guard Kam Williams shoots as South Dakota State guard Skyler Flatten defends during an NCAA Tournament game Thursday in Boise, Idaho.

Buckeyes outlast Jackrabbits in opener

BOISE — Ohio State is not a 3-point shooting team. The Buckeyes don’t take a lot, don’t make a lot.

Back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three years, the Buckeyes went all-in on the 3, casting it up 40 times. The last couple they tried, both by Kam Williams, helped push Ohio State into the round of 32.

Williams made a tiebreaking four-point play with 1:36 left, then added a trio of free throws after being fouled on another 3 attempt, lifting Ohio State to an 81-73 victory over South Dakota State in the West Region on Thursday. FULL STORY

Up Next: 3 things to know about Gonzaga

Ohio State is through to the second round of the NCAA tournament, but the Buckeyes’ tough road to the second weekend now gets more difficult. The fifth-seeded Buckeyes beat No. 12 South Dakota 81-73 on Thursday in a first-round game in Boise to assure their place in the round of 32. Their prize? A date Saturday with 2017 national runner-up Gonzaga. FULL STORY