NC State earns 2-seed in NCAA Tournament, to host opening weekend at Reynolds Coliseum

For the fifth time in the last seven tournament years, NC State will host the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament inside Reynolds Coliseum.

The Wolfpack earned the 2-seed in Region 1 in the tournament bracket, which was unveiled Sunday night on ESPN. NC State, the ACC Tournament runner-up, will square off with 15-seed Vermont on Saturday.

Vermont, the America East champions that took down top-seeded Albany in the title game, went 21-12 with a 13-3 conference mark this season. The Catamounts went 1-1 against Power Conference teams, which included a 62-46 win over Missouri on Nov. 4.

The Catamounts present an interesting challenge in the opening game of the NCAA Tournament. Vermont, a stout defensive team, has held teams to just 52.2 points a game, while its offense has only scored 61.1 points this season.

In addition to the Catamounts, Michigan State and Harvard will visit Raleigh for the Round of 64 and Round of 32 this weekend.

The Spartans, who finished fifth in the Big Ten regular season standings, will arrive in Raleigh off a 74-61 loss to Iowa in the opening round of the conference tournament on March 6. Michigan State went 2-4 against Top 25 foes this season, including a 68-66 win over then-No. 21 Iowa on Dec. 15 at home.

Harvard, winners of the Ivy League Tournament, went 24-4 with an 11-3 mark in conference play. The Crimson went 3-0 against Power Conference teams, including a 72-68 overtime win over then-No. 25 Indiana on Nov. 7. NC State and Harvard have one common opponent, Boston College, who the Crimson beat 78-70 on Nov. 14.  

The Wolfpack is joined in the same region with the No. 1 overall team in the country, UCLA. Third-seeded LSU and fourth-seeded Baylor. Should NC State advance to the Sweet 16, the second weekend will be held in Spokane, Wash.