The 2017 Final Four is almost set to tip off, but when does the first game begin on Saturday evening?
College basketball fans have waited all year for this. The 2017 Final Four is here and set to get underway on Saturday evening. While the NCAA Tournament is coming to a close, the most exciting action has yet to take place with the four remaining teams.
If you thought that South Carolina, Gonzaga, Oregon and North Carolina would make up the Final Four field when the tourney started, you’re either mad or a genius. This is one of the most unpredictable fields in the tournament’s history.
In fact, this is the first time in school history that South Carolina has made it past the round of 32. Frank Martin has done a fantastic job with the Gamecocks and Sindarius Thornwell is becoming a household name. They will play Gonzaga on Saturday.
Moreover, the Bulldogs of Gonzaga have never made the Final Four. That’s a surprising statistic given that Mark Few has been one of the best coaches in college basketball over the past decade, or so. The Bulldogs were one of four No. 1 seeds when the tourney began, but not many believed they’d make it this far.
On the other side of the bracket, Oregon is heading to its first Final Four since 1939. That’s quite the drought, but Dana Altman has restored the program and the Ducks have made deep runs in the past two years. They’ll face North Carolina.
Lastly, the Tar Heels are the overwhelming favorite to win the whole thing as they will enter the final weekend as one of two remaining No. 1 seeds. Can Roy Williams bring another title home to Chapel Hill?
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So when do the festivities begin? The first game between South Carolina and Gonzaga will take place at 6:09 p.m. ET on Saturday. Next, North Carolina and Oregon will tip-off at 8:49 p.m. ET. Both games will air on CBS.