(Getty)
Casual east-coast basketball fans may not have heard much of Utah or Fresno State this season, but both could end up being dangerous tournament teams. Fresno State made a late run through the Mountain West to secure their place in the bracket, and they enter the tournament on a nine-game winning streak. while Utah went to the Pac-12 championship behind one of the nation’s best big men.
Read on for a complete breakdown of the game, including live stream options and a look at odds.
Date: Thursday, March 17
Time: 7:27 p.m. ET
Location: Pepsi Center, Denver Colorado
TV Channel: TruTV
Live Stream: Click here for a complete live stream breakdown
Line: Utah -9 via OddsShark
Game Preview: The last time Utah was a top seed, they were led by a foreign big man that was bound for the NBA. Andrew Bogut is long gone, but Austrian forward Jakob Poeltl has done a great job following in his footsteps. He’s the reigning Pac-12 Player of the Year, and the seven-footer is sure to be a lottery pick in the NBA Draft this summer.
Fresno State don’t have any lottery talent, but they do have the top scorer in school history. Marvelle Harris has averaged 20.6 points per game this season, and the Bulldogs take care of the ball as good as any team in the country.