Hey Connecticut you want March Madness, you got it!
Beginning Thursday at 5 p.m. when Wesleyan and Trinity play a Division III national semifinal in Fort Wayne, Ind., right through to Saturday at 1 p.m. when the No. 2 seed UConn women face off in a first-rounder against No. 15 seed Arkansas State at Gampel Pavilion, there are no less than five opportunities to watch one of our state teams play a meaningful March basketball game.
And here’s the best part: Time it right and there’s no overlap, no conflicts, no muss, no fuss. Every game in the next three days involving a state team stands on its own. So, clip and save this. Here’s our guide on how to take it all in!
Thursday, 5 p.m.
Trinity vs. Wesleyan
Division III national semifinal in Fort Wayne, Indiana, ESPN+
OK, so we have to start out with the most challenging game to watch. These games are not on a national TV broadcast so you may have to step outside your comfort zone and get on to something called ESPN+. No worries, we got you. Here’s what you do — if you have a smart TV, you can check and see if the ESPN app is installed. If not, you can download it and sign up for $11.99 a month. You can also watch online. If that fails, you can always head over to the websites for either Trinity or Wesleyan, click on the schedule, scroll down to the game and click LIVE STATS. Hey, it’s not Ian Eagle and Bill Raftery, but it gets the job done. Trinity is back in the Final Four for the second consecutive season while Wesleyan is making its debut. Bottom line? Come Saturday at 5 p.m. a Connecticut basketball team will play for a national championship.
Thursday, 7:25 p.m.
No. 13 Yale men vs. No. 4 Texas A&M
Division I South Regional first round in Denver, TBS
Can Yale make history? The Bulldogs stunned No. 4 seed Auburn last year in the first round, and are looking to do the same against another SEC opponent in the Aggies this year. Yale has crashed the Big Dance in back-to-back years for the first time ever, and Texas A&M will be well aware of the damage they can do.
Friday, 2:30 p.m.
No. 12 Fairfield women vs. No. 5 Kansas State
Division I Spokane 4 Regional first round in Lexington, Ky., ESPN News
Fairfield has won a staggering 59 games over the last two seasons, and the Stags feel this is the year they can pull off a first-round upset. Fairfield went 19-1 in the MAAC, and beat Arkansas, Villanova and Wake Forest in the nonconference, so the Lady Stags won’t be afraid of K-State.
Friday, 9:25 p.m.
No. 8 UConn men vs. No. 9 Oklahoma
Division I West Regional first round in Raleigh, N.C., TNT
UConn’s two-time title defense starts in a tough place on the bracket. The 8-9 game in the NCAA Tournament is always a toss-up, and 9-seeds actually have an 81-75 advantage over 8-seeds since 1985. This promises to be an up-and-down, high-scoring affair, perfect for a 9:25 p.m. tip on Friday night. Grab a cold drink, some snacks, and claim your spot on the couch for this one.
Saturday, 1 p.m.
No. 2 UConn women vs. No. 15 Arkansas State
Division I Spokane 4 Regional first round in Storrs, ABC
This one shouldn’t be a game for long, though Arkansas State plays an up-tempo, high-pressure style that has frustrated some opponents. This game will be more about watching the brilliance of Paige Bueckers (in what will almost certainly be her final NCAA Tournament at UConn), Sarah Strong, Azzi Fudd and the rest of the title-hopeful Huskies.
Originally Published: March 19, 2025 at 2:50 PM EDT
