Providence Journal college basketball writers Kevin McNamara and Bill Koch take their best shot at breaking down this year's NCAA Tournament bracket as March Madness kicks into high gear this week.

Providence Journal college basketball writers Kevin McNamara and Bill Koch take their best shot at breaking down this year's NCAA Tournament bracket as March Madness kicks into high gear this week.

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Your NCAA bracket primer

Welcome to the latest edition of the Providence Journal's college basketball podcast. This is Bill Koch, sports writer for the Journal. I'm joined as always by Nick Coit, the sports director at ABC6 and weekend co-host of Cordischi and Coit on WEEI Providence.

Providence's men are set to host Villanova in what feels like an NCAA Tournament at-large elimination game (3:25). The Friars and Wildcats are both desperate for an additional quality win or two to burnish their credentials.

Brown will host four games this weekend -- two for the men, two for the women -- that could determine Ivy Madness berths (25:20). The Bears men would punch a ticket with two victories. Brown's women could take a major step forward even with a split. 

Bryant's women have clinched an America East home quarterfinal date after a Thursday win over UMass Lowell (50:50). The Bulldogs are surging to the finish and continue a strong 2023-24 debut under Lynne-Ann Kokoski.

The Bulldogs men have dropped three straight and missed a chance to earn one of the top to seeds in America East (61:30). Bryant will host its own quarterfinal next weekend before likely road trips in the next two rounds -- it's the hard way back to March Madness.

Thanks as always for listening. 

Welcome to the latest edition of the Providence Journal's college basketball podcast. This is Bill Koch, sports writer for the Journal. I'm joined as always by Nick Coit, the sports director at ABC6 and weekend co-host of Cordischi and Coit on WEEI Providence.
Providence's men are set to host Villanova in what feels like an NCAA Tournament at-large elimination game (3:25). The Friars and Wildcats are both desperate for an additional quality win or two to burnish their credentials.
Brown will host four games this weekend -- two for the men, two for the women -- that could determine Ivy Madness berths (25:20). The Bears men would punch a ticket with two victories. Brown's women could take a major step forward even with a split. 
Bryant's women have clinched an America East home quarterfinal date after a Thursday win over UMass Lowell (50:50). The Bulldogs are surging to the finish and continue a strong 2023-24 debut under Lynne-Ann Kokoski.
The Bulldogs men have dropped three straight and missed a chance to earn one of the top to seeds in America East (61:30). Bryant will host its own quarterfinal next weekend before likely road trips in the next two rounds -- it's the hard way back to March Madness.
Thanks as always for listening.

Podcast: March is here! Providence's at-large chances, Brown's Ivy Madness drama, Bryant set to play host

Welcome to the latest edition of the Providence Journal's college basketball podcast. This is Bill Koch, sports writer for the Journal. I'm joined as always by Nick Coit, the sports director at ABC6 and weekend co-host of Cordischi and Coit on WEEI Providence.

Providence dashed through the snow to host St. John's (3:30) and highlight Tuesday night. The Friars and Red Storm meet with real NCAA Tournament stakes in play.

Bryant has a home weekend with Maine and UMass Lowell upcoming (26:30). The Bulldogs are in the driver's seat for America East quarterfinals and semifinals at Chace Athletic Center -- possibly more.

URI's comeback bid at UMass fell short on Sunday (40:50). The Rams rallied but couldn't catch the Minutemen -- it's the type of game that might have been a blowout earlier in the season.

Brown stumbled at home against Columbia and has major work to do to reach Ivy Madness (54:30). The Bears are looking at four straight on the road and running out of time.

Brown's women are in the midst of a rough schedule stretch (63:30). The Bears are playing the Ivy League's iron and need to steal a couple games to stay on track for the league tournament.

URI's women suffered a home setback to Saint Louis and continued to slip away from the Atlantic 10 lead (71:30). The Rams could need the reset offered by the conference tournament at this point.

Providence's women have eclipsed last season's Big East win total and are in search of more (80:45). The Friars play their next two at home, including Butler on Valentine's Day.

Bryant's women could be on track to host an America East tournament quarterfinal (86:50). The Bulldogs enter the stretch run with an inside track on the fourth spot.

Thanks as always for listening.

Welcome to the latest edition of the Providence Journal's college basketball podcast. This is Bill Koch, sports writer for the Journal. I'm joined as always by Nick Coit, the sports director at ABC6 and weekend co-host of Cordischi and Coit on WEEI Providence.
Providence dashed through the snow to host St. John's (3:30) and highlight Tuesday night. The Friars and Red Storm meet with real NCAA Tournament stakes in play.
Bryant has a home weekend with Maine and UMass Lowell upcoming (26:30). The Bulldogs are in the driver's seat for America East quarterfinals and semifinals at Chace Athletic Center -- possibly more.
URI's comeback bid at UMass fell short on Sunday (40:50). The Rams rallied but couldn't catch the Minutemen -- it's the type of game that might have been a blowout earlier in the season.
Brown stumbled at home against Columbia and has major work to do to reach Ivy Madness (54:30). The Bears are looking at four straight on the road and running out of time.
Brown's women are in the midst of a rough schedule stretch (63:30). The Bears are playing the Ivy League's iron and need to steal a couple games to stay on track for the league tournament.
URI's women suffered a home setback to Saint Louis and continued to slip away from the Atlantic 10 lead (71:30). The Rams could need the reset offered by the conference tournament at this point.
Providence's women have eclipsed last season's Big East win total and are in search of more (80:45). The Friars play their next two at home, including Butler on Valentine's Day.
Bryant's women could be on track to host an America East tournament quarterfinal (86:50). The Bulldogs enter the stretch run with an inside track on the fourth spot.
Thanks as always for listening.

Podcast: Providence in the snow, Rick Pitino returns, NCAA chances and more

Welcome to the latest edition of the Providence Journal's college basketball podcast. This is Bill Koch, sports writer for the Journal. I'm joined as always by Nick Coit, the sports director at ABC6 and weekend co-host of Cordischi and Coit on WEEI Providence.

Providence pulled out a thriller over Georgetown in Ed Cooley's homecoming and fell at Connecticut (4:00). The Friars face a key weekend trip to Villanova as they reach the Big East midpoint.

Bryant fell to Vermont in a clash atop America East and bounced back against UMBC (35:00). The Bulldogs remain among the league contenders but have work to do at Maine this weekend.

URI snapped its four-game losing streak and surpassed its 2022-23 win total with a victory over La Salle (45:10). The Rams have a chance to be over .500 at the Atlantic 10 midpoint.

Brown's men and women face opposite realities this weekend. The Bears men (52:15) are desperate and the Bears women (58:30) can afford to be greedy while battling Penn and Princeton.

URI's women have won three straight and might finally be ready to sprint for the conference tournament (64:45). No league opponent would be comfortable facing the Rams at that event if they're firing on all cylinders.

Providence's women made some history this week with Grace Efosa (71:15). She's the program's first league Player of the Week since February 2019, and the Friars have exceeded their conference win total from 2022-23.

History repeating itself against UMBC wasn't good for the Bryant women (78:40). The Bulldogs lost on a last-second putback and missed a chance to pull even at .500 in America East play.

Thanks as always for listening.

Welcome to the latest edition of the Providence Journal's college basketball podcast. This is Bill Koch, sports writer for the Journal. I'm joined as always by Nick Coit, the sports director at ABC6 and weekend co-host of Cordischi and Coit on WEEI Providence.
Providence pulled out a thriller over Georgetown in Ed Cooley's homecoming and fell at Connecticut (4:00). The Friars face a key weekend trip to Villanova as they reach the Big East midpoint.
Bryant fell to Vermont in a clash atop America East and bounced back against UMBC (35:00). The Bulldogs remain among the league contenders but have work to do at Maine this weekend.
URI snapped its four-game losing streak and surpassed its 2022-23 win total with a victory over La Salle (45:10). The Rams have a chance to be over .500 at the Atlantic 10 midpoint.
Brown's men and women face opposite realities this weekend. The Bears men (52:15) are desperate and the Bears women (58:30) can afford to be greedy while battling Penn and Princeton.
URI's women have won three straight and might finally be ready to sprint for the conference tournament (64:45). No league opponent would be comfortable facing the Rams at that event if they're firing on all cylinders.
Providence's women made some history this week with Grace Efosa (71:15). She's the program's first league Player of the Week since February 2019, and the Friars have exceeded their conference win total from 2022-23.
History repeating itself against UMBC wasn't good for the Bryant women (78:40). The Bulldogs lost on a last-second putback and missed a chance to pull even at .500 in America East play.
Thanks as always for listening.

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