Viejas Arena this week will host the opening two rounds of the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in the last 25 years, and for the fifth time a No. 1 seed will be making its way to the San Diego State campus.
Arizona and its fans won’t need directions.
Not only do many residents of the state spend a lot of time visiting San Diego, but the Wildcats will be playing NCAA games here for the third time.
Arizona also was here as a top seed four years ago, the last time the tournament was at Viejas, as well as in 2014.
The Wildcats won both their games in those two tournaments, and they will be heavily favored to do so again Friday and Sunday.
The tournament bracket was released Sunday afternoon and here are the four San Diego matchups (game times will be announced in the evening):
No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 Long Island
No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Utah State
No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 Cal Baptist
No. 5 St. John’s vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa.
The winners will meet Sunday, with 1/16 vs. 8/9 and 4/13 vs. 5/12.
(This story will be updated.)