Iowa vs Richmond: 2022 NCAA Tournament game preview, TV schedule

The 2022 NCAA Tournament has an intriguing first-round matchup in the Midwest Regional as 5-seed Iowa will face off against 12-seed Richmond in Buffalo.

Game time: Thursday, March 17, 3:10 p.m. ET
TV schedule: truTV
Location: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY

There’s really nothing like the first Thursday in the NCAA Tournament. And this year should be no different, with plenty of action right out of the gate. One of the first games on the schedule — the mid-afternoon window, let’s say — will pit 5-seed Iowa against 12-seed Richmond. Here’s what to expect before things tip-off in Buffalo.

First, the Hawkeyes, who are coming off a Big Ten Championship win on Sunday. Iowa won four games in four days, the last coming in a 75-66 victory over Purdue to cut down the nets in Indianapolis. The hot stretch pushed Fran McCaffery’s squad to a 26-9 record on the season with a 12-8 mark in regular-season conference play. In addition to the win over Purdue, the Hawkeyes also boast wins over Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana (twice), and Ohio State. They might be a little underseeded as a five, too. Which is bad news for Richmond.

If you’re talking Iowa, you pretty much have to start with Keegan Murray. The first-team All-American is averaging 23.6 points per game this season while shooting it at 56 percent from the field and 41 percent from three.

A 6’8″ sophomore, Murray is also averaging 8.7 boards per contest, and he’s an absolute problem for any and every opponent. Senior guard Jordan Bohannon (11.1 points per game) and coach’s son Patrick McCaffery (10.3) round out the double-figure scorers for the Hawkeyes. But things start and end with Murray on offense.

As for the Spiders, they’re also coming off four wins in four days and a conference championship as they shocked the Atlantic 10 by winning it all as the six seed. Richmond was not in the at-large conversation, so this was a true bid theft. Hey, it’s all about getting hot at the right time. Chris Mooney and Co. finished off the year with a 23-12 record and a 10-8 mark in A-10 play.

As soon as someone mentions Richmond, they have to say “veteran group” in the same sentence. Those are the rules. The Spiders rely on juniors and seniors almost exclusively, with 6’7″ wing Tyler Burton leading the way. The junior is averaging 16.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game while shooting it at a 47 percent clip. Grizzled vet Grant Golden adds 14.1 points and 6.1 boards, while defensive phenom Jacob Gilyard adds 13.3 points to go along with his 3.1 steals per game.

Is that enough for Richmond to pull off the upset? They’re going to need one of their best games of the season to do it. Iowa has one of the best and most efficient offenses in the country (2nd in KenPom), and they’ll certainly have the best player on the floor. If the Spiders can force some turnovers — a tall task against Iowa — they’ll give themselves a chance. And who doesn’t like a day one upset?

Prediction: Iowa 80 – Richmond 67