NCAA Tournament in Spokane: Auburn, San Diego State, Saint Mary's among teams coming for March Madness

March Madness has arrived - and eight teams are coming to Spokane

The NCAA Tournament is back in Spokane.

The NCAA Selection Committee revealed the full 68-team men's college basketball bracket on Sunday, including the eight teams that will be playing at Spokane Arena. 

Part of the Spokane pod was placed in the East Region and will feature No. 5 San Diego State vs. No. 12 UAB. The other East Region Spokane matchup will be No. 4 Auburn vs. No. 13 Yale.

San Diego State and Yale both played in Spokane earlier this season in matchups against Gonzaga at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

The No. 1 seed in the East Region is defending national champion UConn. The team that emerges from Spokane will likely face UConn in the Sweet 16. 

The other part of the Spokane pod was placed in the West Region. It will feature No. 5 Saint Mary's vs. No. 12 Grand Canyon, and No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Charleston.

The No. 1 seed in the West Region is North Carolina. The team to emerge from Spokane's West Region pod will likely face the Tar Heels in the Sweet 16.

Here's the complete schedule for Friday at Spokane Arena:

EAST REGION

No. 5 San Diego State vs. No. 12 UAB, 10:45 a.m. PT

No. 4 Auburn vs. No. 13 Yale, 1:15 p.m. PT

WEST REGION

No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Charleston, 4:35 p.m. PT

No. 5 Saint Mary's vs. No. 12 Grand Canyon, 7:05 p.m. PT

Gonzaga was given a No. 5 seed by the Selection Committee and will play No. 12 McNeese in the first round in Salt Lake City. The Zags had an outside chance to play in Spokane, but likely needed to win the WCC Tournament to be given a "home" game.

Spokane last hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament in 2016. They were picked to host again in 2020, but the tournament was canceled because of COVID. 

NCAA Tournament Selection Sunday live updates: Tracking Gonzaga's seed, bracket placement