:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/5919570/141070945.jpg)
The Colorado St. Rams are back in the NCAA tournament since 2003, so it has been a long time. Colorado State made it to the tourney as an at-large team after going 20-11 overall and 8-6 in league play with a strength of schedule of No. 8 and an RPI of 27.
The Rams' first opponent will be the Murray St. Racers, and they will play on Thursday in Louisville, Ky. If the Rams win can upset the Ravers, they will face the winner of the No. 3 Marquette Golden Eagles and either No. 14 BYU Cougarsor Iona Gaels.
Murray State has been a sensational team this year by going 30-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference, and their only loss being against Tennessee State. Murray State has a few quality wins this year, they beat Southern Miss and St. Mary's College.
One edge Colorado State has is playing a better schedule which included wins over San Diego State, Colorado State and UNLV; plus playing Duke, Southern Miss and Stanford.
Here is the West region schedule for the first round:
No. 1 Michigan State vs. No. 16 Long Island, Friday March 16 in Columbus, Ohio (9:20 p.m. ET, TBS)
No. 8 Memphis vs. No. 9 Saint Louis, Friday March 16 in Columbus, Ohio (6:50 p.m. ET, TBS)
No. 5 New Mexico vs. No. 12 Long Beach State, Thursday March 15, Portland, Or. (4:10 p.m. ET, TBS)
No. 4 Louisville vs. No. 13 Davidson, Thursday March 15, Portland, Or. (1:40 p.m. ET, TBS)
No. 6 Murray State vs. No. 11 Colorado State, Thursday March 15, Louisville, Ky. (12:15 p.m. ET, CBS
No. 3 Marquette vs.No. 14 BYU OR Iona, Thursday March 15, Louisville, Ky. (2:45 p.m. ET, CBS)
No. 7 Florida vs. No. 10 Virginia, Friday March 16, Omaha, Ne. (2:10 p.m. ET, TNT)
No. 2 Missouri vs. No. 15 Norfolk State, Friday March 16, Omaha, Ne. (4:45 p.m. ET, TNT)
For NCAA Tournament coverage for Mountain West teams follow our coverage here on Mountain West Connection, and for a national view make sure to check out SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub. Print out your bracket here.