## Kent State to Face Notre Dame in First Round of March Madness
### Golden Flashes Earn At-Large Bid
The Golden Flashes finished the regular season with a 24-9 record and a 12-6 mark in the Mid-American Conference, securing the third seed in the conference tournament. Kentucky State lost in the semifinals of the MAC Tournament to eventual champion Akron.
Kent State's inclusion in the NCAA Tournament marks their first appearance since 2017.
### Notre Dame's Strong Season
Notre Dame, the No. 6 seed in the tournament's East Region, enters the tournament with a 24-9 record and an 11-7 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Fighting Irish finished second in the ACC regular season standings and reached the semifinals of the ACC Tournament before losing to Duke.
Notre Dame has won its last four games and is led by guard Dane Goodwin, who averages 17.2 points per game.
### Matchup Preview
The matchup between Kent State and Notre Dame is expected to be a competitive one. The Golden Flashes have a balanced scoring attack, with four players averaging double figures. They are also a strong defensive team, allowing only 65.3 points per game.
Notre Dame, on the other hand, has a more experienced roster and is led by Goodwin, a senior who has averaged 15.8 points per game over his career. The Fighting Irish also have a strong defense, allowing only 64.5 points per game.
### Looking Ahead
The winner of the Kent State-Notre Dame matchup will advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, where they will likely face the No. 3 seed Houston Cougars.
Kent State is looking to make a deep run in the tournament after reaching the Sweet 16 in 2019. Notre Dame is hoping to reach the Elite Eight for the first time since 2016.