March Madness 2012 TV Schedule: Updated Live Stream Info for Round of 16 Action

Thursday night is when Rick Pitino's Louisville squad finally gets a chance to avenge a 2009 loss to Michigan State in the Elite Eight. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the two games will have little in common except for the outcome. 

The Spartans, champions of the Big Ten tournament and the top seed in the West, have knocked off Long Island and Saint Louis en route to this Sweet 16 matchup and will utilize the nation's third-ranked efficiency defense to take down the Cardinals, which ranked 13th in the Big East in points per possession this year.

Pitino has managed to put forth a great season despite depth and injury issues. The Cardinals won the Big East tournament, taking down Seton Hall, Marquette, Notre Dame and Cincinnati to do so and holding three of the four to 55 points or fewer. Their defense has been a point of pride this year, but against the Spartans' offense, it will face an enormous challenge.

Louisville has scored fewer than 70 points in nine of their last 10 games, and only twice this season has Michigan State lost when its opponent hit the 70-point mark: against Ohio State on March 4 (72-70) and against Northwestern on January 14 (81-74).

This year's Cardinals team relies on turnovers to create offense, while the Spartans rely on Draymond Green, whom Saint Louis coach Rick Majerus recently called the best player in college basketball. Green averages 16.1 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.

"I'm not sure what his position is," Pitino told the Detroit Free Press' Michael Rosenberg of Green. "He's about the most complete player in college basketball, in all phases of the game."

Back in 2009, it was the Spartans who ended Louisville's road to the Final Four in the Elite Eight. This year, they'll do it one round earlier in the Sweet 16.

All games will stream live on CBSSports.com, and you can stay updated with live blogs right here on Bleacher Report. Check out the B/R homepage throughout the day for links and updates.

 

7:15 p.m., CBS
No. 4 Wisconsin vs. No. 1 Syracuse
 

7:47 p.m., TBS
No. 4 Louisville vs. No. 1 Michigan State
 

9:45 p.m., CBS
No. 6 Cincinnati vs. No. 2 Ohio State
 

10:17 p.m., TBS
No. 7 Florida vs. No. 3 Marquette