CORVALLIS — When Troy popped up the television screen as Oregon State's first NCAA Tournament opponent Monday afternoon, Beavers players and coaches immediately started searching for information on their smartphones.
What conference is that team in? What state is that team in?
More than three days have passed since that initial revelation, with the second-seeded Beavers' matchup with No. 15-seed Troy set for 2 p.m. Friday at Gill Coliseum. And it's an example of another quirk of the NCAA Tournament — rapidly preparing for an unknown opponent for a one-and-done contest that determines if a team's season continues or ends.