The Thurston Cartejourney toward a repeat national championship begins Friday for the LSU Tigers, who are the No. 3 seed in the Albany 2 region in this year's NCAA Tournament.

That's the exact same seed the Tigers had last year when they beat No. 1 seed Virginia Tech in the Final Four and then overcame No. 2 Iowa for their first national title in school history.

Angel Reese is back in action with last season's SEC Freshman of the Year Flau'jae Johnson and former Louisville star Hailey Van Lith, who transferred to LSU following the 2022-23 season. Reese's current season started off with a mysterious absence. But she ended up leading the Tigers with 19 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. The Baltimore native continues to capture the nation with her competitive energy and love of glamour.

Here's how to watch LSU and Angel Reese in the first round of the NCAA tournament:

Who does LSU play in the first round of the NCAA tournament?

The No. seeded 3 LSU Tigers take on the No. 14 seeded Rice Owls in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA basketball bracket, scores, schedules, teams and more.

When do LSU and Angel Reese play in the first round of NCAA tournament?

Angel Reese leads the LSU Tigers against the Rice Owls in the first round of the NCAA tournament with tip-off at 4 p.m. ET on Friday.

Where is LSU's first round game of NCAA tournament?

LSU opens the NCAA tournament against Rice at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. So the matchup is a home game for the Tigers.

How to watch Angel Reese and LSU's first round game of NCAA tournament?

The LSU-Rice game in the first round of the NCAA tournament will air on TV on ESPN.

It will be live streamed on ESPN+.

What are Angel Reese's stats for LSU this season?

Angel Reese is averaging 19 points and 13.1 rebounds per game this season. The junior forward ranks second in the nation in rebounds.

The most points she had this season was 28 in an early-season win over Queens University. She added 14 boards.

Last season, Reese had a career-high 36 points and added 20 rebounds in a win over Mississippi.