The 2011 NCAA Tournament is here, and the UCLA Bruins have rejoined the bracket after a year away. UCLA earned a No. 7 seed in the Southeast Region, and will battle with the No. 10 seed Michigan St. Spartans on Thursday night. Here are the relevant details of that first round matchup:

Combatants: UCLA (22-10, 13-5, second in the Pac-10 Conference); Michigan St. (19-14, 9-9, fourth in the Big Ten Conference); UCLA is 5-2 all-time against the Spartans, and this is their first-ever meeting in the NCAA Tournament.

Date & Time: Thursday, March 17, 2011, 6:20 p.m. PST

Location: St. Pete Times Forum, in Tampa, Florida

TV: TBS; Ian Eagle, Jim Spanarkel, and David Aldridge are on the call

What's at Stake: the winner advances to the second round to play the winner of No. 2 Florida vs. No. 15 UCSB

Common Opponent: Michigan St. beat Washington 76-71 on November 24; UCLA lost both meetings with the Huskies this season.

For more UCLA Bruins hoops news and information, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Bruins Nation. For more information on Michigan St., be sure to read The Only Colors. For the full NCAA tournament bracket, click here.