The Double Bonus

You stayed up for that Kansas State-Xavier game last night, right? That double-OT, game-of-the-tournament-so-far classic that featured big shots, multiple 30-foot 3-pointers, plenty of drama and a vintage Gus Johnson, as giddy as ever, on the mic? I thought so.

Topping what the Wildcats and Musketeers gave us Thursday will not be easy. But thankfully we got some drama last night because the quality of basketball we saw was not exactly what you would call premier, or above average for that matter. After all,  Kentucky-Cornell turned out to be pretty boring once the Wildcats began to run all over the Big Red. Safe to say that one did not materialize into what we all hoped it would. Sure, Syracuse lost to Butler in a somewhat surprising upset. But was it really all that surprising? And West Virginia-Washington was somewhat interesting for the first 25 minutes and then the Mountaineers pretty much blew away the Huskies in the second half, aside from the obligatory late second half run that made things kind of interesting for about a minute. Every game, it felt like, was a slop-filled disappointment, featuring at least 40 turnovers. It was definitely not NCAA tournament basketball at its finest. That is until we got into the late stages of the K-State-Xavier game.

So half of the Elite Eight is set. We’re waiting for the other half to settle. Friday features four more games that hopefully will pack more of a punch than Thursday – fingers crossed. And here’s what you need to know about the Midwest and South Regional semifinal matchups.

Midwest Regional

No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 2 Ohio State
Line: Ohio State -4.5, O/U 134
KenPom: Ohio State -5
Location: St. Louis
TV: CBS, 7:07 pm
Ohio State has the best player in the nation handling the ball and doing the bulk of its scoring. But Tennessee features the kind of style that the Buckeyes aren’t exactly used seeing. It all makes for an interesting matchup in the evening’s first Sweet 16 matchup. The Vols like to run and play pressure defense – two things the Buckeyes aren’t used to seeing in the slow and plodding Big Ten where 120 points is considered a barn-burner. But if there’s any Big Ten team built to play with a team like Tennessee it’s Ohio State with Evan Turner leading a lineup that basically features four guards who definitely don’t mind playing a faster paced game. It’s going to be up to Tennessee to try and wear down Turner by hounding him all over the court. Turner has teammates that can burn the opposition – namely Jon Diebler and David Lighty – but let’s face it; Turner is the key to Ohio State’s Final Four aspirations. And Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl hasn’t been shy about admitting that the Buckeyes represent the biggest mismatch for the Vols. So maybe the Tennessee style won’t be that much of an issue for the Buckeyes. Dallas Lauderdale will battle Wayne Chism down low and the Vols will hope someone – anyone – can keep Turner from getting his 20-plus points.

No. 9 Northern Iowa vs. No. 5 Michigan State
Line: Michigan State -1, O/U 122
KenPom: Northern Iowa -1
Location: St. Louis
TV: CBS, 9:37 pm
No Kalin Lucas for the Spartans as the Michigan State point guard was lost for the season with an Achilles injury. The oddsmakers felt that Lucas’ absence was worth about two points so by the time this game tips Friday night don’t be surprised if Northern Iowa is actually the favorite. In their own minds, the Panthers feel like they are and have officially shed the underdog/Cinderella label that everyone wants to attach to the No. 9 seed. Reality is the Panthers are a pretty good basketball team. They have to be after knocking off Kansas last weekend. They’ve got a nice inside-outside game and a defense that just frustrates the hell out of opponents. Their only weakness in this game might be on the glass where Michigan State should have the edge. The Spartans, with their size advantage, won’t mind playing a plodding game – UNI’s preferred pace – without its leader running the show. The Spartans will once again have to rely on the improved offensive play of Raymar Morgan. The forward only averages 11.6 points per game, but has stepped it up down the stretch. Korie Lucious – he of the buzzer beater against Maryland – will be filling in for Lucas at the point and his inclusion into the starting lineup highlights the fact that the Spartans are far from the healthiest team left in the tournament. Chris Allen and Delvon Roe are nursing nagging injuries and against a team like Northern Iowa you need all the help you can get. Seriously. You might still view UNI’s Sweet 16 run as a fluke, but Michigan State coach Tom Izzo doesn’t: “I’ve said in this tournament, since I’ve been in it, when you win your first game it can be lucky, but when you get to the Sweet 16, you’re probably pretty good.”

South Regional

No. 10 St. Mary’s vs. No. 3 Baylor
Line: Baylor -4.5, O/U 141.5
KenPom: Baylor -4
Location: Houston
TV: CBS, 7:27 pm
The personality of the NCAA tournament is without a doubt Omar Samhan. The St. Mary’s big man has been a fun quote for the media all the while putting up big numbers as the Gaels upset Richmond and Villanova. That’s because the Spiders and Wildcats had absolutely no answer for the 6-foot-11 center. But that won’t be the case tonight when Baylor big man Ekpe Udoh goes toe-to-toe with with Samhan. With Udoh guarding Samhan, and quite capably one would imagine, that should mean fewer double teams on Samhan. And fewer double teams means Baylor can adequately cover the perimeter and avoid the fates of Richmond and Villanova who helplessly watched the Gaels knock down their outside shots off Samhan’s passes from the interior. Mickey McConnell – the Gaels’ second leading scorer – has been deadly from 3 this season so it will be imperative that the Bears keep him from getting too many open looks. Also of note in this one is Baylor’s proximity to its campus in Waco. It’s only a 3 1/2 hour drive for the Baylor basketball faithful – if you can even call them that – and Reliant Stadium should be decidedly pro-Bears. Tweety Carter and LaceDarius Dunn have been all business in their preparation this week and seem hellbent on advancing Baylor to yet another round the program has never seen before.

No. 4 Purdue vs. No. 1 Duke
Line: Duke -8.5, O/U 127
KenPom: Duke -7
Location: Houston
TV: CBS, 9:57 pm
Purdue’s run is about to end here, right? I just don’t see how the Boilermakers can matchup with the Blue Devils. Especially down low. Duke will have the size advantage – Purdue has just one starter in JaJaun Johnson who is listed over 6-foot-4 – and certainly has more scorers to deal with than Purdue is used to seeing in the Big Ten. With the mighty-trio of Scheyer, Singler and Smith, Duke appears to be on the verge of its first Elite Eight since 2004, if you can believe that. The Boilermakers are going to need a game for the ages out of E’Twaun Moore if they’re going to seriously compete with Duke. The Blue Devils – who I’ve been adamant all season long won’t make the Final Four – have too much talent in this one and a better defense than I think most people are giving them credit for. They look like a team that is headed for Indianapolis. Now the tournament selection committee was nice enough to give them the easiest draw, but the Blue Devils so far have looked like the second best team in the dance. Kentucky’s still the front-runner in that category.

Has there been a more buzzed about Sweet 16 matchup in recent years than tonight’s Kentucky-Cornell game? I’m having a tough time thinking of one that’s garnered more. And it’s getting so much attention because, quite simply, there are storylines abound. Underdog, Cinderella, academics, campus anguish, tournament favorites, future pros. And not to be topped, one of the most polarizing coaches in the country will be at the center of it all.

But Kentucky-Cornell is just the fourth and final game on the schedule this evening as the NCAA Tournament shrinks from 16 to 12. So here’s what you need to know about the Wildcats-Big Red matchup. And the other three games, if you care.

West Regional

No. 5 Butler vs. No. 1 Syracuse
Line: Syracuse -6, O/U 138
KenPom: Syracuse -4
Location: Salt Lake City
TV: CBS, 7:05 pm
The big news – if you want to even call it that at this point – is that Arinze Onuaku, Syracuse’s big man, will not be unavailable for Thursday’s game and probably Saturday’s should the Orange get past the Bulldogs. Onuaku hasn’t practiced with the team since injuring his quad in the Big East tournament and if you don’t practice Jim Boeheim doesn’t play you. Syracuse didn’t really need Onuaku in its first two games as it breezed through its portion of the West Regional. But then again look who they played: No. 16 seed Vermont and a rather suspect No. 8 seed in Gonzaga. As expected, Andy Rautins and Wes Johnson carried Syracuse to the Sweet 16 and they’ll need to do the same to get the Orange to the doorstep of its first Final Four since 2003. Butler doesn’t have the horses to stick around with the Orange, especially since its star player, Gordon Hayward, just hasn’t been producing at his normal clip since he sat out the Bulldogs regular season finale against Valpo. Butler had a pretty easy time against UTEP in the first round but hung on against Murray State in the second round thanks to a gamble. But it’s going to take a lot more than one gamble for Butler to pull off this upset. More likely, it’s going to take a rather impressive shooting display. Butler basically shoots as many 3-pointers as any team left in the tournament. And we all know that one of the best ways to beat a 2-3 zone is to shoot over it.

No. 6 Xavier vs. No. 2 Kansas State
Line: Kansas State -4.5, O/U 153
KenPom: Kansas State -4
Location: Salt Lake City
TV: CBS, 9:35 pm
Only two teams have reached the Sweet 16 each of the past three years and Xavier, believe it or not, happens to be one of them. The Musketeers have quietly enjoyed remarkable success in the NCAA Tournament the last several seasons (Michigan State is the other team with three Sweet 16 appearances) and Xavier thinks another Elite Eight is well within reach. Jordan Crawford, who went for 55 points in Xavier’s first two tournament games, is the biggest reason why. One of the Musketeers top scorers, Crawford has been scintillating in the tournament but the chances of him going for another 27 or 28 aren’t very good. Crawford did not have the easiest of times getting his points when Xavier and Kansas State met back in December. The sophomore went for just 16 and Kansas State won convincingly with a brutal defense and its big bodies. The Wildcats were the victors in the rebounding battle and forced Xavier to shoot a putrid 29 percent from the field. Jacob Pullen is coming off a monster game against BYU where he poured in 34 points. Not only that, but defensively he did a pretty good job of holding Jimmer Fredette in check, one of the nation’s premier scorers this season. Can he repeat against Crawford? That’s the obvious matchup to focus on. And expect this one to be a physical game. In December’s matchup, 57 fouls were called sending the two squads to the line 73 times.

East Regional

No. 11 Washington vs. No. 2 West Virginia
Line: West Virginia -4, O/U 140.5
KenPom: West Virginia -4
Location: Syracuse
TV: CBS, 7:25 pm
Few expected Washington to make it this far, but the big question in this one is how much farther can West Virginia go now that it’ll be without the services of Darryl “Truck” Bryant, its starting point guard. Bryant averaged closer to 10 points a game for the Mountaineers before breaking his foot over the weekend or in practice and now it looks like WVU will turn to Joe Mazzula to take over. Backcourt play was already a question mark heading into the NCAA Tournament for the Mountaineers and whether Mazzula is capable of handling the added pressure of workload just might ultimately decided West Virginia’s fate. Mazzula can defend but he’s a liability on offense – he hasn’t made a 3-pointer all season long. Don’t be surprised if you see Da’Sean Butler or Devin Ebanks handling the ball for stretches. WVU coach Bob Huggins will do anything to keep his team from turning it over and prevent Washington from gaining any confidence. Not to say that Butler and Ebanks are superior ball handlers but desperate times call for desperate measures. The Mountaineers will have a decided height advantage underneath and have held their last five opponents to under 60 points, but the Huskies have a lot of momentum on their side, average just about 80 points per game and West Virginia has been prone to bad starts this season. It’ll be imperative, with a new starting point guard, for West Virginia not to fall behind early. Give Washington an inch and they may end of taking a mile if the Mountaineers aren’t careful.

No. 12 Cornell vs. No. 1 Kentucky
Line: Kentucky -8.5, O/U 147
KenPom: Kentucky -9
Location: Syracuse
TV: CBS, 9:55 pm
Since we saw it over at the Wall Street Journal first we’ll give them credit: It’s the “future MBAers vs. the future NBAers” in one of the most intriguing matchups in years in the NCAA Tournament. And it’s all going to happen in Cornell’s backyard. The Carrier Dome, roughly 60 miles away from the Cornell campus, will be full of Big Red faithful, hoping they have at least one more upset left in them. When it comes to talent and athleticism this one isn’t much of a contest. Everyone knows Kentucky has more than a few first-round NBA draft picks – in fact, they probably have this June’s top 2 picks on the roster – and that Cornell has a roster full of guys who aren’t even on athletic scholarship. But that doesn’t mean they can’t knock off the Wildcats. Cornell is a very savvy, veteran team that won’t get rattled no matter what happens. If Cornell keeps shooting the way they’ve been shooting so far in this tournament – 58.5 percent from the field in their first two games – then they have a legit shot at pulling off what some believe to be the unthinkable. But dealing with Kentucky’s explosiveness, especially John Wall and Eric Bledsoe in the backcourt, is going to be very, very tough. And considering how well Kentucky has looked so far in its first two tournament games, there’s no reason to expect anything less from the tournament favorites now that Kansas has been knocked out. As I’ve said before on many occasions, I’m still waiting for Kentucky’s youth and immaturity to show at a most inopportune time. A team like Cornell will take advantage of that. I’m not calling for an upset. But I would not be surprised if it happened.

If I’ve learned anything in the first three days of the 2010 NCAA Tournament it’s that I know nothing. I thought Wake Forest would give Kentucky a good game yesterday and the Demon Deacons lost by 30. I thought Kansas would run all over Northern Iowa and the Panthers provided us with one of the biggest upsets over the past few tournaments. And if the current trend continues, I’ll probably pick about two of today’s eight winners correctly. But that’s just par for the course in this year’s NCAA Tournament which is well on its way to earning the distinction of being the worst field in its illustrious history since the tournament expanded to 64 teams. So what upsets does Sunday hold? Here’s a late look at what you need to know about today’s games.

West Regional

No. 8 Gonzaga vs. No. 1 Syracuse
Line: Syracuse -6.5, O/U 148
KenPom: Syracuse -8
Location: Buffalo
TV: CBS, 12:20 pm
Gonzaga has the offensive chops to stick around with Syracuse and this one could easily be one of the highest scoring games of the first two rounds. But can the Bulldogs play enough defense to hold down the Orange? Well, Gonzaga held its own against Florida State in first round, shutting down the Seminoles offense. But Syracuse is a bit of a different beast. With that 2-3 zone serving as the catalyst for an excellent transition game, Syracuse has a lot more weapons at its disposal than Gonzaga. But the Bulldogs can certainly keep this one close, if not steal it at the end, if they’re hitting their shots from the outside over that zone.

No. 6 Xavier vs. No. 3 Pittsburgh
Line: Pittsburgh -1, O/U 136
KenPom: Xavier -1
Location: Milwaukee
TV: CBS, 4:50 pm
Can the Panthers keep the Musketeers’ top scoring trio from going off? That’s going to be the key in this one as Xavier looks to sneak past Pittsburgh for another Sweet 16 appearance. The Panthers are going to have to keep Jordan Craford, Jason Love and Terrell Holloway in relative check otherwise I don’t think Pitt will have enough offense to stick around with Xavier. Pitt, without any big time star on its roster, wants to grind this one out and make it as physical as possible.

Midwest Regional

No. 10 Georgia Tech vs. No. 2 Ohio State
Line: Ohio State -6.5, O/U 135
KenPom: Ohio State -5
Location: Milwaukee
TV: CBS, 2:20 pm
Well, with no Georgetown and no Kansas, the Midwest Regional, thought to be the toughest when the bracket was first released, now appears to be the Buckeyes’ to lose. And the toughest test for Evan Turner and company on their way to Indianapolis and the Final Four just might be the Yellow Jackets. Georgia Tech’s size up front could give Ohio State some problems, especially since the Buckeyes really only have one true big man and a very thin bench. All eyes will be on Turner who did not have a particularly good game in the first round against Santa Barbara. Some have compared the Big Ten Player of the Year to the Big 12 Player of the Year, James Anderson, who the Yellow Jackets did a pretty good job of holding down in their first round win over Oklahoma State.

No. 5 Michigan State vs. No. 4 Maryland
Line: Maryland -1, O/U 147
KenPom: Maryland -3
Location: Spokane
TV: CBS, 2:30 pm
Offense vs. defense in this one. Maryland wants to run and gun while Michigan State wants to play a much more conservative game. Be on the lookout for Kalin Lucas. The Michigan State point guard has a bum ankle once again and his effectiveness could be a big issue. If he can’t play up to his normal capabilities then Michigan State is going home. State’s going to need another big game out of Raymar Morgan. Shockingly, the Spartans are the only 2009 Final Four participant still alive. Then again, considering how bad this year’s field has turned out to be should we really be that shocked? Two of the four ’09 Final Four participants – defending champ North Carolina and Connecticut – didn’t even make the tournament this year.

East Regional

No. 12 Cornell vs. No. 4 Wisconsin
Line: Wisconsin -4.5, O/U 125.5
KenPom: Wisconsin -8
Location: Jacksonville
TV: CBS, 2:50 pm
Cornell can’t shoot as well as it did against Temple, right? Well, considering the Big Red were knocking down just about everything against the Owls – one of the best defensive teams coming into the tournament – why can’t they do that against Wisconsin – another excellent defensive team. Wisconsin needs to guard the perimeter like it’s a life and death matter because if Cornell is knocking down 3s all day long then we could see the Big Red moving onto the Sweet 16. I’m thinking this one is going to be a very close game. And in this year of upsets, I can very easily see Cornell advancing.

No. 10 Missouri vs. No. 2 West Virginia
Line: West Virginia -6, O/U 139
KenPom: West Virginia -2
Location: Buffalo
TV: CBS, 2:40 pm
Can Missouri turnover West Virginia? That’s the biggest question facing both teams in this one. The Tigers feature one of the best pressure defenses in the country that produced the most steals per game in the nation and the second highest turnover margin. The Mountaineers aren’t usually sloppy with it, but then again their backcourt play is a little suspect. The slower the pace of this game the better the chances of West Virginia moving onto the Sweet 16.

South Regional

No. 5 Texas A&M vs. No. 4 Purdue
Line: Texas A&M -2, O/U 127.5
KenPom: Purdue -1
Location: Spokane
TV: CBS, 5:00 pm
If Siena out-rebounded Purdue in the first round, what is that going to mean for its matchup against Texas A&M? Purdue will probably be out-muscled again in this one and if Donald Sloan has another big game for the Aggies then the Boilermakers season figures to come to a quick end. Purdue’s JaJaun Johnson is going to have a lot riding on his shoulders this afternoon.

No. 9 California vs. No. 1 Duke
Line: Duke -6.5, O/U 148
KenPom: Duke -7
Location: Jacksonville
TV: CBS, 5:15 pm
Some think Cal is capable of pulling off the upset and considering how well it played against Louisville – and how well fellow Pac-10 member Washington has played through the first two rounds – why can’t the Bears move on? Well, Duke will have a decided size advantage underneath and also the talent edge with its big three scorers – Nolan Smith, Kyle Singler and Jon Scheyer. But if Cal’s knocking down its shots from the outside then this one could get interesting. There’s nothing on Cal’s resume that says they should be able to pull off a big win like this against an “elite” opponent. But hey, last time these two met in the tournament Jason Kidd and Cal pulled off the upset against Bobby Hurley and Duke.

Sixty-four has been whittled down to 32. And after Saturday we’ll only have 24 remaining. Half of the Sweet 16 will be set by the time Saturday comes to a close so here’s what you really need to know for the day’s eight games.

South Regional

No. 10 St. Mary’s vs. No. 2 Villanova
Line: Villanova -4.5, O/U 153.5
KenPom: Villanova -3
Location: Providence
TV: CBS, 1:05 pm
Villanova should be on upset alert in this one, just two days after the Wildcats were nearly bounced from the tournament by No. 15 seed Robert Morris. St. Mary’s big man Omar Samhan is the biggest reason why Villanova should be scared because the Wildcats will be hard pressed to have someone who can go toe-to-toe with the center. Samhan had himself a huge game against Richmond, scoring 29 points in Round 1 as he seriously dominated down low. The under-sized Wildcats are going to need a bigger effort out of Scottie Reynolds, who made just two field goals in the OT win Thursday. Reynolds still finished with 20 points in that contest, but he and Corey Stokes will need be relentless in driving the lane in hopes of sending Samhan to the bench in foul trouble.

No. 11 Old Dominion vs. No. 3 Baylor
Line: Baylor -4, O/U 129.5
KenPom: Baylor -4
Location: New Orleans
TV: CBS, 5:45 pm
One of many Cinderellas still kicking and screaming, the Monarchs knocked off Notre Dame to get to the round of 32 and they did it with defense. Can they pull off another upset? Well, if Baylor plays as lethargic as it did against its first round opponent, Sam Houston State, then the Bears may be going home earlier than they’d like. Priority No. 1 for Baylor will be to establish Tweety Carter and LaceDarius Dunn after both failed to put up their usual numbers Thursday. Neither Old Dominion nor Baylor has never been to the third round of the NCAA Tournament.

West Regional

No. 13 Murray State vs. No. 5 Butler
Line: Butler -4.5, O/U 128
KenPom: Butler -5
Location: San Jose
TV: CBS, 3:20 pm
Another Cinderella, Murray State is in the second round after Danero Thomas dropped a buzzer-beating jumper on No. 4 seed Vanderbilt to advance to Ohio Valley champs. Now they get set to face a veteran Butler team who rather handily took care of UTEP Thursday. The Racers better be prepared to face a much stiffer challenge Saturday than they got from Vandy – at least defensively. Butler defends better than Vanderbilt and the Bulldogs should feel pretty comfortable playing in Round 2. Butler is on the verge of making its second Sweet 16 appearance in three years.

No. 7 BYU vs. No. 2 Kansas State
Line: Kansas State -4.5, O/U 154.5
KenPom: BYU -1
Location: Oklahoma City
TV: CBS, 8:05 pm
I think you can safely say this is the most intriguing matchup of the day. These two are Nos. 7 and 8, respectively, in Ken Pomeroy’s efficiency ratings and in a straight up offensive comparison, you’d probably have to give the edge to the Cougars. And if you think Kansas State has a bunch of better athletes, I wouldn’t be so quick to jump to that conclusion. BYU can hang with Kansas State and it’s going to be a lot of fun watching Jimmer Fredette butt heads with Jacob Pullen and Dennis Clemente in the backcourt. Kansas State feels that it can out-muscle BYU underneath. The Cougars say they’re ready for whatever the Wildcats bring. This should be a good one.

Midwest Regional

No. 13 Ohio vs. No. 6 Tennessee
Line: Tennessee -8.5, O/U 141
KenPom: Tennessee -7
Location: Providence
TV: CBS, 3:25 pm
Ohio can’t knock off another BCS opponent, can it? The Bobcats absolutely demolished Georgetown in the first round Thursday and the Vols, if they want to move onto the Sweet 16, are going to have to contend with the dynamic duo of Armon Bassett and D.J. Cooper. The Bobcats’ top guards combined for an astonishing 55 points against the big, bad Hoyas, knocking down 10 3-pointers between them. Bassett has been a monster since the regular season ended, tearing through the MAC tournament and continuing his scintillating play into the big dance. But Tennessee has the size and strength to hold him and rest of the smaller Bobcats down. Expect Tennessee big man Wayne Chism to have a big game.

No. 9 Northern Iowa vs. No. 1 Kansas
Line: Kansas -11.5, O/U 127
KenPom: Kansas -8
Location: Oklahoma City
TV: CBS, 5:40 pm
Northern Iowa is one of the best defensive teams in the country but they’re over-matched in this one. The Jayhawks have too much size and superior talent to be held down for long against the Panthers. UNI may only be allowing 54 points per game but the Jayhawks are averaging almost 26 more per and unless the Panthers play the games of their lives, Kansas will be moving onto the Sweet 16, rather easily.  The Jayhawks should be able to wear down the Panthers with their size and length on the wing. I’d be shocked if UNI is able to establish its preferred snail-like pace of play.

East Regional

No. 10 Washington vs. No. 3 New Mexico
Line: Washington -1.5, O/U 150.5
KenPom: Washington -3
Location: San Jose
TV: CBS, 5:50 pm
Interesting game out on the West Coast. Washington is playing with a lot of confidence and plenty of momentum after running the table in the Pac-10 tournament and its win over Marquette Thursday. New Mexico wants to make this a defensive struggle because the Lobos have won 41 straight when they’ve held their opponent to 60 points or less. Only three times all season long did the Huskies go for less than 60 and Washington will have the size advantage up front in this one. But New Mexico can neutralize that if they can knock down their 3s. They only shot 25 percent from deep in their narrow first round win against Montana.

No. 9 Wake Forest vs. No. 1 Kentucky
Line: Kentucky -9, O/U 142.5
KenPom: Kentucky -7
Location: New Orleans
TV: CBS, 8:05 pm
If you like up-and-down games, then this one should be for you. We could see two of the fastest players in college basketball going head-to-head in the Wildcats’ John Wall and the Demon Deacon’s Ishmael Smith. But just as importantly, watch the battle of the boards. Wake Forest destroyed Texas on the glass in its first round win over the Longhorns and if Kentucky doesn’t win the rebounding battle then it’s not that difficult to see them getting bounced. Wake Forest is one of the few teams with the size to matchup down low against the biggest team in the nation. The question is do they have the poise after such a roller coaster season? Then again, do the extremely young and untested Wildcats have the poise to gut out a close NCAA Tournament game? At some point, I guarantee, Kentucky’s maturity is going to be challenged. Would not be the least bit surprised if it happened Saturday night.

Yeah, so about yesterday…While it was eminently enjoyable watching so many upsets and great finishes on the first day of the NCAA Tournament, it was hell on our bracket. I don’t know about you, but choosing only 7 of 16 winners yesterday means we can pretty much crumple up the paper and chuck it in the garbage. But Friday is a new day and there are 16 more games. So here’s a look at what to expect from this afternoon’s and evening’s action. And in this tournament choc full of mediocre teams my best piece of advice for you is when in doubt, take the underdog.

East Regional

No. 15 Morgan State vs. No. 2 West Virginia
Line: West Virginia -17.5, O/U 137
KenPom: West Virginia -17
Location: Buffalo
TV: CBS, 12:15 pm
Can you say blowout?

No. 12 Cornell vs. No. 5 Temple
Line: Temple -3.5, O/U 119
KenPom: Temple -5
Location: Jacksonville
TV: CBS, 12:30 pm
Expectations have risen for the Ivy League champs and the feeling around the Big Red is that it’s no longer cool just making the tournament. They should be winning a game or two – or three if you subscribe to the predictions of Jay Bilas – this season with a veteran team. But going up against that Temple defense will be huge challenge for the Big Red. The Owls allowed the third fewest points per game in the nation this season as teams shot a woeful 37.9 percent from the field. But will Temple have an answer for Jeff Foote underneath? The Cornell big man is a skilled passer and a focal point of the offense. How he plays will go a long way toward deciding Cornell’s fate.

No. 10 Missouri vs. No. 7 Clemson
Line: Clemson -1.5, O/U 139
KenPom: Clemson -1
Location: Buffalo
TV: CBS, 2:35 pm
Two teams that would love nothing more than to run up and down the court on every possession. Both of these Tigers teams thrive in transition and expect this to be a high scoring affair. That being said, Clemson is a different team away from home and doesn’t exactly have a great track record when it comes to the tournament – if you buy into that kind of thing. Missouri will pressure Clemson with its defense but the biggest question facing Mizzou is whether those shooting woes that plagued them at the end of the season are a thing of the past.

No. 13 Wofford vs. No. 4 Wisconsin
Line: Wisconsin -10, O/U 115.5
KenPom: Wisconsin -10
Location: Jacksonville
TV: CBS, 2:50 pm
Could Wisconsin possibly have any trouble with Wofford? You’d definitely lean toward no considering the Badgers are just so fundamentally sound. They hit their free throws, they can knock down threes, they play great defense and love to slow down the pace to a near screeching halt. If they control the tempo then there’s a very good chance they’ll come away with a win. Wofford, which features only one player averaging double digits per game in Noah Dahlman, will need to continue its hot play. The Terries enter this one on a 13-game winning streak.

West Regional

No. 11 Minnesota vs. No. 6 Xavier
Line: Pick ‘Em, O/U 142
KenPom: Xavier -1
Location: Milwaukee
TV: CBS, 12:25 pm
Tough game many agonized over in their bracket. Stylistically, both of these teams are very similar. Good defensive squads but you’d probably give the offensive edge to the Musketeers. Xavier finished 10th nationally in scoring offense and the Musketeers feature three players averaging double digits. That being said, the Gopher do have Tubby Smith barking out orders on the bench and he knows a thing or two about winning NCAA Tournament games as a head coach. The same can’t be said for Chris Mack who is in his first season leading the Xavier program. Big edge goes to the Gophers in terms of bench depth. Xavier’s not going to get a whole lot from its reserves.

No. 14 Oakland vs. No. 3 Pittsburgh
Line: Pittsburgh -10.5, O/U 134.5
KenPom: Pittsburgh -12
Location: Milwaukee
TV: 2:45 pm
While Pittsburgh is not your typical NCAA Tournament No. 3 seed, the Panthers shouldn’t have a problem with Oakland. The Golden Grizzlies are 1-21 all-time against ranked teams and were blown in their non-conference schedule matchups with Wisconsin, Kansas, Michigan State and Syracuse.

No. 9 Florida State vs. No. 8 Gonzaga
Line: Florida State -1.5, O/U 132
KenPom: Florida State -4
Location: Buffalo
TV: 7:10 pm
Not your typical Gonzaga team that we’re used to seeing in that this year’s version doesn’t have the potential to go on a big tournament run. But at the same time, they’re not going to disappoint with another early exit. It’ s just one of those in-between years for Mark Few and company. What the Bulldogs are is an offensive minded team that’s hitting almost 50 percent of its shots from the field. Funny how Florida State happens to lead the nation in defensive field-goal percentage. So we’ve got another matchup of two contrasting styles. Gonzaga wants to score while Florida State will D you up. Matt Bouldin is the name most people know for the Bulldogs and he can light it up. As for the Seminoles, keep an eye on the backcourt duo of Michael Snaer and Derwin Kitchen. If they don’t turn the ball over – which they have an annoying tendency to do – then they can easily get past Gonzaga.

No. 16 Vermont vs. No. 1 Syracuse
Line: Syracuse -16.5, O/U 143
KenPom: Syracuse -17
Location: Buffalo
TV: CBS, 9:30 pm
Catamounts have one NCAA Tournament win. And it came against Syracuse in 2005. Don’t expect them to pick up No. 2.

South Regional

No. 13 Siena vs. No. 4 Purdue
Line: Purdue -4, O/U 129.5
KenPom: Purdue -6
Location: Spokane
TV: CBS, 2:30 pm
Siena is not the same team that beat Ohio State in last year’s tournament. There’s no way last year’s team would have had to overcome a second half double-digit deficit, in its home arena, to win the conference’s tournament championship as this year’s version of Siena had to against Fairfield. And while Purdue is not the same team it was a month ago with Robbie Hummel now sidelined, it’s still a better squad than Siena. They’ve got enough talent with that four guard lineup to take care of the Saints as long as the Boilermakers rebound. The only thing holding back Purdue in this one will be the Hummel injury. And I write that seemingly stupid statement not referencing the effects of his loss has on the team from a physical standpoint, but rather the mental toll it’s taken on the Boilermakers. From reading some of the players’ and coach Matt Painter’s quotes, it sounds like Purdue hasn’t come close to getting over his loss.

No. 12 Utah State vs. No. 5 Texas A&M
Line: Texas A&M -3, O/U 125
KenPom: Utah State -1
Location: Spokane
TV: CBS, 4:45 pm
Aggies vs. Aggies in this one and all eyes will be on Donald Sloan to see whether Utah State can contain the A&M scorer. Sloan can score in a number of ways, including driving to the basket and getting to the foul line. And if Utah State starts racking up the fouls, this one could get ugly. Utah State is not exactly the deepest team in the tournament. It’s going to be imperative that they keep their big men on the floor while at the same time keeping Sloan from going off. A&M’s on a bit of a mission here. Two wins and they get to play in front of all their fans in the South Regional semifinals which Houston just happens to be hosting.

No. 16 Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. No. 1 Duke
Line: Duke -23.5, O/U 126
KenPom: Duke -26
Location: Jacksonville
TV: CBS, 7:25 pm
If we’re lucky, we won’t see a minute of this game because it’s going to be a slaughtering.

Midwest Regional

No. 10 Georgia Tech vs. No. 7 Oklahoma State
Line: Oklahoma State -1.5, O/U 136
KenPom: Georgia Tech -2
Location: Milwaukee
TV: CBS, 7:15 pm
Raw talent and athleticism can take you a long way, but it’s never a substitute for experience. And that, in a nutshell, is Georgia Tech. They’re young but capable of beating just about anyone when they’re playing up to their potential. So in an effort to hopefully play up to that potential, the Yellow Jackets have decided to ban cell phones during their NCAA Tournament run. Good idea or a gimmick? A win over Oklahoma State would validate the players decision to shun their favorite devices. And in order to do that, slowing down Big 12 Player of the Year in James Anderson will be a top priority. He’s the best guard on the floor. But Georgia Tech has the advantage in the front court.

No. 12 New Mexico State vs. No. 5 Michigan State
Line: Michigan State – 13.5, O/U 149
KenPom: Michigan State -12
Location: Spokane
TV: CBS, 7:20 pm
Mr. March, aka Tom Izzo, leads his Spartans back to the tournament and while another run to the Final Four is probably a little ambitious, I wouldn’t expect any 5/12 upset here. (Then again, what do I know, after yesterday’s abysmal selections.) Izzo is 31-11 in the tournament and the Spartans should have plenty of motivation after New Mexico State’s leading scorer – Jahmar Young – inadvertently slighted Kalin Lucas in an interview. Answering a question about Lucas with “Who? What’s his name?” may turn out to be the dumbest thing Young – who is averaging 20-plus points per game – ever said.

No. 15 Santa Barbara vs. No. 2 Ohio State
Line: Ohio State – 17, O/U 132
KenPom: Ohio State -17
Location: Milwaukee
TV: CBS, 9:35 pm
Another game that should be a laugher, unless the Buckeyes pull a Villanova and decide to only really play in the second half.

No. 13 Houston vs. No. 4 Maryland
Line: Maryland -9.5, O/U 157.5
KenPom: Maryland -14
Location: Spokane
TV: CBS, 9:40 pm
Scorers special in this one. Houston finds itself in the NCAA Tournament thanks to a surprising run to the C-USA conference tournament championship. And Aubrey Coleman was a big reason for that as the nation’s leading scorer gets ready to face another superb offensive player in Maryland’s Greivis Vasquez. The big edge goes to Vasquez and the Terps thanks to their superior shooting touch and defensive abilities. That Maryland zone defense could give Coleman and company some problems – unless they can knock down some outside shots over the zone.

No. 9 Cal vs. No. 8 Louisville
Line: Cal -1, O/U 148.5
KenPom: Cal -3
Location: Jacksonville
TV: CBS, 9:45 pm
Big news in this one is the suspension of Cal forward Omondi Amoke for the always vague “violation of team rules.” That will take away some of the Bears size and athleticism up front possibly making it easier for Samardo Samuels to operate underneath for Louisville. If the Cardinals want to advance, feeding Samuels the ball early and often – something they’ve failed to do in the past – would be a smart idea. This Louisville team has been perplexing to say the least this season. They’ve got the talent to make a deep run in the tournament and the immaturity to mail in a loss after just 10 bad minutes of basketball. If Louisville is shooting well from beyond the arc then there’s no way the Bears advance.

It all begins Thursday. The NCAA Tournament tips-off shortly after noon with 16 games. So what should you expect from all the madness? Here’s a breakdown of all 16 games on the first day of the tournament.

West Region

No. 10 Florida vs. No. 7 BYU
Line: BYU -4.5, O/U 146.5
KenPom: BYU -7
Location: Oklahoma City
TV: CBS, 12:20 pm
Talent advantage goes to the Cougars in this one as some are picking them to start their run to the Sweet 16 and potentially beyond with a win over the Gators. And BYU has all the motivation in the world coming into this one considering the West Regional final will be held in Salt Lake City where Cougars fans would flock to see their team. Florida is going to have to really bear down on the perimeter where BYU is shooting 41.9 percent from beyond the arc, among the best in country. And considering the Gators have been burned by opponents shooting the three this season and that they’ll have a big height disadvantage on the perimeter, it could be a quick tournament appearance for Florida. BYU also happens to lead the nation in free throw percentage.

No. 13 Murray State vs. No. 4 Vanderbilt
Line: Vanderbilt -3, O/U 141.5
KenPom: Vanderbilt -3
Location: San Jose
TV: CBS, 2:30 pm
Yes, Vanderbilt finished just behind Kentucky in the SEC but don’t let that blind you. Any talk about not making the Sweet 16 being a disappointment for the Commodores ridiculous. They’re not that good. Vandy is a soft No. 4 seed and don’t be surprised if they make a very early exit. Vanderbilt comes in having lost two of its last three but possesses one of the most important March components: A senior point guard. In Jermaine Beal the Commodores trust and Vanderbilt’s relatively complex offensive system, that features for than it’s fair share of weak-side screening, is not the easiest thing to prepare for. But don’t sleep on the Racers. Sure they’ll have a size disadvantage up front, but Murray State features six different players who score double digits almost every game.

No. 15 North Texas vs. No. 2 Kansas State
Line: Kansas State -16, O/U 149
KenPom: Kansas State -20
Location: Oklahoma City
TV: CBS, 2:45 pm
Not expecting this one to be a game, unless Kansas State starts making careless mistakes, which they have a tendency to do from time to time. Fortunately for the Wildcats, they’re facing a team with an abysmal assist-to-turnover ratio.

No. 12 UTEP vs. No. 5 Butler
Line: Butler -2.5, O/U 130
KenPom: Butler -2
Location: San Jose
TV: CBS, 4:45 pm
We’ve got very interesting matchup in the always dangerous 5/12 game. Butler is a veteran team, having been to the NCAA Tournament four straight years and seven of the past 10, while UTEP had to sweat out Selection Sunday after an upset in the C-USA championship game. But UTEP snuck in as the last at-large team and few want to play the Miners. UTEP is a skilled offensive team featuring a duo of Randy Culpepper and Derrick Caracter that will give the Bulldogs’ defense fits. These two share a common opponent in UAB, a team UTEP beat twice while Butler lost to in its meeting with the Blazers back in December.

South Regional

No. 11 Old Dominion vs. No. 6 Notre Dame
Line: Notre Dame -2.5, O/U 121.5
KenPom: Old Dominion -1
Location: New Orleans
TV: CBS, 12:25 pm
The Fighting Irish are a dangerous team and come into this one hot, but it’s not going to be easy getting past the Monarchs. Old Dominion can rebound the ball so their lack of quality shooting is somewhat negated by their penchant for putbacks and easy baskets off misses. The Monarchs are battle tested and won’t be intimidated by the Irish having played four NCAA Tournament teams during the regular season, including Georgetown, who they beat on the road. The one thing that could kill the Monarchs: Free throw shooting. ODU shot less than 65 percent from the line this season. If it’s a close game, advantage Notre Dame.

No. 15 Robert Morris vs. No. 2 Villanova
Line: Villanova -18, O/U 147.5
KenPom: Villanova -19
Location: Providence
TV: CBS, 12:30 pm
The Wildcats should have no problems with Robert Morris. Villanova fans would like to see Scottie Reynolds really get going. The talented guard did not exactly light it up during Villanova’s final four games of the season (three of which were losses), never going for more than 17.

No. 14 Sam Houston State vs. No. 3 Baylor
Line: Baylor -10, O/U 150
KenPom: Baylor -14
Location: New Orleans
TV: CBS, 2:45 pm
Baylor has too much size and backcourt talent for the Bearkats to make this a game. Baylor will have to make sure they don’t overlook Sam Houston State with so many people tabbing the Bears as a fashionable Final Four contender.

No. 10 St. Mary’s vs. No. 7 Richmond
Line: Richmond -2, O/U 134.5
KenPom: St. Mary’s -1
Location: Providence
TV: CBS, 2:50 pm
The Spiders have great guard play with the duo of Kevin Anderson and David Gonzalvez. The two helped Richmond win a school record 26 games this season along with the program’s highest seeding ever in the NCAA Tournament. And they certainly earned it with wins over Temple, Old Dominion, Florida, Missouri and Xavier – all tournament teams. St. Mary’s comes in as the WCC Tournament champs, having beaten Gonzaga for the title. The Gaels feature a legit big man in Omar Samhan underneath. Samhan led the WCC in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. But after Samhan, it gets a little thin for the Gaels. St. Mary’s could have trouble chasing around Anderson and Gonzalvez, but if it’s close you have to like the Gaels chances because they hit their free throws.

Midwest Regional

No. 9 Northern Iowa vs. No. 8 UNLV
Line: UNLV -1, O/U 113.5
KenPom: UNI -1
Location: Oklahoma City
TV: CBS, 7:10 pm
Can you say defense? Because that’s what you’re going to get in this one. Northern Iowa wants to play it slow and deliberate. Think Wisconsin. They’ll run down the shot clock and rarely settle for a bad shot. And of course they do a great job on the defensive end, allowing the second fewest points per game in the nation this season. UNLV, on the other hand, wants to use its athleticism to its advantage and try and up the pace of the game as much as it can. And while the Rebels are a good offensive team, they’re probably better defensively. UNLV finished with one of the best turnover margins in the country while allowing opponents to shoot a measly 39.8 percent from the field.

No. 14 Ohio vs. No. 3 Georgetown
Line: Georgetown -13.5, O/U 137.5
KenPom: Georgetown – Georgetown -12
Location: Providence
TV: CBS, 7:25 pm
It looks like the Hoyas have their you-know-what-together after a big run in the Big East Tournament. As long as Greg Monroe keeps dominating underneath, the Hoyas are a legit Final Four contender.

No. 16 Lehigh vs. No. 1 Kansas
Line: Kansas -25.5, O/U 146
KenPom: Kansas -27
Location: Oklahoma City
TV: CBS, 9:30 pm
Only suspense in this one will be whether or not Lehigh covers the spread.

No. 11 San Diego State vs. No. 6 Tennessee
Line: Tennessee -3, O/U 126
KenPom: Tennessee -1
Location: Providence
TV: CBS, 9:45 pm
I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Vols get picked off here. Then again, I would be shocked to see them rip apart the Aztecs. You just never know what Tennessee team you’re going to get. San Diego State makes the tournament with coach Steve Fisher at the helm, the man who led Michigan to the title back in 1989. The Aztecs aren’t going to be some pushover. They crash the glass as well as anyone and if they can dictate the pace of this game then the Aztecs could very well earn their first ever NCAA Tournament win.

East Regional

No. 16 E. Tennessee State vs. No. 1 Kentucky
Line: Kentucky -19.5, O/U 136
KenPom: Kentucky -16
Location: New Orleans
TV: CBS, 7:15 pm
The Buccaneers should have a blast defending the Wildcats. And I mean that as sarcastically as possible.

No. 11 Washington vs. No. 6 Marquette
Line: Marquette -2, O/U 143
KenPom: Marquette -1
Location: San Jose
TV: CBS, 7:20 pm
Washington had a very disappointing season and pretty much only made the NCAA Tournament thanks to its upset of Cal in the Pac-10 Tournament championship game. But with the likes of Quincy Pondexter and Isaiah Thomas leading the way for the Huskies, they certainly have the talent to win a game for two in the tournament. Marquette, on the other hand, is led by Lazar Hayward, a similarly built and slightly more skilled version of Pondexter at 6-foot-6., Marquette has seemingly played in more close games than any team in the nation. And having done so in the Big East, that makes the Golden Eagles as battled tested as they come. This is a hard-nosed, tough and gritty Marquette team. I don’t see them losing to the Huskies.

No. 9 Wake Forest vs. No. 8 Texas
Line: Texas -5, O/U 146
KenPom: Texas -5
Location: Providence
TV: CBS, 9:35 pm
Two inconsistent, underachieving teams battling it out to face Duke in the second round. And two teams that have a lot of talent on their respective rosters. Texas was once the nation’s No. 1, but poor play and a slew of key injuries knocked the Longhorns down all the way to a No. 8 seed, something that seemed improbable back in January. But Texas still has Damion James and Dexter Pittman in the front court. That’s size and scoring ability the Demon Deacons will have a tough time trying to combat, especially if Pittman actually comes to play for a change. But Wake has its fair share of weapons in forward Al-Farouq Aminu and Ishamael Smith at guard. Aminu was the only big man in the ACC this year to average a double-double. Both teams played poorly down the stretch. Both teams make you scratch your head. As for the winner? Flip a coin.

No. 14 Montana vs. No. 3 New Mexico
Line: New Mexico -9, O/U 135
KenPom: New Mexico -8
Location: San Jose
TV: CBS, 9:40 pm
First chance for a lot of people to watch New Mexico. The Lobos feature an offense that is just as comfortable running as it is in the half court. Darington Hobson is the name to know. The MWC Player of the Year helped lead the Lobos to a school record 29 wins this season. It’s doubtful that Montana will have an answer for Hobson. And besides, the Grizzlies already had their big March moment last week when they overcame an astounding 20-point halftime deficit in the Big Sky tournament final against Weber State, which just so happened to be playing host that evening. Anthony Johnson went for 42 points that night, 34 in the second half, just to get the Grizzlies into the NCAA Tournament. Montana might need something similar from him if they want to advance.

The ignominious honor of playing in this year’s “opening round, don’t call it the ‘play-in’” game falls to Winthrop and Arkansas-Pine Bluff when the two teams meet in Dayton this evening to officially kick off the 2010 NCAA Tournament. The winner can claim they won an NCAA Tournament game this year and then quickly move on to the first round where they’ll meet the South Regional’s No. 1 seed, Duke.

Don’t know much about either Winthrop or Arkansas-Pine Bluff, but dying to see some tournament action before things really get started Thursday afternoon? Don’t worry. You and just about all of America are in the same boat. So here’s a quick little rundown of what you can expect from the two teams fighting for the right to get blown out Friday night by the Blue Devils – who could easily be 30-point favorites in that game.

Winthrop vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Line: Winthrop -3.5
KenPom: Winthrop -2
TV: ESPN, 7:30 pm
Offensively challenged with a defensive mentality? That’s not a bad way to describe Winthrop and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Eagles and Golden Lions, respectively,  are not going to wow you with their offensive skills as both are among the worst teams in Division I in offensive efficiency (points per 100 possessions). But what they lack in terms of scoring they make up on defense. Both teams can put pressure on an offense and force bad shots and mistakes. The two are among the top third in the country in scoring defense. The determining factor? How about Arkansas Pine-Bluff’s domination of the boards? Out-rebounding opponents by an average of 6.6 boards per game, the Golden Lions are one of the best in the country in rebounding margin. If you’re looking for an edge experience wise, Winthrop is making its ninth NCAA Tournament appearance in 11 seasons as winners of the Big South Conference tournament and enters the dance hot having won 14 of its last 18 games. On the other hand, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, the SWAC tournament champs, knows all about playing a tough game. The Golden Lions started the season 0-11 as they literally journeyed across the country for their portion of the non-conference schedule that featured five games against NCAA Tournament teams.

We like to link out to some of the better written pieces and interesting posts from around the Internet each morning during the regular season. And one day after the NCAA Tournament field was unveiled, there’s no shortage of coverage and opinions on the 65-team extravaganza that kicks off Tuesday. So here’s a few we recommend you check out.

A lot of parity and a whole lot less talent got us to this year’s field of 65, the weakest we’ve seen in recent memory. [NY Times]

Jeff Goodman, who has been all over the coaching carousel the past few weeks, gives us his 10 things to watch. [FoxSports.com]

Vegas Watch breaks down the first round lines and thinks there isn’t much of a difference between the Nos. 6-11 seeds. [Vegas Watch]

A nice rundown of tournament stats and facts. [ESPN.com]

Darren Rovell breaks down the bracket from a “financial standpoint” as only Rovell would/can. [CNBC.com]

The Dagger gives you four Cinderellas to consider when filling out your bracket. [Yahoo.com]

The Duke conspiracy theories are raging after the committee gave the Blue Devils arguably the easiest of the four regions. [NBCSports.com]

And Luke Winn wonders how the Blue Devils were handed such a seemingly easy path to the Final Four. [SI.com]

Pat Forde goes the extra mile with his Forde Minutes, NCAA Tournament edition. [ESPN.com]

Gary Parish likes Kentucky to win it all. I couldn’t disagree more. [CBSSports.com]

After 25 years, Arizona’s remarkable streak of reaching the NCAA Tournament came to a crashing end. [FoxSports.com]

A closer look at the teams that saw their bubble burst Sunday evening. Note to teams: Play a tougher non-conference schedule. [SI.com]

An always informative and interesting look at all 65 teams in the bracket, broken down by region: East, South, Midwest and West. [NY Daily News]

The soon-to-be national player of the year listens to Lady Gaga. Who knew? [SBNation]

The tournament committee stiffed the non-BCS schools, once again. [Basketball Prospectus]

A little ode to the other basketball blue bloods – North Carolina, Indiana, UCLA and UConn – not to make the tournament.[AP]

In terms of filling out your bracket, you’ve got a statistically better chance of winning the lottery than completing a perfect bracket. [USA Today]

And if you’re favorite team was left out of the big dance, check out the NIT. [NIT.org]