WEST REGION (FIRST ROUND)
Spokane, Washington — Friday, March 18 — 4:27 p.m. (TruTV)
No. 1 Oregon (28-6, 14-4 Pac-12): The Ducks are Pac-12 regular season and tournament champs. Although Oregon is only seven players deep, all seven contribute in many ways. Dillon Brooks (16.8 ppg) and Tyler Dorsey (13.8 ppg) score, Chris Boucher (3.1 bpg) and Casey Benson defend and Pac-12 tournament MVP Elgin Cook (14.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg) does it all.
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Holy Cross (14-19, 5-13 Patriot): A true Cinderella story, the Crusaders won their conference tournament to earn the automatic bid behind Malachi Alexander (12.0 ppg) and Robert Champion (11.5 ppg).
Southern (22-12, 11-7 SWAC): Adrian Rodgers (16.6 ppg) and Trelun Banks (12.6 ppg) are the only Jaguars to average double figures.
**Southern and Holy Cross will play in an elimination game on Wednesday, March 16 at 3:40 p.m. (TruTV) with the winner facing Oregon in the next round.
Spokane, Washington — Friday, March 18 — 6:57 p.m. (TruTV)
No. 8 St. Joseph’s (27-7, 13-5 A-10): The Hawks are led by high scoring forwards Isiah Miles (18.2 ppg) and DeAndre Bembry (16.8 ppg). Both players average 35 minutes per game so staying out of foul trouble is crucial to success.
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No. 9 Cincinnati (22-10, 12-6 American): The Bearcats thrive on defense with the 1oth best scoring defense in the nation, while four players average double figures in scoring.
Providence, Rhode Island — Thursday, March 17 — 11:45 a.m. (CBS)
No. 5 Baylor (22-11, 10-8 Big-12): Size and physicality is what makes the Bears so dangerous as Rico Gathers (6-foot-7, 275 pounds) and Johnathan Motley (6-foot-9, 230 pounds) anchor down the paint while Taurean Prince (15.5 ppg) does the damage scoring.
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No. 12 Yale (22-6, 13-1 Ivy): Makai Mason and Justin Sears both average 15.8 ppg and give the Bulldogs a terrific inside-outside combination.
Providence, Rhode Island — Thursday, March 17 — 9:15 a.m. (CBS)
No. 4 Duke (23-10, 11-7 ACC): Duke has no problem scoring as five players average double-figures, led by Grayson Allen (21.6 ppg) and Brandon Ingram (16.8 ppg). The problem is the Blue Devils can’t stop anybody (72.1 ppg given up).
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No. 13 UNC-Wilmington (25-7, 14-4 CAA): Chris Flemmings (16.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg) does a little bit of everything for the Seawolves while Denzel Ingram provides the defense.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma — Friday, March 18 — 6:50 p.m. (TBS)
No. 6 Texas (20-12, 11-7 Big-12): Eleven players averaging double-digit minutes for the Longhorns. Isaiah Taylor (14.8 ppg) and Cameron Ridley (11.8 ppg, 9.2 rpg) lead the offense.
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No. 11 Northern Iowa (22-12, 11-7 MVC): Four players average 10 points or more.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma — Friday, March 18 — 4:20 p.m. (TBS)
No. 3 Texas A&M (26-8, 13-5 SEC): Jalen Jones (15.6 ppg) and Danuel House (15.0 ppg) will try to prove that the Aggies are no fluke although they come from the SEC, perceived as a weak basketball conference.
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No. 14 Green Bay (23-12, 11-7 Horizon): The Phoenix are the nation’s 6th highest scoring team (84.2 ppg) but they can’t stop anybody on the defensive side of the ball (328th in scoring defense).
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma — Friday, March 18 — 10:30 a.m. (TNT)
No. 7 Oregon State (19-12, 9-9 Pac-12): Gary Payton II does everything for Oregon State with 15.9 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 5.1 apg and 2.5 spg (all-team highs). But, the success of the Beavers will rely on Tres Tinkle’s health (13.1 ppg).
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No. 10 VCU (24-10, 14-4 A-10): Melvin Johnson (17.8 ppg) and Korey Billbury (11.4 ppg) lead 10 Rams who average double-digit minutes.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma — Friday, March 18 — 1:00 p.m. (TNT)
No. 2 Oklahoma (25-7, 12-6 Big-12): Buddy Hield is the nation’s second leading scorer (25 ppg) while the Sooners are second in the nation in three-point percentage (42.6). If Oklahoma plays defense, it has the talent to win the whole tournament.
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No. 15 Cal-State Bakersfield (24-8, 11-3 WAC): The Roadrunners, with five players averaging double-digit points, got into the tournament after Dedrick Basile’s three-pointer at the buzzer won the conference tournament.