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Tourney Preview: Khalif Wyatt, Nova-UNC, McBuckets highlight the day

Khalif Wyatt

GAME OF THE DAY: 1:40 PM: (9) Temple vs (8) North Carolina State -- TBS

NC State wants to do nothing other than get out and run the floor. They don’t defend. They don’t even really execute in the half court. They want to run and they want to get their talent in a position to score. That’s a fun style of play to watch, especially when you have the number of really good basketball players that Mark Gottfried does.

But the Owls are pretty entertaining in their own right. Let’s move beyond, for a second, their versatile and dangerous trio of big men -- Jake O’Brien, Anthony Lee and Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson -- as well as the dangerous Scootie Randall. Temple has Khalif Wyatt, and if you’ve never seen him play, you won’t want to miss this. He won’t blow you away with speed or athleticism, but he’s a crafty veteran that hits really tough shots and plays his best when the lights are the brightest. I’m expecting a huge game out of Wyatt on Friday.

Three more games you cannot miss


  • 7:20 PM: (9) Villanova vs (8) North Carolina -- TNT: Does anyone really think they know what to expect here? Villanova has a ton of good wins and bad losses. North Carolina doesn’t really have either. The Heels spread the floor, the Wildcats pressure on the perimeter. Jay Wright and Roy Williams. This has “final possession” written all over it.
  • 9:20 PM: (10) Oklahoma vs (7) San Diego State -- TBS: SDSU has really good guards and a talented swingman in Jamaal Franklin. Oklahoma has some versatile big men that matchup with well with SDSU. And Lon Kruger used to coach UNLV, SDSU’s rival.
  • 9:45 PM: (10) Iowa State vs (7) Notre Dame -- CBS: If you like guard play, there are a lot of them in this game.

WHO’S GETTING UPSET: 3:10 PM: (13) La Salle vs (4) Kansas State -- tru TV

I don’t have this in my bracket, but after watching the Explorers handle Boise State on Wednesday night, I got to thinking: How is Kansas State going to matchup with La Salle’s guards? I still haven’t come up with an answer. I think Ramon Galloway goes off and John Giannini advances to the round of 32.

WHO’S NOT GETTING UPSET: 9:57 PM: (11) Minnesota vs (6) UCLA -- tru TV

I know the thinking. UCLA is without Jordan Adams, they are allergic to rebounding and all Minnesota can do offensively is rebound the ball. I see it, I promise. But I also know that Minnesota is 5-11 in their last 16 games. Are we really supposed to just assume that this team can simply turn it back on for the postseason?

BEST INDIVIDUAL MATCHUP: 7:15 PM: (15) Iona vs (2) Ohio State -- CBS

Momo Jones is a talented basketball player and a blessed scorer. The Arizona transfer is now a member of the Iona Gaels. He’ll be locking horns with Aaron Craft, arguably the best on-ball defender in the country. That should be fun, and I fully expect Jones to be locked down.

INTRIGUING MATCHUP: 2:45 PM: (10) Cincinnati vs (7) Creighton -- CBS

Creighton has a ton of scoring and arguably is the best three-point shooting team in the country, but they can’t defend all that well. Cincinnati is as tough and as physical on the defensive end as anyone in the country, but they cannot score. What wins out? And more importantly, if you took Cincinnati’s defense and Creighton’s offense, would that team win the national title?

FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE

12:15 PM: (15) Albany vs (2) Duke -- CBS
12:40 PM: (12) Ole Miss vs (5) Wisconsin -- tru TV
1:40 PM: (9) Temple vs (8) North Carolina State -- TBS
2:10 PM: (15) Pacific vs (2) Miami (FL) -- TNT
2:45 PM: (10) Cincinnati vs (7) Creighton -- CBS
3:10 PM: (13) La Salle vs (4) Kansas State -- tru TV
4:10 PM: (16) James Madison vs (1) Indiana -- TBS
4:40 PM: (10) Colorado vs (7) Illinois -- TNT
6:50 PM: (15) Florida Gulf Coast vs (2) Georgetown -- TBS
7:15 PM: (15) Iona vs (2) Ohio State -- CBS
7:20 PM: (9) Villanova vs (8) North Carolina -- TNT
7:27 PM: (14) Northwestern State vs (3) Florida -- tru TV
9:20 PM: (10) Oklahoma vs (7) San Diego State -- TBS
9:45 PM: (10) Iowa State vs (7) Notre Dame -- CBS
9:50 PM: (16) Western Kentucky vs (1) Kansas -- TNT
9:57 PM: (11) Minnesota vs (6) UCLA -- tru TV

You can find Rob on twitter @RobDauster.