Thursday’s games
No. 6 Murray State vs. No. 11 Colorado State
When » 12:15 p.m.
Where » KFC Yum! Center,
Louisville, Ky.
TV » CBS
Can an Ohio Valley Conference team really be underseeded at No. 6? The Racers (30-1) intend to prove just that after a dominant season that included wins over NCAA teams St. Mary’s and Memphis. Behind Isaiah Canaan (19.2 ppg), Murray State will come out shooting. But if they get sloppy, the Rams (20-11) will capitalize.
No. 8 Kansas State vs. No. 9 Southern Miss
When » Thursday, 12:40 p.m.
Where » Consol Energy Center,
Pittsburgh
TV » TruTV
Winning nonconference games against Mississippi, Arizona State, New Mexico State and Colorado State made Southern Miss (25-8) an RPI monster. How the modestly talented Bulldogs made it to the tournament for the first time in 21 years is a credit to metrics and the coaching of Larry Eustachy. Kansas State (21-10) is everything that the Southern Miss is not: long, athletic and able to pass the eye test.
No. 4 Louisville vs. No. 13 Davidson
When » 1:40 p.m.
Where » Rose Garden, Portland, Ore.
TV » TBS
Consecutive opening game losses give an extra dose of hunger to the Cardinals (26-9), who have both a Big East tournament title and surging point guard Peyton Siva (9.1 ppg, 5.5 apg) in tow. Southern Conference player of the year De’Mon Brooks (16.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg) leads five starters for the Wildcats (25-7) who score in double figures and can knock down 3-pointers at an alarming rate. Chances are, however, Louisville will make sure most of them are contested.
No. 4 Wisconsin vs. No. 13 Montana
When » Thursday, 2:10 p.m.
Where » University Arena,
Albuquerque, N.M.
TV » TNT
This is the 14th straight NCAA appearance for Wisconsin (24-9), which has been ousted by a school from outside of the power conferences the last five years. Oddly enough, the Badgers have won their last three games against BCS conference schools. Guard Jordan Taylor is the pulse of Wisconsin’s low-risk offense and defense. Big Sky champion Montana (25-6) also favors defense.
No. 3 Marquette vs. No. 14 BYU
When » 2:45 p.m.
Where » KFC Yum! Center,
Louisville, Ky.
TV » CBS
The Cougars (26-8) learned that size, patience and valuing the basketball can dramatically alter the course of a game in their comeback from 25 points down against Iona in Tuesday’s first round. The question is whether forward Noah Hartsock (16.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg) can handle himself inside against Big East player of the year Jae Crowder (17.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg) and the relentless Golden Eagles (25-7).
No. 1 Syracuse vs. No. 16 UNC Asheville
When » Thursday, 3:10 p.m.
Where » Consol Energy Center,
Pittsburgh
TV » TruTV
How will the loss of 7-foot academic casualty Fab Melo affect Syracuse (31-2)? We may not get the answer until the round of 32 as Big South champion UNC Asheville (24-9) will be at an extreme disadvantage. The Bulldogs don’t rotate a player taller than 6-5. Still, UNC Asheville was competitive in losses to N.C. State, North Carolina, Connecticut and Tennessee.
No. 5 New Mexico vs. No. 12 Long Beach State
When » 4:10 p.m.
Where » Rose Garden, Portland, Ore.
TV » TBS
The Mountain West darlings always seem to be San Diego State and UNLV, but the Lobos (27-6) have grabbed at least a share of the league’s regular-season title three of the past four years. Their stellar defense yields only 59.1 points per game (14th nationally) and keeps opponents to 38 percent shooting (fifth nationally). Those are tough obstacles for guard Casper Ware (17.4 ppg) and the 49ers (25-8).
No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 12 Harvard
When » Thursday, 4:40 p.m.
Where » University Arena,
Albuquerque, N.M.
TV » TNT
NCAA openers have been vexing for Vanderbilt (24-10). The Commodores have been upset in their last three appearances, twice as a No. 4 seed and last year as a No. 5. Schools from non-BCS conferences have done the deed each time. Harvard (26-4) is not your father’s Ivy League champ. In a span of seven days, the Crimson toppled Florida State, Central Florida and Vermont.
No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 16 Western Kentucky
When » 6:50 p.m.
Where » KFC Yum! Center,
Louisville, Ky.
TV » TBS
This one should get pretty good TV ratings in the Bluegrass State, but it’s not supposed to be competitive. The Hilltoppers (16-18) were hardly impressive (30 percent shooting, 28 turnovers) in dispatching Mississippi Valley State on Tuesday. The focus will be on Anthony Davis (14.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 4.6 bpg) as the Wildcats (32-2) try to find their stride following a surprising SEC tournament final defeat.
No. 5 Wichita State vs. No. 12 VCU
When » 7:15 p.m.
Where » Rose Garden, Portland, Ore.
TV » CBS
The veteran and well-coached Shockers (27-5) are motivated — they lost in a BracketBusters game to VCU last year — and have a strong case that they should have been seeded higher. But the same can be said for the Rams (28-6), who have won 17 of 18 to get into the tournament. Whether VCU’s relentless pressure can disrupt Wichita State senior guard Joe Ragland (13.4 ppg) will determine whether another No. 5 notoriously gets buried early.
No. 7 Gonzaga vs. No. 10 West Virginia
When » Thursday, 7:20 p.m.
Where » Consol Energy Center,
Pittsburgh
TV » TNT
Will geography work against Gonzaga (25-6) as West Virginia (19-13) plays 75 miles from home in a familiar arena? The Bulldogs will try to contain Kevin Jones (20.1 ppg, 11.1 rpg) and streaky Truck Bryant (17.2 ppg). Gonzaga shoots 47.3 percent and shouldn’t have trouble scoring. West Virginia is one of two BCS conference schools in the tournament that yields a higher percentage than it shoots.
No. 6 UNLV vs. No. 11 Colorado
When » Thursday, 7:27 p.m.
Where » University Arena,
Albuquerque, N.M.
TV » TruTV
Leave it to a recent export from the Big 12 to capture the title in the woeful Pac-12. Defensive-minded Colorado (23-11) was never in the NCAA discussion but knocked off three of the conference teams that were — California, Oregon and Arizona — last week. Slowing down athletic, explosive UNLV (26-8) will be a chore. The Rebels are due for a win after getting knocked out as a No. 8 seed the last two seasons.
No. 8 Iowa State vs. No. 9 Connecticut
When » 9:20 p.m.
Where » KFC Yum! Center,
Louisville, Ky.
TV » TBS
UConn freshman center Andre Drummond (6-foot-10, 270 pounds, 10.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg) is projected as a top-three pick in the NBA Draft. While he’s a work in progress, the Cyclones (22-10) run everything through senior center Royce White (6-8, 270 pounds, 13.1 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 5.1 apg), who does far more than block shots and rebound. Iowa State is balanced; the Huskies (20-13) can be explosive if they don’t self-destruct.
No. 4 Indiana vs. No. 13 New Mexico State
When » 9:45 p.m.
Where » Rose Garden, Portland, Ore.
TV » CBS
Contrasting styles will be on display. The Aggies (26-9) rely on the inside dominance of Wendell McKines (18.8 ppg, 10.8 rpg) but struggle from 3-point range (33 percent). The Hoosiers (25-8) have prodigious freshman center Cody Zeller (15.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg) but knock down far more shots from the arc, where they shoot 43 percent.
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 15 Loyola
When » Thursday, 9:50 p.m.
Where » Consol Energy Center,
Pittsburgh
TV » TNT
Metro Atlantic champion Loyola (24-8) is in fast company against Big Ten power Ohio State (27-7). But the Greyhounds were not overwhelmed at Kentucky in December, hanging close for half in an 87-63 loss. A MAAC team upsetting Ohio State is not unprecedented. It happened in 2009 when Siena won in the NCAA opening round 74-72.
No. 3 Baylor vs. No. 14 South Dakota St.
When » Thursday, 9:57 p.m.
Where » University Arena,
Albuquerque, N.M.
TV » TruTV
Few players mean as much to their team as Nate Wolters of South Dakota State (27-7). He leads the Jackrabbits in scoring (21.3 ppg), rebounding (5.2 pg), assists (6.0 pg) and steals (1.7 pg). Baylor (27-7) counters with Perry Jones III, who finally emerged in the Big 12 tournament after a disappointing regular season, averaging 21.7 points and 9.7 rebounds and hitting 24 of 42 shots (57 percent).
[email protected], kdunleavy@washington examiner.com
