Pick: The Nittany Lions shoot lots of threes and make just enough of them most nights. The Owls’ magical run will end, though, against a fast-paced Xavier team. Pick: Kennesaw State went 1-28 during the 2019-20 season and now has a shot to be a Cinderella. The Cyclones have an extra level of toughness. Pick: Two of the top defensive squads in the country will make this one borderline unwatchable at times. Pick: In one of the last games of the first round, the Golden Flashes will pull one of the biggest upsets of the weekend. Pick: With one more game under their belts to figure out how to play without Jaylen Clark, the Bruins will hit their stride in this one. They can play with a freer mind this year, and Drew Timme will lead them to the Sweet 16. Pick: The Zags have had such a massive target on their backs in recent years, which has made it tough on them in March. Pick: In a battle of two KenPom darlings - both teams have offense and defense in the nation’s top 40 - Connecticut will simply have too much firepower. Expect a similar track meet here, but a different winner. Pick: We can only hope this one is as good as when these schools met in the Liberty Bowl, a 55-53 Arkansas win. The luck will run out against the experienced Bruins. Pick: KenPom’s efficiency metrics view UNC-Asheville as the luckiest team in the country this year. Pick: The Wildcats and Broncos are similar teams, defined by their defensive guile. 1 offense in the country according to Ken Pomeroy’s efficiency ratings. 1 seed this year, but they still have the No. The Horned Frogs won’t back down from Arizona State. Pick: TCU nearly knocked off Arizona in the second round last season and returns all the key pieces from that team.

Iona is certainly capable beyond the Pitino pedigree, but Dan Hurley’s Huskies just have too much quality depth. Pick: Rick Pitino against a Hurley brother in March? That’s delicious.

Pick: Former UCLA coach Steve Alford is coaching Nevada against Arizona State’s Bobby Hurley in a matchup of former NCAA tournament stars. Texas Southern 59, Fairleigh Dickinson 55 Texas Southern is one of the most consistent low-major programs around. Pick: Fairleigh Dickinson only made this tournament because Merrimack isn’t allowed in because it’s transitioning to Division I. The metrics like Mississippi State more as a whole. Pick: The Panthers play great offense, while the Bulldogs play great defense. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 64, Southeast Missouri State 57 But Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was in this exact game last year. Pick: Southeast Missouri State has a great story, making its first appearance since 2000.

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