What and who to watch in NCAA Tournament.
EAST
Top seed: Villanova (30-4, RPI 2, SOS 19). Jay Wright’s squad aims to get back to the Final Four for the third time in 10 seasons — and maybe duplicate the 2016 national championship. The Wildcats lead the nation in scoring (87.1 points per game). National player of the year candidate Jalen Brunson directs an offense with a multitude of scorers; six average at least 10 points.
Best first-round matchup: No. 4 Wichita State vs. No. 13 Marshall. The Shockers aren’t the underdog and they’re not the top seed either. Marshall coach Dan D’Antoni — like his older brother Mike — likes his team to zip up and down the court.
Players to watch
Jalen Brunson, Villanova: The junior guard averages 19.4 points, 4.7 assists to 1.9 turnovers, shoots 53.1 percent from the field and hits 41.3 percent on three-pointers.
Collin Sexton, Alabama: The freshman guard made everyone forget about Oklahoma freshman Trae Young, at least momentarily, during the SEC tournament. Sexton, who averages 19 points, scored 79 in three tournament games and hit 58.8 percent of his three-pointers.
Carsen Edwards, Purdue: The sophomore, who scored 40 points against Illinois on Feb. 22, leads Purdue with 18.5 points per game and has eight games with at least 25 points.
MIDWEST
Top SOS coach seed: 3). Bill This Self Kansas might ’s least-touted (27-7, be one RPI of 5, teams. Udoka Azubuike, a 7-foot sophomore center, has blossomed this season (13.7 points and 7.1 rebounds). With No. 2 Duke and No. 3 Michigan State in the region, it’s not a clear path to San Antonio for the Jayhawks. Best first-round matchup:No. 5 Clemson vs. No. 12 New Mexico State. Love defense? This is the game for you. Clemson gives up only 65.8 points per game, while the Aggies hold opponents to 63.9.
Players to watch
Miles Bridges, Michigan State: On a team loaded with options, Bridges is averaging 16.9 points. The Spartans have had some sluggish stretches, and Bridges needs to help smooth them out.
Devonte’ Graham, Kansas: The senior guard and Big 12 Player of the Year is the Jayhawks’ catalyst, averaging 17.3 points and 7.3 assists and hitting 41.1 percent of his three-pointers.
Trae Young, Oklahoma: The freshman point guard led the nation in scoring (27.4 points per game) and assists (8.8). He scored at least 30 points in nine games and scored 40 or more four times, with a high of 48 against Oklahoma State.
SOUTH
Top seed: Virginia (31-2, RPI 1, SOS 13). Coach Tony Bennett’s Cavaliers once again boast the nation’s most intimidating defense, allowing only 53.4 points per game. The Cavaliers haven’t permitted an opponent to reach 70 points. On offense, sophomore guard Kyle Guy — who returned from a sprained MCL in the ACC tournament — leads a balanced scoring attack with 14.1 points per game.
Best first-round matchup: No. 8 Creighton vs. No. 9 Kansas State. This game pits Creighton senior guard Marcus Foster (20.3 points per game) against his former team. He transferred after two seasons with the Wildcats.
Players to watch
Deandre Ayton, Arizona: The 7-foot-1 freshman center and national player of the year candidate recorded 22 double-doubles this season, averaging 19.9 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks for the fourth-seeded Wildcats.
Gary Clark, Cincinnati: The senior forward ranked just 17th in the American Athletic Conference in scoring (12.8 points per game), but had 12 double-doubles, led the conference with 8.4 rebounds per game and shot 51.6 percent from the field for the secondseeded Bearcats.
Devon Hall, Virginia: The senior guard averages 12 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists. He scored 15 points to help take down North Carolina for the ACC tournament championship.
WEST
Top seed: Xavier (28-5, RPI 3, SOS 20). A No. 1 seed for the first time, Xavier ranks in the top 20 nationally in scoring (84.3 points per game) and shooting percentage (49.1). The Musketeers’ road might be the toughest among No. 1 seeds with last year’s finalists, No. 2 North Carolina and No. 4 Gonzaga, plus a red-hot Big Ten tournament champion in No. 3 Michigan.
Best first-round matchup:No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 12 South Dakota State. Junior forward Keita BatesDiop (19.4 points, 8.8 rebounds) was the Big Ten player of the year. South Dakota State’s Jim Daum averaged 23.8 points per game.
Players to watch
Trevon Bluiett, Xavier: He’s closing out his career as one of the best to play for the Musketeers, averaging 19.5 points and 5.7 rebounds and shooting 42.3 percent on three-pointers.
Luke Maye, North Carolina: The junior forward went from averaging 5.5 points as a reserve last season to 17.1 this season, tied for the team high with senior point guard Joel Berry.
Rob Gray, Houston: The senior guard has helped lead the Cougars to one of their best seasons in years with 18.6 points per game.