PITTSBURGH GAMES
No. 7 Rhode Island (25-7) vs. No. 10 Oklahoma (18-13)
Midwest Region Time, TV: 12:15 p.m. ET, CBS
Why Rhode Island will win: The experienced Rams get great guard play from seniors Jared Terrell (17.5 points per game) and E.C. Matthews (12.8 ppg.). And the Rams can get hot: They won 16 consecutive games this season. Why Oklahoma will win: Freshman guard Trae Young led the nation in scoring (27.4 ppg.) and assists (8.8). The bad news: They struggled mightily down the stretch and finished 18-13.
No. 2 Duke (26-7) vs. No. 15 Iona (20-13)
Midwest Region Time, TV: approx. 2:45 p.m. ET, CBS
Why Duke will win: Freshman Marvin Bagley III averages 21.1 points and 11.5 rebounds. Then there’s fellow frosh Wendell Carter Jr. with his 13.8 ppg and 9.3 rebounds. Senior guard Grayson Allen provides veteran presence among a sea of talented freshmen.
Why Iona will win: The Gaels have balanced scoring, with five players who score in double figures, and they shoot well from beyond the three-point arc, which is often the formula for upsets in the tournament. Their three-point percentage is 39.8, 31st in the nation.
No. 1 Villanova (30-4) vs. No. 16 Radford (23-12)
East Region Time, TV: 6:50 p.m. ET, TNT
Why Villanova will win: The Wildcats have the nation’s best offense, averaging 87.1 points, because of their ability to knock down threes. They average 11.3 of those per game, fourth in the nation. They shoot better than 50% from the field overall and nearly 40% from three. Why Radford will win: The Highlanders made the NCAA tournament by winning eight in a row, including three in the conference tournament and one in the First Four. And they play good defense, giving up 64.4 points per game.
No. 8 Virginia Tech (21-11) vs. No. 9 Alabama (19-15)
East Region Time, TV: approx. 9:20 p.m. ET, TNT
Why Virginia Tech will win: The Hokies make 50% of their shots from the field, eighthbest in the nation. They make 39% of their three-point shots. They have four starters who average in double figures. The Hokies can beat anyone on their best day. The evidence: They won at Virginia, the tournament’s top overall seed.
Why Alabama will win: Freshman guard Collin Sexton averages 19 points plus 3.6 assists. The Tide don’t rebound well so it depends on 6-9 junior forward Donta Hall, who averages 10.9 points and 6.8 rebounds, plus more than two blocks.