NCAA TOURNAMENT

FRIDAY’S GAMES

CHARLOTTE No. 7 Texas A&M (20-12) vs. No. 10 Providence (21-13)

West Region Time, TV: 12:15 p.m. ET, CBS

Why Texas A&M will win: No denying size and talent on roster Billy Kennedy has assembled. Big man Robert Williams is projected lottery pick and co-SEC defensive player of year, and 6-9 D.J. Hogg is matchup problem as 38.5% shooter on threes.

Why Providence will win: Ed Cooley always gets his guys to play as hard or harder than opponent, though sometimes their offensive challenges (No. 105 in Ken Pomeroy efficiency ratings) get in way.

No. 2 North Carolina (25-10) vs. No. 15 Lipscomb (23-9)

West Region Time, TV: approx. 2:45 p.m. ET, CBS

Why UNC will win: Despite losing so many key players off their national title team, Tar Heels turned into high-powered offensive unit that rebounded better than anyone in ACC (+10.0 per game).

Why Lipscomb will win: Bisons have won 12 of last 13 and will try to overcome lack of size with precise ball movement and shooting. Guard Garrison Mathews scored 20 or more points 21 times.

No. 8 Creighton (21-11) vs. No. 9 Kansas State (22-11)

South Region Time, TV: 6:50 p.m. ET, TNT

Why Creighton will win: Bluejays’ best player, Marcus Foster (20.3 ppg), spent two seasons at Kansas State before transferring.

Why Kansas State will win: Bruce Weber has made four NCAA tournaments in six years but is yet to get out of first round, so he’s overdue. Wildcats don’t wow you in any area but shot 47.2% from field.

No. 1 Virginia (31-2) vs. No. 16 UMBC (24-10)

South Region Time, TV: approx. 9:20 p.m. ET, TNT

Why Virginia will win: It’s hard to find fault with team that passed every test this season, including ACC regular-season and tournament titles. With Cavaliers’ No. 1 defense, it’s hard to see them getting upset this early, even if they struggle to shoot. Sixth man De’Andre Hunter’s broken wrist, announced this week, is long-term concern.

Why UMBC will win: There’s little to suggest these Retrievers can become first No. 16 seed to knock off a No. 1, as their forays into playing high-major competition this season didn’t go well (lost to SMU, Arizona and Maryland by average of 19 points). — Dan Wolken

DETROIT No. 2 Purdue (28-6) vs. No. 15 Cal State-Fullerton (20-11)

Time, TV: 12:40 p.m. Friday, truTV

East Region

Why Purdue will win: Boilermakers are

12th in country in field goal percentage

(.497) and tied for 35th in points per game

(81.1). They lost in Big Ten Conference tournament final to Michigan on March 4.

Why Fullerton will win: A No. 15 seed has upset a No. 2 seed as recently as 2016 (Middle Tennessee vs. Michigan State). However, only eight No. 15s have advanced past opening round.

No. 7 Arkansas (20-9) vs. No. 10 Butler (20-13)

Time, TV: approx. 3:10 p.m. Friday, truTV

East Region

Why Arkansas will win: Razorbacks average 81.1 points, 38th in country, with Daniel Gafford, Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon each averaging 11.9 or more.

Why Butler will win: Bulldogs made tournament despite losing six of their final nine (No. 1 seeds Xavier and Villanova accounted for three of those losses). That should be motivation enough in a winnable first-round contest.

No. 3 Michigan State (29-4) vs. No. 14 Bucknell (25-9)

Midwest Region Time, TV: 7:10 p.m. Friday, CBS

Why MSU will win: Spartans failed to reach Sweet 16 in each of last two seasons. Add underwhelming appearance in Big Ten tournament, and they will want to prove they are better than what they have recently shown. Why Bucknell will win: Bison average 81.1 points per game. After losing their first four games to open season, they’ve won 18 of 19 games, including their last eight.

No. 6 TCU (21-11) vs. No. 11 Syracuse (21-13)

Midwest Region Time, TV: approx. 9:40 p.m. Friday, CBS

Why TCU will win: Horned Frogs average 83 points per game, tied for 19th in Division I, and are eighth best in field goal percentage (.499). They played fellow Big 12 NCAA tournament teams Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Kansas to close losses during regular season. This is their first tournament bid since 1998. Why Syracuse will win: Trust the Jim Boeheim pedigree. In 2016, the Orange became the first team in NCAA tournament history to reach the Final Four as a 10-seed. Keep an eye on freshman Oshae Brissett. — Brandon Folsom

NASHVILLE No. 2 Cincinnati (30-4) vs. No. 15 Georgia State (24-10)

Time, TV: 2 p.m. ET, TBS

South Region

Why Cincinnati will win: Cincinnati’s tough defense allows second-fewest points in nation (57.1 points per game), and its balanced scoring keeps opponents from shutting down go-to-scorer. Why Georgia State will win: Panthers haveformula for shocker. They have elite scorer in D’Marcus Simonds, a hot threepoint shooting team and a turnover-forcing defense.

No. 7 Nevada (27-7) vs. No. 10 Texas (19-14)

Time, TV: approx. 4:30 p.m. ET, TBS South Region

Why Nevada will win: Loss of point guard Lindsey Drew to injury a month ago might prevent a Sweet 16 run. But Navada’s lineup is talented enough to win here, led by Caleb Martin (19.1 ppg), Jordan Caroline (17.9 ppg), Cody Martin (13.6 ppg) and Kendall Stephens (13.2 ppg).

Why Texas will win: If projected NBA lottery pick Mo Bamba is fully recovered from late-season toe injury, Texas will have clear advantage in paint. Bamba is a doubledouble producer and, more important, a shot-blocking presence.

No. 1 Xavier (28-5) vs. No. 16 Texas Southern (16-19)

Time, TV: 7:20 p.m. ET, TBS

West Region

Why Xavier will win: Musketeers tout talent and experience, led by senior Trevon Bluiett (19.5 ppg). Xavier’s seniors are 3-0 in first-round games as No. 2, No. 6 and No. 11 seeds. Why Texas Southern will win: Tigers started season 0-13, but it put things together late. That type of turnaround requires plenty of swagger, regardless of opponent, and Texas Southern will need it.

No. 8 Missouri (20-12) vs. No. 9 Florida State (20-11)

Time, TV: approx. 9:50 p.m. ET, TBS

West Region

Why Missouri will win: Michael Porter Jr., a projected NBA lottery pick, returned from season-long back injury last week. If Porter can shake off rust and coach Cuonzo Martin’s grinding defense can take hold, Missouri should advance. Why Florida State will win: Seminoles play fast pace and score lot of points (81.7 ppg), so their best chance might be pushing Missouri to up-tempo. — Adam Sparks

SAN DIEGO No. 4 Wichita State (25-7) vs. No. 13 Marshall (24-10)

East Region

Time, TV: 1:30 p.m. ET, TNT

Why Wichita State will win: Shockers rank in national top 10 in rebounds per game If Marshall gets hot from three-point range, guard Landry Shamet might be perfect answer.

Why Marshall will win: Thundering Herd run and shoot like crazy, ranking seventh nationally in three-point attempts, led by junior guards averaging more than 20 points per game: Jon Elmore and C.J. Burks.

No. 5 West Virginia (24-10) vs. No. 12 Murray State (26-5)

East Region

Time, TV: 4 p.m. ET, TNT

Why West Virginia will win: Senior guard Jevon Carter has 97 steals, tied for most in nation. Big man Sagaba Konate ranks third nationally with 3.3 blocked shots per game. Why Murray State will win: Tulane transfer Jonathan Stark has paced red-hot Racers to 13 consecutive wins. Racers could catch Mountaineers off guard in neutral-site game.

No. 4 Auburn (25-7) vs. No. 13 Charleston (26-7)

Midwest Region Time, TV: 7:27 p.m. ET, truTV

Why Auburn will win: Behind guards Mustapha Heron and Bryce Brown, Tigers average 83.4 points per game and are stellar from foul line. Brown has been bothered by injuries, and Auburn is 2-4 since losing forward Anfernee McLemore because of an ankle injury. Why Charleston will win: Guards Grant Riller and Joe Chealey, along with forward Jarrell Brantley, each average at least 17 points on a team that ranks fourth nationally in fewest turnovers.

No. 5 Clemson (23-9) vs. No. 12 New Mexico State (28-5)

Midwest Region Time, TV: 9:57 p.m. ET, truTV

Why Clemson will win: Experience and balance. Guards Marcquise Reed, Gabe DeVoe and Shelton Mitchell average at least

12 points. Why New Mexico State will win: Graduate transfer Zach Lofton averages 19.8 points per game for his fifth college team. He leads cast of transfers and foreign-born players who comprise one of nation’s 10 best teams in rebounding and field goal percentage defense. — Brent Schrotenboer