COLUMBIA

No. 8 Mississippi (20-12) vs. No. 9 Oklahoma (19-13) South Region

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

Why Mississippi will win: Although the Rebels coughed and wheezed toward the regular-season finish line, they have good enough guard play to advance. Junior Breein Tyree (18.2 points per game) is hard to stop once he gets into rhythm and is effective from the 3-point line (38.5 percent).

Why Oklahoma will win: The Sooners shifted to a more defensive-oriented style without Trae Young and held opponents to 68.2 points and 40.2 percent shooting, second best in the Big 12.

No. 1 Virginia (29-3) vs. No. 16 Gardner-Webb (23-11) South Region

Time, TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, truTV

Why Virginia will win: As unfathomable as it was for the Cavaliers to lose to a No. 16 last year, the odds of doing it again are astronomical. Virginia will be on high alert and, unlike 2018, will have sophomore swingman and potential NBA lottery pick De’Andre Hunter available.

Why Gardner-Webb will win: The program’s first NCAA appearance will likely be short, but perhaps senior David Efianayi (18.4 points, 41.4 percent 3-point) can be this year’s version of Jairus Lyles, the UMBC guard who had the game of his life in last year’s upset.

No. 1 Duke (29-5) vs. No. 16 North Dakota State (19-15) East Region

Time, TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS

Why Duke will win: After last weekend’s performance in the ACC tournament, Zion Williamson is ready to go. Coming off a knee injury that forced him to miss six games, the Blue Devils’ superstar freshman averaged 27 points on 77 percent field goal shooting and 10 rebounds in three games.

Why North Dakota State will win: Duke shoots just 30.2 percent from the 3-point line but averages 24 attempts per game. If NDSU can lull Duke into a 3-point shooting contest, the Bison, who shoot 36.6 percent from beyond the arc, have a chance.

No. 8 VCU (25-7) vs. No. 9 Central Florida (23-8) East Region

Time, TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, CBS

Why Virginia Commonwealth will win: The Rams got good news when tests showed that all-Atlantic 10 point guard Marcus Evans suffered no structural damage to his knee after an injury at the conference tournament. He could be the best player on the court if healthy for the Rams, who won 12 in a row to end the regular season.

Why UCF will win: The Knights are making their first NCAA appearance since 2005, and they’re doing it with 7-6 Senegalese senior Tacko Fall, who UCF claims is among the 40 tallest living human beings in the world. Fall isn’t one of the world’s most agile movers.