NCAA TOURNAMENT PREVIEW Bracket chatter Who’s destined to be the next Cinderella? Who’s destined to make an early exit? What’s potentially the best game of the tournament? Before sitting down in front of your three TVs for the weekend, here’s a region-by-region guide to the bracket. — Dirk Chatelain

SOUTH THURSDAY Iowa State vs. UAB 11:40 a.m. (truTV) SMU vs. UCLA 2:10 p.m. (truTV) Utah vs. Stephen F. Austin 6:27 p.m. (truTV) Georgetown vs. Eastern Washington 8:57 p.m. (truTV) FIVE STARS RED HOT FEELIN’ THE BLUES CINDERELLA WATCH BEWARE OF ... REMEMBER ME? SET YOUR DVR FRIDAY Iowa State has won St. John’s lost the In 2008, Davidson Georgetown’s recent Larry Brown hasn’t A Duke-Gonzaga Duke vs. Duke five in a row, including regular-season finale made the Elite flops. Since taking coached an NCAA regional final would Robert Morris two unbelievable to Villanova 105-68. Eight as a 10 seed, the Hoyas to the Final tournament game be the most enticing 6:10 p.m. (CBS) comebacks against Then it got whipped upsetting Gonzaga Four in 2007, John since Kansas upset regional final in years. Gonzaga San Diego State Oklahoma (in Ames) by Providence (on its the first weekend. The Thompson III is 2-5 in Oklahoma in the They’re third and first, vs. St. John’s and Kansas (in home court) in the Wildcats don’t have the NCAA tournament, 1988 national respectively, in field- Iowa State Kansas City). Barring Big East tournament. Steph Curry, but Tyler including losses to a championship game. goal percentage. The 8:40 p.m. (CBS) another Georges Now Chris Obekpa is Kalinoski is pretty 10 seed, a 14 seed, But it is Brown’s other Zags have never made Iowa vs. Davidson Niang injury, the suspended. This won’t good. an 11 seed, an 11 former school — a Final Four. Coach K 6:20 p.m. (TNT) Utah ’Clones should make end well for Steve seed and a 15 seed. UCLA — he’ll see in has made 11. Tyler Harvey a run. Lavin. Ouch. the opener. Gonzaga vs. Eastern Washington North Dakota State 8:50 p.m. (TNT)

EAST THURSDAY Villanova vs. Lafayette 5:50 p.m. (TBS) N.C. State vs. LSU 8:20 p.m. (TBS) FRIDAY Michigan State vs. Georgia 11:40 a.m. (truTV) Virginia vs. Belmont FIVE STARS RED HOT FEELIN’ THE BLUES CINDERELLA WATCH BEWARE OF ... REMEMBER ME? SET YOUR DVR 2:10 p.m. (truTV) Most of the season, ACC powers Virginia Northern Iowa enters Unproven favorites. Who beat Virginia in Two of the 10 Oklahoma vs. Albany Virginia Tom Izzo was pulling and Louisville haven’t the tournament Last year, Virginia and the Sweet 16 last best guards in the 6:27 p.m. (truTV) out his hair. Finally his looked good the past 30-3. The Panthers Villanova were the top year? Tom Izzo! This tournament should Providence Spartans are surging. three weeks. Rick aren’t flashy, but their seeds in the East. year, Virginia should meet in the round Oklahoma vs. Dayton They’ve beaten Pitino’s team is 3-3 offense is actually Neither made the see the Spartans in of 32. Oklahoma’s four tournament without guard Chris very efficient. They regional final, opening the round of 32. I’m Buddy Hield was Big 8:57 p.m. (truTV) Northern Iowa teams since March Jones (dismissed won’t be overwhelmed the door for eventual sure Tony Bennett is 12 player of the year. Northern Iowa 4 and nearly upset from the team). And by Villanova’s or national champion thrilled. Providence’s vs. Wyoming Kris Dunn Wisconsin in the Big UVa lost two of the Virginia’s athleticism. Connecticut. Are scores 16 points a 12:40 p.m. (TBS) Providence Ten final. past three after a the Cavaliers and game and his average Larry Nance Jr. 28-1 start. Wildcats better this of 7.6 assists ranks Louisville Wyoming year? Hard to say. second in the country. vs. UC Irvine 3:10 p.m. (TBS)

WEST THURSDAY Baylor vs. Georgia State 12:40 p.m. (TBS) Xavier vs. Mississippi 3:10 p.m. (TBS) North Carolina vs. Harvard 6:20 p.m. (TNT) Arkansas vs. Wofford 8:50 p.m. (TNT) FIVE STARS RED HOT FEELIN’ THE BLUES CINDERELLA WATCH BEWARE OF ... REMEMBER ME? SET YOUR DVR Arizona vs. Texas Southern This region is loaded It’s a wonder Oregon’s The 12 and 13 seeds An Arkansas Wisconsin faced A rematch of last Wisconsin with teams playing opponent, Oklahoma in Jacksonville are hangover. The Hogs Oregon in last year’s year’s Wisconsin- 1:10 p.m. (TNT) their best ball: North State, even made the intriguing because played Kentucky on round of 32. And the Arizona regional final Stanley Johnson VCU vs. Ohio State Carolina, Xavier, VCU field. The Cowboys of their styles. Sunday in Atlanta. Ducks led 49-37 at wouldn’t set ratings Arizona 3:40 p.m. (TNT) and Oregon. The have lost six of their Wofford and Harvard It’s not easy to come halftime in Milwaukee. records. But their Ducks won seven past seven, including slow it down. Their back from that test, Think Dana Altman 64-63 overtime battle FRIDAY Arkansas straight before losing a clunker at Texas opponents, Arkansas especially for an might like another was among the most Oregon to Arizona in the Pac- Tech. If you’re looking and North Carolina, Arkansas program shot at Bo Ryan? competitive of the vs. Oklahoma State Joseph Young 12 final. for an overseeded love to play fast. If one that hasn’t been to tournament. Let’s do 5:50 p.m. (TBS) Oregon team, here you go. of those underdogs the NCAAs since it again. D’Angelo Russell can control tempo, 2008. Wisconsin Ohio State expect an upset. vs. Coastal Carolina 8:20 p.m. (TBS)

MIDWEST THURSDAY Cincinnati vs. Purdue 6:10 p.m. (CBS) Kentucky vs. Hampton 8:40 p.m. (CBS) Notre Dame vs. Northeastern 11:15 a.m. (CBS) Butler vs. Texas 1:45 p.m. (CBS) FIVE STARS RED HOT FEELIN’ THE BLUES CINDERELLA WATCH BEWARE OF ... REMEMBER ME? SET YOUR DVR FRIDAY Willie Cauley-Stein Kentucky hasn’t lost Indiana has dropped Last year, undefeated Notre Dame’s awful Seventeen years ago, Kansas-Wichita State. W. Virginia vs. Buffalo Kentucky since last year’s Final nine of its past 14 Wichita State got a defense. The Irish are Valparaiso’s Bryce The Shockers have 1:10 p.m. (TNT) Four. But Notre Dame games, including bad draw when it ran 112th in defensive Drew hit one of the waited only 22 years Maryland vs. beat Duke and North three straight to finish into Kentucky in the efficiency, which NCAA tournament’s to play KU. Think their Notre Dame Valparaiso Carolina over the the regular season. round of 32. This year, basically disqualifies most famous shots, fans will be fired up? Melo Trimble weekend. The Irish The Hoosiers haven’t the Shox can thrive a Final Four run. Last a 3 at the buzzer to Bill Self said Sunday 3:50 p.m. (TNT) Maryland are second nationally beaten an NCAA in the underdog role. year, No. 3 seeds beat Ole Miss. The getting out of Omaha Kansas vs. in offensive efficiency. tournament team They certainly have Duke and Creighton Crusaders are a 13 would constitute a New Mexico State Roosevelt Jones since Jan. 22. NCAA tournament were outside the top seed again and this successful season. 11:15 a.m. (CBS) Butler experience. 100 in defensive time Drew is the head He knows how tough Fred Van Vleet efficiency and lost the coach. They’re looking it’ll be. Wichita State Wichita State first weekend. for their first NCAA win vs. Indiana since 1998. 1:45 p.m. (CBS)