March 14--Get to know No. 1: Oregon (28-6). The Pac-12 champion Ducks had 10 victories against the RPI top 50, went 5-1 against the AP Top 25, played the nation's third-toughest schedule and rank No. 2 in the RPI. Their two losses to opponents outside the top 100 have a caveat: They came during a one-week stretch when standout freshman Tyler Dorsey was injured and Jordan Bell was just coming back from a broken foot.
Cinderella: No. 11 Northern Iowa. The Panthers aren't going to flinch. They've beaten North Carolina, Iowa State and Wichita State (twice) this season. They have a balanced roster with four players averaging double-digit scoring.
Top first-round matchup: No. 6 Texas vs. No. 11 Northern Iowa. Is this a different Texas team than we've seen in recent tournaments? The Longhorns have failed to get out of the first weekend the last seven years (including the no-bid year of 2013).
Players to watch
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma: Anyone who saw the senior guard's (waved-off) buzzer beater against West Virginia in the Big 12 tournament knows Hield is capable of bringing March Madness excitement. He leads the tournament field with 25 points per game, making him a national player of the year candidate.
Grayson Allen, Duke: You either love the sophomore guard or hate him. Allen showed in last year's NCAA championship game he is a player who deserves attention. This season he has been involved in some controversial tripping incidents, but he can score, averaging 21.6 points.
Dillon Brooks, Oregon: The Canadian-born sophomore forward is the leader of a versatile cast of Ducks. He averages 16.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists. After a rare three-point game against USC, he has averaged 17.3 over his last three games.
Free throws: If Texas beats Northern Iowa and No. 3 Texas A beats No. 14 Green Bay, it will be a Lone Star State showdown in the Round of 32. ... Oregon State got a questionable slot at No. 7 with eight top-100 RPI losses and a 4-8 road record. ... Former Northwestern coach Bill Carmody has No. 16 Holy Cross in the tournament in his first season.
