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Pregame Shootaround: 16 more games on tap for Friday

Kevin Yogi Ferrell

AP

AP

GAME OF THE DAY: No. 10 Indiana vs. No. 7 Wichita State, 2:45 p.m. (CBS)

This game has some of the best back courts in the nation. Indiana runs with Yogi Ferrell and James Blackmon while Wichita State is equipped with the experienced perimeter attack of Fred VanVleet, Ron Baker and Tekele Cotton. This game is made more intriguing by the potential storylines to follow. If Indiana gets bounced, this will likely reignite the speculation about Tom Crean’s job security in Bloomington. A win for Wichita State could set up one of the most anticipated matchups in all of college basketball: Wichita State vs. Kansas, assuming the Jayhawks avoid an upset from No. 15 New Mexico State.

OTHER GAME OF THE DAY: No. 10 Iowa vs. No. 7 Davidson, 7:20 p.m. (TNT)

If you like offense, tune into this one. Iowa and Davidson can put up points with the best of them. The outcome of this one can be completely unpredictable given the Hawkeyes inconsistency and the Wildcats last month. Davidson has been a pleasant surprise in its first season in the Atlantic 10, but in the last two games the Wildcats needed a buzzer-beater from Tyler Kalinoski to knock of La Salle before getting blown out by VCU.

WHO’S GETTING UPSET? No. 12 Buffalo vs. No. 5 West Virginia, 2:10 p.m. (TNT)

The Big 12 did not have a good first day with three teams, including two No. 3 seeds, getting eliminated, and we have yet to see the standard No. 12 over No. 5 upset with Arkansas and Utah both advancing. So, the Mountaineers could be in trouble on Friday even with Juwan Staten and Gary Browne back in the lineup.

UPSET WATCH

No. 12 Wyoming vs. No. 5 Northern Iowa, 1:40 p.m. (TBS) : Larry Nance vs. Seth Tuttle is one of the better matchups of the Round of 64.

No. 13 Valparaiso vs. No. 4 Maryland, 4:40 p.m. (TNT): Bryce Drew is no stranger to upsets and has a chance if he can slow down Maryland guards Melo Trimble and Dez Wells. The Crusaders have the size up front to make this tight.

No. 14 Albany vs. No. 3 Oklahoma, 7:27 p.m. (TNT): A pair of No. 3 seeds (both from OU’s conference) are already out and another one, Notre Dame, got a scare from Northeastern. Why should this be any different?

No. 15 New Mexico State vs. No. 2 Kansas, 12:15 p.m. (CBS): As mentioned above, we could see Wichita State-Kansas on Sunday, but the Jayhawks can’t overlook New Mexico State. It’s a stretch, I know, but Kansas is dealing with some issues on the frontline and the Aggies come in to Friday’s game with some big bodies on the interior.

THE REST OF FRIDAY’S GAMES:

No. 10 Georgia vs. No. 7 Michigan State, 12:40 p.m. (truTV)

No. 15 Belmont vs. No. 2 Virginia, 3:10 p.m. (truTV)

No. 13 UC Irvine vs. No. 4 Louisville, 4:10 p.m. (TBS)

No. 9 Oklahoma State vs. No. 8 Oregon, 6:50 p.m. (TBS)

No. 16 Robert Morris vs. No. 1 Duke, 7:10 p.m. (CBS)

No. 16 Coastal Carolina vs. No. 1 Wisconsin, 9:20 p.m. (TBS)

No. 9 St. John’s vs. No. 8 San Diego State, 9:40 p.m. (CBS)

No. 15 North Dakota State vs. No. 2 Gonzaga, 9:50 p.m. (TNT)

No. 11 Dayton vs. No. 6 Providence, 9:57 p.m. (truTV)

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