If any team should feel disrespected by the tournament selection committee, it would have to be Oregon (26-8, 12-6 Pac-12). There was a point in the regular season when the Ducks were in total control of the Pac-12 race. They finished tied with Arizona (a 6 seed) for second and then beat UCLA (a 6 seed) in the conference tournament. The Ducks have battled injuries but coach Dana Altman has done a terrific job. Fans love the 5-12 games and this one should be more balanced because of the committee’s error with Oregon. Oklahoma State (24-8, 13-5 Big 12) is led by freshman sensation Marcus Smart. If Smart and backcourt mate Markel Brown both are scoring, Oregon will have a difficult time.

VIDEO: Oklahoma State tourney preview

VIDEO: Oregon tourney preview
 

This game will be a conversation piece for many, right up to tip-off time. UCLA coach Ben Howland and Minnesota coach Tubby Smith have been on the hot seat this season. It’s hard to say if either, or both, will be back next season. UCLA (25-9, 13-5 Pac-12) started the season with injuries, suspensions, transfers and some crushing losses. Now the Bruins must deal with the loss of freshman guard Jordan Adams, who broke his foot in the Pac-12 tournament. Shabazz Muhammad and Norman Powell will have to pick up the slack. Minnesota (20-12, 8-10) needs to regain its early season magic, when the Gophers defeated Richmond, Memphis, Stanford, Florida State and Illinois. Coming in with three straight losses and five in seven games, not sure that’s possible. Trevor Mbakwe (10 points, 8.7 rebounds) needs help from his teammates.
 

VIDEO: UCLA tourney preview

These teams were on the bubble just a few weeks ago, sweating out the details about getting into the tournament. Both got better in the final weeks of the regular season and now they meet in one of those classic 8-9 games the selection committee loves to create. This should be a very competitive game. The winner basically can count on playing No. 1 seed Kansas in the third round, and that creates a monster storyline if the Tar Heels (24-10, 12-6 ACC) win. North Carolina coach Roy Williams’ reward for winning would be a third meeting with his former school, Kansas, in the past six tournaments. The Jayhawks prevailed in the previous two. The move to a smaller lineup saved North Carolina’s season, but that is a strategy Villanova (20-13, 10-8 Big East) and coach Jay Wright mastered years ago.
 

VIDEO: Villanova tourney preview

This figures to be one of the most physical games of the tournament. Colorado State (25-8, 11-5 Mountain West) leads the nation in rebounding margin (12.1) and Missouri (23-10, 11-7 SEC) ranks third (9.6), so the battle on, under and around the boards should be intense and don’t be surprised if there are some emotional flare-ups. Colorado State has been an under-the-radar team all season and with the selection committee giving a lot of love to the Mountain West, the Rams should be motivated to play well against an SEC team. Coach Larry Eustachy has done a good job at CSU and knows all about the Tigers from his Big 12 days. Alex Oriakhi and Laurence Bowers need to avoid foul trouble for Missouri or their senior seasons will end quickly.

VIDEO: Missouri tourney preview
 

Butler (26-8, 11-5 A-10), much like Gonzaga, has elevated its status and no longer answers to the “mid-major” label. The Bulldogs know how to win games in the NCAA tournament and Brad Stevens is one of the best preparation coaches in college hoops. Butler lost consistency after that thrilling Jan. 19 win over Gonzaga, but Rotnei Clarke, Andrew Smith and Roosevelt Jones form a strong nucleus. The question is whether Butler has anyone who can stop senior Bucknell center Mike Muscala, who averages 19.0 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks. NBA scouts love the potential they see in this 6-foot-11 senior and he is talented enough to lead the Bison (28-5, 12-2 Patriot) on a run in this field. Bucknell is on a seven-game winning streak.

VIDEO: Butler tourney preview

The NCAA tournament is North Carolina State’s final chance to redeem its season. The Wolfpack (24-10, 11-7 ACC) were the preseason pick to win the Atlantic Coast Conference. Miami became that surprise team instead. With C.J. Leslie, Richard Howell, Scott Wood, T.J. Warren and Lorenzo Brown, there is more than enough talent available to put together a deep run. But as the No. 8 seed, every game will be a challenge, including this second-round matchup with Temple (23-9, 11-5 A-10). Senior guard Khalif Wyatt is the guy who makes the Owls dangerous. Wyatt averages 19.8 points and 4.1 assists and has been on a tear, including a 30-point performance against VCU on March 10.
 

VIDEO: Temple tourney preview

For the second straight season, Iowa State draws a Big East team in the second round. The Cyclones (22-11, 11-7 Big 12) dominated Connecticut in the 2012 NCAA opener, in what turned out to be Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun’s last game on the bench. The Cyclones look dangerous here as well. Coach Fred Hoiberg likes to use the shot clock, spread the floor and utilize the 3-point shot. If Tyrus McGee, Korie Lucious and Chris Babb are hitting, Iowa State becomes a hard team to play. Inside, freshman Georges Niang will have to stay out of foul trouble. If senior Jack Cooley (13.1 ppg, 10.3 rpg) controls the paint, Notre Dame (25-9, 11-7 Big East) will have an excellent opportunity to win. It’s doubtful either team can beat Ohio State in the next round, so this amounts to their championship game.

VIDEO: Notre Dame tourney preview
 

This is another matchup of top rebounding teams. Wichita State (26-8, 12-6 Missouri Valley) ranks eighth with a plus-8.4 margin. Pittsburgh (24-8, 12-6 Big East) is 13th at plus-7.1. Pitt remains one of the hidden secrets in the Big East this season, really not getting much attention for its record — in large part because the Panthers played a weak non-conference schedule. But Jamie Dixon’s team shares the ball, averaging 16.5 assists (7th in the nation) and shoots well (47.5 FG%). Senior guard Tray Woodall gives Pitt a veteran leader. Wichita State is athletic and well coached, two factors that keep the Shockers in every game. If the Shockers can get past Pitt, Cleanthony Early, Carl Hall and Malcolm Armstead would present a danger for Gonzaga.

VIDEO: Pittsburgh tourney preview
 

It has been a season of upsets in college basketball. And it wouldn’t be March Madness without some unexpected and surprising results in the NCAA tournament. We are accustomed to upsets in the 5-vs.-12 and 7-vs.-10 games. This year, the selection process has created some fascinating matchups between 8 and 9 seeds. We’ve taken a look at the second-round games and identified eight, two from each region, you can’t miss. There are certain to be more, of course, but these appear to be certain thrillers. — Ken Davis