Kansas no early tests: Even though they lost their conference title streak this season, put the Jayhawks into the Sweet 16, where they will meet North Carolina.
Pac-12 stench: The Pacific-12 was lucky to get three teams in. Oregon, Arizona State, Washington — bounce them all early.
Minnesota ties: Utah State coach Craig Smith is from Stephen, Minn. This is his first season leading the Aggies (after four years at South Dakota), and it will soon include a victory over Washington in Round 1.
Happy Hunter: Who can forget the scene four years ago when Georgia State's Ron Hunter was rolling around on a scooter with a bad knee coaching his son and team to an upset over third-seeded Baylor? Hunter is back to pull off another shocker against another team from Texas.
Bye, bye, Big Ten: Michigan and Michigan State are title contenders, but the Wolverines will be the only Big Ten team remaining when they fall in the Elite Eight.
Power with Prohm: Steve Prohm can coach Iowa State into the program's first Sweet 16 since 2014. The strong backcourt is led by Lindell Wigginton, but Virginia transfer Marial Shayok was the second-leading scorer in the Big 12 (18.6 points per game).
Cats' claws: Kentucky isn't loaded with lottery picks, but it has plenty of talent, including Minneapolis native Reid Travis. The DeLaSalle product is back after missing five games because of a knee injury, but the Wildcats still can't avoid a Sweet 16 upset.
Zapping Zion: Gonzaga defeated Duke with Zion Williamson in nonconference play. We'll get a rematch and be treated to another game decided in the last minute, right here in Minneapolis.
