3 second-round matchups you don't want to miss
Round 1 lacked the earth-shattering upsets the NCAA tournament is accustomed to, but top teams advancing means there are plenty of Round 2 matchups over which to salivate.
Here are three you definitely want to watch:
No. 5 Iowa State vs. No. 4 Purdue
High-flying No. 5 Iowa State takes on methodical No. 4 Purdue in a contest of contrasting styles. The Cyclones have the self-proclaimed best point guard in the country, Monte Morris, who leads an offense that's been on fire in recent weeks. The Cyclones don't have much in the way of size, though, and that plays into the hands of Purdue. The Boilermakers feature the game's most dominant big man in national player of the year candidate Caleb Swanigan. The sophomore is a double-double machine, and Purdue loves to feed him down low.
No. 9 Michigan State vs. No. 1 Kansas
Nobody has more NCAA tournament wins against better-seeded opponents than Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, who's also 21-4 on two-day turnarounds during Round 2 and the Elite Eight. And if you enjoy individual matchups, you'll love Michigan State's Miles Bridges going against Kansas' Josh Jackson. Both are projected lottery picks in the upcoming NBA draft, and they've posted nearly identical numbers while playing the same position as freshmen.
| Player | PPG | RPG | APG |
|---|---|---|---|
| J. Jackson | 16.4 | 7.2 | 3.1 |
| M. Bridges | 16.7 | 8.3 | 2.0 |
No. 10 Wichita State vs. No. 2 Kentucky
Wichita State, somehow only a 10-seed, might be the scariest team in the tournament. The Shockers are extremely efficient on both ends of the floor, and are fresh off holding Dayton to season-low 31 percent shooting from the field. Overall, Wichita State's won 16 straight, but if there are still questions about whether the Shockers are legit, playing Kentucky on Sunday will answer them. The Wildcats have an elite backcourt with studs De'Aaron Fox and Malik Monk, while Bam Adebayo can do serious work inside.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)