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5 possible early-tournament matchups fans should want to see

Corey Perrine / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Ladies and gentlemen, start your bracket selections.

The NCAA tournament is now set in stone. The placement and seeding of the 68 teams has already sparked much debate among fans. Instead of discussing the selection committee's picks, or whether there are teams deserving of better positions on the bracket, let's take a look at what we know to be true and the delicious possibilities that fans should want to see play out on the court.

Some of the most entertaining games in the NCAA tournament every year materialize out of nowhere, but others live up to the hype generated before the tournament even begins. Here are five potential matchups spread across the second round and Sweet 16 that should have fans across the nation on the edge of their seats.

(1) Virginia vs. (5) Kentucky - Sweet 16

Virginia has been heralded as one of the top teams in the nation all season, and for good reason, but no team led by John Calipari can ever be counted out, especially in the NCAA tournament. The Cavaliers are known for their defensive tenacity but their one area of weakness could be their ability to put points on the board. A meeting between Virginia and Kentucky would pit arguably the stingiest defense in the nation against an offense that has put up more than 80 points against major conference opponents nine times this season. Virginia has not allowed an opponent to put more than 68 points this season, however, so Kentucky will need to bring all the firepower to move on.

(2) North Carolina vs. (10) Providence - Round 2

Many have North Carolina going deep in this year's tournament, but Providence may prove to be a thorn in the defending national champion's side. A number of Tar Heels stars have the experience of back-to-back national title games that carries a lot of weight when it comes to managing pressure in close contests, and they may need every bit of that should the Friars bring their best effort. Ed Cooley's outfit knocked off Xavier, a No. 1 seed, in the Big East tournament, so the Friars know they can hang with elite teams, and that knowledge can most certainly be power.

(1) Villanova vs. (5) West Virginia - Sweet 16

Like North Carolina, Villanova is another team that boasts a wealth of national championship experience that will serve as a great intangible. An interesting opponent that could pop up on that road back to the finals is West Virginia, whose constant press attack on defense is a tough challenge for even the best of offenses. The Wildcats have shown brief lapses in greatness in losses to St. John's, Creighton, and Butler, but even the Mountaineers' constant pressure may be no match for the nation's No. 1 scoring team.

(2) Duke vs. (10) Oklahoma - Round 2

Who wouldn't want to see one of the most exciting players in the nation go head to head with a legendary program like Duke? Oklahoma has to survive its tough first-round matchup against Rhode Island to even make this possible, but Trae Young squaring off against Gary Trent Jr. and Grayson Allen is something no college basketball fan would want to miss. The Sooners may not stand much of a chance against the Blue Devils, but if there's one player in the nation that carries magic-making potential, it's Young.

(1) Xavier vs. (4) Gonzaga - Sweet 16

It's a shame that one of these two teams won't make it past the Sweet 16, but that just makes for one hell of an early-round showdown. Gonzaga will undoubtedly be motivated to avenge its national title loss, and Xavier will have a fire lit under it after failing to make the Big East championship. The Bulldogs and Musketeers are two of the nation's best in scoring (ninth and 11th, respectively), so the difference-maker could be rebounding, where Gonzaga holds a noticeable advantage on the offensive glass (11.1 to 9.8).

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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