TV » truTV

Key match up » ODU’s Kent Bazemore was the CAA defensive player of the year, averaging 2.3 steals a game. But Butler is secure with the ball, ranking 23rd in the nation in turnovers a game (11.1). Junior guard Shelvin Mack (15.2 ppg, 3.6 apg, 4.5 rpg) will have it in his hands most.

How Butler can win » Score from distance. A tight matchup zone is the key to ODU’s nation-high rebounding margin (12.2) but also leaves the Monarchs vulnerable from the arc, where they yield 37 percent shooting, second worst among tournament teams. Can Butler, which tied for the Horizon League lead in 3-pointers (239), take advantage?

How ODU can win » Disrupt on defense and get the ball inside on offense. The Monarchs are at their best when they score in transition off turnovers and in the halfcourt with low-post threat Frank Hassell (15.9 ppg, 9.6 rpg), who was MVP of the CAA tournament. The Butler defense will try to push the Monarchs outside.

Player to watch » Butler senior forward Matt Howard (16.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg) will have to do heavy-duty work inside against Hassell. It will be important for Howard and 6-foot-11 C Andrew Smith (8.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg) to prevent ODU from scoring on putbacks. The Monarchs lead the nation in offensive rebounding.

X-Factor » Butler coach Brad Stevens (112-24) has won more games in his first four seasons than any coach in history. He showed his ability from the bench in last year’s tournament, in which Butler won games by two, two, four and seven points. ODU’s Blaine Taylor earned his first NCAA tournament win last year with an upset of Notre Dame.

Examiner predicts » ODU 57, Butler 54

– Kevin Dunleavy

Southeast region

No. 1 Pittsburgh vs. No. 16 UNC Asheville

When » Thursday, 3:10 p.m.

Where » Verizon Center

TV » truTV

Key matchup » Pittsburgh guard Ashton Gibbs (16.7 ppg, 2.8 apg) vs. Asheville guard Matt Dickey (15.5 ppg, 3.3 apg). Gibbs can be unconscious from outside, but the Panthers don’t need him as much as Asheville needs Dickey, the Big South tournament MVP, who has been an inspirational perimeter scorer for the Bulldogs.

How Pittsburgh can win » By setting the tone early. The Panthers are so strong in multiple facets — they score inside and out, force the opposition into poor decisions and rebound at both ends of the floor. They’re unlikely to fall short in enough of them to give Asheville a chance.

How Asheville can win » Outside of a play-in game? Um, this just isn’t going to happen. The Bulldogs are scrappy and can knock down 3-pointers, but their best hope is that the Panthers sleepwalk through the first half and miss free throws throughout.

Player to watch » Asheville senior 6-foot-4 forward John Williams (8.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg) isn’t tall, but he’s the Bulldogs’ biggest rebounder. If he’s able to show off his great leaping ability and make a stand in the paint, he could draw neutral Verizon Center fans to the Bulldogs’ cause.

X-Factor » The pressure Pittsburgh puts on itself. In eight straight trips to the NCAAs, the Panthers have been lower than a No. 5 seed only once and have been a No. 1 seed twice. But they have only one Elite Eight to their name during that span. Signs of confidence are as important as the expected result.

Examiner predicts » Pittsburgh 79, Asheville 52

– Craig Stouffer

West region

No. 3 UConn vs. No. 14 Bucknell

When » Thursday, 7:20 p.m.

Where » Verizon Center

TV » TNT

Key matchup » UConn guard Kemba Walker vs. Bucknell guard Bryan Cohen. Cohen has been the Patriot League defensive player of the year twice, stifling standouts ranging from 6-foot-9 Vlad Moldoveanu of American to 6-3 C.J. McCollum of Lehigh. He will draw Walker (23.5 ppg), perhaps the most elusive player in the nation.

How UConn can win » The storyline about the Huskies being tired after winning five games in five days in the Big East tournament is overplayed. UConn’s best chance to take Bucknell out early is to push the tempo. Getting Bison center Mike Muscalla into foul trouble would help. There’s little depth beyond the 6-11 sophomore.

How Bucknell can win » Good question. Then again, Bucknell was a No. 14 seed in 2005 when it upset No. 3 Kansas. Containing Walker will be key. UConn is 9-2 when he scores 28 or more points. The Bison have a stopper in Cohen who will get help from quick backcourt mates Darryl Shazier and Bryson Johnson.

Player to watch » UConn sophomore Alex Oriakhi (10 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.7 bpg). In the Patriot League, Muscalla rarely has to deal with a player as big and athletic as Oriakhi or Huskies 6-8 freshman Roscoe Smith, who had 12 points and seven rebounds in the win over Louisville in the Big East title game.

X-Factor » Bucknell (25-8) believes it is a better team than early in the year when it let Marquette and Boston College off the hook after leading by 13 and 16 points respectively in the second half. “They were mad. There was no sense of moral victory,” Bucknell coach Dave Paulsen said. “It’s a confident, self-assured group.”

Examiner Predicts » UConn 79, Bucknell 69

– Kevin Dunleavy

West region

No. 6 Cincinnati vs. No. 11 Missouri

When » Thursday, 9:50 p.m.

Where » Verizon Center

TV » TNT

Key matchup » Missouri forward Ricardo Ratliffe (10.5 ppg. 6.1 rpg) vs. Cincinnati forward Yancy Gates (11.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg). After getting benched for a game midseason, Gates is the biggest reason — pun intended — that the Bearcats have won seven of their last 10 games. Ratliffe, a highly touted juco transfer, has been trending in opposite fashion.

How Cincinnati can win » When the Bearcats are at their best, it’s easy to mistake them for Syracuse with a zone that puts a canopy over the defensive end of the floor. To get it set, Cincinnati must score efficiently, and that requires a solid showing from guards Cashmere Wright (8.9 ppg, 3.8 apg) and Dion Dixon (11.6 ppg).

How Missouri can win » Tempo is the Tigers’ biggest asset. If they can disrupt the often fragile Bearcats with baseline-to-baseline pressure, that should result in open looks for talismanic guard Marcus Denmon (17.1 ppg), who can score from deep and get to the rim.

Player to watch » Missouri forward Kim English (10.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg) hails from Baltimore and will be anxious to perform well in front of friends and family. He’s not the Tigers’ most skilled player, but the junior could have a big night if Missouri’s transition game gets going.

X-Factor » The Tigers have been awful outside of Columbia all season long with just one road win in Big 12 play. They desperately need a neutral feeling at Verizon Center, where the Bearcats will be confident after trouncing Georgetown there three weeks ago.

Examiner predicts » Cincinnati 75, Missouri 68

– Craig Stouffer

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