Top 2018 NCAA Tournament games worth skipping work for

Charleston has three players who average more than 17 points per game in Joe Chealey, Grant Riller and Jarrell Brantley. This isn't a deep team so you will see a lot of that trio. Auburn was the co-champ of the SEC but is struggling after losing Anfernee McLemore for the season. This has enabled teams to attack the basket, so the Tigers must readjust their defense. If Auburn can't get it together, watch out for a big upset. 

Butler has won six straight first-round NCAA Tournament games but has lost six of nine regular-season games. Arkansas has lost eight games this season by 10 points or more but is coming into this game much hotter than the Bulldogs. Both teams will play up-tempo, which should be a treat for fans watching live in Detroit or at home on TV. 

Ah, the dreaded No. 5 vs. No. 12 game. New Mexico State has won 17 of its last 19 games and has a win over Clemson's ACC buddy Miami. The Aggies are hungry and eager to end a nine-game losing streak in the NCAA Tournament dating back to 1993. Clemson is having one of its best seasons in memory but is limping into the tournament. The Tigers have lost five of eight, though all those losses have come to fellow tournament teams. Losing Donte Grantham for the season hurts as well. This game is also in San Diego, so expect New Mexico State to have quite a fan base.

These two schools are only a three-hour drive away from each other, but they will face off in Charlotte. Creighton enters the tournament as losers of four of its last six and six of its last 10. Of those four wins in that time, two were against lowly DePaul, one was against Bemidji State and the other against ... Villanova? The Bluejays have struggled since they lost Martin Krampelj for the season. Kansas State is dealing with its own injuries; its two leading scorers Barry Brown and Dean Wade missed all but one minute of the Big 12 Tournament. Needless to say, this should be a battle.

San Diego State isn't splashy — the Aztecs are just a solid team that steps it up on defense. So does Houston, who has arguably been the best AAC team down the stretch of the season. The Cougars beat Wichita State twice, Cincinnati once, and spanked Arkansas and Providence in nonconference play. Basically, this will be a defensive battle, which means it will be a close game. Both teams have been playing their best basketball of late.

In a battle of Wildcats, Kentucky will have its hands full with Davidson. The Davidson Wildcats boasts two stars in Peyton Aldridge and Kellan Grady, who are playing at an elite level right now. Davidson has faced Virginia and North Carolina this year, so it won't be in awe of Kentucky. The Kentucky Wildcats are playing their best basketball right now, so this should be an exciting game. The BPI, for whatever it's worth, picks Davidson as the double-digit seed most likely to pull an upset. Last season, four of the top five upsets the BPI predicted came true. 

Missouri's hopes for a big year seemed dashed when freshman stud Michael Porter Jr. hurt his back two minutes into his first game and missed the rest of the regular season. He came back for the SEC Tournament but looked a bit rusty. Florida State's defense has struggled this season so expect Mizzou to put up some points. So will the Seminoles, who boast a bunch of wings who can attack the basket and score.

Instead of Xs and Os, let's just talk about the two big men in this game. Caleb Martin has been big for Nevada since transferring from NC State. Martin and his twin brother Cody lead one of the most efficient offenses in the country. In the other corner, there is Texas and the shot-blocking machine Mo Bamba. It's strength versus strength with an experienced and long Wolf Pack squad up against the young Longhorns with the one-and-done big man. 

Upset alert! South Dakota State walks into this matchup on an 11-game winning streak (and 19 of its last 20) while Ohio State has lost three of its last five games — the only wins coming against Indiana and Rutgers. The Jackrabbits' Mike Daum is a straight-up baller who fits the description as a mid-major star who could have a huge game to lead his team to an upset. Buckeyes head coach Chris Holtmann has done a masterful job without any depth.

What is Oklahoma? Of course the lure of Trae Young playing (possibly) his final collegiate game will draw interest, but much of the nation will tune in to find out what the Sooners are. Are they the Sooners who were surging to the top of the rankings or the team that hasn't won away from Norman in 2018? Rhode Island is back in the dance after barely bowing out in the second round last year. The Rams are a tough bunch who will go after Young and force him to make plays. 

NC State has had a very nice season. Who else can say they beat Arizona, Duke and North Carolina this year? The Wolfpack have size with Omer Yurtseven and a nice backcourt led by the ACC's assists leader Markell Johnson. Seton Hall is quite experienced, starting seniors Angel Delgado, Desi Rodriguez and Khadeen Carrington, but that trio still hasn't won an NCAA Tournament game. Both teams can score, and in a No. 8 vs. No. 9 matchup this one should be close. 

TCU is trying to win its first NCAA Tournament game since 1987, when head coach Jamie Dixon was a guard for the Horned Frogs. Their defense hasn't been too good over the last couple of months (TCU went 9-11 down the stretch). They will get either Arizona State, who backed its way into the tournament, or Syracuse, who shockingly is even in the tournament. This may not be the most well-played game in the first round, but it shouldn't lack drama. 

Why would you want to miss a Providence game? The Friars played three overtime games in the Big East Tournament, including thrilling games against top seeds Xavier and Villanova. As far as Texas A&M goes, you just don't know what Aggies team you will get. This team can hang with anyone in the country but can also lay an egg (LSU twice). If A&M plays its best, this should be a split-your-pants great game.

Who doesn't want to watch Alabama's Collin Sexton? He is a physical guard who can explode offensively. If the Crimson Tide want to have staying power, he'll need to do that. Virginia Tech doesn't rely on one guy to carry the offensive load like Bama does nor do the Hokies have much size on the frontcourt. Tech has beaten Virginia, North Carolina and Duke this year so the Hokies are capable of anything. Did I mention Sexton is playing in this game? 

Wichita State got what it wanted. Last year, the Shockers felt they were disrespected with a No. 10 seed after going 30-4. They left the Missouri Valley Conference for the American and are rewarded with a No. 4 seed. They get Marshall, who is making its first tournament appearance since 1987. Both teams have efficient offenses and not the greatest defenses. This should be an up-and-down affair with Thundering Herd guard Jon Elmore (who averages 22.8 ppg) against Wichita State's Landry Shamet going at it. Should be a blast!