(U-WIRE) LAWRENCE, Kan. –

No. 1 Duke (25-5) vs.

No. 16 Delaware State (19-13)

Delaware State is on an eight-game winning streak, but Duke shouldn’t have much to worry about in its first-round matchup. Possible games with Syracuse, Michigan State and Kentucky will be much more intriguing.

No. 8 Stanford (18-12) vs.

No. 9 Mississippi State (22-10)

Mississippi State started the year with high expectations but went only 2-8 against tournament teams and ended up a No. 9 seed. Senior forward Lawrence Roberts, who was the 2004 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, averages a double-double and can erupt for a big game at any time. Stanford hired Trent Johnson as its new coach before the season and struggled through nonconference play. The Cardinal are playing well of late, though, as they have defeated Arizona and Washington.

No. 5 Michigan State (22-10) vs.

No. 12 Old Dominion (28-5)

The Spartans have 10 players who average more than nine minutes a game, but none who average more than 30. They are deep, and if Tom Izzo’s bunch can survive Old Dominion it will be well-rested for the second round. Winning in the first round won’t be easy, though, because the Monarchs’ 28 victories are second to only Illinois.

No. 4 Syracuse (27-6) vs.

No. 13 Vermont (24-6)

The Syracuse Orangemen are on a three-game winning streak after winning the Big East Conference Tournament and have national title experience with junior guard Gerry McNamara, who scores 16 points per game, and senior forward Hakim Warrick, who scores 21.4 points per game. Syracuse will face a difficult first-round game against Vermont. The Catamounts are one of the better small schools in the tournament and have the experience of playing at Kansas and North Carolina earlier this year. Coach Tom Brennan also has one of the most versatile inside-outside tandems in the country with senior forward Taylor Coppenrath, 25.7 points a game, and senior guard T.J. Sorrentine, 18.6 points per game.

No. 7 Cincinnati (24-7) vs.

No. 10 Iowa (21-11)

The Bearcats are making their 14th-straight tournament appearance, but lost to every ranked team they played this year. Iowa won some games down the stretch and earned an at-large bid. The Hawkeyes own victories against Louisville, Texas, Texas Tech and Michigan State.

No. 6 Utah (27-5) vs. No. 11 UTEP (27-7)

The Utes are led by sophomore forward Andrew Bogut, whom ESPN named player of the year. The 7-footer averages a double-double and led Utah to an 18-game winning streak earlier in the year. UTEP will make its second-straight appearance in the Big Dance after winning the Western Athletic Conference Tournament. The Miners are on a seven-game winning streak and also have a solid forward, senior Omar Thomas, who averages more than 20 points a game.

No. 3 Oklahoma (24-7) vs.

No. 14 Niagara (20-9)

The Sooners have one of the best frontcourts in the tournament with junior forwards Kevin Bookout and Taj Gray. Coach Kelvin Sampson has plenty of postseason experience and will try to lead Oklahoma to another Final Four. Niagara is making its first tournament appearance since 1962, but its fast-paced style of basketball could be difficult for Oklahoma to combat.

No. 2 Kentucky (25-5) vs.

No. 15 Eastern Kentucky (22-8)

The Wildcats won the Southeastern Conference regular season title and are one of the best teams in the tournament as usual. Kentucky lost in the second round of last year’s tournament and will be motivated to not let it happen again. Eastern Kentucky is coached by Travis Ford, a former Kentucky guard, and the Colonels want nothing more than to upset the state’s most famous school.

– Kellis Robinett