SWEET 16 PREVIEW: March 20
West Region: OKLAHOMA (2) vs. ARIZONA (3) | Thursday, 7:55 p.m. ET

How do you pick this game? Oklahoma has terrific rebounders, great athleticism and the inside play of Aaron McGhee. McGhee has been one of my Elite Eight players in the Tournament so far, averaging 25.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg and shooting better than 50 percent from the floor.

McGhee, a Marco Polo guy who transferred from Cincinnati and Vincennes JC, has been sensational in the low box. Guard Ebi Ere has also been fantastic, scoring 20 points against Xavier in the second round.

Arizona has been a real surprise this season. Nobody had them in the preseason top 25, but they sent a message early, winning Coaches vs. Cancer.

Oklahoma goes as point guard Hollis Price goes. He has superb quickness and explosiveness and he defends very well. So far in the Tournament, he has made only two trifectas. Price and OU have handled the ball well, committing just 17 turnovers in two Tournament games. Coach Kelvin Sampson's Sooners have won despite struggling from beyond the arc. Oklahoma has hit just six of 30 from 3-point range, and 20 percent against Arizona won't get it done.

Another key will be the battle on the boards. Arizona center Channing Frye has been a big positive so far, and he will need to have another big-time performance. In the Big Dance, Frye is averaging 17 ppg and nine rpg while shooting an impressive 65 percent from the floor.

If Frye plays well in the middle and Luke Walton distributes the rock well with his great vision, watch out. Look for big things from Wildcats point guard Jason Gardner, who has averaged 40 minutes per game in the Tournament.

Keep an eye on Arizona's first-half shooting, which has been Struggle City so far in the NCAAs. Against UC-Santa Barbara, the Wildcats were down at halftime after shooting 32 percent. Arizona rallied to shoot 59 percent in the second half. The 'Cats also shot 40 percent in the first half against Wyoming en route to an eight-point win.

Arizona has been one of the real surprises this season. Nobody had them in the preseason Top 25, but they sent a message early by winning the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, stunning Florida and Maryland. The 'Cats went on to win the Pac-10 tournament, a tremendous achievement. What a season for a team that lost Michael Wright, Richard Jefferson, Gilbert Arenas and Loren Woods!

Arizona's Lute Olson has been magical at tourney time. He and Sampson are stars of the coaching profession.

This game is a real toss-up. I'm going with Gardner and the Wildcats in a nail-biter. Gardner has had a superb year and will spark his team to victory.