March Madness 2012: Power Ranking the Most Intriguing Round of 32 Matchups

While much of the excitement surrounding the NCAA tournament has to do with the opening two days, there is plenty to look forward to with regards to the tourney's first slate of weekend games. With most of the weaker teams sorted out, the Round of 32 is guaranteed to provide some high-quality basketball.

There is no shortage of great potential games that will feature star players, contrasting styles and great back stories galore. Although every matchup has a chance to be great, some of them just look like sure bets to be barn burners on paper.

Here are the projected top three Round of 32 games that you simply won't want to miss.

3) No. 12 VCU vs. No. 4 Indiana

Just when it looked like the VCU Rams had lost their magic, Shaka Smart's squad found a way to get past the Wichita State Shockers late and advance to the Round of 32. Forward Bradford Burgess hit a crucial three down the stretch and allowed VCU to continue its journey toward perhaps another Final Four. It won't be easy, however, as it will have to deal with a strong Indiana Hoosiers team in the next round.

The Hoosiers were the only team to knock off Kentucky this season prior to their SEC finals loss to Vanderbilt and they were impressive in the second round against New Mexico State. Indiana brings some top-notch scorers to the table in Cody Zeller, Christian Watford and Jordan Hulls. Despite all of that firepower, though, the Rams seem to have something special that won't allow them to lose. Maybe Indiana can concoct the potion to take them down.

2) No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 4 Wisconsin

Speaking of teams with contrasting styles, the No. 5 Vanderbilt Commodores and No. 4 Wisconsin Badgers will go at it in the Round of 32 out of the East Region. Whichever team finds a way to win this game has a real chance to go deep in the tournament, so this contest could decide a lot. Both programs have become mainstays in the big dance, and both were impressive in their first-round victories as Vandy overwhelmed Harvard and Wisconsin pounded Montana.

Vanderbilt is an offensively-gifted team that relies on the gunning of guard John Jenkins, while the Badgers are more defensively focused and like to run deliberate offensive sets. The Badgers proved in the first round that they could pick up the pace, but they won't want to go blow-for-blow with the Commodores. Whoever is able to dictate the pace more effectively will have the advantage in this one.

1) No. 7 Gonzaga vs. No. 2 Ohio State

If you like offense, then Gonzaga vs. Ohio State is the game for you. The No. 7-seeded Bulldogs dominated West Virginia in the Round of 64, while the Buckeyes took care of an overmatched Loyola (Md.) squad. Both Ohio State and Gonzaga were among the better scoring teams in the nation during the regular season and that has clearly carried over to the tourney. The Buckeyes will be favored, but Gonzaga has all the tools to pull off an upset.

Ohio State is incredibly deep as Jared Sullinger, William Buford and Deshaun Thomas are all capable of going off in any given game. The same can be said of Gonzaga as well with Kevin Pangos, Elias Harris and Robert Sacre. The key matchup to watch will be Pangos, a freshman point guard, against Aaron Craft, who many consider to be the best defensive point guard in the nation. That is one of many small battles that make this game so intriguing.