After one of the best Thursdays in NCAA Tournament history, there’s still plenty of action left for entertainment on Friday. With lots of intriguing matchups on hand, we take a look at six in particular to watch.

- Doug McDermott (Creighton) vs. Elfrid Payton (Louisiana Lafayette)

The duo will probably never match-up on each other one-on-one, but the two will be certainly be competing in the scoring column. McDermott was the nation’s leading scorer this past season by averaging 26.9 points per game on 53 percent shooting along with a 45 percent clip from three. The 6-foot-8 forward will be a first round pick in this year’s NBA draft because of his sweet shooting ability. Not far behind, Payton averaged 19.1 points per game while shooting 51 percent from the field for Louisiana-Lafayette. The two contrast styles, as Creighton tries to get McDermott in catch-and-shoot situations while Payton prefers to attack off the dribble and get to the rim. Payton, a 6-foot-3 junior guard, has drawn NBA interest after averaging six assists and 5.9 rebounds per game to go with his scoring ability. He struggles shooting the three, only making 26 percent of his attempts this season, but his no-nonsense attacking ability could carry the Ragin’ Cajuns, especially with Creighton’s lack of a rim protector. Creighton should expect to move on, but don’t overlook Payton’s ability to lead Louisiana-Lafayette to an upset.

- VCU’s tempo vs. Stephen F. Austin

Head coach Shaka Smart has built his VCU program on pressure defense and forcing opponents to turn the ball over. The Rams lead the nation in steals per game at 11.2 while they also force 18.3 turnovers per contest. According to KenPom.com, the Rams are fourth in adjusted tempo among NCAA tournament teams, averaging 70.7 possessions per 40 minutes of action, while Stephen F. Austin plays the eighth slowest tempo in the tournament with an average of 63.6 possessions per 40 minutes. The Lumberjacks use their guard play to slow the game down and take quality shots deep into the shot clock. With both teams’ lack of size, the guard play and pace should certainly decide this one.

- Cameron Bairstow (New Mexico) vs. Dwight Powell (Stanford)

The pair of international power forwards will be fun to watch in the South region. Bairstow and Powell are seniors and one of the two will play his final collegiate game on Friday. Bairstow, a 6-foot-9, 23-year-old from Australia, has been one of the most improved players in the country. He’s averaging 20.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game for the Lobos after a junior season in which he averaged 9.7 points per game. Bairstow has been effective in facing up and attacking the basket off the dribble, allowing him to finish at the rim or get to the foul line. Powell is a 6-foot-10, 22-year-old from Canada averaging 14.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game this year. He has the athleticism to run the floor and, like Bairstow, excels in facing the basket and attacking. With similar styles of play, it will be interesting to see who prevails.

- Marcus Paige (North Carolina) vs. Bryce Cotton (Providence)

Both of these point guards are the primary scoring options on their respective teams. Paige, a 6-foot-1 sophomore, is averaging a team-high 17.4 points and 4.3 assists per game for the Tar Heels. In addition, the southpaw is practically the only threat from behind the arc as he accounts for 59 percent of North Carolina’s made three-pointers this season. Cotton also leads his team in scoring and assists with 21.4 and 5.8 per game respectively. The 6-foot-1 senior was crucial in Providence’s Big East tournament championship with 23 points in the title game against Creighton. Friday’s winner could very well be decided by the play of the point guard position. If the game comes down to one final possession, it will likely be Paige or Cotton taking the final shot for their respective team. With their clutch showings this season, either team with the ball would have to like their chances.

- Marcus Smart (Oklahoma State) vs. Gonzaga defense

Marcus Smart has been a premier point guard for Oklahoma State this season, averaging 17.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game for the Cowboys. The 6-foot-4, 220 pounder uses his size to attack smaller defenders off the dribble and finish at the rim. Gonzaga features a pair of smaller point guards in David Stockton (5-foot-11, 165 pounds) and Kevin Pangos (6-foot-2, 180 pounds). While both have played well this season, they’ll face a difficult task on the defensive end with Smart. If neither can find a way to keep Smart out of the lane, the Bulldogs could see the opposing guard have a big night. The Bulldogs may also use a 2-3 zone to try to exploit Smart’s 30 percent three-point shooting percentage. Defending Smart will be key in Gonzaga’s game plan and ultimate outcome.

- Old Cinderella vs. New Cinderella

Wichita State finds itself in an unfamiliar situation after being last year’s underdog story of the NCAA tournament. Last season, the ninth-seeded Shockers made a surprising Final Four run before falling to the eventual champion, Louisville. Now, Wichita enters this year’s tournament undefeated with a 34-0 record and number one seed although many have scrutinized their poor strength of schedule and lack of quality wins. This year, Cal Poly put together an improbable run after finishing the regular season 10-19 and winning the Big West tournament title to qualify for its first tournament appearance in school history. The Mustangs weren’t done there; however, as they defeated Texas Southern on Wednesday to advance and play the Shockers. Should Cal Poly be expected to hang with Wichita State? Probably not, as the Mustangs enter as 16-point underdogs, but it’s certainly a role reversal to watch and see how the Shockers respond. This could be a statement game for Wichita State or, although extremely unlikely, the most historic upset in the history of the NCAA Tournament.