At Pontiac, Mich.
Ohio State vs. St. John`s (Friday, 7:10 p.m., Ch. 2): The Buckeyes are hitting their stride again after a weak finish in the Big 10, but they hardly have dominated. Their shooting obviously has to improve after a 37 percent outing against Georgia Tech, and Treg Lee can only get better after a 3-for-12 day.
St. John`s is tested and smart. Though the Redmen may take a beating on the boards against the Buckeyes, they have some athletes of their own in Chucky Sproling, Malik Sealy and Robert Werdann.
Melissa Isaacson`s pick: St. John`s.
Category OSU StJ
Record 27-3 22-8
Avg points 85.0 72.6
Opp avg pts 67.4 67.6
Margin 17.6 5.0
Field goal pct .515 .454
Opp FG pct .425 .420
3-point pct .360 .340
Op 3-pt pct .362 .380
3-point per gm 3.2 2.8
Opp 3-pt per gm 4.1 4.7
Free throw pct .711 .700
Rebound avg 38.4 36.0
Opp reb avg 31.5 35.6
Assist avg 17.6 14.1
Avg steals 8.5 9.5
Avg frontcourt ht 6-9 1/4 6-9 1/2
Connecticut vs. Duke (Friday, 9 p.m., Ch. 2): Connecticut players have been looking forward to a rematch with Duke, which defeated the Huskies in overtime in last year`s regional final. The Huskies already have exceeded many people`s expectations and are on the upswing after a six-game losing streak midway through the Big East season.
Look for a classic defensive struggle, with Duke having the edge inside. Xavier coach Pete Gillen, whose team fell to Connecticut in the second round, favors Duke solely because of the presence of second-team All-America Christian Laettner, at 6 feet 11 inches, in the middle. The Huskies will counter with 6-9 Rod Sellers, who averaged 15.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in the Huskies` first two tournament games.
Melissa Isaacson`s pick: Duke.
Category Duke UConn
Record 28-7 20-10
Avg points 88.9 73.5
Opp avg pts 74.1 64.7
Margin 14.8 8.8
Field goal pct .523 .460
Opp FG pct .446 .385
3-point pct .370 .358
Opp 3-point pct .331 .307
3-point per gm 4.4 3.7
Opp 3-pt per gm 3.9 4.3
Free throw pct .724 .618
Rebound avg 37.2 38.0
Opp reb avg 34.1 37.8
Assist avg 17.8 14.2
Avg steals 9.4 10.6
Avg frontcourt ht 6-8 1/2 6-7 1/2
Final Four-cast: In Sunday`s regional final at 3 p.m., Duke over St. John`s. The Blue Devils would be too tough inside and too deep in going for their fifth Final Four berth in six years.
EAST
At East Rutherford, N.J.
Eastern Michigan vs. North Carolina (Friday, 6:32 p.m.): This is the wackiest region of them all, a region with two expected survivors (No. 1 seed Carolina and No. 3 Oklahoma State) and two that came out of the blue (No. 10 Temple and No. 12 Eastern Michigan). But this weekend, look for it to return to form.
North Carolina is just too big, deep and experienced for the surprising Hurons out of the MAC. Eastern is a senior-oriented team and is among the top 10 shooting teams in the country, but it has a problem with size.
The center, Marcus Kennedy, is only 6 feet 7 inches, and flanking him on the front line are 6-8 Kory Hallas and 6-4 Carl Thomas. Kennedy is a rugged force inside, but the Tar Heels are sure to wear him down.
Skip Myslenski`s pick: N. Carolina.
Category NC EMU
Record 27-5 26-6
Avg points 88.3 78.3
Opp avg pts 71.5 66.8
Margin 16.8 11.5
Field goal pct .507 .516
Opp FG pct .417 .431
3-point pct .401 .391
Opp 3-point pct .314 .404
3-point per game 5.5 5.1
Opp 3-pt per gm 5.5 5.1
Free throw pct .700 .728
Rebound avg 41.7 34.9
Opp reb avg 34.7 31.2
Assist avg 20.4 18.2
Avg steals 9.2 8.0
Avg frontcourt ht-x 6-8 3/4 6-5 1/2
Temple vs. Oklahoma State (Friday, 9 p.m.): Temple has size along its front line, yet still relies heavily on defense, caring for the basketball and 6-5 senior guard Mark Macon. The first two of those tenets are also the foundations of Oklahoma State, the latest creation of the defensive-minded Eddie Sutton. The Cowboys` size is not quite as big as the Owls`, yet Sutton- when faced with a team centered on a single player-is renowned for finding a way to shut that player down.
Skip Myslenski`s pick: Okla. St.
Category OklSt Temp
Record 23-9 24-7
Avg pts 80.1 69.8
Opp avg pts 66.0 63.7
Margin 13.9 6.1
Field goal pct .500 .439
Opp FG pct .422 .430
3-pt pct .421 .372
Opp 3-pt pct .342 .367
3-pt per game 3.9 6.3
Opp 3-pt per gm 3.9 6.9
Free throw pct .681 .685
Rebound avg 36.9 33.4
Opp reb avg 34.1 35.0
Assist avg 17.0 11.5
Avg steals 8.0 10.2
x-Avg frontcourt ht 6-8 1/4 6-8 3/4
Final Four-cast: North Carolina over Oklahoma State in Sunday`s regional final at 12:40 p.m. State`s patient Cowboys may stay close for awhile, but ultimately Carolina`s superior talent will give it this game in a walk.
WEST
At Seattle
UNLV vs. Utah (Thursday, 9:30 p.m.): Rick Majerus, the former Marquette and Ball State coach, has done one of this season`s best coaching jobs out in Utah, but his surprising Utes are no match for the defending champs. Josh Grant, their forward, is a splendid all-around performer, but surrounding him are bit players who magically have caught the tail of a comet and ridden it into the round of 16. It burns out from under them when they face the top-ranked Runnin` Rebels Thursday in Seattle.
Skip Myslenski`s pick: UNLV.
Category UNLV Utah
Record 32-0 30-3
Avg points 99.5 74.0
Opp avg pts 71.1 63.7
Margin 28.4 10.3
Field goal pct .538 .456
Opp FG pct .396 .416
3-point pct .415 .383
Opp 3-pt pct .371 .302
3-point per gm 8.3 5.5
Opp 3-pt per gm 6.1 3.8
Free throw pct .703 .702
Rebound avg 43.3 37.8
Opp reb avg 35.1 32.7
Assist avg 25.6 15.8
Avg steals 11.5 7.5
Avg frontcourt ht-x 6-8 1/2 6-6 3/4
Arizona vs. Seton Hall (Thursday, 7:10 p.m., Ch. 2): Lute Olson`s Arizona team loomed through the season as UNLV`s greatest threat, but now Seton Hall- which won this region just two years ago-has taken over that role. It won the postseason tourney of the rugged Big East, and proved there to possess the will and the mettle a team needs to succeed here, so deep in the tourney. The Wildcats, with three players at least 6 feet 10 inches, certainly will try to take advantage of their height. But playing in the Pac-10, they rarely face the constant, aggressive, withering pressure the Hall will throw at them. That pressure ultimately will break their very average guards.
Skip Myslenski`s pick: Seton Hall.
Category Ariz StnHll
Record 28-6 24-8
Avg points 86.6 78.8
Opp avg pts 71.4 68.6
Margin 15.2 10.2
Field goal pct .515 .491
Opp FG pct .395 .400
3-point pct .385 .418
Opp 3-pt pct .314 .365
3-point per gm 5.1 6.2
Opp 3-pt per gm 5.3 4.7
Free throw pct .681 .753
Rebound avg 40.9 36.8
Opp reb avg 35.6 32.5
Assist avg 18.7 15.2
Avg steals 8.0 7.6
Avg frontcourt ht-x 6-10 1/2 6-8
Final Four-cast: In Saturday`s final at 6:03 p.m., UNLV over Seton Hall. If this scenario plays out, look for Vegas to be tested severely in the regional final Saturday. The Rebs won`t intimidate a team tempered in the Big East (see their game last Sunday with Georgetown). But, with the better talent, they will win.
SOUTHEAST
At Charlotte, N.C.
Arkansas vs. Alabama (Thursday, 6:40 p.m.): Veteran pro coach Dick Motta used to look first to two items on the stat sheet: offensive rebounds, because they represent extra scoring opportunities gained, and turnovers, because they are scoring opportunities lost. In beating Wake Forest on Sunday, Wimp Sanderson`s well-coached Tide crashed the boards for 15 offensive rebounds and committed just five turnovers. Alabama limited Wake Forest to seven offensive boards and forced 12 turnovers. But Arkansas` press should force more than five turnovers and wear down the Tide.
Bill Jauss` pick: Arkansas.
Category Ark Bama
Record 33-3 23-9
Avg points 100.2 78.4
Opp avg pts 80.3 71.9
Margin 19.9 6.5
Field goal pct .505 .470
Opp FG pct .446 .424
3-point pct .382 .399
Opp 3-pt pct .362 .319
3-point per gm 6.3 5.1
Opp 3-pt per gm 4.9 5.4
Free throw pct .731 .712
Rebound avg 40.4 40.0
Opp reb avg 41.0 36.3
Assist avg 21.8 13.7
Average steals 15.8 12.8
Avg frontcourt ht 6-8 6-8
Indiana vs. Kansas (Thursday, 9:10 p.m., Ch. 2): Both teams are well-coached, run similar motion offenses, have big men who can shoot and exercise good shot selection. Bob Knight, however, has more shooters than Roy Williams.
Indiana is not a good rebounding team, but Knight can put five excellent scorers on the floor. Calbert Cheaney is almost unstoppable when he cuts to get open. Eric Anderson always moves. Pat Graham can drill threes. Greg Graham is quicker than Kansas guard Adonis Jordan. And Damon Bailey, freshman or not, is capable of directing this team.
Bill Jauss` pick: Indiana.
Category Ind Kan
Record 29-4 24-7
Avg pts. 85.4 84.6
Opp avg pts 68.8 69.2
Margin 16.6 15.4
FG pct .535 .528
Opp FG pct .432 .430
3-pt pct .408 .400
Opp 3-pt pct. .379 .341
3-pt per game 3.5 5.6
Opp 3-pt per gm 4.7 4.2
Free throw pct .730 .619
Rebound avg 34.1 37.3
Opp reb avg 33.7 34.7
Assist avg 18.9 18.9
Avg steals 7.4 9.6
Avg frontcourt ht 6-8 6-6 3/4
Final Four-cast: In Saturday`s regional final at 3:40 p.m., Indiana over Arkansas. Knight flashed a possible method of upsetting Arkansas in the second half against Florida State, when he played three guards who can drive, dish and shoot the trey.
