Capsules for NCAA Tournament games to be played on Friday
TODAY'S GAMES
A look at today's 16 first-round NCAA Tournament games:
EAST REGIONAL
No. 4 Texas (24-9) vs. No. 13 New Mexico State (25-8), Spokane, Wash., 4:25 p.m.: Texas has ridden uber-freshman Kevin Durant this far; you have to figure the Longhorns can ride him through this one, too. New Mexico State, though, has a ton of good athletes, and if the Aggies' 3-pointers are falling (they hit 39.2 percent as a team), this could be mighty interesting. Former UNLV great Reggie Theus coaches the Aggies.
No. 5 Southern California (23-11) vs. No. 12 Arkansas (21-12), Spokane, Wash., 6:55 p.m.: The Razorbacks might have been the last team in the field; they have underachieved all season. They have a size advantage on the Trojans, but then again, they've had the same advantage on almost everybody all season. USC is well coached and plays tough defense. Plus, Arkansas doesn't have anyone who can handle USC swingman Nick Young.
SOUTH REGIONAL
No. 4 Virginia (20-10) vs. No. 13 Albany (23-9), Columbus, Ohio, 9:15 a.m.: The Cavaliers are overseeded, but they do have an excellent guard duo in J.R. Reynolds and Sean Singletary. Albany has a good guard of its own in Jamar Wilson. Albany can be sloppy with the ball and must hit 3-pointers to pull the upset.
No. 2 Memphis (30-3) vs. No. 15 North Texas (23-10), New Orleans, 9:30 a.m.: North Texas has several good athletes, but they're not really skilled basketball players. Memphis is overseeded, but the Tigers should cruise.
No. 5 Tennessee (22-10) vs. No. 12 Long Beach State (24-7), Columbus, Ohio, 11:45 a.m.: This has the potential to be a memorable matchup. Both want a fast-paced game, and both play a scrambling, pressure defense. Tennessee guard Chris Lofton has great range and isn't afraid to shoot from anywhere. Long Beach State has four guys like that. A game in the 80s seems likely.
No. 7 UNR (28-4) vs. No. 10 Creighton (22-10), New Orleans, noon: A great mid-major matchup. UNR forward Nick Fazekas will be the best player on the floor, but the well-coached Bluejays have a few studs of their own in guard Nate Funk and forward Anthony Tolliver. Creighton plays tough defense and won't let UNR play the fast pace it wants. If Funk has a big game (at least 20 points), Creighton wins.
MIDWEST REGIONAL
No. 7 UNLV (28-6) vs. No. 10 Georgia Tech (20-11), Chicago, 9:25 a.m.; UNLV hasn't gotten much publicity this season, and consider this: The Rebels haven't won an NCAA game since 1991. Tech is young and talented but has struggled away from home. The experienced Rebels will look to limit Tech's fast-break points; if they can do that adequately, they win.
No. 6 Notre Dame (24-7) vs. No. 11 Winthrop (28-4), Spokane, Wash, 11:35 a.m.: Another superb first-round matchup. Winthrop has been almost overhyped, but the Eagles can play. Their problem? So can the Irish. The Irish like to shoot 3-pointers, but as long as Winthrop can keep the Irish big men from controlling things down low, it can win.
No. 2 Wisconsin (29-5) vs. No. 15 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (26-6), Chicago, 11:55 a.m.: Corpus Christi shoots 52.3 percent from the field, second in the nation. But the Islanders haven't seen anyone who plays defense like the Badgers. Plus, they have no one who can stop Wisconsin forward Alando Tucker.
No. 3 Oregon (26-7) vs. No. 14 Miami of Ohio (18-14), Spokane, Wash., 2:05 p.m.: Oregon wants a game in the 80s; Miami wants it in the mid-50s. The Ducks have far more talent, but if they let Miami control the tempo, they're in trouble.
No. 8 Arizona (20-10) vs. No. 9 Purdue (21-11), New Orleans, 4:20 p.m.: Arizona has a ton of talent. The thing is, the Wildcats often play lackadaisical defense and don't always take good shots or take care of the ball. Still, for Purdue to win, forward Carl Landry has to come up big.
No. 1 Florida (29-5) vs. No. 16 Jackson State (21-13), New Orleans, 6:50 p.m.: Jackson State guard Trey Johnson is a big-time scorer, but he has no help. The Gators should feast in the paint. Jackson State was 2-1 against Southern, a team Florida beat by 56.
WEST REGIONAL
No. 1 Kansas (30-4) vs. No. 16 Niagara (23-11), Chicago, 4:10 p.m.: Niagara won the play-in game Tuesday, and the reward is a game with the athletic, high-flying, up-tempo Jayhawks. Kansas has lost in the first round in each of the past two seasons. That won't happen this season.
No. 5 Virginia Tech (21-11) vs. No. 12 Illinois (23-11), Columbus, Ohio, 4:10 p.m.: Virginia Tech guards Zabian Dowdell and Jamon Gordon should be too much for their Illini counterparts. Illinois plays good defense. As for offense, let's just say the Illini play good defense.
No. 8 Kentucky (21-11) vs. No. 9 Villanova (22-10), Chicago, 6:40 p.m.: The "Tubby Watch" will intensify if Kentucky loses this. Look for Villanova to go right at Wildcats center Randolph "Maybe I'll Show up, Maybe I Won't" Morris. Villanova guard Scottie Reynolds has been on fire the past month, and if he and forward Curtis Sumpter play well, Kentucky is going home.
No. 4 Southern Illinois (27-6) vs. No. 13 Holy Cross (25-8), Columbus, Ohio, 6:40 p.m.: Holy Cross will want to slow the pace. That's fine with Southern Illinois, which prefers a grind-it-out, defensive-minded game. One thing: Southern Illinois sometimes struggles to score, so if guards Jamaal Tatum and Tony Young are off from the outside, the Salukis are in trouble.
MIKE HUGUENIN/THE ORLANDO SENTINEL