———
WEST REGION
No. 2 Memphis (31-3) vs. No. 15 Cal St. Northridge (17-13), 9:25 a.m.
> Memphis, unbeaten since December, plays its first NCAA game since falling to Kansas in last year’s overtime final. Both teams like it fast, but the Tigers’ defense – allowing fewer than 57 ppg – figures to give Northridge fits.
No. 8 BYU (25-7) vs. No. 9 Texas A&M (23-9), 9:30 a.m.
> Deja vu. Last year these teams met in the first round when the Aggies won 67-62.
No. 5 Purdue (25-9) vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa (23-10), 11:30 a.m.
> Purdue righted itself in the Big Ten tourney and saw improved play from forward Robbie Hummel. G Kwadzo Ahelegbe leads Northern Iowa.
No. 1 Connecticut (24-7) vs. No. 16 Chattanooga (18-16), 11:50 a.m.
> UConn is looking to win its third national title in the past 10 years. Chattanooga leads the nation in free throw attempts with 925.
No. 7 California (22-10) vs. No. 10 Maryland (20-13), 11:55 a.m.
> Focus is on the perimeter. Jerome Randle and Patrick Christopher helped Cal lead the country in 3-point accuracy (43.4%); the Terps revolve around G Greivis Vasquez and don’t boast much inside.
No. 4 Washington (25-8) vs. No. 13 Mississippi State (23-12), 2 p.m.
> Mississippi State lives and die with the three-pointer. Washington’s five starters have a total of 35 blocked shots. MSU’s Jarvis Varnado has 165.
SOUTH REGION
No. 8 LSU (26-7) vs. No. 9 Butler (26-5), 9:20 a.m.
> LSU has the experience. Butler starts three freshmen, a sophomore and a junior but has won its last four first-round games. LSU starts three seniors, a junior and a sophomore.
No. 1 North Carolina (28-4) vs. No. 16 Radford (21-11), 11:40 a.m.
> North Carolina is a prohibitive favorite. But Tar Heels G Ty Lawson (toe) isn’t likely to play, and Radford is a rare 16-seed with size inside.
No. 7 Clemson (23-8) vs. No. 10 Michigan (20-13), 4:10 p.m.
> Up-tempo Clemson, with C Trevor Booker inside, averages 79 ppg. Michigan’s 1-3-1 zone defense hasn’t allowed more than 78 points.
No. 4 Gonzaga (26-5) vs. No. 13 Akron (23-12), 4:25 p.m.
> Akron is basically Gonzaga circa 1999, a mid-major that can play with the big boys. Gonzaga is a balanced team with a strong defense and good size and strong shooters.
No. 2 Oklahoma (27-5) vs. No. 15 Morgan State (23-11), 6:40 p.m.
> Sooners were thrown off-kilter by Blake Griffin’s concussion and 1 1/2-game absence in late February, losing four of six. Morgan State won at Maryland in December.
No. 5 Illinois (24-9) vs. No. 12 Western Kentucky (24-8), 6:55 p.m.
> The Illini will suffer if injured G Chester Frazier (hand) is unable to go. W. Kentucky is led by G A.J. Slaughter and Orlando Mendez-Valdez.
EAST REGION
No. 7 Texas (22-11) vs. No. 10 Minnesota (22-10), 4:10 p.m.
> This could turn on Damion or Damian. Damion James leads Texas, averaging 15.9 points and 9.4 rebounds. The 6-7 Damian Johnson averages 9.4 points and 2.1 blocks for Minnesota.
No. 3 Villanova (26-7) vs. No. 14 American (24-7), 4:20 p.m.
> F Dante Cunningham is difference-maker for Villanova; G Garrison Carr leads American.
No. 2 Duke (28-6) vs. No. 15 Binghamton (23-8), 6:30 p.m.
> Binghamton’s David Fine and Duke’s Greg Paulus played at Christian Brothers Academy near Syracuse from 2002-04.
No. 6 UCLA (25-8) vs. No. 11 Va. Commonwealth (24-9), 6:40 p.m.
> VCU G Eric Maynor hit the winning jumper with 1.8 seconds left to beat Duke in the first round of the 2007 tourney. UCLA still has G Darren Collison.
USA TODAY