What To Look For

* The draw: The last two NCAA champions--Kentucky and Arizona--are in this regional, plus 1998 runner-up Utah. Kansas can put its tradition up against any school’s, but the Jayhawks haven’t made the Final Four since 1993 and have their weakest team in years. Michigan State is the No. 1-seeded team, but the margin separating the top four teams is slim.

* Best first-round game: Seventh-seeded Washington versus No. 10 Miami of Ohio. The matchup features two players NBA scouts will be interested in, Todd MacCulloch of Washington (because he’s a 7-footer) and Wally Szczerbiak of Miami (because he has game). The Huskies generated preseason interest based on their Sweet 16 appearance last year, stumbled early and then played some of the best ball in the Pacific 10 for a stretch. Miami was in the top 25 early and late in the season, but lost three of its last six games. We’ll quickly find out which team is for real.

* Sleeper: Rhode Island. It may not make sense to consider a team that narrowly missed a trip to the Final Four last season a sleeper, Jim Harrick’s team didn’t make this NCAA tournament until a last-second victory over Temple in the Atlantic 10 final. They have a great player in Lamar Odom, who can lead them to a victory or two and is eager to showcase his skills for the NBA.

* Upset in the making: Eleventh-seeded Evansville over No. 6 Kansas. When the Jayhawks have flamed out in recent years it has been because they couldn’t match their opponents’ shooting. Well, the Aces were third in the nation with 51.1% shooting and made 41% of their three-point attempts.

* Impact coach: Kentucky’s Tubby Smith. He has made a name for himself by consistently getting it done in March. Smith has taken teams to the tournament six consecutive seasons, at three schools (also Tulsa and Georgia). He has reached the Sweet 16 four times and won the national championship last year. His tournament record is 12-4.

* Impact player: Utah’s Andre Miller. It’s a regional loaded with great point guards, among them Mateen Cleaves of Michigan State, Jason Terry of Arizona, and Wayne Turner of Kentucky. But Miller stands above them all. What makes him the most valuable is his ability to do whatever his team needs at crucial times. His triple-double in the West Regional final against Arizona last year was one of the NCAA tournament’s great performances. And he has guided this season’s team, with inferior talent, to a 22-game winning streak.

* The pick: Arizona. Coach Lute Olson’s teams tend to fare better when less is expected, and with a No. 4 seeding the Wildcats are in perfect striking position. Top-seeded Michigan State likes to play up-tempo, which will play into Arizona’s hands should the teams meet in the regional semifinals in St. Louis.