Collegiate Times

FIRST ROUND
UPSET: NO. 12
ARIZONA OVER
NO. 5 UTAH

The Wildcats have shown that when playing to their potential they can beat high level competition. Although they have experienced more than a few bad losses - including five of their last six - 'Zona has beaten Gonzaga, Kansas, Washington, Southern California and UCLA. They have virtually no pressure  after being one of the last teams selected to the tournament. In addition, they started this year with lowered expectations after the untimely departure of long-time head coach Lute Olsen. Yet the Wildcats  have some extra motivation to play for interim head coach Russ Pennell who is unlikely to retain the job next season.

The team boasts a pair of junior forwards who are among the toughest players to guard in the country. Power forward Jordan Hill leads the way with 18.5 points per game and 11 rebounds a game. The 6-foot-10-inch, 235-pounder is as strong as he is athletic and shoots almost 55 percent a game from the field. Another potential NBA first round pick that is playing at small forward is super freak Chase Budinger. The nationally renowned volleyball player with a 40-plus inch vertical leap tallies almost 18 points per game while grabbing over six boards and dishing out 3.5 assists. The two March veterans have been to the dance in each of their first seasons, but after a couple of early round exits, the pair will be desperately trying to advance in what is likely their final collegiate season.

SLEEPER: WEST VIRGINIA

The Mountaineers are a typical Bob-Huggins-coached team. They play good defense, rebound, protect the basketball, drain free throws and play a physical brand of basketball. They have shown tremendous consistency the entire year. Of their eight conference losses this season, only one was against a team not in the Big Dance - a four-point road loss to Cincinnati. Of their seven other conference losses, an astounding five were against No. 1 seeds.

The last time they lost to an unranked opponent other than Cincinnati was on Dec. 9. WVU, however, has proven they can beat top-tier opponents. This was evident when they smacked Villanova by 21 points less than a month ago and more recently when they beat Pitt in the Big East tournament. If 6-foot-7-inch junior forward Da'Sean Butler can catch fire, which he did in lighting up Villanova for 43 points, then West Virginia has the ability to make a run in the tournament.

IMPACT PLAYER: TERRENCE WILLIAMS

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