Elevator

Tubby Smith: Kentucky fans don't miss him, but he's making his second straight NCAA appearance with Minnesota after a big run to the Big Ten tournament final.

Morgan State: Team has devoted its season to redshirt freshman Anthony Anderson, who has leukemia.

James Anderson: Oklahoma State guard, who's averaging 22.6 points, challenges a tough Georgia Tech defense.

Observations

Duke guard Nolan Smith is excited about a possible second-round matchup with Louisville because his father, the late Derek Smith, played there.

After seeing how Louisville disposed of No.1 seed Syracuse twice this season, though, it appears that the Blue Devils would be better off rooting for California to defeat the Cardinals today.

Plus, after all the controversy Rick Pitino's been through in the last season with regard to his personal life, it would be nice to see Louisville make a quick, quiet exit from this tournament.

Florida State and the ACC caught a break when Gonzaga had to travel all the way to Buffalo for a first-round game.

It's the second long trip in three years for the Zags. Fans in Raleigh will remember Gonzaga's trip to the RBC Center that marked the beginning of Davidson's magical run to the Elite Eight in 2008.

Some analysts have tried to say Ohio State deserved a No.1 seed, perhaps even ahead of Duke.

There's not much justification for that. The Buckeyes were No.22 in the RPI (Ratings Percentage Index). Duke was No.3 in the RPI.

And Ohio State lost to North Carolina on a neutral court. Tar Heel fans don't need to be reminded of what Duke did to North Carolina this season.

It's good to see Wofford - which plays Wisconsin today in Jacksonville, Fla. - in the NCAA tournament.

Wofford's athletics director, Richard Johnson, is a former basketball coach there who's highly respected and is a member of the NCAA men's basketball issues committee.

You know he's loving this.

Duke showed a nice touch at the end of its open practice Thursday.

The players waved their hands to thank the fans for coming, then were given blue Duke T-shirts to toss into the crowd. Freshman Andre Dawkins made sure to throw his to a little girl, who appeared to be about 4 years old. That was a classy way to end the day.

By the numbers

13.8 Fouls per game for Siena, which commits the fewest in Division I. The Saints would be smart to keep Purdue, which has made 72.6 percent of its free throws, off the foul line.

27.5 Points per game for national scoring leader Aubrey Coleman of Houston, who meets a well-drilled defensive team in Maryland today.

9-3 Texas A&M's record in its past 12 games. The losses were to No.1 seed Kansas (twice) and No.3 seed Baylor.

0-5 Clemson coach Oliver Purnell's record in the NCAA tournament.

Predictions

EAST REGIONAL

West Virginia over Morgan State: Not getting No.1 seed should motivate WVU.

Missouri over Clemson: Missouri senior guards will handle Clemson's press.

Temple over Cornell: Cornell's 3-point shooting can't overcome lack of athletic ability.

Wisconsin over Wofford: Terriers can't handle Badgers' size.

SOUTH REGIONAL

Duke over Arkansas-Pine Bluff: Big three won't need to play 40 minutes apiece tonight.

Louisville over California: Pac-10 vs. Big East equals mismatch.

Siena over Purdue: Boilermakers aren't the same without Robbie Hummel.

Texas A&M over Utah State: A&M forward Donald Sloan has at least 10 points in 16 straight games.

MIDWEST REGIONAL

Oklahoma State over Georgia Tech: Yellow Jackets worn out from ACC tournament.

Ohio State over UC Santa Barbara: UCSB can't stop Evan Turner.

Michigan State over New Mexico State: Tom Izzo is one of the best tournament coaches ever.

Maryland over Houston: Greivis Vasquez is every bit as good as Aubrey Coleman.

WEST REGIONAL

Florida State over Gonzaga: Solomon Alabi will prevail over big Gonzaga front line.

Syracuse over Vermont: Orange's two-game mini-losing streak ends.

Xavier over Minnesota: Musketeers always a threat to go deep in the tournament.

Pittsburgh over Oakland: Panthers still smarting from 2009 heartbreak vs. Villanova.