WHAT: NCAA Tournament, Sweet Sixteen.
WHO/WHEN: No. 3 Minnesota vs. No. 2 Baylor,
7 p.m. Saturday, ESPN; No. 1 North Carolina at No. 5 ASU, 9:30 p.m. Saturday, ESPN2, KDUS 1060 AM.
WHERE: Wells Fargo Arena.
TICKETS: Student tickets are on sale at the Sun Devil Ticket Office, located at the Carson Student-Athlete Center. Phone orders may be placed by calling (480) 965-2381. Tickets are $15 for Saturday's session or $20 for the Saturday and Monday sessions.
BREAKDOWN: ASU is the lowest-seeded team in the Tempe Regional, but owns a distinct home court advantage. The Sun Devils are 25-2 at Wells Fargo Arena the past two seasons and have won 12 consecutive non-conference home games. North Carolina has looked untouchable, winning 15 consecutive games, including a pair of routs in the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Like North Carolina, Baylor has just three losses. The Bears have benefited from playing in the competitive Big 12 Conference. With third-year coach Pam Borton at the helm, Minnesota can't be overlooked. The Golden Gophers are hungry for a return trip to the Final Four.
ASU
NICKNAME: Sun Devils.
LOCATION: Tempe.
ENROLLMENT: 45,693.
2004-05 RECORD: 24-9.
COACH: Charli Turner Thorne, ninth year.
STARTING LINEUP: G Kylan Loney, G Carrie Buckner, F Emily Westerberg, F Aubree Johnson, F Kristen Kovesdy.
WHAT TO KNOW: The fifth-seeded Sun Devils place heavy emphasis on defense, often wearing down opponents with their aggressiveness on the perimeter. They're balanced offensively, as contributions come from lots of different players. Senior point guard Kylan Loney might have to wear a protective mask because of a slight fracture to her nose that she suffered Monday against fourth-seeded Notre Dame.
NORTH CAROLINA
NICKNAME: Tar Heels.
LOCATION: Chapel Hill, N.C.
ENROLLMENT: 25,972.
2004-05 RECORD: 29-3.
COACH: Sylvia Hatchell, 19th year.
STARTING LINEUP: G La'Tangela Atkinson, G Ivory Latta, F Camille Little, F Nikita Bell, C Erlana Larkins.
WHAT TO KNOW: Fueled by sophomore sensation Ivory Latta, top-seeded North Carolina has won 15 consecutive games. The Tar Heels are trying to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time since the 1997-98 season. Freshman center Erlana Larkins had to be taken off the court in a wheelchair Tuesday after suffering severe leg cramps in North Carolina's 71-47 win over ninth-seeded George Washington. She's expected to play Saturday against ASU.
SHINING STARS
NAME: Kylan Loney.
SCHOOL: ASU.
YEAR: Senior.
POSITION: Guard.
HEIGHT: 5 foot 7.
HOMETOWN: Ames, Iowa.
FAST FACTS: Has provided senior leadership for a team loaded with playmakers. Is smooth in transition and isn't afraid to take the big shot from the outside. Averages 9.5 points and 3.0 assists.
NAME: Ivory Latta.
SCHOOL: North Carolina.
YEAR: Sophomore.
POSITION: Guard.
HEIGHT: 5 foot 6.
HOMETOWN: McConnells, S.C.
FAST FACTS: Former Homecoming queen has emerged as a go-to player for one of the nation's fastest-rising teams. Has been known to bust a dance move on the court from time to time and always likes getting the crowd involved. Leads North Carolina in averaging 17.2 points and 4.5 assists.
NAME: Sophia Young.
SCHOOL: Baylor.
YEAR: Junior.
POSITION: Forward.
HEIGHT: 6 foot 1.
HOMETOWN: St. Vincent, West Indies.
FAST FACTS: Nickname is "So-So," but she's anything but average. Earned second-team All-America honors and first-team All-Big 12 accolades and was named Most Valuable Player of the Big 12 Tournament. Paces Baylor in averaging 17.8 points and 9.3 rebounds.
NAME: Janel McCarville.
SCHOOL: Minnesota.
YEAR: Senior.
POSITION: Center.
HEIGHT: 6 foot 2.
HOMETOWN: Stevens Point, Wis.
FAST FACTS: Is powerful on the low block and can pass like a perimeter player. Spearheaded Minnesota's Final Four run last season. Averages a double-double with 16.2 points and 10.4 rebounds.
-- Compiled by Brian Gomez
OTHER GAMES
TEMPE REGIONAL
Tempe, Wells Fargo Arena.
No. 2 Baylor vs. No. 3 Minnesota, 7 p.m. Saturday, ESPN: Many experts have Baylor winning, so a victory over Minnesota would seem like nothing more than a formality, right? It might not be that easy, as Minnesota senior center Janel McCarville could cause problems. Still, it's Baylor's game to lose.
No. 1 North Carolina at No. 5 ASU, 9:30 p.m. Saturday, ESPN2: North Carolina is the higher seed, but ASU has home court advantage. The Sun Devils have won 25 of their last 27 games at Wells Fargo Arena. If ASU can't get its offense going early, it could be in for a long night. The Tar Heels are shooting for their 16th consecutive victory.
CHATTANOOGA REGIONAL
Chattanooga, Tenn., McKenzie Arena.
No. 1 Louisiana State vs. No. 13 Liberty, 10 a.m. Saturday, ESPN: Liberty has emerged as the Cinderella team of the NCAA Tournament, knocking off fourth-seeded Penn State and fifth-seeded DePaul to reach the Sweet Sixteen. But LSU is fresh off a blowout of ninth-seeded UA. The Tigers should continue to roll.
No. 2 Duke vs. No. 6 Georgia, 12:30 p.m. Saturday, ESPN: After squeaking by third-seeded Texas, Georgia has Duke in its sights. However, Duke's postseason experience looms large. Expect the Blue Devils to win in a close game.
KANSAS CITY REGIONAL
Kansas City, Mo., Municipal Auditorium.
No. 1 Michigan State vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt, 5:30 p.m. Sunday, ESPN2: One of the nation's highest-scoring teams, Vanderbilt will try to run every opportunity it gets. Michigan State struggled against eighth-seeded USC, but did enough to advance. It will attempt to slow down the pace. This game could go either way.
No. 2 Stanford vs. No. 3 Connecticut, 8 p.m. Sunday, ESPN2: In the most intriguing Sweet Sixteen matchup, three-time defending national champion Connecticut wants to show it still has some magic left. Stanford has something to prove after getting overlooked for a No. 1 seed. UConn isn't the team it was the past couple years. Expect Stanford to expose UConn's deficiencies.
PHILADELPHIA REGIONAL
Philadelphia, Liacouras Center.
No. 1 Tennessee vs. No. 4 Texas Tech, 10 a.m. Sunday, ESPN: Tennessee coach Pat Summitt just picked up her 880th career win, proving her program is still the cream of the crop. The Vols shouldn't have too much trouble against Texas Tech.
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Rutgers, 12:30 p.m. Sunday, ESPN: Flipping a coin might be a good way to choose a winner between these teams. Rutgers is coming off an impressive win over sixth-seeded Temple, while upstart Ohio State looks to continue its dream season. The game could come down to how well Rutgers defends Big Ten Player of the Year Jessica Davenport.
-- Compiled by Kyle Odegard
MORE TEAM INFORMATION:
BAYLOR
NICKNAME: Bears.
LOCATION: Waco, Texas.
ENROLLMENT: 13,937.
2004-05 RECORD: 29-3.
COACH: Kim Mulkey-Robertson, fifth year.
STARTING LINEUP: G Chelsea Whitaker, G Chameka Scott, F Sophia Young, F Abiola Wabara, C Steffanie Blackmon.
WHAT TO KNOW: The second-seeded Bears advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the second straight season on the strength of a 69-46 win over 10th-seeded Oregon. Their 29 wins are the most since the 1980-81 season, when they also won 29 games. Baylor is scrappy on defense, holding opponents to just 60 points per game.
MINNESOTA
NICKNAME: Golden Gophers.
LOCATION: Minneapolis.
ENROLLMENT: 50,954.
2004-05 RECORD: 26-7.
COACH: Pam Borton, third year.
STARTING LINEUP: G April Calhoun, G Shannon Schonrock, F Shannon Bolden, F Jamie Broback, C Janel McCarville.
WHAT TO KNOW: The third-seeded Golden Gophers are hoping to turn the corner after advancing to the Final Four last season for the first time in school history. Coach Pam Borton has sparked new life in a program that didn't make its first Sweet Sixteen appearance until the 2002-03 season. Senior center Janel McCarville has her own bobblehead pin, available for $7 at www.gophermall.com.
-- Compiled by Brian Gomez
