DENVER — For the second straight year, Washington State guard Derrick Low will perform front and center on college basketball's biggest stage when the NCAA Tournament tips off with first-round action today.

But when Low — a 2004 'Iolani School graduate from Honolulu — and the Cougars take the court at 1:20 p.m. (Hawai'i time) against Winthrop in Denver's Pepsi Center, this time they will be the hunted instead of the hunters.

Washington State was a Cinderella story last year, going from an 11-17 record the season before to 26-8 and the second round of March Madness.

But this year, it's the East No. 4 seed Cougars (24-8) who have the target on their back against the No. 13 seed and sentimental favorite Eagles (22-11).

"This year has been a lot different," Low, a 6-foot-2 senior, said during yesterday's press conference at the Pepsi Center. "All the years before this we've always been the hunters and we've kind of been the underdogs, the team that no one would expect anything from and we would just come out and surprise a lot people.

"But with the success we had last season, things started to change for us and now the roles are switched. It just brings out the best in every team every night that we play. They want to come after us."

Expect no less from Winthrop, a dangerous team that is playing with the unbridled passion of a fallen teammate.

De'Andre Adams, who would have been a junior guard this year, died last May 16 in a single car accident just two months after helping the Eagles notch their first NCAA Tournament victory.

At the end of that upset win over Notre Dame, Adams was photographed jumping up and down like a little kid near the Winthrop bench. The picture was turned into a banner that now hangs in the Eagles' home arena.

"That image is how we want to honor him, we want to play with the same energy and passion," said Winthrop senior guard Michael Jenkins, who scored 33 points in the Eagles' victory over North Carolina-Ashville for the Big South Conference championship. "We've dedicated this season to him."

Washington State, however, is still riding its own inspiring story that began nearly five years ago when Low and two other current seniors first committed to play for the Cougars.

At the time, Washington State was at the bottom of the Pac-10 Conference, with a combined 3-36 league record the previous two years. Low suffered a broken foot in each of his first two seasons, during which the Cougars finished a combined 23-33, including 11-25 in the Pac-10.

"Their story, it's remarkable," Washington State coach Tony Bennett said of his seniors. "When you come in and get knocked around like that group has ... and then see it turn, like Derrick and Kyle (Weaver) and Robbie (Cowgill) have, I think it's that much sweeter."

It reached the point where Low — one of 30 nominees for the Wooden Award that will go to the nation's best player — is among college basketball's elite.

"Low, to me, would be one of my favorite players as I'm watching them because I think he's got great pace," Winthrop coach Randy Peete said. "When you watch him cut off screens, he changes speed and he cuts really hard. The other thing is he's got a great shot fake on his catch, he has an ability to create space.

"I think the bottom line is, he's a shot-maker."

Many people who have been watching Low make shots since his youth basketball days will be at the Pepsi Center today to watch him play. The group of about 15 includes his father, Ken, older brother, Dustin, 'Iolani coach Mark Mugiishi and assistant Dean Shimamoto, best friend Ryan Hirata and his father, Clyde.

"It's always good to see all my friends and family like that," Low said. "This year they've been making a lot more effort to come and watch me play in person, I guess because it's the last time and they're not going to get another chance to watch me play a home game, a 'Senior Night' game or an NCAA Tournament game, so they're all coming to support and I think that's fun.

"Just seeing them makes me reminisce about back when I was growing up, being coached by Ryan's dad, playing intermediate basketball with Coach Dean and then varsity with Doc.

"It just brings me back, makes me think of all the people who helped me out back then, and it makes me thankful for all of them."

NCAA TOURNAMENT

ALL TIMES HAWAI'I

TODAY'S FIRST ROUND GAMES

EAST REGIONAL

AT THE PEPSI CENTER

DENVER

Washington State (24-8) vs. Winthrop (22-11), 1:20 p.m.

Notre Dame (24-7) vs. George Mason (23-10), 30 minutes following.

SOUTH REGIONAL

AT THE PEPSI CENTER

DENVER

Michigan State (25-8) vs. Temple (21-12), 6:30 a.m.

Pittsburgh (26-9) vs. Oral Roberts (24-8), 30 minutes following.

AT THE HONDA CENTER

Anaheim, Calif.

Marquette (24-9) vs. Kentucky (18-12), 8:30 a.m.

Stanford (26-7) vs. Cornell (22-5)), 25 minutes following.

MIDWEST REGIONAL

AT QWEST CENTER OMAHA

Omaha, Neb.

Kansas (31-3) vs. Portland State (23-9), 6:25 a.m.

UNLV (26-7) vs. Kent State (28-6), 30 minutes following.

Southern Cal (21-11) vs. Kansas State (20-11), 1:10 p.m.

Wisconsin (29-4) vs. Cal State Fullerton (24-8), 30 minutes following.

WEST REGIONAL

AT THE VERIZON CENTER

WASHINGTON

Xavier (27-6) vs. Georgia (17-16), 6:20 a.m.

Purdue (24-8) vs. Baylor (21-10), 30 minutes following.

Duke (27-5) vs. Belmont (25-8), 1:10 p.m.

West Virginia (24-10) vs. Arizona (19-14), 30 minutes following.

AT THE HONDA CENTER

Anaheim, Calif.

BYU (27-7) vs. Texas A&M (24-10), 1:25 p.m.

UCLA (31-3) vs. Mississippi Valley State (17-15), 25 minutes following.

Read Wes' blog on prep sports at http://blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.