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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 9:43 p.m., Wednesday, March 18, 2009

CBKB: NCAA regional capsules: Thursday's games at Greensboro, N.C.

USA Today

Games involving South and East regions. All Hawaii times.

SOUTH REGION

No. 8 LSU (26-7) vs. No. 9 Butler (26-5)

Tip-off: 6:20 a.m.

Coaches: Trent Johnson (LSU), Brad Stevens (Butler).

Overview: LSU has the experience. Butler starts three freshmen, a sophomore and a junior, and has no seniors on the roster. LSU starts three seniors, a junior and a sophomore. Both schools won conference regular-season titles.

Difference-makers: LSU -- G Marcus Thornton (20.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg, Southeastern Conference player of the year); G Garrett Temple (7.2 ppg, 57 steals, first-team all-SEC defense); F Tasmin Mitchell (16.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg). Butler -- F Matt Howard (14.6 ppg, 54.8 fg%, 6.7 rpg, 62.4 fg% in last 10 games); G Gordon Haywood (13.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 45.0 3fg%); G Shelvin Mack (11.7 ppg, team-leading 3.5 apg).

Stattitude: Butler has won a first-round game in its last four tournament appearances.

No. 1 North Carolina (28-4) vs. No. 16 Radford (21-11)

Tip-off: approx. 8:40 a.m.

Coaches: Roy Williams (North Carolina), Brad Greenberg (Radford).

Overview: North Carolina is making its 41st appearance in the NCAA tournament, Radford its second. The Tar Heels are a No. 1 seed for a 13th time. A 16-seed has never won. For all these reasons and more, UNC is a prohibitive favorite. But Tar Heels G Ty Lawson (toe) isn't likely to play, and Radford is a rare 16-seed with size inside.

Difference-makers: North Carolina -- F Tyler Hansbrough (21.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg, three points from being Atlantic Coast Conference's all-time leader); G Wayne Ellington (15.2 ppg); F-G Danny Green (13.3 ppg, only UNC player ever with at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists, 100 blocks, 100 steals). Radford -- C Artsiom Parakhouski (16.3 ppg, 11.2 rpg); G Amir Johnson (9.6 ppg, Big South-leading 5.2 apg); G Kenny Thomas (14.8 ppg).

Stattitude: The Tar Heels are 25-1 in NCAA tournament games played in North Carolina.

EAST REGION

No. 7 Texas (22-11) vs. No. 10 Minnesota (22-10)

Tip-off: 1:10 p.m.

Coaches: Rick Barnes (Texas), Tubby Smith (Minnesota).

Overview: The Gophers apply Smith's usual pressure defense, and Texas can knock you around. This could turn on Damion or Damian. Damion James leads Texas averaging 15.9 points and 9.4 rebounds. The 6-7 Damian Johnson averages 9.4 points and 2.1 blocks for Minnesota.

Difference makers: Texas -- C Dexter Pittman (9.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, averaged 17.3 ppg, 11 rpg and 2 bpg in Big 12 tournament); G A.J. Abrams (16.3 ppg). Minnesota -- G Lawrence Westbrook (12.4 ppg, 88.0 ft%); C Ralph Sampson III (6.4 ppg, 49 blocks).

Stattitude: Texas is 14-4 in the opening round since the tournament went to 64 teams.

No. 2 Duke (28-6) vs. No. 15 Binghamton (23-8)

Tip-off: approx. 3:30 p.m.

Coaches: Mike Krzyzewski (Duke), Kevin Broadus (Binghamton).

Overview: Duke is on TV more than reruns of Friends. Binghamton is so unknown its media guide offers pronouncing help (BING-em-ton). The teams have never met, but there is some familiarity: Binghamton's David Fine and Duke's Greg Paulus played at Christian Brothers Academy near Syracuse from 2002-04.

Difference-makers: Duke -- F Kyle Singler (16.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 31 double-figure scoring games); G-F Gerald Henderson (16.6 ppg); G Jon Scheyer (15.0 ppg, six consecutive games with three or more threes). Binghamton -- G D.J. Rivera (20.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg, school-record 619 points this season); F Reggie Fuller (10.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg); G Malik Alvin (11.7 ppg).

Stattitude: Binghamton has won 11 in a row, Duke just three, all in taking the ACC tournament.