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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 9:44 p.m., Wednesday, March 18, 2009

CBKB: NCAA regional capsules: Thursday's games at Philadelphia

USA Today

Games involvin West and East regions. All Hawaii times.

WEST REGION

No. 8 BYU (25-7) vs. No. 9 Texas A&M (23-9)

Tipoff: 6:30 a.m.

Coaches: Dave Rose (BYU), Mark Turgeon (Texas A&M)

Overview: Deja vu. Last year these teams met in the first round when the Aggies won 67-62. The positive: Preparation is a bit easier this time. The Cougars received an at-large bid after losing to San Diego State in the Mountain West tournament semifinals; the Aggies are making their fourth straight NCAA tourney appearance, the longest streak in school history.

Difference-makers: BYU -- G Lee Cummard (16.8 ppg.), G Jimmer Fredette (16.2 ppg., 4.2 apg.) and G-F Jonathan Tavernari (15.9 ppg., 7.3 rpg). Texas A&M -- F Josh Carter (14.1 ppg., scored 26 against BYU last time), G Donald Sloan (11.7 ppg.), C Chinemelu Elonu (7.4 rpg.)

Statitude: The Aggies were reeling a month ago after losing three consecutive games to go 3-7 in the Big 12 conference. Then they won six in a row to end the regular season, before losing to Texas Tech in the conference tournament.

No. 1 Connecticut (24-7) vs. No. 16 Chattanooga (18-16)

Tipoff: Approximately 8:50 a.m.

Coaches: Jim Calhoun (UConn), John Shulman (Chattanooga)

Overview: UConn is looking to win its first postseason game in two years and its third national title in the past 10 years. It's Chattanooga's first trip since 2005. The Mocs lost to all ranked opponents they faced this year by an average of 20.7 points.

Difference-makers: UConn -- G A.J. Price (14.0 ppg., 4.7 apg.), C Hasheem Thabeet (13.7 ppg., 10.9 rpg., 4.6 bpg.), F Jeff Adrien (13.6 ppg., 10.0 rpg.). Chattanooga -- G Stephen McDowell (18.6 ppg.), F Nicchaeus Doaks (13.9 ppg., 8.7 rpg.), F Kevin Goffney (13.3 ppg.)

Statitude: Chattanooga leads the nation in free throw attempts with 925 and is No. 8 in makes with 606.

EAST REGION

No. 3 Villanova (26-7) vs. No. 14 American (24-7)

Tipoff: 1:20 p.m.

Coaches: Jay Wright (Villanova), Jeff Jones (American)

Overview: American is in the tourney for the second straight year after making its first trip last year. The Eagles are the only team from the nation's capital, with Georgetown and George Washington left home. Villanova's senior class went to the round of eight in 2006, so they've gone far before.

Difference-makers: Villanova -- F Dante Cunningham (16.0 ppg. 7.2 rpg.), G Scottie Reynolds (15.5 ppg., 3.6 apg.) G Corey Fisher (10.8 ppg., Big East's sixth man of the year.). American -- G Garrison Carr (17.8 ppg.), F Brian Gilmore (12.4 ppg., 5.4 rpg.), G Derrick Mercer (11.5. ppg., 4.41 apg.).

Statitude: Three of Villanova's five losses in the tourney in the previous five seasons came to the eventual tournament champions: North Carolina (2005), Florida (2006), Kansas (2008).

No. 6 UCLA (25-8) vs. No. 11 Virginia Commonwealth (24-9)

Tipoff: Approximately 3:40 p.m.

Coaches: Ben Howland (UCLA), Anthony Grant (VCU)

Overview: VCU G Eric Maynor hit the winning jumper with 1.8 seconds left to beat Duke in the first round of the 2007 tourney. VCU coach Anthony Grant has been mentioned as candidate for bigger jobs. UCLA doesn't have the same talent it reached the Final Four with the past two seasons, but still features G Darren Collison.

Difference-makers: UCLA -- G Darren Collison (14.5, 4.9 apg.), F Josh Shipp (14.4 ppg.) C Alfred Aboya (9.8 ppg., 6.2 rpg.). VCU -- G Eric Maynor (22.4 ppg.), F Larry Sanders (11.3 ppg., 8.5 rpg.) G Joey Rodriguez (9.4 ppg.).

Statitude: When VCU stunned Duke in the 2007 tourney, the Rams were the No. 11 seed and the Blue Devils were No. 6.