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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted at 8:53 p.m., Wednesday, March 18, 2009

CBKB: NCAA regional capsules: Today's games at Kansas City

USA Today

Games involving West and South regions. All Hawaii times.

WEST REGION

No. 2 Memphis (31-3) vs. No. 15 Cal State Northridge (17-13)

Tip-off: 6:25 a.m.

Coaches: John Calipari (Memphis), Bobby Braswell (Northridge)

Difference-makers: Memphis -- G Tyreke Evans (16.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.8 apg, only freshman Wooden Award finalist); F Robert Dozier (12.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg); G Antonio Anderson (10.2 ppg, 4.1 apg). Northridge -- F Tremaine Townsend (10.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg, all-Big West); Gs Mark Hill and Rodrigue Mels (combined 5-for-11 3fgs, 38 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists in Big West final).

Overview: Memphis, unbeaten since December, plays its first NCAA game since falling to Kansas in last year's overtime final. Both teams like it fast, but the Tigers' defense -- allowing fewer than 57 ppg -- figures to give Northridge fits.

Stattitude: The teams' one common opponent, Drexel, lost to Memphis 87-49 and beat Northridge 55-47.

No. 7 California (22-10) vs. No. 10 Maryland (20-13)

Tip-off: 8:55 a.m.

Coaches: Mike Montgomery (Cal), Gary Williams (Maryland)

Difference-makers: Cal -- Gs Jerome Randle and Patrick Christopher (combined 43.0 3fg%, 33 ppg and 7.0 apg, both first-team all-Pac-10). Maryland -- G Greivis Vasquez (17.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 5.1 apg all lead team).

Overview: Focus is on the perimeter. Randle and Christopher helped Cal lead the country in three-point accuracy (43.4%); the Terps revolve around Vasquez and don't boast much inside. Maryland has been an enigma, losing at home to Morgan State and by 41 at Duke but beating Michigan State, North Carolina and Wake Forest.

Stattitude: Montgomery and Williams have 43 wins, three Final Four berths and a title (Maryland in 2002) in a combined 27 previous tournament appearances.

SOUTH REGION

No. 7 Clemson (23-8) vs. No. 10 Michigan (20-13)

Tip-off: 1:10 p.m.

Coaches: Oliver Purnell (Clemson), John Beilein (Michigan)

Difference-makers: Clemson -- F-C Trevor Booker (15.3 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 2.0 blocks); F-G K.C. Rivers (39.8 3fg%, 14.2 ppg, 8.9 rpg). Michigan -- G Manny Harris (16.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 4.4 apg); F DeShawn Sims (15.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg).

Overview: Should be an interesting tug-of-war. Up-tempo Clemson, with Booker a handful inside and Rivers and Oglesby outside, is one of the nation's highest-scoring teams, averaging 79 ppg. Michigan's 1-3-1 zone defense hasn't allowed more than 78 points. Wolverines are making their first tournament appearance since 1998, and regular-season wins vs. UCLA, Duke and Purdue show they're capable of making it last more than one game.

Stattitude: Clemson has won its last five vs. Big Ten teams, most recently 76-74 at Illinois in early December.

No. 2 Oklahoma (27-5) vs. No. 15 Morgan State (23-11)

Tip-off: 3:40 p.m.

Coaches: Jeff Capel (OU), Todd Bozeman (Morgan State)

Difference-makers: OU -- F Blake Griffin (63.5 fg%, 26 double-doubles, national player of the year favorite); G Willie Warren (14.7 ppg led Big 12 freshmen, 3.0 apg). Morgan State -- G Reggie Holmes (16.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, all-MEAC); F Marquise Kately (11.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg).

Overview: Sooners were thrown off-kilter by Griffin's concussion and 11/2-game absence in late February, losing four of six. Capel says they're back in sync. Morgan can throw a little size at them and won't be intimidated. The Bears won at Maryland in December.

Stattitude: OU beat two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference teams, Coppin State and Maryland-Eastern Shore, by 31 and 36 points in January.