Preview capsules for Thursday night's NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 games:

At Charlotte

East Regional

No. 1 North Carolina (34-2) vs. No. 4 Washington State (26-8)

Tip-off: 7:27 p.m. ET

Coaches: Roy Williams (North Carolina), Tony Bennett (Washington State).

Overview: The styles could not contrast more. Run-and-gun Carolina is the nation's second-highest scoring team (and highest-scoring in the tournament), averaging 89.9 points. The Cougars rank second nationally in points allowed (56.1) behind Wisconsin. Tempo will be a key, and the Cougars would love to enforce their will early and take the pro-Tar Heels crowd out of the game. They held Notre Dame, which was averaging more than 80 points, to 41 last week.

Difference-makers: North Carolina - F Tyler Hansbrough (22.8 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 54.1 fg percent, 81.2 ft percent, three-time All-American); G Wayne Ellington (16.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 42.1 3fg percent, second-team all-ACC); G Ty Lawson (12.9 ppg, 5.3 apg, 52.8 fg percent, finalist for Bob Cousy Award, given to nation's best point guard). Washington State - G Derrick Low (14.1 ppg, 39.3 3fg percent, school-record 90 threes this season); G Taylor Rochestie (10.7 ppg, 4.9 apg, 43.8 3fg percent, leads Pac-10 with 2.81:1 assists-to-turnover ratio); G Kyle Weaver (12.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, Pac-10 all-defensive team selection).

Stattitude: North Carolina is 7-0 in five previous NCAA tournament appearances in Charlotte.

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No. 2 Tennessee (31-4) vs. No. 3 Louisville (26-8)

Tipoff: approx 9:57 p.m.

Coaches: Bruce Pearl (UT), Rick Pitino (Louisville).

Overview: The Cardinals had an easier time of it in the first two rounds than the Volunteers, who were pushed by American and then nearly beaten by Butler. Is Tennessee fresh enough? How will each team's guards handle the pressure they will see? The Vols have never been past the Sweet 16. The Cardinals' program has been to eight Final Fours, including one three years ago under Pitino.

Difference-makers: Tennessee - G Chris Lofton (15.5 ppg, 83.2 ft percent, 39.2 3fg percent, second-team All-American); G JaJuan Smith (14.5 ppg, SEC all-defensive team choice); F Tyler Smith (13.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 54.1 fg percent, all-SEC selection). Louisville - F Terrence Williams (11.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 4.6 apg, second-team all-Big East); F Earl Clark (10.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg, nine double-doubles); F-C David Padgett (11.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 67.7 fg percent, all-Big East).

Stattitude: Lofton has 429 career three-pointers and needs seven to pass former St. Peter's star Keydren Clark for second on the NCAA's all-time list. Lofton has a school-record 116 this season.

Compiled by Jack Carey, USA TODAY.

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At Phoenix

West Regional

No. 3 Xavier (29-6) vs. No. 7 West Virginia (26-10)

Tipoff: 7:10 p.m. ET.

Coaches: Sean Miller (Xavier), Bob Huggins (West Virginia).

Overview: Statistically, the teams are very similar and very balanced. Xavier has five players averaging in double figures and a lockdown defender in G Stanley Burrell, the Atlantic 10 defensive player of the year. West Virginia has equally impressive balance offensively and got a huge push off the bench against Duke from G Joe Mazzulla (13 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists). Where are all the seniors in college basketball? Here they are. Half the 10 players starting in this game are seniors, three of them for Xavier.

Difference-makers: Xavier - F Josh Duncan (12.1 ppg, averaging 18.0 in the tourney); F Derrick Brown (10.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg, team-high 60.2 fg percent); G Drew Lavender (11.0 ppg, 4.4 apg, 18 points and nine assists in second-round win vs. Purdue). West Virginia - F Joe Alexander (16.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg, had 22 points and 11 rebounds in win vs. Duke); G Alex Ruoff (13.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, potent three-point shooter); F Da'Sean Butler (12.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg, team's top offensive rebounder.

Stattitude: Alexander is averaging 25.5 points in his last six games.

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No. 1 UCLA (33-3) vs. No. 12 Western Kentucky (29-6)

Tipoff: 9:40 p.m.

Coaches: Ben Howland (UCLA), Darrin Horn (Western Kentucky).

Overview: The Bruins are getting the calls and the bounces - as if they need it. Shooting for a third consecutive trip to the Final Four, they would seem to have too much balance - that is, too much Love and Collison - for Western Kentucky, which will try to counter with quickness and perimeter shooting. The Bruins are still looking to get hot from the outside, and would welcome a three-pointer or two from slumping F Josh Shipp.

Difference-makers: UCLA - C Kevin Love (17.3 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 14 double-doubles in last 20 games); G Darren Collison (15.1 ppg, 3.8 apg, coming off a 21-point game); Russell Westbrook (12.3 ppg, 4.4 apg, a lockdown defender). Western Kentucky - G Courtney Lee (20.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, Sun Belt player of the year); G Tyrone Brazelton (13.9 ppg, scored 33 in first-round upset of Drake; G Ty Rogers (6.5 ppg, 46 3FGs, three-point buzzer-beater to beat Drake).

Stattitude: Shipp was held scoreless vs. Texas A&M for the first time in 94 games.

Compiled by David Leon Moore, USA TODAY.