SOUTHEAST REGIONAL AT A GLANCE: WHAT TO LOOK FOR

* The draw: They should call it the Sweat 16, given what it’s going to take teams to survive this bracket. What was the selection committee thinking? Let’s add up the number of national championship banners in this group: UCLA, 11; Indiana, five; Cincinnati, two, and Duke, two. The total is 20. And let’s not forget Connecticut, 30-2 and the No. 1 seed. Let’s just say the Southeast will lead the region in aspirin consumption.

* Best first-round game: No. 8 Duke (18-12) versus No. 9 Eastern Michigan (24-5). You think the Mid-American Conference is afraid of powerhouses? In, 1990, the MAC threw Ball State at the field, then watched it give eventual champion Nevada Las Vegas fits before losing, 69-67 in the Sweet 16. The Rebels went on to beat Duke by 30 in the championship game. In 1991, Eastern Michigan advanced to the round of 16 before losing to North Carolina. Don’t be surprised if Duke falls. The Blue Devils are dragging body parts. And Eastern Michigan, remember, is the school that handed Texas Tech its only loss.

* Upset waiting to happen: No. 11 Boston College over No. 6 Indiana. Hoosier Coach Bob Knight has the titles, the temper, and the experience, but not enough talent on the court. Jim O’Brien’s Eagles were battled-tested in the rugged Big East and are ready for a major breakthrough after striking out (0-8) against Connecticut, Villanova, Syracuse and Georgetown. Oh, you won’t want to miss Knight’s postgame press conference.

* Sleeper: Princeton. The sentiment is dripping, since long-time Coach Pete Carril has announced his retirement. UCLA beware. Remember what happened after Bruin Coach John Wooden announced his retirement after beating Louisville in the 1975 NCAA semifinals. The Bruins beat Kentucky in the title game, 92-85.

* The impact coach: Richard Williams, Mississippi State. Williams isn’t a guy you probably would want to sit down and have coffee with, but his team just side-swipe Kentucky. And Williams did lead his team on a Sweet 16 charge last year and always seems to have the Bulldogs snarling at NCAA tournament time.

* The impact player: Danny Fortson, Cincinnati. If this is a survival of the fittest, then beware this bench-pressing Bearcat. He’s the strongest player in the field and probably the tournament.

* The pick: Connecticut and Cincinnati smash their ways to the final, but the Huskies run out of gas. Cincinnati takes the regional title.