UCLA (24-8) vs. Kentucky (31-4)

South Regional, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Friday 7 p.m. PST (time approximate), Channel 2

* KENTUCKY AT A GLANCE: With a blow-out run to the Southeastern Conference tournament title and two dominating victories in the first two rounds of the NCAA, the Wildcats haven’t been tested in a while, which may make them rusty if they ever get into a late-game battle. Kentucky doesn’t have the multiple future NBA lottery picks or press-at-all-costs style of the old Rick Pitino teams. First-year Coach Tubby Smith has a smooth eight- or nine-man rotation, a clean inside-outside game and a team that is playing like it could be back in the Final Four a third consecutive season.

* UCLA AT A GLANCE: Sunday’s second-round victory over Michigan was the Bruins’ most satisfying, complete, over-achieving performance since UCLA defeated Arkansas in the 1995 national-title game without Tyus Edney. It’s all based around the scoring and heart of Kris Johnson, the backbone and versatility of J.R. Henderson and the drive and daring of Toby Bailey. So far, even though the Bruins wobbled and almost lost to Miami (Fla.) in the first round, it’s been enough. Those three seniors are 11-2 as a class in the NCAA tournament.

KENTUCKY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

* F--Scott Padgett (6-9, 229), No. 34.

* C--Nazr Mohammed (6-10, 240), No. 13.

* G--Jeff Sheppard (6-3, 190), No. 15.

* G--Allen Edwards (6-5, 200), No. 3.

* G--Wayne Turner (6-2, 187), No. 5.

KENTUCKY’S KEY RESERVES

* C--Jamal Magliore (6-10, 240), No. 42.

* F--Heshimu Evans (6-6, 210), No. 14.

* G--Saul Smith (6-2, 170), No. 11.

UCLA’S PROBABLE STARTERS

* F-Kris Johnson (6-4, 239), Sr, No. 54

* C-J.R. Henderson (6-8, 233), Sr, No. 52

* G-Toby Bailey (6-5, 208), Sr, No. 12

* G-Baron Davis (6-1, 205), Fr, No. 5

* G-Earl Watson (6-0, 183), Fr, No. 25

UCLA KEY RESERVES

* G/F-Rico Hines (6-3, 207), Fr, No. 22

* F/C-Travis Reed (6-6, 243), Fr, No. 13

* G--Billy Knight (6-4, 186), Fr, No. 3.

THE MATCHUPS

* FORWARDS: Kentucky doesn’t have Ron Mercer or Antoine Walker anymore, but the Bruins are going to need freshmen Travis Reed (who scored 11 points against Michigan) and Rico Hines to make major contributions again, matching up against the versatile Padgett, Evans and the other players Smith swings into the wing positions. Every one of the Kentucky forward-wings can shoot the three-pointer, and they aren’t likely to be as bashful offensively as the Michigan frontcourt.

* CENTERS: Mohammed isn’t a smasher or a flier, but he has become an efficient player for Smith after a few years in the Pitino wilderness. Also, he can go hard all the time because Magliore is always there to give him rest, or play with him when the Wildcats go big. That puts pressure on UCLA’s Henderson to play the whole game.

* GUARDS: This position is what sets the Wildcats apart from most teams. Turner sets the pace, and Edwards and Sheppard run fast breaks faster and better than any other pair of players in the nation, with the possible exception of Bailey and Davis, whose status for Friday is questionable because of an injured knee. Watson broke out of a long slump with 10 points and four rebounds on Sunday, and an up-and-down Kentucky pace is his kind.

* INTANGIBLES: UCLA has had three consecutive emotional endings: a loss in the regular-season finale to Arizona and tight victories over Miami and Michigan. Does that make the Bruins better prepared and looser for a possible nail-biter in St. Petersburg? Or does that mean Kentucky is just that much better than everybody it plays?

* COACHING: Smith has kept Kentucky organized amid the sprinting, and the Wildcats are playing the best defense of the season. Lavin, after some questionable decisions, made it all seem like a grand plan when UCLA came out lively and in control against Michigan. One thing about Lavin: The Bruins are always thinking positively, which can turn bad match-ups into chances to shake their fists at the critics.

* THE PICK: Note to Kris Johnson--I’m out of the picking game.