EAST REGIONAL

Tennessee (20-8) vs. Delaware (25-5): In the first round last season, Tennessee was upset by Illinois and Delaware was blasted by Purdue. Both are hoping for better experiences. “What helps you get over being just happy to be here is getting beat by 40,” said Delaware Coach Mike Brey, a former assistant to Mike Krzyzewski at Duke who is being mentioned for positions that are open at Notre Dame and Marquette. The Volunteers, who swept Kentucky this season but for the most part did not live up to lofty expectations, have a decided size and talent advantage. Delaware forward Mike Pegues nearly died six years ago after multiple seizures because of inflammation of the brain, but he was among the nation’s top 15 scorers this season at 21.9 points a game.

* Wisconsin (22-9) vs. Southwest Missouri State (20-10): Steve Alford is back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since he starred for Indiana in the Hoosiers’ 1987 championship victory over Syracuse. Alford, coaching his fourth--and almost certainly final--season at Southwest Missouri State, is considered the likely replacement for Tom Davis at Iowa. He will get a Big Ten audition against Wisconsin, which went 3-6 down the stretch. Wisconsin Coach Dick Bennett knows upsets--he pulled one at Wisconsin Green Bay against California in 1994--but his team is favored.

* Duke (32-1) vs. Florida A&M; (12-18): Trajan Langdon is doubtful for tonight’s game because of the strain in his left foot that kept him out of the last two games. Not that the Blue Devils need him against Florida A&M;, which started the season 0-10. The Rattlers are sacrificial lambs, but they’re going cheerfully to the slaughter. “I figure if we go out and take this one, the next week or two we’ll be on Jay Leno, Oprah, we’d get the big-time treatment,” guard Morris Scott said. As for a line on the game that is approaching 45 points: “I was kind of hoping we’d really get those 45 points,” guard Monroe Pippins said. The score earlier this season when Duke played South Carolina State, another Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference team: 120-56. Florida A&M; beat South Carolina State by three in the MEAC title game.

* College of Charleston (28-2) vs. Tulsa (22-9): They’re playing for the honor--such as it is--of facing Duke. Charleston isn’t in the Cinderella role this season, not with a 25-game winning streak and a top-25 ranking, and Tulsa is a tough first-round draw. The Golden Hurricane beat Fresno State in the Western Athletic Conference tournament before losing to Utah by only three. Tulsa has a size advantage, with forward Michael Ruffin averaging 12 points and 10 rebounds. Charleston has a quickness edge with guards Jermel President, Shane McCravy and Danny Johnson.

* Cincinnati (26-5) vs. George Mason (19-10): The Bearcats--also known as the only team to beat Duke--once looked like a probable top-seeded team. Now to make it to the Final Four they’ll have to do it the hard way--with a possible game against Duke in the East Regional final. George Mason’s center, George Evans, is a 28-year-old Gulf War veteran and powerful enough to bang with Cincinnati’s front line of Pete Mickeal, Jermaine Tate and Kenyon Martin. The rest of the team probably can’t. Mickeal and guard Melvin Levett are Cincinnati’s top scorers.

* Temple (21-10) vs. Kent (23-6): This could be a game with a score in the 50s or 60s. Temple can be tough because of its matchup zone defense and ability to limit turnovers. Kent, making the first NCAA appearance, also thrives on defense. But good luck trying to force Temple into turnovers. One concern for Temple: Three-point shooter Quincy Wadley’s availability is uncertain because of a hand injury.

* Miami (22-6) vs. Lafayette (22-7): Power forward Tim James was co-Big East player of the year, but Miami guard Johnny Helmsley is good too, averaging 18 points behind James’ 19. The Hurricanes were 9-1 down the stretch before losing to St. John’s in the Big East tournament and handed Connecticut one of its two losses. Lafayette is making its first NCAA appearance since 1957 and its best victory this season was over Princeton. Guard Brian Ehlers is Lafayette’s best player.

* Texas (19-12) vs. Purdue (19-12): The Boilermakers played so badly down the stretch that they are actually the underdogs. How unlikely would that have seemed when Purdue was 12-1 and Texas was 3-8? The Boilermakers lost five of their last six. Purdue’s interior defense, with 6-8 Brian Cardinal and 6-7 Greg McQuay, probably will be susceptible to Texas forward Gabe Muoneke and 7-foot center Chris Mihm.