WHAT TO LOOK FOR

* How they got there: This is the only regional in which the four top-seeded schools advanced. Decisively, too. Southeastern Conference player of the year Chris Porter scored only 19 points in two games, yet No. 1-seeded Auburn swept to 39- and seven-point victories over Winthrop and Oklahoma State, respectively. No. 2-seeded Maryland lost center Obinna Ekezie to injury before the tournament but still beat Valparaiso and Creighton.

No. 3-seeded St. John’s beat Samford by 26 in Round 1, then handed Bobby Knight’s Indiana Hoosiers their worst NCAA tournament defeat, a 25-point KO in Round 2.

No. 4-seeded Ohio State crushed Murray State and Detroit Mercy by the sum of 45 points, making that three-point loss UCLA suffered to Detroit look all the worse.

* Difference-makers: The surprise of the regional was Auburn’s Cub Scout guard Scott Pohlman, who almost doubled his regular-season scoring average of 11.8 points by scoring 42 points in the Tigers’ wins. Maryland’s Steve Francis will be the best guard in Knoxville outside Ft. Knox. St. John’s 6-foot-6 sophomore forward Ron Artest is almost impossible to guard. And, after whiffing against legends Mike Krzyzewski (0-3) and Dean Smith (0-1) earlier in his career, St. John’s first-year coach Mike Jarvis finally toppled a giant Knight. That can only help Jarvis’ confidence as he prepares to face another pretty good coach in Gary Williams.

* Team updates: Ohio State: Senior guard Neshaun Coleman was sidelined the first two rounds of the tournament because of strep throat, but is expected to return to practice today and play against Auburn. Maryland: Williams’ next victory will be No. 400. St. John’s: The Red Storm has advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1991. Auburn: Spring football practice starts Saturday. Yeah, so?

* How it shakes out: There isn’t a mismatch in the mix here, but we’ll take Auburn over Ohio State, figuring the Tigers are the more athletic team while expecting Porter to wake up after a quiet first round. If you believe that guard play wins regionals, take Maryland over St. John’s if only because of the Terrapins’ triple threat of Francis, Laron Profit and Terrell Stokes. After too many boring, low-scoring games in the early rounds--good riddance, Wisconsin--Maryland-St John’s should be keep the scorekeepers busy and the fans happy.