WHAT TO LOOK FOR

* The draw: The NCAA, apparently confused because Memphis has a baseball team in the Pacific Coast League, shipped California, Fresno State and Gonzaga to the land of rhinestones and barbecue. In the other subregional, at New Orleans, North Carolina will make Mardi Gras look like a church social and short-circuit a rematch of last year’s national championship game in the regional final. Top-seeded Michigan State will be present and accounted for, but injury-riddled No. 3 Florida is doubtful. Even if the Gators get past Texas in the second round, the Tar Heels will be waiting, rested and confident after two Big, Easy victories.

* Best first-round-game: No. 5 Virginia vs. No. 12 Gonzaga. The Bulldogs are one of five teams to advance to the round of 16 the last two seasons (Duke, Michigan State, Florida and Purdue are the others). The Cavaliers (a.k.a. Wahoos) and Bulldogs (a.k.a. Zags) each feature a do-it-all guard with a deft touch on the steering wheel. Virginia’s Donald Hand is a senior playing in his first tournament game, Gonzaga’s Dan Dickau is a transfer from Washington who made the Spokane faithful forget Matt Santangelo.

* Sleeper: It has been 11 years since Jerry Tarkanian chewed his way to a national championship with Nevada Las Vegas. And time is getting late at Fresno State. After becoming repeatedly enamored of fool’s gold at point guard--remember Rafer Alston and Kenny Brunner?--Tarkanian has hit the jackpot with freshman Tito Maddox. A first-round victory over Cal would be a sure sign the teeming masses have tipped the scales in the culture war.

* Upset in the making: Gonzaga has won five tournament games the last two years, so what’s one more? The Bulldogs should defeat Virginia, which is 10-8 after opening with 10 victories. Of course, all the losses came in ACC games, and the Cavaliers did defeat Duke and North Carolina. But three losses to Georgia Tech, one in the conference tournament, are an indication something is amiss. Gonzaga shoots 51%, is 19-2 with Dickau in the lineup and has senior Wooden Award candidate Casey Calvary to remind everyone that plowing through mid-March opponents is fun.

* Impact coach: John Chaney, Temple. It took a spirited run to the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament championship, but Chaney led the Owls to their 12th consecutive NCAA appearance. The wise one will hold court in group interviews, weigh in on the impending return of his pal Bob Knight to the coaching fraternity and comment on all aspects of latter-day college hoops and kids these days. But he’d better do it fast. Texas will send Temple packing in the first round.

* Impact player: Joseph Forte. The sophomore led No. 2-seeded North Carolina to its record 27th consecutive tournament appearance. A silky smooth player with springs, Forte averages 21.6 points and six rebounds. Better, he makes plays in crunch time. Impact group hug will be made by Michigan State’s Charlie Bell, Marcus Taylor, Zach Randolph, Jason Richardson, Andre Hutson, Aloysius Anagonye, David Thomas and Mike Chappell.

* The pick: Like Gen. Sherman and the Union Army, Tom Izzo and Michigan State will march unimpeded on Atlanta--and beyond.