TODAY’S GAMES

ALBUQUERQUE REGIONAL

No. 1 Washington vs. No. 16 Montana

* Site: Boise, Idaho. Time: 12:10 p.m.

* The Buzz: Washington wants to prove its critics wrong and have a dominant showing in its first game as the most unlikely No. 1-seeded team in the tournament. As such, the Huskies will unleash their relentless brand of on-the-ball pressure and full-court trapping defense to unnerve the Grizzlies, who may be without injured C John Seyfert (ankle). Montana must slow the pace and hope Matt Martin and Matt Dlouhy are making their three-pointers to keep this close. G Nate Robinson will push the pace for Washington.

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No. 2 Wake Forest

vs. No. 15 Chattanooga

* Site: Cleveland. Time: 4:10 p.m.

* The Buzz: Wake Forest was in the running for a No. 1 seeding until it lost in the ACC tournament quarterfinals. PG Chris Paul heads one of the nation’s top backcourts, as he, Justin Gray and Taron Downey can shoot, defend and pass. The key for the Demon Deacons to make a long run is C Eric Williams, who must avoid foul trouble and stay on the floor. Chattanooga is solid defensively, but it isn’t going to be able to stop Wake Forest.

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No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 Winthrop

* Site: Tucson. Time: 4:25 p.m.

* The Buzz: Whereas Gonzaga has been guard-oriented in recent seasons, this group is led by F Adam Morrison and C Ronny Turiaf. Winthrop, which has set a school record with 27 victories -- including wins in its last 18 games -- will have trouble matching up with Turiaf, a 6-10, 249-pound senior. Another matchup to watch is at guard, where Gonzaga defensive whiz Erroll Knight goes against Torrell Martin, the Big South tournament most valuable player.

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No. 6 Texas Tech vs. No. 11 UCLA

* Site: Tucson. Time: 6:55 p.m.

* Matchups: D5

No. 7 West Virginia vs. No. 10 Creighton

* Site: Cleveland. Time: 6:40 p.m.

* The Buzz: Both teams played well down the stretch, with Creighton winning the Missouri Valley tournament and West Virginia advancing to the Big East tournament final. Both prefer to shoot three-pointers. Bluejay G Nate Funk, the MVC’s player of the year, shoots 46.7% from three-point range. The Bluejays don’t have much up front, but neither do Mountaineers. West Virginia’s leading rebounder is G Mike Gansey. The Mountaineers have good offensive balance, but they don’t have a real go-to guy. This matches two underrated coaches: West Virginia’s John Beilein and Creighton’s Dana Altman.

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No. 8 Pacific vs. No. 9 Pittsburgh

* Site: Boise, Idaho. Time: 9:40 a.m.

* The Buzz: Pittsburgh, with three consecutive Sweet 16 trips, is sensing a lack of respect after being shipped west. Its charter jet stopped for fuel in Sioux Falls, S.D., the jet had mechanical problems and the Panthers arrived in Boise more than 13 hours late. Each team will attempt to impart its distinct style. Pacific, which had a 22-game winning streak end in the Big West tournament final, prefers an inside-out game with multiple screens. Pitt likes to pound the ball inside.

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AUSTIN REGIONAL

No. 2 Kentucky vs. No. 15 Eastern Kentucky

* Site: Indianapolis. Time: 9:20 a.m.

* The Buzz: These schools are only 30 miles apart, and Eastern Kentucky is coached by former Kentucky PG Travis Ford. With players such as Chuck Hayes, Rajon Rondo and Patrick Sparks, the Wildcats have far too much for the Colonels. The only way the Colonels can keep it closer than 15 points is if Matt Witt and Zach Ingles are making their three-point shots.

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No. 3 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 Niagara

* Site: Tucson. Time: 9:45 a.m.

* The Buzz: Oklahoma is always tough defensively and has a physical front line with Kevin Bookout, Taj Gray and Johnnie Gilbert. Niagara is in the tournament for the first time since 1970, when it had Calvin Murphy. Juan Mendez is the star this time. He’s the nation’s only player ranked in the top 10 in scoring (23.6 ppg) and rebounding (10.5). The last No. 3-seeded team to lose in the first round was North Carolina, when it was shocked by Weber State in 1999.

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No. 6 Utah vs. No. 11 Texas El Paso

* Site: Tucson. Time: 12:15 p.m.

* The Buzz: Utah may feel some pressure because highly-touted sophomore C Andrew Bogut is expected to leave for the NBA. The Miners will be a tough out. G Filiberto Rivera and F Omar Thomas nearly led them to an upset of Maryland in the first round last season. Utah’s strategy is simple: Get the ball to Bogut and let him go to work against a small Miner front line. Gs Marc Jackson and Tim Drisdom must make outside shots.

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No. 7 Cincinnati vs. No. 10 Iowa

* Site: Indianapolis. Time: 11:50 a.m.

* The Buzz: Expect a grind-it-out affair between teams that started fast, then faded. Iowa won its way in by playing well in the Big Ten tournament. Cincinnati needs a steady game from PG Jihad Muhammad. Iowa needs Jeff Horner and Adam Haluska to make some three-pointers early to open up the low post for F Greg Brunner. Look for Cincinnati to pound the ball inside as often as possible to Jason Maxiell and Eric Hicks. The Bearcats have the advantage when it comes to big guys.

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CHICAGO REGIONAL

No. 1 Illinois vs. No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson

* Site: Indianapolis. Time: 6:40 p.m.

* The Buzz: Illinois will win, but Fairleigh Dickinson can keep it close for a while if it is making its three-pointers. Gs Tamien Trent and Mensah Peterson and F Gordon Klaiber are key shooters. Both teams rely on three-guard offenses. Future Illini opponents will keep an eye on how well Fairleigh Dickinson C Andrea Crosariol, a 7-footer, does in the low post.

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No. 3 Arizona vs. No. 14 Utah State

* Site: Boise, Idaho. Time: 4:20 p.m.

* The Buzz: Utah State utilizes a slow-down game that resembles those of Stanford and Washington State and the Aggies rely on a suffocating 2-3 zone defense. Arizona G Salim Stoudamire, the top three-point shooter in the country at 52.5% (107 of 204), must be licking his chops. If he’s making shots, the Wildcats will be fine. But Utah State is a well-coached, veteran team (eight of the top nine players are juniors or seniors). Arizona wants this game in the 80s; the Aggies want it in the high 50s or low 60s. The Wildcats may have to press to speed up the game.

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No. 4 Boston College vs. No. 13 Pennsylvania

* Site: Cleveland. Time: 11:55 a.m.

* The Buzz: Boston College started 20-0 before fading down the stretch, but it looks to have too much for Pennsylvania, which isn’t as good as some recent Ivy League champions. The Eagle frontcourt duo of junior Craig Smith and sophomore Jared Dudley should have their way inside against the Quakers. Pennsylvania must get a huge game from G Tim Begley if it’s to pull the upset.

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No. 5 Alabama vs. No. 12 Wisconsin Milwaukee

* Site: Cleveland. Time: 9:25 a.m.

* The Buzz: This one depends on which Alabama team shows up. If the Crimson Tide comes ready to play, its athleticism will overwhelm the Panthers. F Kennedy Winston wouldn’t mind a big NCAA tournament as he decides whether to turn pro. Freshman PG Ronald Steele must play under control, and it would help Alabama’s cause if G Earnest Shelton is making three-pointers. Speaking of three-pointers, the Panthers need Boo Davis and Ed McCants to shoot well.

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No. 6 Louisiana State vs. No. 11 Alabama Birmingham

* Site: Boise, Idaho. Time: 6:50 p.m.

* The Buzz: LSU and UAB are near mirror images; the Tigers averaging 75.5 points while giving up 71 and the Blazers scoring 77.8 while surrendering 71.5. The difference is that LSU thrives when its big men, notably F Brandon Bass, are in transition. The Blazers let their guards dictate the tempo. UAB has no answer for Bass, the SEC’s player of the year, and so long as he dominates the post UAB will be forced to press and fire it up from beyond the arc.

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No. 8 Texas vs. No. 9 Nevada

* Site: Indianapolis. Time: 4:10 p.m.

* The Buzz: Nevada lost early in the WAC tournament, probably resulting in a seeding two spots lower than the Wolf Pack would have been had it won the tournament. F Nick Fazekas (21.4 ppg, 9.4 rpg) will be the focal point of Texas’ defensive efforts. Nevada shoots only 27.4% from three-point range. Texas has a nice frontcourt, with Jason Klotz and Brad Buckman. The key for the Longhorns, though, is freshman PG Daniel Gibson. He’ll probably be matched up against Nevada’s Ramon Sessions, another freshman.

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Compiled by Times Staff Writers Paul Gutierrez and Eric Stephens, and Mike Huguenin of the Orlando Sentinel.