TODAY’S GAMES / MINNEAPOLIS REGIONAL

NO. 6 OKLAHOMA VS. NO. 11 WISCONSIN MILWAUKEE

* Site: Jacksonville, Fla. * Time: 9:25 a.m. PST

* Buzz: Oklahoma’s NCAA tournament stay has been successively shorter in each of its last three appearances, the Sooners having gone from the Final Four in 2002 to the Elite Eight in 2003 to the second round last season. Should Oklahoma even bother with hotel reservations past the first round this year? Certainly, if Sooner forward Taj Gray and guard Michael Neal can work the magic that was conspicuously absent during recent losses to Texas and Nebraska. Wisconsin Milwaukee forward Joah Tucker and guard Boo Davis intend to put more than a scare into Oklahoma, with their postseason-savvy team making its third NCAA tournament appearance in four years.

NO. 4 BOSTON COLLEGE VS. NO. 13 PACIFIC

* Site: Salt Lake City. * Time: 9:40 a.m. PST

* Buzz: Several prognosticators are picking Boston College to go all the way to the Final Four following the Eagles’ impressive run in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, where they reached the title game before losing to Duke. But Pacific won’t be intimidated by a brand-name opponent after posting first-round NCAA tournament victories over Providence and Pittsburgh the last two years. The key matchup will be in the post, where Pacific’s Christian Maraker and Michael White will try to contain Boston College’s Craig Smith and Jared Dudley.

NO. 3 FLORIDA VS. NO. 14 SOUTH ALABAMA

* Site: Jacksonville, Fla. * Time: 11:45 a.m. PST

* Buzz: Florida Coach Billy Donovan will see a familiar face in South Alabama counterpart John Pelphrey, a former assistant. Pelphrey would like nothing more than to deal his former boss another first-round flameout, but beating the Gators will be an uphill climb. Florida is shooting 50.8%, the best team percentage in the nation, and each of its starters have double-digit averages in scoring. South Alabama guard Mario Jointer must make a healthy portion of his three-pointers to keep the Jaguars within striking distance.

NO. 5 NEVADA VS. NO. 12 MONTANA

* Site: Salt Lake City. * Time: Noon PST

* Buzz: Montana appears to be the chic pick to pull the annual No. 12-seed upset. Led by forward Andrew Strait, the Grizzlies defeated Stanford and tournament participant Oral Roberts during the regular season but went a mediocre 8-5 on the road, with losses to Weber State and Idaho State. Montana must come up with a solid game plan to stop Nevada center Nick Fazekas, a 7-footer who has posted dominating performances against the likes of Kansas and UCLA.

-- Ben Bolch and Robyn Norwood