TODAY’S GAMES

NO. 2 TENNESSEE VS. NO. 7 WICHITA STATE

* Site: Greensboro, N.C. * Time: 12:40 p.m. PST.

* The Buzz: The Volunteers avoided Thursday’s biggest tournament upset by the grace of a desperate, well-guarded fall-away jump shot by Chris Lofton with .4 seconds left. The Shockers dominated Seton Hall and played as if they expect to win more than one game. Coach Mark Turgeon’s team is a solid defensive team that plays man-to-man and an occasional match-up zone and its guards, especially Sean Ogirri, can shoot from the outside and penetrate to keep opposing defenses honest.

NO. 4 ILLINOIS VS. NO. 5 WASHINGTON

Site: San Diego. Time: 2:30 p.m.

Buzz: For Washington to advance to a second consecutive Sweet 16, the Huskies must avoid the cold start that plagued them during their first-round victory over Utah State and receive a step-up performance from someone other than G Brandon Roy. Forwards Jamaal Williams and Bobby Jones, who can disappear at times, must make their presence felt early against an Illinois front line that features F James Augustine and C Shaun Pruitt, both 6-feet-10. The wild card could be Illini G Jamar Smith, who came off the bench to score 20 points in the first round against Air Force.

--DIANE PUCIN AND BEN BOLCH