Sweet 16 games in the East and West regions are slated for Thursday (seeds in parentheses).

EAST
Duke (1) vs. UCLA (4)
There should be some great games in the Sweet 16. One of the best ones should be in the East, as Duke and UCLA meet in Philadelphia.

	Shane Battier (top) gets the job done defensively here, and also added 27 points and 11 boards vs. Missouri.

The one thing that Duke can benefit from is UCLA's full-court pressure, which forces an up-tempo game and plays into the Blue Devils' hands. Mike Krzyzewski's team has five guys who can handle the rock, shoot the jumper and knock down the trifecta. That gives an edge to Duke.

Remember, Duke totaled 189 points in its wins over Monmouth and Missouri. That happened without Carlos Boozer in the lineup.

The big news is that Boozer may be back. His presence would be a big plus, since the Bruins have enjoyed Dan Gadzuric's revival. Duke could use a big man to offset the post play of Gadzuric, who has fought back from a number of injuries.

Gadzuric has been sensational in the first two games of the tournament, shooting 70 percent from the floor. His stock has been going up and up; he had double-doubles in both tourney contests. Duke must find a way to neutralize him on the interior. Inside matchups could be a problem if Boozer isn't ready to go. If Boozer can give the Blue Devils 15 to 20 minutes against the Bruins, he could get Gadzuric into foul trouble. Boozer is so effective in the low post.

You can't cry for the Dukies; they have responded with the smaller lineup. When they play Shane Battier and Mike Dunleavy together on the inside, surrounded on the perimeter with Jason Williams, Nate James and Chris Duhon, they are electrifying. All five can handle the rock, shoot the trifecta and defend. That unit is also a lot quicker and can speed up the pace of the game.

The meeting against Missouri was a good test. That should help prepare for UCLA.

The Bruins have been doing it on defense. They held the Aggies without a field goal for over 13½ minutes in the second-round W. In the first two tournament games, UCLA's two opponents scored less than 100 points combined (the Bruins beat Hofstra 61-48 in round one and then Utah State 75-50).

Steve Lavin has done an amazing job; UCLA was thinking about the NIT when it was 12-6. This team was blitzed by California by 29 points. Then came a solid run through the Pac-10, leading to the NCAA invitation and a No. 4 seed.

Lavin and his troops have responded under adversity. The coach has gotten the most out of his support players, guys like Matt Barnes and Billy Knight. Combine them with the big three -- Gadzuric, Jason Kapono and Earl Watson -- and you have an explosive group. Kapono is a dynamite wing player who knocked down five trifectas in the win over Utah State.

There is such great tradition between these two programs. Watson said after the win over Utah State, "Bring them on." He's not afraid or intimidated by Duke.

Coach K has to do one thing to impress his team: Break out the tape of what Watson did against Maryland in the NCAAs last year. The UCLA point guard pitched the perfect game with 17 points, 16 assists and a big zero in the turnover column. It was Blowout City for the Bruins in that clinic.

Watson will be ready for the challenge to face the best point guard in America, Duke's Mr. Williams. Watson won't back down against anyone. The City of Brotherly Love is in for a treat when Duke and UCLA square off.

Kentucky (2) vs. USC (6)
Henry Bibby's Trojans are athletic and can really get up and down the floor. Jeff Trepagnier is a high-wire act and a great defensive player. He could draw the assignment of stopping Tayshaun Prince, who has totaled 58 points in two games. USC will have its hands full with the 1-2 punch of Prince and Keith Bogans.

Kentucky's Tayshaun Prince has developed into a superstar, and now he goes against some of the guys he knew from his high-school days.

Prince has developed into a superstar, and now he goes against some of the guys he knew from his days in Compton, Calif., at Dominguez High School. Kentucky won a hard-fought game against Holy Cross before beating a good Iowa team to advance.

The Trojans have to do a better job handling pressure. USC committed 27 turnovers against Boston College but still got to the winner's circle. Can Bibby's team handle the Wildcats' pressure defense? Kentucky's ability to defend is one of its strengths. Can point guard Brandon Granville, who had eight turnovers before fouling out against Boston College, handle the pressure of Keith Bogans, Prince and company?

Brian Scalabrine, David Bluthenthal and Sam Clancy up front are physical and could give Kentucky trouble. Clancy, a power guy, had 25 rebounds in the first two NCAA tournament games. But Kentucky has an edge in depth. Marques Estill stepped up big-time, scoring 22 points in 22 minutes, hitting 9-of-11 shots against the Hawkeyes.

All of you Wildcats' fans, remember how you felt when the team was 3-5? There was some serious panic, people wondering where the club was going! Take a look now, baby! Lexington is dancing with joy and jubilation in the Sweet 16! Tubby Smith has done a tremendous job.

WEST
Stanford (1) vs. Cincinnati (5)
Who would have thought that Cincinnati would break through? Bobby Huggins has had several sensational teams, including ones with Nick Van Exel and Kenyon Martin, and the hits just keep on coming, baby!

The Bearcats have made the Final Four and Elite Eight before, but this year's club has been a surprise, especially when you consider the loss in the Conference USA final. This isn't looked at as a vintage Cincinnati team, yet it played suffocating defense to advance.

The Bearcats have responded defensively, beating BYU before clamping down on Trevor Huffman and Kent State. Cincinnati's tough, physical, tenacious defense held Kent State to 43 points; that's the same Gary Waters-led team that knocked Indiana out of the tourney.

Huggins' squad will have to play its "A" game to neutralize Stanford's inside-outside attack. The Cardinal is No. 1 because it has great balance, is well-coached, can make shots and converts from the free-throw line. Stanford gets to the foul line often because it pounds the ball inside and attacks the basket with dribble penetration. The Cardinal scored 32 more points from the line (59-27) and went to the line 31 more times (71-40) than the opposition in the first two tournament games.

Mike Montgomery's team will have to stop the backcourt tandem of Steve Logan and Kenny Satterfield. A plus for Cincinnati has been the emergence of players up front. Against BYU, it was B. J. Grove who played well. Then Jamaal Davis hit 8-of-9 shots against Kent State.

Can the Bearcats get inside play to offset the presence of the Collins twins? Jason has been especially effective, scoring 25 and 22 points in the first two rounds. A battle between Logan and Casey Jacobsen is a solid matchup. Mike McDonald vs. Satterfield should be interesting too. McDonald has been a steady factor all season.

Maryland (3) vs. Georgetown (10)

	Maryland's Terence Morris, who was a non-factor in the first round, scored 14 points Saturday.

Both of these clubs are very deep and talented. I give Maryland one edge right away in its ability to shoot from the perimeter. Juan Dixon is explosive and a great asset. Danny Miller coming off the bench has been a plus for the Terps.

Georgetown will scramble and apply pressure, utilizing its size inside with Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje, Mike Sweetney and Lee Scruggs on the baseline. Craig Esherick has done a fantastic job with the Hoyas; his club was not rated in the top 25 in most preseason polls.

Georgetown got out of the gate fast, going 16-0 before a little slide. But the Hoyas reclaimed momentum at the right time, advancing to the Sweet 16. Many thought Iowa State would be a stumbling block, but the Cyclones fell to Hampton. Georgetown put the hurt on Hampton in the second half. Kevin Braswell was outstanding in leading the Hoyas to the W. And Braswell will have to be at his best against Maryland's changing defenses, handling the rock and hitting shots from the perimeter.

Georgetown is playing tenacious defense. Lonny Baxter is going to have to respond inside like he did against Georgia State. He was the key factor in breaking that game open.

There will be a lot of emotion involved. That Washington, D.C., area will be rocking, just like it did when the Baltimore Ravens came home with the Super Bowl trophy.

Maryland has the added pressure of knowing that it has been to the Big Dance 17 previous times and has never made that journey to the Final Four. Gary Williams has not been able to get past the Sweet 16. Can he do it here?