March madness comes to McKale

Arizona Daily Wildcat Courtesy Stanford Media Relations Stanford All-American Brevin Knight

The Tucson sub-regional of the 1997 men's NCAA Tournament is packed with big names and prolific schools, all fighting for the two spots into the Sweet Sixteen. Emotions will run high as team are sent home. One thing is for sure, Tucson and those in attendance at McKale Center are in for a treat.

Play begins tomorrow at McKale Center with the 12:42 p.m. matchup between No. 7-seed UNC-Charlottle and 10-seed Georgetown.

No. 2-seed Utah and No. 15-seed Navy will play 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first game. The evening session gets underway with No. 3-seed Wake Forest against No. 14-seed St. Mary's (Calif.) at 5:55.

No. 6-seed Stanford plays No.-seed Oklahoma 25 minutes after the finish of that game.

So, without further ado, let the madness begin:

UNC-Charlotte (21-8) vs. Georgetown (20-9)

Allen Iverson became the first person the leave a John Thompson-coached Georgetown team early last season. If he hadn't, Iverson and honorable mention All-American sophomore Victor Page might have led the Hoyas to a No. 1 seed.

As it stands, though, the Hoyas look unquestionably to Page - who averaged 22.7 points per game this season - as their leader.

"There's been pressure on me all year," Page said. "Right now there is more pressure on me. Coach is demanding more things."

Thompson is certainly demanding, but you cannot argue with his results. The Hoyas played in the Big East title game in what could easily have been seen as a rebuilding year.

Charlotte, the surprise champion of Conference USA, will counter with its own honorable mention All-American, DeMarco Johnson.

- Craig Degel

Utah (26-3) vs. Navy (20-8)

Make no mistake about it, Utah coach Rick Majerus likes Tucson.

"They'll probably put someone there who doesn't like Mexican food, won't go out in the sun or lust after the beautiful babes," Majerus said. "If anyone deserves Tucson, it's me."

Majerus brings with him first team All-American and player of the year candidate Keith Van Horn. Van Horn helped the Utes win the Western Athletic Conference tournament with back-to-back buzzer beaters. The senior averaged over 20 points per game this season.

At 6-feet, 10-inches he'll present matchup problems for the Midshipmen and their maximum height requirement.

Utah is the heavy favorite with Navy. However, should Georgetown get past the first round, its press could give Utah the same kind of fits that Arizona created in December.

- Craig Degel

Wake Forest (23-6) vs. St. Mary's, Calif. (23-7)

Demon Deacon center Tim Duncan at 6-foot-10 is considered big, but he's got nothing on St. Mary's' Brad Millard who, at 7-3, 335-pounds, is just plain huge. He's so big, in fact, he's earned the nickname "Big Continent" in reference to former Oklahoma State center Bryant "Big Country" Reeves.

Duncan is the first repeat unanimous All-American since Shaquille O'Neal in 1991. He led the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring and rebounding. Duncan is also an adept passer, he leads Wake Forest in assists.

Millard, a sophomore, has come a long way since his freshman season. He missed most of last year because growth spurts had left the bones in his feet and legs too brittle to play. He was the most valuable player of the West Coast Conference tournament and averages 12.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3 blocks per game.

- Craig Degel

Stanford (20-7) vs. Oklahoma (19-10)

If there is an advantage to be gained by knowing the building in which you play, Stanford will definitely have an edge. The Cardinal is a member of the Pacific 10 Conference and plays at McKale Center every year.

Stanford is led by one of the nation's top point guards, second team All-American Brevin Knight, who averaged 15.7 points and 7.8 assists per game this season while also totaling 68 steals.

Knight is supported by 7-1 center Tim Young, who is playing his first season as a full-time starter. He's averaging 14 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.

Sooner guard Nate Erdmann has put up 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game this season. He made 101 three-pointers.

If Stanford can control the perimeter and shut down Erdmann and Brewer,it has the edge inside with Young and Mark Madsen.

- Chris Jackson