ELITE EIGHT PREVIEW | Sunday's Games

SOUTH REGION: (1) Texas vs. (7) Michigan State
Coach Tom Izzo's Spartans have made an amazing run thanks to tough defense. Can they pull out one more W against Texas in San Antonio? This virtual home game for the Longhorns will give them an advantage when it comes to crowd hoopla, baby!

	T.J. Ford

Then again, in 2000 Michigan State advanced to the Final Four -- and ultimately won the national title -- playing at a virtual home court (Auburn Hills, Mich.) in the regional semifinals and finals.

Texas big man James Thomas could give Michigan State matchup problems inside by being active on the boards. I expect a physical game, since hard-nosed D is what has brought the Spartans this far in the tournament after they struggled at times in the regular season (such as a 70-40 loss at Illinois on Feb. 18). Texas is no stranger to tough D, either.

Texas point guard T.J. Ford holds the key to this contest. Michigan State doesn't have a true point guard to match up with Ford, my choice for national player of the year. I feel that Ford's ability to penetrate and create to be a big-time factor.

With a maestro man like Ford running the show, I believe Texas will advance to the Final Four.

EAST REGION: (1) Oklahoma vs. (3) Syracuse
Can Oklahoma's senior guards, Hollis Price and Quannas White, return to New Orleans? The city is the site of this year's Final Four -- and the place where they played in high school. Being one game away, they can almost taste it.

The experience of Oklahoma and the youth of Syracuse make for an intriguing matchup.

Another key factor is that the Sooners must play at a virtual home court for Syracuse in Albany, N.Y. In 2000, Syracuse lost to Michigan State in a reverse situation -- a home-court advantage for the Spartans in the regional semifinals at Auburn Hills, Mich. Michigan State went on to win the national title.

The Orangemen have plenty of talent beyond diaper dandy Carmelo Anthony, my national freshman of the year, who scored all 18 of his points against Auburn in the second half.

Two sophomores -- guard Josh Pace (14 points vs. Auburn) and forward Hakim Warrick (15) -- contribute big-time for coach Jim Boeheim's club. So does another freshman, guard Gerry McNamara. And Warrick is one of the most improved payers in America.

This has all the makings of a Maalox masher. Despite Syracuse's home-court advantage, I give the slight edge to Oklahoma. Yes, it should be a happy homecoming for Price and White, baby!