[3] VILLANOVA vs. [14] AMERICAN

WHEN: 7:20 p.m. WHERE: Wachovia Center, Philadelphia (21,600). TV: WUSA (Channel 9), WJZ (Channel 13). TV ANNOUNCERS: Dick Enberg or Carter Blackburn and Jay Bilas. RADIO: WWXT (92.7 FM), WWXX (94.3 FM), WTEM (980 AM). RECORDS: Wildcats (Big East at-large), 26-7; Eagles (Patriot League champion), 24-7. WINNER FACES: UCLA-VCU winner on Saturday.

FRONT COURT: Though neither team is particularly tall nor has a dominant inside game, Villanova's Dante Cunningham averages 7.2 rebounds and has the ability to work the lane offensively. His game has expanded dramatically this season with a greater willingness to shoot from 15 to 18 feet. Fellow seniors Dwayne Anderson and Shane Clark serve as complements. Not much of a scorer but an excellent defender, AU's Jordan Nichols will attempt to stay with Cunningham. At 6 feet 8, Brian Gilmore is the Eagles' biggest starter, and while he is effective inside, his outside shooting (47 three-pointers) will help alleviate the pressure on the guards.

BACK COURT: For both teams, the strength is in the back court with Villanova's Scottie Reynolds and American's senior tandem of Garrison Carr and Derrick Mercer, the Patriot League player of the year. Mercer's defensive responsibility will be Reynolds, who has a five-inch advantage. On offense, Mercer will need to penetrate and distribute the ball to Carr and Gilmore for three-pointers. At 6-5, Reggie Redding has the size to disrupt the 5-11 Carr's shooting rhythm. Carr needs to free himself with picks and launch quick shots. AU will rely on Frank Borden, who averages 3.5 points and three rebounds, for defense.

RESERVES: Villanova sophomore guards Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes average 10.8 and 9.7 points, respectively, and have combined for 25 starts. Sophomore forward Antonio Pena now comes off the bench after starting 20 times. The Eagles will counter with sophomore guard Nick Hendra, who has three-point range and driving ability; emerging freshman forward Stephen Lumpkins; and senior forward Bryce Simon, a starter a year ago who has averaged less than 10 minutes per game this season because of recurring knee problems.

COACHES: Jay Wright is making his seventh NCAA tournament appearance: two with Hofstra and five in a row with Villanova. Jeff Jones has coached American (nine seasons) for longer than he guided alma mater Virginia, where he reached the round of 16 in 1992-93 and the region final two years later.

-- Steven Goff