*** SUNDAY NCAAB ***

Cleveland State 69 - Arizona 65--There is no doubt much-maligned Arizona proved it deserved to be invited to the Big Dance for the 26th consecutive time with its well-earned 84-71 first-round victory over Utah. But believe the somewhat flawed, depth-shy Wildcats will have a difficult time advancing vs. tough-minded, senior-oriented Cleveland State squad brimming with confidence following its surprisingly easy 84-69 shocker vs. athletic ACC powerhouse Wake Forest, once the No. 1 team in the national rankings. Don't expect the Vikings, who are back in the NCAAs for the 1st time since 1986 (remember Mouse McFadden?), to be satisfied with that first-round stunner under deep-thinking third-year resurrectionist HC Gary Waters (has weekly team meetings to talk about life), who says his even-keeled squad doesn't get too high or too low following any victory or defeat. Following the Deacon win, the players didn't hoot and holler, but sufficed with a few hugs and handshakes.

The Wildcats' press forced plenty of turnovers vs. the Utes' backcourt, but that tactic will backfire vs. speedy, smooth-handling CSU Gs Cedrick Jackson (11 ppg; Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year) and super-soph Norris Cole (13 ppg,), who is actually considered a superior on-the-ball defender to his more celebrated comrade. Either way, Arizona's hot 5-10 G Nic Wise (29 pts. vs. Utah) will be quickly cooled off by one of those intense Vike defenders. And while the Cats' 6-10 F Jordan Hill (19 ppg, 11 rpg) is a dangerous post threat, CSU's industrious 6-9, 245 C Chris Moore--who did yeoman's work vs Wake Forest's tall trees--should be able to keep him from dominating in the paint. On the attack, the Vikings' quick, offensive-minded 6-5, 240 F J'Nathan Bullock (15 ppg, 7 rpg), who can score inside or out, figures to be a major headache for a sometimes-yielding Arizona defense (45% FGs).

Yes, if the tried and true cliché--defense wins championships--still applies (and we think it does), the victor here will be smothering Cleveland State (permitting a meager 59 ppg, 39% FGs), which held a school-record 11 opponents to 50 points or fewer, while allowing only seven teams to shoot better than 44% from the field. So, even UA's explosive but sometimes-streaky 6-7 Chase Budinger (18 ppg, 41% beyond arc; only 3 of 15 vs. Arizona State in the Pac-10 tourney) is unlikely to find his rhythm. Also, note that Vikings have now covered 5 straight TY as an underdog, including upset victories at Syracuse (led by six with a minute to go) and at Butler in the Horizon League title game.

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