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Sporting News, The, March 25, 1996 by Tom Dienhart

Many believe this is the strongest regional, and this lineup bears that out. Only No. 4 UCLA stumbled en route to Lexington, but No. 5 Mississippi State is a strong substitute. Look for the Georgia Tech-Cincinnati winner to advance. Once again, sorry UConn.

Why Mississippi State will advance: There are few teams as big and as bad as the Bulldogs, who, with Erick Dampier and Dontae' Jones, could pound a relatively weak UConn front line. Once known primarily as a shot-blocker and rebounder, Dampier has improved his low-post game and is difficult to stop when he catches the ball on the blocks. Darryl Wilson is a long-range shooter.

Why Mississippi State won't advance: Though the Bulldogs are big and strong, they lack speed. Conversely, UConn is quick. If the Huskies run and gun, Mississippi State may struggle. Point guard Marcus Bullard has been prone to lapses, and UConn likes to press. That could mean trouble.

Why UConn will advance: You need good guard play to win it all, and there are few better tandems than Ray Allen and Doron Sheffer -- the best shooters on a team renowned for its touch. Allen's star power pays dividends in close games, and everyone knows their role.

Why UConn won't advance: The loss of Ricky Moore (shoulder) hurts the backcourt depth, and the frontcourt lacks muscle. Skinny Travis Knight will need help with the beefy Dampier. UConn has a history of choking in big tourney games. Remember Donyell Marshall vs. Florida in 1994, or Tate George vs. Duke in 1990?

Why Georgia Tech will advance: Hotshot freshman Stephon Marbury has lived up to his hype and is part of one of the nation's best perimeter games, which also features Drew Barry and Matt Harpring. Georgia Tech, which started the season 6-7, may be the hottest team in the country.

Why Georgia Tech won't advance: Have you seen the Yellow Jackets' inside game? Don't feel bad, few people have. String bean Eddie Elisma has his moments, but ... The big, bad Bearcats should dominate the paint vs. the outmanned Georgia Tech frontcourt.

Why Cincinnati will advance: Wide bodies Danny Fortson and Art Long occupy a lot of space and attention. By pounding the ball inside, Cincinnati should roll. Darnell Burton may be the best sixth man in college basketball, and Bob Huggins knows what it takes to get to the Final Four. He led the Bearcats there in '92.

Why Cincinnati won't advance: Damon Flint looked good in the first two rounds, but he is inconsistent. Cincinnati may rely too much on Fortson. What happens if he is in foul trouble or has a subpar game? The lack of a consistent outside game can cause problems.

TSN's pick: Georgia Tech. Hearken back to the '90 tourney, when a Tech freshman named Kenny Anderson led the Jackets to the Final Four. The same plot is unfolding.