TheSpread.com

Playing Tough D

Wisconsin's defense propelled it to an ugly win in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals. Michigan State saw first hand in the only regular season meeting between the two just how frustrating that defense can be.

The No. 8 Badgers and No. 19 Spartans face off Saturday in the tournament semifinals as Wisconsin tries to advance to the championship game for the third time in four years.

Expecting a Front

UCLA cruised through the Pac-10 tournament quarterfinals with its first convincing win in two weeks. The Bruins don't expect their next opponent to go down quite as easily.

The third-ranked Bruins meet archrival Southern California in the tournament semifinals at Staples Center on Friday, hoping to advance to the championship game by beating one of only three teams to defeat them this season.

UNC Prevails Over FSU

Tyler Hansbrough scored 22 points Friday to help No. 1 North Carolina beat Florida State 82-70 in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament quarterfinals.

Texas After a Big 12 Title

Texas has accomplished a lot since Rick Barnes took over in 1998, but it's never won the Big 12 tournament.

The sixth-ranked Longhorns begin their push for their first Big 12 tourney title when they meet Oklahoma State in the quarterfinals on Friday.

In The Hunt For No. 1

Led by the national player of the year, North Carolina captured its second straight Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title to earn the top seed in the conference tournament in Charlotte. A strong showing in their league tournament would likely be enough to give the top-ranked Tar Heels the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament in the Charlotte-based East Regional.

Tyler Hansbrough and defending ACC tournament champion North Carolina look to move closer to a No. 1 seed as they play ninth-seeded Florida State in the quarterfinals on Friday at Charlotte Bobcats Arena.