FACTS & STATS: Site: Charlotte Bobcats Arena (19,026) -- Charlotte, North Carolina. Television: CBS. NCAA Tournament Record: Washington State 6-5, North Carolina 94-38. Series Record: First-ever meeting.

GAME NOTES: The top-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels have looked indestructible thus far in the NCAA Tournament, and they will collide with the fourth-seeded Washington State Cougars in the Sweet 16. The winner will advance to take on either second-seeded Tennessee or third-seeded Louisville for the right to represent the East Region in the Final Four. Washington State has reached the round of 16 for the first time in school history, and the club has won 28 games this season to tie a school record. After crushing 13th-seeded Winthrop by a 71-40 final in the first round, the Cougars rolled to a 61-41 triumph over fifth-seeded Notre Dame in round two. Washington State is playing in the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in program history and now owns a 6-5 all- time record. The only other time the club won two games in any NCAA Tournament came way back in 1941. As for North Carolina, its 113-74 first-round victory over Mount St. Mary's was followed by a 108-77 thrashing of Arkansas in round two. The club won both the ACC regular season and tournament championships, earning it the top overall seed in this event. The Tar Heels are making their 40th all-time appearance in the "Big Dance" and own an eye-popping 94-38 record in the event. UNC recently won the national title in 2005 and reached the Elite Eight a year ago. This game marks the first-ever meeting between Washington State and North Carolina on the hardwood.

It is hard to imagine Washington State playing better defensively than it did against Notre Dame on Saturday. The Cougars limited the Fighting Irish to 24.5 percent shooting from the floor, including a 3-of-17 effort from three-point range. Also key to the triumph for WSU was a low total of seven turnovers. Derrick Low scored 18 points for the Cougars, and Kyle Weaver pitched in with 15 points and nine rebounds. Robbie Cowgill contributed 12 points, and Aron Baynes ripped down 11 rebounds. In the first-round romp over Winthrop, WSU limited a talented group of Eagles to 30.8 percent shooting from the field. The Cougars also earned a 40-21 rebounding advantage in that contest and connected on nearly 60 percent of their own field goal attempts. Baynes, Weaver, Cowgill and Low all reached double figures in scoring in that clash, and the starters will once against be counted on heavily tonight. The fact is that coach Tony Bennett does not use his bench much.

Five players reached double figures in scoring for North Carolina in the victory over Arkansas on Sunday. Wayne Ellington led the balanced attack with 20 points, and Ty Lawson pitched in 19 points and seven assists. Tyler Hansbrough posted 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Deon Thompson contributed 16 points. As for Alex Stepheson, he saw 20 minutes of action off the bench and finished with 10 points. The Tar Heels connected on a staggering 67.7 percent of their field goal attempts and racked up 28 assists against only seven turnovers. UNC led by 25 points at intermission in a game that was never even competitive. In the first-round demolition of Mount St. Mary's, the Heels nailed 60.6 percent of their shots from the field and had 25 assists with only nine giveaways. Lawson and Hansbrough both had 21 points, and UNC has yet to be tested in this tournament.

North Carolina is the second-highest scoring team in the nation, while Washington State is second nationally in scoring defense. Something obviously has to give, with the most likely scenario being Hansbrough and his Tar Heels marching on.

Predicted Outcome

North Carolina 75, Washington State 61