9 Wichita State vs. 2 Ohio State West Regional Final

Tonight at 6pm on CBS, the 9 seeded Wichita State Shockers 29-8 (12-6 Missouri Valley) take on the 2 seeded Ohio State Buckeyes 29-7 (13-5 Big Ten) in a West Regional Final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. After taking down Pittsburgh, Gonzaga, and La Salle, the Shockers are vying for their first trip to the Final Four since 1965. The latest win in a string of victories came in an impressive 72-58 Sweet 16 victory over La Salle on Thursday night. It was a dominating showing by the Shockers after they led by 16 going into the second half. Point guard Malcolm Armstead led WSU with 18 points. Cleanthony Early is the team leader in points with 13.7 points per game. Ohio State earned another thrilling finish Thursday night after defeating Arizona 73-70. LaQuinton Ross drained a long three with under three seconds remaining to give the Buckeyes the win. Last Sunday, Aaron Craft nailed a three with 0.2 seconds left to give them the victory over Iowa State. DeShaun Thomas leads the team with 19.7 points per game. This should be a great matchup between the point guards Malcolm Armstead and Aaron Craft. Look for the Buckeyes to come out with an impressive win and march onto the Final Four for the second consecutive year.

4 Syracuse vs. 3 Marquette East Regional Final

Today at 3:30pm on CBS, the 4 seeded Syracuse Orange 29-9 (11-7 Big East) take on the 3 seeded Marquette Golden Eagles 26-8 (14-4 Big East) in a East Regional Final at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. The Orange earned the right to play in the Elite 8 by defeating 1 Indiana 61-50 on Thursday night. The attacking zone of the 'Cuse held the Hoosiers to a season low 50 points. Point guard Michael Carter-Williams led the team with 24 points. They led 34-22 after one half and held on for the win. C.J. Fair leads the team with an average of 14.4 points per game for coach Jim Boeheim. Marquette received the chance to be in the Elite 8 with a 71-61 upset over 2 Miami (FL) on Thursday night. The Eagles' stingy defense held the Hurricanes to just 21 percent shooting in the first half and 1 of 9 from behind the arc. Jamil Wilson led the Eagles with 16 points off the bench in the win. Vander Blue, the team's leading scorer at 14.8 points per game, chipped in 14 in the win for coach Buzz Williams. This should be a great game when these two teams meet for the last time. When these two teams met on February 25 in the Bradley Center, Marquette hung on for 74-71 home win. I think that 'Quette will come out on top again as both teams look for their first trip to the Final Four since 2003.

WIAA Division 1 Germantown vs. Mukwonago Final Game Preview

Tomorrow at 8:15pm, the Germantown Warhawks 27-0 (14-0) take on the Mukwonago Indians 23-4 (12-2) in a WIAA Division 1 State Championship game. Germantown, the defending state champions, have the chance to defend their title after beating Oshkosh North 80-60 tonight. They were in complete control throughout the entire game. Jake Showalter tied the state record for made three pointers in one game with seven. He finished with 21 points. Luke Fischer, an Indiana recruit, scored 32 points to lead all scorers. Lamonte Bearden also scored in double figures with 13 points. Fischer leads the team in scoring this season with an average of 21.4 per game. Mukwonago is playing in the state championship game after beating Milwaukee King 64-47 tonight. They also led throughout the game and were led by Nate Tanguay and Dominic Cizauskas. Cizauskas had 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Point guard Aaron Nixon played well under the pressure of King, and was able to get to the free throw line at will. Cizauskas leads the team in scoring at 14.6 points per game. This should be an exciting game, but I think Germantown will run its winning streak to 56 games and bring home its second consecutive gold ball.

WIAA Division 2 Pulaski vs. Wisconsin Lutheran Final Game Preview

Tomorrow at 6:30pm, the Pulaski Red Raiders 23-4 (13-3) take on the Wisconsin Lutheran Vikings 22-5 (14-0) in the WIAA Division 2 State Championship game. Pulaski earned the right to be in their first state championship game by beating defending state champion Onalaska 46-42 in overtime this afternoon. They led 30-21 at the end of three, but were outscored 10-3 in the fourth to go to overtime. The Red Raiders scored the first five points of overtime and hung on for the victory. Milwaukee recruit Cody Wichmann led Pulaski with 17 points, and Jordan Stiede chipped in 13. Wichmann leads the team with an average of 15.3 points per game.Wisconsin Lutheran will play in the state championship as a result of a 54-38 win over Stoughton this afternoon. The Vikings led throughout and were up by 21 after three quarters of play. Anthony Carver led the team with 12 points. Deiondre Cunningham had 11 points and Larry Moore chipped in 10. Cunningham is the team's leading scorer at 13 points per game. This should be very entertaining as Pulaski likes to slow it down and Wisconsin Lutheran looks to run. I think Pulaski will win its first state title with a close win.

WIAA Division 3 Aquinas vs. Lodi Final Game Preview

Tomorrow at 2:30pm, the Aquinas Blugolds 23-4 (10-2) take on the Lodi Blue Devils 24-3 (9-1) in the WIAA Division 3 State Championship game. Aquinas beat Little Chute 61-51 earlier this morning to advance to the championship game. They led 24-21 at halftime and hung on in the end for the victory. Parker Weber led the Blugolds with 18 points, and Bronson Koenig, a Wisconsin recruit, chipped in 14. Nolan Ritter had 11 points and Michael Conway put in 10 points. Aquinas is a very balanced team and can receive scoring from many different options. Lodi earned a trip to their first state championship game by beating East Troy 54-46 earlier this morning. They led 18-6 after the first quarter and absorbed a Trojan rally in the fourth quarter to hang on for the win. Jordan Shea led the Blue Devils with 21 points. Brady Moses had 14 points and Jacob Haag added 11. Jordan Shea leads the team with 15.8 points a contest. This should be as good as advertised. Look for Koening and Weber to take over the game and lead the Blugolds to a second state title in three years.

WIAA Division 4 Auburndale vs. Dominican Final Game Preview

Tomorrow at 12:45pm, the Auburndale Apaches 26-1 (13-1) take on the Dominican Knights 23-4 (16-0) in the WIAA Division 4 State Championship game. Auburndale got to the championship by virtue of a 49-29 win over Amherst. They shot 64 percent from the floor and 40 percent beyond the arc. Austin Hawkins, the two time conference player of the year in the Marawood South Conference, had a game high 20 points to lead the Apaches. He also leads the team with 18.6 points per game. Dominican earned the right to defend their championship by defeating Cuba City 55-47. They trailed 20-17 at halftime but rallied for the victory. Chris Topp led the Knights with 19 points, while Duane Wilson had 19 and Diamond Stone had 10. Duane Wilson leads the team with 23.7 points per game on the season. This should be a great game, but look for the defending champs to get it done again with a win in Duane Wilson's final high school game.

WIAA Division 5 Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran vs. Randolph Final Game Preview

Tomorrow at 11am, the Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran Blazers 28-0 (14-0) take on the Randolph Rockets 26-2 (14-1) in a WIAA Division 5 State Championship game. N.E.W. barely got past Drummond 62-59 in the semifinal on Thursday thanks to a game winning layup and a foul by Nathan Toenjes with 3.8 seconds left in the game that sealed the win for the Blazers. Each starter scored in double figures for the Blazers, with Nathan Claflin leading the way with 14 points. Travis Voigt scored 12 points and 8 assists. Travis Voigt leads the team with 14.2 points per game for coach Mark Meerstein. Randolph enters the state championship game for the third time in four years. The Rockets overcame a 25-21 halftime deficit to erase the Raiders in the second half, outscoring them 25-12 en route to a 46-37 win. Aaron Retzlaff led the team with 16 points for coach Bob Haffele. Jay Peters leads the team with an average of 13.9 points per game. Great point guard matchup between Travis Voigt and Duke Vander Galien will lead to close game. I think the Blazers will come away with their first state championship.

WIAA Division 1 Mukwonago vs. Milwaukee King Semifinal Game Preview

Friday at 8:15pm, the Mukwonago Indians 22-4 (12-2) take on the Milwaukee King Generals 20-4 (11-1) at the Kohl Center in Madison. Mukwonago is riding high going into the semifinal. They ended Madison Memorial's 10 year run at state by downing the Spartans 55-52 on Saturday afternoon to clinch a sectional championship for the first time since 1996 and third time overall. The Indians have three starters averaging in double figures, led by Dominic Cizauskas, who averages 15 points per game. Nate Tanguay averages 11.4 points per game, and Aaron Nixon averages 11.1 points per game. Milwaukee King visits the Kohl Center for the second consecutive year and 14th trip overall. The Generals defeated Racine Case 59-43 on Saturday afternoon to claim a sectional championship. Austin Malone-Mitchell, a Division 1 prospect, leads the Generals attack with 20.8 points per game. Chris Howell also averages in double figures at 10.3 points per game. The last game of the night looks to be one of the best. Look for the Indians to get the big win and deny the Generals of a second straight trip to the state title game.

WIAA Division 1 Oshkosh North vs. Germantown Semifinal Game Preview

Friday at 6:35pm, the Oshkosh North Spartans 23-3 (16-2) take on the Germantown Warhawks 26-0 (14-0). Oshkosh North earned the trip to go to state for the second time in two years by beating D.C. Everest 81-48 on Saturday afternoon. They took first in the Fox Valley Association Conference this season, and have not lost a conference game since December. The Spartans have three starters that average in double figures, starting with Cooper Radtke, who averages 18 points per game, Nathan Neveau averages 13.8 points per game, and Blake Marquardt averages 10.5 points per game for coach Frank Schade.When this lineup gets going, it is very hard to stop because of their balance. Germantown, ranked number 25 in the country by USA Today, has blown through everybody this season, but most noticeably a 73-59 win against De Pere on Saturday that earned theme a sectional championship.This lineup looks like a college lineup because of their size and speed. Luke Fischer, an Indiana recruit, leads the Warhawks with 20.5 points per game. Lamonte Bearden, an explosive transfer from Homestead, averages 12.8 points per ame and has 124 assists on the season. Jake Showalter, the son of coach Steve Showalter, averages 12.3 points per game. This should be a blowout. Look for Germantown to run away with this one and into the state championship game.

WIAA Division 2 Stoughton vs. Wisconsin Lutheran Semifinal Game Preview

Friday at 3:15pm, the Stoughton Vikings 18-8 (8-4) take on the Wisconsin Lutheran Vikings 21-5 (14-0) at the Kohl Center in Madison. Stoughton enters this game after punching their ticket to Madison by beating DeForest 55-51 on Saturday afternoon. Although they are the only team that is making a state appearance without 20 wins, this team is hungry to earn a berth in the state title game. Nick McGlynn leads the attack of the Vikings. He averages a team best 14.6 points per game for coach Matt Hockett. He also has 63 blocks and 236 rebounds. Shane Rowley also averages in double figures for Stoughton with 10 points per game. Wisconsin Lutheran earned a birth in Madtown by beating New Berlin Eisenhower 60-42 on Saturday afternoon. They face stiff competition day in and day out in the Wisconsin Little Ten. Coach Ryan Walz also does a tremendous job of scheduling tough nonconference games. Deiondre Cunningham leads the Vikings with 12.9 points per game. This should be entertaining, but look for Wisconsin Lutheran to come away with a fairly easy win and cruise into the state championship game.

WIAA Division 2 Onalaska vs. Pulaski Semifinal Game Preview

Friday at 1:35pm, the Onalaska Hiltoppers 24-2 (11-1) take on the Pulaski Red Raiders 22-4 (13-3) in a WIAA Division 2 State Semifinal game at the Kohl Center. Onalaska, the defending state champions in Division 2, earned the chance to defend their title by beating Hortonville 64-54 on Saturday afternoon. Matt Thomas, named the state's best senior shooter, dropped 41 on the Polar Bears and lead the 'Toppers to victory. He is on a basketball scholarship to Iowa State next season and leads the team with 28.2 points per game. Pulaski enters this state contest after qualifying by virtue of a 53-37 win against Grafton on Saturday afternoon. This is just the third time in school history that the Red Raiders have made it to Madison, the last coming in 1989. They have three starters averaging in double figures, led by Milwaukee recruit Cody Wichmann, who leads the team with 14.6 points per game. Luke VanLanen averages 12.9 points per game, and Jordan Stiede averages 10.3 points per game. This is an interesting matchup, but I think the Raiders will pull one out and play for a state championship for the first time in school history.

WIAA Division 3 Lodi vs. East Troy Semifinal Game Preview

Friday at 10:30am, the Lodi Blue Devils 23-3 (9-1) take on the East Troy Trojans 23-3 (16-0) in a Division 3 Semifinal at the Kohl Center. Lodi earned the trip to state for the second year in a row after defeating Wisconsin Dells 73-59 for the sectional crown on Saturday afternoon. They are the champions of the Capitol North Conference and this is their second overall trip to stae, both in the last two years. Jordan Shea, the leader of the Blue Devils, leads the team with 15.1 points per game, 130 assists per game, and 7 rebounds per game. East Troy also makes its second appearance to Madison, although their last trip has not been since 1989. They earned the right to play at the Kohl Center thanks to a 57-44 win against Berlin on Saturday. They are the champions of the Rock Valley North Conference. Brett Prahl, a Division 1 prospect, leads the team with 20.4 points per game. Nate Dodge, an Army recruit, averages 19 points per game. Brett's twin brother, Alex, also averages in double figures with 12.5 points per game. This should be a good game but look for the loaded front line and quick backcourt of East Troy to prevail and get the win.

WIAA Division 3 Aquinas vs. Little Chute Semifinal Game Preview

Friday at 9:05am, the Aquinas Blugolds 22-4 (10-2) take on the Little Chute Mustangs 25-1 (16-0) in a state semifinal game at the Kohl Center. Aquinas returns to Madison for the second time in three years. They earned the berth to state after beating Barron 66-49 in a sectional final on Saturday. The Blugolds' two defeats this season came against Wisconsin Dells and Waverly-Shell Rock. Aquinas has many quality wins on their resume that tell you they will be a force this weekend in competing for a state championship. Bronson Koenig, a Wisconsin recruit, leads the team with 16.9 points per game this season for coach Rick Schneider. Koenig also is topps on the team with 96 assists. Little Chute enters Madison also for the second time in three years after defeating Brillion 59-37 to claim a sectional championship on Saturday afternoon. They boast two Green Bay recruits in Turner Botz, who averages a team high 16 points per game, and Kenneth Lowe, who also averages in double figures at 12.1 points per game for veteran coach Mickey Martin. This should be a great game but look for the depth and experience of Little Chute to pull away in this one and get the hard fought victory.

WIAA Division 4 Cuba City vs. Dominican Semifinal Game Preview

Tomorrow at 8:15pm, the Cuba City Cubans 26-0 (14-0) take on the Dominican Knights 22-4 (16-0) in a WIAA Division 4 State Semifinal game at the Kohl Center. Cuba City enters this semifinal undefeated on the season, just as they were last season when these two teams met in the state championship game, where Dominican won easily. The Cubans advanced for the second straight year after beating Luther 77-74 in overtime on Saturday to play in Madison. Coach Jerry Petitgoue, the winningest coach in state history, has three starters who average in double digits, led by point guard Brandon Slaats, who leads the team with 15.3 points per game. Dominican, the defending state champs, come to Madison also for the second straight year by virtue of a 52-39 win over previously unbeaten Laconia on Saturday to claim a sectional championship. Duane Wilson, a leading candidate for the Mr. Basketball award that will be announced this weekend and the state's top senior point guard, leads the team with 23.4 points per game for first year coach Derek Berger. Diamond Stone, the country's second best prospect, averages 17 points per game and 11.3 rebounds per game. This should be a great way to end the first day of action, and look for Dominican to keep its hopes for a repeat championship alive with a convincing win.

WIAA Division 4 Auburndale vs. Amherst Semifinal Game Preview

Tomorrow at 6:35pm, the Auburndale Apaches 25-1 (13-1) take on the Amherst Falcons 22-3 (13-1) at the Kohl Center for a Division 4 State Semifinal game. Auburndale makes the trip to Madison for the first time since 2004. They advanced with a 57-22 win against Unity. Their only loss of the season was a 46-40 overtime loss against Stratford. Austin Hawkins, the two-time Player of the Year in the Marawood-South Conference, leads the team with 20 points per game to go along with his team leading 8 rebounds per game. Amherst, the co-champions from the CWC-8 Conference, enters Madison for the first time since 1998 after a 47-46 win against Reedsville. Caleb Glennon leads the team with an average of 14.7 points per game for the Falcons. Marcus Jensen, the son of coach Gregg Jensen, leads the team with 6.8 rebounds per game. This should be an entertaining game, but I think that Auburndale will get it done and advance to the state championship game.

WIAA Division 5 Elmwood vs. Randolph Semifinal Game Preview

Tomorrow at 3:15pm, the Elmwood Raiders 23-4 (12-4) take on the Randolph Rockets 25-2 (14-1) at the Kohl Center for a WIAA Division 5 Semifinal. Elmwood reaches the state tournament for the first time since 1996 with a 49-44 win against Royall at La Crosse Logan on Saturday afternoon. They compete in the Dunn St. Croix Conference, and finished second place to Elk Mound. They are led by Logan Wolf, who leads the Raiders balanced attack with 16.8 points per game. He also is topps with 157 assists on the season. Randolph returns to Madison after a one year hiatus. The Rockets return with a 44-30 win against Racine Lutheran on Saturday afternoon at Fort Atkinson. Randolph has gone with the same starting lineup the entire season, and are on the same page with numerous scoring attacks. Jay Peters and Aaron Retzlaff provide the bulk of the scoring, averaging 14.3 and 13 points per game respectively. This may not be as good as the opener to the tourney, so look for the more experienced and talented Randolph to ease its way into the state final.

WIAA Division 5 Drummond vs. Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran Semifinal Game Preview

Tomorrow at 1:35 pm, the Drummond Lumberjacks 24-2 (15-0) take on the Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran Blazers 27-0 (15-0) at the Kohl Center in a WIAA Division 5 Semifinal. Drummond punched their ticket to Madison with a 39-34 win against Clayton in Spooner on Saturday afternoon. The Lumberjacks have won 16 straight game since dropping a 45-38 contest against Peshtigo at the Kress Center over Christmas break. These two teams met back on December 27 at the Kress Center, and N.E.W. escaped with a 45-41 win that ended Drummond's bid for an undefeated season. Ben Best leads the team with 18.3 points per game and also is topps in 9.5 rebounds per game. N.E.W. enters this game after putting away Niagara 63-40 at Menasha on Saturday afternoon. The Blazers only led by seven at halftime but pulled away in the second half to keep their undefeated season in tact. They have a terrific blend of scoring, rebounding, along with outstanding passing skills that will certainly benefit them this weekend. Travis Voigt, the two-time Packerland Conference Player of the Year, leads the Blazers with 14.2 points per contest and 126 assists on the season. This should be a great game to start out the State Tournament but look for the Blazers to advance with a close win.