FACTS & STATS: Site: Wachovia Center (21,000) -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Television: CBS. NCAA Tournament Record: Texas A&M 8-10, Connecticut 41-26. Series Record: Series tied, 1-1.

GAME NOTES: After breezing through their first-round matchup, the top-seeded Connecticut Huskies will now take on the ninth-seeded Texas A&M Aggies in second-round action in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament.

The Aggies jumped out to a 26-8 lead in their first-round tilt and never looked back, defeating BYU in a 69-56 final. It was the eighth victory in the tournament for Texas A&M, which has been bounced from the event in the previous three seasons in heartbreaking fashion. The win over the Cougars was the seventh straight for A&M, which is now a solid 24-9 on the year.

As for the Huskies, they entered Thursday's opener with tremendous concern for their coach, Jim Calhoun, who visited a Philadelphia hospital after not feeling well. However, there was no concern on the court as UConn put its game face on and destroyed Chattanooga, 103-47. On top of the terrific performance against the Mocs, coach Calhoun was declared fit and will likely be ready for this afternoon's contest. The Huskies have accumulated an impressive 41-26 record in the "Big Dance" over the years, but the majority of the team's success has come under the guidance of Calhoun (36-12). UConn enters this bout with an impressive 28-4 record this year, but the Huskies did not claim the regular season or tournament championships in the Big East.

This will be the third, and most important meeting between Texas A&M and UConn on the hardwood. The Huskies won the first meeting, while the Aggies took the second, but both matchups took place back in the 1980's. The winner of this bout will face either Purdue or Washington in the Sweet 16.

The Aggies put on an offensive display in their victory over BYU, shooting 57.7 percent from the field, while also using a 35-26 difference on the glass to their advantage. Bryan Davis was one of five players in double figures, as the forward netted 21 points, and also pulled down nine rebounds. Donald Sloan was extremely effective in the win, posting 14 points, to go along with six boards and seven assists. B.J. Holmes, Josh Carter, and Derrick Roland tallied 10 points each in the win, while Chinemelu Elonu collected a team-high 10 caroms. Texas A&M has been a surprisingly solid team at the offensive end of the floor for the majority of the season and comes into this matchup with UConn averaging 71.9 ppg, behind a healthy 45.0 percent shooting effort. Carter, who is shooting 40.6 percent from the perimeter, is leading the team with 13.9 ppg, while Sloan has been a top floor general, dishing out 103 assists to go along with 11.8 ppg. Davis and Elonu have been a solid tandem in the paint, as Davis is contributing 10.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg, while Elonu is chipping in 10.0 ppg, to go along with team highs in rebounds (7.5 rpg) and blocks (53).

While the Aggies were solid offensively, it was the Huskies who put forth an offensive clinic, as UConn exploded for 103 points, en route to a 56-point win over Chattanooga. The Huskies dominated the glass to the tune of 58-34, and that led to a strong advantage in points scored in the paint (56-24). Stanley Robinson led the way with 24 points, while Hasheem Thabeet tallied a double- double consisting of 20 points and 13 rebounds. A.J. Price also contributed 20 points, while Jeff Adrien posted a double-double as well with 13 points and 16 boards. Kemba Walker was helpful off the bench, netting 10 points, to go along with six assists. The Huskies have been an outstanding team at the offensive end of the floor this year, averaging 80.4 ppg, while shooting a very strong 47.2 percent. Price is pacing the team with 14.2 ppg, and has also dished out a team-best 145 assists. Thabeet has been one of the best big men in the nation, and his presence in the paint is menacing, as the center is contributing 13.9 ppg and 10.9 rpg, while also amassing 144 blocks. Adrien is also averaging a double-double on the year, as the forward is posting 13.6 ppg, to go along with 10.2 rpg.

The Huskies will not be able to run through the Aggies as they did the Mocs, but UConn should put forth another solid effort en route to its 15th Sweet 16 appearance.

Predicted Outcome

Connecticut 78, Texas A&M 71