Previewing Thursday's East Regional games

No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 4 Washington State

6:27 tonight, Bobcats Arena, Charlotte, N.C.

TV: KTVT/Ch. 11

Records: North Carolina 34-2, Washington State 26-8

Watch to watch: It’s a game of total contrast. Top-ranked North Carolina has won 13 consecutive games. The Tar Heels, second in the country in scoring at 89.9 points a game, breezed through the first two rounds, averaging 110.5 points. They are in their 20th Sweet 16 in the last 26 years. Washington State is in the regional semifinals for the first time.

No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 3 Louisville

Approx. 9 tonight, Bobcats Arena, Charlotte, N.C.

TV: KTVT/Ch. 11

Records: Tennessee 31-4; Louisville 26-8

Watch to watch: This is the second straight trip and fifth overall to the Sweet 16 for Tennessee, which has lost in its previous four regional semifinals. The Volunteers are led by guard Chris Lofton, who has 429 career 3-pointers and needs seven more to move into second place on the NCAA all-time list. The Cardinals would like to get into an up-and-down pace with their pressure defense. Louisville is 9-1 this season when scoring at least 80 points.