Friday's South Regional games

No. 2 Texas (30-6) vs. No. 3 Stanford (28-7)

6:27 p.m., Houston

The 411: Texas, Duke and Kansas are the only schools to have reached the Sweet 16 in five of the last seven years. This is the third time Stanford has been a No. 3 seed. The last time, in 1998, the Cardinal reached the Final Four (which, was played in San Antonio, the site of this year’s Final Four.

The strategy: The Longhorns will have to use their depth up front to counter Team Lopez. Texas also needs to smother the other Stanford players so they aren’t able to support the Lopez twins. The Cardinal will need to keep Augustin and Abrams under control.

The key matchup: The Lopez twins against Texas’ big men. If the Stanford twin towers combine for 40 points and 20 rebounds, the Longhorns will be in good shape. Texas can’t afford for the Lopez brothers to get too crazy on the stat sheet.

Texas stat line: In their last 11 games, the Longhorns have blocked 68 shots (6.2 per game).

Stanford stat line: The Cardinal are 19-1 when shooting 40 percent or better while holding their opponents to less than 40 percent shooting. Only 11 of Stanford’s opponents have shot better than 40 percent.

Texas probable starters

No. 5 Michigan St. (27-8) vs. No. 1 Memphis (35-1)

The 411: These teams have played once; Memphis won the 30, 1967 meeting, 73-57. Memphis has reached the regional final each of the last two seasons. When the Tigers played in the 1973 NCAA Tournament, they won two games in Houston to advance to the Final Four. Michigan State has reached the Sweet 16 for the 11th time in the last 16 NCAA Tournaments.

The strategy: Both teams figure to make rebounding and shots around the basket a physical challenge. The Spartans aren’t as athletic up front as the Tigers but coach Tom Izzo’s teams know how to bang without getting in foul trouble. Memphis will try to shut down Michigan State guards Drew Neitzel and Kalin Lucas, who supply most of the Spartans’ offense.

The key matchup: Memphis’ Joey Dorsey vs. Michigan State’s Goran Suton and Drew Naymick. When Dorsey plays like he did against Mississippi State (13 points, 12 rebounds, six blocked shots), the Tigers are tough to beat. If the Spartans’ two 6-10 players can frustrate him, Michigan State can win.

Michigan stat line: In their two NCAA Tournament victories, the Spartans held Temple and Pittsburgh to 35.2 percent shooting from the field and 20 percent from 3-point range.

Memphis stat line: The Tigers shot 59.2 percent from the free throw line during the season. In two NCAA Tournament games, Memphis is 55.2 from the line.

Memphis probable starters