Each day, some of our college hoops experts discuss the biggest issues, trends and themes in and around college basketball.

1. UCLA already beat UAB by 12 in November. Does that give the Bruins an advantage?

Andy Katz: No. UAB isn't close to the same team. UCLA finally has found its rhythm. This promises to be an up-and-down game.

Dana O'Neil: November might as well have been a lifetime ago. Both teams have changed and changed significantly. That said, UCLA is playing with the double-edged sword of confidence and attitude, anxious to prove doubters wrong. That's a potent combo.

John Gasaway: November is ancient history, but if Bryce Alford is hitting 3s the way he did against SMU, that really does give the Bruins an advantage. UAB's is not the strongest offense left in the field, and UCLA can likely book a trip to the Sweet 16 by scoring 65 or more.

2. Cincinnati ranks in Ken Pomeroy's bottom 10 (No. 341) in adjusted tempo. Is that a good strategy against Kentucky?

Katz: It's different. They can't run with Kentucky, but they may not be able to score, either. The Bearcats must make perimeter shots to have a chance.

O'Neil: It can't hurt. As a team that is not as athletic as the Wildcats -- who is? -- slowing the tempo can help. That, and the fact that the Bearcats like and are accustomed to playing physically helps.

Gasaway: The Bearcats' average tempo is indeed deliberate, but against Purdue, Larry Davis had his guards looking for opportunities in transition. I anticipate we'll see the same approach against the even taller Wildcats.

3. If Arizona takes away D'Angelo Russell, where does Ohio State turn?

Katz: Nowhere. Russell must be a star for the Buckeyes to win.

O'Neil: Good question, but there is no answer. The reality is that the Buckeyes go as Russell goes, and without him, the options are few. He needs to be a factor for Ohio State to win.

Gasaway: Jae'Sean Tate. The freshman has been politely adhering to Thad Matta's longstanding "one (featured scorer) at a time" policy, but Tate is more than capable. I expect him to blow up huge next season. He might as well get an early start.

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Kentucky had little trouble moving to 35-0 on Thursday against Hampton while Cincinnati went down to the wire with Purdue. The Bearcats, who pride themselves on defense, should be Kentucky's first real test of the tournament.

Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell, the second-leading scorer in the Big Ten (19.6 points per game) faces Arizona's Stanley Johnson, the Pac-12's top scoring freshman and Arizona's leading scorer (14.3 points per game).

Both of these teams attack the glass as North Carolina grabs 41 rebounds per game, which ranks second nationally. Arkansas, meanwhile, pulls down 36 rebounds per game, 8.8 of which come from Bobby Portis.

Notre Dame survived a near upset from Northeastern on Thursday while Butler sent Texas packing thanks to Kellen Dunham's clutch 3-pointer. The winner heads to Cleveland for the Sweet 16.

Congrats to my brother @Archie_Miller and the Dayton Flyers on the win tonight!

— Sean Miller (@UACoachMiller) March 21, 2015