Arkansas Big Obstacle For Virginia

Someone asked Virginia forward Junior Burrough how he planned to defend Arkansas’ Corliss Williamson today. Burrough smiled, nodded to his left and said, “Let Chris guard him.”

Good plan. It’s worked well this season. Chris Alexander, the Cavaliers’ obscure junior center, has been challenged every day, it seems. Rasheed Wallace, Tim Duncan, Joe Smith, Jerry Stackhouse. All three of Kansas’ behemoths. Bring ‘em all on.

“It’s been that way all season,” Alexander said. “Each game you think, ‘All right, maybe I’ll be able to relax a bit this time.’ But it’s never been like that. The list just goes on and on.”

Just like the Cavaliers, who face second-seeded Arkansas (2 p.m., CBS) for the NCAA Midwest Regional championship in Kemper Arena at Kansas City, Mo., where Alexander may face his biggest challenge yet. Many consider Williamson the best power forward in the country, and his numbers back up that claim: 19.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

Arkansas spreads its people around the floor on offense and defense, and as a result the Razorbacks are not as strong a rebounding team.

“We are a physical basketball team but also a finesse, physical basketball team,” Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson said. “The physical play of Virginia does not really bother our style of play. If we play the way we like to, sometimes it can take the physical out of the game. We like to run and attack, run and attack. Physical teams like to control tempo. We can’t allow Virginia to control the tempo.”

East Final (11:40 a.m., CBS)

The Massachusetts backcourt has taken its share of hits during the tournament, mostly from skeptics, who consider it the soft spot in an otherwise solid team.

But the latest blow is not verbal, but physical, and the ramifications could affect UMass’s chances.

Starting guard Edgar Padilla will not be available today, when the second-seeded Minutemen meet fourth-seeded Oklahoma State in Byrne Meadowlands Arena at East Rutherford, N.J.

The sophomore guard suffered a sprained left foot in Friday’s semifinal victory over Tulsa. The absence of Padilla, who averaged 7.1 points in 21 minutes per game, is critical for UMass, already without its best guard, Mike Williams, who was suspended in February.

With Padilla out, starting point guard Derek Kellogg will play close to 40 minutes. Carmelo Travieso will start in Padilla’s spot, and Dana Dingle will also see time at the two guard.

“Obviously, it’s going to hurt us,” UMass coach John Calipari said. “One of our biggest strengths is our depth, playing nine or 10 guys. But now Derek will have to play 40 minutes if he has to. Marcus Camby might even see time at the point.”

Calipari was joking about Camby, the 6-foot-11 center, who will have his hands full contending with Oklahoma State center Bryant Reeves. Camby was a vital contributor against Tulsa, with 20 points, nine rebounds and five blocks. Reeves had 15 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in the Cowboys’ win over Wake Forest.

For Reeves, it will be much like playing against Wake center Tim Duncan, who, like Camby, is lean and athletic. Duncan used his quickness against the burly 7-foot, 292-pound Reeves to collect 22 rebounds and block eight shots.