If you're like 95 percent of the nation's college basketball fans, your NCAA bracket is in shambles.

After the untimely demise of No. 2 seeds Miami, Stanford and Utah, Wall Street offices and college dormitories alike are abuzz with the sound of gnashing teeth, and suddenly everyone and their mother can spell Szczerbiak.

But the South Regional, unlike its counterparts, is a model of predictability. Nos. 1-4 Auburn, Maryland, St. John's and Ohio State all advanced to the Sweet 16 with relative ease on the strength of superstars like the Tigers' Chris Porter, the Terps' Steve Francis, the Johnnies' Ron Artest and the Buckeyes' Scoonie Penn.

What the South Regional lacks in Cinderella value, it makes up for in quality--witness tonight's St. John's-Maryland duel, one which carries all the promise of being an NCAA Tournament classic.

The ink spilled on Francis alone justifies the anticipation. The 6'3 junior college transfer has become one of the most coveted collegiate players in the nation, averaging 17.2 points per game, shooting 52.8 percent from the floor and 40 percent from three-point range.

It's Francis's odyssey to Maryland, however, that makes the shooting guard such good copy.

Francis barely played basketball in high school, suffering through bouts with academic ineligibility, injury and the death of his mother during his senior year.

He spent one year prepping and two years in ju-co purgatory before bursting into the Terps' starting lineup. At Allegany Community College, Francis averaged 25 points per game and was a First-Team Junior College All-American. ESPN's Jay Bilas calls Francis the Roy Hobbs of the 64-team field.

Lost in the hype behind Francis is sophomore forward Terrence Morris, who scores 15.5 points per game and averages 7.2 rebounds while shooting almost 60 percent from the floor. Morris scored 20 in Maryland's second-round win over Creighton to go along with Francis's 18-point, 13-rebound double-double.