In the old days, before satellite TV access, when coaches needed to get tapes of their upcoming NCAA tourney opponents, they had to hit the road. Specifically, assistant coaches would call around to coaching friends to see who had tapes. Then they'd drive to a designated meeting place to get them.

Dan Dakich remembers those days well from when he was an Indiana assistant. Now, as interim head coach, he has almost instant access. Within minutes after Sunday's announcement that the Hoosiers (25-7) would be playing Arkansas (22-11) in Friday's opening-round game in Raleigh, N.C., Dakich had tapes of seven Razorback games on his desk.

What he saw reminded him of Michigan State - only bigger and more athletic.

“I don't know that anybody in the Big Ten has the size across the board than Arkansas has.”

Arkansas has five players 6-8 or taller, four 6-10 or taller. Beyond that, the Razorbacks have shown an ability to overcome double-digit deficits. Yes, that worries Dakich.

“When you watch film as much as I do, you see teams that die when they get down,” he said. “That is not this team. It gets going when it gets down.”

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The Big Ten is known for its bruising style of play, which is fine if officials let contact go. But if the officiating is called tighter, teams have to adjust. That's especially true for a Purdue squad known as the Big Ten's most physical.

“You have to talk to the players about watching the hand-checking and playing physical without using your hands and moving your feet,” coach Matt Painter said. “Those are things we talk about all the time.”

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Could DeAndre Thomas be the answer to Indiana's problems at the other forward position?

The 6-8, 300-pound-plus Thomas was for a while against Minnesota last week. He played 17 minutes and totaled two points, two steals and three rebounds. That's the most he's played in a month.

IU coaches have been reluctant to play Thomas along with D.J. White, mostly because Thomas hasn't put forth the necessary effort in practice and games. That is changing, Dakich said.

“His three best games of the year (Kentucky, Michigan State and Minnesota) were a matter of DeAndre deciding he was going to get in the gym extra and be serious about playing.

“He's learning at this level there is a preparation factor. Every time he's done extra, where he's taken the initiative, he's been really good.”

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If NCAA tourney experience means anything, Purdue has the edge over Baylor.

The Boilers are making their second straight NCAA appearance. This is the Bears' first in 20 years and just their second since 1950.

“Experience is important,” Painter said, “but does it come into play? I don't know. Obviously we're playing a team that does not have anybody with NCAA experience, but we only have four guys with it - just two games for that matter. So it depends on how the game unfolds and how the guys play.”

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Arkansas coach John Pelphrey was a Kentucky Wildcat the day Duke's Christian Laettner stunned UK 104-103 with his last second-shot in the 1992 Elite Eight. Pelphrey said he'll never forget it, mostly because no one will let him.

“I've had a lot of therapy over the years,” Pelphrey said. “I realize my life would not be any better had it not gone in.

“I was playing overseas in Spain and a guy from Sports Illustrated tracked me down and asked me about it. I realized that I couldn't get away from it.”