After completing its most successful regular season ever, then proceeding to roll through the Shaughnessy Tournament and the NCAA Division II West Regional Championships, which culminated with UCD spanking Seattle Pacific University 80-52, the Aggies aren't just traveling to Kentucky to get away from it all.

UCD, 28-2 overall and currently riding a 19-game winning streak, is one of just eight Division II teams left to slug it out for a national championship.

The first obstacle blocking the Aggies' path to the hardware is West Texas A&M University - a team that compiled an impressive 26-4 record during the season.

"I'm excited," UCD head coach Bob Williams said. "I'm not too nervous yet, but I'm sure I will be Tuesday. This is just a great time for Aggie basketball, to be playing in the Elite Eight Tournament for the first time ever.

"We play great talent in the West," he added. "This is our chance to play against some of the best teams in the nation."

While Williams expressed his giddiness, his players appeared more focused than ever on achieving their ultimate goal.

"The guys are still hungry," wing Chris Vlasic said. "In past years when we made the playoffs, we were just happy to be there. The difference with this year's team is that we're not just happy to be there - we're going to Louisville to win."

Standing in the way of that goal are the Buffaloes - a team known for its prolific scoring and penchant for pushing the ball up the floor at a dizzying pace - which presents a good test for UCD's second-ranked defense, allowing a miserly 60.4 points per game.

The Buffaloes averaged an astounding 85 ppg during the regular season - but this isn't European league basketball. The Buffaloes sieve-like defense allowed a generous 72.3 ppg, which won't get it done against strong competition.

In preparation for what should be an up-tempo game, the Aggies spent their idle week conditioning for the task ahead. The team got a firsthand look at how tough it can be to win three emotional games when it saw Seattle Pacific come up short in the West Regional title game after knocking off defending D-II champions Cal State Bakersfield the previous night.

"We like to run, so it should be a good challenge," post Jonathan Surface said. "It will force us to play better defense because (the Buffaloes) scored over 100 points in their last game. They're a running team with not so much defense - we haven't seen a team like this."

Williams agreed.

"They impressed me because for a high-scoring team, they're very team oriented on offense," he said. "They are physical inside and are also very disciplined."

The balanced scoring attack of WTAMU boasts five players that score in double figures and is led by the 14.2 ppg of post Donnell Harrison.

For UCD to be successful, it needs another huge game from the rejuvenated post tandem of Jason Cox and Justis Durkee, both of whom were huge in the West Regionals. The Aggies also need the usual brilliance of guard Dante Ross, the Northern California Athletic Conference's player of the year.

We want to come back with a championship," Ross said. "But regardless, this is going to be something we'll remember for the rest of our lives - it's been a great experience with the guys."

Vlasic concurred.

"Obviously, we don't want to think about losing, but nothing can take away from the way this group has bonded throughout the year," Vlasic said. "That's more special than anything - a championship would be icing on the cake."

While Williams only wants to focus on the game ahead, his mind couldn't help but think of the possibilities.

"Right now, we're just taking it one game at a time," he said. "But would I like to be playing Saturday morning on CBS in the championship game? Hell yeah."

The Aggies face the Buffaloes in game one of the Elite Eight Tournament in Louisville, Ky. today at 9:30 am. The game will be aired by KDVS 90.3 FM with the pregame show beginning 15 minutes before tipoff.