1.   But because Tkachuk has never won a Stanley Cup or helped his team advance beyond the first round of the playoffs, that could be a tough sell.

2.   Half the team advances.

3.   How important is having one team advance to the national semifinals when three have already won national championships this year and an unprecendented six won titles last year?

4.   If either team advances to the gold-medal game, expect the Sydney SuperDome to shake with sound.

5.   Oh, we know whichever team advances will have Miami or New York or Philadelphia or Indiana standing between it and a champagne shower.

6.   The Big Ten saw neither of its two highest-rated teams advance to the conference championship Sunday, but the evening brought greater news for the conference.

7.   The feeling is that if the team advances to the finals, the vote will pass.

8.   The Los Angeles Lakers are waiting as the Western Conference semifinal opponent to whichever team advances.

9.   The nine group winners and the top second-place team advance directly to play in Japan and South Korea.

10.   The two top teams advance.