AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- One of the overlooked aspects of the NCAA tournament is advanced scouting and the quick turnaround for the coaches who put together the game plans.

The NCAA tournament is unlike any situation coaches encounter in the regular season. The coaches have two opponents to scout. In Pitt's case, they had 12 hours to put together a scouting report on Bradley before practice yesterday.

Assistant coaches Joe Lombardi and Pat Sandle sat courtside and watched the Kansas-Bradley game Friday night after Pitt beat Kent State. Lombardi was responsible for Kansas, Sandle for Bradley.

"You try to pick up visuals and signals, things that are hard to pick up on video," Sandle said.

Afterward, Sandle went back to the team hotel and watched the game on videotape and edited the tape with video coordinator John Alesi for a video session yesterday with players.

Sandle went to bed at 3 a.m. and awoke at 8 a.m. to watch other recent Bradley games.

"We accumulated other tapes from people we know," Sandle said. "We watched their conference tournament game against Southern Illinois. We went back six games. You want to stay recent."

After practice yesterday, it was back to the team hotel for more tape review, dinner, and another video session with players. They'll watch tape one more time today and then have a walk-through a few hours before game time.

Pitt, like any team in the same situation, played the odds and spent a little more time on Kansas, the higher-seeded team. Lombardi had been watching tape of Kansas since Monday. Sandle did the Kent State scouting report and also began preparations for Bradley.

"It's a very quick turnaround," said Lombardi, a bit disappointed that his Kansas expertise will not be put to use. "Jamie really counts on us now more so than during the regular season. He can't stay up all night and watch film because he has to be fresh."

Benjamin out

Sophomore Keith Benjamin, who assumed the starting spot at small forward at the Big East tournament, will not play against Bradley. Benjamin will miss his second consecutive game because of an unknown illness. Benjamin didn't attend practice yesterday and was not in the locker room afterward.

Tyrell Biggs, who also missed the first-round game against Kent State, is questionable with a calf injury.

Les and the Braves

Bradley coach Jim Les has a long history at the school. He was a ballboy in the 1970s when his brother, Tom, played point guard at the school from 1972-75. From 1983-86, Les played point guard for the Braves and was on the last Bradley team to win an NCAA tournament game in '86.

"I've been a part of the tradition of Bradley basketball," Les said. "I've talked to all of our guys about being cornerstones to putting Bradley back in the national spotlight. To see that dream come true with their hard work ... we're getting phone calls from past players and alums. It's fun to be a part of that.

"I've really enjoyed putting Bradley basketball back on the map."

Once upon a time

Bradley is in Peoria, Ill., and has a rich tradition in college basketball. The Braves advanced to the NCAA title game in 1950 and '54. They lost to City College of New York in '50 and La Salle in '54.

Bradley played in the NCAA tournament in '55 but did not return again until '80. The Braves' previous victory in an NCAA tournament game before Friday was 1986, when they beat UTEP in a first-round game. They lost in the second round to Louisville, the eventual national champion.