Coach Bill Brown hopes his California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball players still can hear the rattling of the rim, the rippling of the net and thud of the ball pounding against the floor from four months ago when his Vulcans were the victims of a dunkfest by the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Those Vols went on to become the No. 1 team in the country for a brief time during the season and are in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division I tournament.

The Vulcans (28-5) overcame the damage to their egos to reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division II tournament with a game against Alaska-Anchorage (28-5) at 2:30 p.m. today in Springfield, Mass.

California, winner of five in a row and 19 of 20, is in the Elite Eight for the first time since time in Brown's 12 seasons as head coach and first time since 1996. The Vulcans advanced with a 64-52 victory against visiting Millersville in the East Region final behind tournament MVP Ron Banks, a 6-foot-6 31-year-old senior who had 27 points and seven rebounds.

In Division II's women's national tournament, California (27-6) also is in the Elite Eight and will meet top-seeded Delta State (32-0) at 7 p.m. today in Kearney, Neb. This is California's third trip to the women's Elite Eight in Darcie Vincent's eight seasons as head coach and the first since 2004, when it won the national championship.

Delta State has won six national championships -- AIAW titles in 1975-77 and Division II titles in 1989-90 and '92. This is the 11th appearance in the Elite Eight for the Lady Statesmen and first since 2000.

Brown likes to toughen his men's team with brutal preseason exhibition games on the road against top Division I programs. In addition to the 106-46 defeat at Tennessee, California lost to Dayton, 62-49, and Miami, Ohio, 62-59. All three teams participate in postseason tournaments: Tennessee in the NCAA tournament, Dayton the NIT and Miami, Ohio, the new College Basketball Invitational.

"We were dunked on against Tennessee more times than we've been dunked on total in the last five years," Brown said. "That was a reality check. I knew we were not going to see anybody like Tennessee again. I think that helped us get ready for our conference."

He added after a pause: "After that game I know how [Gen. George] Custer felt. The only difference is, I was able to get up and walk away."

California won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title to earn the bid to the NCAA tournament.

Before the 2006-07 season, California lost road games to Division I opponents Maryland, 79-78; Pitt, 80-65; and Arkansas, 75-68.

"I believe that's the best way to prepare your team for the season," Brown said. "I don't think we'd trade it to beat somebody by 30 points in a scrimmage."

The women's teams from California and Delta State provide contrasting styles.

Delta State uses 11 players between 9.0 and 29.2 minutes per game and allows 50.8 points to rank second nationally.

California, whose roster has been reduced to eight players because of injuries, has a six-player rotation and is 11th in scoring with a 77.6 average. The Vulcans, who force 15.4 turnovers per game to rank second nationally, are led in scoring by Brooque Williams (18.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg); Crystal Andrews (10.1 ppg, 5.3 apg, 4.5 rpg), a transfer from Pitt-Johnstown; and Shaquette Mance (10.3 ppg).

"It's pretty cool to have both of our tams in the Elite Eight," Vincent said.

"I'm hoping we can say we have two teams in the Final Four, too."