ORLANDO, FLA.--When he arrived here amid clear skies and temperatures in the high 70s, N.C. State coach Herb Sendek quipped, "It's great to be here in Orlando. I just wish the weather could be a little nicer."

Maybe he wasn't joking.

Sure, it was fine outside, but State was about to experience a deep freeze in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Louisiana-Lafayette. The Wolfpack shot 29 percent in the first half and 36 percent for the game. Despite having a chili pepper as a mascot, though, the Ragin' Cajuns couldn't break a sweat, either.

State survived a game with a final score that sounded like the high and low temperatures somewhere well north of here, 61-52.

Now N.C. State had better warm to the tournament environment. On Sunday, the Wolfpack will meet a team that's already hot, the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Vanderbilt played to extend its season Friday with the same heat it gave off during its 12-0 start this season. The Commodores trailed Western Michigan 34-31 in the first half but hit 7 of 11 3-point shots, including four by guard Mario Moore, to outscore the Bulldogs 40-24 in the second half and win 71-58.

Moore isn't the only Commodore who can get hot. Senior forward Matt Freije, averaging 18.5 points, is Vanderbilt's all-time leading scorer. The biggest man on the team, 7-foot-2 Polish native Dawid Przybyszewski, leads Vanderbilt with 47 3-pointers, the most in the nation by anyone at least 7 feet tall. His teammates call Przybyszewski "the chef" because when he's hot he really gets cooking.

For State to get from Orlando to where it will be even hotter -- the third round in Phoenix -- the Wolfpack will have to do more than win a 3-point shooting contest. The Pack will have to show it can overcome its main weakness, a lack of frontcourt size.

Vanderbilt is vertically built. The starting five includes Przybyszewski, the 6-10 Freije and 6-6 forward/guard Corey Smith. Julian Terrell, a 6-9 forward/center, comes off the bench and averages 17.4 minutes.

The big men are comfortable on the perimeter, but they can pound the ball inside, too. Western Michigan had early success playing State-style defense, stealing and deflecting passes, but once Vanderbilt established its outside shot, the middle opened and the undersized Bulldogs were done.

"Getting it to the low post was the game plan," Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings said. "Hit the outside shot and spread the defense."

That plan won't change much for Sunday.

While the height chart varies between State and Vanderbilt, they do share a common style. Both have been described as "up-tempo Princeton." Both teams pass well and often, looking for the high-percentage shot. The difference is that State drives to open the perimeter. Vanderbilt shoots to open the middle.

Surviving in the NCAA Tournament is about making adjustments to unknown foes who pop up like targets at a carnival shooting gallery. State is not familiar with Vanderbilt. The schools have played twice, in 1968 and 1970, and the series is 1-1. Yet, State will recognize elements of the Princeton style. And NCSU, which has to run the style to make the best of interchangeable players, may be more committed to it.

"They've been doing it a little longer than we have, so they are probably a little better at it," Stallings said.

Vanderbilt's Scott Hundley, a 6-5 senior guard, said he has watched State on TV and seen the offensive similarities. In that respect, neither team will be a stranger.

"They know what we're doing, and we know what they're doing. It's going to be a battle of wills," he said.

But Vanderbilt has more options. If the Princeton style doesn't work, it can go to the Vanderbilt style, which relies on big players and a long bench. The Commodores have nine players averaging 10 or more minutes.

State, still missing injured starter Scooter Sherrill, had only six players go more than 10 minutes Friday. Center Jordan Collins logged eight minutes despite a sprained knee. The Pack will need every inch -- and more minutes -- of Collins' bulk Sunday.

State's Cameron Bennerman said he was glad to have the first game over.

"That first game is always tough," he said. "You always get the jitters."

In State's case, they also got the chills. Now the Wolfpack needs to get as hot as the spot it is in.