INDIANAPOLIS -- The NCAA will not postpone or move any men's and women's basketball tournament games or other events if the United States goes to war with Iraq.

"From everything we know right now, it's in the best interests of the country to go forward," NCAA president Myles Brand said Tuesday, a day after telling reporters the NCAA was still exploring options.

The tournament games that begin this week "will go on as scheduled without any changes in time, venue or format,'' Brand said.

Brand consulted Tuesday with Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and members of the NCAA's governing bodies before deciding.

"We felt that this was the right decision, and have no hesitation whatsoever having made it," he said.

The NCAA has spent four months reviewing options in case of war. The latest ultimatum President Bush delivered to Saddam Hussein in a television speech Monday night "heightened the urgency of our considerations," Brand said

"We are also concerned that life go on as normal," Brand added. "We see no reason, after consulting with Secretary Ridge, to make any alterations to our plan."

Brand kept open the possibility of reconsidering if unforeseeable threats emerge in coming days.

Because of the current security climate, the NCAA is taking "extraordinary steps to ensure the safety of the athletes and fans," Brand said.

The 12,000-seat Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena is among 13 sites where men's games are being played. The women's games will be spread among 21 venues.

For the second consecutive year, the NCAA has enhanced security for the tournaments.

"We have some assignments and other security plans that are unusual for the Arena, but expected for the NCAA Tournament sites," Spokane Deputy Police Chief Al Odenthal said.

Fans will be subject to searches as they enter the building.

Items that will be prohibited include large bags, backpacks and large purses; firearms, explosives and other weapons; cans and coolers; artificial noisemakers; large signs, flags, sticks, poles, banners and laser pointers; video cameras on game days; and food or beverages.

Fans will not be allowed to re-enter the building after leaving.

While large signs, flags or banners will not be allowed in the building, not all signs of expression will be kept out.

Donna Noonan, vice president for Division I women's basketball, said in a telephone interview with The Spokesman-Review on Monday that forms of expression will be protected.

"If it's something that says 'peace, no war,' you're exercising your right of freedom of speech and we understand that," Noonan said.

Noonan said the object of the security policies is to make the fans and players as safe as possible.

"Clearly, our first priority above all is the safety of the student athlete, the coaches, the players and the fans," Noonan said. "That's our No. 1 thing regardless of anything else. That will be our first consideration in any decision we make."

Besides the basketball events, other NCAA tournaments that could coincide with a war include wrestling, men's and women's swimming and diving, and men's and women's ice hockey.