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Current Bracket Winners

Mar 18-19	Mar 20-21	Sweet 16 Mar 25-26	Elite 8 Mar 27-28	Final 4 Apr 3	Championship Apr 5	Final 4 Apr 3	Elite 8 Mar 27-28	Sweet 16 Mar 25-26	Mar 20-21	Mar 18-19
1 Kansas 100%	Kansas 90 Lehigh 74 Kansas	TBA .	TBA .	TBA .		TBA .	TBA .	TBA .	Kentucky 100 E. Tenn St 71 Kentucky	Kentucky 100% 1
16 Lehigh 0%										E. Tenn St 0% 16
8 UNLV 45%	N. Iowa 69 UNLV 66 N. Iowa								Wake For. 81 Texas 80 Wake For.	Texas 68% 8
9 N. Iowa 55%										Wake For. 32% 9
5 Mich. St. 94%	Mich. St. 70 N Mex. St. 67 Mich. St.	TBA .						TBA .	Cornell 78 Temple 65 Cornell	Temple 75% 5
12 N Mex. St. 6%										Cornell 25% 12
4 Maryland 93%	TBA .								Wisconsin 53 Wofford 49 Wisconsin	Wisconsin 97% 4
13 Houston 6%										Wofford 3% 13
6 Tennessee 79%	Tennessee 62 S.Diego St 59 Tennessee	TBA .	TBA .		TBA .		TBA .	TBA .	Washington 80 Marquette 78 Washington	Marquette 79% 6
11 S.Diego St 21%										Washington 21% 11
3 Georgetown 99%	Ohio 97 Georgetown 83 Ohio								New Mexico 62 Montana 57 New Mexico	New Mexico 97% 3
14 Ohio 1%										Montana 3% 14
7 Okla. St. 48%	Ga. Tech 64 Okla. St. 59 Ga. Tech	TBA .						TBA .	Missouri 86 Clemson 78 Missouri	Clemson 48% 7
10 Ga. Tech 52%										Missouri 52% 10
2 Ohio State 99%	Ohio State 68 UC S. Bar. 51 Ohio State								West Va. 77 Morgan St. 50 West Va.	West Va. 99% 2
15 UC S. Bar. 1%										Morgan St. 1% 15
					TBA .
1 Syracuse 100%	Syracuse 79 Vermont 56 Syracuse	TBA .	TBA .	TBA .	TBA .	TBA .	TBA .	TBA .	Duke 73 Ark. P.B. 44 Duke	Duke 100% 1
16 Vermont 0%										Ark. P.B. 0% 16
8 Gonzaga 71%	Gonzaga 67 Florida St 60 Gonzaga								California 77 Louisville 62 California	California 22% 8
9 Florida St 29%										Louisville 78% 9
5 Butler 73%	Butler 77 UTEP 59 Butler	TBA .						TBA .	Texas A&M 69 Utah St. 53 Texas A&M	Texas A&M 84% 5
12 UTEP 27%										Utah St. 16% 12
4 Vanderbilt 84%	Murray St. 66 Vanderbilt 65 Murray St.								Purdue 72 Siena 64 Purdue	Purdue 68% 4
13 Murray St. 16%										Siena 32% 13
6 Xavier 72%	Xavier 65 Minnesota 54 Xavier	TBA .	TBA .				TBA .	TBA .	Old Domin. 51 Notre Dame 50 Old Domin.	Notre Dame 83% 6
11 Minnesota 28%										Old Domin. 17% 11
3 Pittsburgh 98%	Pittsburgh 89 Oakland 66 Pittsburgh								Baylor 68 Sam Hou St 59 Baylor	Baylor 99% 3
14 Oakland 2%										Sam Hou St 1% 14
7 BYU 69%	BYU 99 Florida 92 BYU	TBA .						TBA .	St. Mary's 80 Richmond 71 St. Mary's	Richmond 64% 7
10 Florida 31%										St. Mary's 36% 10
2 Kansas St. 99%	Kansas St. 82 N. Texas 62 Kansas St.								Villanova 73 Rob Morris 70 Villanova	Villanova 100% 2
15 N. Texas 1%										Rob Morris 0% 15

TIE BREAKER
Total points in championship game.

Team Matchup

Kansas Jayhawks
Location: Lawrence, Kan.
Conference: Big 12
Pre-tournament record: 32-2, 15-1
Coach: Bill Self
RPI: 1
Best win: Kansas State (twice)
Surprising loss: at Oklahoma State, 85-77
Team stats
Key players: Senior guard Sherron Collins, junior center Cole Aldrich, sophomore forward Marcus Morris, freshman swingman Xavier Henry.
Full team roster
Strengths: Shooting, offensive rebounding, interior defense.
Weaknesses: Forcing turnovers, perimeter defense.
Outlook: The No. 1 overall seed and the favorite to win it all. KU has plenty of balance, depth and NBA-caliber talent. It’s most dangerous when Henry and Collins are hitting from the outside, which opens things up even more for Aldrich and Morris inside. The Jayhawks will score, though they don’t get that many easy buckets. The defense can slack at times, especially when it comes to preventing quick guards from driving into the lane (though having Aldrich on the inside usually alleviates those problems). Teams who can hit 3-pointers also can give KU fits. That said, it’ll be a shock if Kansas doesn’t make the Final Four.

Lehigh Mountain Hawks
Location: Bethlehem, Penn.
Conference: Patriot
Coach: Brett Reed
Pre-tournament record: 22-10, 10-4
RPI: 157
Best win: Quinnipiac, 79-71
Surprising loss: N.J. Institute of Technology, 86-79
Team stats
Key players: Freshman guard C.J. McCollum, senior guard Marquis hall, senior forward Zahir Carrington.
Full team roster
Strengths: Ball-handling, 3-point shooting.
Weaknesses: Offensive rebounding, perimeter defense.
Outlook: Unless the Mountain Hawks hoist 3-pointer after 3-pointer, the odds of them sticking around the tournament very long are slim. They make 40.2 percent of their attempts beyond the arc – 9th-best in D-I – yet 3-pointers account for only 26.5 percent of their total points this season. Lehigh only shoots one 3-pointer for every four field-goal attempts. McCollum, Hall and junior Michael Ojo all can both hit from deep. Get ‘em all in the lineup and start shooting.

Team Matchup

Northern Iowa Panthers
Location: Cedar Falls, Iowa
Conference: Missouri Valley
Pre-tournament record: 28-4, 15-3
Coach: Ben Jacobson
RPI: 18
Best win: Old Dominion, 71-62 at home.
Surprising loss: At Evansville, 55-54
Team stats
Key players: Senior center Jordan Eglseder, Senior guard Ali Farokhmanesh, Junior guard Kwadzo Ahelegbe, Senior swingman Adam Koch.
Full team roster
Strengths: Defense, overall balance, free-throw and 3-point shooting.
Weaknesses: Offensive rebounding, forcing turnovers, perimeter defense.
Outlook: No one wants to play Northern Iowa. The Panthers are built around their defense. They don’t play fast, and they don’t worry about the other team’s style. They’re deliberate, experienced and rarely get forced out of their comfort zone. A good shot against UNI’s defense just doesn’t happen. Eglseder is a beast in the middle, but Ahelegbe may be the key to a tourney run. He runs the team, gets Farokhmanesh and Koch involved on offense and sets the tone.

UNLV Rebels
Location: Las Vegas
Conference: Mountain West
Coach: Lon Krueger
Pre-tournament record: 25-8, 11-5
RPI: 41
Best win: at New Mexico, 74-62
Surprising loss: USC, 67-56
Team stats
Key players: Junior guard Tre’Von Willis, sophomore forward Chace Stanback, sophomore guard Oscar Bellfield.
Full team roster
Strengths: Forcing turnovers, interior passing and shooting.
Weaknesses: Offensive rebounding, 3-point shooting, fouling.
Outlook: The Rebels are probably a year away from making a deep tournament run. Still, don’t overlook their chances of reaching the second-round. Willis is a guard who controls the tempo, creates for others and can find his own shot when needed. Bellfield and junior Kendall Wallace can hit from outside, while Stanback does most of the inside work. If it gets tight, you’re in trouble. UNLV is great at free throws.

Team Matchup

Michigan State Spartans
Location: East Lansing, Mich.
Conference: Big Ten
Coach: Tom Izzo
Pre-tournament record: 24-8, 14-4
RPI: 24
Best win: Wisconsin, 54-47
Surprising loss: at North Carolina, 89-82
Team stats
Key players: Junior point guard Kalin Lucas, senior swingman Raymar Morgan, sophomore forward Draymond Green.
Full team roster
Strengths: Rebounding, post play.
Weaknesses: Turnovers, 3-point shooting.
Outlook: Given all the attention Ohio State and Purdue received, some glossed the three-way tie atop the Big Ten. Yes, once again Izzo’s team is one to watch in March. Once again, the Spartans rebound better than nearly every other D-I team. Once again, they have plenty of frontcourt depth and a savvy point guard. So why no buzz? It’s the inconsistency on offense and defense. Lucas missed time down the stretch due to injury and Durrell Summers has been a non-factor since early February. Izzo’s teams rarely disappoint in March, but this may be one of the few times they perform according to their seed.

New Mexico State Aggies
Location: Las Cruces, N.M.
Conference: Western Athletic
Coach: Marvin Menzies
Pre-tournament record: 22-11, 11-5
RPI: 51
Best win: Utah State (twice)
Surprising loss: at Cal-State Fullerton, 84-73
Team stats
Key players: Junior swingman Jahmar Young, senior guard Jonathan Gibson, sophomore forward Troy Gillenwater.
Full team roster
Strengths: Shooting, ball-handling.
Weaknesses: Rebounding, defensive pressure.
Outlook: New Mexico State is all about offense. Five players average double figures, led by Young (20.5) and Gibson (17.5). Both are extremely efficient scorers: they hit their shots and get to the free-throw line (both make 84 percent from the stripe). It’s a potent one-two punch and makes things easy on Gillenwater inside. However, the Aggies can’t play defense. They don’t force turnovers, don’t rebound well and don’t pressure shots. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that New Mexico State likes to play fast, but can run its offense just as effectively in a half-court setting. Depending on how closely the officials call the first-round game, the Aggies could pull off an upset.

Team Matchup

Houston Cougars
Location: Houston
Conference: Conference USA
Coach: Tom Penders
Pre-tournament record: 19-15, 7-9
RPI: 112
Best win: UTEP (twice)
Surprising loss: at Texas-San Antonio, 83-82
Team stats
Key players: Senior guard Aubrey Coleman, senior guard Kelvin Lewis, sophomore guard Desmond Wade.
Full team roster
Strengths: Ball-handling, forcing turnovers.
Weaknesses: Shooting, rebounding.
Outlook: It shouldn’t be a huge shock Houston beat UTEP for the conference tournament title and automatic berth to the NCAA tournament. The Cougars were the only team that beat UTEP in the C-USA regular season. Chalk it up to taking care of the ball – no team is better at doing just that. Problem is, Houston struggles in nearly every other facet of the game. Coleman’s the nation’s leading scorer, but he’s a volume shooter who can take the Cougars out of a game. Lewis was the hero in the C-USA title game. It’s Houston’s first NCAA tourney berth in 18 years, and probably the last for Penders, who’s expected to announce his retirement soon. Simply being here may have to be enough.

Maryland Terrapins
Location: College Station, Mary.
Conference: Atlantic Coast
Coach: Gary Williams
Pre-tournament record: 23-8, 13-3
RPI: 19
Best win: Duke, 79-72
Surprising loss: William and Mary, 83-77
Team stats
Key players: Senior guard Greivis Vasquez, senior forward Landon Milbourne, senior guard Eric Hayes, freshman forward Jordan Williams.
Full team roster
Strengths: Shooting, passing, defensive pressure.
Weaknesses: Defensive rebounding, settling for jump shots.
Outlook: Everything runs through Vasquez. The ACC player of the year can score 40, post a triple-double or simply get everyone else easy baskets. The Terps rely heavily on their starting five, which could put added pressure on Williams, the team’s best rebounder and shot blocker. If he gets into foul trouble, Maryland’s lineup gets small but stays effective because the guards have good size and play smart defense. Also, most everyone can shoot. The Terps make 40 percent of their 3-point attempts and 50 percent of their twos. Don’t leave them open.

Team Matchup

San Diego State Aztecs
Location: San Diego
Conference:
Coach: Steve Fisher
Pre-tournament record: 25-8, 11-5
RPI: 24
Best win: New Mexico (twice)
Surprising loss: at Wyoming, 85-83
Team stats
Key players: Freshman forward Kawhi Leonard, junior forward Malcolm Thomas, junior guard D.J. Gay.
Full team roster
Strengths: Offensive rebounding, shot-blocking.
Weaknesses: Free-throw shooting, perimeter defense, 3-point shooting.
Outlook: The Aztecs spent most of the season vying for respect. They closed strong to finish tied for third in the MWC, then pulled off the biggest upset of the conference tournament by beating New Mexico. Still, it’s unlikely anyone will pick Fisher’s team to pull off the first-round upset. They’re a balanced team without a star. Who takes over when things get tough? Can Leonard or forward Billy White thrive against bigger foes? The answers don’t bode well for SDSU.

Tennessee Volunteers
Location: Knoxville, Tenn.
Conference: Southeastern
Coach: Bruce Pearl
Pre-tournament record: 25-8, 11-5
RPI: 10
Best win: Kansas, 76-68
Surprising loss: at Georgia, 78-63
Team stats
Key players: Sophomore swingman Scotty Hopson, senior center Wayne Chism, senior guard Bobby Maze, senior guard J.P. Prince.
Full team roster
Strengths: On-ball defense, interior passing and defense.
Weaknesses: Shooting, offensive rebounding, free-throw shooting.
Outlook: The Vols are the only team to beat Kansas and Kentucky. That counts for something, right? The talent’s there for a run to the Elite Eight, but what about losses to Georgia or USC? Few teams are more difficult to predict. Provided Pearl’s boys are pressuring the ball and forcing opponents into bad shots, they’re in good shape. Hopson and Maze are the best offensive players, but both are streaky shooters who don’t get to the line enough. And if Chism, the underrated, undersized center, gets in foul trouble, it’s trouble.

Team Matchup

Georgetown Hoyas
Location: Washington
Conference: Big East
Coach: John Thompson III
Pre-tournament record: 23-9, 10-8
RPI: 13
Best win: Duke, 89-77
Surprising loss: at Rutgers, 71-68
Team stats
Key players: Sophomore center Greg Monroe, junior point guard Chris Wright, junior swingman Austin Freeman.
Full team roster
Strengths: Passing, shooting.
Weaknesses: Turnovers, defensive rebounding.
Outlook: The nation’s most inconsistently great team. The Hoyas have highs (wins against Duke, Syracuse and Villanova) and lows (losses to Rutgers and South Florida). Part of that’s Thompson’s system, a Princeton-style hybrid that places a premium on high-percentage shots and wearing down opponents. Monroe, a likely NBA lottery pick, is the game’s premier passing post player, but can disappear at times because he’s focused on involving other players. That’s when Wright and Freeman step in. Freeman’s the sharpshooter, and Wright can take over with his driving ability. It all makes the Hoyas a difficult team to project in the tournament. Too many offensive dry spells and they’ll be bounced early. If everything clicks, they’ll be in Indianapolis.

Ohio Bobcats
Location: Athens, Ohio
Conference: Mid-American
Coach: John Groce
Pre-tournament record: 21-14, 7-9
RPI: 102
Best win: Kent State, 81-64
Surprising loss: Ball State, 67-66
Team stats
Key players: Freshman guard D.J. Cooper, junior guard Armon Bassett, sophomore swingman Steven Coleman.
Full team roster
Strengths: Ball-handling, free-throw shooting, perimeter defense.
Weaknesses: Rebounding, shooting, shot-blocking.
Outlook: The Bobcats pulled off the MAC tournament stunner, winning the title and the automatic berth as the No. 9 seed. That’ll do it for surprises because Ohio’s not long for the tournament. The Bobcats are average at best on offense and defense, though they do have a knack for getting to the free-throw line and capitalizing (73.5 percent as a team). Bassett, who used to play at Indiana, is a talent, but not an overwhelming one.

Team Matchup

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Location: Atlanta
Conference: Atlantic Coast
Coach: Paul Hewitt
Pre-tournament record: 22-12, 7-9
RPI: 43
Best win: Clemson, 66-64
Surprising loss: at Georgia, 73-66
Team stats
Key players: Junior forward Gani Lawal, freshman forward Derrick favors, sophomore guard Iman Shumpert, freshman swingman Brian Oliver.
Full team roster
Strengths: Offensive rebounding, interior defense.
Weaknesses: Turnovers, free-throw shooting.
Outlook: With Lawal and Favors down low, the Jackets should be among the nation’s best rebounding teams. Both have the requisite size and athletic ability to grab every ball, yet Tech is strangely bad at keeping teams off the offensive glass. It’s just one aspect that keeps it from being a consistently good team, rather than a team that shows flashes of potential. Oliver’s capable of stretching defenses and Shumpert occasionally turns in a solid game. A good passing team will torch the Jackets in the tourney.

Oklahoma State Cowboys
Location: Stillwater, Okla.
Conference: Big 12
Pre-tournament record: 22-10, 9-7
Coach: Travis Ford
RPI: 28
Best win: Kansas, 85-77
Surprising loss: at Oklahoma, 62-57
Team stats
Key players: Junior guard James Anderson, senior forward Obi Muonelo, junior forward Marshall Moses, sophomore guard Keiton Page.
Full team roster
Strengths: Defensive rebounding, shooting, ball-handling.
Weaknesses: Forcing turnovers, perimeter defense.
Outlook: When the shots are falling, the Cowboys can beat anyone. Just ask Kansas. But it’s not a team with much room for error. They rely on undersized forwards to rebound and guard opposing big men, which forces the guards to do a lot of double-teaming. As a result, the Cowboys get burned frequently by good-shooting teams. Anderson, the Big 12 player of the year, is capable of carrying Oklahoma State, but doesn’t force shots and is content to get his points as they come.

Team Matchup

Ohio State Buckeyes
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Conference: Big Ten
Coach: Thad Matta
Pre-tournament record: 27-7, 14-4
RPI: 29
Best win: at Purdue, 70-66.
Surprising loss: at Michigan, 73-64.
Team stats
Key players: Junior point guard Evan Turner, sophomore guard William Buford, junior swingman Jon Diebler, junior center Dallas Lauderdale.
Full team roster
Strengths: Shooting, ball-handling, defensive rebounding.
Weaknesses: Offensive rebounding, perimeter defense.
Outlook: Everything’s easier with Turner. The player of the year candidate leads the Buckeyes in scoring (19.5 points per game), rebounding (9.4), assists (5.8), steals (1.8) and game-winning 37-foot shots at the buzzer. But he’s just one piece of what may be the country’s best starting five. Diebler’s a gunner, Lauderdale rebounds and blocks shots, David Lighty defends and Buford does everything Turner can’t get to. The offense is excellent, the defense not far behind and few teams have played better lately. Provided Ohio State stays out of foul trouble, hits the offensive glass and makes some shots, it’ll be Final Four bound.

UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
Location: Santa Barbara, Calif.
Conference: Big West
Coach: Bob Williams
Pre-tournament record: 20-9, 12-4
RPI: 98
Best win: Pacific (twice)
Surprising loss: at UC Irvine, 57-55
Team stats
Key players: Sophomore guard Orlando Johnson, sophomore guard James Nunnally, sophomore forward Jaime Serna.
Full team roster
Strengths: Forcing turnovers, 3-point shooting.
Weaknesses: Turnovers, offensive rebounding.
Outlook: Johnson, the Big West player of the year, was the driving force behind the Gauchos’ first berth in the NCAA tournament in eight years. He’s got a little bit of everything: Good size (6-5), a capable outside shot (39.6 percent from beyond the arc) and a knack for big plays. He leads UCSB in scoring (17.9 points per game), while Nunnally provides punch. Those two must hit their shots if the Gauchos hope to win a tournament game though. UCSB doesn’t rebound well and is turnover-prone. They’ll be home early.

Team Matchup

Syracuse Orange
Location: Syracuse, N.Y.
Conference: Big East
Coach: Jim Boeheim
Pre-tournament record: 28-4, 15-3
RPI: 4
Best win: at West Virginia, 72-71
Surprising loss: to Louisville (twice)
Team stats
Key players: Junior swingman Wesley Johnson, senior guard Andy Rautins, junior forward Rick Jackson, sophomore guard Scoop Jardine.
Full team roster
Strengths: Shooting, offensive rebounding, on-ball defense.
Weaknesses: Defensive rebounding, steals, free-throw shooting.
Outlook: The health of forward Arinze Onuaku aside, the Orange are on the shortlist of title contenders. Their defense is excellent, few teams shoot as well (in fact, no one does from inside the arc) and their 2-3 zone is always a headache for foes who aren’t used to it. They have leadership in Rautins, scoring in Johnson, a capable point guard combo in Jardine and freshman Brandon Triche and an underrated frontcourt. But back to Onuaku, who hurt his quadriceps muscle during a Big East tournament loss to Georgetown. Even if he doesn’t miss any playing time, his game is built on power. A tender leg may rob him of that, which puts the Orange at a disadvantage down low. This is Boeheim’s best team since it won it all in 2003. A healthy Onuaku may be the key to a repeat performance.

Vermont Catamounts
Location: Burlington, Vt.
Conference: America East
Coach: Mike Lonergan
Pre-tournament record: 25-9, 12-4
RPI: 128
Best win: Fairfield, 77-67
Surprising loss: at Binghamton, 73-67
Team stats
Key players: Senior guard Marquis Blakely, senior guard Maurice Joseph, junior forward Evan Fjeld.
Full team roster
Strengths: Offensive rebounding, challenging shots.
Weaknesses: Turnovers, perimeter shooting.
Outlook: Blakely, Joseph and Fjeld do the yeoman’s work for the Catamounts. They combine for 60 percent of Vermont’s points, 48 percent of rebounds and all play more 71 percent of the available minutes. Safe to say, if any of them struggle, their NCAA tourney stay won’t be very long. Then again, the Catamounts have a rallying point. Fjeld’s mother died of cancer during the conference tournament, yet they still managed to pull off the surprising autobid. Maybe there’s some more magic in the air.

Team Matchup

Florida State Seminoles
Location: Tallahassee, Fla.
Conference: Atlantic Coast
Coach: Leonard Hamilton
Pre-tournament record: 23-8, 10-6
RPI: 45
Best win: Marquette, 57-56
Surprising loss: N.C. State, 88-81
Team stats
Key players: Sophomore center Solomon Alabi, sophomore swingman Chris Singleton, freshman guard Michael Snaer.
Full team roster
Strengths: Interior defense, shot blocking, offensive rebounding.
Weaknesses: Perimeter shooting, turnovers.
Outlook: No team is more efficient on defense. The ‘Noles have size to spare and players who make opponents work for every shot. Alabi anchors the middle, while Singleton uses his lanky 6-9 frame to offer help defense when needed. Then again, FSU has to rely on its defense because the offense is underwhelming at best. Snaer and Singleton are the primary options, while Alabi has limited ability down low. Sophomore Deivias Dulkys needs to look for his shot more.

Gonzaga Bulldogs
Location: Spokane, Wash.
Conference: West Coast
Pre-tournament record: 26-6, 12-2
Coach: Mark Few
RPI: 37
Best win: Wisconsin, 71-61.
Surprising loss: at San Francisco, 81-77.
Team stats
Key players: Senior guard Matt Bouldin, freshman forward Elias Harris, junior guard Steven Gray, sophomore forward Robert Sacre.
Full team roster
Strengths: High-percentage shots, getting to the free-throw line, defensive rebounding.
Weaknesses: Forcing turnovers, consistent 3-point shooting.
Outlook: As usual, Gonzaga’s offense is better than its defense. Anyone who watched their collapse against St. Mary’s in the WCC championship saw the Bulldogs fail to get stops when they needed. That’s a departure from earlier in the season when the Zags beat the big boys – Wisconsin, Illinois, and Cincinnati. But somewhere, the Zags lost the toughness they displayed during their non-conference schedule. Still, the offense is nifty. Harris and Sacre inside are nimble, reliable scorers, while Bouldin and Gray are good at getting into the lane and splitting defenses. And few teams are as crafty about drawing fouls. If they could hit more 3-pointers, they’d be downright dangerous.

Team Matchup

Butler Bulldogs
Location: Indianapolis
Conference: Horizon
Pre-tournament record: 28-4, 18-0
Coach: Brad Stevens
RPI: 17
Best win: Ohio State, 74-66.
Surprising loss: at UAB, 67-57.
Team stats
Key players: Sophomore swingman Gordon Hayward, junior forward Matt Howard, sophomore point guard Shelvin Mack.
Full team roster
Strengths: Defensive rebounding, shooting.
Weaknesses: Interior defense, forcing turnovers.
Outlook: Butler started slow, then blitzed the Horizon League, becoming the only team this season to go unbeaten in conference play. The Bulldogs closed the league tourney with a resounding win against Wright State for their 20th straight victory. Combine that streak with wins against Xavier and Ohio State and they could be headed for big things, right? Maybe. Butler’s a deliberate, sound team that focuses on defense and sound post play from Howard and Hayward to win games. Those two are solid, but can disappear against more athletic teams. If Butler shot better than 33.8 from beyond the arc, it’d have a better chance to stretch defenses and give Howard and Hayward a chance to work inside. That leaves Mack and fellow guards Willie Veasley and Ronald Nored to break down defenses and take care of the ball. Butler’s good enough to reach the Sweet 16, but that’s probably its ceiling.

UTEP Miners
Location: El Paso, Texas
Conference: Conference USA
Coach: Tony Barbee
Pre-tournament record: 26-6, 15-1
RPI: 39
Best win: at Memphis, 72-67
Surprising loss: New Mexico State, 87-80
Team stats
Key players: Junior guard Randy Culpepper, junior forward Derrick Caracter, sophomore center Arnett Moultrie.
Full team roster
Strengths: On-ball defense, getting high-percentage shots.
Weaknesses: Offensive rebounding, free-throw shooting.
Outlook: After four years of Memphis dominance, UTEP took over C-USA this season. Houston was the only conference foe to solve the Miners’ aggressive defense and opportunistic scoring ways. Culpepper and Caracter carry the scoring load, providing a familiar inside-outside punch. Culpepper was the conference player of the year, while Caracter’s an impressive blend of size and skill. Yet it’s the Miners’ defense that impresses most. Teams rarely get a good look at the basket, and that’s if they don’t commit a turnover. Nothing comes easy against UTEP. Keep that in mind for that second-round matchup.

Team Matchup

Murray State Racers
Location: Murray, Kent.
Conference: Ohio Valley
Pre-tournament record: 30-4, 17-1
Coach: Billy Kennedy
RPI: 59
Best win: Morehead State (twice)
Surprising loss: At Louisiana Tech, 87-81
Team stats
Key players: Senior guard Danero Thomas, junior guard B.J. Jenkins, sophomore forward Ivan Aska, senior forward Tony Easley.
Full team roster
Strengths: Offensive balance, shooting, forcing turnovers, defensive pressure.
Weaknesses: Ball-handling, defensive rebounding.
Outlook: The Racers opened the season with a 75-70 loss at Cal, and haven’t looked back since. They dominated the Ohio Valley thanks to a wealth of scoring options (six players all average between 10.6 and 9.5 points a game) and a determined defense. Easley and Jenkins are the most reliable scorers and the two opponents will focus on stopping. But leaving Thomas, junior Isacc Miles and freshman Isaiah Canaan open from beyond the arc isn’t a good idea, either. All three can hit the 3.There’s little Murray State can’t do, but it’ll be interesting to see how it matches up against a slightly bigger, slightly more athletic team. It has the talent to win a game, but it’ll need a break to reach the Sweet 16.

Vanderbilt Commodores
Location: Nashville, Tenn
Conference: Southeastern
Coach: Kevin Stallings
Pre-tournament record: 24-8, 12-4
RPI: 20
Best win: Tennessee (twice)
Surprising loss: Western Kentucky, 76-69
Team stats
Key players: Junior center A.J. Ogilvy, sophomore swingman Jeffery Taylor, senior guard Jermaine Beal.
Full team roster
Strengths: Shooting, shot-blocking.
Weaknesses: Forcing turnovers, defensive rebounding.
Outlook: It’s all about the offensive efficiency. The Commodores can shoot (47 percent overall and 37 percent from beyond the arc), but even better is how often they get to the free-throw line. Vanderbilt shoots one free throw for every two field-goal attempts, 11th best in D-I. That’s huge when you make 73 percent of your free throws as a team. The hard part is when Ogilvy gets into foul trouble. He’s their best rebounder and shot blocker and usually demands double-teams when he gets the ball down low. Without him on the floor, Beal and Taylor can struggle to find shots. The defense isn’t capable of winning games, either, so getting to the Sweet 16 will depend on Ogilvy staying on the floor.

Team Matchup

Minnesota Golden Gophers
Location: Minneapolis
Conference: Big Ten
Coach: Tubby Smith
Pre-tournament record: 21-13, 9-9
RPI: 34
Best win: Ohio State, 83-62
Surprising loss: Portland, 61-56
Team stats
Key players: Senior guard Lawrence Westbrook, sophomore center Ralph Sampson III, junior guard Blake Hoffarber.
Full team roster
Strengths: Shooting, interior defense, forcing turnovers.
Weaknesses: Defensive rebounding, perimeter defense.
Outlook: It’ll sound strange to some, but Smith’s team revolves around offense, not defense. Even more strange, the Gophers can flat-out shoot. They make 40.5 percent of their 3-pointers and are 48 percent from the field overall. Hoffarber and Westbrook are the best bets, but Al Nolen and Devoe Joseph also can hit from outside. Sampson and Damian Johnson anchor the defense inside, though can get caught out of position occasionally. Yet anyone who watched the Gophers hold Purdue to just 11 first-half points in the Big Ten semifinals knows they can guard when needed. After a season of off-court issues, Minnesota may have finally found a groove.

Xavier Musketeers
Location: Cincinnati
Conference: Atlantic 10
Coach: Chris Mack
Pre-tournament record: 23-7, 14-2
RPI: 20
Best win: Richmond, 78-76
Surprising loss: Wake Forest, 96-92
Team stats
Key players: Sophomore guard Jordan Crawford, senior forward Jason Love, sophomore guard Terrell Holloway, junior forward Jamel McLean.
Full team roster
Strengths: Perimeter defense, shooting, defensive rebounding.
Weaknesses: Forcing turnovers, getting blocked.
Outlook: Xavier fulfills its hoops role. It beats teams it should, and plays with similar opponents. Go through its schedule and you won’t see a bad loss anywhere. You won’t see many impressive ones, either. That speaks of a team that can win one or two games in the tournament, but that must get into an offensive rhythm to advance past the Sweet 16. Crawford’s the key. He’s capable of dropping in 20 points a game or shooting the Musketeers out of game.

Team Matchup

Oakland Golden Grizzlies
Location: Rochester, Mich.
Conference: Summit
Pre-tournament record: 26-8, 17-1
Coach: Greg Kampe
RPI: 57
Best win: IUPUI (twice)
Surprising loss: Eastern Michigan, 81-77.
Team stats
Key players: Junior forward Keith Benson, senior guard Johnathon Jones, senior swingman Derick Nelson, junior guard Larry Wright.
Full team roster
Strengths: Offensive rebounding, free-throw shooting.
Weaknesses: 3-point shooting, forcing turnovers.
Outlook: Benson’s the go-to guy (17.3 points, 10.3 rebounds a game), a 6-11 beast who scoops up boards, hits 55 percent of his shots and adds 3.3 blocks a game. He’s a load inside, but perhaps most promising for the Grizzlies was seeing Nelson (11.3 ppg) explode for a career-high 36 points in the Summit League championship. More impressive? He did it with a broken nose. Jones excels at creating his own shot, but must limit his turnovers (2-1 assist-to-To ratio) for Oakland to win an NCAA game.

Pittsburgh Panthers
Location: Pittsburgh
Conference: Big East
Coach: Jamie Dixon
Pre-tournament record: 24-8, 13-5
RPI: 10
Best win: at Syracuse, 82-72
Surprising loss: Indiana, 74-64
Team stats
Key players: Junior guard Brad Wannamaker, sophomore guard Ashton Gibbs, senior guard Jermaine Dixon.
Full team roster
Strengths: Defensive pressure, offensive rebounding.
Weaknesses: Forcing turnovers, shooting.
Outlook: The Panthers lost three of the nation’s top players, yet remained one of the Big East’s best teams thanks to their defense and taking care of the ball. It’s similar to how Pitt thrived under Ben Howland and at the start of Dixon’s tenure in the mid-2000s. There’s a solid eight-man rotation with just one senior (Dixon) and no stars. Well, Gibbs may qualify. The 6-2 guard is Pitt’s most efficient scorer, best shooter and leading scorer (15.8). If he struggles, the Panthers may not be around long.

Team Matchup

BYU Cougars
Location: Provo, Utah
Conference: Mountain West
Coach:
Pre-tournament record: 29-5, 13-3
RPI: 22
Best win: at UTEP, 83-77
Surprising loss: UNLV (twice)
Team stats
Key players: Junior guard Jimmer Fredette, senior swingman Jonathan Tavernari, junior guard Jackson Emery.
Full team roster
Strengths: Shooting, ball-handling, defensive rebounding.
Weaknesses: Offensive rebounding, shot-blocking, perimeter defense.
Outlook: The Cougars’ biggest strengths – shooting and defensive rebounding – are key. They make 48 percent of their field-goal attempts and rarely allow opponents any second-chance points. As an added bonus, they turn the ball over at an exceedingly low rate. Yet they’ve lost twice to both New Mexico and UNLV. What’s the secret? Being aggressive on defense, especially on Fredette. He averages 21.7 points a game and has topped 30 points seven times this season. He’s a solid shooter and excels at getting to the free-throw line, where he makes 90 percent of his shots, but everyone else tends to get lost when Fredette tries to do too much. Also, the defense can be a little soft, especially down low. BYU seems destined for the Sweet 16; anything beyond that would be a bonus.

Florida Gators
Location: Gainesville, Fla.
Conference: Southeastern
Coach: Billy Donovan
Pre-tournament record: 21-12, 9-7
RPI: 51
Best win: Tennessee, 75-62
Surprising loss: South Alabama, 67-66
Team stats
Key players: Sophomore guard Erving Walker, freshman guard Kenny Boynton, junior forward Chandler Parsons.
Full team roster
Strengths: Offensive rebounding, ball-handling.
Weaknesses: Shot-blocking, 3-point shooting, on-ball defense.
Outlook: The Gators are lucky to be here. If not for Parsons’ 75-foot game-winner against N.C. State, the seeding committee probably omits them. It won’t be a long stay, either. The streaky offense can’t offset the slapdash defense. Florida doesn’t have much inside and its guards are inexperienced and poor offensively.

Team Matchup

Kansas State Wildcats
Location: Manhattan, Kan.
Conference: Big 12
Pre-tournament record: 26-7, 11-5
Coach: Frank Martin
RPI: 6
Best win: at Baylor, 76-74
Surprising loss: Iowa State, 85-82
Team stats
Key players: Junior guard Jacob Pullen, senior guard Denis Clemente, junior forward Curtis Kelly, sophomore forward Jamar Samuels.
Full team roster
Strengths: Offensive rebounding, forcing turnovers, getting to free-throw line.
Weaknesses: Free-throw shooting, turnovers, fouls.
Outlook: The Wildcats would fit in nicely in the old Big East. They’re led by two quick, tough guards (Pullen and Clemente) who are just as comfortable creating for themselves as they are for others. They’re backed by an athletic -- though mostly raw – frontcourt. Kelly, Samuels and freshman Wally Judge are all quick and long-armed, which makes them effective when it comes to swarming foes and grabbing missed shots. But they’re not so hot in the half-court offense. K-State also pressures opponents incessantly, but it sometimes results in getting into foul trouble. The ‘Cats can play with anyone, but to reach Indianapolis, they’ll have to hit shots, which puts a lot of pressure on Pullen and Clemente. Two reliable scoring options may not be enough.

North Texas Mean Green
Location: Denton, Texas
Conference: Sun Belt
Pre-tournament record: 24-8, 13-5
Coach: Johnny Jones
RPI: 109
Best win: at Western Kentucky, 84-83, OT
Surprising loss: Florida International, 80-70.
Team stats
Key players: Junior guard Josh White, junior forward George Odufawa, junior swingman Tristan Thompson, junior forward Eric Tramiel.
Full team roster
Strengths: Shooting, getting to the free-throw line.
Weaknesses: Turnovers, interior defense.
Outlook: The Mean Green have won 11 straight, but that’ll end in the NCAA tournament. Their defense is spotty, they don’t force many turnovers despite playing fairly fast and they can’t hit 3s. They have decent size for a small school – Odufuwa in particular is good on the boards – but that won’t matter against a major-conference school. Plus, one of their biggest strengths is drawing fouls and getting to the free-throw line. Will the refs give a Cinderella all the calls in the Big Dance?

Team Matchup

Kentucky Wildcats
Location: Lexington, Ky.
Conference: Southeastern
Coach: John Calipari
Pre-tournament record: 31-2, 14-2
RPI: 3
Best win: Tennessee (twice)
Surprising loss: at South Carolina, 68-62
Team stats
Key players: Freshman guard John Wall, freshman center DeMarcus Cousins, junior forward Patrick Patterson, freshman guard Eric Bledsoe.
Full team roster
Strengths: Offensive rebounding, post play, shot-blocking.
Weaknesses: Forcing turnovers, 3-point shooting.
Outlook: Forget about the freshman-laden roster for now. Kentucky’s overwhelming talent and depth is more than enough to reach the Final Four. Wall, Cousins and Patterson probably will be NBA draft lottery picks in June. And it’s not because of potential, either. Cousins is the most efficient post player in the country. He grabs every rebound and is nimble enough to get around any defender. Wall’s blazingly fast with the ball and a clutch shooter. And Patterson’s an experienced, smart player who does everything those two don’t do. Some think Kentucky’s mistakes and poor outside shooting will cost them a shot at the title. After all, other talented teams (Connecticut in 2006, North Carolina in 1994) have failed to cut down the nets. Call it the latest test of how far extraordinary talent can take a team.

East Tennessee State Buccaneers
Location: Johnson City, Tenn.
Conference: Atlantic Sun
Pre-tournament record: 20-14, 13-7
Coach: Murry Bartow
RPI: 125
Best win: At Arkansas, 94-85.
Surprising loss: Stetson, 54-52, at home.
Team stats
Key players: Junior guard Tommy Hubbard, junior guard Justin Tubbs, junior guard Micah Williams, freshman guard Sheldon Cooley.
Full team roster
Strengths: Forcing turnovers, offensive rebounds.
Weaknesses: Shooting, ball-handling, lack of height.
Outlook: With just one regular taller than 6-6, the Bucs aren’t imposing. But they excel at creating turnovers, whether it’s the other team throwing the ball away or making steals. If they shot better from beyond the arc (31.4 percent), they’d have a better chance at a first-round upset, but they’ll keep it close. Hubbard – the team’s leading scorer and rebounder – is a big-time player and he’ll need to be huge for ETSU to have a chance.

Team Matchup

Texas Longhorns
Location: Austin, Texas
Conference: Big 12
Pre-tournament record: 24-9, 9-7
Coach: Rick Barnes
RPI: 26
Best win: Michigan State, 79-68
Surprising loss: at Oklahoma, 80-71
Team stats
Key players: Senior forward Damion James, senior center Dexter Pittman, freshman guard J’Covan Brown, freshman guard Avery Bradley. Full team roster
Strengths: Defensive pressure, offensive rebounding.
Weaknesses: Free-throw shooting, turnovers.
Outlook: About two months ago, Texas was 17-0 and ranked No. 1. Since then, it’s had issues on defense, lost starting point guard Dogus Balbay and been inconsistent on offense. Brown and senior Justin Mason now split Balbay’s duties. Brown is the better offensive player, Mason’s better on defense and neither are great passers. James (17.7 points, 10.2 rebounds a game) is a reliable option, though Pittman is the more destructive force -- when he’s not in foul trouble. Freshman Jordan Hamiton could go for 20 off the bench at any time. If the Longhorns could muster up any defensive effort, they’ll pull off a second-round upset. But don’t count on it.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Location: Winston-Salem, N.C.
Conference: Atlantic Coast
Coach: Dino Gaudio
Pre-tournament record: 19-10, 9-7
RPI: 32
Best win: Maryland, 85-83
Surprising loss: William and Mary, 78-68
Team stats
Key players: Sophomore forward Al-Farouq Aminu, senior point guard Ish Smith, senior guard L.D. Williams.
Full team roster
Strengths: Forcing opponents into bad shots, blocks, offensive rebounding.
Weaknesses: Shooting, turnovers, defensive rebounding.
Outlook: Wake’s a solid defensive team, but its offense was brutal down the stretch and hampered the entire team. Wake revolves around two players: Aminu and Smith. NBA scouts love Aminu’s mix of size and agility, but it’s not clear if he’s ready to carry the Deacs to an NCAA tournament victory. They stumbled down the stretch, losing five of their last six as Aminu struggled with his jumper and his defense, fouling out of three of those lose losses. Smith’s incredibly quick and excels at getting into the lane, but can play out of control. When he keeps the defense off balance, it makes things easier for Aminu and the rest of the Deacs.

Team Matchup

Cornell Big Red
Location: New York
Conference: Ivy
Pre-tournament record: 27-4, 13-1
Coach: Steve Donahue
RPI: 46
Best win: At Alabama, 71-67.
Surprising loss: At Penn, 79-64.
Team stats
Key players: Senior swingman Ryan Wittman, Senior center Jeff Foote, Senior guard Louis Dale.
Full team roster
Strengths: Shooting, plain and simple.
Weaknesses: Rebounding, perimeter defense, over-reliance on 3s.
Outlook: The Big Red leads the nation in 3-point shooting (43.8 percent), which makes them a danger no matter which team they face. Wittman’s their leading scorer and does most of the damage from outside, but sophomore Chris Wroblewski, senior Geoff Reeves and senior Jon Jaques all shoot better than 43 percent from beyond the arc. Foote’s inside to clean up any misses, while Dale handles the point guard duties. It’s an experienced, dangerous team with designs on being this year’s fan favorite.

Temple Owls
Location: Philadelphia
Conference: Atlantic 10
Coach: Fran Dunphy
Pre-tournament record: 29-5, 14-2
RPI: 16
Best win: Xavier, 77-72
Surprising loss: at Charlotte, 74-64
Team stats
Key players: Senior guard Ryan Brooks, Junior forward Lavoy Allen, sophomore guard Juan Fernandez, freshman guard Ramone Moore.
Full team roster
Strengths: Forcing bad shots, defensive rebounding, hall-handling.
Weaknesses: Shooting, forcing turnovers.
Outlook: The Owls keep it simple: They don’t force things, haggle opponents into bad shots and limit any second chances. However, if Temple falls behind, it’s in trouble. The offense is average at best and usually settles for jump shots. When those shots aren’t falling (it makes just 43 percent of its field-goal attempts), the Owls run out of scoring options. Fernandez is better from outside the arc than inside, while Allen is most efficient scorer. There’s Sweet 16 potential there, but one win may be all Temple gets.

Team Matchup

Wisconsin Badgers
Location: Madison, Wis.
Conference: Big Ten
Coach: Bo Ryan
Pre-tournament record: 23-8, 13-5
RPI: 17
Best win: Duke, 73-69
Surprising loss: at Wisconsin-Green Bay, 88-84
Team stats
Key players: Senior point guard Trevon Hughes, junior forward Jon Leuer, sophomore guard Jordan Taylor, senior guard Jason Bohannon.
Full team roster
Strengths: Minimizing turnovers, defensive rebounding, shooting.
Weaknesses: Offensive rebounding, forcing turnovers, getting to the free-throw line.
Outlook: No team gets more out of each possession than the Badgers. And few coaches get more out of their team than Ryan. It’s a successful combination, but it doesn’t allow for much error during the tournament. Wisconsin plays slow and limits teams to one shot, which works well when it controls the tempo or is hitting its own field- goal attempts. When the shots aren’t falling, the Badgers have trouble keeping up. Hughes is a vastly underrated point guard and excels at Ryan’s style, while Leuer presents matchup problems for foes, but that’s about it for go -to guys. An athletic, disciplined team would quickly end Wisconsin’s March.

Wofford Terriers
Location: Spartanburg, S.C.
Conference: Southern
Pre-tournament record: 26-8, 15-3
Coach: Mike Young
RPI: 73
Best win: at Georgia, 60-57.
Surprising loss: at Western Carolina, 72-67.
Team stats
Key players: Junior forward Noah Dahlman, junior guard Jamar Diggs, junior guard Tim Johnson.
Full team roster
Strengths: Ball-handling, defensive rebounding, perimeter defense.
Weaknesses: Blocks, shooting.
Outlook: Wofford is 19-1 since Dec. 30. It’s all downhill from here. The Terriers handled Southern Conference foes, most of whom are somewhere between 100-200 in the RPI. Like most of the good low-major conference teams, Wofford relies on a sturdy defense and that’s it. Dahlman can play – he averaged 16.8 points, 6.3 rebounds a game -- and does so efficiently and without committing a huge amount of turnovers. It’s a pity his stay in the Big Dance won’t be very long.

Team Matchup

Marquette Golden Eagles
Location: Milwaukee
Conference: Big East
Coach: Buzz Williams
Pre-tournament record: 22-11, 11-7
RPI: 55
Best win: Villanova, 80-76
Surprising loss: at DePaul, 51-50
Team stats
Key players: Senior swingman Lazar Hayward, junior forward Jimmy Butler, senior guard Maurice Acker, sophomore guard Darius Johnson-Odom.
Full team roster
Strengths: Ball-handling, 3-point shooting, steals.
Weaknesses: Rebounding, interior defense.
Outlook: Don’t give Marquette an open look beyond the arc. The Eagles hit 41 percent of their 3-point attempts and three regulars are better than 46 percent. Two others, Hayward and senior David Cubillan, also aren’t afraid of firing from deep. Small wonder Marquette gets a third of its points from 3-point land. Take away the long-distance stuff and the Eagles are average. They take care of the ball, but don’t hit the boards. They play slow, but struggle against bigger teams in the half-court setting. The big difference is Hayward. He’s among the nation’s best all-around players and capable of doing things only guys like Evan Turner usually dream of.

Washington Huskies
Location: Seattle
Conference: Pac-10
Coach: Lorenzo Romar
Pre-tournament record: 24-9, 11-7
RPI: 50
Best win: Cal, 84-69
Surprising loss: Oregon, 90-79
Team stats
Key players: Senior swingman Quincy Pondexter, sophomore guard Isaiah Thomas, junior guard Venoy Overton.
Full team roster
Strengths: Offensive rebounding, ball-handling, forcing turnovers.
Weaknesses: Shooting, fouling.
Outlook: The Huskies appear to be a two-man show, with Pondexter and Thomas leading the way. They combine for nearly 37 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. But Washington fares better when Thomas shoots less and gets it to Pondexter more often. That’s not meant to slight Thomas, who is productive (17.1 points, 4.1 assists, while shooting 50 percent from the field) but is not in Pondexter’s class. The Huskies, who worked their way into the tournament thanks to a late-season push, probably won’t stay around long, given their lack of road success this season. But Pondexter and Thomas – and hyper-defensive stopper Overton – can make it interesting.

Team Matchup

Montana Grizzlies
Location: Missoula, Mont.
Conference: Big Sky
Coach: Wayne Tinkle
Pre-tournament record: 22-9, 10-6
RPI: 95
Best win: Weber State (twice)
Surprising loss: at Eastern Washington, 69-68
Team stats
Key players: Senior guard Anthony Johnson, junior center Brian Qvale, freshman guard Will Cherry.
Full team roster
Strengths: Shooting, steals.
Weaknesses: Offensive rebounding, perimeter defense.
Outlook: Johnson could be the breakout star of the tournament if the Grizzlies manage to pull off an upset. He scored 42 points during the Big Sky championship as part of a 20-point comeback against Weber State. He’s an incredibly efficient scorer. Of his 19.6 points per game, more than a third come from the free-throw line. He also hits more than 50 percent of his field-goal attempts. If teams double-team him, look for things to open up inside for Qvale and senior guard Ryan Staudacher. The Grizzlies need some luck to pull off a victory, but Johnson can make it happen.

New Mexico Lobos
Location: Albuquerque, N.M.
Conference: Mountain West
Coach: Steve Alford
Pre-tournament record: 29-4, 14-2
RPI: 13
Best win: Texas A&M, 84-81
Surprising loss: at Oral Roberts, 75-66
Team stats
Key players: Junior swingman Darington Hobson, junior point guard Dairese Gary, senior guard Roman Martinez.
Full team roster
Strengths: Defensive rebounding, ball-handling, 3-point shooting.
Weaknesses: Free-throw shooting, forcing turnovers.
Outlook: It’s hard to pinpoint why the Lobos are so good. They don’t crush teams, they just win. They’re average on offense and tend to disappear on defense. Hobson’s their best overall player, but can struggle with his shot. Gary and Martinez are both savvy, underrated players, yet can’t carry a team. Maybe that’s why the supporting cast fills their roles so well. New Mexico relies on intangibles and hustle plays that don’t show up in the box score. It’s a great way to prevail during conference play, but casts some doubt on their NCAA tournament chances.

Team Matchup

Clemson Tigers
Location: Clemson, S.C.
Conference: Atlantic Coast
Coach: Oliver Purnell
Pre-tournament record: 21-10, 9-7
RPI: 28
Best win: Maryland, 62-53
Surprising loss: N.C. State, 59-57
Team stats
Key players: Senior forward Trevor Booker, junior guard Demontez Stitt, sophomore guard Andre Young, sophomore swingman Tanner Smith.
Full team roster
Strengths: Forcing turnovers, blocks, offensive rebounding.
Weaknesses: Turnovers, free-throw shooting, defensive rebounding.
Outlook: If Clemson’s defensive pressure isn’t working, it’s in trouble. Purnell likes to use his deep, athletic roster to make teams uncomfortable and get fast-break points, but the Tigers also don’t give up many easy shots – unless a team excels at its half-court offense. Low-scoring games don’t favor Clemson. The Tigers have decent outside shooters, but no one who can really keep the defense from collapsing around Booker, their best player. Two NCAA tourney wins would be huge for this team.

Missouri Tigers
Location: Columbia, Mo.
Conference: Big 12
Pre-tournament record: 22-10, 10-6
Coach: Mike Anderson
RPI: 39
Best win: at Kansas State, 63-53
Surprising loss: at Oral Roberts, 60-59
Team stats
Key players: Sophomore swingman Kim English, sophomore guard Marcus Denmon, senior guard Zaire Taylor, sophomore forward Laurence Bowers. Full team roster
Strengths: Forcing turnovers, perimeter defense.
Weaknesses: Rebounding, reliable inside scoring.
Outlook: The Tigers aren’t that much different from last year’s 31-7 team that reached the Elite Eight, except for a few crucial differences: Their post players aren’t nearly as consistent and they don’t shoot as well. They’re still loaded with fleet, aggressive guards who pressure opponents into plenty of turnovers and they’re still among the nation’s most efficient defenses. But without DeMarre Carroll inside and Matt Lawrence to stretch the defense, the offense isn’t as scary. Two wins would be a gift for Anderson’s team.

Team Matchup

Morgan State Bears
Location: Baltimore, Md.
Conference: Mid-Eastern Athletic
Coach: Todd Bozeman
Pre-tournament record: 27-9, 15-1
RPI: 105
Best win: at Arkansas, 97-94
Surprising loss: South Carolina State, 71-68
Team stats
Key players: Senior guard Reggie Holmes, sophomore forward Kevin Thompson, freshman guard Dewayne Jackson.
Full team roster
Strengths: Offensive rebounding, limiting turnovers.
Weaknesses: Shooting, defensive rebounding.
Outlook: After guiding the Bears to back-to-back NCAA tournament berths, this could be the last hurrah for Bozeman. The ex-Cal coach has spent four seasons turning Morgan State into a low-major conference powerhouse and seems primed to jump to a higher profile job. And what better way to make a play for another gig by pulling off an upset? Holmes is a big-time player, a guard with size and skill. Thompson’s a rugged presence down low (he bulked up after getting manhandled by Oklahoma Blake Griffin last season) and Jackson hits 43 percent of his 3-point attempts. One win is a good possibility.

West Virginia Mountaineers
Location: Morgantown, W.Va.
Conference: Big East
Coach: Bob Huggins
Pre-tournament record: 25-6, 13-5
RPI: 5
Best win: Ohio State, 71-65
Surprising loss: at Connecticut, 73-62
Team stats
Key players: Senior forward Da’Sean Butler, sophomore forward Devin Ebanks, sophomore guard Darryl Bryant, sophomore forward Kevin Jones.
Full team roster
Strengths: Offensive rebounding, shot-blocking, ball-handling.
Weaknesses: Shooting, steals.
Outlook: The Mountaineers wear down opponents. No shot against them is easy, rebounds are scarce and it’s hard to force the pace. They’re rarely out of a game except when Bryant and Joe Mazzulla are sloppy with the ball. West Virginia isn’t a terrible shooting team; it’s just streaky. Butler, Ebanks and Jones can all get hot, but are prone to dry spells. Then again, after playing one of the nation’s toughest schedules, it’s no surprise to see West Virginia struggle at times. Nothing in the tournament will surprise Huggins’ team. It’ll play defense, work for solid shots and have a chance to reach the Final Four.

Team Matchup

Duke Blue Devils
Location: Durham, N.C.
Conference: Atlantic Coast
Coach: Mike Krzyzewski
Pre-tournament record: 29-5, 13-3
RPI: 2
Best win: Maryland, 77-56
Surprising loss: at N.C. State, 88-74
Team stats
Key players: Senior guard Jon Scheyer, junior forward Kyle Singler, junior guard Nolan Smith, senior center Brian Zoubek.
Full team roster
Strengths: Limiting turnovers, 3-point and free-throw shooting, offensive rebounding.
Weaknesses: Defensive rebounding, steals.
Outlook: The Devils haven’t been to a Final Four since 2004, and are 7-5 in the NCAA tournament since – not that either are terrible. But Duke’s held to a higher standard than most teams. Take this year’s squad. They shared the regular-season ACC title, are among the nation’s most efficient offensive and defensive teams and feature a deep, experienced roster. Critics point to a spotty road record – Duke’s 5-4 in true road games – as a soft spot, yet neglect to mention the 5-0 record at neutral sites. They have three stars in Scheyer, Singler and Smith, a deep frontcourt that rebounds and rarely takes bad shots and instant offense off the bench in Andrew Dawkins. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the Devils win and should win four or five games in the NCAA tournament.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions
Location: Pine Bluff, Ark.
Conference: Southwestern Athletic
Coach: George Ivory
Pre-tournament record: 17-15, 14-4
RPI: 182
Best win: Texas Southern, 50-38
Surprising loss: at Alabama State, 75-73
Team stats
Key players: Senior forward Lebaron Weathers, senior guard Terrance Calvin, sophomore guard Savalance Townsend.
Full team roster
Strengths: Rebounding, interior defense.
Weaknesses: Offense.
Outlook: After starting the season 0-11 – all of which were road games at major-conference schools – the Golden Lions regrouped during SWAC play and snagged the automatic berth. That glow won’t last long. They struggle at just about everything on offense except rebounding, partly because there are plenty of rebounds to grab. APB shoots just 41 percent from the field and 30 percent from beyond the arc. It lacks the size to win a half-court game with a bigger team, which places a premium on forcing bad shots. The Lions will need massive amounts of luck to win a first-round game.

Team Matchup

California Bears
Location: Berkeley, Calif.
Conference: Pac-10
Coach: Mike Montgomery
Pre-tournament record: 23-10, 13-5
RPI: 21
Best win: Washington, 93-81
Surprising loss: at Oregon State, 80-64
Team stats
Key players: Senior guard Jerome Randle, senior guard Patrick Christopher, senior forward Jamal Boykin, senior swingman Theo Robertson.
Full team roster
Strengths: Shooting, ball-handling.
Weaknesses: Forcing turnovers, settling for jump shots.
Outlook: The Bears seemed on the cusp of contending all season, but could never put it all together. They’ve lost to good teams (Syracuse, Ohio State, Kansas, New Mexico), but were always a little overmatched. They couldn’t even take control of a mediocre Pac-10 until late in the season. Still, one never underestimates good-shooting teams. And that’s Cal. The Bears hit 37.7 percent of their 3-pointers, 51.9 percent of their field goals and 74.8 percent from the free-throw line. Randle, Robertson and sophomore Jorge Gutierrez are consistent threats from deep, while Boykin does the dirty work inside. With a favorable bracket, Cal could finally put it together and make a run to the Elite Eight. But don’t bet on it. Second-round seems more its speed.

Louisville Cardinals
Location: Louisville, Ky.
Conference: Big East
Coach: Rick Pitino
Pre-tournament record: 20-12, 11-7
RPI: 37
Best win: Syracuse (twice)
Surprising loss: Western Carolina, 91-83
Team stats
Key players: Sophomore forward Samardo Samuels, senior guard Edgar Sosa, senior guard Jerry Smith, sophomore forward Jared Swopshire.
Full team roster
Strengths: Offensive rebounding, forcing turnovers.
Weaknesses: Fouling, defensive rebounding, 3-point shooting.
Outlook: Meet one of the few teams that doesn’t mind playing Syracuse. The Cardinals are responsible for half of the Orange’s losses this season, which might say more about Pitino’s familiarity with zone defense than Louisville’s tourney potential. Few teams were more inconsistent this season. The Cardinals started slow, were never in the thick of the Big East race, yet never at the bottom, either. Samuels has big moments, but doesn’t dominate. Sosa’s streaky. The Cards force turnovers, but also commit plenty. They’ll be a handful for the first-round, but that’s probably it.

Team Matchup

Texas A&M Aggies
Location: College Station, Texas
Conference: Big 12
Pre-tournament record: 23-9, 11-5
Coach: Mark Turgeon
RPI: 11
Best win: Baylor, 78-71
Surprising loss: at Oklahoma State, 76-69
Team stats
Key players: Senior guard Donald Sloan, senior forward Bryan Davis, sophomore forward David Loubeau.
Full team roster
Strengths: Ball-handling, getting to the free-throw line.
Weaknesses: Perimeter shooting, free-throw shooting, forcing turnovers.
Outlook: The Aggies are one of the nation’s most underrated teams. All eight losses are to NCAA tournament teams, and only one was by double-digits. Sloan’s capable of controlling the game, and Davis fills his role as rebounder and shot blocker. Beyond that, A&M’s a team of many pieces that fit into specific roles. When all those pieces work, the Aggies are capable of big wins or at least making better teams work even harder.

Utah State Aggies
Location: Logan, Utah
Conference: Western Athletic
Coach: Stew Morrill
Pre-tournament record: 27-7, 14-2
RPI: 31
Best win: BYU, 71-61
Surprising loss: at Long Beach State, 75-62
Team stats
Key players: Junior guard Tai Wesley, senior guard Jared Quayle, junior forward Nate Bendall.
Full team roster
Strengths: Shooting, ball-handling, defensive rebounding.
Weaknesses: Forcing turnovers, settling for jump shots.
Outlook: When you shoot like Utah State – 49 percent overall, 42 percent from beyond the arc – it’s easy to see why it won 17 straight games before losing to New Mexico State in the WAC championship. Morrill uses a deep bench, so it’s tough to key on stopping any one player. The Aggies are one of the nation’s best-kept secrets; fundamentally sound and smart. Don’t be shocked if they win at least one tournament game, though it’ll be in trouble against an opponent with size and defensive pressure.

Team Matchup

Purdue Boilermakers
Location: West Lafayette, Ind.
Conference: Big Ten
Coach: Matt Painter
Pre-tournament record: 27-4, 14-4
RPI: 11
Best win: at Ohio State, 60-57
Surprising loss: at Northwestern, 72-64
Team stats
Key players: Junior guard E’Twaun Moor, junior center JaJuan Johnson, senior guard Keaton Grant, senior guard Chris Kramer.
Full team roster
Strengths: On-ball defense, free-throw shooting, ball-handling.
Weaknesses: Offensive rebounding, 3-point shooting.
Outlook: The Boilermakers and their fans are tired of hearing about Robbie Hummel’s injury. So let’s get that out of the way quickly: Losing your best perimeter shooter and best defensive rebounder who also minimized turnovers significantly hurts your Final Four chances. Simple as that. But it’s impossible to write off Purdue as long as Moore hits his shots and the defense doesn’t slack off. This is a team that drilled West Virginia and led the Big Ten until Hummel got hurt. There’s plenty there, it’s just hard to tell if the players have fully adjusted to his absence. A spot in the Sweet 16 may be Purdue’s ceiling this season.

Siena Saints
Location: Loudonville, N.Y.
Conference: Metro Athletic Atlantic
Pre-tournament record: 27-6, 17-1
Coach: Fran McCaffery
RPI: 37
Best win: Northeastern, 59-53.
Surprising loss: at Niagara, 87-74.
Team stats
Key players: Senior swingman Edwin Ubiles, senior forward Alex Franklin, junior forward Ryan Rossiter, senior guard Ronald Moore, junior guard Clarence Jackson.
Full team roster
Strengths: Ball-handling, steals, smart fouls.
Weaknesses: Perimeter shooting, interior defense.
Outlook: The Saints will be a trendy pick to pull off an upset, but tread carefully. They fell short this season against Temple, Georgia Tech, Northern Iowa and Butler, not to mention Big East pushover St. John’s. The Saints play fast, but it can get them into trouble. They played from behind for most of the MAAC tournament and aren’t consistent offensively. Siena is balanced and has solid guys such as MAAC player of the year Rossiter, but no one who can overmatch a defense. It won’t be overmatched, but its margin for error is smaller than other would-be Cinderellas.

Team Matchup

Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Location: South Bend, Ind.
Conference: Big East
Coach: Mike Brey
Pre-tournament record: 23-10, 10-8
RPI: 54
Best win: West Virginia, 70-68
Surprising loss: Loyola Marymount, 87-85
Team stats
Key players: Senior forward Luke Harangody, senior point guard Tory Jackson, senior guard Ben Hansbrough, junior forward Tim Abromaitis.
Full team roster
Strengths: Shooting, ball-handling.
Weakness: Defense.
Outlook: That weakness comes with an asterisk. For their first 29 games, the Irish couldn’t guard anyone. The offense was excellent – maybe the best in the Big East – but the less said about the defense, the better. Yet ever since the March 3 win against UConn, Notre Dame’s been good, and occasionally great on defense. Maybe it’s effort or maybe it’s conditioning. Who knows? As long as it keeps up, the Irish are a Sweet 16-caliber team. Harangody’s among the nation’s most reliable scoring options, while Abromaitis and Hansbrough are no slouches.

Old Dominion Monarchs
Location:Norfolk, Va.
Conference: Colonial Athletic
Pre-tournament record: 26-8, 15-3
Coach: Blaine Taylor
RPI: 33
Best win: at Georgetown, 61-57.
Surprising loss: at George Mason, 71-55.
Team stats
Key players: Senior forward Gerald Lee, junior guard Ben Finney, sophomore guard Kent Bazemore, junior forward Frank Hassell.
Full team roster
Strengths: Offensive rebounding, perimeter defense, steals.
Weaknesses: Perimeter shooting, free-throw shooting.
Outlook: No team hits the offensive glass better. The Monarchs lead the nation in offensive rebound percentage. Perhaps a bigger opponent would do a better job keeping ODU off the boards, but it’s doubtful because it’s not the result of just one player. Hassell and Finney do most of the dirty work, but Lee and junior Keyon Carter also get in the mix. Lee’s the go-to guy on offense, hitting 54 percent of his shots. And let’s not forget the defense. ODU is very good is just about every defensive facet except blocks – but that’s because they’re too busy forcing teams into terrible shots. They don’t push the pace and are content with winning 60-55. It’s a style that works, too. Just ask Georgetown.

Team Matchup

Baylor Bears
Location: Waco, Texas
Conference: Big 12
Pre-tournament record: 25-7, 11-5
Coach: Scott Drew
RPI: 8
Best win: Texas (three times)
Surprising loss: at Colorado, 78-71
Team stats
Key players: Junior guard LaceDarius Dunn, junior forward Ekpe Udoh, senior guard Tweety Carter. Full team roster
Strengths: Blocks, interior defense, shooting.
Weaknesses: Forcing turnovers, perimeter defense.
Outlook: Udoh’s presence makes the Bears the nation’s top team in block percentage, which also boosts their field-goal percentage defense. Teams make just 41.4 percent of their twos against the Bears. Yet … it’s Baylor’s offense that really makes it go. Dunn and Carter are superior offensive players, able to create their own shots and hit 3-pointers. Sophomore forward Quincy Acy (24 points in season finale vs. Texas) can get lost in the mix, but he’ll burn a team by getting offensive put-backs. Not buying the Bears yet? Just remember that of their six losses, none have been by more than seven points.

Sam Houston State Bearkats
Location: Huntsville, Texas
Conference: Southland
Coach: Bob Marlin
Pre-tournament record: 25-7, 14-2
RPI: 78
Best win: at Auburn, 107-89
Surprising loss: Louisiana Lafayette, 95-85
Team stats
Key players: Junior forward Gilberto Clavell, senior guard Corey Almond, senior guard Ashton Mitchell.
Full team roster
Strengths: Shooting, defensive rebounding.
Weaknesses: Defense.
Outlook: The Bearkats play fast, but aren’t overly concerned about defense. They push the pace to score. Simple as that. They dropped 92 on Kentucky in a loss earlier this season and have topped 90 points seven times. Clavell, Allmond and Mitchell combine for more than half of Sam Houston State’s 80.4 points per game, while Josten Crow and Preston Brown provide secondary options. They’ll make a run at a first-round upset, but the shots have to fall.

Team Matchup

Richmond Spiders
Location: Richmond, Va.
Conference: Atlantic 10
Coach: Chris Mooney
Pre-tournament record: 26-8, 13-3
RPI: 26
Best win: Missouri, 59-52
Surprising loss: at William and Mary, 78-71
Team stats
Key players: Junior guard Kevin Anderson, senior guard David Gonzalvez, junior forward Justin Harper.
Full team roster
Strengths: Its defense.
Weaknesses: Rebounding, perimeter shooting.
Outlook: Don’t relax or the Spiders will pounce. They force turnovers, grab steals, block shots and hound opponents into poor decisions and field-goal attempts. More impressive is they’re the rare pressing team that also takes care of the ball. They’re OK on offense – when they’re hitting shots. Richmond doesn’t rebound and doesn’t get to the foul line very often. Anderson (17.8 ppg) is the go-to guy, while Gonzalvez and Harper are reliable secondary options. Richmond’s pulled off upsets previously as a 12, 13, 14 and 15 seed. It won’t be that low this time, so don’t mistake it for a nobody.

Saint Mary’s Gaels
Location: Moraga, Calif.
Conference: West Coast
Pre-tournament record: 26-5, 11-3
Coach: Randy Bennett
RPI: 43
Best win: Gonzaga, 81-62.
Surprising loss: at Portland, 80-75.
Team stats
Key players: Senior center Omar Samhan, junior guard Mickey McConnell, freshman Matthew Dellavedova, senior Ben Allen.
Full team roster
Strengths: Shooting, ball-handling, perimeter defense, blocks.
Weaknesses: Forcing turnovers, settling for jump shots.
Outlook: It all starts with Samhan, one of the nation’s most efficient, underappreciated players. He averages a double-double (20.9 points, 11 rebounds) and adds 3 blocks for good measure, but rarely forces anything. It opens up shots for McConnell, Dellavedova and Allen, all of whom hit at least 39 percent of those shots beyond the arc. McConnnell – also the team’s primary ball-handler – makes 50.8 percent of his from long range. As an added bonus, opponents make just 28.3 percent of their 3s against the Gaels, an NCAA best. Senior Wayne Hunter was lost for the season after just seven games due to a torn knee ligament, but it’s forced Dellavedova into a larger role, which is a good thing. If the Gaels get hot, they’ll make contenders sweat.

Team Matchup

Robert Morris Colonials
Location: Moon Township, Penn.
Conference: Northeast
Coach: Mike Rice
Pre-tournament record: 23-11, 15-3
RPI: 128
Best win: Ohio, 81-79
Surprising loss: Albany, 71-66
Team stats
Key players: Freshman guard Karon Abraham, senior forward Rob Robinson, senior swingman Mezie Nwigew.
Full team roster
Strengths: Forcing turnovers, getting to the free-throw line.
Weaknesses: Turnovers, free-throw shooting.
Outlook: A second-straight invitation to the Big Dance is probably the best for which Robert Morris can hope. But that’s not so bad. The Colonials managed to outlast Quinnipiac on Quinnipiac’s home court during the Northeast championship. The Bobcats hadn’t lost there all season. Robert Morris now must try to maximize the shooting skills of Abraham and Nwigwe to have any chance at pulling off a first-round upset.

Villanova Wildcats
Location: Philadelphia
Conference: Big East
Coach: Jay Wright
Pre-tournament record: 24-7, 13-5
RPI: 9
Best win: at West Virginia, 82-75
Surprising loss: Connecticut, 84-75
Team stats
Key players: Senior guard Scottie Reynolds, junior guard Corey Fisher, junior guard Corey Stokes, junior forward Antonio Pena.
Full team roster
Strengths: Free-throw shooting, offensive rebounding, versatility.
Weaknesses: Fouling, blocks.
Outlook: The Wildcats are 4-6 in their last 10 games, though all but one loss was to a Top 20 team. Did they boost their record against inferior competition, or did a foul-prone defense simply catch up to them? Maybe both. Villanova made a Final Four run last season because of its defense. Offense will have to do the trick this time. There’s little ‘Nova can’t do on offense thanks to Fisher’s direction and Reynolds’ knack for big plays. It’d help if Stokes and sophomore forward Taylor King hit their outside shots, too. Both are streaky shooters who can stretch a defense. The wild card is freshman forward Mouphtaou Yarou, who came on down the stretch. Any inside presence would be a boost.