Outlook: The Cards, not UConn, are probably the Big East's best bet to get to the Final Four. Just look at the 16-2 mark in a league like the Big East. That’s consistency and it shows a high-level of defense and toughness, which few teams will match. Terrence Williams averages “just” 12.8 points a game, but was the league's best player because of his other uses in a game.

Earl Clark might be the better pro prospect, but he makes people nervous because of his inconsistency. He is taking better shots, but the turnovers look like an issue, five a game lately. That’s not good for a big forward like that. An issue for Louisville is free-throw shooting. It is 64 percent; maybe it’s better in the last two minutes when it really counts, but overall it is shaky.

Starter Stats: Andre McGee, Sr. Guard, 5-10 5.3 ppg 1.6 apg, Jerry Smith, Jr. Guard, 6-2 7.4 ppg 2.3 rpg, Terrence Williams, Sr, Forward, 6-6 12.8 ppg 8.5 rpg, Earl Clark, Jr. Forward, 6-9 13.6 ppg 8.8 rpg, Samardo Samuels, Fr. Forward, 6-9 11.6 ppg 4.7 rpg

Outlook: Morehead State should relish its first NCAA tournament berth since 1984. It won't be stay around very long. The Eagles will get worn out on the boards and unable to handle any BCS school. Wear mouthpieces, Racers.

Starter Stats: Brandon Shingles, Jr. Guard, 6-3 4.6 ppg 2.6 rpg, Demonte Harper, So. Guard, 6-4 10.8 ppg 4.1 rpg, Kenneth Faried, So. Center, 6-8 13.8 ppg 12.9 rpg, Maze Stallworth, Jr. Forward, 6-4 12.1 ppg 4.0 rpg, Leon Buchanan, Sr. Forward, 6-5 15.2 ppg 6.4 rpg

Outlook: David Lighty broke his foot in December and Ohio State had to regroup, which forced Thad Matta to bring along a young team. Evan Turner could have been the Big Ten player of the year after averaging 17 points and 7 rebounds and almost 4 assists per game. He made 51 percent of his shots. The Buckeyes make a living off taking good shots; and making them. They shoot a collective 48 percent from the field.

The intriguing part of this team is if it can stay together. Freshman 7-footer B.J. Mullens and Turner could be gone. Considering the struggles of all the one-and-done Ohio State players in the NBA, maybe these guys should stick around. You wonder if a win in the tournament might provide a good taste for them to chase more wins -- and a national title -- next season.

Starter Stats: P.J. Hill, Jr. Guard, 6-1 2.8 ppg 1.6 apg, Jon Diebler, So. Guard, 6-6 11.2 ppg 2.5 apg, William Buford, Fr. Guard, 6-5 11.1 ppg 3.5 rpg, Evan Turner, So. Forward, 6-7 16.8 ppg 6.9 rpg, Dallas Lauderdale, So. Forward, So. 4.4 ppg 3.6 ppg

Outlook: VCU will be the popular pick to pull off an upset. But Siena may be just as good. When is the last time a team from the MAAC had an RPI of 21? It means the Saints played quality opponents. They beat Ivy champ Cornell and battled Tennessee. Kansas tried to run them out of the gym, but the Saints hung tough and lost 91-84. Kenny Hasbrouck is an ACC-caliber player who got away from the big boys. The Saints rebound well as a team and slash. Siena, remember, beat Vanderbilt in the first round of the tournament in 2007.

Starter Stats: Ronald Moore, Jr. Guard, 5-11 8.8 ppg 3.3 rpg 6.3 apg, Kenny Hasbrouck, Sr. Guard, 6-3 14.7 ppg 3.3 rpg 2.9 apg, Edwin Ubiles, Jr. Forward, 6-7 14.8 ppg 5.0 rpg, Alex Franklin, Jr. Forward, 6-5 13.5 ppg 7.4 rpg, Ryan Rossiter, So. Forward, 6-9 9.8 ppg 7.5 rpg

Outlook: Before it became an average Pac-10 team, Arizona had some nice wins, beating Kansas and Gonzaga. Where is that team? The Pac-10 was not a great league this season, but the Wildcats did not play well down the stretch and lost five of six games. Arizona gets production out of Chase Budinger, Jordan Hill and Nic Wise, its Big 3. Where it struggles is with close games and not winning enough games when shooting less than 50 percent from the field.

Starter Stats: Nic Wise, Jr. Guard, 5-10 15 ppg 4.6 apg, Kyle Fogg, Fr. Guard, 6-2 6.4 ppg 2.4 rpg, Chase Budinger, Jr. Forward, 6-7 18.2 ppg 6.4 rpg, Jamelle Horne, So. Forward, 6-6 6.7 ppg 5.1 rpg, Jordan Hill, Jr. Center, 6-10 18.5 ppg 11 rpg

Outlook: The Utes are all over the map on offense. Sometimes they struggle, sometimes they can’t be stopped. Up and down like a March thermometer. There is plenty of size with the 7-footer Luke Nevill who can make a high percentage of shots. He just doesn’t shoot it enough. Utah does not have enough offense to make a big rally, so they have to keep games close. They are back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since the 2005 season and coach Jim Boylen has been an emotional leader in restoring the program.

Starter Stats: Carlon Brown, So. Guard, 6-5 9.4 ppg 5.2 rpg, Lawrence Borha, Sr. Guard, 6-3 11.9 ppg 3.3 rpg, Luka Drca, Jr. Forward, 6-5 7.8 ppg 3.3 apg, Kim Tillie, Jr. Forward, 6-10 3.1 ppg 4.6 rpg, Luke Nevill, Sr. Center, 7-2 16.9 ppg 8.9 rpg

Outlook: Remember Gary Waters, the Cleveland State coach? He’s been around the block as a 34-year veteran. Before he was at Rutgers, where he was fired three years ago, he was at Kent State and took that program to the 2001 NCAA Tournament. His teams thrive because of combination defenses because the talent is merely OK. Cleveland State finished third in the Horizon League and it sputters a lot on offense. The Vikings are a nice story, but don’t look for them to do much damage.

Starter Stats: J’Nathan Bullock, Sr. Forward, 6-5 15.4 ppg. 7.1 rpg., Chris Moore, Sr. Forward, 6-9 5.3 ppg. 2.9 rpg., Norris Cole, So Guard, 6-1 13.2 ppg. 2.6 rpg. 2.4 apg., Cedric Jackson, Sr. Guard, 6-3 10.3 ppg. 5.7 rpg. 5.4 apg., Trevon Harmon, Fr. Guard, 6-0 5.2 ppg. 1.3 rpg.

Outlook: What’s happened to Wake Forest? Once a team in sync on offense and passionate about defense, the Demon Deacons looked disjointed in ACC tournament. Some thought they had trouble psyching up for routine games, but the ACC quarterfinal vs. Maryland was a big game -- and Wake got run out of the gym. If you make Wake shoot 3-pointers, you can win. It is not a strong perimeter shooting team. The strength is Jeff Teague going to the basket and making plays. They are a long team that can get on the boards for offensive rebounds. How they fare in the NCAA tournament will depend on how they get over the loss to Maryland. After all, they had won six of their last seven. The best player on the team will likely turn out to be the freshman Al-Farouq Aminu, who could be a lottery pick if he stays in school another year.

Starter Stats: L.D. Williams, Jr. Guard, 6-4 8.1 ppg 2.7 rpg, Jeff Teague, So. Guard, 6-2 19.4 ppg 3.6 apg, Al-Farouq Aminu, Fr. Forward, 6-9 13 ppg 8.3 rpg, James Johnson, So. Forward, 6-9 14.6 ppg 8.4 rpg, Chas McFarland, Jr. Center, 7-0 9 ppg 5.9 rpg

Outlook: The Flyers are just that when it comes to getting on the offensive glass. If you don’t get a body on them, it could be a long night. Offensive rebounds are not quite as demoralizing as dunks, but they sting. Dayton has to make free throws. They don’t shoot them well enough (11th in the A-10).

Starter Stats: London Warren, Jr. Guard, 6-0 4.2 ppg 4.1 apg, Marcus Johnson, Jr. Guard, 6-3 12.1 ppg 3.2 rpg, Chris Wright, So. Forward, 6-8 13.1 ppg 6.5 rpg, Charles Little, Sr. Forward, 6-6 7.8 ppg 3.8 rpg, Kurt Huelsman, Jr. Forward, 6-10 3.8 ppg 4.1 rpg

Outlook: West Virginia has been a good defensive team all season, but what makes them really good is what they are getting from Devin Ebanks. He improved his scoring average to 13 points a game in a seven-game stretch. When he went for 20 against Pitt in the Big East tournament, which showed the Mountaineers have a third scorer to go with De'Sean Butler and Alex Ruoff. Coach Bob Huggins works as hard as anyone on the sideline and his team competes and does not wilt easily.

Starter Stats: Darryl Bryant, Fr. Guard, 6-2 9.4 ppg 2.6 apg, Alex Ruoff, Sr. Guard, 6-6 15.7 ppg 3.4 apg, Devin Ebanks, Fr. Forward, 6-9 9.8 ppg 7.4 rpg, Wellington Smith, Jr. Forward, 6-7 5.7 ppg 3.8 rpg, De’Sean Butler, Jr. Forward, 6-7 17.1 ppg 6.1 rpg

Outlook: Kansas must do something about its slow starts. Baylor got out to an early lead during the Big 12 tournament and the Jayhawks made an early exit. The momentum built from a terrific regular season was wrecked going into the NCAA tournament. Big man Cole Aldrich is best handled with a zone to limit him to six or seven shots, but that gives Sherron Collins chances from the 3-point line. He was just 6-of-26 from beyond the arc in KU’s last three games -- and KU lost two of those. Kansas was 9-3 against the RPI top 50 and 6-4 on the road against ranked teams, which means this is a capable team that hit a dip at the end of the season. It won the Big 12 regular season and 25 games overall, so give them some credit and a chance for three wins in the tournament.

Starter Stats: Sherron Collins, Jr. Guard, 5-11 18.3 ppg 5 apg, Tyshawn Taylor, Fr. Guard, 6-3 10 ppg 3.1 apg, Brady Morningstar, So. Guard, 6-3 6.9 ppg 3.2 rpg, Marcus Morris, Fr. Forward, 6-8 7.5 ppg 4.9 rpg, Cole Aldrich, So. Center, 6-11 14.8 ppg 10.5 rpg

Outlook: If the Bison don't shoot well, they'll get crushed. Ben Woodside and Mike Nelson can get to the rim, but that's about it. They launch a lot of three-pointers. This veteran team has played together for years and Woodside, the conference player of the year, can get his shots. You can see North Dakota State having some trouble inside with a BCS team in the first round. Stay in your seats, though, if they get behind because they will continue with the fight.

Starter Stats: Brett Winkelman, Sr. Forward, 6-6 18.8 ppg. 7.3 rpg., Michael Tveit, So. Forward, 6-7 9.4 ppg 3.3 rpg., Lucas Moorman, Sr. Center, 6-10 4.6 ppg. 4.3 rpg., Ben Woodside, Sr. Guard, 5-11 23.0 ppg. 3.2 rpg., Mike Nelson, Sr. Guard, 6-4 11.7 ppg. 4.1 rpg.

Outlook: This team doesn’t mess around. It goes right at defenses, with Tyrese Rice, the Eagles point guard, either shooting a 3-pointer, driving to the basket, or finding his teammates for a jumper. What’s good about B.C. right now is that Rice does not have to do everything. During an ACC tournament quarterfinal loss to Duke, there were willing participants on offense with Joe Trapani, a forward who can get to the basket, and Rakim Sanders, a 6-5 guard. Corey Raji, a 6-6 forward, is a dangerous offensive rebounder. The bench is good, too with Biko Paris and Reggie Jackson. After a season of playing in the toughest conference, B.C. is going to welcome a chance to get outside the league and show its stuff.

Starter Stats: Tyrese Rice, Sr. Guard 6-1 17.4 ppg 5.4 apg Rakim Sanders, So. Guard 6-5 12.8 ppg 4.5 rpg Joe Trapani, So. Forward, 6-8 13.6 ppg 6.5 rpg Corey Raji, So. Forward, 6-6 9.8 ppg 6.2 rpg Josh Southern, So. Forward, 6-10 5.8 ppg 5 rpg

Outlook: One of the country's most under-achieving teams. Picked to finish near the top of their league, the Trojans were the sixth seed in the Pac-10 tournament and had to win it to get into the NCAAs. The defense can be suffocating, but the inconsistency can also choke you. DeMar DeRozan, the sensational freshman, got going for the Trojans, finally, which might explain how USC was able to grab one of the last berths in the dance. He finally scored over 20 points a game (twice) in the Pac-10 tourney, which is what lottery picks are supposed to do.

Starter Stats: Daniel Hackett, Jr. Guard, 6-5 12.4 ppg 4.2 rpg, Marcus Simmons, So. Guard, 6-6 1.9 ppg 1.1 rpg, Dwight Lewis, Guard, 6-5 14.1 ppg 3.2 rpg, DeMar DeRozan, Fr. Forward, 6-7 13.0 ppg 5.5 rpg, Taj Gibson, Jr. Forward, 6-9 14.6 ppg 9.5 rpg

Outlook: The only team to average more than 70 points in the Big Ten is actually better on defense, and a terror on the boards. They out-rebound teams by 10 a game, which is significant. Here is another stat: 13-2 vs. teams in the top 50 of the RPI. What else? One road loss in an under-rated Big Ten. This team is hard-nosed and has depth.

Michigan State has been knocked out of the last two tournaments by a No. 1 seed, and it wasn’t close. The Spartans won’t go easy this year. There is some added motivation with the Final Four being in Detroit. Stretch your imagination past the Sweet 16 for Michigan State. You like North Carolina and UConn? Fine, but put these Spartans and Memphis right behind Carolina. Michigan State is Final Four material.

Starter Stats: Travis Walton, Sr. Guard, 6-2 5.2 ppg 3.3 apg, Kalin Lucas, So. Guard, 6-0 14.8 ppg 4.6 apg, Raymar Morgan, Jr. Forward, 6-8 11.2 ppg 5.9 rpg, Marquis Gray, Sr. Forward, 6-8 3.3 ppg 3.1 rpg, Goran Suton, Sr. Center, 6-10 9.5 ppg 7.5 rpg

Outlook: The Colonials have one shot to win a first-round game and that’s if guard Jeremy Chappell hits everything. The NEC final showcased Robert Morris' issues: Too many quick shots, no post play, and rebounding woes. What’s going to happen against with Kansas that can really board?

Starter Stats: Rob Robinson, Jr. Forward, 6-8 11.4 ppg 5.5 rpg, Dallas Green, Jr. Forward, 6-8 6.9 ppg 4.6 rpg, Jeremy Chappell, Sr. Guard, 6-3 16.9 ppg 6.3 rpg, Bateko Francisco, Sr. Guard, 6-1 7.4 ppg 2.3 rpg, Jimmy Langhurst, Jr. Guard, 5-11 10.1 ppg 2.1 rpg,

Outlook: The Mocs began the season with a gauntlet of games: Tennessee, Missouri, Memphis, Southern Cal, and then Davidson, followed by an NCAA tournament team, East Tennessee State. It resulted in a 1-7 start, yet they recovered in time to play the Southern Conference tournament on their home floor -- and won it. Chattanooga might not be talented enough to win a first-round game, but they will have seen the top-shelf competition before and will not get scared. A couple of things to consider: They are not a good free-throw shooting team and they do not make a good percentage of 3-pointers. Nicchaeus Doaks can rebound, though, and that will be a big plus against a major conference opponent.

Starter Stats: Kevin Goffney, Sr. Forward, 6-5 13.1 ppg 7.0 rpg 2.4 apg., Nicchaeus Doaks, Sr. Forward, 6-7 14.1 ppg 9.0 rpg., Khalil Hartwell, Sr. Forward, 6-8 9.0 ppg 7.3 rpg., Stephen McDowell, Sr. Guard, 5-11 18.7 ppg 3.4 rpg., Keyron Sheard, Sr. Guard, 6-2 6.4 ppg 2.3 rpg 3.8 apg

Outlook: The Huskies will be one of the Final Four favorites because they thrive at college basketball essentials: defense and rebounding. Hasheem Thabeet helps the Huskies get eight more boards a game than opponents, and what helps is the muscled Jeff Adrien on the other block. Keep an eye on the matchups for UConn. If a team has to devote too much attention to Thabeet, A.J. Price could have a big game.

UConn is not as good without the injured Jerome Dyson, and was 3-2 in its first five games after Dyson was hurt. The two losses were to Pitt, so look closely at how the Huskies handled things in the Big East tournament. We’re still not sure how much they miss Dyson because three wins without him were against Notre Dame, Marquette (injury issues of its own) and South Florida.

Starter Stats: A.J. Price, Sr. Guard, 6-2 13.3 ppg 4.6 apg, Craig Austrie, Sr, Guard, 6-3 7.2 ppg 1.7 rpg, Jeff Adrien, Sr. Forward, 6-7 13.7 ppg 9.9 rpg, Stanley Robinson, Forward, 6-9 6.1 ppg 5 rpg, Hasheem Thabeet, Jr. Center, 7-3 13.6 ppg 4.5 bpg

Outlook: The Cougars are 10-2 over their last 12 with just a two-point loss and a one-point loss. They can dominate the Mountain West, but in the last two NCAA tournaments, as a No. 8 seed, they lost in the first round. They couldn’t get to loose balls and were overmatched. BYU will lose again if it has its late February issue of a poor first half.

Starter Stats: Jimmer Fredette, So. Guard, 6-2 16 ppg 4.3 apg, Lee Cummard, Sr. Guard, 6-7 17.1 ppg 6.3 rpg, Jackson Emery, So. Guard, 6-3 8 ppg 4 rpg, Jonathan Tavernari, Jr. Forward, 6-6 16.1 ppg 7.2 rpg, Chris Miles, Jr. Center, 6-11 7.1 ppg 3.9 rpg

Outlook: A&M was 5-5 on the road against ranked teams, but is going to present some problems in the first-round. The Aggies were 4-5 against the RPI top 50. OK, so Mike Singletary of Texas Tech torched them for 43 points in the Big 12 tournament. The bigger issue was the Aggies seemed to give up in that game. Not a good sign. The Aggies had won five straight going into the game, which means it likely was an uncommon night for a hot guard. A&M won’t fold that easy again. It has four players scoring in double figures, which is going to keep the defense from loading up one player, particularly senior Josh Carter.

Starter Stats: Donald Sloan, Jr. Guard, 6-3 11.4 ppg 3 apg, Derrick Roland, Jr. Guard, 6-4 6.2 ppg 2.7 rpg, Josh Carter, Sr. Forward, 6-7 14 ppg 4.4 rpg, Bryan Davis, Jr. Forward, 6-9 10.4 ppg 6.4 rpg, Chinemelu Elonu, Jr. Center, 6-10 10.1 ppg 7.5 rpg

Outlook: A lot of people would have liked to see Illinois State’s Osiris Eldridge get into the NCAA tournament, but the Valley's best player was no match for NIU's socialist lineup. The Panthers share and focus on the common good. They focus on the team, not the star. The Panthers have some defense to go with that chemistry. Pay attention to some of the close wins, too. No one player will scare an opponent, but there is a will to win with these guys that makes you think “maybe they can win one.”

Starter Stats: Adam Koch, Jr. Forward, 6-8 Jr. 11.9 ppg 5.1 rpg, Jordan Eglseder, Jr. Center, 7-1 10.3 ppg 6.6 rpg, Ali Farokhmanesh, Jr. Guard, 6-0 9.6 ppg 1.9 rpg, Kwadzo Ahelegbe, So. Guard, 6-2 11.1 ppg 3.2 apg, Johnny Moran, Fr. Guard, 6-1 8.8 ppg 4.0 rpg

Outlook: Whoever draws Purdue in the first round will have to be steady on defense to deal with the Boilers' motion offense. Four on the outside, one in and cutters going through the lane. Purdue will exhaust all the options and make you stay in a defensive posture until it gets the shot it wants.

Defensively, the Boilermakers led the Big Ten in field-goal percentage defense (38 percent), but the defense seemed to sag late in the season. The offense, meanwhile, started scoring 72 points a game. One wonders if teams are forcing the pace. Teams can get some looks with the 3-pointer against them. The best thing to do is push and don’t let Purdue set the hooks in a half-court game.

Starter Stats: E’Twaun Moore, So. Guard, 6-4 14 ppg 3 apg, Lewis Jackson, Fr. Guard, 5-9 5.9 ppg 3.4 apg, Chris Kramer, Jr. Guard, 6-3 4.9 ppg 2.8 rpg, F JaJuan Johnson 6-10 So. 13.2 ppg. 5.9 rpg, F Robbie Hummel 6-8 So. 12.3 ppg. 6.6 rpg.

Outlook: The Bulldogs did not get into the NCAA tournament by accident. They beat three of the SEC's top four teams in the conference tournament, South Carolina, LSU, and Tennessee, so this was earned. Of course, the SEC was not exactly chock full of top-shelf teams. The one thing Miss. State can do is play defense. The Bulldogs bottled up Tyler Smith of Tennessee in the tournament final (2 of 14). A big part of the defense is blocked shots. The Bulldogs had nine against Tennessee. Jarvis Varnado is a swatter and changes your offense in a hurry from inside to outside. He averages almost five a game. The issue is offense: Miss. State labors with the ball and shoots 43 percent from the field. It has lost a lot of close games because of its offense.

Starter stats: Jarvis Varnado, Jr. Center, 6-9 13.1 ppg 9.0 rpg, Phil Turner, So. Guard, 6-3 8.4 ppg 5.3 rpg, Dee Bost, Fr. Guard, 6-2 Fr. 11.2 ppg 3.6 4.3 rpg, Barry Stewart, Jr. Guard, 6-3 12.4 ppg 3.7 rpg, Ravern Johnson, So. Guard, 6-7 12.2 ppg 3.1 rpg

Outlook: UW won eight of nine to finish the regular season and win the Pac-10 title. This can be a very good defensive team, but an inefficient offensive team. The Huskies have some room to grow, which is a pretty good thing when you consider they won 24 games in the regular season. There are four players in double-figures with scoring led by Isaiah Thomas’ 15 a game. They run nine players into the action to pressure.

The biggest issue with the Huskies is ball-handling. They can get careless with it and it drags down their offense. UW also shoots 34 percent from the 3-point line, which is near the bottom of the Pac-10, but they score enough in transition. They also defend the 3-pointer very well and get on the offensive boards better than any team in the conference.

Starter Stats: Isaiah Thomas, Fr. Guard, 5-8 15.4 ppg 2.6 apg, Justin Dentmon, Sr. Guard, 5-11 15.3 ppg 2.5 apg, Darnell Gant, Fr. Forward, 6-8 3.2 ppg 3.5 rpg, Quincy Pondexter, Jr. Forward, 6-6 11.6 ppg 5.7 rpg, Jon Brockman, Sr. Forward, 6-7 14.8 ppg 11.5 rpg

Outlook: Point guard Dominic James broke his left foot and Marquette lost four straight games, which raised a lot of eyebrows. Then the Golden Eagles routed St. John’s in the Big East with defense and then lost a close one to Villanova, so maybe they are finding a new identity going into the NCAA tournament. Marquette has not been as efficient on offense in crunch time, which cost them some games. They also don’t get back as well on transition defense with James out. Sophomore Jimmy Butler could be an answer to filling some of the offensive void. He has scored 42 points in the last three games.

Starter Stats: Maurice Acker, Jr. Guard, 5-8 2.5 ppg 1.9 apg, Jerel McNeal, Sr. Guard, 6-3 20.1 ppg 3.9 apg, Wesley Matthews, Sr. Guard, 6-5 18.5 ppg 5.4 rpg, Lazar Hayward, Jr. Forward, 6-6 16.2 ppg 8.5 rpg, Dwight Burke, Sr. Forward, 6-8 2.8 ppg 3.6 rpg

Outlook: The Aggies have a 26-year old senior in Gary Wilkinson and experience all over the floor. That is a big deal, especially in the NCAA tournament against teams that use freshmen and sophomores. Still, the age factor doesn’t do help during the scoring droughts Utah State can have. Sometimes, instead of working the ball, somebody has to finish at the rim.

Starter Stats: Pooh Williams, So. Guard, 6-3 5.2 ppg 2.0 rpg, Jared Quayle, Jr. Guard, 6-1 12.6 ppg 5.7 rpg 3.8 apg, Tyler Newbold, So. Guard, 6-4 9.3 ppg 4.4 rpg 3.1 apg, Tai Wesley, So. Forward, 6-7 12.2 ppg 5.8 rpg, Gary Wilkinson, Sr. Forward, 6-9 17.1 ppg 7.4 rpg

Outlook: Cornell has a chance to win a game because it hits its three-pointers. If it rides junior forward Ryan Wittman, it can catch a top seed sleepwalking. After all, Cornell hit 19-of-25 second-half shots to beat Penn and clinch the Ivy league’s berth. But … that’s Penn, not a BCS school. Cornell lost to another team in red, Indiana, and the Hoosiers are one of the worst teams in the Big Ten, or most any BCS conference. It’ll be another short stay for the Ivys, which have not won a tournament game since 1998.

Starter Stats: Jeff Foote, Sr. Center, 7-0 12.2 ppg. 6.9 rpg. 2.2 apg., Louis Dale, Jr. Guard, 5-11 13.7 ppg. 4.5 rpg. 3.7 apg., Geoff Reeves, Jr. Guard, 6-4 9.1 ppg. 2.0 rpg. 1.4 apg., Ryan Wittman,  Jr. Forward, 6-6 18.5 ppg. 3.7 rpg. 2.7 apg., Alex Tyler, Jr. Forward, 6-7 6.4 ppg. 4.5 rpg. 1.2 apg

Outlook: Missouri forced Kansas into 27 turnovers in a game this season. This is Kansas, the defending national champion and Big 12 regular-season champ. The Tigers press and trap and go the other way with it. The best way to handle it is attack with the pass to the middle, sprint down the sides and score 100. Key guard to watch is J.T. Miller, even though he scores 7.8 points per game. The junior holds his team together while yours is falling apart.

Starter Stats: Matt Lawrence, Sr. Guard, 6-7 8.6 ppg 2.1 rpg, Zaire Taylor, Jr. Guard, 6-4 6 ppg 3.5 apg, J.T. Tiller, Jr. Guard, 6-3 7.8 ppg 3.6 apg, Leo Lyons, Sr. Forward, 6-9 14.4 ppg 5.8 rpg, DeMarre Carroll, Sr. Forward, 6-8 17.1 ppg 7.3 rpg

Outlook: Cal is limping into the NCAA tournament; four losses in the last six games. Maybe it’s time for some new competition, something outside the Pac-10. Jerome Randle is averaging 15 shots a game, so the Bears have to be prepared in the opening round of the NCAAs for a taller defender to pick up their 5-10 guard. It looks like Randle has gotten more comfortable shooting 3-pointers recently. He plays a lot of minutes. Is the wear-down factor going to come in? The Bears need to rebound better. They tend to stand and watch as the ball goes off the boards.

Starter Stats: Jerome Randle, Jr. Guard, 5-10 18.4 ppg 5 apg, Patrick Christopher, Jr. Guard, 6-5 14.6 ppg 3.8 rpg, Jamal Boykin, Jr. Forward, 6-8 9.7 ppg 6.5 rpg, Theo Robertson, Jr. Forward, 6-6 12.8 ppg 3.8 rpg, Jordan Wilkes, Sr. Center, 7-0 4.8 ppg 4 rpg

Outlook: Do you like to play defense? For 30 seconds intervals? If you play the Terps, you’d better. When Gary Williams calls “2” from the bench, the Terps run their flex offense with two guards on the baseline. When they set picks and start moving, they do not stop until there is a good shot. Greivis Vasquez is the ACC’s second-best point guard behind Ty Lawson, but what is making the Terps special how they have four guards who really handle the ball, Vasquez, Eric Hayes, Sean Mosley, and Adrian Bowie. Maryland has taken a disadvantage -- its size -- and made it an advantage with passing and cuts and sharing.

Starter Stats: Greivis Vasquez, Jr. Guard 6-6 17.2 ppg 4.8 apg, Adrian Bowie, So. Guard, 6-2 9.1 ppg 2.6 apg, Sean Mosley, Fr. Guard, 6-4 5 ppg 3.6 rpg, Dave Neal, Sr. Forward, 6-7 8.2 ppg 4.3 rpg, Landon Milbourne, Jr. Forward, 6-7 12.2 ppg 5.2 rpg

Outlook: The Matadors had issues during the season with arrests, suspensions and a car accident as players went here and there. What got them through was physical defense and pressure. They get up into teams, so we’ll see how that plays in the NCAA tournament when officials let a BCS team get physical right back.

Starter Stats: Mark Hill, Jr. Guard, 5-10 7.8 ppg 1.2 rpg 2.6 apg, Rob Haynes, Sr. Guard, 6-4 9.7 ppg 2.6 rpg, Willie Galick, Jr. Forward, 6-8 9.3 ppg 5.7 rpg, Kenny Daniels, Jr. Forward, 6-4 8.9 ppg 3.8 rpg, Tremaine Townsend, Sr. Forward, 6-9 11.1 ppg 8.3 rpg

Outlook: If North Carolina’s Ty Lawson does not recover from his toe injury, here is one of the two favorites for the national title. The Tigers and Louisville. Just like the old days of the Conference USA. This is team is long and athletic. It plays defense like nobody’s business. Memphis gives up 58 points a game and teams shoot just 36 percent. Forget about the old saw of playing in a weak conference. That was taken care of last season when the Tigers almost won the national championship.

Starter Stats: Shawn Taggart, Jr. Forward, 6-10 10.4 ppg 7.4 rpg, Robert Dozier, Sr. Forward, 6-9 12.9 ppg 6.9 rpg, Antonio Anderson, Sr. Guard, 6-6 10.5 ppg 4.2 apg, Tyreke Evans, Fr. Guard, 6-6 16.9 ppg 5.5 rpg, Doneal Mack, Jr. Guard, 6-5 8.9 ppg 2.2 rpg

Outlook: The Panthers have been good for at least one win in the last three NCAA tournaments, but they have to do two things to get to the Sweet 16. One is shoot the ball better. The other is to keep DeJuan Blair out of foul trouble. The last two games Pitt has lost have been with Blair stuck to the bench. The Panthers have a terrific trio in Fields-Young-Blair and the production gets spread among them, as well as the leadership. Levance Fields creates and does not have to hit his shots to be a big help offensively. Sam Young owns the defense with his mid-range game. The issues are going to be offense and staying out of foul trouble.

Starter Stats: Levance Fields, Sr. Guard, 5-10 10.9 ppg 7.6 apg, Jermaine Dixon, Jr. Guard, 6-3 9.2 ppg 2.1 apg, Sam Young, Sr. Forward, 6-6 18.8 ppg 6.1 rpg, Tyrell Biggs, Sr. Forward, 6-8 6.9 ppg 4.5 rpg, DeJuan Blair, So. Center, 6-7 15.6 ppg 12.4 rpg

Outlook: The Bucs will keep you on your heels with flamboyant guard Courtney Pigram, but he's far from their only offensive threat. Mike Smith goes for 15 a game and Kevin Tiggs averages 21. Pigram gets his 18 and also pushes and pushes. For all the points they score, ETSU does not get a lot of assists, so stick with the dribbler and cut him off, because they don’t find each other well enough, according to the stats. The Bucs score 78 and give up 70. If you are confident with the ball, run with ‘em.

Starter Stats: Mike Smith, Jr. Guard, 6-6 15.2 ppg 7.6 rpg 2.0 spg, Courtney Pigram, Sr. Guard, 6-1 17.9 ppg 3.5 rpg 4.1 apg, Greg Hamlin, Sr. Forward, 6-7 5.1 ppg 4.9 rpg, Isiah Brown, Fr. Forward, 6-8 4.5 ppg 4.5 rpg, Kevin Tiggs, Sr. Forward, 6-4 21.5 ppg 4.9 rpg

Outlook: Talk about a willing team when it comes to 3-pointers. Oklahoma State makes nine a game. No other team from one of the six BCS leagues makes more. They take ‘em and they make ‘em, 39 percent per game, which is above average. The Cowboys have won eight of their last 10, so this is a nice roll going into the Big Dance. Guard Obi Muonelo was bumped from the starting lineup three weeks ago, but he has been a big scorer for the Cowboys.

Starter Stats: Byron Eaton, Sr. Guard, 5-11 14.5 ppg 5.5 apg, Keiton Page, Fr. Guard 5-10 9.1 ppg 1.3 apg, James Anderson, So. Guard, 6-6 18.9 ppg 5.6 rpg, Terrel Harris, Sr. Guard, 6-5 14.2 ppg 4.8 rpg, Marshall Moses, So. Forward, 6-6 6.1 ppg 5.9 rpg

Outlook: You have to hand it to Bruce Pearl for scheduling tough teams. Tennessee should be ready for anything after dueling with the likes of Memphis, Gonzaga (twice), Kansas, Georgetown, Siena (conference champ), and Marquette. Tyler Smith is a versatile wing player whose outside shooting has improved. He can get tough points taking it to the basket. Wayne Chism is tough inside, scoring and boarding.

Now, the negative. The backcourt is shaky. The defense is not good, even in the SEC. The free-throw shooting is under 70 percent. If the Vols need defensive stop, can they get it? You like their energy on the offensive end, but Tennessee has just not been a good team defensively in the half-court on a consistent basis.

Starter Stats: Scotty Hopson, Fr. Guard, 6-7 9.3 ppg 2.6 rpg, Bobby Maze, Jr. Guard, 6-2 8.6 ppg 3.2 apg, J.P. Prince, Jr. Forward, 6-7 9.9 ppg 4 rpg, Tyler Smith, Jr. Forward, 6-7 17.1 ppg 6 rpg, Wayne Chism, Jr. Forward, 6-9 13.3 ppg 8.1 rpg

Outlook: North Carolina’s Ty Lawson was ACC player of the year, but Toney Douglas was on a lot of ballots. The senior guard does not have to hunt his shot because his teammates find him. and find him some more. One of the reasons Douglas can get loose is FSU’s size, which discourages teams inside. FSU led the ACC in scoring defense, allowing 64 points a game and led in field-goal percentage defense (38 percent). FSU averages 6 blocks a game, but it is not one of the ACC rebounding leaders because two of the inside starters, Solomon Alabi and Chris Singleton, are freshmen. Florida State, always on the edge of making the NCAA tournament, hasn’t been since 1998. It could stay for a couple of rounds if Toney gets sufficient help.

Starter Stats: Toney Douglas, Sr. Guard, 6-2 20.8 ppg 3 apg Derwin Kitchen, So. Guard, 6-4 8.2 ppg 4.3 rpg Chris Singleton, Fr. Forward, 6-9 7.8 ppg 5 rpg Uche Echefu, Sr. Forward, 6-9 8.9 ppg 5.3 rpg Solomon Alabi, Fr. Center, 7-1 8.2 ppg 5.7 rpg

Outlook: The least interesting among the Big Ten tournament teams. Trevon Hughes can be fun to watch, but that’s it. The Badgers had a six-game losing streak in January, which was off the charts for these guys. They could not make a play in crunch time, kept letting leads get away, lost twice in OT, lost by a point in another game, and by three points in another. None of the leaders, Hughes, Marcus Landry, Joe Krabbenhoft, could lead the way out for several weeks. Wisconsin had won seven of nine going into the Big Ten tournament. Still, not enough zing with this club to get them very far in the Big Dance.

Starter Stats: Jason Bohannon, Jr. Guard, 6-2 10.2 ppg 3.1 rpg, Trevon Hughes, Jr. Guard, 6-0 11.9 ppg 3.2 rpg, Joe Krabbenhoft, Sr. Forward, 6-7 8.8 ppg 6.7 rpg, Marcus Landry, Sr. Forward, 6-7 12.7 ppg 4.5 rpg, Jon Leuer, So. Forward, 6-10 9.2 ppg 3.9 rpg

Outlook: The Vikings were first-round meat for national champion Kansas in 2008 and lost by 24. They won’t get drilled like that this time. They're a veteran team with a nifty guard in Jeremiah Dominguez. He is a crowd pleaser with lightning-quick feet who can makes steals and passes and hit every shot. The Vikings handle the ball pretty well, but rebounding will be an issue.

Starter Stats: Jeremiah Dominguez, Sr. Guard, 5-6 12.6 ppg 2.8 rpg 3.1 apg, Andre Murray, Sr. Guard, 6-2 10.7 ppg 3.8 rpg 2.3 apg, Phil Nelson, So. Forward, 6-7 11.2 ppg 3.7 rpg, Kyle Coston, Jr. Forward, 6-8 6.3 ppg 3.6 rpg, Jamie Jones, Jr. Forward, 6-7 9.2 ppg 5.2 rpg

Outlook: What mid-major has this kind of profile? Xavier beat Memphis, beat Missouri, beat Auburn. So where did this team go? Xavier was 5-5 down the stretch. It’s lost that defensive fire it had in the regular season and doesn’t rebound on the offensive glass like usual. C.J. Anderson has slumped and the defense, which had been average, is asked to do more. Right now, Xavier’s a risky team to bet on.

Starter Stats: Dante Jackson, So. Guard, 6-5 6.5 ppg 3.6 rpg, C.J. Anderson, Sr. Guard, 6-6 10.2 ppg 5.6 rpg, B.J. Raymond, Sr. Forward, 6-6 13.8 ppg 4.2 rpg, Derrick Brown, Jr. Forward, 6-8 13.8 ppg 6.1 rpg, Jason Love, Jr. Center, 6-9 7.2 ppg 5.9 rpg

Outlook: Darrin Collison is the key player because of his pressure defense and his ability to pressure on offense -- by himself on the break. He shoots 45 percent from the 3-point line for his career and can still make 3-pointers without Kevin Love (though at lower rate). The Bruins could really make a run if freshman guard Jrue Holiday emerges as a star in the postseason. He has been surrounded by upperclassmen and averages less than 10 a game, but no one doubts who the lottery pick is on this team.

Start Stats: Starter Stats: Darren Collison, Sr. Guard, 6-0 14.8 ppg 5 apg, Jrue Holiday, Fr. Guard, 6-3 8.3 ppg 3.5 apg, Josh Shipp, Sr. Forward, 6-5 14.4 ppg 3 rpg, Nikola Dragovic, Jr. Forward, 6-9 Jr. 9.2 ppg 4 rpg, Alfred Aboya, Sr. Center, 6-9 10.1 ppg 6 rpg

Outlook: The drumbeat will start for VCU just after the bracket is released: the next George Mason, the next Cinderella. We’ll see. The Rams feature guard Eric Maynor, who hit the game-winning shot against Duke in the 2007 NCAA tournament. They also have freshman jumping jack Larry Sanders, who uses his 7-07 wingspan to snatch rebounds block shots. Then there is coach Anthony Grant. One win in the NCAA Tournament -- and that might not even be necessary -- and Grant will be a millionaire coach before next season. The key to dealing with VCU will be cutting off Maynor before he gets into the lane. He's a solid mid-range shooter and can score, but he can also dish inside the foul line and make others productive.

Starter Stats: Larry Sanders, Fr. Forward, 6-9 5.1 ppg. 5.2 rpg., Michael Anderson, Jr. Forward, 6-7 7.2 ppg. 4.6 rpg., Eric Maynor, Jr. Guard, 6-2 17.9 ppg. 5.5 apg., Joey Rodriguez, Fr. Guard, 5-10 4.9 ppg. 2.5 apg., Jamal Shuler, Sr. Guard, 6-3 15.5 ppg. 4.7 rpg.,

Outlook: The number of mid-major teams in the NCAA Tournament might decline for the 2009 tournament, but the quality is high with schools like VCU, Siena, and American. The Patriots strung out Tennessee in the opening round in 2008 and AU has that squad back. Derrick Mercer and Garrison Carr are a handful. They run and cut and work in the half-court. The turning point in AU’s first-round game will be combating bigger teams in the post. American will miss shots, but count on it to run down the loose balls. And there has to be an edge to a team of 21-year olds, like AU, playing a team of sophomores. The red flags are the one-sided losses to Oklahoma, and Georgetown, but those are good rebounding teams. If the matchup is right, AU could win a game.

Starter Stats: Brian Gilmore, Sr. Forward, 6-8 11.9 ppg 5.5 rpg., Jordan Nichols, Sr. Forward, 6-5 5.4 ppg. 5.2 rpg., Derrick Mercer, Sr., Guard, 5-9 11.8 ppg. 4.4 rpg., Garrison Carr, Sr. Guard, 5-11 17.6 ppg. 3.0 rpg., Frank Borden, Sr. Guard, 6-4 3.6 ppg. 3.1 rpg.

Outlook: The emergence of Dante Cunningham as the conference's most improved player has lifted Villanova to another level. The junior guard is one of the best coming off the ball screen and holding his dribble to get a 3-pointer. It also puts less pressure on Scottie Reynolds to try and win games on his own. Reggie Redding is the top-drawer defensive player that every team needs to combat the opponents’ big scorer. The team that draws 'Nova better defend the 3-point shot well.

Starter Stats: Scottie Reynolds, Jr. Guard, 6-2 15.7 ppg 3.7 apg, Reggie Redding, Jr. Guard, 6-5 6.8 ppg 4.8 rpg, Dwayne Anderson, Sr. Forward, 6-6 8.2 ppg 5.8 rpg, Dante Cunningham, Sr. Forward, 6-8 16.4 ppg 7.3 rpg, Shane Clark, Sr. Forward, 6-7 5.4 ppg 3.8 rpg

Outlook: The Gophers are a stubborn team on defensive because of Tubby Smith. He pushes and pushes and they make plays. Minnesota, if it is not just totally over-matched by an opponent’s size, wins a lot of games with nerve down the stretch. If it’s close, the Gophers can win. The issues are a lack of a dominant offensive player. The freshmen, Ralph Sampson and Colton Iverson, need to produce more than what they have for this team to win a game in the NCAA tournament.

Starter Stats: Blake Hoffarber, So. Guard, 6-4 6.8 ppg 2.8 rpg, Devoe Joseph, Fr. Guard, 6-3 5.2 ppg 1.6 apg, Damian Johnson, Jr. Forward, 6-7 9.4 ppg 4.1 rpg, Colton Iverson, Fro. Forward, 6-10 5.7 ppg 3.7 rpg, Ralph Sampson III, Fr. Center, 6-11 6.4 ppg 4.2 rpg

Outlook: Dexter Pittman averaged 9.2 points for the season, but is averaging 17 over a late-game stretch of five games. He scored 45 points in two Big 12 Tournament games. That is a great sign for the Longhorns, who were relying on smallish guard A.J. Abrams and forward Damion James. Pittman got in foul trouble during the Big 12 tournament loss to Baylor, which is the only reason he was stopped. The Longhorns now seem to have an offensive identity, which is something that has been lacking this season. Expect them to work inside out … as long as the guards buy some time.

Starter Stats: Justin Mason, Jr. Guard, 6-2 6.6 ppg 4.4 apg, A.J Abrams, Sr. Guard, 5-11 16.7 ppg 2.1 rpg, Dogus Balbay, So. Guard, 6-0 3.2 ppg 3.2 apg, Damion James, Jr. Forward, 6-7 15.9 ppg 9.4 rpg, Dexter Pittman, Jr. Center, 6-10 9.2 ppg 4.6 rpg

Outlook: The Bearcats get the school’s first NCAA tournament berth. Don’t discount them right away. Remember Vermont in 2005? It beat Syracuse. Reggie Fuller scores just 10 a game, but the effort is worth 20 a game. The team plays together, but it’s really under-sized and effort can’t make up for it. The best thing an opponent can do for the Bearcats is jack up 3-pointers and get sloppy with quick possessions.

Starter Stats: Emanuel Mayben, Jr. Guard,6-3 11.1 ppg 3.9 rpg 4.6 apg, Malik Alvin, Jr. Guard, 6-0 10.9 ppg 2.9 rpg 3.9 apg, D.J. Rivera, Jr. Guard, 6-4 20.2 ppg 6.4 rpg, Chretien Lukusa, So. Guard, 6-2 4.6 ppg 3.6 rpg, Reggie Fuller, Sr. Forward, 6-6 10.0 ppg 6.9 rpg

Outlook: The Devils play fast and move the ball. Duke is not a post-up team on most possessions, but uses its passing skill to move a defense and create open looks from the 3-point line. Only Clemson took more 3-three pointers this season. Kyle Singler, a 6-8 sophomore, may be ready for the NBA. He is a fierce player who can spot up outside and shoot. Gerald Henderson plays above the rim at 6-4 and if there is a time when Duke needs to post and get a close look, the Blue Devils will go to Henderson. Jon Scheyer’s shooting alleviate defensive pressure and, at 6-5, can see past the defense. There are still questions about Duke playing away from home and playing without a lot of size. The Blue Devils are also vulnerable to a fast, penetrating guard. A team that shoots this many 3s can’t live long in the tournament, can they?

Starter Stats: Jon Scheyer, Jr. Guard 6-5 14.3 ppg 2.9 apg Gerald Henderson, Jr. Guard, 6-4 16.6 ppg 5 rpg Elliott Williams, Fr. Guard, 6-4 4.4 ppg 2 rpg Kyle Singler, So. Forward, 6-8 16.5 ppg 7.7 rpg Lance Thomas, Jr. Forward, 6-8 5.3 ppg 3.3 rpg

Outlook: The obvious issue is point guard Ty Lawson and his injured toe. If he is healthy, Carolina should be the favorite to win the national championship. If he’s not, the Tar Heels could still win three or four games. Bobby Frasor filled in at point in ACC quarterfinal win over Virginia Tech and played 37 minutes, a career-high, and made just one turnover. The Heels still have Tyler Hansbrough, one of the game’s hardest working players. Wayne Ellington can shoot it and if the defense tries to help too much on Hansbrough, Ellington has the 3-point stroke. The Tar Heels will not run without Lawson, but their half-court game is very good.

Don’t forget about Ed Davis, the 6-10 freshman forward. He would be a big contributor at a lot of programs. Forward Deon Thompson pushes you under the basket and gets position and rebounds. Swingman Danny Green does a lot of things well. Larry Drew II, a freshman point, played some valuable minutes in the ACC Tournament and can back up Frasor. With Lawson, six wins. Without Lawson, four wins, maybe 5, possibly six.

Starter Stats: Ty Lawson, Jr. Guard, 5-11 15.9 ppg 6.5 apg Wayne Ellington, Jr. Guard, 6-4 14.9 ppg 4.8 rpg Danny Green, Sr. Forward, 6-6 13.9 ppg 4.7 rpg Deon Thompson, Jr. Forward 6-8 11.2 ppg 6.1 rpg Tyler Hansbrough, Sr. Forward, 6-9 21.1 ppg 8.1 rpg

Outlook: The Highlanders get balanced scoring from their starters and decent bench production. They lost by 22 to Wake Forest and 25 to West Virginia, so you can see how they are going to get over-matched by bigger, faster teams. Radford is likely to have a short trip and get run out of the gym.

Starter Stats: Amir Johnson, Jr. Guard, 5-9 9.4 ppg 5.4 apg, Kenny Thomas, Sr. Guard, 6-3 14.8 ppg 4.6 rpg, Phillip Martin, Jr. Forward, 6-6 4.1 ppg 3.0 rpg, Joey Lynch-Flohr, Jr. Forward, 6-8 13.6 ppg 5.6 rpg, Artsiom Parakhouski, Jr. Center, 6-11 16.0 ppg 11.0 rpg

Outlook: Butler's a perennial mid-major power, but this team isn't as good as last year's squad that outplayed Tennessee during a second-round NCAA tournament game. Matt Howard is a mobile big man who rebounds, blocks shots, and scores, but the Bulldogs' freshmen may be their downfall. They're going to be terrific players, but the cuts and shots are not as crisp. Howard should be motivated after his foul trouble hurt Butler in the Tennessee loss in 2008. This team shares the ball, but it is still too young to expect a tournament thrill.

Starter Stats: Matt Howard, So. Forward, 6-8 14.3 ppg 6.9 rpg., Gordon Hayward, Fr. Forward, 6-8 13.8 ppg 6.3 rpg., Willie Veasley, Jr. Guard, 6-3 9.1 ppg 4.4 rpg., Ronald Nored, Fr. Guard, 6-0 4.2 ppg 3.1 rpg., Shelvin Mack, Fr. Guard, 6-3 11.7 ppg 4.1 apg.

Outlook: Marcus Thornton is a lottery pick. He can shoot it, pass, cut to get open, and he has some muscle. Tasmin Mitchell can be a good player, too, maybe late first, early second. That’s two good players. Enough to win a game, maybe not enough to win two. The Tigers were 13-3 in the SEC, but the conference was down. What they do well, and what might pull them through to the Sweet 16, is follow their roles.

Garrett Temple locked down J.J. Redick in the 2006 regionals and he can do that to a lot of guards. If the opponent’s offense revolves around a guard Temple can handle -- not a 6-8 wing -- LSU can reach the second weekend. Trent Johnson is a veteran of the NCAA tournament, he knows how to win in March (Nevada, Stanford), so there is nothing that will be new to him.

Starter Stats: Garrett Temple, Sr. Guard, 6-6 7.1 ppg 4.5 ppg, Bo Spencer, So. Guard, 6-1 11.7 ppg 2.6 apg, Marcus Thornton, Sr. Guard, 6-4 20.9 ppg 5.5 rpg, Tasmin Mitchell, Jr. Forward, 6-7 16.4 ppg 7.3 rpg, Chris Johnson, Sr. Forward, 6-117.9 ppg 7.4 rpg

Outlook: In a defensive-oriented league, Illinois it tops, giving up just 56 points a game. The plodding pace keeps the score low, but these guys guard the ball, deny position, know tendencies, and don't allow open looks. That was with Chester Frazier, who injured his hand and does not appear likely to play in the NCAA tournament. Illinois was taken out by Purdue with Frazier on the sidelines; they are not that good without him. So what’s wrong with these guys? Everybody else shoots more free throws. The Illini had 388 free throws in the regular season. No other Big Ten team was below 400. It’s time to force the action. The other issue is making some plays in the last minute. There has been a lack of execution in a tight game, particularly at the end of the season. One and done.

Starter Stats: Dememtri McCamey, So. Guard, 6-3 11.9 ppg 4.8 apg, Chester Frazier, Sr. Guard, 6-2 5.7 ppg 5.3 apg, Trent Meachem, Sr. Guard, 9.9 ppg 2.6 apg, Mike Davis, So. Forward, 6-9 11.1 ppg 7.9 rpg, Mike Tisdale, So. Center, 7-1 10.8 ppg 4 rpg

Outlook: The Toppers beat Louisville by 14 points. While you write in Louisville for the Sweet 16, the Elite Eight, maybe even the Final Four, think about that. There is some talent here for a couple of NCAA tournament wins -- just like last year when they reached the Sweet 16. A.J. Slaughter is the big scorer, but Orlando Mendez-Valdez makes his teammates better with passing. He averages 14 points a game, but his passing after penetrating the lane makes him dangerous. Sergio Kerusch can fly to snatch boards and Jeremy Evans can rebound giving Western a good combination on the glass.

Starter Stats: A.J. Slaughter, Jr. Guard, 6-3 15.7 ppg 3.0 rpg 3.7 apg, Orlando Mendez-Valdez, Sr.Guard, 6-1 14.2 ppg 4.0 rpg 3.8 apg, Sergio Kerusch, So Forward, 6-5 11.0 ppg 7.4 rpg, Steffphon Pettigrew, So Forward, 6-5 13.0 ppg 5.0 rpg, Jeremy Evans, Jr. Center, 6-9 8.8 ppg 6.0 rpg

Outlook: The Zips are coached by one of LeBron James’ former high school coaches, Keith Dambrot. The former Central Michigan coach can’t squeeze enough offense out of this team to get it very far in the tournament. It is a good defensive team, but that’s about it. Nate Linhart was the MAC defensive player of the year.

Starter stats: Anthony Hitchens, Fr. Guard, 5-9 9.2 ppg 1.5 rpg, Darryl Roberts, Jr. Guard, 6-0 7.6 ppg 1.6 rpg, Nikola Cvetinovic, Fr., Foreard, 6-8 4.1 ppg 2.5 rpg, Chris McKnight, Jr. Forward, 6-7 9.3 ppg 4.5 rpg, Nate Linhart, Sr. Forward, 6-8 10.3 ppg 5.9 rpg

Outlook: Remember when there was so much fascination about Gonzaga? The Bulldogs were the little school that kept knocking off a team or two in the NCAA Tournament. And then a bad thing happened. Expectations ruined our perception. We wanted them to be even better. This may finally be that Gonzaga team that makes a deep run. The Bulldogs are very long on defense and make it difficult to score. They rebound and have three players who score in double figures. They also have a three-point shooter for each side of the floor and the top of the key. Memphis clobbered them, but the Tigers are also one of the three best teams in the nation.

Starter Stats: Jeremy Pargo, Sr. Guard, 6-2 9.7 ppg 3.6 rpg 5.1 apg, Matt Bouldin, Jr. Guard, 6-5 13.8 ppg 3.8 rpg 3.1 apg , Micah Downs, Sr. Guard, 6-8 8.8 ppg 4.4 rpg, Austin Daye, So. Forward, 6-11 12.6 ppg 6.9 rpg, Josh Heytvelt, Sr. Center, 6-11 15.2 ppg 6.8 rpg

Outlook: The Sun Devils have the Pac-10 Player of the Year in James Harden, and it is always a plus to have a go-to guy. Still, teams can plan for Harden and keep him under 15 a game. He plays 37 to 40 minutes a game and the only team recently to do a job on him was Washington State, which plays tight defense and limits touches. In a fast game, look out for him. USC held him in check in mid-season and just took him away with physical defense and had four other defenders jumping at him. Harden has to stay aggressive: Take the shot, get to the basket and stretch the defense.

Starter Stats: James Harden, So. Guard, 6-5 20.8 ppg 4.1 apg, Derek Glasser, Jr. Guard, 6-1 8 ppg 4.9 apg, Ty Abbott, So. Guard, 6-3 6.3 ppg 4.1 rpg, Richard Kuksiks, So. Forward, 6-6 10.8 ppg 4 rpg, Jeff Pendergraph, Sr. Forward, 6-9 14.4 ppg 8.5 rpg

Outlook: The Owls are peaking. They beat Tennessee in December, regressed, and now they are back again with five straight wins and the A-10 title. They need to avoid the trapdoor they fell through in last year’s first round as a 12 seed. They lost to Michigan State, a more experienced tournament team, by 11 because they were simply weren’t prepared. Dionte Christmas’ lights went out in that game. He should be motivated for this first-round matchup.

Starter Stats: Lavoy Allen, So. Forward, 6-9 11.0 ppg 8.8 rpg, Sergio Olmos, Sr. Center, 7-0 8.3 ppg 3.9 rpg, Ryan Brooks, Jr. Guard, 6-4 10.6 ppg 3.8 rpg, Semaj Inge, Sr. Guard, 6-4 7.3 ppg 3.8 rpg 3.4 apg, Dionte Christmas, Sr. Guard, 6-5 18.9 ppg 5.9 rpg

Outlook: The Lumberjacks are riding an eight-game winning streak. They lost by 16 to Arkansas and 14 to Texas Tech, which are teams that did not make the NCAA tournament. They do not shoot the 3-pointer well (32 percent), which makes it hard for an upset because serious underdogs need to fill it up to have any chance to win.

Starter stats: Eric Bell, Jr. Guard, 5-3 3.6 ppg 1.3 rpg, Girod Adams, Jr. Guard, 5-10 5.4 ppg 1.6 rpg, Josh Alexander, Sr. Guard, 6-4 14.5 ppg 5.3 rpg, Nick Shaw, Sr. Forward, 6-6 6.1 ppg 6.0 rpg, Matt Kingsley, Sr. Center, 6-9 16.1 ppg 7.8 rpg

Outlook: Flynn is the catalyst behind the Orange’s offense, which leads the Big East in field-goal percentage and scoring. Shooting 49 percent in the Big East is a pretty commendable stat. Eric Devendorf and sixth man Andy Rautins knock down 3-pointers and spread the defense for Rick Jackson and Arinze Onuaku to work down low. At 6-4, Paul Harris is the best pound-for-pound rebounder in the conference and finishes fast breaks with a flourish.

Jim Boeheim’s trademark 2-3 zone defense held the opposition to under 30 percent from beyond the 3-point line, but this year he has not been hesitant to switch to man-to-man if his pet defense starts to lose its effectiveness. Syracuse has the athletes to defend, but the will is not always there. Consistency has been a problem. After a two-year hiatus from the Big Dance, the Orange will have to hit their free throws and limit turnovers to make any noise.

Starter Stats: Jonny Flynn, So. Guard, 6-0 17.3 ppg. 6.4 apg, Eric Devendorf, Jr. Guard, 6-4 15.2 ppg 3.2 apg, Paul Harris, Jr. Forward, 6-4 12.8 ppg 7.8 rpg, Rick Jackson, So. Forward, 6-9 8.1 ppg 5.8 rpg, Arinze Onuaku, Jr. Center, 6-9 10.5 ppg 7.5 rpg

Outlook: The Tigers shoot a lot of 3-pointers, but they can struggle if they’re not hitting. If that happens, they go to a pressure defense and get steals. Their turnover margin is plus-3, which is good for the ACC. They also have some crafty guys in K.C. Rivers and Trevor Booker who can manage themselves in the lane. They are the bookend scorers every successful team needs. Terrence Oglesby can shoot the 3-pointer and is a complement to Rivers and Booker because when the double-teams come Oglesby usually receives a pass for an open 3-pointer. Raymond Sykes, a 6-9 forward, is athletic and gets on the glass. Clemson has lost four of its last five and is giving up a lot of points and good shots. Be careful about rating them too highly because ACC aura.

Starter Stats: Demontez Stitt, So. Guard, 6-2 8.8 ppg 3.7 apg, Terrence Oglesby, So. Guard, 6-2 13.6 ppg 1.8 apg, K.C. Rivers, Sr. Forward, 6-6 14.3 ppg 6 rpg, Trevor Booker, Jr. Forward, 6-7 15.2 ppg 9.7 rpg, Raymond Sykes, Jr. Center, 6-9 7.8 ppg 5.2 rpg

Outlook: The Wolverines have not been in the NCAA tournament since 1998. That’s amazing for a program with this kind of stature. They’re in and they want to stay a while. Gauging them from the Big Ten tournament, maybe they can stay past the first round. It was a team of timing, inside-out, and they wrecked the Hawkeyes. There has always been this hint of potential, a mysterious X-factor about this team. It jumped out in public against Iowa. Does it continue? Michigan beat Duke and beat UCLA early in the year, but those wins did not matter as much as the Big Ten eruption.

Starter Stats: C.J. Lee, Sr. Guard, 6-0 2.5 ppg 1.5 apg Stu Douglass, Fr. Guard 6-3 5.9 ppg 2.1 apg Manny Harris, So. Guard, 6-5 17.1 ppg 7 rpg Zach Novak, Fr. Forward, 6-5 ppg 3.4 rpg DeShawn Sims, Jr. Forward, 6-8 15.3 ppg 7.1 rpg

Outlook: They beat BCS schools in Maryland and DePaul. They have a coach who got into the NCAA tournament three times when he was at Cal and had to leave the game because of NCAA violations, but now Todd Bozeman is back in the Big Dance. He helps make the Bears a good story, but it may not last. Morgan State has lost one game since Jan. 31, but the competition gets a lot tougher this week.

Starter Stats: Marquise Kately, Sr. Forward, 6-5 10.9 ppg 5.4 rpg, Rodney Stokes, So. Forward, 6-10 4.7 ppg 3.7 rpg, Jermaine Bolden, Jr. Guard, 5-9 9.0 ppg 5.0 rpg, Reggie Holmes, Jr. Guard, 6-4 16.8 ppg 5.5 rpg, Rogers Barnes, Sr. Guard, 6-2 8.8 ppg 3.2 rpg

Outlook: Blake Griffin opens up the floor for the Sooners because defenses key on him. Still, that’s better than the alternative of playing him 1-on-1. Griffin will dominate most post players and get 25-30 points when he has one man on him. Clog the lane; bother him. Oklahoma may try and force it to him, which can be trouble. If the double-team comes too late, Griffin will burn it. The best tactic is to front him from the start, and come behind him. OU lost its groove when Griffin was knocked in the head in the Texas game. They need to rally in the next few days.

Starter Stats: Austin Johnson, Sr. Guard, 6-3 8.6 ppg 3.9 apg, Willie Warren, Fr. Guard, 6-4 14.7 ppg 3.1 apg, Tony Crocker, Jr. Guard, 6-6 9.6 ppg 3.3 rpg, Taylor Griffin, Sr. Forward, 6-7 9.7 ppg 6 rpg, Blake Griffin, So. Forward, 6-10 22.1 ppg 14.2 rpg