Today’s NCAA Tournament matchups
SOUTH
1. Florida
32-2; SEC champion.
The Gators enter the tournament with their best shot at winning it since they repeated as national champions in 2007. The senior-heavy squad lost in the region final in each of the past three years, and anything short of the Final Four will be a disappointment. Florida ended its regular season on a 23-game winning streak, a perfect 18-0 in the SEC and as the No. 1 team in the AP top 25. The Gators ended the regular season fifth in the country in points allowed per game and can stifle opponents both in the half court and in transition.
■ Tournament Record: 38-16, 18 years. Last appearance: 2013.
■ Scoring: Team (70.7); Casey Prather 14.2; Scottie Wilbekin 13.0; Michael Frazier II 12.9; Patric Young 11.1.
■ Rebounds: Team (35.7); Dorian Finney-Smith 6.8; Patric Young 6.1; Will Yeguete 5.3; Casey Prather 5.0.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (13.4/11.3); Scottie Wilbekin 3.8/1.8; Kasey Hill 3.1/1.6; Dorian Finney-Smith 2.1/1.8.
■ Last 10: 10-0.
16. Albany
18-14; America East champion.
The Great Danes are in the field for the fourth time, all in the 13 seasons under Coach Will Brown. They lost to Duke, 73-61, in the first round last year and seek their first NCAA tournament win. This year’s team was seeded fourth in the conference tournament after a 9-7 finish. After beating top-seeded Vermont in Albany — the predetermined site for the quarterfinals and semifinals — the Great Danes went on the road to beat second-seeded Stony Brook. Sam Rowley, who scored 18 points in the America East final before fouling out, and his brother Mike came to the program from Sydney.
■ Tournament Record: 1-3, 3 years. Last NCAA Appearance: Beat Mount St. Mary’s on Tuesday.
■ Scoring: Team (66.0); Peter Hooley 15.7; Sam Rowley 11.5; DJ Evans 11.2; Gary Johnson 10.9.
■ Rebounds: Team (34.6); Sam Rowley 6.7; Gary Johnson 4.9; John Puk 4.4.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (11.1/12.6); DJ Evans 2.8/1.8; Peter Hooley 2.6/2.0.
■ Last 10: 7-3.
8. Colorado
23-11; Pac-12 at-large.
The Buffaloes are in for the third straight year following an up-and-down season. They started out 14-2 and climbed to No. 15 in the AP poll, but leading scorer Spencer Dinwiddie suffered a season-ending torn ACL on Jan. 12 in the first loss of a 1-4 stretch. Dinwiddie was projected to be a first-round NBA draft selection, and Colorado has struggled to find an offensive rhythm with him out of the lineup. Josh Scott is the best remaining scorer. Coach Tad Boyle has led the Buffaloes to four straight seasons of at least 21 wins, but just one victory in the NCAA tournament.
■ Tournament Record: 10-14, 14 years. Last appearance: 2013.
■ Scoring: Team (70.9); Josh Scott 14.1; Askia Booker 14.0; Xavier Johnson 12.0.
■ Rebounds: Team (37.5); Josh Scott 8.5; Wesley Gordon 6.1; Xavier Johnson 5.9.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (11.5/13.2); Askia Booker 3.4/2.5.
■ Last 10: 5-5.
9. Pittsburgh
25-9; ACC at-large.
Two wins in the ACC tournament firmly ended any bubble talk for the Panthers, who are in the NCAA tournament for the fifth time in six seasons, but they still haven’t reached the Sweet 16 since 2009. This iteration of Pittsburgh might be better-equipped for a deep run given the versatility of Lamar Patterson, a second-team all-conference selection, and big man Talib Zanna, a massive space-eater who recently recorded 21 rebounds against North Carolina in the ACC tournament, the most allowed by the Tar Heels under Coach Roy Williams.
■ Tournament Record: 23-25, 24 years. Last appearance: 2013.
■ Scoring: Team (72.5); Lamar Patterson 17.6; Talib Zanna 12.9; Cameron Wright 10.6.
■ Rebounds: Team (36.1); Talib Zanna 8.8; Lamar Patterson 4.8; Michael Young 4.2.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (15.6/10.6); Lamar Patterson 4.3/2.7; James Robinson 3.9/1.0; Cameron Wright 3.3/1.4.
■ Last 10: 5-5.
6. Ohio State
25-9; Big Ten at-large.
The Buckeyes jumped out to a 16-0 start, but the degree to which that was the product of a weak schedule was exposed soon after. OSU lost five out of six during one January stretch, very nearly ended the regular season on a three-game losing streak and got swept by Penn State. Oh, and the team has a lot of trouble scoring. Still, the Buckeyes can lock up just about anyone; led by Aaron Craft, a two-time Big Ten defensive player of the year and the conference’s all-time steals leader, they held foes to a league-low 59.1 points per game.
■ Tournament Record: 54-28, 29 years. Last appearance: 2013.
■ Scoring: Team (69.8); LaQuinton Ross 15.4; Lenzelle Smith Jr. 11.1; Aaron Craft 9.6.
■ Rebounds: Team (34.1); LaQuinton Ross 6.1; Amir Williams 5.8; Lenzelle Smith Jr. 5.1.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (12.0/11.2); Aaron Craft 4.7/2.5; Shannon Scott 3.4/1.9.
■ Last 10: 6-4.
11. Dayton
23-10.; Atlantic 10 at-large.
The Flyers had bad losses to Illinois State and USC at the start of the season but closed by winning 10 of their final 12. Both losses were to Saint Joesph’s, including a three-point defeat Friday in one of the more entertaining games in the Atlantic 10 tournament. The Flyers’ late push toward the NCAA tournament included plenty of contributions from reserves, most notably senior guard Vee Sanford (9.9 ppg), who transfered from Georgetown. Dayton has nine players who average at least 12.9 minutes per game, and only one starter averages more than 25.7 minutes.
■ Tournament Record: 14-16, 14 years. Last appearance: 2009.
■ Scoring: Team (73.4); Jordan Sibert 12.5; Devin Oliver 12.1; Dyshawn Pierre 11.1; Vee Sanford 9.9.
■ Rebounds: Team (35.3); Devin Oliver 7.5; Dyshawn Pierre 5.6.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (13.1/12.0); Devin Oliver 2.4/1.4; Scoochie Smith 2.0/1.1.
■ Last 10: 8-2.
3. Syracuse
27-5; ACC at-large.
Getting Jerami Grant back from injury provided a huge late-season boon for the Orange, which had been struggling mightily in his absence. Syracuse entered the ACC tournament having lost four of six and nearly fell another time at Maryland. Then it lost to North Carolina State. But with a roster and coach as solid as any in the ACC, the Orange again will look to reach the Final Four, where it fell short of the title game last season. Tyler Ennis has been rock-solid, and C.J. Fair is a fourth-year veteran — a rarity for a big-time team these days. A deep run may hinge on Trevor Cooney’s shooting.
■ Tournament Record: 60-36, 36 years. Last appearance: 2013.
■ Scoring: Team (68.3); C.J. Fair 16.7; Tyler Ennis 12.7; Trevor Cooney 12.2; Jerami Grant 12.2.
■ Rebounds: Team (35.2); Jerami Grant 6.9; C.J. Fair 6.2; Rakeem Christmas 5.0; DaJuan Coleman 4.2.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (12.1/9.0); Tyler Ennis 5.6/1.7.
■ Last 10: 5-5.
14. Western Michigan
23-9; MAC champion.
David Brown earned his first all-MAC first-team selection by being remarkably consistent, scoring in double figures in all 30 regular season games and reaching the 20-point mark 13 times. Shayne Whittington, another first-teamer, reached the 1,000-point milestone for his career and ranks third in program history with 124 blocked shots. He was named the league’s player of the week four times. Connar Tava became the first Bronco since 1995-96 to shoot better than 60 percent from the field, ranking second in the MAC by converting at a 60.7 clip.
■ Tournament Record: 2-3, 3 years. Last appearance: 2004.
■ Scoring: Team (72.5); David Brown 19.4; Shayne Whittington 16.3; Connar Tava 12.0.
■ Rebounds: Team (34.9); Shayne Whittington 9.1; Connar Tava 5.8.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (11.4/14.1); Connar Tava 2.8/3.3; Austin Richie 2.4/1.3.
■ Last 10: 9-1.
EAST
5. Cincinnati
27-6; American Athletic at-large.
Sean Kilpatrick, a fifth-year senior, leads the Bearcats, who were the top seed in the American Athletic Conference tournament after winning a coin flip with Louisville. A second-team all-Big East performer the past two seasons, Kilpatrick was the leading scorer and a first-teamer in Cincinnati’s new league. Justin Jackson, a second-team all-AAC choice, is a solid running mate. As usual, ACC coach of the year Mike Cronin has a team that’s tough to play against. The Bearcats entered the postseason ranked seventh in Ken Pomeroy’s defensive efficiency ratings.
■ Tournament Record: 43-26, 27 years. Last appearance: 2013.
■ Scoring: Team (68.7); Sean Kilpatrick 20.7; Justin Jackson 11.1; Titus Rubles 7.3.
■ Rebounds: Team (36.1); Justin Jackson 7.2; Titus Rrubles 6.7; Sean Kilpatrick 4.4.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (12.2/12.8); Sean Kilpatrick 2.6/2.0; Troy Caupain 2.3/1.3; Titus Rubles 2.0/1.5.
■ Last 10: 6-4.
12. Harvard
26-4; Ivy League champion.
The Crimson won or shared its fourth straight Ivy League title and is playing in its third NCAA tournament in a row. The five starters come from a worldwide recruiting effort under Tommy Amaker, the former Duke standout. Harvard’s starting five hails from Cameroon, Massachusetts, California, Minnesota and Quebec. Five players are back from the rotation that led the 14th-seeded Crimson to a win over third-seeded New Mexico last year. Steve Mondou-Missi has emerged as an inside presence, averaging 18.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in the past two games.
■ Tournament Record: 1-4, 3 years. Last appearance: 2013.
■ Scoring: Team (73.6); Wesley Saunders 14.0; Siyani Chambers 11.1; Steve Moundou-Missi 10.5; Kyle Casey 10.0; Laurent Rivard 10.0; Brandyn Curry 9.3.
■ Rebounds: Team (34.2); Steve Moundou-Missi 5.8; Kyle Casey 5.7; Wesley Saunders 4.7.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (14.5/11.4); Siyani Chambers 4.6/2.3; Wesley Saunders 3.9/2.3; Brandyn Curry 3.0/1.6.
■ Last 10: 9-1.
4. Michigan State
26-8; Big Ten champion.
A loss to Georgetown sent the Spartans on a 4-6 skid to end the regular season, and the team often exhibited a lack of grit highly uncharacteristic of the program. Still, some of the Spartans’ uneven play can be attributed to injuries and illness, and they recovered enough to win the Big Ten tournament. No one ever takes a Tom Izzo squad lightly in the tournament. In addition to the coaching, MSU certainly has the ingredients to go on a Final Four run, including plenty of talent at guard, a skilled big man (Adreian Payne) and a jolt of size off the bench in forward Matt Costello.
■ Tournament Record: 56-26, 27 years. Last appearance: 2013.
■ Scoring: Team (75.9); Gary Harris 17.1; Adreian Payne 15.8; Keith Appling 12.3; Branden Dawson 10.4.
■ Rebounds: Team (37.1); Branden Dawson 8.3; Adreian Payne 7.4; Denzel Valentine 6.0; Gary Harris 4.2.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (17.0/11.4); Keith Appling 4.6/2.1; Denzel Valentine 3.9/1.8; Gary Harris 2.7/1.7; Travis Trice 2.4/1.0.
■ Last 10: 6-4.
13. Delaware
25-9; Colonial Athletic champion.
The Blue Hens are back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1999 after they rallied from a six-point deficit in the final 80 seconds of the CAA title game against William and Mary. Delaware went 14-2 in conference play and gave Villanova a major scare back in November, losing by only four on the Wildcats’ home court. The primary starters average more than 34 minutes per game as a group and have accounted for nearly 89 percent of the team’s scoring this season, even though both Devon Saddler and Jarvis Threat missed time with unrelated suspensions.
■ Tournament Record: 0-4, 4 years. Last appearance: 1999.
■ Scoring: Team (79.5); Devon Saddler 19.7; Davon Usher 19.4; Jarvis Threatt 18.1; Carl Baptiste 11.3; Kyle Anderson 11.0.
■ Rebounds: Team (36.5); Carl Baptiste 8.0; Davon Usher 6.1; Jarvis Threatt 5.8; Devon Saddler 4.3.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (10.9/9.6); Jarvis Threatt 5.6/2.6; Devon Saddler 3.6/2.2.
■ Last 10: 8-2.
7. UConn
26-8; American Athletic at-large.
With Shabazz Napier leading the way, it’s hard to doubt Huskies fans who think a fourth national title is a possibility. Three years after 6-foot-1 guard Kemba Walker carried Connecticut to a championship, another 6-1 Huskies player does it all. Napier, the AAC player of the year, ranked second in the conference in scoring, assists and free throw percentage (87.7) and third in steals (1.8 per game). Connecticut’s roster includes sometimes starter Lasan Kromah, who earned a criminal justice degree while playing at George Washington.
■ Tournament Record: 52-29, 31 years. Last appearance: 2012.
■ Scoring: Team (71.9); Shabazz Napier 17.4; DeAndre Daniels 12.5; Ryan Boatright 11.8.
■ Rebounds: Team (35.4); Shabazz Napier 5.9; DeAndre Daniels 5.8.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (12.6/11.7); Shabazz Napier 4.9/2.7; Ryan Boatright 3.5/2.0.
■ Last 10: 7-3.
10. Saint Joseph’s
24-9; Atlantic 10 champion.
The Hawks re-emerged in the national conversation in part because they were the last team to complete a regular season undefeated until Wichita State did so this season. But since 2004, when it went 27-0 and advanced to the NCAA tournament’s round of eight, Saint Joseph’s has had just two NCAA tournament appearances, including this season. The Hawks have a senior-heavy roster, including Langston Galloway, who set a school record with 10 three-pointers in a game this season and was third in the Atlantic 10 in minutes played per game.
■ Tournament Record: 18-23, 19 years. Last appearance: 2008.
■ Scoring: Team (71.3); Langston Galloway 17.5; Ronald Roberts Jr. 14.4; DeAndre Bembry 12.0; Halil Kanacevic 10.7; Chris Wilson 9.0.
■ Rebounds: Team (35.9); Halil Kanacevic 8.8; Ronald Roberts Jr. 7.4; DeAndre Bembry 4.5; Langston Galloway 4.3.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (14.1/12.3); Halil Kanacevic 4.4/2.9; Chris Wilson 2.8/1.8; DeAndre Bembry 2.7/2.5.
■ Last 10: 8-2.
2. Villanova
28-4; Big East at-large.
The Wildcats were chasing a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament before losing to Seton Hall at the buzzer in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament. The Wildcats, who were picked to finish fourth in the preseason, claimed the Big East regular season title by losing only twice in conference play, both times to Creighton. Villanova closed the regular season with six straight wins and victories in 12 of 13. The only other team to beat the Wildcats this season was Syracuse at the Carrier Dome in a matchup of former longtime Big East rivals.
■ Tournament Record: 49-33, 33 years. Last appearance: 2013.
■ Scoring: Team (78.5); James Bell 14.5; Darrun Hilliard II 14.3; JayVaughn Pinkston 14.2; Ryan Arcidiacono 9.9.
■ Rebounds: Team (37.1); James Bell 6.1; JayVaughn Pinkston 6.1; Daniel Ochefu 6.0; Josh Hart 4.4.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (15.6/11.8); Ryan Arcidiacono 3.4/1.4; Darrun Hilliard II 2.8/2.1.
■ Last 10: 8-2.
15. Milwaukee
21-13; Horizon League champion.
After being suspended for four games because of a violation of team rules, Aaron helped carry the fifth-seeded Panthers to an NCAA bid. Milwaukee finished last in the Horizon League a year ago and was picked to do so again. Jordan Aaron scored 30 points in a regular season win over first-place Green Bay, but the Panthers went 1-3 without him and also lost on senior night when he was allowed to play. Aaron took the time he had off to heart. The tournament MVP averaged 20.5 points in four wins and scored 28 in an overtime win against Green Bay in the semifinals.
■ Tournament Record: 3-3, 3 years. Last appearance: 2006.
■ Scoring: Team (68.1); Jordan Aaron 15.0; Kyle Kelm 12.6; Matt Tiby 12.1; Austin Arians 10.9.
■ Rebounds: Team (33.4); Matt Tiby 6.6; Klyle Kelm 5.1; Austin Arians 3.9.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (13.4/14.3); Steve McWhorter 4.0/2.1; Jordan Aaron 2.4/2.1; Matt Tiby 2.0/2.8.
■ Last 10: 6-4.
WEST
5. Oklahoma
23-9; Big 12 at-large.
Lon Kruger’s Sooners averaged 82.5 points per game during the regular season — eighth in the country and the program’s highest mark in 20 years. Oklahoma scored at least 80 points in 18 games after reaching that mark 17 times in the three previous years combined. The Sooners’ ability to hit from the outside contributed to their offensive success as the guard-oriented lineup made a league-best 9.2 three-pointers per game. Oklahoma was the only team in the Big 12 — and one of only nine teams nationally — to have the same starting five every game this season.
■ Tournament Record: 35-27, 27 years. Last appearance: 2003.
■ Scoring: Team (82.2); Buddy Hield 16.8; Cameron Clark 15.3; Isaiah Cousins 10.8; Jordan Woodard 10.3; Ryan Spangler 9.8.
■ Rebounds: Team (37.7); Ryan Spangler 9.4; Cameron Clark 5.5; Buddy Hield 4.4; Isaiah Cousins 4.1.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (14.7/11.4); Jordan Woodard 4.7/2.1; Isaiah Cousins 2.1/1.6.
■ Last 10: 6-4.
12. North Dakota State
25-6; Summit League champion
The Bison, making their second NCAA tournament appearance and first since 2009, are following through on a promise made by Braun last year. After losing to South Dakota State in the Summit tournament final, Taylor Braun promised that North Dakota State would “win it next year.” And it did, with Braun converting a three-point play with 12 seconds left to give the Bison a conference tournament championship win over IPFW. North Dakota State led the nation in field goal percentage as a team thanks to Marshal Bjorklund, who also was tops nationally in that category (63.6 percent).
■ Tournament Record: 0-1, 1 year. Last appearance: 2009.
■ Scoring: Team (76.4); Taylor Braun 18.2; Marshall Bjorklund 13.4; TrayVonn Wright 11.5; Lawrence Alexander 10.8.
■ Rebounds: Team (32.8); Taylor Braun 5.5; TrayVonn Wright 5.2; Marshall Bjorklund 4.3; Kory Brown 4.3; Lawrence Alexander 4.2.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (11.8/9.8); Taylor Braun 3.9/1.9; Lawrence Alexander 2.6/2.2.
■ Last 10: 9-1.
4. San Diego State
29-4; Mountain West at-large.
The Mountain West regular season champion Aztecs picked up their fifth straight NCAA tournament bid with a familiar calling card: a relentless defense. Powered by a lineup full of lengthy players, San Diego State allowed the second-fewest points per game this season and started the year with wins in 21 of its first 22 games. On the other end, that size allowed the Aztecs to control the offensive glass, and the penetration of point guard Xavier Thames often leads to easy second-chance points. But San Diego State can sometimes struggle to hit outside shots.
■ Tournament Record: 3-9, 9 years. Last appearance: 2013.
■ Scoring: Team (70.6); Xavier Thames 16.8; Winston Shepard 12.1; JJ O’Brien 8.0.
■ Rebounds: Team (37.8); Josh Davis 9.7; Winston Shepard 5.2; JJ O’Brien 4.7; Skylar Spencer 4.2.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (10.2/9.9); Xavier Thames 3.2/1.4; Winston Sheperd 2.2/2.3.
■ Last 10: 8-2.
13. New Mexico State
26-9; WAC champion.
The Aggies reached the 20-win mark and won the WAC title for the third straight season, an accomplishment that was overshadowed a bit when K.C. Ross-Miller and reserve Renaldo Dixon were suspended two and one game, respectively, for their roles in an end-of-game fight against Utah Valley. Nonetheless, New Mexico State still has one of the largest presences in Sim Bhullar, a Canadian who weighs 360 pounds. Combined with front-court mate Tshilidzi Nephawe, who’s from South Africa, the Aggies dominated underneath and led the league in field goal percentage and blocks.
■ Tournament Record: 10-22, 20 years. Last appearance: 2013.
■ Scoring: Team (77.2); Daniel Mullings 16.8; DK Eldridge 11.5; Tshilidzi Nephawe 11.1; Sim Bhullar 10.3.
■ Rebounds: Team (37.3); Sim Bhullar 7.9; Tshilidzi Nephawe 7.8; Renaldo Dixon 5.6; Daniel Mullings 4.9; DK Eldridge 4.6.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (13.1/12.8); K.C. Ross-Miller 3.5/1.9; Daniel Mullings 3.5/2.4; DK Eldridge 2.0/1.6.
■ Last 10: 9-1.
7. Oregon
23-9; Pac-12 at-large.
The Ducks’ regular season had incredible winning streaks at the beginning and end sandwiched around a terrible middle. They started 13-0 and rose to No. 10 in the AP poll, then went on a five-game losing streak and looked like they had a real shot at missing the tournament altogether in early February. An eight-game run to close the regular season - capped by the win over Arizona - made them a lock to get in for the second straight year. Joseph Young was the leading scorer for 20-win Houston last season, and Mike Moser appeared in the past two NCAA tournaments playing for UNLV.
■ Tournament Record: 14-10, 11 years. Last appearance: 2013.
■ Scoring: Team (81.8); Joseph Young 18.6; Mike Moser 13.5; John Calliste 12.4; Damyean Dotson 9.7.
■ Rebounds: Team (34.3); Mike Moser 8.0; Richard Amardi 3.9.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (14.4/11.7); Johnathan Loyd 4.7/1.8; Dominic Artis 2.3/1.4.
■ Last 10: 8-2.
10. BYU
23-11; WCC at-large.
The Cougars played one of the toughest nonconference schedules in the country, which allowed them to get into the field for the seventh time in eight seasons after missing out last year. They beat Stanford on the road and Texas on a neutral court, and played tough against Wichita State, Oregon and Massachusetts. BYU finished third in the country in points per game, led by Tyler Haws, the WCC player of the year and the nation’s sixth-leading scorer. The Cougars were also in the top 10 nationally in rebounding while leading their conference in both steals and assists.
■ Tournament Record: 15-30, 27 years. Last appearance: 2012.
■ Scoring: Team (84.2); Tyler Haws 23.4; Kyle Collinsworth 14.0; Matt Carlino 13.7; Eric Mika 11.7.
■ Rebounds: Team (41.2); Kyle Collinsworth 8.1; Nate Austin 8.0; Eric Mika 6.4.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (15.6/11.4); Kyle Collinsworth 4.6/2.6; Matt Carlino 4.3/2.1.
■ Last 10: 8-2.
2. Wisconsin
26-7; Big Ten at-large.
The Badgers own a very impressive array of wins, having defeated five regular season conference champs — Florida (SEC), Virginia (ACC), Michigan (Big Ten), Saint Louis (Atlantic 10) and Green Bay (Horizon) — in addition to beating tough teams such as Michigan State, Iowa, Illinois and St. John’s. This is the highest-scoring team in Coach Bo Ryan’s 13 seasons at Wisconsin, averaging 73.2 points per game, and the points are coming from a wide variety of sources. One of those is 6-7 freshman Nigel Hayes, who was named the Big Ten’s Sixth Man of the Year.
■ Tournament Record: 25-18, 19 years. Last appearance: 2013.
■ Scoring: Team (73.5); Frank Kaminsky 13.6; Ben Brust 12.9; Sam Dekker 12.7; Traevon Jackson 10.4.
■ Rebounds: Team (33.2); Frank Kaminsky 6.4; Sam Dekker 6.2; Ben Brust 4.6.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (12.1/8.1); Traevon Jackson 3.9/2.2; Josh Gasser 1.8/0.8.
■ Last 10: 8-2.
15. American
20-12; Patriot League champion.
The Eagles were just 10-20 last season and were picked to finish ninth in the preseason, but they flourished during the first year under Coach Mike Brennan, who came to American after serving as the top assistant to John Thompson III at Georgetown. The Eagles are making their first trip to the NCAA tournament in five years. Both other appearances came under Coach Jeff Jones, who departed this past offseason to take the same position at Old Dominion. The Eagles, seeded No. 2, upset top-seeded Boston University in the Patriot League final, 55-36.
■ Tournament Record: 0-2, 2 years. Last appearance: 2009.
■ Scoring: Team (63.9); Jesse Reed 13.9; Tony Wroblicky 12.2; Darius Gardner 11.5; John Schoof 11.4.
■ Rebounds: Team (30.1); Tony Wroblicky 7.3; Jesse Reed 4.4; Darius Gardner 3.7.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (15.1/14.0); Darius Gardner 4.2/2.8; Tony Wroblicky 3.0/2.9; John Schoof 2.2/1.7.
■ Last 10: 6-4.
MIDWEST
5. Saint Louis
26-6; Atlantic 10 at-large.
The Billikens won the conference regular season title for a second consecutive season but faltered late, a skid that was capped by a loss to Saint Bonaventure in the Atlantic 10 quarterfinals. Jordair Jett was voted conference player of the year and Jim Crews coach of the year after helping Saint Louis to 19 consecutive wins. Crews is in his second season after taking over for the late Rick Majerus. The Billikens led the Atlantic 10 in scoring defense at 60.9 points per game, but they have lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament in each of the past two seasons.
■ Tournament Record: 5-9, 8 years. Last appearance: 2013.
■ Scoring: Team (68.7); Dwayne Evans 14.0; Jordair Jett 13.7; Rob Loe 9.9; Mike McCall Jr. 9.9.
■ Rebounds: Team (32.8); Dwayne Evans 6.4; Rob Loe 5.4; Grandy Glaze 4.8; Jordair Jett 4.0.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (12.9/11.5); Jordair Jett 4.8/2.9; Mike McCall Jr. 2.3/1.3; Rob Loe 2.0/1.5.
■ Last 10: 6-4.
12. N.C. State
22-13; ACC at-large.
The Wolfpack sneaked into this year’s field as one of the last at-large teams thanks to a late-season surge that saw them upset Pittsburgh and Syracuse in a span of 13 days. ACC player of the year T.J. Warren, one of the nation’s most prolific scorers, is a potential NBA first-round draft pick capable of taking over a game and North Carolina State appears to be playing its best basketball in March. But Warren’s supporting cast has been inconsistent, and the Wolfpack was one of the ACC’s worst teams when it came to defense, rebounding and three-point shooting.
■ Tournament Record: 35-23, 24 years. Last appearance: Beat Xavier on Tuesday.
■ Scoring: Team (70.9); T.J. Warren 24.8; Ralston Turner 10.2; Anthony Barber 8.7; Desmond Lee 8.4.
■ Rebounds: Team (34.5); T.J. Warren 7.2; Lennard Freeman 5.6; Jordan Vandenburg 4.6; Kyle Washington 4.0.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (12.9/10.5); Anthony barber 3.6/1.8; Tyler Lewis 3.6/0.9.
■ Last 10: 6-4.
4. Louisville
29-5; American Athletic champion.
In a one-year layover between playing in the Big East and the ACC, the defending national champion Cardinals were co-champions in the regular season in the American Athletic Conference. All-conference choice Russ Smith wears his “Russdiculous” nickname well, averaging 2.7 turnovers, but he was eighth in the AAC in assist-to-turnover ratio, He also was fourth in scoring, third in assists and second with 2.0 steals a game. The team is without Kevin Ware, who broke his leg against Duke in a region final last year and played in nine games this season before redshirting.
■ Tournament Record: 70-40, 39 years. Last appearance: 2013.
■ Scoring: Team (82.1); Russ Smith 18.3; Montrezl Harrell 14.2; Luke Hancock 11.7; Chris Jones 10.3.
■ Rebounds: Team (37.9); Montrezl Harrell 8.2; Stephan Van Treese 5.7.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (15.7/10.3); Russ Smith 4.7/2.6; Chris Jones 2.2/1.4; Luke Hancock 2.1/1.3.
■ Last 10: 9-1.
13. Manhattan
25-7; MAAC champion.
Coach Steve Masiello, a former Kentucky walk-on and Louisville assistant in his third season, has guided the Jaspers to their first NCAA trip in 10 years. Then, Masiello was an assistant for a 12th-seeded Manhattan team that broke down fifth-seeded Florida, 75-60. This year’s Jaspers feature New York-raised seniors as their top three scorers. First-team all-MAAC choice George Beamon scored a team-high 16 points in the championship win over Iona. Rhamel Brown, third in the nation with 3.66 blocks per game, was the MAAC’s defensive player of the year for a third straight season.
■ Tournament Record: 3-7, 6 years. Last appearance: 2004.
■ Scoring: Team (77.4); George Beamon 19.4; Michael Alvarado 12.0; Rhamel Brown 10.1.
■ Rebounds: Team (37.6); George Beamon 6.6; Rhamel Brown 6.0; Emmy Andujar 5.3; Ashton Pankey 4.3.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (13.2/14.2); Michael Alvarado 4.0/2.3; Emmy Andujar 2.2/2.1; RaShawn Stores 2.0/0.9.
■ Last 10: 9-1.
7. Texas
23-10; Big 12 at-large.
Jonathan Holmes was the most consistent scorer on a team of consistent scorers, reaching double figures in 22 of 28 games during the regular season and earning all-Big 12 second-team honors. Led by Cameron Ridley and reserve Connor Lammert, the Longorns ranked first in the conference in rebounding and blocked shots. Ridley and Demarcus Holland were selected to the Big 12’s all-defensive team, while Rick Barnes — whose seat was warming at the start of the season — was named the conference’s coach of the year for the fourth time, tying Kansas’s Bill Self for the most in league history.
■ Tournament Record: 34-33, 30 years. Last appearance: 2012.
■ Scoring: Team (74.1); Jonathan Holmes 13.0; Isaiah Taylor 12.5; Javan Felix 11.8; Cameron Ridley 11.2.
■ Rebounds: Team (41.8); Cameron Ridley 8.1; Jonathan Holmes 7.2; Connor Lammert 5.2; Demarcus Holland 4.9.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (12.8/12.4); Isaiah Taylor 3.9/2.4; Javan Felix 2.9/1.3; Demarcus Holland 2.4/1.9.
■ Last 10: 5-5.
10. Arizona State
21-11; Pac-12 at-large.
The Sun Devils are back in the tournament for the first time since 2009, when James Harden was on campus. While Jahii Carson is not near Harden’s level, he is the school’s most touted player since then and will be entering the NBA draft after the season. Jordan Bachynski, a 24-year-old who has improved significantly every season, led the nation in blocked shots. The Sun Devils grabbed a signature win when they beat rival Arizona in double overtime on Feb. 14, but made life difficult with losses at Oregon and Oregon State in their last two regular season games.
■ Tournament Record: 13-14, 13 years. Last appearance: 2009.
■ Scoring: Team (75.0); Jahii Carson 18.6; Jermaine Marshall 15.0; Jordan Bachynski 11.1; Shaquielle McKissic 9.0.
■ Rebounds: Team (35.6); Jordan Bachynski 8.3; Shaquielle McKissic 5.4; Jahii Carson 4.0.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (14.2/11.5); Jahii Carson 4.5/3.4; Jonathan Gilling 2.7/1.4; Shaquielle McKissic 2.6/0.9.
■ Last 10: 5-5.
2. Michigan
25-8; Big Ten at-large.
The Wolverines won 15 conference games for the first time since the 1992-93 “Fab Five” season, and they took their first outright Big Ten regular season title since 1986, all this despite losing preseason all-American Mitch McGary to back surgery in December. The offensive leader is Nik Stauskas, who has diversified his game, driving to the basket effectively and leading Michigan in assists while shooting 45.8 percent on three-pointers. Glenn Robinson III isn’t the only Wolverine with a famous relative (in his case, an NBA-star father) — Caris LeVert is third cousins with R&B legend Eddie Levert.
■ Tournament Record: 48-23, 24 years. Last appearance: 2013.
■ Scoring: Team (74.4); Nik Stauskas 17.5; Caris LeVert 13.3; Glenn Robinson III 13.0.
■ Rebounds: Team (31.8); Jordan Morgan 4.7; Caris LeVert 4.5; Jon Horford 4.4; Glenn Robinson III 4.3.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (14.2/9.4); Nik Stauskas 3.3/1.9; Derrick Walton Jr. 2.8/1.5; Caris LeVert 2.8/1.7.
■ Last 10: 8-2.
15. Wofford
20-12; Southern champion.
The third-seeded Terriers took their conference tournament title in Asheville, N.C., without having to beat a higher seed. They topped The Citadel (11th seed), Georgia Southern (seventh) and Western Carolina (fifth) to earn the program’s third NCAA tournament bid, all of which have come in the past five seasons. Looking for its first NCAA tournament win, Wofford starts no seniors and will rely heavily on Karl Cochran, who leads the team in scoring, assists, steals and blocks. Cochran made the all-conference first team and was named MVP of the tournament.
■ Tournament Record: 0-2, 2 years. Last appearance: 2011.
■ Scoring: Team (67.0); Karl Cochran 15.7; Spencer Collins 12.8; Lee Skinner 11.2.
■ Rebounds: Team (33.4); Lee Skinner 8.6; Karl Cochran 5.0.
■ Assists/Turnovers: Team (12.5/11.0); Karl Cochran 3.0/1.9; Eric Garcia 2.6/0.9; Lee Skinner 2.1/2.0.
■ Last 10: 8-2.
Compiled from The Associated Press and The Washington Post
