No. 1 DUKE
Record: 29-5
Coach: Mike Krzyzewski
Bid: Atlantic Coast Conference champion
Star power: Senior guard Jon Scheyer scores 18.8 ppg and hands out 5.2 assists. And since he hits nearly 90 percent from the foul line he can make you suffer early and late.
Last 10: 9-1
Reasonable expectation: If Scheyer and company can hit 35 percent of their 3-pointers, Duke can reach the Final Four. If not, Blue Devils might be lucky to reach Elite Eight.
No. 2 VILLANOVA
Record: 24-7
Coach: Jay Wright
Bid: At-large
Star power: Senior Scottie Reynolds is one of the nation's top five point guards, averaging 18.5 points and 3.3 assists.
Last 10: 4-6
Reasonable expectation: Once a Final Four favorite, Nova now looks much more like a Sweet 16 hopeful due to inconsistent frontcourt play.
No. 3 BAYLOR
Record: 25-7
Coach: Scott Drew
Bid: At-large
Star power: Guard LaceDarius Dunn (19.4 ppg, 86 percent from the foul line, 43 percent from the 3-point line) just might be the best-kept offensive secret in the tournament.
Last 10: 8-2
Reasonable expectation: With the second tallest team in the country behind Kentucky (Bears average height is 6-6), Baylor is long, strong and the wrong matchup for most of the field. Can easily reach Elite Eight and might make Final Four.
No. 4 PURDUE
Record: 27-5
Coach: Matt Painter
Bid: At-large
Star power: Wing E'Twaun Moore has both the scoring (17.0 ppg) and overall game (3.7 rebs, 2.8 assists) to ease the loss of injured Robbie Hummel.
Last 10: 8-2
Reasonable expectation: Boilermakers still have the defense and cohesiveness to reach the Elite Eight but without Hummel it's hard to see them making the Final Four.
No. 5 TEXAS A&M
Record: 23-9
Coach: Mark Turgeon
Bid: At-large
Star power: Donald Sloan scores 18.2 ppg, can hit from outside or drive to the bucket and has the knowledge and experience that comes with being a senior who went to the Sweet 16 as a freshman.
Last 10: 7-3
Reasonable expectation: Aggies have size, experience and a terrific coach in Turgeon. If they can find some reliable outside shooting they could reach Sweet 16.
No. 6 NOTRE DAME
Record: 23-11
Coach: Mike Brey
Bid: At-large
Star power: Husky forward Luke Harangody leads the Irish with 22.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and are-you-kidding-me stares from fans who can't believe a guy who looks like an offensive lineman is one of the best players in the country.
Last 10: 6-4
Reasonable expectation: With six Big East wins in a row before Friday's conference tourney loss to West Virginia, Fighting Irish suddenly look like a possible Sweet 16 team.
No. 7 RICHMOND
Record: 26-8
Coach: Chris Mooney
Bid: At-large
Star power: Guard Kevin Anderson leads the Spiders with 17.9 ppg, 3.5 rebs and 2.6 assists. His 3-pointer with 5.3 seconds left forced overtime at Charlotte, a game Richmond ultimately won to avenge their only home loss.
Last 10: 8-2
Reasonable expectation: Anytime you can reach the A-10 title game you're capable of at least a win or two in the NCAA Tournament.
No. 8 CALIFORNIA
Record: 23-10
Coach: Mike Montgomery
Bid: At-large
Star power: Guard Jerome Randle averages 18.7 points and 4.4 assists and provides the kind of energy that every team needs in March.
Last 10: 8-2
Reasonable expectation: By opening with Louisville and probably facing Duke if they survive the Cards, it's tough to see the Bears lasting past the opening weekend.
No. 9 LOUISVILLE
Record: 20-12
Coach: Rick Pitino
Bid: At-large
Star power: Muscular post player Samardo Samuels averages 15.3 points and seven rebounds for a team that twice knocked off Syracuse in the final month of the season.
Last 10: 6-4
Reasonable expectation: Cardinals could lose tourney opener to Cal or reach the Sweet 16. It depends on whether the team that lost at home to Western Carolina or swept Syracuse shows up.
No. 10 St. Mary’s
Record: 26-5
Coach: Randy Bennett
Bid: West Coast Conference champs
Star power: Senior center Omar Samhan led the WCC in scoring (20.9 points per game) and rebounding (11.0 per game), and junior point guard Mickey McConnell, who was the WCC tournament MVP, averages 13.7 points and 5.3 assists.
Last 10: 8-2
Reasonable expectation: This may be the current version of the former Gonzaga. St. Mary’s crushed Gonzaga in the WCC tournament final, and has strength inside with Samhan. Plus, McConnell is a steady point guard that can flat out shoot it. He leads the nation in 3-point percentage at 51.5 percent.
No. 11 OLD DOMINON
Record: 26-8
Coach: Blaine Taylor
Bid: Colonial champions
Star power: The Monarchs are far from flashy, and leading scorer Gerald Lee posts a rather humble 14.6 points per game for a team that is 288th in scoring.
Last 10: 8-2
Reasonable expectation: Defensively, ODU is as good as anyone in the country, and the 6-10 Lee is a force. Watch out Notre Dame.
No. 12 UTAH STATE
Record: 27-7
Coach: Stew Morrill
Bid: At-large
Star power: Three players led by Tai Wesley score in double figures to ignite a team that started 6-4.
Last 10: 9-1
Reasonable expectation: One of three teams that have 23 or more wins in 11 straight seasons — Kansas and Gonzaga are the others — the Aggies have averaged more than 25 wins per year over that run.
No. 13 SIENA
Record: 27-6
Coach: Fran McCaffrey
Bid: Metro Atlantic champs
Star power: Alex Franklin leads the Saints at 16.3 points per game, and he and Ryan Rossieter each shoot better than 56 percent from the floor.
Last 10: 8-2
Reasonable expectation: Siena has first-round wins over big boys like Vandy and Ohio State in recent tournament trips. This team could repeat that type of run.
No. 14 SAM HOUSTON STATE
Record: 25-7
Coach: Bob Marlin
Bid: Southland champions
Star power: Corey Almond averages 16.7 points per game and is one of four players averaging at least one made 3-pointer per game.
Last 10: 8-2
Reasonable expectation: There are serious defensive concerns, but these Bearkats can score and if they get hot, look out.
No. 15 ROBERT MORRIS
Record: 27-7
Coach: Mike Rice
Bid: Northeast champions
Star power: Karon Abraham can ignite quickly and led the Colonials with a 13.4 scoring average.
Last 10: 7-3
Reasonable expectation: Chants of “Let’s go Bob,” will not last long.
No. 16 ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF
Record: 17-15
Coach: George Ivory
Bid: At-large
Star power: Terrance Calvin leads a balanced attack that has three players scoring between 10 and 11 point per game.
Last 10: 9-1
Reasonable expectation: Hey, they have a shot at one win, right.
No. 16 WINTHROP
Record: 19-13
Coach: Randy Peele
Bid: Big South campions
Star power: Reggie Middleton averages a team-best 10.3 points per game.
Last 10: 7-3
Reasonable expectation: Hey, they have a shot at one win, right.
Click here to vote in our daily poll: Are you going to participate in an NCAA basketball pool?
PDF: Download the NCAA Men’s Division 1 Basketball Championship Bracket
Or login with:
New Account