Conference–Big East
Coach–Lou Carnesecca
Comment–Chris Mullin left, and who really noticed? Junior Walter Berry, who Sunday was named winner of the John Wooden Award, has turned into possibly the best player in the nation. He led the Big East in scoring (23 per game)
and rebounding (11.5). With center Bill Wennington gone, Berry has more room to play his often spectacular inside game. Willie Glass helps Berry off the glass, Ron Rowan eases some of the pressure on Berry with timely outside shooting and junior guard Mark Jackson was among the nation`s leaders in assists with almost 9 a game. That combination was enough to give the Redmen the Big East`s regular-season and postseason titles.
Louisville (26-7)
Conference–Metro
Coach–Denny Crum
Comment–Crum has carefully brought along these Cardinals so they`re peaking at the right time, as evidenced in Sunday`s victory over Memphis State in the Metro Conference tourney final. Fifth-year guard Milt Wagner provides points, leadership, clutch free throws. Billy Thompson (6-7) is fulfilling some of the superhype he generated. Pervis Ellison, a 6-10 freshman, threatens to become a rejection machine. Jeff Hall`s range rips up zones. Crum`s deep bench can be a factor in these playoffs.
North Carolina (26-5)
Conference–Atlantic Coast
Coach–Dean Smith
Comment–A third-place regular-season finish was news on Tobacco Road, the lowest finish for the Tar Heels in two decades. But it wasn`t exactly a poor season for Smith, who completed his 16th consecutive 20-win season. Brad Daugherty remains one the best centers in the nation and Kenny Smith one of the top guards, giving North Carolina the firepower to compete with anyone. Daugherty was second in the ACC in both points and rebounds during the regular season, averaging 20.2 and 8.9, and Smith averaged 11.6 points and 6.4 assists.
Nevada-Las Vegas (31-4)
Conference–Pacific Coast Athletic
Coach–Jerry Tarkanian
Comment–The Runnin` Rebels ran away with the conference championship again and won the PCAA tourney behind 6-2 junior guard Fred Banks, who averaged 19 points and 4 assists in the regular season. Running mate Anthony Jones chipped in 17 per game and 6-8 forward Armond Gilliam scored 15 per game. Junior college transfer Mark Wade distributes the ball, averaging 7 assists.
Maryland (18-13)
Conference–Atlantic Coast
Coach–Charles ”Lefty” Driesell
Comment–This has been a controversial season in College Park, mostly because Driesell demanded not to be called ”Lefty” anymore. He relented when hardly anyone would pay attention to his team. But in 6-8 senior forward Len Bias, the Terps have one of the nation`s best offensive players. Bias led the ACC in scoring with more than 23 points a game, and 6-7 sophomore forward Derrick Lewis became one of the league`s leading rebounders with 7 a game.
Alabama-Birmingham (24-10)
Conference–Sun Belt
Coach–Gene Bartow
Comment–The Blazers lost the conference tournament title by a point after a disappointing third-place regular-season finish. But they boast 6-1 point guard Steve Mitchell, considered a high NBA draft choice. He averaged 17 points and became the league`s all-time assist leader. Forward Jerome Mincy was second in scoring with 14.3 a game and was the league`s No. 2 rebounder with 8.4.
Bradley (31-2)
Conference–Missouri Valley
Coach–Dick Versace
Comment–The Braves played raggedly in their three MVC tournament games and were overwhelmed by Tulsa in the championship game. But point guard Jim Les moves the ball quickly in the transition offense, and brawny center Mike Williams has an excellent scoring touch. Improved rebounding from Williams is needed as well as increased offense from Hersey Hawkins, the other starting guard.
Auburn (19-10)
Conference–Southeastern
Coach–Sonny Smith
Comment–The offense is basic: Get the ball to forward Chuck Person, who will just as soon shoot from outside as take it to the hoop. His 21.5 average ranked second in the conference. The Tigers were the only SEC team to beat Kentucky and won their last seven games in the regular season before a first- round defeat in the SEC tournament.
Arizona (23-8)
Conference–Pac 10
Coach–Lute Olson
Comment–Olson is still playing the deliberate, ball-control style that worked so well for him at Iowa. It paid off with a Pac 10 crown for the Wildcats, who got a big boost from 6-7 forward Sean Elliott, the conference freshman of the year who paced Arizona with a 15.2 scoring average. The smallest Pac 10 starting center, 6-6 John Edgar, stood tall with 7.3 rebounds per game and playmaker Steve Kerr averaged 6.2 points and 4.2 assists. Sophomore Craig McMillan, a quick 6-6, can swing to shut down a high-scoring forward or guard.
Texas-El Paso (27-5)
Conference–Western Athletic
Coach–Don Haskins
Comment–This is the 20th anniversary of the Miners` NCAA championship season. Aiming for a fourth consecutive WAC title, they lost out to Wyoming but won the league`s postseason tournament. UTEP was one of the nation`s top defensive teams: Its` opponents were held to fewer than 60 points per game and were allowed a shooting percentage of a bit more than 40 percent. Center Dave Feitl averaged 16 points and 7 rebounds. Swingman Juden Smith averaged 14 and 5.
Missouri (21-13)
Conference–Big Eight
Coach–Norm Stewart
Comment–The Tigers were the fifth Big Eight team to qualify for the tournament largely because of their difficult schedule. They won the Rainbow Classic in Hawaii, and also played Illinois, North Carolina, Villanova and Virginia. Sophomore swingman Derrick Chievous is the leader of the Tigers.
Pepperdine (25-4)
Conference–West Coast Athletic
Coach–Jim Harrick
Comment–The Waves won their fifth league title in six seasons with a starting five that has been together for 58 consecutive games. It boasts leading scorer Dwayne Polee, a 6-5 guard averaging 15 points and 4 assists;
junior forward Eric White, 15 points per game and 6.5 rebounds; 6-5 guard Grant Gondrezick, 13-point average; and 6-7 forward Anthony Frederick, with 10 rebounds a game. The Waves are a running team that also shoots well, ranking among the nation`s top 20 in field-goal and free-throw percentage.
Northeast Louisiana (20-9)
Conference–Southland
Coach–Mike Vining
Comment–The Indians thought they could be in for a long season when 6-8 center Michael Saulsberry went out for the season in the first game with an Achilles tendon injury. But 6-6 senior forward Bobby Jenkins stepped in and became conference Player of the Year. The Indians play deliberately and try to work the ball to Jenkins, who averaged 20.1 points, tops in the league. They haven`t had a losing season since 1961.
Utah (20-9)
Conference–Western Athletic
Coach–Lynn Archibald
Comment–The Utes feature a member of what may be the nation`s best basketball family, at least starting with the initial ”G”–the Gondrezicks. He`s sophomore Gale, the brother of former NBA player Glen and current Pepperdine star Grant. Utah had personnel troubles this season but came on strong late with guards Manuel Hendrix and Kelvin Upshaw (from Chicago Marshall) combining for 28 points a game. Forward Jerry Stroman heads the offense (18-point average), and freshman center Mitch Smith provides strength underneath.
Drexel (19-11)
Conference–East Coast
Coach–Eddie Burke
Comment–Despite the play of Michael Anderson, his league`s MVP, folks all over the country are saying Drexel doesn`t belong in this field. It doesn`t. But don`t blame Drexel. Blame the system. After all, if Anderson hadn`t scored 21 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in the conference tourney final, Hofstra would have this berth.
Montana State (14-16)
Conference–Big Sky
Coach–Stu Starner
Comment–The only team in the field with a losing record, the Bobcats finished sixth in the regular season but pulled three upsets to win the conference tournament and advance to the NCAAs for the first time since 1967. They are led by 5-11 senior guard Tony Hampton, the Big Sky tournament`s MVP, and 6-4 junior forward Kral Ferch.
