1.
VILLANOVA
REC. 25-4
RPI: 2
AT-LARGE, BIG EAST
Good win: Vs. Connecticut
Bad loss: Vs. Pittsburgh
Using mostly a four-guard lineup, the Wildcats know how to shoot. And while they’re shorter, Villanova has a rebounding edge of about two a game.
TOP PLAYERS
Sr. Randy Foye, 20.2 PPG
Sr. Allan Ray, 19.1 PPG
16.
MONMOUTH
REC. 18-14
RPI: 156
NORTHEAST CHAMPION
TOP PLAYERS
Jr. Dejan Delic, 12.1 PPG
PLAY-IN GAME TUESDAY, DAYTON, OHIO
16.
HAMPTON
REC. 16-15
RPI: 304
MEAC CHAMPION
TOP PLAYERS
Jr. Jaz Cowan, 13.2 PPG
4.
BOSTON COLLEGE
REC. 26-17
RPI: 33
AT-LARGE, ACC
Good win: At N. Carolina
Bad loss: At Virginia
This veteran team plays well because the same five players have played in all 30 regular-season games.
TOP PLAYERS
Sr. Craig Smith, 17.3 PPG
Jr. Jared Dudle, 16.5.PPG
13.
PACIFIC
REC. 24-7
RPI: 101
BIG WEST CHAMPION
Good win: Vs. Texas A&M
Bad loss: Vs. UC Riverside
Pacific has won a first-round game each of the last two tourneys, and Christian Maraker is a versatile 6-foot-9 player from Sweden.
TOP PLAYERS
Sr. Christian Maraker, 17.2 PPG
Sr. Johnny Gray, 14.8 PPG
8.
ARIZONA
REC. 19-12
RPI: 24
AT-LARGE, PAC-10
Good win: Vs. Cal
Bad loss: At Houston
Hassan Adams will be eager to make an impact after missing the Pac-10 Tournament on a suspension.
TOP PLAYERS
Sr. Hassan Adams, 17.3 PPG
Fr. Marcus Williams, 12.8 PPG
9.
WISCONSIN
REC. 19-11
RPI: 17
AT-LARGE, BIG TEN
Good win: Vs. Ohio State
Bad loss: At Wake Forest
The Badgers led the Big Ten in fewest turnovers per game (11.5). They also had a school-record of 370 offensive rebounds.
TOP PLAYERS
Sr. Alando Tucker, 18.9 PPG
Jr. Kammron Taylor, 14.2 PPG
5.
NEVADA
REC. 27-5
RPI: 18
WAC CHAMPION
Good win: At Utah State
Bad loss: At St. Mary’s
Nick Fazekas is not only the big scorer, but a beast on the boards (10.8 rpg). Nevada has won 14 straight games.
TOP PLAYERS
Jr.. Nick Fazekas, 21.8 PPG
So. Marcellus Kemp, 14.4 PPG
12.
MONTANA
REC. 23-6
RPI: 71
BIG SKY CHAMPION
Good win: Vs. Stanford
Bad loss: At Weber St.
The Grizzlies got hot in the conference tournament and knocked off top-seeded Northern Arizona in the championship game.
TOP PLAYERS
So. Andrew Strait, 16.7 PPG
Sr. Kevin Criswell, 16.5 PPG
2.
OHIO STATE
REC. 25-5
RPI: 5
AT-LARGE, BIG TEN
Good win: Vs. Illinois
Bad loss: Vs. Michigan St.
The Buckeyes won with a potent inside-outside offense leading the league in scoring (76.5 ppg).
TOP PLAYERS
Sr. Terence Dial, 15.2 PPG
Sr. Je’Kel Foster, 12.7 PPG
15.
DAVIDSON
REC. 20-10
RPI: 99
SOUTHERN CHAMPION
Good win: Vs. St. Joseph’s
Bad loss: At Wofford
Brendan Winters scored a career-high 33 points in the conference championship game, and Davidson needs him to stay hot.
TOP PLAYERS
Sr. Brendan Winters, 17.2 PPG
Sr. Ian Johnson, 15.7 PPG
3.
FLORIDA
REC. 27-6
RPI: 23
SEC CHAMPION
Good win: At LSU
Bad loss: At South Carolina
The Gators won their first 17 games before a loss at Tennessee in January, but had a three-game losing streak in February.
TOP PLAYERS
So. Joakim Noah, 14 PPG
So. Taurean Green, 13.9 PPG
14.
S. ALABAMA
REC. 24-6
RPI: 73
SUN BELT CHAMPION
Good win: Vs. W. Kentucky
Bad loss: At Denver,
Chey Christie sat out last season after transferring from Clemson, but he was the MVP of the conference tourney.
TOP PLAYERS
Sr. Mario Jointer, 13.5 PPG
Sr. Chey Christie, 9.1 PPG
7.
GEORGETOWN
REC. 21-9
RPI: 41
AT-LARGE, BIG EAST
Good win: Vs. Pittsburgh
Bad loss: At South Florida
Coach John Thompson III is quickly rebuilding the Hoyas into a defensively stifling and offensively aggressive contender.
TOP PLAYERS
So. Jeff Green, 11.9 PPG
Sr. Brandon Bowman, 11.5 PPG
10.
NORTHERN IOWA
REC. 23-9
RPI: 25
AT-LARGE MISSOURI VALLEY
Good win: Vs. S. Illinois
Bad loss: At Indiana State
It’s been an incredible year for the MVC, but UNI lost five of the last seven, including a semifinal loss in the conference tourney.
TOP PLAYERS
Sr. Ben Jacobson, 14.2 PPG
Jr. Grant Stout, 12.1 PPG
6.
OKLAHOMA
REC. 20-8
RPI: 12
AT-LARGE, BIG 12
Good win: Vs. Texas
Bad loss: Vs. Missouri
The Sooners enter with a two-game losing streak after a 24-point loss to Texas and an upset loss to Nebraska.
TOP PLAYERS
Sr. Taj Gray, 14.2 PPG
Jr. Michael Neal, 12.7 PPG
11.
WISCONSIN–MILWAUKEE
REC. 21-8
RPI: 58
HORIZON CHAMPION
Good win: At Montana
Bad loss: At Wright St.
Last year’s tournament darlings proved they’re no fluke under first year coach Rob Jeter, a former Wisconsin assistant.
TOP PLAYERS
Sr. Joah Tucker, 16.4 PPG
Sr. Boo Davis, 16.2 PPG
