Duke
Durham, N.C., 30-4.
Nickname: Blue Devils. Coach: Mike Krzyzewski.
Conference: Atlantic Coast. Bid: ACC champion.
Region: West. Seed: No. 1.
Tournament Record: 94-30, 34 years. Last appearance: 2010.
Scoring: Team (81.1); Nolan Smith 21.3; Kyle Singler 17.1; Seth Curry 9.5.
Rebounds: Team (38.3); Mason Plumlee 8.5; Kyle Singler 6.9; Miles Plumlee 4.8; Nolan Smith 4.6.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (14.4/12.2); Nolan Smith 5.2/3.2; Seth Curry 2.0/1.0.
3-pointers: Team (.375); Seth Curry 61; Kyle Singler 58; Andre Dawkins 59; Nolan Smith 54.
Last Ten: 8-2.
The Skinny: The only thing better than beating North Carolina for the ACC tournament title is winning back-to-back national championships. The Blue Devils will try to do that for the first time since 1991-92, when they won the first of Krzyzewski’s four titles.
Hampton
Hampton, Va., 24-8.
Nickname: Pirates. Coach: Edward Joyner, Jr.
Conference: Mid-Eastern Athletic. Bid: MEAC champion.
Region: West. Seed: No. 16.
Tournament Record: 1-3, 3 years. Last NCAA Appearance: 2006.
Scoring: Team (67.2); Darrion Pellum 17.7; Kwame Morgan 16.5; Charles Funches 10.7.
Rebounds: Team (35.7); Charles Funches 7.8; Danny Agbelese 6.1; Kwame Morgan 4.5; Darrion Pellum 4.3.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (12.0/12.3); Brandon Tunnell 4.4/2.2; Darrion Pellum 2.0/2.8.
3-pointers: Team (.325); Kwame Morgan 99; Darrion Pellum 72.
Last Ten: 7-3.
The Skinny: Tunnell scored 20 points in the MEAC title game against Morgan State, including four free throws in the final 35 seconds. The Pirates are one of the best defensive teams from a mid-major that you’ll find, which means they can hang tough with much more talented schools.
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Michigan
Ann Arbor, 20-13.
Nickname: Wolverines. Coach: Jim Beilein.
Conference: Big Ten. Bid: At large.
Region: West. Seed: No. 8.
Tournament Record: 42-20, 21 years. Last appearance: 2009.
Scoring: Team (66.1); Darius Morris 15.2; Tim Hardaway Jr. 13.9; Jordan Morton 9.2.
Rebounds: Team (32.0); Zack Novak 5.7; Jordan Morgan 5.5.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (13.5/10.1); Darius Morris 6.7/3.0.
3-pointers: Team (.353); Tim Hardaway Jr. 74; Zack Novak 57; Stu Douglass 52; Evan Smotrycz 41.
Last Ten: 7-3.
The Skinny: One of the youngest teams in the country, the Wolverines swept Michigan State during the regular season for the first time in 14 years. Hardaway was voted Big Ten freshman of the week four times over a group that included Ohio State sensation Jared Sullinger.
Tennessee
Knoxville, 19-14.
Nickname: Volunteers. Coach: Bruce Pearl.
Conference: Southeastern. Bid: At large.
Region: West. Seed: No. 9.
Tournament Record: 16-19, 18 years. Last appearance: 2010.
Scoring: Team (70.6); Scotty Hopson 17.4; Tobias Harris 15.2; Cameron Tatum 8.9; Melvin Goins 8.1.
Rebounds: Team (38.0); Brian Williams 7.7; Tobias Harris 7.3.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (13.1/13.2); Melvin Goins 2.8/1.8; Trae Golden 2.2/1.0; Cameron Tatum 2.2/1.6.
3-pointers: Team (.304); Scotty Hopson 52; Cameron Tatum 33.
Last Ten: 4-6.
The Skinny: Has any team experienced a bigger roller coaster? The Vols lost Pearl for eight games this season for violating NCAA rules and misleading investigators, and seesawed between looking great (beating UConn and Pitt) and terrible (losing to Oakland and Charlotte).
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Arizona
Tucson, 27-7.
Nickname: Wildcats. Coach: Sean Miller.
Conference: Pac-10. Bid: At Large.
Region: West. Seed: No. 5.
Tournament Record: 43-27, 28 years. Last NCAA Appearance: 2009.
Scoring: Team (76.5); Derrick Williams 19.1; Lamont Jones 9.6; Kyle Fogg 8.3.
Rebounds: Team (34.6); Derrick Willams 8.1; Solomon Hill 4.4; Jesse Perry 4.4.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (14.7/12.7); Kyle Fogg 2.6/1.4; Lamont Jones 2.4/2.0; Kevin Parrom 2.1/1.2.
3-pointers: Team (.399); Kyle Fogg 46; Jamelle Horne 40; Kevin Parrom 35; Derrick Williams 35; Jordin Mayes 33.
Last Ten: 7-3.
The Skinny: After setting the foundation in his first season, Miller has the Wildcats purring like they were under Lute Olson. Williams was second in the Pac-10 in scoring as a sophomore this season, and led the league by shooting better than 61 percent from the field.
Memphis
Memphis, Tenn., 25-9.
Nickname: Tigers. Coach: Josh Pastner.
Conference: Conference USA. Bid: CUSA champion.
Region: West. Seed: No. 12.
Tournament Record: 32-22, 22 years. Last NCAA Appearance: 2009.
Scoring: Team (72.0); Will Barton 12.3; Joe Jackson 9.9; Tarik Black 9.2; Wesley Witherspoon 9.0.
Rebounds: Team (35.7); Tarik Black 5.2; Will Barton 5.0; Will Coleman 4.3; Wesley Witherspoon 4.3.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (14.6/15.3); Chris Crawford 3.3/2.2; Joe Jackson 3.1/3.2; Will Barton 2.8/2.6.
3-pointers: Team (.327); Chris Crawford 42; Will Barton 39; Antonio Barton 39; Charles Carmouche 34.
Last Ten: 7-3.
The Skinny: After a rough stretch that left the Tigers with the No. 4 seed in the Conference USA tournament, they won three games in three days to punch their NCAA ticket. Joe Jackson made two free throws with 7 seconds left as they rallied past UTEP 67-66 in the title game.
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Texas
Austin, 27-7.
Nickname: Longhorns. Coach: Rick Barnes.
Conference: Big 12. Bid: At large.
Region: West. Seed: No. 4.
Tournament Record: 33-31, 28 years. Last appearance: 2010.
Scoring: Team (74.9); Jordan Hamilton 18.6; Tristan Thompson 13.3; Gary Johnson 11.5; Cory Joseph 10.5; J’Covan Brown 9.8.
Rebounds: Team (40.5); Tristan Thompson 7.8; Jordan Hamilton 7.6; Gary Johnson 7.0.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (13.5/11.6); Cory Joseph 3.0/1.4; Dogus Balbay 2.2/1.0; Jordan Hamilton 2.1/2.1; J’Covan Brown 2.0/1.7.
3-pointers: Team (.377); Jordan Hamilton 87; Cory Joseph 50; J’Covan Brown 44.
Last Ten: 6-4.
The Skinny: The Longhorns rattled off 11 consecutive Big 12 wins earlier this season, among the victims top-20 teams Kansas, Missouri and Texas A&M (twice). Hamilton is a sophomore and Thompson a freshman, and sometimes they play like it. The rest of the time they’re unstoppable.
Oakland, Mich.
Rochester, Mich., 25-9.
Nickname: Golden Grizzlies. Coach: Greg Kampe.
Conference: Summit League. Bid: Summit champion.
Region: West. Seed: No. 13.
Tournament Record: 1-2, 2 years. Last NCAA Appearance: 2010.
Scoring: Team (85.6); Keith Benson 18.0; Reggie Hamilton 17.4; Will Hudson 12.5; Travis Bader 10.5; Larry Wright 9.8.
Rebounds: Team (39.0); Keith Benson 10.1; Will Hudson 7.1; Drew Valentine 5.6.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (16.4/13.7); Reggie Hamilton 5.4/3.7; Larry Wright 3.0/2.0.
3-pointers: Team (.494); Travis Bader 92; Reggie Hamilton 80; Larry Wright 43; Drew Valentine 33.
Last Ten: 9-1.
The Skinny: Oakland has been the class of the Summit League for a while. Hamilton and Benson, the conference Player of the Year, form a dynamic scoring tandem. The Golden Grizzlies made the NCAA tournament last year with defense and rebounding. This year it’s on the offense.
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Cincinnati
Cincinnati, 25-8.
Nickname: Bobcats. Coach: Mick Cronin.
Conference: Big East. Bid: At Large.
Region: West. Seed: No. 6.
Tournament Record: 40-23, 24 years. Last NCAA Appearance: 2005.
Scoring: Team (69.0); Yancey Gates 11.8; Dion Dixon 11.6; Sean Kilpatrick 9.9; Cashmere Wright 8.9.
Rebounds: Team (35.6); Yancey Gates 6.8; Ibrahima Thomas 5.3.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (14.3/11.6); Cashmere Wright 3.8/2.1; Dion Dixon 1.9/1.3.
3-pointers: Team (.339); Dion Dixon 48; Sean Kilpatrick 46; Rashad Bishop 38; Cashmere Wright 31; Larry Davis 30.
Last Ten: 7-3.
The Skinny: The Bearcats have felt disrespected all season, but with a chance to earn some kudos in the Big East tournament, they got whacked by Notre Dame in the most lopsided loss ever in a quarterfinal. Think they’ll come into the NCAA tournament with a chip on their shoulder?
Missouri
Columbus, 23-10.
Nickname: Tigers. Coach: Mike Anderson.
Conference: Big 12. Bid: At large.
Region: West. Seed: No. 11.
Tournament Record: 22-23, 23 years. Last appearance: 2010.
Scoring: Team (81.4); Marcus Denmon 17.1; Laurence Bowers 11.6; Ricardo Ratliffe 10.5; Kim English 10.2; Michael Dixon 10.2.
Rebounds: Team (35.2); Ricardo Ratliffe 6.1; Laurence Bowers 6.1.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (16.5/12.8); Phil Pressey 3.9/2.2; Michael Dixon 3.6/1.8; Kim English 2.0/2.0.
3-pointers: Team (.368); Marcus Denmon 80; Kim English 52; Michael Dixon 37.
Last Ten: 5-5.
The Skinny: The Tigers have only one senior in Justin Safford, and point guard Phil Pressey is just a freshman, but the “40 minutes of hell” style of Missouri means experience and guard play take a backseat to athleticism. And the Tigers have that in spades.
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Connecticut
Storrs, 26-9.
Nickname: Huskies. Coach: Jim Calhoun.
Conference: Big East. Bid: Big East champion.
Region: West. Seed: No. 3.
Tournament Record: 46-28, 29 years. Last NCAA Appearance: 2009.
Scoring: Team (73.4); Kemba Walker 23.5; Jeremy Lamb 10.3; Alex Oriakhi 10.0; Shabazz Napier 8.3.
Rebounds: Team (39.6); Alex Oriakhi 8.5; Kemba Walker 5.3; Roscoe Smith 5.1; Jeremy Lamb 4.4.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (13.1/11.7); Kemba Walker 4.3/2.2; Shabazz Napier 3.0/1.9.
3-pointers: Team (.332); Kemba Walker 64; Shabazz Napier 43; Jeremy Lamb 34.
Last Ten: 6-4.
The Skinny: The Huskies are already the darlings of March after their inspired run through the Big East tournament. Walker, passed over for conference player of the year, has been on fire during the postseason. The only question: Did five games in five days leave them any legs?
Bucknell
Lewisburg, Pa., 25-8.
Nickname: Bison. Coach: Dave Paulsen.
Conference: Patriot League. Bid: Patriot champion.
Region: West. Seed: No. 14.
Tournament Record: 2-4, 4 years. Last NCAA Appearance: 2006.
Scoring: Team (70.8); Mike Muscala 14.9; Bryson Johnson 11.7; G.W. Boon 8.8; Darryl Shazier 8.3.
Rebounds: Team (34.1); Mike Muscala 7.4; Joe Willman 4.7; Bryan Cohen 4.0.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (14.7/11.6); Darryl Shazier 5.6/1.5; Bryan Cohen 2.5/2.3.
3-pointers: Team (.402); Bryson Johnson 96; G.W. Boon 40; Darryl Shazier 31.
Last Ten: 10-0.
The Skinny: The giant-killers of the NCAA tournament are back. Bucknell stunned Kansas six years ago in the first round, then knocked off Arkansas the following year. The Bison could make another memorable appearance this year; this is only the second time they’ve won 25 games.
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Temple
Philadelphia, 25-7.
Nickname: Owls. Coach: Fran Dunphy.
Conference: Atlantic 10. Bid: At large.
Region: West. Seed: No. 7.
Tournament Record: 31-28, 28 years. Last appearance: 2010.
Scoring: Team (70.9); Ramone Moore 14.9; Lavoy Allen 11.8; Scootie Randall 11.6; Juan Fernandez 10.7; Khalif Wyatt 10.0.
Rebounds: Team (36.1); Lavoy Allen 8.4; Michael Eric 5.9; Rahlir Jefferson 5.1; Scootie Randall 5.1; Ramone Moore 4.3.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (15.3/10.8); Juan Fernandez 4.1/2.2; Ramone Moore 3.2/2.4; Lavoy Allen 2.2/1.6.
3-pointers: Team (.354); Scootie Randall 45; Khalif Wyatt 45;Juan Fernandez 44; Ramone Moore 39.
Last Ten: 8-2.
The Skinny: Allen broke the school rebounding record held by John Baum for 42 years earlier this season, while Moore had a stretch late in the year when he scored at least 22 points in three straight games. But it’s their defense that has carried the Owls all season.
Penn State
University Park, 19-14.
Nickname: Nittany Lions. Coach: Ed DeChellis.
Conference: Big Ten. Bid: At Large.
Region: West. Seed: No. 10.
Tournament Record: 9-10, 10 years. Last NCAA Appearance: 2001.
Scoring: Team (63.0); Talor Battle 20.1; Jeff Brooks 13.3; David Jackson 9.8.
Rebounds: Team (31.6); Jeff Brooks 6.5; Andrew Jones 5.5; Talor Battle 4.5; David Jackson 4.5.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (12.2/10.6); Tim Frazier 5.0/2.4; Talor Battle 2.9/1.9.
3-pointers: Team (.336); Talor Battle 101; David Jackson 38.
Last Ten: 7-3.
The Skinny: The Nittany Lions were hardly on the bubble a week ago. Heck, they were hardly on the map. But after squeezing by Indiana and then slogging past Wisconsin 36-33 in the Big Ten tournament, Battle and Co. are in position to make some noise in the NCAA tournament.
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San Diego State
San Diego, 32-2.
Nickname: Aztecs. Coach: Steve Fisher.
Conference: Mountain West. Bid: MWC champion.
Region: West. Seed: No. 2.
Tournament Record: 0-6, 6 years. Last appearance: 2010.
Scoring: Team (72.2); Kawhi Leonard 15.4; Malcolm Thomas 11.5; D.J. Gay 11.2; Billy White 9.9.
Rebounds: Team (37.4); Kawhi Leonard 10.7; Malcolm Thomas 8.2.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (13.6/11.1); D.J. Gay 3.2/1.3; Kawhi Leonard 2.5/2.1; Malcolm Thomas 2.3/2.1.
3-pointers: Team (.344); D.J. Gay 67; James Rahon 49; Chase Tapley 34.
Last Ten: 9-1.
The Skinny: Fisher said all along that San Diego State could have a special season, but few people expected this. Leonard averages a double-double, but there are other guys who can make big-time shots. Just ask Gonzaga. The Bulldogs saw Billy White go for 30 against them.
Northern Colorado
Greeley, Colo., 21-10.
Nickname: Bears. Coach: B.J. Hill.
Conference: Big Sky. Bid: Big Sky champion.
Region: West. Seed: No. 15.
Tournament Record: First year. Last appearance: First year.
Scoring: Team (72.2); Devon Beitzel 21.4; Neal Kingman 10.6; Chris Kaba 9.5.
Rebounds: Team (36.0); Taylor Montgomery 5.7; Mike Proctor 5.6; Chris Kaba 4.7; Neal Kingman 4.4.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (11.8/14.4); Elliott Lloyd 3.3/2.8; Devon Beitzel 1.8/2.5.
3-pointers: Team (.387); Devon Beitzel 81; Chris Kaba 46; Elliott Lloyd 43; Neal Kingman 41.
Last Ten: 9-1.
The Skinny: The Bears earned their first NCAA trip just four years after going 4-24. Much of the credit goes to former coach Tad Boyle, who is now turning around Colorado, but Hill has only built on that success. Among the schools’ alumni: Colorado Rockies owner Dick Monfort.
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