No. 1 seed North Carolina
Record: 33-2 overall, 14-2 Atlantic Coast RPI: 2
NCAA bid: automatic NCAA record: 93-39
Coach: Roy Williams
Location: Chapel Hill
Nickname:Tar Heels
Outlook: Serious talent edge makes a collapse unlikely, though Ty Lawson must shake off lingering ankle injury.
Did you know? Roy Williams has never lost a first-round NCAA game in 17 tries.
Key players: G Wayne Ellington, 16.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg; F Tyler Hansbrough, 23.1 ppg, 10.5 rpg; G Ty Lawson, 12.9 ppg, 5.5 apg
First-round game Play-in winner, 7:10 p.m. Friday; Raleigh

No. 2 Tennessee
Record: 29-4 overall, 14-2 Southeastern RPI: 1
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA record: 11-16
Coach: Bruce Pearl
Location: Knoxville, Tenn.
Nickname: Volunteers
Outlook: Final Four is possible if erratic halfcourt game doesn’t haunt them.
Did you know? Trip to round of 16 last year was closest Vols have come to getting past regional semifinals in 15 NCAA trips.
Key players: G Chris Lofton, 16.1 ppg; F Tyler Smith;13.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg; G Jajuan Smith, 14.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg
First-round game: American, 12:15 p.m. Friday; Birmingham, Ala.

No. 3 Louisville
Record: 24-8 overall, 14-4 Big East RPI: 13
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA record: 54-35
Coach: Rick Pitino
Location: Louisville, Ky.
Nickname: Cardinals
Outlook: Cardinals once again loom as Final Four contenders.
Did you know? Rick Pitino is only coach to take three different schools (Providence, Kentucky and Louisville) to the Final Four.
Key players: F-C David Padgett, 11.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg; F Terrence Williams, 11.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg; G Jerry Smith, 10.5 ppg, 1.7 steals
First-round game: Boise State, 9:40 p.m. Friday; Birmingham, Ala.

No. 4 Washington State
Record: 24-8 overall, 11-7 Pacific-10 RPI: 23
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA record: 4-5
Coach: Tony Bennett
Location: Pullman, Wash
Nickname: Cougars
Outlook: Hard-nosed Cougars (third in nation in scoring defense, 56 ppg) always tough out.
Did you know? Cougars’ win over Oral Roberts in first round last year was WSU’s first NCAA win since 1983.
Key players: G Derrick Low, 14.1 ppg; G Kyle Weaver, 12.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.6 apg; G Taylor Rochestie, 11.0 ppg, 4.6 apg
First-round game:Winthrop, 7:20 p.m. Thursday; Denver

No. 5 Notre Dame
Record: 24-7 overall, 14-4 Big East RPI: 27
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA record: 29-32
Coach: Mike Brey, right
Location: South Bend, Ind.
Nickname: Fighting Irish
Outlook: Has mostly flopped against elite foes so round of 16 is no sure thing.
Did you know? Brey began his coaching career in 1982 as an assistant to Morgan Wooton at DeMatha High in Hyattsville, Md.
Key players: F Luke Harangody, 21 ppg, 10.3 rpg; G Kyle McAlarney, 15 ppg, 3.6 apg; F Rob Kurz, 12.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg
First-round game: George Mason, 9:50 p.m. Thursday; Denver

No. 6 Oklahoma
Record: 22-11 overall, 9-7 Big 12 RPI: 28
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA record: 64-37
Coach: Jeff Capel
Location: Norman, Okla.
Nickname: Sooners
Outlook: Sooners got a nice seed, but could have hands full with St. Joe's in first round.
Did you know? The 6-11 Longar grew up in Sudan before his family emigrated to the U.S. in 1998.
Key players: F Blake Griffin, 15.2 ppg, 9.2 rpg; C Longar Longar, 11.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg; G Tony Crocker, 11.5 ppg, 2.0 apg
First-round game:St. Joseph's, 7:10 p.m. Friday; Birmingham, Ala.

No. 7 Butler
Record: 29-3 overall, 16-2 Horizon League RPI: 17
NCAA bid: automatic NCAA record: 7-7
Coach: Brad Stevens
Location: Indianapolis
Nickname: Bulldogs
Outlook: Could reach the round of 16 again, but no further.
Did you know? Since 2003, the Bulldogs have twice made the round of 16 including last year where they lost to eventual champ.
Key players: G Mike Green, 14.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg; G A.J. Graves 13.3 ppg; F Matt Howard, 12.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg
First-round game: South Alabama, 2:45 p.m. Friday; Birmingham, Ala.

No. 8 Indiana
Record: 25-7 overall, 14-4 Big Ten RPI: 22
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA record: 60-29
Coach: Dan Dakich
Location: Bloomington, Ind.
Nickname: Hoosiers
Outlook: Since losing to Maryland in 2002 NCAA title game, Hoosiers are 3-3 in NCAA play.
Did you know? Eric Gordon and D.J. White combo is one of NCAA field’s best but depth is shaky at best.
Key players: G Eric Gordon, 21.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg; F D.J. White, 17.3 ppg, 10.4 rpg; G Armon Bassett, 11.1 ppg, 3.2 apg
First-round game: Arkansas, 9:40 p.m. Friday; Raleigh

No. 9 Arkansas
Record: 22-11 overall, 9-7 Southeastern RPI: 26
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA record: 39-27
Coach: John Pelphrey
Location: Fayetteville, Ark.
Nickname: Razorbacks
Outlook: Hogs haven’t won an NCAA game Nolan Richardson was coaching them in 1999.
Did you know? John Pelphrey played at Kentucky in Wildcats’ memorable overtime loss to Duke in 1992 East Regional Final.
Key players: G-F Sonny Weems, 14.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg; F Patrick Beverley, 12.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg; F Darian Townes, 11.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg
First-round game: Indiana, 9:40 p.m. Friday; Raleigh

No. 10 South Alabama
Record: 26-6 overall, 16-2 Sun Belt RPI: 38
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA record: 1-6
Coach: Ronnie Arrow
Location: Mobile, Ala.
Nickname: Jaguars
Outlook: Three-guard attack of Bennett, Merritt and Dominic Tilford will keep Jags more than competitive.
Did you know? Jaguars’ only NCAA win was an 86-84 win over Alabama on March 17, 1989.
Key players: G Demetric Bennett, 20.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg; G Daon Merritt, 11.5 ppg, 5.6 apg; F Brandon Davis, 10.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg
First-round game:Butler, 2:45 p.m. Friday; Birmingham, Ala.

No. 11 St. Joseph's
Record: 21-12 overall, 9-7 Atlantic 10 RPI: 45
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA record: 18-22
Coach: Phil Martelli
Location: Philadelphia
Nickname: Hawks
Outlook: It’s likely to be a short run in the NCAA Tournament this year.
Did you know? One of last at-large teams in, Hawks are making their first visit to the tournament since 2004.
Key players: G-F Pat Calathes, 17.8 ppg, 7.7 rpg; F Ahmad Nivins, 14.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg; G Tasheed Carr, 10.9 ppg, 5.8 apg
First-round game:Oklahoma, 7:10 p.m. Friday; Birmingham, Ala.

No. 12 George Mason
Record: 23-10 overall, 12-6 Colonial Athletic Association RPI: 61
NCAA bid: automatic NCAA record: 4-4
Coach: Jim Larranaga
Location: Fairfax, Va.
Nickname: Patriots
Outlook: After Mason’s run to Final Four two years ago, who would sell these Pats short?
Did you know? In a 96-75 win at James Madison Jan. 19, Dre Smith set an NCAA record by making all 10 of his 3-point tries.
Key players: F Folarin Campbell, 15.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg; F Will Thomas,15.8 ppg, 10.5 rpg; G-F John Vaughan, 12.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg
First-round game: Notre Dame, 9:50 p.m. Thursday; Denver

No. 13 Winthrop
Record: 22-11 overall, 10-4 Big South RPI: 107
NCAA bid: automatic NCAA record: 1-7
Coach: Randy Peele
Location: Rock Hill, S.C.
Nickname: Eagles
Outlook: Won first game last season; not this time.
Did you know? Eagles G DeAndre Adams died in a car accident last May 16 and his teammates dedicated their Big South championship to him.
Key players: F Taj McCullough, 11.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg; G Michael Jenkins, 14.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg; G Chris Gaynor, 9.7 ppg, 4.2 apg
First-round game:Washington State, 7:20 p.m. Thursday; Denver

No. 14 Boise State
Record: 25-8 overall, 12-4 Western Athletic RPI: 87
NCAA bid: automatic NCAA record: 0-4
Coach: Greg Graham
Location: Boise, Idaho
Nickname: Broncos
Outlook: Boise State’s talented frontcourt will have its hands full with veteran Louisville in first round.
Did you know? This is the Broncos’ first NCAA trip since 1994.
Key players: F Reggie Larry, 19.6 ppg, 9.3 rpg; F Matt Nelson, 15.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg; F Tyler Tiedeman,14.0 ppg, 3.1 apg
First-round game: Louisville, 9:40 p.m. Friday; Birmingham, Ala.

No. 15 American
Record: 21-11 overall, 10-4 Patriot RPI: 91
NCAA bid: automatic NCAA record: first appearance
Coach: Jeff Jones
Location: Washington
Nickname: Eagles
Outlook: Athletically, they just don’t match up very well with second-seed Tennessee.
Did you know? As a point guard at Virginia, Jeff Jones twice led the ACC in assists and helped the Cavs to Final Four in 1981.
Key players: G Garrison Carr, 18.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg; G Derrick Mercer, 12.5 ppg, 4.1 apg; F Brian Gilmore, 8.7 ppg
First-round game: American, 12:15 p.m. Friday; Birmingham, Ala.

Play-in: 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dayton, Ohio
Mt. St. Mary’s
Record: 18-4 overall, 11-7 Northeast RPI: 159
NCAA Bid: automatic NCAA record: first appearance
Coach: Milan Brown
Location: Emmitsburg, Md.
Nickname: Mountaineers
Key players: F Sam Atupem; G Jeremy Goode
Outlook: Have a chance to win against Coppin State, but no more.
Did you know? Scrappy bunch that plays good defense.
If advances: North Carolina, 7:10 p.m. Friday; Raleigh

Coppin State
Record: 16-20 overall, 7-9 MEAC RPI: 228
NCAA Bid: automatic NCAA record.: 1-3
Coach: Ron "Fang" Mitchell
Location: Baltimore
Nickname: Eagles
Key players: G Tywain McKee; F Antwan Harrison
Outlook: With most losses in field at 20, Eagles will be hard-pressed to beat Mount St. Mary’s.
Did you know? The Eagles are familiar with the RBC Center, having won MEAC Tournament there.
If advances: North Carolina, 7:10 p.m. Friday; Raleigh

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