No. 1 seed Kansas
Record: 31-3 overall, 13-3 Big 12 RPI: 7
NCAA bid: automatic NCAA 76-36
Coach: Bill Self
Location: Lawrence, Kan.
Nickname: Jayhawks
Outlook: Can win it all if star players lift their games to another level.
Did you know? Kansas’ 19 straight NCAA Tournament trips is second-longest streak in the nation behind Arizona (24).
Key players: F Darrell Arthur, 13.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg; G Brandon Rush, 12.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.1 apg; G Mario Chalmers, 12.1 ppg, 4.5 apg
First-round game: Portland State, 12:25 p.m. Thursday; Omaha, Neb.

No. 2 Georgetown
Record: 27-5 overall, 15-3 Big East RPI: 8
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA Record: 44-23
Coach John Thompson III
Location: Washington, D.C.
Nickname: Hoyas
Outlook: With big man Roy Hibbert leading the way, a repeat Final Four trip is not out of question for the Hoyas.
Did you know? Georgetown played in the Final Four last year for the first time since 1985.
Key players: C Roy Hibbert, 13.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.3 blocks; G Jonathan Wallace, 10.6 ppg, 2.6 apg; F DaJuan Summers,11.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg
First-round game: UMBC 3 p.m. Friday; Raleigh

No. 3 Wisconsin
Record: 29-4 overall, 16-2 Big Ten RPI: 11
NCAA bid: automatic NCAA Record: 17-12
Coach: Bo Ryan
Location: Madison
Nickname: Badgers
Outlook: Leading the nation in scoring defense (54.3 ppg), the Badgers are not a lot of fun to watch, but they are successful.
Did you know? This is the Badgers’ 10th straight trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Key players: G Trevon Hughes, 11.4 ppg, 2.5 apg: C Brian Butch, 12.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg; F Marcus Landry, 11.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg
First-round game: Cal State-Fullerton, 9:40 p.m. Thursday; Omaha, Neb.

No. 4 Vanderbilt
Record: 26-7 overall, 10-6 Southeastern RPI: 12
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA Record: 9-10
Coach: Kevin Stallings
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Nickname: Commodores
Outlook: Having guided Vandy to the final 16 twice in the past four years, Stallings has a good chance to do it again.
Did you know? Freshman sensation Andrew Oglivy is a native of Australia.
Key players: C Andrew Oglivy, 17.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg; F Shan Foster, SEC player of year, 20.8 ppg; G Alex Gordon, 10.6 ppg, 3.6 apg
First-round game: Siena, 7:20 p.m. Friday; Tampa, Fla.

No. 5 Clemson
Record: 24-9 overall, 10-6 Atlantic Coast RPI: 19
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA Record: 8-7
Coach: Oliver Purnell
Location: Clemson, S.C.
Nickname: Tigers
Outlook: Athletically gifted and filled with 3-point shooters, the Tigers can do some damage if they can hit their free throws.
Did you know? This is the Tigers’ first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998.
Key players: F James Mays, 11.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg; G-F K.C. Rivers, 14.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg; G Cliff Hammonds, 11.7 ppg, 3.9 apg
First-round game: Villanova, 10 p.m. Friday; Tampa, Fla.

No. 6 Southern Cal
Record: 21-11 overall, 11-7 Pacific-10 RPI: 29
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA Record: 11-15
Coach: Tim Floyd
Location: Los Angeles
Nickname: Trojans
Outlook: Any team with a player as gifted as O.J. Mayo will be a tough out, but the Trojans lack focus in close games.
Did you know? Mayo, who first dunked a ball in the seventh grade, recruited himself to USC.
Key players: G O.J. Mayo, 20.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.2 apg; F Davon Jefferson, 12.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg; F Taj Gibson, 11.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg
First-round game: Kansas State, 7:10 p.m. Thursday; Omaha, Neb.

No. 7 Gonzaga
Record: 25-7 overall, 13-1 West Coast RPI: 31
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA Record: 12-10
Coach: Mark Few
Location: Spokane, Wash.
Nickname: Bulldogs
Outlook: Gonzaga was tested with a strong nonconference schedule, but Josh Heytvelt must step up in the tournament.
Did you know? Heytvelt and Theo Davis were suspended the final nine games of last season.
Key players: G Jeremy Pargo, 11.9 ppg, 6.0 apg; G Matt Bouldin, 12.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg; F Josh Heytvelt, 10.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg
First-round game: Davidson, 12:25 p.m. Friday; Raleigh

No. 8 UNLV
Record: 26-7 overall, 12-4 Mountain West RPI: 24
NCAA bid: automatic NCAA Record: 32-14
Coach: Lon Kruger, right
Location: Las Vegas
Nickname: Rebels
Outlook: The Rebels, who have good outside shooters, should have confidence from last year‘s run to the round of 16.
Did you know? Kruger has also guided Kansas State, Florida and Illinois to the round of 16.
Key players: G Wink Adams, 16.7 ppg, 3.1 apg; F Joe Darger, 11.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg; G-F Curtis Terry, 10.9 ppg, 5 apg
First-round game: Kent State, 3 p.m. Thursday; Omaha, Neb.

No. 9 Kent State
Record: 28-6 Mid-American: 13-3 RPI: 21
NCAA bid: automatic NCAA Record: 4-4
Coach: Jim Christian
Location: Kent, Ohio
Nickname: Golden Flashes
Outlook: Any team that underestimates Kent State does so at its own peril. The Golden Flashes will be a tough out.
Did you know? The Golden Flashes have won 20 games or more in 10 straight seasons.
Key players: F Mike Scott, 13.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg; G Al Fisher, 14.0 ppg, 4.1 apg; F Haminn Quaintance, 10.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg
First-round game:UNLV, 3 p.m. Thursday; Omaha, Neb.

No. 10 Davidson
Record: 26-6 overall, 20-0 Southern RPI: 35
NCAA bid: automatic NCAA Record: 5-10
Coach:> Bob McKillop
Location: Davidson
Nickname: Wildcats
Outlook: The backcourt might be the best in the nation, but the big men must step up if the Wildcats are to beat Gonzaga.
Did you know? The Wildcats lost by a combined 10 points to UNC (72-68) and Duke (79-73).
Key players: G Stephen Curry, 25.2 ppg; G Jason Richards, 12.6 ppg, 7.9 apg; F Thomas Sander, 7.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg
First-round game: Gonzaga, 12:25 p.m. Friday; Raleigh

No. 11 Kansas State
Record: 20-11 overall, 10-6 Big 12 RPI: 50
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA Record: 27-26
Coach: Frank Martin
Location: Manhattan, Kan.
Nickname: Wildcats
Outlook: The likely No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft in June, Michael Beasley can only do so much for the Wildcats.
Did you know? Beasley ranks in the top five in rebounding (first) and scoring (third).
Key players: F Michael Beasley, 26.5 ppg, 12.4 rpg; F Bill Walker, 15.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg; G Jacob Pullen, 9.8 ppg, 3.2 apg
First-round game: Southern Cal, 7:10 p.m. Thursday; Omaha, Neb.

No. 12 Villanova
Record: 20-12 overall, 9-9 Big East RPI: 51
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA Record: 42-28
Coach: Jay Wright
Location: Villanova, Pa.
Nickname: Wildcats
Outlook: The Wildcats righted the ship just in time, but they are way too erratic to expect more than one victory.
Did you know? The Wildcats haven’t reached the final 16 in seven of their last 11 NCAA trips.
Key players: G Scottie Reynolds, 15.4 ppg, 3.2 apg; F Dante Cunningham, 10.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg; G Corey Fisher, 9.7 ppg
First-round game: Clemson, 10 p.m. Friday; Tampa, Fla.

No. 13 Siena
Record: 22-10 overall, 13-5 Metro Atlantic Athletic RPI: 66
NCAA bid: automatic NCAA Record: 2-3
Coach: Fran McCaffrey
Location: Loudonville, N.Y.
Nickname: Saints
Outlook: Ranked in the top 30 nationally in steals and 3-point shooting percentage, the Saints aren’t to be taken lightly.
Did you know? Siena upset No. 3 seed Stanford in its first NCAA appearance in 1989.
Key players: G Kenny Hasbrouck, 15.6 ppg, 2.3 apg; G-F Edwin Ubiles, 17.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg; F Alex Franklin. 15.2 ppg, 8.0 rpg
First-round game: Vanderbilt, 7:20 p.m. Friday; Tampa, Fla.

No. 14 Cal St. Fullerton
Record: 24-8 overall, 12-4 Big West RPI: 80
NCAA bid: automatic NCAA Record: 1-2
Coach: Bob Burton
Location: Fullerton, Calif.
Nickname: Titans
Outlook: A soft schedule and a weak league make the Titans hard to figure. On this big a stage, one win would be great.
Did you know? The Titans are making their first NCAA appearance since 1978.
Key players: G Josh Akognon, 19.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg; G Frank Robinson, 16.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg; F Scott Cutley, 14.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg
First-round game: Wisconsin, 9:40 p.m. Thursday; Omaha, Neb.

No. 15 UMBC
Record: 24-8 overall, 13-3 America East RPI: 88
NCAA bid: automatic NCAA Record: 0-0
Coach: Randy Monroe
Location: Baltimore
Nickname: Retrievers
Outlook: Just earning a ticket to the NCAA Tournament is enough for this bunch. A win would be a miracle.
Did you know? The Retrievers’ 24 wins is most in UMBC’s 22 years at the Division I level.
Key players: G Ray Barbosa, 17.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg; G Brian Hodges, 14.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg; F Darryl Proctor, 14.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg
First-round game: Georgetown, 3 p.m. Friday; Raleigh

No. 16 Portland State
Record: 23-9 overall, 14-2 Conference RPI: 90
NCAA bid: automatic NCAA Record: 0-0
Coach: Ken Bone
Location: Portland, Ore.
Nickname: Vikings
Outlook: A David-like Vikings’ NCAA Tournament debut against Kansas is not likely to be a pleasant one.
Did you know? The Vikings’ home arena, the Stott Center, seats just 1,500.
Key players: G Jeremiah Dominguez, 14.3 ppg; G Deonte Huff, 13.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg; C Scott Morrison, 10.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg
First-round game:Kansas, 12:25 p.m. Thursday; Omaha, Neb.

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