No.1 UCLA
Record: 31-3 overall, 16-2 Pacific-10 RPI: 4
NCAA bid: automatic NCAA: 94-34
Coach: Ben Howland
Location: Los Angeles
Nickname: Bruins
Outlook: Freshman sensation Kevin Love gives Bruins inside presence they lacked in last two Final Four losses to eventual champ Florida.
Did you know? Bruins have 11 titles and 16 Final Four trips.
Key players: C Kevin Love, 17.4 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 57.0 FGpct.; G Darren Collison, 14.6 ppg, 4.1 apg; G-F Josh Shipp, 13.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg
First-round game: Mississippi Valley State, 9:55 p.m. Thursday; Anaheim, Calif.

No. 2 Duke
Record: 27-5 overall, 13-3 Atlantic Coast RPI: 6
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA: 85-28
Coach: Mike Krzyzewski
Location: Durham
Nickname: Blue Devils
Outlook: Capable of a Final Four berth, but lack of frontcourt size could be a problem.
Did you know? Devils are only 4-3 in NCAAs since making the 2004 Final Four.
Key players: G-F DeMarcus Nelson, 15.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.1 apg; G Gerald Henderson, 12.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg; F Kyle Singler,13.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg
First-round game: Belmont 7:10 p.m. Thursday; Washington, D.C.

No. 3 Xavier
Record: 27-6 overall, 14-2 Atlantic 10 RPI: 9
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA: 12-18
Coach: Sean Miller
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Nickname: Musketeers
Outlook: Balanced lineup, athletic and tenacious defenders make them capable of another deep run.
Did you know? Xavier was the first Ohio team to win a national title (NIT in 1958).
Key players: F Derrick Brown, 10.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg; F Josh Duncan, 11.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg; G Drew Lavender, 10.8 ppg, 4.4 apg
First-round game: Georgia, 12:20 p.m. Thursday; Washington, D.C.

No. 4 Connecticut
Record: 24-8 overall, 13-5 Big East RPI: 18
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA: 42-26
Coach: Jim Calhoun
Location: Storrs, Conn.
Nickname: Huskies
Outlook: With good guards, deep frontcourt, and Calhoun, they’re an Elite Eight team at the least.
Did you know? UConn has earned 38 of its 42 NCAA wins in Jim Calhoun’s tenure.
Key players: G A.J. Price, 14.7 ppg, 6 apg; F Jeff Adrien, 14.8 ppg, 9.1 rpg; G Jerome Dyson, 12.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg
First-round game: San Diego, 3 p.m. Friday; Tampa, Fla.

No. 5 Drake
Record: 28-4 overall, 15-3 Missouri Valley RPI: 10
NCAA bid: automatic NCAA: 5-3
Coach: Keno Davis
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
Nickname: Bulldogs
Outlook: Disciplined team with excellent shooters, but could have trouble with bigger, athletic opponents.
Did you know? In its three NCAA trips, Bulldogs made regional finals and two Final Fours.
Key players: G Adam Emmenecker, 8.5 ppg, 6.2 apg, 4.6 rpg; G Josh Young, 15.8 ppg, 45.3 pct. 3-pt; G Leonard Houston, 14.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg
First-round game: Western Kentucky, 12:30 p.m. Friday; Tampa, Fla.

No. 6 Purdue
Record: 24-8 overall, 15-3 Big Ten RPI: 44
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA: 28-21
Coach: Matt Painter
Location: West Lafayette, Ind.
Nickname: Boilermakers
Outlook: Two freshmen and two sophomores start, so Boilermakers overachieved greatly in a suspect Big Ten.
Did you know? Boilermakers have won eight straight first-round games dating to 1993.
Key players: G E’Twaun Moore, 12.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg; G Keaton Grant,10.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg; F Robbie Hummel, 11.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 46.5 pct 3-pt
First-round game: Baylor, 2:50 p.m. Thursday; Washington, D.C.

No. 7 West Virginia
Record: 24-10 overall, 11-7 Big East RPI: 30
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA: 18-20
Coach: Bob Huggins
Location: Morgantown, W.Va.
Nickname: Mountaineers
Outlook: Good outside-shooting team, but defense and rebounding are too shaky for a long run.
Did you know? WVU lost the 1959 NCAA final to California despite 28 points by Jerry West.
Key players: F Joe Alexander, 16.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg; G Alex Ruoff, 13.5 ppg, 3.0 apg; G Darris Nichols, 10.9 ppg, 3.2 apg
First-round game: Arizona, 9:40 p.m. Thursday; Washington, D.C.

No. 8 Brigham Young
Record: 27-7 overall, 14-2 Mountain West RPI: 25
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA: 11-25
Coach: Dave Rose
Location: Provo, Utah
Nickname: Cougars
Outlook: Lack of a playmaking guard makes more than one win unlikely.
Did you know? Cougars have lost six straight first-round games.
Key players: F Trent Plaisted, 15.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg; G-F Lee Cummard, 15.8 ppg, 46.4 3pt pct., F Jonathan Tavernari 13.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg
First-round game: Texas A&M, 7:25 p.m. Thursday; Anaheim, Calif.

No. 9 Texas A&M
Record: 24-10 overall, 8-8 Big 12 RPI: 41
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA: 6-9
Coach: Mark Turgeon
Location: College Station, Texas
Nickname: Aggies
Outlook: Mark Turgeon played in a Final Four at Kansas, but A&M staggered to a 4-6 finish and could be a candidate for an early exit.
Did you know? A&M has three NCAA wins in the last two years.
Key players: G-F Josh Carter, 11.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg; F Joseph Jones, 10.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg; G Donald Sloan, 9.4 ppg, 3.4 apg
First-round game: BYU, 7:25 p.m. Thursday; Anaheim, Calif.

No. 10 Arizona
Record: 19-14 overall, 9-9 Pacific 10 RPI: 37
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA: 41-25
Coach: Kevin O’Neill
Location: Tucson, Ariz.
Nickname: Wildcats
Outlook: Nic Price’s return helped Cats extend longest consecutive NCAA streak to 24 years.
Did you know? Kevin O’Neill is filling in for Lute Olson, who took a leave of absence on Nov. 4.
Key players: G Jerryd Bayless, 20.1 ppg, 4.1 apg; F Chase Budinger, 17.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg; F Jordan Hill, 13.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg
First-round game: West Virginia, 9:40 p.m. Thursday; Washington, D.C.

No. 11 Baylor
Record: 21-10 overall, 9-7 Big 12 RPI: 42
NCAA bid: at-large NCAA: 3-6
Coach: Scott Drew
Location: Waco, Texas
Nickname: Bears
Outlook: Drew has rebuilt program since NCAA probation three years ago. But Bears are 5-8 in last six weeks and could be tired.
Did you know? Bears haven’t won an NCAA game since finishing fourth in 1950.
Key players: G Curtis Jerrells, 14.8 ppg, 3.6 apg; F Kevin Rogers, 12.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg; G LaceDarius Dunn, 13.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg
First-round game: Purdue, 2:50 p.m. Thursday; Washington, D.C.

No.12 Western Kentucky
Record: 27-6 overall, 16-2 Sun Belt: RPI: 40
NCAA bid: automatic NCAA: 15-20
Coach: Darrin Horn
Location: Bowling Green, Ky.
Nickname: Hilltoppers
Outlook: Winless in NCAAs since 1995 and didn’t beat any good teams this season. Could have trouble scoring.
Did you know? Final Four appearance in 1971 was vacated because of rules violations.
Key players: G Courtney Lee, 20.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg; G Tyrone Brazelton, 13.3 ppg, 3.6 apg; G A.J. Slaughter, 7.6 ppg
First-round game: Drake, 12:30 p.m. Friday; Tampa, Fla.

No.13 San Diego
Record: 21-13 overall, 11-3 West Coast RPI: 94
NCAA bid: automatic NCAA: 0-3
Coach: Bill Grier
Location: San Diego, Calif.
Nickname: Toreros
Outlook: Lack of scoring punch makes more than one win unlikely for former Gonzaga assistant Bill Grier.
Did you know? Rob Jones is the grandson of Jonestown cult leader Jim Jones.
Key players: F Rob Jones, 8.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg; G Brandon Johnson,16.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.5 apg; F Gyno Pomare, 13.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg
First-round game: Connecticut, 3 p.m. Friday; Tampa, Fla.

No.14 Georgia
Record: 17-16 overall, 4-12 Southeastern RPI: 108
NCAA bid: automatic NCAA: 7-9
Coach: Dennis Felton
Location: Athens, Ga.
Nickname: Bulldogs
Outlook: Improbable SEC tournament run saved Felton’s job and made them an NCAA Cinderella team.
Did you know? Bulldogs became first SEC team to win three games in two days.
Key players: G Sundiata Gaines, 14.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 4.1 apg; G Bill Humphrey, 12.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg; G-F Terrence Woodberry, 10.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg
First-round game: Xavier, 12:20 p.m. Thursday; Washington, D.C.

No.15 Belmont
Record: 25-8 overall, 14-2 Atlantic Sun RPI: 79
NCAA bid: automatic NCAA: 0-2
Coach: Rick Byrd
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Nickname: Bruins
Outlook: Bruins lost to UCLA and Georgetown by a combined 69 points in last two NCAAs, but is hoping to keep it closer.
Did you know? Bruins rank fourth in nation with 10.6 3-pointers made per game.
Key players: G-F Shane Dansby, 13.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg; G Justin Hare, 14.9 ppg, 2.9 apg; F Matthew Dotson, 11.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg
First-round game: Duke, 7:10 p.m. Thursday; Washington, D.C.

No.16 Miss. Valley State
Record: 19-15 overall, 12-6 Southwestern RPI: 224
NCAA bid: automatic NCAA: 0-3
Coach: James Green
Location: Itta Bena, Miss.
Nickname: Delta Devils
Outlook: CollegeRPI.com rated the SWAC as the worst league in the nation. Watching outmanned Valley will tell you why.
Did you know? The Delta Devils were 0-8 and 2-11 before turning their season around.
Key players: F Carl Lucas, 12.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg; C Larry Cox,12.4 ppg, 8.0 rpg First-round game: UCLA, 9:55 p.m. Thursday; Anaheim, Calif.

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