NCAA South Region Capsules
1. Duke
RECORD: 29-4. LAST 10: 9-1
BID: At-large. RPI: 5
BEST WIN: 69-63 over then-No. 2 Virginia.
SCOUTING THE BLUE DEVILS: Making 39th NCAA appearance behind ACC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year Jahlil Okafor (17.7 points, 9.0 rebounds per game).
2. Gonzaga
RECORD: 32-2. LAST 10: 9-1
BID: Automatic. RPI: 8
BEST WIN: 72-56 over No. 22 SMU.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS: Zags making 17th consecutive NCAA appearance, 18th overall, behind junior forward Kyle Wiltjer (16.7 points, 6.0 rebounds per game).
3. Iowa State
RECORD: 25-8. LAST 10: 8-2
BID: Automatic. RPI: 9
BEST WIN: Beat No. 9 Kansas twice, including Big 12 tournament final.
SCOUTING THE CYCLONES: Making 17th NCAA tournament appearance behind junior forward Georges Niang (15.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists per game).
4. Georgetown
RECORD: 21-10. LAST 10: 6-4
BID: At-large. RPI: 25
BEST WIN: 78-58 over then-No. 4 Villanova.
SCOUTING THE HOYAS: Returns to NCAA tournament for fifth time in past six years, 29th appearance overall, behind junior guard D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera (16.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists per game).
5. Utah
RECORD: 24-8. LAST 10: 6-4
BID: At-large. RPI: 20
BEST WIN: 69-68 in OT over then-No. 8 Wichita State.
SCOUTING THE UTES: Returns to NCAA tournament after six-year absence, 28th appearance overall, behind senior guard Delon Wright (14.9 points, 5.3 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 steals per game).
6. Southern Methodist
RECORD: 27-6. LAST 10: 91
BID: Automatic. RPI: 13
BEST WIN: Beat Temple three times.
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS: Making 11th NCAA tournament appearance, first under coach Larry Brown, behind junior guard Nic Moore (14.4 points, 5.3 assists, 2.3 rebounds per game).
7. Iowa
RECORD: 21-11. LAST 10: 7-3
BID: At-large. RPI: 43
BEST WIN: 71-55 over then-No. 17 Maryland.
SCOUTING THE HAWKEYES: Making second consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, 24th overall, behind senior forward Aaron White (16.0 points, 7.5 rebounds per game).
8. San Diego State
RECORD: 26-8. LAST 10: 8-2
BID: At-large. RPI: 26
BEST WIN: 53-49 over then-No. 25 Utah.
SCOUTING THE AZTECS: Making sixth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, 11th overall, behind nation’s No. 2 defense (53.1 points per game), junior guard Winston Shepard (11.1 points, 5.3 rebounds per game).
9. St. John’s
RECORD: 21-11. LAST 10: 7-3
BID: At-large. RPI: 37
BEST WIN: Beat Providence twice.
SCOUTING THE RED STORM: Making first NCAA tournament appearance in four years, 29th overall, behind senior guard D’Angelo Harrison (17.5 points, 5.4 rebounds per game).
10. Davidson
RECORD: 24-7. LAST 10: 9-1.
BID: At-large. RPI: 33.
BEST WIN: 77-60 against Dayton.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS: Sharp-shooting Wildcats have four players who are better than 40 percent from 3-point range.
11. UCLA
RECORD: 20-13. LAST 10: 6-4
BID: At-large. RPI: 49
BEST WIN: 69-59 over then-No. 11 Utah.
SCOUTING THE BRUINS: Making third consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, 47th overall, behind guards Norman Powell (16.4 points, 4.7 rebounds) and Bryce Alford (15.1 points, 5.0 assists per game).
12. Stephen F. Austin
RECORD: 29-4. LAST 10: 9-1
BID: Automatic. RPI: 35
BEST WIN: Beat Sam Houston State three times, including tourney final.
SCOUTING THE LUMBERJACKS: Making second consecutive NCAA appearance, third overall, behind junior guard Thomas Walkup (15.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists per game).
13. Eastern Washington
RECORD: 26-8. LAST 10: 7-3
BID: Automatic. RPI: 78
BEST WIN: 88-86 over Indiana.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES: Returns to NCAA tournament for first time since 2003 behind sophomore guard Tyler Harvey (22.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists per game).
14. Ala.-Birmingham
RECORD: 19-15. LAST 10: 6-4
BID: Automatic. RPI: 132.
BEST WIN: 73-60 against Middle Tennessee
SCOUTING THE BLAZERS: UAB was the surprise winner of the Conference USA tournament and makes its first NCAA appearance since 2011.
15. North Dakota State
RECORD: 23-9. LAST 10: 8-2
BID: Automatic. RPI: 99
BEST WIN: Beat South Dakota State twice.
SCOUTING THE BISON: Making second consecutive NCAA appearance, third overall, behind senior guard Lawrence Alexander (18.9 points, 4.6 rebounds per game).
16. North Florida
RECORD: 23-11. LAST 10: 9-1
BID: Automatic. RPI: 166
BEST WIN: 73-70 over Purdue.
SCOUTING THE OSPREYS: Making first NCAA tournament appearance behind sophomore guard Dallas Moore (15.9 points, 3.6 assists, 3.0 rebounds per game).
16. Robert Morris
RECORD: 19-14. LAST 10: 8-2
BID: Automatic. RPI: 174
BEST WIN: 71-54 over La.-Monroe.
SCOUTING THE COLONIALS: Making first NCAA appearance in five years, eighth overall, behind junior guard Rodney Pryor (15.2 points, 4.7 rebounds per game).
Compiled by correspondent Bill Kiser and The Charlotte Observer staff writer David Scott
This story was originally published March 15, 2015 at 11:44 PM with the headline "NCAA South Region Capsules."