1. GONZAGA (31-2)
Nickname: Bulldogs
PPG: 77.6 | OPP: 59.4
Post-ing up: It seems like just yesterday Gonzaga was everybody’s favorite Cinderella. Now the Bulldogs, who are third in the nation in field-goal percentage at a hair over 50 percent, are favored to reach their first Final Four.
3 STARS
Jr. F Kelly Olynyk
(17.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG)
Sr. F Elias Harris
(14.9 PPG, 7.4 RPG)
So. G Kevin Pangos
(11.5 PPG, 3.2 APG)
16. SOUTHERN (23-9)
Nickname: Jaguars
PPG: 68.4 | OPP: 58.9
Post-ing up: Two years after finishing in the SWAC basement, the Jaguars made their first NCAA Tournament since 2006. The forward tandem of Malcolm Miller and Derick Beltran is undersized, but effective.
3 STARS
Jr. G Malcolm Miller
(16.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG)
Sr. G Derick Beltran
(16.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG)
Sr. G Jameel Grace
(9.3 PPG, 3.7 APG)
8. PITTSBURGH (24-8)
Nickname: Panthers
PPG: 69.6 | OPP: 55.4
Post-ing up: With a balanced offensive attack, the Panthers have had some impressive wins this season, over Syracuse and at Georgetown. But free-throw and 3-point issues could ultimately separate Pitt from the upper-tier teams.
3 STARS
Sr. G Tray Woodall
(11.8 PPG, 5.2 APG)
Jr. F Talib Zanna
(9.8 PPG, 6.0 RPG)
Jr. F Lamar Patterson
(10.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG)
9. WICHITA STATE (26-8)
Nickname: Shockers
PPG: 69.4 | OPP: 60.7
Post-ing up: Unlike most traditional mid-major powers, the Shockers don’t shoot the ball particularly well from beyond the arc. But they are one of the country’s top rebounding teams and can really defend.
3 STARS
Jr. F Cleanthony Early
(13.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG)
Sr. F Carl Hall
(12.8 PPG, 7.2 RPG)
Sr. G Malcom Armstead
(10.4 PPG, 4.0 APG)
KANSAS CITY (FRIDAY, SUNDAY)
5. WISCONSIN (23-11)
Nickname: Badgers
PPG: 66.2 | OPP: 56.1
Post-ing up: Bo Ryan has the Badgers playing the same game as always, with stingy defense and long possessions. They are one of the best late-game teams around, but probably don’t have enough talent to get past the Sweet 16.
3 STARS
Sr. C Jared Berggren
(11.3 PPG, 6.9 RPG)
Jr. G Ben Brust
(11.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG)
Sr. F Ryan Evans
(10.4 PPG, 7.5 RPG)
12. OLE MISS (26-8)
Nickname: Rebels
PPG: 78.2 | OPP: 68.1
Post-ing up: Considered a possible Final Four dark horse at one point, Ole Miss slumped in the middle of the season, but bounced back to win the SEC Tournament. Marshall Henderson is the SEC’s leading scorer.
3 STARS
Jr. G Marshall Henderson
(20.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG)
Sr. F Murphy Holloway
(14.4 PPG, 9.6 RPG)
Sr. F Reginald Buckner
(9.5 PPG, 7.5 RPG)
4. KANSAS STATE (27-7)
Nickname: Wildcats
PPG: 69.8 | OPP: 60.4
Post-ing up: Point guard Angel Rodriguez and explosive senior Rodney McGruder form an elite backcourt. The Wildcats have been remarkably consistent, compiling a pair of long win streaks.
3 STARS
Sr. G Rodney McGruder
(15.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG)
So. G Angel Rodriguez
(11.7 PPG, 5.3 APG)
Jr. G Shane Southwell
(8.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG)
13. LA SALLE (21-9)
Nickname: Explorers
PPG: 72.4 | OPP: 66.0
Post-ing up: Ramon Galloway does everything for La Salle and he has a pair of capable running mates in guard Tyreek Duren and forward Jerrell Wright, who have led the Explorers to their first tourney since 1992.
3 STARS
Jr. F Cleanthony Early
(13.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG)
Sr. F Carl Hall
(12.8 PPG, 7.2 RPG)
Sr. G Malcom Armstead
(10.4 PPG, 4.0 APG)
13. BOISE STATE (21-10)
Nickname: Broncos
PPG: 73.3 | OPP: 65.0
Post-ing up: In the tournament as an at-large for the first time in program history, the Broncos are dangerous. They have defeated a number of quality foes, such as Creighton, San Diego State and UNLV.
3 STARS
So. F Anthony Drmic
(17.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG)
So. G Derrick Marks
(16.3 PPG, 3.9 APG)
Jr. G Jeff Elorriaga
(10.3 PPG, 3.5 RPG)
DAYTON (FRIDAY, SUNDAY)
2. OHIO STATE (26-7)
Nickname: Buckeyes
PPG: 69.9 | OPP: 58.4
Post-ing up: Ohio State has one of the best defenses in the country. Deshaun Thomas can do just about anything offensively, and the Buckeyes are battle-tested, having beaten Indiana, Michigan and Michigan State.
3 STARS
Jr. F Deshaun Thomas
(19.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG)
Jr. G Lenzelle Smith Jr.
(9.6 PPG, 4.8 RPG)
Jr. G Aaron Craft
(9.9 PPG, 4.7 APG)
1
5. IONA (20-13)
Nickname: Gaels
PPG: 80.7 | OPP: 75.8
Post-ing up: Iona had the third-highest scoring offense in the country. Defense and rebounding are the team’s Achilles heels, but the Gaels are an especially talented mid-major and could pull a first-round upset.
3 STARS
Sr. G Lamont Jones
(23.0 PPG, 3.5 APG)
Jr. G Sean Armand
(16.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG)
So. F David Laury
(13.1 PPG, 10.4 RPG)
7. NOTRE DAME (25-9)
Nickname: Fighting Irish
PPG: 70.4 | OPP: 63.1
Post-ing up: Notre Dame is selfless and efficient, leading the nation in assists and first in assist-to-turnover ratio. The Irish are excellent in close games, going 4-1 in games decided by three or in overtime.
3 STARS
Sr. F Jack Cooley
(13.1 PPG, 10.3 RPG)
Jr. G Jerian Grant
(13.4 PPG, 5.6 APG)
Jr. G Eric Atkins
(11.4 PPG, 5.6 APG)
10. IOWA STATE (22-11)
Nickname: Cyclones
PPG: 79.6 | OPP: 71.2
Post-ing up: Opposing defenses need to run to the 3-point line to shut down Iowa State, which is one of the nation’s top 3-point teams. Korie Lucious, a transfer from Michigan State, creates many of those chances.
3 STARS
Sr. G Will Clyburn
(15.0 PPG, 7.1 RPG)
Sr. G Tyrus McGee
(13.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG)
Sr. G Korie Lucious
(9.9 PPG, 5.7 APG)
SALT LAKE CITY (THURSDAY, SATURDAY)
3. NEW MEXICO (29-5)
Nickname: Lobos
PPG: 67.4 | OPP: 60.4
Post-ing up: Mountain West Player of the Year Kendall Williams is the Lobos’ engine, a dynamic floor general who scored 46 points in a win over Colorado State three weeks ago but is just as adept at distributing the ball.
3 STARS
Jr. G Kendall Williams
(13.5 PPG, 5.0 APG)
So. C Alex Kirk
(11.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG)
Jr. G Tony Snell
(12.6 PPG, 2.9 APG)
14. HARVARD (19-9)
Nickname: Crimson
PPG: 68.9 | OPP: 63.9
Post-ing up: Harvard snuck past Princeton on the Ivy League’s final weekend to make its second straight NCAA Tournament. The Crimson can keep it close in an early-round game, but lack last year’s firepower and upset potential.
3 STARS
So. F Wesley Saunders
(16.5 PPG, 4.1 RPG)
Fr. G Siyani Chambers
(12.9 PPG, 5.8 APG)
Jr. G Laurent Rivard
(10.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG)
6. ARIZONA (25-7)
Nickname: Wildcats
PPG: 73.3 | OPP: 63.7
Post-ing up: Despite an underwhelming regular season, Arizona remains a Final Four contender. The big weakness is lacking a true floor general — Mark Lyons, a Xavier transfer and natural shooting guard, is there out of necessity.
3 STARS
Sr. G Mark Lyons
(14.8 PPG, 3.0 APG)
Sr. F Solomon Hill
(13.4 PPG, 5.3 RPG)
So. G Nick Johnson
(11.7 PPG, 3.2 APG)
11. BELMONT (26-6)
Nickname: Bruins
PPG: 77.2 | OPP: 64.0
Post-ing up: Upset alert! The Bruins have experience, making their third straight appearance in the Tournament, and shoot nearly 50 percent as a team. Belmont doesn’t even have to get hot to shoot a team out of the building.
3 STARS
Sr. G Ian Clark
(18.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG)
Sr. G Kerron Johnson
(13.7 PPG, 4.8 APG)
Sr. F Trevor Noack
(12.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG)