1. INDIANA (27-6)
Nickname: Hoosiers
PPG: 80.0 | OPP: 62.5
Post-ing up: There is no great team in the tournament, but Indiana comes real close. Led by Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo, the Hoosiers have the second-highest scoring offense in the country and solid rebounding.
3 STARS
So. F Cody Zeller
(16.9 PPG, 8.2 RPG)
Jr. G Victor Oladipo
(13.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG)
Sr. F Christian Watford
(12.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG)
16. LIU BROOKLYN (20-13)
Nickname: Blackbirds
PPG: 79.5 | OPP: 76.4
Post-ing up: The NEC champs are making their third straight trip to the Big Dance. They have the fifth-highest scoring offense in the nation, but the defense is suspect.
3 STARS
Sr. F Jamal Olasewere
(18.9 PPG, 8.5 RPG)
Jr. G Jason Brickman
(9.6 PPG, 8.5 APG)
Sr. G C.J. Garner
(16.1 PPG, 4.1 RPG)
16. JAMES MADISON (20-14)
Nickname: Dukes
PPG: 65.2 | OPP: 64.4
Post-ing up: The Dukes are in the Big Dance for the first time in 19 years, a surprise winner of the CAA Tournament. James Madison has a lot of experience, with six seniors, but has little reason to be expecting a monumental upset.
3 STARS
Sr. F Rayshawn Goins
(12.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG)
Sr. G A.J. Davis
(12.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG)
Sr. G Devon Moore
(11.6 PPG, 4.9 APG)
8. N.C. STATE (24-10)
Nickname: Wolfpack
PPG: 77.5 | OPP: 70.1
Post-ing up: N.C. State is one of the country’s most talented teams, and have unbelievable scoring depth, with five players averaging double-digit points. The Wolfpack’s core advanced to last year’s Sweet 16.
3 STARS
Jr. F C.J. Leslie
(14.9 PPG, 7.4 RPG)
Sr. F Richard Howell
(12.7 PPG, 10.7 RPG)
Jr. G Lorenzo Brown
(12.1 PPG, 7.2 APG)
9. TEMPLE (23-9)
Nickname: Owls
PPG: 72.8 | OPP: 68.1
Post-ing up: Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Khalif Wyatt can turn a game with a few flicks of his wrist, but forwards Anthony Lee and Scootie Randall need to be at their best for the Owls to do any damage here.
3 STARS
Sr. G Khalif Wyatt
(19.8 PPG, 4.1 APG)
Sr. G Scootie Randall
(11.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG)
So. F Anthony Lee
(10.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG)
SAN JOSE (THURSDAY, SATURDAY)
5. UNLV (25-9)
Nickname: Rebels
PPG: 71.7 | OPP: 63.0
Post-ing up: Unlike their trips to the NCAA Tournament the last two years, the Rebels have the pieces to make noise this March. Forward Anthony Bennett is one of the top freshmen in the nation.
3 STARS
Fr. F Anthony Bennett
(16.1 PPG, 8.1 RPG)
Sr. G Anthony Marshall
(10.5 PPG, 5.8 APG)
So. F Khem Birch
(7.2 PPG, 2.6 BPG)
12. CALIFORNIA (20-11)
Nickname: Bears
PPG: 67.5 | OPP: 64.4
Post-ing up: Red hot after a seven-game win streak late in the season made it tournament-worthy, California boasts one of the top 1-2 punches in the country in dyanmic forward Allen Crabbe and playmaking guard Justin Cobbs.
3 STARS
Jr. G Allen Crabbe
(18.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG)
Jr. G Justin Cobbs
(15.5 PPG, 4.8 APG)
So. F David Kravish
(8.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG)
4. SYRACUSE (26-9)
Nickname: Orange
PPG: 71.3 | OPP: 60.1
Post-ing up: The Orange slipped after an 18-1 start, but bounced back in the Big East Tournament. Syracuse is skilled, as usual, but hasn’t reached the Final Four since Carmelo Anthony cut down the nets.
3 STARS
Jr. F C.J. Fair
(14.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG)
Sr. F James Southerland
(13.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG)
So. G M. Carter-Williams
(12.0 PPG, 7.7 APG)
AUSTIN (FRIDAY, SUNDAY)
13. MONTANA (25-6)
Nickname: Grizzlies
PPG: 71.2 | OPP: 65.2
Post-ing up: Montana makes its second straight appearance after a dominant run through the Big Sky conference, going 19-1. Though weak on the glass, the Grizzlies are 23rd nationally in field goal percentage, shooting 47.3 percent.
3 STARS
Sr. F Mathias Ward
(14.8 PPG, 3.9 RPG)
Jr. G Kareem Jamar
(14.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG)
So. G Will Cherry
(13.7 PPG, 4.2 APG)
AUSTIN (FRIDAY, SUNDAY)
2. MIAMI (27-6)
Nickname: Hurricanes
PPG: 69.4 | OPP: 59.9
Post-ing up: Miami has showcased one of the best defenses in the nation and busted a slump in the ACC tourney. The Hurricanes ascended to the No. 1 team in the nation last month, and looks to have regained that form.
3 STARS
So. G Shane Larkin
(14.4 PPG, 4.3 APG)
Sr. C Kenny Kadji
(13.5 PPG, 7.1 RPG)
Sr. G Durand Scott
(13.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG)
15. PACIFIC (22-12)
Nickname: Tigers
PPG: 67.6 | OPP: 64.1
Post-ing up: The Tigers have won seven straight games to advance to their first NCAA Tournament since 2006. With only one player averaging double-digit points, Pacific also has no player averaging four rebounds.
3 STARS
Sr. G Lorenzo McCloud
(11.2 PPG, 4.1 APG)
Sr. F Travis Fulton
(9.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG)
Sr. G Sama Taku
(8.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG)
7. ILLINOIS (22-12)
Nickname: Fighting Illini
PPG: 69.1 | OPP: 65.3
Post-ing up: The Illini aren’t much on the glass or from beyond the arc, but they remain of the most intriguing teams to watch. With wins against Gonzaga, Ohio State and Indiana, no foe is safe.
3 STARS
Sr. G Brandon Paul
(16.6 PPG, 4.4 RPG)
Sr. G D.J. Richardson
(12.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG)
So. G Tracy Abrams
(10.6 PPG, 3.3 APG)
10. COLORADO (21-11)
Nickname: Buffaloes
PPG: 68.2 | OPP: 63.8
Post-ing up: Firmly on the bubble entering Selection Sunday, Colorado is hard to figure out. The Buffaloes have a handful of marquee victories and just as many bad losses.
3 STARS
So. G Spencer Dinwiddie
(15.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG)
So. G Askia Booker
(12.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG)
Jr. F Andre Roberson
(10.9 PPG, 11.3 RPG)
3. MARQUETTE (23-8)
Nickname: Golden Eagles
PPG: 69.0 | OPP: 62.7
Post-ing up: Marquette lost its two best players from last season and barely missed a beat. The Golden Eagles have a balanced offense, but have no 3-point threats, attempting less than five per game.
3 STARS
Jr. G Vander Blue
(14.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG)
Sr. G Junior Cadougan
(8.7 PPG, 4.1 APG)
Jr. F Davante Gardner
(11.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG)
14. DAVIDSON (26-7)
Nickname: Wildcats
PPG: 73.7 | OPP: 62.2
Post-ing up: Davidson lacks that superstar — as it had in Stephen Curry in its run to the Elite Eight five years ago — but the Wildcats shoot 3-pointers well and have two-time Southern Conference Player of the Year Jake Cohen.
3 STARS
Sr. F Jake Cohen
(14.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG)
Jr. F De’Mon Brooks
(13.8 PPG, 6.2 RPG)
Sr. G Nick Cochran
(9.8 PPG, 3.4 APG)
6. BUTLER (26-8)
Nickname: Bulldogs
PPG: 69.3 | OPP: 63.8
Post-ing up: Everybody’s Cinderella has an elite scorer in Rotnei Clarke and an effective forward tandem in Andrew Smith and Roosevelt Jones, but there are weaknesses VCU exposed in a recent 32-point rout.
3 STARS
Sr. G Rotnei Clarke
(16.7 PPG, 2.9 RPG)
Sr. G Andrew Smith
(11.1 PPG, 5.7 RPG)
So. F Roosevelt Jones
(10.1 PPG, 5.7 RPG)
11. BUCKNELL (28-5)
Nickname: Bison
PPG: 67.3 | OPP: 57.5
Post-ing up: Bucknell
could be very dangerous. After another dominating the Patriot League, the Bison are one of the best bets to bust a bracket. Big man Mike Muscala can match up with anyone in the power conferences.
3 STARS
Sr. C Mike Muscala
(19.0 PPG, 11.2 RPG)
Jr. G Cameron Ayers
(12.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG)
Sr. G Bryson Johnson
(11.1 PPG, 2.4 APG)