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2012 NCAA

REACH 68 TEAMS, 1 GOAL THE SUPERDOME EXPANDED COVERAGE INSIDE Page C2 ● Snyder: NCAA problems on hold for 3 weeks ● Complete tournament ● Bracket by the numbers Page C11 ● Georgetown’s two seniors wary of early ● Turnaround continues for Loyola ● Regional capsules Page C12 ● Patrick Stevens breaks down the field of 68 C2 | SPORTS 2012 NCAA Tournament ଁ MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2012

16 Miss.Valley St. 14 BYU First Round 12 California 16 Lamar March 13-14 16 14 12 16 Western Kentucky Iona Dayton, Ohio South Florida Vermont Second Round Second Round March 15-16 Third Round Third Round March 15-16 March 17-18 Men’s I March 17-18 1 Kentucky Sweet 16 Championship Sweet 16 Syracuse 1 16 Miss.Valley/W.Ky March 22-23 March 22-23 UNC-Asheville 16

8 Iowa St. Elite Eight Kansas St. 8 9 Connecticut March 24-25 March 24-25 Southern Miss 9

5 Wichita St. Vanderbilt 5 12 VCU Harvard 12

4 Wisconsin 4 Final Four Final Four 13 New Mexico St. March 31 March 31 Montana 13 SOUTH EAST 6 UNLV Cincinnati 6 11 Colorado Texas 11 Championship 3 Baylor Game Florida St. 3 14 South Dakota St. St. Bonaventure 14

7 Notre Dame Gonzaga 7 10 Xavier West 10

2 Duke Ohio St. 2 15 Lehigh Loyola (Md) 15 NATIONAL CHAMPION 1 Michigan St. North Carolina 1 16 Long Island Lamar/Vermont 16

8 8 Memphis Creighton 9 Saint Louis Alabama 9

5 New Mexico Temple 5 12 Long Beach St. Cal/South Florida 12

4 Louisville Michigan 4 13 Davidson Ohio 13 WEST MIDWEST 6 Murray St. San Diego St. 6 11 Colorado St. N.C. St. 11

3 Marquette Georgetown 3 14 BYU/Iona Belmont 14

7 Florida Saint Mary’s 7 10 Virginia Purdue 10

2 Missouri Kansas 2 15 Norfolk St. Detroit 15

GOT YOUR NUMBERS Enjoy your bracket; problems can wait 1: Team in the field with a losing record. Western Kentucky was 9-18 when the interim coach tag was removed from Ray he brackets for the Harper’s title. The Hilltoppers then won six straight, including NCAA men’s bas- four in the Sun Belt tourney. Tketball tourna- ment have been filled, 23: Consecutive NCAA tournament appearances for Kansas, meaning we can forget the longest active streak in the country. Duke (17) and Michi- about the regular season gan State (15) have the next longest current streaks. . . . except it seems to be forgotten nowadays way 26-2: Record for Duke coach in NCAA before Selection Sunday. tournament games in the state of North Carolina. The Blue DERON Once the bubbles Devils will open the tournament in Greensboro, where the burst and arguments Blue Devils are 12-0 in NCAA games under Coach K. SNYDER about who did/didn’t get in die down, the 4: Atlantic 10 teams in the field, the most for the conference tournament itself should since it sent four teams to the tournament in 2004. Tourna- be fine. It consistently produces some of ment champ St. Bonaventure joined Temple, Saint Louis and the most drama, excitement and raw emo- Xavier in the field. tion that sports can offer. But while the final destination remains enjoyable, the 2: Pac-12 teams selected for the tournament, the second time road in getting there is a growing concern. in three years the Pac-10/Pac-12 earned so few bids. The last This might be the wrong time to men- time it had happened to the conference before 2010 was tion ’s problems, such as 1988. dwindling attendance, mediocre teams and limited stars. We’re still digesting where 3: Consecutive NCAA tournament appearances for San Diego teams are headed and their potential State, which is back in the field after last year’s trip to the matchups en route to New Orleans. We round of 16. The Aztecs had only five NCAA appearances be- don’t want to hear about “saturation” and fore 2010. “overexposure” right now. At this time of the year, we relish the opportunity to see 13: Years between Detroit’s NCAA tournament appearances. every game. The Titans won the tournament thanks to the Conference continue to McCallums —- Ray Sr. is the coach, and Ray Jr. is a sophomore serve as tasty appetizers, giving us flavor- averaging 15.6 points. ful upsets this season in the SEC, Big East, Big 12 and ACC. The nation’s top four 11.8: Rebounds per game for Kansas’ Thomas Robinson, the teams going in — Kentucky, Syracuse, most of any player in the field. West Virginia’s Kevin Jones and Kansas and North Carolina — were Colorado’s Andre Roberson average 11.1 dumped by Vanderbilt, Cincinnati, Baylor Tar Heels coach Roy Williams wasn’t too happy during his team’s ACC Tournament title game rebounds. and Florida State, respectively. No. 7 Ohio loss to Florida State on Sunday. But it should cheer him up to know North Carolina is one of a State and No. 8 Michigan State engaged in handful of programs capable of playing its way into the NCAA tournament these days. 6: First-year coaches in the NCAA field. Lamar’s Pat Knight, a delightful, back-and-forth tilt for the Big Missouri’s , Murray State’s , N.C. Ten championship, before the Spartans State’s , UNLV’s Dave Rice and Vermont’s John prevailed to earn the final No. 1 seed. round. broadcast still broke into cheers when Becker capped their first seasons with an NCAA bid. But even those tourneys seem to have The only thing the NCAA has done is their names were announced, still demon- lost some luster in recent years. Barely a make a mess of historical references. strated the unbridled exuberance that handful of teams are capable of playing When we say Georgetown hasn’t advanced makes March Madness so special. With their way into the main event, while the to the NCAA’s second round since 2007, CBS and Turner gearing up to broadcast ASSOCIATED PRESS power-conference heavyweights lose little that obscures the fact that the Hoyas lost every game for the second consecutive Lamar's Pat Knight, ground in defeat, as evidenced by Ken- their first game (in the so-called “second year, the feast is almost upon us. son of the legendary tucky, Syracuse and North Carolina earn- round”) last year against Virginia Com- We should enjoy it. Forget about the , is one of ing No. 1 seeds. monwealth University. regular-season problems for awhile. a handful of first-year The main question in most mid-major This year’s VCU is Iona, a school most But continues to be a coaches in this year's conferences is whether the regular-season bracketologists had on the outside. Say jackhammer in basketball, chipping Syra- tournament. champ wins the automatic bid and thereby what you will about VCU’s stirring run to cuse off the Big East and Missouri off the keeps an interloper from knocking out a the Final Four last season, but expanding Big 12. Many star basketball players con- deserving at-large candidate. And arguing the field to 68 teams has helped water tinue to stay on campus for the bare mini- which of a few mid-major leagues might down the regular season that much more. mum, increasing the disconnect with fans. merit multiple bids always makes for a The bloated brackets last year resulted in The season’s early months continue to good debate, as does which schools should the most 11-loss teams, 13-loss teams and fight for relevancy, which will be near-im- be forced to play-in to the 64-team field. 14-loss teams ever; there were five teams possible if, God forbid, the NCAA tourna- Speaking of the “First Four” nonsense, in the latter category, one fewer than the ment expands further. the NCAA should stop making us out for total since 1985. The next three weeks promise to be as fools. Calling those initial games the “first Again, none of this should have much entertaining as ever. We’ll worry about the round” is ludicrous, considering that 60 effect once the games get under way. The four months leading up to them at a later teams don’t open play until the next teams shown during CBS’s selection date. MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2012 2012 NCAA Tournament SPORTS | C11

GEORGETOWN LOYOLA Two seniors wary of upset Tournament trip defines turnaround under Patsos Clark and Sims BY PATRICK STEVENS pion and a Final Four team a year ago, are familiar with THE TIMES earned a No. 12 seed in the South bracket and was shipped to Portland, March sadness BALTIMORE | As the crowd at Reitz Ore. The Rams (28-6) will face fifth- Arena cheered when Loyola pre- seeded Wichita State, which won the BY NATHAN FENNO dictably popped up on a big screen Missouri Valley regular-season title, on THE WASHINGTON TIMES during the NCAA tournament selection Thursday. show Sunday, coach Jimmy Patsos got Back at Loyola, the selection show Minutes slipped away without men- to work. was the culmination of perhaps the tion of Georgetown on the sprawling He quickly scribbled a small chart. most satisfying week of Patsos’ tenure. television blaring the NCAA tourna- In one box was his Greyhounds’ meet- He inherited a 1-27 team after a long ment selection show inside the Leo ing with Ohio State. In the other was the stint as an assistant at Maryland and set O’Donovan Dining Hall. So, Jason matchup between Gonzaga and West about to rebuild a program in tatters. Clark leaned over to Henry Sims. Virginia. It took eight years, but the Grey- “What if we didn’t get in?” Clark That’s the only concern for the hounds clinched their berth with a 48- whispered. Metro Atlantic champions, the lone 44 victory over Fairfield in the MAAC The Georgetown senior was joking, team from the state of Maryland to title game. Then came a whirlwind of course. earn a place in the field. week as the reality of hitting the big Then came the news Clark, Sims “It’s genius,” said Patsos, who said time set in. and the rest of Georgetown’s basketball broadcaster told him earlier “It’s been crazy,” junior guard Robert team waited for Sunday night: The this season it was the approach Duke Olson said. “I’ve been trying to be a lit- Hoyas will face Belmont as a No. 3 seed coach Mike Krzyzewski takes to the tle subdued, because we’ve had four or Friday in Columbus, Ohio. If George- tournament. five days off and we got so excited town advances, it gets the winner of “Krzyzewski says to the players ‘This Monday when we won, we’ve just been the San Diego State-North Carolina is all you have to worry about. The most trying to calm down and focus on prac- State contest Sunday. things we can control in the next week ticing and getting ready for whoever we Before the announcement, Clark are beating Ohio State and playing the were going to play. Tonight was crazy. warned Sims not to ask coach John winner of West Virginia-Gonzaga.” I was nervous at every selection. When Thompson III where the team was ASSOCIATED PRESS That’s easier said than done for the we finally got introduced, I didn’t know headed. Thanks to a mysterious source Georgetown sophomore Markel Starks, going to the basket against Marquette, is Greyhounds (24-8), who were a No. 15 what to think.” last year, Thompson tipped off seniors one of 10 underclassmen on the Hoyas’ roster. seed in their only previous appearance Now, the Greyhounds can move Austin Freeman and Chris Wright they in the tournament. Loyola will face the along to preparing for their subregional. would play in long before the second-seeded Buckeyes (27-7) on Loyola already is familiar with elite tal- information was public. game there, suffering upsets to Ohio in ence next season. Thompson has at Thursday in Pittsburgh. ent, having played at Kentucky earlier But the biggest drama Sunday was 2010 and Virginia Commonwealth least two game tapes of Belmont (the Elsewhere in the region: this season. And landing a game within not if Georgetown would get in, as University in 2011. coach suspects there may be more) ● Virginia landed in the field for the driving distance is a boon for a school Clark quipped, but how losing two of This is their last chance. and noted the team’s complex offense first time in three seasons under coach that’s gradually fostered more excite- its last three games would affect the “That doesn’t leave your mind at with plenty of movement that leaves Tony Bennett. The Cavaliers (22-9) ment for its basketball program under seed. Thompson thought his seed all,” Clark said. “This team is a lot hun- defenders in awkward positions. were beset by injuries down the stretch, Patsos. could range from No. 3 to No. 6. grier than the team in the past.” Belmont opened the season with a yet they still collected a No. 10 seed, and As for Ohio State and star When the student-led cheers qui- In a preseason poll, Big East one- loss to Duke. will face Florida in Omaha, Neb., on Fri- , he’s a big part of Loy- eted, the live television shot from CBS coaches picked Georgetown (22-8 Sims, still smarting from Thurs- day. ola’s narrow concentration, though clicked off, top recruit overall, 13-7 conference) to finish 10th day’s double-overtime loss to Cincin- ● Joining the Cavaliers in the West the Greyhounds don’t plan to be intim- and his flattop haircut departed and the in the league. nati in the Big East tournament, sim- Regional is Mid-Eastern Athletic champ idated. free hot dogs and hamburgers disap- But behind a talented group of ply was relieved to hear Georgetown’s Norfolk State (25-9), which earned the “I just see him as another player,” peared, serious looks occupied the freshmen and the much-improved name called. No. 15 seed. The Spartans, who are said senior Shane Walker, who began faces of Sims and Clark. Sims, the Hoyas are ranked No. 13 in “It was a little nerve-wracking even making their first NCAA appearance, his career at Maryland. “You can’t go On a team with 10 freshmen and the country. though you know you’re in,” Sims said. will face second-seeded Missouri on into a game scared. We’re going in to try sophomores, they understand the Belmont (26-7, 19-2) won the At- “You just want to hear your name Friday. to play and try and win the game. Every heartache the NCAA tournament can lantic Sun Conference tournament and called and get it over with. . . . It was ● Virginia Commonwealth, the game we play, we try to win the game. bring. The two seniors haven’t won a will move to the Ohio Valley Confer- like a burden off our shoulders.” Colonial Athletic Association cham- This is no different for us.”

GEORGETOWN VIRGINIA VIRGINIA LOYOLA NORFOLK STATE Record: 23-8, 12-6 COMMONWEALTH Record: 22-9, 9-7 Record: 24-8, 13-5 Record: 25-9, 13-3 Coach: John Record: 28-6, 15-3 Coach: Tony Bennett Coach: Jimmy Coach: Anthony Thompson III (183- (53-40, third Patsos (122-122, Evans (77-81, fifth 81, eighth season; Coach: Shaka season; 122-73 in eighth season) season) 251-123 in 11 Smart (83-27, third six seasons overall) Conference: Metro Conference: Mid- seasons overall) season) Conference: Atlantic Coast (at-large) Atlantic (automatic bid) Eastern Athletic (automatic bid) Conference: Big Conference: Colonial (automatic bid) Last NCAA appearance: 2007 (round Last NCAA appearance: 1994 (first Last NCAA appearance: None East (at-large) of 32) round) Last NCAA appearance: 2011 (Final Starters Pos. Yr. Pts. Last NCAA appearance: 2011 (round Starters Pos. Yr. Pts. Starters Pos. Yr. Pts. of 64) Four) Pendarvis Williams G So. 11.8 Jontel Evans G Jr. 7.3 R.J. Williams G Fr. 4.0 Starters Pos. Yr. Pts. Starters Pos. Yr. Pts. Chris McEachin G Sr. 12.8 Sammy Zeglinski G Sr. 8.7 Dylon Cormier G So. 13.4 Jason Clark G Sr. 13.9 Darius Theus G Jr. 8.6 Rodney McCauley G Sr. 3.4 G So. 11.5 Robert Olson G Jr. 11.2 G Fr. 9.5 Troy Daniels G Jr. 10.0 Marcos Tamares F Sr. 6.8 F Sr. 18.1 Erik Etherly F Jr. 13.5 Hollis Thompson F Jr. 12.7 Bradford Burgess G Sr. 13.3 Kyle O'Quinn C Sr. 15.9 F So. 4.1 Shane Walker F Sr. 9.1 Nate Lubick F So. 3.5 Juvonte Reddic F So. 10.6 Critical juncture: The Spartans lost Critical juncture: The Cavaliers were Critical juncture: A weekend trip three out of four home games during Henry Sims C Sr. 11.7 D.J. Haley C So. 3.2 15-2 after a 70-38 rout of Georgia Tech in January revealed plenty about the one stretch in January and February, Critical juncture: The Rams split Critical juncture: After a feeble on Jan. 19. But senior center Assane Greyhounds. They rallied from 15 points their first six games, all but one away including an overtime setback to defensive performance in a Jan. 28 Sene was diagnosed with a right ankle down to defeat Fairfield, the sort of from home. They followed it up with Delaware State. They regrouped to win loss at Pittsburgh, the Hoyas held four injury and didn't play again, and Virginia game Loyola wouldn’t have won the six straight double-digit routs before seven in a row, including a 73-70 defeat opponents below 50 points during a 6- previous few years. The Greyhounds Christmas (including a 73-51 thrashing split its final 14 games. Sene wasn't a of Bethune-Cookman in the MEAC title 2 February. That stretch solidified lost two days later at Iona, a setback of Richmond) and kept rolling from statistical dynamo, but left the Hoos game. Georgetown as one of the top teams without a crucial element in their that left them thoroughly unsatisfied. there. Reason for optimism: Size and in the Big East. defense. They would beat Iona at home a month Reason for optimism: Pick one of later and Fairfield again in the MAAC experience. The Spartans have the Reason for optimism: Sims. many. Darius Theus is a more-than- Reason for optimism: Mike Scott. title game. potential to be a difficult matchup with Georgetown's offense runs through the The well-rounded fifth-year senior a lineup whose shortest starter is 6- capable . Briante Weber is Reason for optimism: Depth. Loyola big fella, who blossomed as a senior at was perhaps the ACC's most valuable exceptional at disrupting defenses. Troy can go 10 deep if Patsos is so inclined foot-5. It's an athletic bunch, and it's both ends of the floor. Sims averaged player, carrying the Cavaliers after Sene Daniels is an efficient outside shooter. and usually rotates nine men. The more surprising the Spartans lost three 6.2 rebounds and a team-best 3.5 Bradford Burgess is a mainstay. And and were lost to league games than their conference assists during the regular season and scorer’s table sometimes feels like a after last year’s Final Four run, there’s injury. He scored at least 20 points in revolving door, but the Greyhounds tournament victory. his skill set might be the most difficult probably some belief it could happen five of Virginia's last six games and will aren’t overly dependent upon a single Reason for pessimism: The unknown. facet of preparing for the Hoyas. again. likely do so again in the postseason. player to thrive. How do the Spartans handle the big Reason for pessimism: The absence of Reason for pessimism: Defensive Reason for pessimism: Depth. stage for the first time since they extended winning streaks. Georgetown Reason for pessimism: Outside rebounding. If there’s a nit to pick with Virginia's results in its last three games moved up to Division I in the late hasn't won more than two consecutive shooting. The Greyhounds were a the Rams, it is a defensive-rebounding -- three losses, a two-point win at 1990s? They'll find out soon enough games since mid-January, and its last middle-of-the-pack team in 3-point percentage that ranked ninth in the snakebit Virginia Tech and an overtime percentage in the MAAC, and as a team how much they've grown since suffering three-game run featured victories over CAA. Of course, VCU helps offset that victory at Maryland -- do not suggest a they’ve made exactly five per game. St. John's, DePaul and Rutgers. A losses to Marquette (twice) and Virginia by easily leading the conference in team capable of surviving the first Robert Olson is an effective gunner, but memorable run requires ending that Tech early in the season. steals and margin. Make no weekend of the tournament. he’s the only Loyola player averaging pattern. mistake: The Rams are dangerous. more than one 3-pointer an outing. Wild card: O'Quinn. The 6-foot-10 Wild card: Style. Ultimately, the Wild card: Greg Whittington. The Wild card: Daniels. The junior helped fill senior is a more-than-credible big man, Cavaliers' preferred way to play means Wild card: Reserves Justin Drummond freshman has demonstrated a knack out the rotation in his first two seasons averaging 10.4 rebounds and 2.7 they'll have a chance against nearly and Anthony Winbush. Both are D.C.- blocks. Should he establish himself for scoring at opportune times this and started the opening two games area products (Drummond attended season, which comes as no surprise this year but generally was a reserve everyone. Virginia has suffered seven inside, Norfolk would at least have a of its nine losses by three points or Riverdale Baptist in Maryland, and plausible chance of making things to those who followed his high school for most of the year. He’s started the Winbush played at Alexandria’s T.C. career. His defense, though, is better past 15 games, reaching double figures less, and that includes games against interesting for a while. Florida State (twice), Duke and North Williams High) who provide a jolt on than expected, and he can provide help in 10 and hit a 3-pointer in all but one. The draw: The Spartans avoided the Carolina. offense and defense, respectively. at both ends of the floor in a pinch. If he gets hot, VCU’s tough to stop When both play well, Loyola’s tough to fate of being a No. 16 seed. Instead, The draw: Despite dropping two of its The draw: The Rams earned a No. 12 The draw: The Cavaliers’ five-year stop. they get a one-way ticket to the Midwest tournament drought ended despite a final three games, Georgetown held on seed and get rewarded with a mid-major The draw: The Greyhounds draw Ohio to take on a Missouri team less than harrowing end to the regular season. for a No. 3 seed in the Midwest regional. showdown against fifth-seeded Wichita State in Pittsburgh. Loyola earned the pleased about not being a No. 1 seed. The Hoyas will open against Belmont, State in Portland, Ore. There’s a path Virginia earned a No. 10 seed and will No. 15 seed and will be matched up Norfolk State’s first apperance in the winner of the Atlantic Sun, in a rematch open to the second weekend with fourth- face Florida in its first game, with either against imposing big man Jared Sullinger tournament will begin (and likely end) in of a 2007 first-round matchup won by seeded Indiana playing without guard Missouri or Norfolk State awaiting in and the Buckeyes. Loyola was a No. 15 Omaha, Neb. Georgetown 80-55. Verdell Jones III. the round of 32. seed in its only other appearance. Number of note: 8 Number of note: 0 Number of note: 6 Number of note: 1 Number of note: 39.0 Consecutive NCAA tournament losses Combined NCAA tournament victories Coaches to open their careers with Victory in the last 16 NCAA Offensive rebounding percentage for for MEAC teams since Florida A&M's for Georgetown's roster. The Hoyas 80 wins in their first three seasons: tournaments for the Cavaliers -- a 2007 the Greyhounds. Loyola consistently play-in game win in 2004. The league's have lost to Davidson (2008 second (89), Smart (83), Mark first round defeat of Albany. Virginia has inflicted damage on the offensive glass, last round of 64 victory was Hampton's round), Ohio (2010) and Virginia Fox (81), (81), not advanced to the round of 16 since and it is a trait likely to carry over upset of Iowa State in 2001. Commonwealth (2011) in their last (80) and (80). 1995. reasonably well to the NCAA Projection: No one should expect the three NCAA games. Projection: Who wants to bet against tournament. Projection: There's no reason Virginia Spartans to advance to the weekend, Projection: These Hoyas don't look like the Rams after last year? Anyone? A can't at least win one game, but the Projection: The Greyhounds arrived a but they have a handful of decent wins the sort to suffer a first-round flameout win or two easily could be in the cards Cavaliers' seven-man rotation has not year early, though probably a few years (Drexel, Long Island and TCU) and lost like their two immediate predecessors. after a revamped roster did what last later than Patsos would have liked. Still, exactly thrived in the season's closing their second meeting with Marquette by It is a group that plays well together and year’s bunch couldn’t: win the CAA Loyola is a great story, earning an NCAA two points. Either way, the Spartans smart in general. But they haven't done tournament. Also on tap is even greater weeks. Don't expect multiple victories bid less than a decade after a 1-27 much of note away from Verizon Center interest from bigger programs in the 34- from Bennett's team, but it is a triumph season. A win is unlikely, but a feisty should have as much fun as anyone since the start of 2012, and a stay year-old Smart after demonstrating he simply to have squeezed a tournament outing at Kentucky in December is since it is their NCAA tournament deep into March seems unlikely. wasn’t a three-week wonder. berth out of such a limited roster. evidence Loyola won’t be intimidated. debut. NCAA tournament capsules compiled by The Times’ Patrick Stevens C12 | SPORTS 2012 NCAA Tournament ଁଁ MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2012

The Times’ Patrick Stevens PREGAME PRIMER: breaks down the field of 68 THE POWERFUL With a 6-5 finish to the regular season, the Bears could be a reasonably early out. (12 teams to be wary of) California Florida State Yes, it’s a high-major at-large, but don’t pay at- The [Kentucky] Wildcats With the possible exception of guard Michael tention to that. Instead, just realize the Golden Snaer, this isn’t a team of stars. But heavens, do Bears have no top-50 wins and a losing record away are the prohibitive favorite, the Seminoles defend, just as they have through- from home. There’s also the matter of an exception- out their run as the best team in the ACC outside ally tepid Pac-12. This is a team poised for a rapid even with yet another roster of Duke and North Carolina over the last four departure. years. On a night when Florida State can hit some littered with freshmen. 3-pointers, it will be an immensely difficult out. Florida Remember when the Gators were 19-4 and pre- Of course, when one of the Kansas sumably Kentucky’s best challenger in the SEC? freshmen is Credit to for shrugging off some pre- Well, 10 games and six losses later (including three season concerns and leading the Jayhawks to a 27- setbacks against Kentucky), Florida isn’t a partic- and the rest are exceptionally 6 mark. The Jayhawks have a recent history of odd ularly imposing bunch and unlikely to escape the NCAA losses, but have reached the round of 16 first weekend. skilled, it might not matter. in four of the last five years. Kansas won’t go qui- etly; its only loss by double digits all season was Georgetown a 10-point setback to Kentucky. The Hoyas (and senior center Henry Sims, es- pecially) earn a ton of credit for vastly exceeding Kentucky expectations in what was thought to be a rebuild- The Wildcats are the prohibitive favorite, even ing year. But Georgetown’s inability to string to- with yet another roster littered with freshmen. Of gether more than two wins in a row over the last course, when one of the freshmen is Anthony six weeks is a sign such a streak probably isn’t about Davis and the rest are exceptionally skilled, it to start now. might not matter that much. came excruciatingly close to a title in 2008 with Mem- Indiana phis; he may well get it this year. The Hoosiers beat Kentucky, Michigan, Michi- gan State and Ohio State, all at home. Alas, there Michigan are no NCAA tournament games in Bloomington. Yes, the Wolverines are back among the elite, Toss in a season-ending knee injury to senior earning their highest seed since they were a No. guard Verdell Jones III, and ’s first 3 in 1998. The next step? Reaching the second NCAA appearance at Indiana might not be a long weekend for the first time since one. was still in Ann Arbor. That’s right, Michigan hasn’t made the round of 16 since 1994. John Louisville Beilein and Co. are poised to end that drought. Yeah, yeah, yeah, the Cardinals won the Big East tournament, and that certainly helped propel Con- Michigan State necticut to a national title last season. But this was Bet against and at a remarkably mundane team throughout league your own risk. As usual, the Spartans are tough, play, and Big East tourney MVP Peyton Siva is quite tested and plenty capable of making life miserable inconsistent. It’s a tough team to trust for another for anyone standing in their way. After a first- week. Best senior class: Lamar 14th straight NCAA appearance — they’ve ad- round exit a year ago, there’s little doubt Michi- No one would have suggested this after a Feb. vanced to the second weekend just once in the last gan State is back to its normal self. The Spartans Notre Dame 22 loss at Stephen F. Austin. Coach Pat Knight five years. With a smattering of solid wins to go will go deep, perhaps back to the Final Four for The Irish plummeted back to reality after an in- eviscerated the leadership of his seniors, and with a fairly talented roster, Mark Few could still the third time in four years. credible midseason run, dropping three of five (in- video of it went viral. Six consecutive victories coax a little more out of this year’s bunch. cluding wretched performances against George- later, the Cardinals are in the tournament for the Missouri town and Louisville) to close out the regular first time since 2000. , Harvard It’s been a magical season for senior guard Kim season. Notre Dame hasn’t advanced to the round Hard as it is to believe, Amaker is coaching in English and his teammates, including a Big 12 tour- of 16 since 2003, a streak unlikely to end this year. Best father-son duo: Creighton the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2000. nament title as a going-away present as the Tigers Greg McDermott fled Iowa State for Creighton He also happens to have a loaded Crimson team head into the SEC next year. Missouri entered Southern Mississippi to perform a little career revival two years ago. that survived arguably the most ferociously com- Sunday with an 11-3 mark against the top 50, a solid The RPI is not a perfect metric. Case in point: Guess what helped? Bringing along his son Doug, petitive season ever. Harvard has a shot sign the program’s elusive first Final Four trip is the Golden Eagles. ’s team was who is averaging 23.2 points and shot 61 percent to make some noise in the next week. possible. lodged in the top 20 of the noted selection com- from the floor for the Bluejays, who won the Mis- mittee tool for much of the last two months. But souri Valley tournament. C.J. McCollum, Lehigh Murray State with a 3-4 mini-slide to end the regular season, How the Gatorade Player of the Year in Ohio The Racers lost only once, and their seeding Southern Miss doesn’t look like it is long for the Best team no one is talking about: Memphis ever wound up in the Patriot League is anyone’s had to be one of the more difficult decisions fac- tournament. The Tigers didn’t take advantage of their early- guess. But the 6-foot-3 McCollum has a chance to ing the committee. Nonetheless, there are solid season chances to lock up impressive wins, but no show just what everyone missed out on while wins (Memphis and Saint Mary’s) on Murray UNLV matter. ’s team remains loaded with tal- making his second NCAA appearance. Two years State’s resume, and the Racers are two years re- On the surface, there’s plenty to like about the ent. Memphis has won 11 of 12 and coasted through ago, he dropped 26 on Kansas in a loss. moved from knocking off Vanderbilt in the first Runnin’ Rebels. But dig into their profile, and the Conference USA tournament. Memphis is a se- round. They’ll be interesting to monitor. they’re just 1-6 against the top 100 outside of Vegas. rious round of 16 contender. Marquette As usual, there are no NCAA tournament games Here’s a question: Despite a second-place fin- North Carolina in Sin City. The Rebs might be one-and-done. Best lion in late winter: , UConn ish in the Big East, the presence of the league Player The Tar Heels have the issue of ’s With his many triumphs over health scares and of the Year () and a trip to the second wrist injury, which cost the junior forward time Vanderbilt enemies real and imagined, it seems like Calhoun weekend last season, are the Golden Eagles under- in the ACC tournament. But they also have The Commodores’ last three NCAA appear- is practically indestructible. But trouble looms, with rated? It’s tough to believe, but Marquette is sur- , and Tyler ances ended with first-round exits against double- defections to the NBA and a tournament ban for prisingly overlooked for a protected seed. Zeller, which means they can probably out-talent digit seeds (Siena in 2008, Murray State in 2010 and 2013 on the way. But don’t count out the possibil- opponents for a couple rounds. This team opened Richmond in 2011). Past performance may not in- ity the three-time national champ makes things in- , New Mexico the season with national title expectations; they’re dicate future results, but that’s a startling recent teresting in the next few weeks. Back in 1999, Alford led what was then called still there. trend and it makes Vanderbilt tough to trust. Southwest Missouri State to the regional semifinals. Best mayor: , Iowa State He’s 2-4 in the NCAA tournament since then dur- Ohio State Virginia The Cyclones aren’t a Final Four contender, but ing stops at Iowa and New Mexico, twice losing to The Buckeyes aren’t the overwhelming pick to The Cavaliers have Mike Scott, a not-entirely- Hoiberg deserves praise for getting his alma mater a double-digit seed. After an impressive Mountain go all the way this year, but they’re still plenty ca- healthy Joe Harris and a lockdown defender in Jon- back to the NCAA tournament in only his second West title run, it’s time to see if he can sustain some pable thanks to guard , center Jared tel Evans. They don’t have much depth. Asking any- season. Known as “The Mayor” in Ames during his postseason mojo. Sullinger and plenty of talent throughout the ros- thing more than one win is a bit too much. playing days, Hoiberg cobbled together a roster ter. Ohio State suffered all but one of its losses in that’s beaten both Kansas and Baylor this season. Kyle O’Quinn, Norfolk State the bruising Big Ten, and it might be well-served BEST IN CLASS The Spartans big man has an impressive skill facing teams it usually doesn’t see. Best comeback: , Purdue set and an outsized personality to match it, and it’s (a dozen certain to succeed) After back-to-back ACL tears, Hummel re- not hard to see him making money playing basket- Syracuse turned to lead the Boilermakers in scoring (16.3) ball somewhere around the globe for years to Is this ’s last chance at a second Best point guard: Kendall Marshall, UNC and rebounding (7.1). His injuries probably cost Pur- come. A good showing this week certainly wouldn’t national title? Perhaps. The Orange lost twice all The Tar Heels sophomore wasn’t a first-team due a shot at a Final Four last season, but his pres- hurt, though. season: On the road against traditional home- all-ACC selection, but he just might be the most ence was crucial to this year’s team navigating its court hero Notre Dame, and in the Big East semi- valuable player on a credible national title con- way to the Boilers’ sixth straight NCAA appearance. N.C. State finals to sweet-shooting Cincinnati. Syracuse has tender. Marshall’s ability to analyze the move- The Wolfpack slipped into the field on the had its share of premature flameouts, but this ments of the other nine players on the floor is ex- Best battle-tested low-major: Long Beach St. strength of a decent record away from Raleigh (9- bunch has the goods for a deep run. traordinary, and Carolina will need it to make a took the 49ers to Pittsburgh. And 6) and a credible showing at the ACC tournament Final Four run. San Diego State. And Louisville. And Kansas. And (beat Virginia, pushed North Carolina to the final Temple North Carolina. And to Hawaii, where they faced seconds). Despite an absence of great wins, they Coach finally made it out of the Best freshman: Anthony Davis, Kentucky Xavier and Kansas State. Long Beach won the Big looked like they belonged. It would be nice if they first round for the first time in 17 years last sea- Who else would it be? Davis is the nation’s West and will not be remotely rattled by a big stage. showed they did this week. son. The next step: The Owls’ first round of 16 ap- best freshman, best defensive player and ar- The 49ers should be a chic upset pick. pearance since 2001. Senior guards Ramone guably its best player overall. With 4.6 blocks per Texas Moore and Juan Fernandez (as well as junior game, Davis is certainly the country’s top shot- Best response to a brawl: Cincinnati The Longhorns haven’t beaten a higher-seeded scorer Khalif Wyatt) make Temple an exception- swatter. Enjoy it while it lasts, Big Blue Nation; The Bearcats dramatically improved their seed- team in the NCAA tournament since 2002. ally dangerous commodity. it’s doubtful Davis plays more than six more col- ing with victories over Georgetown and Syracuse Granted, they haven’t had many opportunities, lege games. in the Big East tournament. But remember, this but they’ve seen seven postseason trips end against Wisconsin team was 5-3 when a brawl against Xavier led to the a lower-seeded outfit. They’re not the hunted this The Badgers have won their NCAA opener in Best postgame: Jimmy Patsos, Loyola suspensions of several players. The Bearcats started time, and will need to pull off a surprise to advance. nine of 10 years under coach , and point You never know what sort of direction Patsos’ playing better, winning 19 of 26 to lock up a bid. guard Jordan Taylor is likely help Wisconsin go stream-of-consciousness monologues will take, , Wichita State at least a step further this season. As usual, de- only that they will be memorable, worldly and at PLENTY TO PROVE He has an NCAA tournament upset to his name fense carries the day in Madison; the Badgers gave least somewhat cathartic for the Greyhounds’ en- (2007 when Winthrop knocked off Notre Dame). up 70 points only twice all season and 60 points ergetic eighth-year coach. His pressers before and (teams/players/coaches with a lot on the line) He has an NIT crowd. But a deep run with the just 12 times in 33 games. after Loyola’s round of 64 game will be must-see Shockers will make Marshall an especially coveted TV. Colorado State coaching commodity. Despite a Missouri Valley THE PRETENDERS So, are the Rams simply a team that wins a tournament loss, Wichita State is dangerous. Best nickname: South Dakota State bunch of home games and played the RPI formula (teams to count on an early exit from) There’s no way to top the Jackrabbits in this cat- perfectly? Or can they make a serious impression Tu Holloway, Xavier egory. South Dakota State wasn’t even in Division during their first NCAA appearance since 2003? After last year’s five-point, five-turnover, 1-for- Baylor I a decade ago, but enters its first NCAA tourna- With no top-100 wins outside of Fort Collins, this 8 shooting adventure in a round of 64 loss to Mar- There isn’t an obvious reason to dislike the ment on an eight-game winning streak. Remem- isn’t a bunch that’s earned the benefit of the doubt. quette, the Musketeers star guard could use a lit- Bears, who reached the Big 12 title game last week. ber the name , who can both score tle postseason redemption. He’s off to a good start But with four losses (out of seven) by at least a (21.3 ) and distribute (six assists Gonzaga this month after Xavier’s Atlantic 10 tournament dozen points, it’s clear Baylor can be blown out. per game) As omnipresent as the Zags are — this is their run.