Atlanta Bracket

No. 1 Duke
Location: Durham, N.C.
Conference: Atlantic Coast.
RPI: 1.
Record: 30-3.
Against tournament field: 11-2.
Away from home: 16-2.
In last 10 games: 8-2.
Impressive victories: Nov. 25, at New York vs. Memphis, 70-67; Dec. 10, at East Rutherford, N.J., vs. Texas, 97-66.
Disturbing losses: Jan. 21, at Georgetown, 87-84; Mar. 1, at Florida State, 79-74.
Top players: Sr., J.J. Redick, G, 27.4 ppg.; Sr., Shelden Williams, F, 18.4 ppg., 10.3 rpg. FINAL
Scouting report: The Blue Devils shoot better tan 50% from the field, best in the ACC, and also led the conference in scoring, field-goal percentage, free-throw percentage and three-point shooting percentage.
Revenue/expenses: $12,394,050/$7,400,772.
Little-known fact: Redick’s 92.1% career mark from the free-throw line is second all-time in NCAA Division I.

No. 2 Texas
Location: Austin.
Conference: Big 12.
RPI: 8.
Record: 27-6. FINAL
Against tournament field: 10-5.
Away from home: 11-5. FINAL
In last 10 games: 7-3. FINAL
Impressive victories: Jan. 2, at Memphis, 69-58; Jan. 14, home vs. Villanova, 58-55; Mar. 5, home vs. Oklahoma, 72-48.
Disturbing losses: Dec. 10, at East Rutherford, N.J. vs. Duke, 97-66; Dec. 17, home vs. Tennessee, 95-78; Feb. 19, at Oklahoma State, 81-60.
Top players: Jr., P.J. Tucker, F, 16.2 ppg, 9.2 rpg; So., LaMarcus Aldridge, C, 15.3 ppg, 9.2 rpg; So., Daniel Gibson, G, 13.9 ppg, 3.1 apg. FINAL
Scouting report: The Longhorns have a very talented starting five, but a striking habit of inconsistency. Though they are 6-3Ö against Top 25 teams with victories over top-five teams Villanova and Memphis, the margins of defeat against Duke and Tennessee are a concern. One key March attribute: a multi-threat offense.
Revenue/expenses: $11,953,231/$5,088,407.
Little-known fact: Tucker -- whose academic ineligibility the second half of last season contributed to Texas being upset by Nevada in the first round -- reportedly had a 3.4 grade-point average last semester.

No. 3 Iowa
Location: Iowa City.
Conference: Big Ten.
RPI: 7.
Record: 25-8.
Against tournament field: 10-5.
Away from home: 8-8.
In last 10 games: 7-3.
Impressive victories: Nov. 21, at Kansas City vs. Kentucky, 67-63; Nov. 30, home vs. North Carolina State, 45-42; Jan. 7, home vs. Illinois, 63-48; Jan. 28, home vs. Ohio State, 67-62.
Disturbing losses: Dec. 6, at Northern Iowa, 67-63 (OT); Dec. 9, at Iowa State, 72-60; Jan. 21, at Michigan State, 85-55; Feb. 8, at Northwestern, 51-48.
Top players: Sr., Greg Brunner, F, 14.1 ppg., 9.2 rpg; Jr., Adam Haluska, G, 13.8 ppg., 4.6 rpg.; Sr., Jeff Horner, G, 12.0 ppg., 4.9 apg.
Scouting report: The Hawkeyes allowed an average of only 58.8 points a game during the regular season and teams shot just 38.3%. Those are the fewest points allowed by an Iowa team since 1984-1985 and the field-goal defense is the best since 1961-62.
Revenue/expenses: $10,535/$4,489,063.
Little-known fact: The Hawkeyes just finished their seventh undefeated home season in history.

No. 4 Louisiana State
Location: Baton Rouge.
Conference: Southeastern.
RPI: 13.
Record: 23-8
Against tournament field: 7-6.
Away from home: 9-6.
In last 10 games: 8-2.
Impressive victories: Nov. 26, at West Virginia, 71-68 (OT); Jan. 14, home vs. Tennessee, 88-74; Feb. 25, home vs. Kentucky, 71-67.
Disturbing losses: Nov. 29, home vs. Houston, 84-83.
Top players: So., Glen Davis, F, 18.5 ppg, 9.9 rpg; Sr., Darrel Mitchell, G, 17.3 ppg, 4.6 apg; Fr., Tyrus Thomas, F, 12.7 ppg, 9.3 rpg.
Scouting report: Davis -- at 6-9, 310 pounds -- was the SEC player of the year, solidifying his selection with a streak of eight consecutive conference games with a double-double. LSU won seven straight before losing to Florida in an SEC semifinal but was without the shot-blocking Thomas, who missed the SEC tournament because of a sprained ankle. Impressive results include a one-point loss at Connecticut and a two-point loss at Ohio State.
Revenue/expenses: $4,570,748/$2,217,358.
Little-known fact: Davis -- nicknamed “Big Baby” -- took a ballet class in high school, and posed for Sports Illustrated wearing his LSU uniform in a dance class.

No. 5 Syracuse
Location: Syracuse, N.Y.
Conference: Big East.
RPI: 17.
Record: 23-11
Against tournament field: 6-9.
Away from home: 9-6
In last 10 games: 6-4.
Impressive victories: Jan. 14, at Cincinnati, 77-58; Feb. 20, home vs. West Virginia, 60-58; Mar. 9, at New York vs. Connecticut, 86-84 (OT).
Disturbing losses: Nov. 27, home vs. Bucknell, 74-69; Mar. 2, at DePaul, 108-69.
Top players: Sr., Gerry McNamara, G, 16.4 ppg., 90.1 FT%.; Jr., Terrence Roberts, F, 10.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg.
Scouting report: The Orangemen shot only 42% in conference play and Coach Jim Boeheim gets only decent production from seven players. McNamara, who was on Syracuse’s national champion three years ago, has struggled with three-point shooting in this, his senior season.
Revenue/expenses: $12,418,446/$5,612,173.
Little-known fact: McNamara is the Big East leader in career three-point field goals with 183.

No. 6 West Virginia
Location: Morgantown.
Conference: Big East.
RPI: 38.
Record: 20-10.
Against tournament field: 7-8.
Away from home: 7-8.
In last 10 games: 4-6.
Impressive victories: Dec. 22, at Oklahoma City vs. Oklahoma, 92-68; Jan. 8, at Villanova, 91-87; Jan. 21, at UCLA, 60-56.
Disturbing losses: Nov. 22, at Kansas City vs. Kentucky, 80-66; Jan. 25, at Marshall, 58-52; Mar. 4, at Cincinnati, 78-75.
Top players: Sr., Kevin Pittsnogle, C, 19.5 ppg., 5.7 rpg.; Sr., Mike Gansey, F, 17.2 ppg., 5.6. rpg. Scouting report: Pittsnogle and Gansey are both shooting better than 40% from three-point range and Coach John Beilein’s Mountaineers run backdoor cuts to perfection so they are hard to defend for teams unfamiliar with the style.
Revenue/expenses: $4,866,720/$3,066,014.
Little-known fact: The Mountaineers take nearly 11 more three-point shots per game than opponents and are 12-4 in games in which they make at least 10 threes.

No. 7 California
Location: Berkeley.
Conference: Pacific 10.
RPI: 52.
Record: 20-10.
Against tournament field: 4-5.
Away from home: 8-6.
In last 10 games: 6-4.
Impressive victories: Dec. 31, at UCLA, 68-61; Jan. 26, home vs. Washington, 71-69; Feb. 16, home vs. Arizona, 75-66.
Disturbing losses: Nov. 18, at Eastern Michigan, 67-65; Jan. 7, home vs. Oregon State, 72-64; Feb. 18, home vs. Arizona State, 65-64 (2OT).
Top players: So., Leon Powe, F, 20.7 ppg., 10.0 rpg.; Jr., Ayinde Ubaka, G, 14.8 ppg., 3.1 apg. Scouting report: Powe and 6-11 DeVon Hardin give the Golden Bears one of the best front lines in the nation, and guards Richard Midgley and Ayinde Ubaka are prolific three-point scorers.
Revenue/expenses: $5,955,824/$3,124,581.
Little-known fact: Cal has suited up all 14 players on the roster only once, Dec. 21 during a 68-65 loss to DePaul.

No. 8 George Washington
Location: Washington, D.C.
Conference: Atlantic 10.
RPI: 37.
Record: 26-2.
Against tournament field: 1-1.
Away from home: 11-2.
In last 10 games: 9-1.
Impressive victories: Dec. 5, at MCI Center in Washington D.C. vs. Maryland, 78-70.
Disturbing losses: Mar. 9, at Cincinnati vs. Temple, 68-53.
Top players: Sr., Pops Mensah-Bonsu, F, 13.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg; Jr., Danilo Pinnock, G , 14.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg., 3.1 apg.
Scouting report: The Colonials were upset victims in the Atlantic 10 tournament, but center Pops Mensah-Bonsu -- who hasn’t played since Feb. 22 because of arthroscopic knee surgery -- is expected back for the NCAA tournament. George Washington rose as high as No. 6 in the national polls, but lost to the only team it played that is currently in the top 25 (North Carolina State).
Revenue/expenses: $2,645,055/$2,368,201.
Little-known fact: Coach Karl Hobbs was a high school teammate of Patrick Ewing at Cambridge Rindge and Latin in Cambridge, Mass.

No. 9 North Carolina Wilmington
Location: Wilmington.
Conference: Colonial Athletic Assn.
RPI: 28.
Record: 25-7.
Against tournament field: 1-2.
Away from home: 13-6.
In last 10 games: 9-1.
Impressive victories: Nov. 14, at Wyoming, 62-59; Jan. 12, at Drexel, 66-60; Jan. 21, home vs. George Mason, 69-63; Mar. 6, at Richmond, Va. vs. Hofstra, 78-67.
Disturbing losses: Nov. 18, at Colorado, 73-54; Jan. 14, home vs. College of Charleston, 81-77; Jan. 14, at Hofstra, 69-62 (3OT).
Top players: Jr., T.J. Carter, G, 13.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg; Sr., John Goldsberry, G, 11.2 ppg, 5.1 apg, 3.8 rpg; Sr., Beckham Wyrick, F, 6.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg. FINAL
Scouting report: The Seahawks rely heavily on the backcourt duo of Carter and Goldsberry, who handle the bulk of the scoring. Under fourth-year Coach Brad Brownell, Wilmington is known for its defense, limiting opponents to 59 points per game.
.Revenue/expenses: $439,964/$904,152.
Little-known fact: Three starters, including Goldsberry and Wyrick, were part of the Seahawks’ 2003 NCAA tournament team that lost to Maryland on a basket at the buzzer.

No. 10 North Carolina State
Location: Raleigh.
Conference: Atlantic Coast.
RPI: 51.
Record: 21-9.
Against tournament field: 3-6.
Away from home: 6-6.
In last 10 games: 5-5.
Impressive victories: Dec. 12, at Alabama, 68-64; Dec. 30, home vs. George Washington, 79-58; Jan. 10, at Boston College, 78-60.
Disturbing losses: Jan. 25, home vs. Seton Hall, 83-65; Mar. 4, at Wake Forest, 76-63.
Top players: Sr., Cameron Bennerman, G/F, 13.9 ppg.; So., Cedric Simmons, C, 11.8 ppg., 6.4 rpg.; So., Engin Atsur, G, 11.4 ppg., 3.6 apg.
Scouting report: The Wolfpack is winning with defense. It led the ACC in nearly every defensive statistical category; Atsur is 10th in the nation in steals.
Revenue/expenses: $11,392,888/$2,438,502.
Little-known fact: Coach Herb Sendek and Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski are the only two active coaches with a winning career record in ACC tournament games.

No. 11 Southern Illinois
Location: Carbondale.
Conference: Missouri Valley.
RPI: 29.
Record: 22-10.
Against tournament field: 7-4.
Away from home: 11-8.
In last 10 games: 6-4.
Impressive victories: Dec. 28., at Murray State, 57-53; Jan. 2, home vs. Wichita State, 58-49; Feb. 7, home vs. Missouri State, 66-64; Mar. 5, at St. Louis vs. Bradley, 59-46.
Disturbing losses: Nov. 25, at Anchorage-Alaska, 72-64; Feb. 1, home vs. Indiana State, 63-54; Feb. 21, at Evansville, 64-59.
Top players: Jr., Jamal Tatum, G, 15.1 ppg; Jr., Tony Young, G, 11.7 ppg.; So., Randal Falker, F, 9.1 ppg., 8 rpg.
Scouting report: Tatum and Young are dangerous from the perimeter but Falker was the MVC tournament MVP after scoring 17 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in the championship game against Bradley.
Revenue/expenses: $1,184,294/$1,283,685.
Little-known fact: Southern Illinois’ nickname is The Salukis. The Saluki is one of the oldest dog breeds known, and originally came from the Middle East.

No. 12 Texas A&M
Location: College Station.
Conference: Big 12.
RPI: 44.
Record: 21-8
Against tournament field: 3-6.
Away from home: 5-6.
In last 10 games: 8-2.
Impressive victories: Mar. 1, home vs. Texas, 46-43; Mar. 10, at Dallas, vs. Colorado, 86-53.
Disturbing losses: Jan. 18, at Kansas State, 58-54.
Top players: Jr., Acie Law, G, 15.9 ppg, 4.0 apg; So., Joseph Jones, F, 15.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg.
Scouting report: Texas A&M is making its first NCAA appearance since 1987 after claiming an at-large bid by winning eight consecutive games -- including a regular-season upset of Texas -- before losing to Texas in a Big 12 tournament semifinal, 74-70. The Aggies’ record was padded by a nonconference schedule that included six teams with RPIs below 200. But their 10 victories in the Big 12 are a school record, and this year marks the first 20-victory season since 1980.
Revenue/expenses: $6,534,211/$4,895,939.
Little-known fact: Texas A&M was 7-21 -- and 0-16 in the Big 12 -- two seasons ago before Billy Gillispie was hired as coach.

No. 13 Iona
Location: New Rochelle, N.Y.
Conference: Metro Atlantic Athletic.
RPI: 64.
Record: 23-7.
Against tournament field: 0-2.
Away from home: 12-3.
In last 10 games: 7-3.
Impressive victories: Nov. 26, at Iowa State, 89-72; Jan. 3, at Fresno State, 70-69; Mar. 4, at Albany, N.Y. vs. St. Peters, 80-69.
Disturbing losses: Dec. 31, at Seton Hall, 73-59; Feb. 23, home vs. Siena, 82-76; Feb. 30, at Manhattan, 78-74.
Top players: Sr., Steve Burtt Jr., G, 25.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.6 apg; Sr., Ricky Soliver, G, 16.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 4.4 apg; Sr., Kiril Wachsmann, F, 11.8ppg, 8.7 rpg. FINAL
Scouting report: Burtt is the second leading scorer in school history, trailing only his father, Burtt Sr. But he’s not the entire story for the Gaels, who get solid contributions from Soliver and Wachsmann. Senior guard Marvin McCullough keeps the team together by doing the little things on both ends of the court.
Revenue/expenses: $64,425/$1,348,159.
Little-known fact: Coach Jeff Ruland is a former NBA player who began his coaching career as an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers.

No. 14 Northwestern State
Location: Natchitoches, La.
Conference: Southland.
RPI: 60.
Record: 25-7.
Against tournament field: 0-3.
Away from home: 11-7.
In last 10 games: 9-1.
Impressive victories: Dec. 5, at Oklahoma State, 68-64; Dec. 21, home vs. Oregon State, 72-61; March 12, home vs. Sam Houston State, 95-87.
Disturbing losses: Dec. 23, at Hawaii, 80-76; Jan.14, at Sam Houston State, 80-73; Feb. 18, at Utah State, 66-63.
Top players: Sr., Clifton Lee, F, 14.2 ppg., 6.4 rpg.; Sr., Jermaine Wallace, G, 9.8 ppg.; Jr., Luke Rogers, G, 9.4 ppg.
Scouting report: The Demons set a school record for most wins in a season and have played every opponent tough. Their worst loss was a 12-point defeat by Texas A&M.
Revenues/expenses: $346,236/$473,853.
Little-known fact: Twenty-five wins is the most since Northwestern State became a Division I team 30 years ago.

No. 15 Pennsylvania
Location: Philadelphia.
Conference: Ivy.
RPI: 98.
Record: 20-8.
Against tournament field: 0-2.
Away from home: 8-4.
In last 10 games: 8-2.
Impressive victories: Nov. 21, home, vs. Siena, 82-77; Jan. 29, at Hawaii, 58-55; Mar. 4, at Brown, 74-68.
Disturbing losses: Jan. 28, home, vs. St. Joseph’s (PA), 47-44; Mar. 7, at Princeton, 60-59.
Top players: Jr., Ibrahim Jabber, G, 18.4 ppg; Jr., Mark Zoller, F, 12.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg; Sr., Eric Osmundson, G, 9.9 ppg.
Scouting report: The Quakers, led by unanimous Ivy League player of the year Jabber, are making their second consecutive tournament appearance. One reason is they know how to take care of the ball. Penn made 374 turnovers this season; their opponents had 505.
Revenue/expenses: $834,385/$714,753.
Little-known fact: The Quakers won their 10th Ivy League title under Coach Fran Dunphy and are making their ninth NCAA tournament appearance during the span.

No. 16 Southern
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Conference: Southwestern Athletic.
RPI: 132.
Record: 18-12.
Against tournament field: 0-5.
Away from home: 9-12.
In last 10 games: 9-1.
Impressive victories: Jan. 2, at Louisiana Tech, 61-52; Jan. 6, home vs. Grambling, 72-57; March 11, at Birmingham, Ala. vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 57-44.
Disturbing losses: Nov. 16, at Sacramento State, 67-64; Dec. 5, at Southeast Louisiana, 65-62; Jan. 16, at Mississippi Valley State, 70-64.
Top players: Sr., Chris Alexander, G, 15.8 ppg.; Jr., Deforrest Riley-Smith, G/F, 10.6 ppg., Sr., Peter Cipriano, F, 9.7 ppg., 8.6 rpg.
Scouting report: The Jaguars won their first conference tournament in 13 years and appear to have benefited from a tough preseason schedule that included losses against Texas, Louisiana State, Texas A&M and Oklahoma.
Revenue/expenses: $349,746/$349,746.
Little-known fact: According to the school’s website, Southern University came into existence on April 10, 1880, “the date on which funds were appropriated by the State of Louisiana for the establishment of an institution of higher learning for African Americans.”