Washington Bracket

No. 1 Connecticut
Location: Storrs.
Conference: Big East.
RPI:: 3.
Record: 27-3.
Against tournament field: 12-3.
Away from home: 11-3.
In last 10 games: 8-2.
Impressive victories: Nov. 23, at Maui vs. Gonzaga, 65-63; Jan. 7, at Hartford, Conn. vs. LSU, 67-66; Feb. 4, at Indiana, 88-80; Feb. 26, home vs. Villanova, 89-75.
Disturbing losses: Jan. 3, at Marquette, 94-79; Mar. 9, at New York vs. Syracuse, 86-84 (OT).
Top players: So., Rudy Gay, F, 15.3 ppg., 6.7 rpg.; Sr., Rashad Anderson, G/F, 13.2 ppg., Jr., Marcus Williams, G, 10.7 ppg., 8.6 apg.
Scouting report: The Huskies have a most impressive collection of long arms, height, speed and strength. Coach Jim Calhoun has withstood criticism over his handling of player suspensions after computer theft incident to coax a some dominant performances out of his team.
Revenue/expenses: $7,896,974/$5,524,998.
Little-known fact: Connecticut owns the most regular-season Big East men’s basketball titles, nine.

No. 2 Tennessee
Location: Knoxville.
Conference: Southeastern.
RPI:: 6.
Record: 21-7.
Against tournament field: 6-5.
Away from home: 8-5.
In last 10 games: 6-4.
Impressive victories: Dec. 17, at Texas, 95-78; Feb. 7, at Kentucky, 75-67; Feb. 22, at Florida, 76-72.
Disturbing losses: Dec. 22, at Oklahoma City vs. Oklahoma State, 89-73; Mar. 10, at Nashville vs. South Carolina, 79-71.
Top players: So., Chris Lofton, G, 17.3 ppg, 45.3% 3-pt.; Sr., C.J. Watson, G, 15.3 ppg, 4.1 apg.
Scouting report: The Volunteers, upset by South Carolina in a quarterfinal of the SEC tournament, lost four of their last six games. Despite that, it has been a strong first season for Coach Bruce Pearl. Hired after taking Wisconsin Milwaukee to the Sweet 16, he has the Volunteers in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2001. Lofton broke Allan Houston’s school record for three-pointers in a game with nine against Georgia.
Revenue/expenses: $5,360,050/$4,503,085.
Little-known fact: Tennessee’s opponents average almost 19 turnovers a game, and the Volunteers have more than 100 more steals than their opponents.

No. 3 North Carolina
Location: Chapel Hill.
Conference: Atlantic Coast.
RPI:: 12.
Record: 22-7.
Against tournament field: 6-4.
Away from home: 9-3.
In last 10 games: 8-2.
Impressive victories: Dec. 3, at Kentucky, 83-79; Jan. 30, home vs. Arizona 86-69; Mar. 4, at Duke, 83-76.
Disturbing losses: Dec. 21, at USC, 74-59; Jan. 14, home vs. Miami, 81-70.
Top players: Fr., Tyler Hansbrough, F, 19.1 ppg., 7.8 rpg; Jr., Reyshawn Terry, F, 14.7 ppg., 6.0 rpg.
Scouting report: The Tar Heels led the ACC in assists, a testament to unselfishness and to Coach Roy Williams’ patience with a young team. And the Heels also led in offensive rebounding thanks mainly to Hansbrough.
Revenue/expenses: $15,016,479/$4,845,388.
Little-known fact: Going into the postseason, Hansbrough leads North Carolina in scoring and rebounding, something no Tar Heel freshman has ever done.

No. 4 Illinois
Location: Champaign.
Conference: Big Ten.
RPI:: 14.
Record: 25-6.
Against tournament field: 9-4.
Away from home: 10-5.
In last 10 games: 6-4.
Impressive victories: Nov. 29, at North Carolina, 68-64; Dec. 8, home vs. Georgetown, 58-48.
Disturbing losses: Jan. 7, at Iowa, 63-48; Feb. 4, home vs. Penn State, 66-65.
Top players: Sr., Dee Brown, G, 14.4 ppg., 5.6 apg; Sr., James Augustine, F/C, 13.5 ppg., 9.3 rpg.
Scouting report: The Fighting Illini win with defense and rebounding. During the regular season, they led the Big Ten and ranked sixth nationally in scoring defense, giving up an average of only 57.7 points. They were also 16th nationally in field-goal percentage defense and outrebounded opponents by almost seven a game.
Revenue/expenses: $11,346,034/$3,239,017.
Little-known fact: Illinois is the second-winningest team in the nation -- behind Duke -- over the last six seasons. Illinois has won 166 games, Duke 177.

No. 5 Washington
Location: Seattle.
Conference: Pacific 10.
RPI:: 35.
Record: 24-6.
Against tournament field: 6-2.
Away from home: 7-4.
In last 10 games: 8-2.
Impressive victories: Dec. 4, home vs. Gonzaga, 99-95; Jan. 14, at UCLA, 69-65; Feb. 11, home vs. UCLA, 70-67.
Disturbing losses: Jan. 7, home vs. Washington State, 78-71; Feb. 4, at Washington State, 77-64; Mar. 9, at Los Angeles vs. Oregon, 84-73.
Top players: Sr., Brandon Roy, G, 19.9 ppg., 5.7 rpg.; Sr., Jamaal Williams, F, 13.4 ppg., 4.7 rpg.
Scouting report: The high-scoring Huskies had been the hottest Pac-10 team until stumbling against Oregon in the conference tournament, but they still possess the firepower for a deep tournament run behind the dynamic Roy.
Revenue/expenses: $5,000,082/$3,191,388.
Little-known fact: Washington is making its third consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, a feat it accomplished only once previously (1984-86).

No. 6 Michigan State
Location: East Lansing.
Conference: Big Ten.
RPI:: 18.
Record: 22-11.
Against tournament field: 8-8.
Away from home: 10-9.
In last 10 games: 4-6.
Impressive victories: Nov. 23, at Maui vs. Arizona, 74-71 (OT); Dec. 6, at New York vs. Boston College, 77-70.
Disturbing losses: Nov. 19, at Hawaii, 84-62; Feb. 11, at Minnesota, 69-55.
Top players: Sr., Maurice Ager, G, 19.1 ppg., 4.1 rpg; Jr., Shannon Brown, G, 17.6 ppg., 4.5 rpg; Sr., Paul Davis, C, 17.8 ppg., 9.3 rpg.
Scouting report: Ager, Brown and Davis account for 73% of the Spartans’ scoring which has made them easy to defend. The Spartans were fourth in the nation in free-throw shooting (77.7%) during the regular season, a skill that helps in tournament play.
Revenue/expenses: $11,019,187/$6,297,369.
Little-known fact: Coach Tom Izzo has a .702 winning percentage, best in Big Ten history ahead of Bob Knight’s .700 among coaches who have spent at least 10 years in the conference.

No. 7 Wichita State
Location: Wichita, Kan.
Conference: Missouri Valley.
RPI:: 27.
Record: 24-8.
Against tournament field: 4-7.
Away from home: 10-6.
In last 10 games: 7-3.
Impressive victories: Jan. 14, home vs. Missouri State, 81-57; Jan. 22, at Missouri State, 68-62; Feb. 14, home vs. Creighton, 62-61 (OT).
Disturbing losses: Nov. 25., at Illinois, 55-54; Dec. 10, Michigan State, 83-64; Mar. 4, at St. Louis vs. Bradley, 60-52.
Top players: Sr., Paul Miller, C, 13.0 ppg., 6.5 rpg.; So., Sean Ogirri, G, 11.9 ppg., Jr., Kyle Wilson, F, 11.2 ppg.; Sr., PJ Cousinard, G/F, 10.2 ppg.
Scouting report: With four players averaging in double figures, the Shockers can hurt opponents from the inside and the perimeter.
Revenue/expenses: $3,065,331/2,012,670.
Little-known fact: During the 1984-85 season, former Shocker Xavier McDaniel became the first player to lead NCAA Division I in both scoring (27 points a game) and rebounding (14.8).

No. 8 Kentucky
Location: Lexington.
Conference: Southeastern.
RPI:: 41.
Record: 21-12.
Against tournament field: 5-9.
Away from home: 11-7.
In last 10 games: 6-4.
Impressive victories: Nov. 22, at Kansas City vs. West Virginia, 80-66; Mar. 1, at Tennessee, 80-78.
Disturbing losses: Jan. 7, at Kansas, 73-46; Jan. 10, home vs. Vanderbilt, 57-52; Feb. 11, at Vanderbilt, 84-81.
Top players: So., Randolph Morris, C, 13.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg; So., Rajon Rondo, G, 11.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.9 apg.
Scouting report: It has been a topsy-turvy season for the Wildcats, who had two three-game losing streaks, lost by 27 at Kansas, and lost five games at Rupp Arena, where Kentucky has lost only 48 games in 30 years. Morris, originally suspended for the season for NCAA rules violations as he explored the NBA draft, returned after 14 games and has been the Wildcats’ leading scorer -- but Kentucky is still only 11-8 since his return. The victory at Tennessee was a highlight, but Kentucky followed it with a 15-point loss to Florida.
Revenue/expenses: $12,854,928/$5,637,354
Little-known fact: Equipment manager Bill Keightley, 79, is in his 45th year on the job and has witnessed 1,394 of the 2,521 games in Kentucky history.

No. 9 Alabama Birmingham
Location: Birmingham.
Conference: Conference USA.
RPI:: 32.
Record: 24-6.
Against tournament field: 1-2.
Away from home: 10-5.
In last 10 games: 8-2.
Impressive victories: Dec. 28, home vs. Oklahoma State, 90-71; Jan. 14, at Marshall, 76-64; Mar. 2, home vs. Memphis, 80-74.
Disturbing losses: Nov. 29, home vs. Western Kentucky, 92-76; Dec. 6, at DePaul, 70-66; Feb. 2, at Texas El Paso, 65-37.
Top players: Sr. Marvett McDonald, G, 15.0 ppg.; Sr., Carldell Johnson, G, 6.2 apg.
Scouting report: Only one Blazer starter averages more than eight points, but the bench is deep and Coach Mike Anderson uses his depth to press and score fast. UAB won 18 of its last 20 regular-season games by an average of 11 points.
Revenue/expenses: $1,925,055/$2,076,208.
Little-known fact: Cincinnati Coach Andy Kennedy is UAB’s all-time leader in three-pointers made and attempted in a season. He played for the Blazers from 1988 to 1991.

No. 10 Seton Hall
Location: South Orange, N.J.
Conference: Big East.
RPI:: 58.
Record: 18-11.
Against tournament field: 6-4.
Away from home: 5-7.
In last 10 games: 5-5.
Impressive victories: Jan. 25, at North Carolina State, 83-55; Feb. 14, home vs. West Virginia, 71-64; Feb. 25, at Pittsburgh, 65-61.
Disturbing losses: Dec. 1, at Richmond, 60-49; Dec. 18, home vs. Northwestern, 44-42; Feb. 25, at DePaul, 67-64.
Top players: Sr., Donald Copeland, G, 16.1 ppg., 4.9 apg.; Sr., Kelly Whitney, F/C, 15.1 ppg, 8.0 rpg. Scouting report: The Pirates stress being careful -- they’ve turned the ball over 10 or fewer times in six games (all victories). They also thrive when they push their offense -- when they shot more free throws than Big East opponents during the regular season, they were 8-0. When they didn’t, they lost all but once.

No. 11 George Mason
Location: Fairfax, Va.
Conference: Colonial Athletic.
RPI:: 26.
Record: 23-7.
Against tournament field: 3-1.
Away from home: 9-7.
In last 10 games: 8-2.
Impressive victories: Nov. 10, home vs. UC Irvine, 79-56; Dec. 21, home vs. Hampton, 79-66; Mar. 18, at Wichita State, 70-67.
Disturbing losses: Nov. 25, home vs. Rutgers, 55-52; Jan. 26, home vs. Bowling Green, 78-74; Mar. 5, at Richmond., Va. vs. Hofstra, 58-49.
Top players: Sr., Jai Lewis, F, 14.0 ppg, 7.9 rpg; So., Will Thomas, F, 11.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg; ; Sr., Tony Skinn, G, 12.8 ppg.
Scouting report: The Patriots dominated the Colonial Athletic most of the season but struggled late, losing twice to Hofstra over of their final four games, including an upset loss in the conference tournament semifinals. Lewis and Thomas lead a balanced offense that features five players with double digit scoring averages.
Revenue/expenses: $1,027,612/$1,150,050.
Little-known fact: Coach Jim Larranaga was a four-year letterman at Providence and as a senior captain led the Friars to a 20-8 record and an NIT appearance. He graduated as the school’s fifth all-time leading scorer and was selected in the sixth-round of the 1971 draft by the Detroit Pistons.

No. 12 Utah State
Location: Logan.
Conference: Western Athletic.
RPI:: 46.
Record: 23-8.
Against tournament field: 4-2.
Away from home: 9-6.
In last 10 games: 7-3.
Impressive victories: Nov. 19, at Oral Roberts, 72-67; Jan. 24, at Nevada, 59-53.
Disturbing losses: Nov. 30, at Utah, 67-66; Jan. 7, at Fresno State, 99-96; Feb. 11, home vs. New Mexico State, 83-77.
Top players: Sr., Nate Harris, F, 17.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.1 apg; So., Jaycee Carroll, G, 16.1 ppg, 45% 3-pt.
Scouting report: The Aggies are a balanced team with a strong inside presence in Nate Harris, a deadly outside shooter in Jaycee Carroll and a veteran point guard in David Pak.
Revenue/expenses: $760,183/$1,266,239.
Little-known fact: Utah State, making its 17th appearance in the NCAA tournament, has made six conference finals in the last seven years.

No. 13 Air Force
Location: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Conference: Mountain West.
RPI:: 50.
Record: 24-6.
Against tournament field: 1-2.
Away from home: 9-6.
In last 10 games: 7-3.
Impressive victories: Dec. 28, Georgia Tech, 54-46; Jan. 7, San Diego State, 65-62.
Disturbing losses: Jan. 11, at Wyoming, 55-50; Jan. 21, at New Mexico, 62-59; Mar. 9, at Denver vs. Wyoming, 57-55.
Top players: Sr., Antoine Hood, G, 14.8 ppg.; Jr., Jacob Burtschi, F, 12.4 ppg., 6.1 rpg.; Jr., Dan Nwaelele, G/F, 11.7 ppg.; Jr., Matt McCraw, G, 10.8 ppg.
Scouting report: Air Force achieved a school record for wins in a season, but enters the NCAA tournament after falling to 0-7 in conference tournament first-round games.
Revenues/expenses: Not available.
Little-known fact: Air Force is making only its second NCAA tournament appearance since 1962.

No. 14 Murray State
Location: Murray, Ky.
Conference: Ohio Valley.
RPI:: 65.
Record: 24-6.
Against tournament field: 0-2.
Away from home: 10-5.
In last 10 games: 9-1.
Impressive victories: Dec. 19, at Jacksonville State, 91-72; Jan. 26, home vs. Tennessee Tech, 55-51; Mar. 4, at Nashville, Tenn. vs. Samford, 74-57.
Disturbing losses: Dec. 21., at Samford, 60-51; Jan. 16, at Eastern Illinois, 59-54; Feb. 23, at Tennessee Tech, 70-66.
Top players: Jr., Shawn Witherspoon, F, 10.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg; Jr., Trey Pearson, G, 10 ppg.; Sr., Darnell Hopkins, G, 9.0 ppg.
Scouting report: The Racers dominated the boards in their conference tournament championship game and will need Witherspoon and center Pearson Griffith to control the inside if they hope to have a good run in the NCAA tournament.
Revenue/expenses: $959,291/$1,230,827
Little-known fact: Basketball Hall of Famer Joseph Fulks, who played at Murray State, was one of the first players to switch from the two-handed shot to the one-handed shot.

No. 15 Winthrop
Location: Rock Hill, S.C.
Conference: Big South.
RPI:: 73.
Record: 23-7.
Against tournament field: 1-2.
Away from home: 7-6.
In last 10 games: 9-1.
Impressive victories: Nov. 19, at Marquette, 71-64; Jan. 21, at High Point, 70-67; Jan. 21; Mar. 4, home vs. Coastal Carolina, 51-50.
Disturbing losses: Dec. 3, at Alabama, 60-57; Dec. 14, at South Carolina, 68-54; Jan. 24, home, vs. Coastal Carolina, 64-57.
Top players: Jr., Torrell Martin, G, 13.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg; Sr., James Shuler, F, 13.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.5 apg; Jr., Craig Bradshaw, C, 12.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg.
Scouting report: Led by Martin and Shuler, the Eagles are a well-balanced defensive-minded team capable of pulling off a first round upset. Winthrop defeated Marquette on the road and lost close games at Alabama and Auburn early in the season and has improved a great deal since then.
Revenue/expenses: $518,853/$739,958.
Little-known fact: In eight seasons, Coach Gregg Marshall has led Winthrop to six NCAA tournament appearances but the Eagles have had only one player of the year in the Big South Conference.

No. 16 Albany
Location: Albany, N.Y.
Conference: America East.
RPI:: 119.
Record: 21-10.
Against tournament field: 0-3.
Away from home: 9-7.
In last 10 games: 8-2.
Impressive victories: Dec. 10, at Cleveland State, 78-65; Jan. 28, at Binghamton, 52-51; Mar. 11, home vs. Vermont, 80-67.
Disturbing losses: Nov. 21, home vs. Sacred Heart, 63-61; Nov. 26, at San Diego State, 80-53; Jan. 22, home vs. New Hampshire, 78-71.
Top players: Jr., Jamar Wilson, G, 17.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.6 apg; So., Brent Wilson, F, 10.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg.
Scouting report: The Great Danes like to pound the ball inside to Brent Wilson but Jamar Wilson, the America East Player of the Year, is the player who makes everything work. Jamar Wilson is at his best when he is finding lanes to the basket and getting to the free throw line.
Revenue/expenses: $156,279/$780,993.
Little-known fact: Albany joined the America East Conference five years ago and had never reached the league championship game before this season. The last time the Great Danes won at least 20 games was the 1993-94 season.