COLLEGE BASKETBALL / TEAM-BY-TEAM LOOK AT NCAA MEN’S TOURNAMENT : MIDWEST REGIONAL

KANSAS

Record: 26-4. Seeding: 1.

Coach: Roy Williams.

Key Player: Kansas isn’t a team of stars, but junior guard Rex Walters, a transfer from Northwestern, averages a team-leading 16.2 points. Walters is a perfect fit for the Kansas system. He is unselfish, smart, a good defensive player, an excellent outside scoring threat and he can drive the lane.

Little-known Fact: Walters was hoping for a scholarship from Kansas in 1988, when he graduated from high school. But then-Jayhawk coach Larry Brown didn’t offer one. Nor could Walters get an offer from North Carolina, where Williams was an assistant coach for Dean Smith. So Walters went to Northwestern, where he quickly tired of the Wildcats’ losing ways. After transferring to Kansas, he practiced with the team last season (he wasn’t allowed to play because of NCAA rules) and even paid his own way to the 1991 Final Four in Indianapolis.

Outlook: The Jayhawks aren’t the most talented team, but they have the perfect mix of role players who do certain things extremely well. Walters, forward Alonzo Jamison and guard Adonis Jordan are especially important. Williams has a knack of getting the most out of his teams.

USC

Record: 23-5. Seeding: 2.

Coach: George Raveling.

Key Player: Harold Miner, guard. Miner not only scores about 27 points, but he gets his share of rebounds, too. Sure, he takes lots of shots, but he does so with the blessings of Raveling, who knows a gravy train when he sees one. If Miner scores, USC usually wins.

Little-known Fact: Raveling’s most prized possession has nothing to do with basketball. The late Dr. Martin Luther King presented Raveling with his personal copy of the “I Have A Dream” speech moments after addressing the multitudes in Washington, D.C.

Outlook: Another sleeper. A Sweet 16 appearance isn’t out of the question.

ARKANSAS

Record: 25-7. Seeding: 3.

Coach: Nolan Richardson.

Key Player: Todd Day, forward. There is no denying Day’s talent. He was the Southwest Conference player of the year last season and, if not for LSU’s Shaquille O’Neal, he might have won similar Southeastern Conference honors this year. Day can do everything well, except control his emotions. In some respects, he is a bit like UCLA’s Don MacLean: gifted, but puzzling.

Little-known Fact: Richardson played one season for the San Diego Chargers.

Outlook: Arkansas has everything you need to win a national championship: a point guard in Lee Mayberry, a scorer in Day, a pretty good center in Oliver Miller, a strong bench and a good coach in Richardson.

CINCINNATI

Record: 25-4. Seeding: 4.

Coach: Bob Huggins.

Key Player: Herb Jones, guard. The 6-4 Jones, one of the most highly touted junior college players when he entered the Metro Conference a season ago, continues to improve each game. He averages about 18 points, but his real strength might be his rebounding.

Little-known Fact: Terry Nelson, a junior forward from Long Beach City College, moonlights as a stand-up comic.

Outlook: The Bearcats played one of the hardest schedules in the country and it should pay off in the tournament. Their record--and this team--is for real. A Sweet 16 possibility.

MICHIGAN STATE

Record: 21-7. Seeding: 5.

Coach: Jud Heathcote.

Key Player: Shawn Respert, guard. Respert is a redshirt freshman, but has had an immediate impact as a replacement for Steve Smith, now in the NBA. Respert is no Smith, but he gives Michigan State some much-needed scoring punch.

Little-known Fact: Heathcote, along with Oklahoma’s Billy Tubbs, Arkansas’ Nolan Richardson, Florida State’s Pat Kennedy and USC’s George Raveling, is on the all-NCAA interview team.

Outlook: The Spartans are a solid team, but have been hurt by injuries (Matt Steigenga, for example) and bouts of inconsistency. Toughened by the Big Ten schedule, Michigan State should win its first-round game and then leave the tournament soon thereafter. We hope not, though. It is too much fun listening to Heathcote and watching the mammoth Mike Peplowski (6-10, 270 pounds) work the middle.

MEMPHIS STATE

Record: 20-10. Seeding: 6.

Coach: Larry Finch.

Key Player: A tough choice. Do you pick sophomore guard Anfernee Hardaway, who plays as if he never sat out his freshman season because of Prop. 48 restrictions; David Vaughn, a 6-10 freshman, or Anthony Douglas, a 6-7 junior? We’ll stick with the exciting Hardaway.

Little-known Fact: Finch, an exceptional recruiter, had an easy time with Vaughn. Why? Finch is Vaughn’s uncle.

Outlook: This team has a nice blend of youth and experience, but even more important, it has exceptional talent in Hardaway and Vaughn. Realistically, the Tigers are probably a season away from making a true impact in the tournament, but who cares about timetables? Memphis State has played a strong conference schedule, some tough non-conference opponents--Arkansas, Missouri, Minnesota--and doesn’t back down to anyone. The surprise team of the tournament.

GEORGIA TECH

Record: 21-11. Seeding: 7.

Coach: Bobby Cremins.

Key Player: Malcolm Mackey, forward. Mackey can block shots, score from inside and rebound. For Tech to make a ripple in the tournament, the Yellow Jackets need the impressive Mackey to do all three.

Little-known Fact: For someone known as a great recruiter rather than as a great coach, Cremins has won his share--319 games, to be exact.

Outlook: Not great. The Yellow Jackets still haven’t found anyone to replace Kenny Anderson. Freshman Travis Best was supposed to be the solution, but that was a little too much to ask.

EVANSVILLE

Record: 24-5. Seeding: 8.

Coach: Jim Crews.

Key Player: Forward Parrish Casebier is the Midwestern Collegiate Conference’s best player. Casebier was unstoppable in the MCC tournament championship against Butler, which should come as no surprise to those familiar with his play. Ask Notre Dame. Casebier scored 41 points against the Irish. Against Butler, he had 39 points. Though only 6-3, Casebier is an accomplished rebounder.

Little-known Fact: As best as we can tell, the Aces are the only team wearing those silly T-shirts.

Outlook: A team to watch. Evansville played a solid schedule this year and seems to be peaking at the perfect time.

TEXAS EL PASO

Record: 25-6. Seeding: 9.

Coach: Don Haskins.

Key Player: Prince Stewart, point guard. UTEP missed Stewart last year, when he sat out the year because of academic difficulties. The Miners finished 16-13. This season, with Stewart in the starting lineup, UTEP has become a national factor again. Stewart gives the Miners experience in the backcourt, strong defense, lots of assists and a decent shooting option.

Little-known Fact: Haskins passed the 600-career victory mark this season, making him one of only 12 coaches to reach that mark.

Outlook: The Miners don’t receive much national attention, but they will when they win their first-round NCAA game. A second victory isn’t out of the question.

HOUSTON

Record: 25-5. Seeding: 10.

Coach: Pat Foster.

Key Player: A toss-up. Choose between forwards Sam Mack or Craig Upchurch. Mack, who leads the team with a 17-point average, also gives the Cougars some rebounding muscle. Upchurch, the second-leading scorer, was sidelined last year because of back surgery. With Upchurch gone, Houston failed to make the NCAA tournament in 1990-91. With him, they lost only five regular season games.

Little-known Fact: Don’t be surprised if Foster bolts Houston in the near future.

Outlook: Don’t be deceived by the record--a first round victory and out.

PEPPERDINE

Record: 24-6. Seeding: 11.

Coach: Tom Asbury.

Key Player: Easy: Doug Christie. The senior, who sat out last year’s NCAA tournament (the Waves lost to Seton Hall by 20 points) because of a knee injury, is averaging 19.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists and two steals. As for the knee, Christie played every game this season and was voted West Coast Conference player of the year and West Coast Conference tournament MVP.

Little-known Fact: Since losing at Kansas, 79-73, in an overtime game, the Waves have won 17 of their last 18 games. They also go to the free throw line a lot. The Waves made 555 free throws. Their opponents attempted only 496.

Outlook: The last time Pepperdine won an NCAA tournament game was in 1979 and, before that, 1976. Both times they were beaten by UCLA at Pauley Pavilion in the next round. The Waves figure for another first-round victory in 1991, but nothing more. Of course, with Christie and Geoff Lear, the Waves’ inside force, Pepperdine could be one of those teams that sneak into the Sweet 16.

SOUTHWEST MISSOURI STATE

Record: 23-7. Seeding: 12.

Coach: Charlie Spoonhour.

Key Player: Junior college transfer Jackie Crawford, a 5-7 point guard, stepped in and immediately made an impact. Crawford finished the season as the Bears’ leading scorer (11.9 points--hey, Spoonhour uses 10 players), an all-conference performer and the MVP of the Missouri Valley tournament.

Little-known Fact: Southwest Missouri State is one of only five schools in the country with at least one victory in the NCAA tournament, the Division II NCAA tournament, the NAIA tournament and the NIT. The other four: Southern Illinois, Illinois State, Indiana State and Alcorn State.

Outlook: Maybe one victory and that’s only if the Bears play great defense and make their free throws. Southwest Missouri State is ranked ninth in team free throw shooting percentage (75.1%).

DELAWARE

Record: 27-3. Seeding: 13.

Coach: Steve Steinwedel.

Key Player: Forward Alex Coles. The 6-6 senior averages 14.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.2 blocks. About 25% of his baskets are dunks, which makes sense because Coles is an All-American high jumper (7-3 1/2 is his best leap).

Little-known Fact: The Blue Hens own the longest winning streak (20 games) of any team in the tournament. This is also the first basketball team--men’s or women’s--in state history to earn a bid to an NCAA tournament. A saying has been born: Delaware--the first state to ratify, the last state to qualify.

Outlook: Delaware relies on its balanced lineup, its pressure defense and its unselfish play (five players average in double figures). Despite the record, don’t look for the Blue Hens to last long.

MURRAY STATE

Record: 17-12. Seeding: 14.

Coach: Scott Edgar.

Key Player: Senior center Ronald (Popeye) Jones leads the nation in rebounding (14.3 per game) and averages 21.2 points. At 6-8, 265 pounds, he is the immovable object. However, despite bettering his averages of a year ago, Jones didn’t win Ohio Valley Conference player of the year honors. That title went to Morehead State’s Brett Roberts, who led the nation in scoring.

Little-known Fact: When his mother brought Jones home from the hospital, she asked the family for name suggestions. Jones’ brother, busy watching Popeye cartoons, turned around and simply said, “Popeye.”

Outlook: Alabama beat Murray State in the first round last year. The year before, Michigan State squeezed by the Racers. Even with Jones, this team isn’t as talented as the 1989-90 or 1990-91 editions. Don’t look for the Racers to break their NCAA losing streak.

NORTHEAST LOUISIANA

Record: 19-9. Seeding: 15.

Coach: Mike Vining.

Key Player: Ryan Stuart, a 6-4 junior forward, is the team’s leading scorer (21.6). A junior college transfer, Stuart was voted the Southland Conference’s player of the year.

Little-known Fact: This is the third consecutive year the Indians have advanced to the NCAA tournament.

Outlook: A short stay.

HOWARD

Record: 17-13. Seeding: 16.

Coach: Butch Beard.

Key Player: The Bison only had one player in double figures--senior forward Julius McNeil, who averaged 12.4 points and 5.5 rebounds.

Little-known Fact: Howard has held 14 of its last 15 opponents under 70 points. The Bison are 15-3 when holding opponents below 70 points.

Outlook: Howard played a strong non-conference schedule, certainly stronger than city cousin Georgetown. The Bison faced Louisville, Florida, Minnesota and Ohio State and lost to all. After starting the season 1-8, Howard went 16-5. The Bison are accustomed to close games (their three conference tournament victories were by a total of nine points). Too bad it won’t matter. Chances are they will be blown out for two reasons: the Bison don’t shoot well and they are a poor rebounding team.