At-Large Teams Are

You can call the Minneapolis Regional lots of things -- balanced, wide-open, competitive -- but designating it the home of champions would be a bit of a stretch.

That’s because the teams in this bracket are largely at-large.

Among the top 10 seeded teams, only third-seeded Florida and fifth-seeded Nevada captured a conference tournament title, leaving most with plenty to prove.

Top-seeded Villanova? The Wildcats were on a nice little roll until senior guard Allan Ray got poked in the eye and Villanova lost its way against Pittsburgh in a Big East Conference tournament semifinal.

Second-seeded Ohio State? Carved up just about every Big Ten Conference opponent except Iowa, which posted its second victory over the Buckeyes in the conference tournament title game.

Fourth-seeded Boston College? One word: Duke.

That’s not to say that the Wildcats, Buckeyes and Eagles aren’t capable of deep tournament runs.

Villanova, after all, expects Ray to return for its first-round game against the winner of the play-in game between Monmouth and Hampton. The Wildcats also will play first- and second-round games in the friendly confines of the Wachovia Center, where they have already defeated Connecticut, Syracuse and Louisville this season.

Ohio State, with senior center Terence Dials playing even bigger than his 6-foot-9 frame, had won seven consecutive games before stumbling against Iowa. And the Buckeyes know the perfect antidote for those NCAA sanctions that wiped out their 1999 Final Four run would be a trip to Indianapolis.

Boston College nearly owned Tobacco Road after knocking off North Carolina in Greensboro and extending Duke into the final seconds of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament championship.

A potential stumbling block for the Eagles is Nevada, which might be the hottest team in the bracket. The Wolf Pack has won 14 consecutive games and boasts a Western Athletic Conference tournament title-game victory over Utah State, which also made the field of 65.

That also qualifies Nevada as somewhat of a novelty in these parts.

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VILLANOVA

Location: Philadelphia.

* Conference: Big East.

* RPI: 2.

* Record: 25-4.

* Against tournament field: 9-4.

* Away from home: 13-3.

* In last 10 games: 8-2.

* Impressive victories: Dec. 3, vs. Oklahoma, 85-74; Feb. 13, vs. Connecticut, 69-64.

* Disturbing loss: Jan. 8, vs. West Virginia, 91-87.

* Top players: Randy Foye, G, Sr., 20.1 ppg., 5.6 rpg.; Allan Ray, G, Sr., 18.8 ppg.

* Scouting report: Using mostly a four-guard lineup, Jay Wright’s Wildcats understand the importance of the jump shot. And despite being smaller than most opponents, Villanova has a rebounding edge of about two a game.

* Revenue/expenses: $4,198,643/$2,618,308.

* Little-known fact: Villanova has thrived even without the preseason choice for Big East MVP, forward Curtis Sumpter, who had season-ending knee surgery in October.

2. OHIO STATE

Location: Columbus.

* Conference: Big Ten.

* RPI: 5.

* Record: 25-5.

* Against tournament field: 6-5.

* Away from home: 9-4.

* In last 10 games: 8-2.

* Impressive victories: Dec. 10, at St. Joseph’s, 81-74; Dec. 31, vs. LSU, 78-76; Feb. 12, vs. Illinois, 69-53.

* Disturbing losses: Jan. 7, at Indiana, 81-79; Feb. 15, at Wisconsin, 78-73.

* Top players: Terence Dials, C, Sr., 15.0 ppg., 8.0 rpg.; Je’Kel Foster, G, Sr., 12.4 ppg., 40% 3-point shooting; Jamar Butler, G, So., 10.2 ppg., 4.7 apg.

* Scouting report: In a conference known for defense, the Buckeyes led the league in scoring (76.5 ppg during the regular season) and were second in scoring margin (12.4).

* Revenue/expenses: $11,434,841/$4,051,972.

* Little-known fact: Coach Thad Matta has won titles in three conferences -- Midwestern Collegiate (with Butler), Atlantic 10 (Xavier) and the Big Ten.

3. FLORIDA

Location: Gainesville.

* Conference: Southeastern.

* RPI: 15.

* Record: 27-6.

* Against tournament field: 7-4.

* Away from home: 11-4.

* In last 10 games: 7-3.

* Impressive victories: Feb. 11, vs. Louisiana State, 71-62; March 5, at Kentucky, 79-64.

* Disturbing loss: Feb. 8, vs. South Carolina, 71-67.

* Top players: Joakim Noah, F, So., 13.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg; Taurean Green, G, So., 13.8 ppg, 4.9 apg.

* Scouting report: The SEC champion Gators won their first 17 games before a loss at Tennessee in January but had a three-game losing streak in February. They’re among the national leaders in field-goal percentage and assists.

* Revenue/expenses: $6,522,311/$4,649,529.

* Little-known fact: Since reaching the Final Four in 2000, the Gators have lost in the first or second round five consecutive years.

4. BOSTON COLLEGE

Location: Chestnut Hill, Mass.

* Conference: Atlantic Coast.

* RPI: 22.

* Record: 26-7.

* Against tournament field: 3-4.

* Away from home: 12-5.

* In last 10 games: 8-2.

* Impressive victories: Nov. 26, at Las Vegas vs. Oklahoma State, 76-68; Jan. 25, at North Carolina, 81-74.

* Disturbing losses: Dec. 11, at Maryland, 73-71; Feb. 21, at Virginia, 72-58.

* Top players: Craig Smith, F, Sr., 17.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg; Jared Dudley, F, Jr., 16.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg.

* Scouting report: Coach Al Skinner started the same five players in all 30 regular-season games. Smith and Dudley dominate the boards, but the Eagles’ shooting touch can disappear for long stretches.

* Revenue/expenses: $3,367,548/$2,532,575.

* Little-known fact: Craig Smith of L.A. is the second man at the school to get 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.

5. NEVADA

Location: Reno.

* Conference: Western Athletic.

* RPI: 19.

* Record: 27-5.

* Against tournament field: 4-2.

* Away from home: 10-4.

* In last 10 games: 10-0.

* Impressive victories: Dec. 1, at Kansas, 72-70; Dec. 21, vs. Georgia, 68-62; March 11, vs. Utah State, 70-63 (OT).

* Disturbing losses: Dec. 31, at St. Mary’s, 89-80; Jan. 5, at Hawaii, 73-69; Jan. 18, at Fresno State, 87-77.

* Top players: Nick Fazekas, F, Jr., 21.8 ppg., 10.3 rpg.; Marcelus Kemp, G, So., 14.4 ppg.; Mo Charlo, F, Sr., 10.3 ppg.

* Scouting report: Fazekas, the conference MVP, is the focal point, but Kemp and point guard Ramon Sessions give Nevada a dynamic backcourt.

* Revenue/expenses: $3,251,315/$1,701,425.

* Little-known fact: The Wolf Pack has won 14 straight, the second-longest streak in the nation behind Gonzaga’s 18.

6. OKLAHOMA

Location: Norman.

* Conference: Big 12.

* RPI: 16.

* Record: 20-8.

* Against tournament field: 7-4.

* Away from home: 6-7.

* In last 10 games: 6-4.

* Impressive victory: Jan. 28, vs. Texas, 82-72.

* Disturbing losses: Dec. 22, at Oklahoma City vs. West Virginia, 92-68; Jan. 7, at Nebraska, 59-58; Jan. 10, vs. Missouri, 71-69.

* Top players: Taj Gray, F, Sr., 14.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg; Terrell Everett, G, Sr., 12.4 ppg, 6.7 apg; Michael Neal, G, Jr., 12.7 ppg.

* Scouting report: Before losing its last two games, Oklahoma had displayed a knack for winning the close ones, going 5-2 in one-point games. Neal shot 49.5% from three-point range in Big 12 games.

* Revenue/expenses: $6,214,495/$4,070,672.

* Little-known fact: Kevin Bookout, a senior forward, is a two-time All-American in the shotput.

7. GEORGETOWN

Location: Washington.

* Conference: Big East.

* RPI: 36.

* Record: 21-9.

* Record against tournament field: 4-7.

* Away from home: 10-7.

* In last 10 games: 5-5.

* Impressive victories: Dec. 3, at Oregon, 71-57; Jan. 21, vs. Duke, 87-84.

* Disturbing loss: Nov. 26, vs. Vanderbilt, 68-61.

* Top players: Roy Hibbert, C, So., 11.2 ppg., 6.6 rpg.; Jeff Green, F, So., 11.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg.; Brandon Bowman, F, Sr., 11.5 ppg., 5.1 rpg.

* Scouting report: Coach John Thompson III is rebuilding the Hoyas into a defensively stifling and offensively aggressive national contender. Hibbert is 7 feet 2 and has blocked 40 shots.

* Revenue/expenses: $3,213,889/$3,712,055.

* Little-known fact: Before upsetting Duke in January, Georgetown had lost 11 straight against No. 1-ranked teams.

8. ARIZONA

Location: Tucson.

* Conference: Pacific 10.

* RPI: 23.

* Record: 19-12.

* Against tournament field: 3-8.

* Away from home: 7-10.

* In last 10 games: 6-4.

* Impressive victories: Nov. 21, at Maui vs. Kansas, 61-49; Dec. 31, at Washington, 96-95 (2OT)

* Disturbing losses: Dec. 3, at Houston, 69-65; Jan. 12, at Oregon State, 75-65; Jan. 14, at Oregon, 73-68.

* Top players: Hassan Adams, G, Sr., 17.3 ppg., 5.1 rpg.; Marcus Williams, F, Fr., 12.8 ppg., 4.5 rpg.

* Scouting report: Adams was suspended for the Pac-10 tournament after his arrest on suspicion of drunk driving. This doesn’t appear to be one of Lute Olson’s vintage teams.

* Revenue/expenses: $16,624,938/$4,125,394.

* Little-known fact: Former Wildcat coach James H. “Jumbo” Pierce starred as Tarzan in several silent films.

9. WISCONSIN

Location: Madison.

* Conference: Big Ten.

* RPI: 24.

* Record: 19-11.

* Against tournament field: 7-6.

* Away from home: 5-9.

* In last 10 games: 4-6.

* Impressive victories: Dec. 10, vs. Marquette, 77-63; Jan. 8, vs. Michigan State, 82-63; Feb. 15, vs. Ohio State, 78-73.

* Disturbing losses: Nov. 29, at Wake Forest, 91-88; Jan. 21, vs. North Dakota State, 62-55; Feb. 4, at Purdue, 70-62.

* Top players: Alando Tucker, F, Jr., 19.0 ppg., 5.8 rpg; Kammron Taylor, G, Jr., 14.2 ppg., Brian Butch, C, So., 10.0 ppg.

* Scouting report: The Badgers led the Big Ten in fewest turnovers per game (11.5). They also had a school-record 370 offensive rebounds during the regular season.

* Revenue/expenses: $11,952,789/$3,839,965.

* Little-known fact: In five years under Coach Bo Ryan, the Badgers are 87-6 when leading at halftime.

10. NORTHERN IOWA

Location: Cedar Falls.

* Conference: Missouri Valley.

* RPI: 25.

* Record: 23-9.

* Against tournament field: 6-4.

* Away from home: 11-6.

* In last 10 games: 5-5.

* Impressive victories: Dec. 6, vs. Iowa, 67-63 (OT); Dec. 19, at LSU, 54-50; Jan. 5, at Wichita State, 75-61.

* Disturbing losses: Jan. 11, vs. Creighton, 55-52; Feb. 14, at Indiana State, 61-60.

* Top players: Ben Jacobson, G, Sr., 14.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg.; Grant Stout, F, Jr., 12.1 ppg., 8.9 rpg..

* Scouting report: The Panthers held opponents to 55 points or fewer nine times but lost five of their last seven games.

* Revenues/expenses: $1,198,869/$1,187,403.

* Little-known fact: The school was founded in 1876 as Iowa State Normal School. It was also known as Iowa State Teachers College and State College of Iowa before adopting its current name in 1967.

11. WISCONSIN MILWAUKEE

Location: Milwaukee.

* Conference: Horizon.

* RPI: 53.

* Record: 21-8.

* Against tournament field: 1-2.

* Away from home: 8-6.

* In last 10 games: 6-4.

* Impressive victories: Dec. 27, at Wyoming, 84-69; Dec. 30, at Montana, 78-74; March 7, at Milwaukee vs. Butler, 87-71.

* Disturbing losses: Nov. 28, at Tennessee Tech, 72-67; Feb. 15, vs. Illinois Chicago, 94-86.

* Top players: Joah Tucker, F, Sr., 16.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg; Boo Davis, G, Sr., 16.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg.

* Scouting report: The Panthers force opponents into an average of 15.5 turnovers a game and limit them to 31.1% shooting from three-point range. Tucker and Davis are reliable scorers.

* Revenue/expenses: $2,270,136/$2,270,136.

* Little-known fact: First-year Coach Rob Jeter’s father, Bob, was a former Pro Bowl defensive back with the Green Bay Packers.

12. MONTANA

Location: Missoula.

* Conference: Big Sky.

* RPI: 61.

* Record: 23-6.

* Against tournament field: 1-1.

* Away from home: 10-5.

* In last 10 games: 7-3.

* Impressive victories: Nov. 21, at Loyola Marymount, 81-75; Dec. 2, vs. Stanford, 88-69.

* Disturbing losses: Nov. 18, at Boise State, 90-69; Feb. 4, at Idaho State, 95-70.

* Top players: Andrew Strait, C/F, So., 16.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg; Kevin Criswell, G, Jr., 16.5 ppg.

* Scouting report: The Grizzlies got hot in the conference tournament and knocked off top-seeded Northern Arizona in the title game, led by freshman Jordan Hasquet’s 20 points and 13 rebounds.

* Revenue/expenses: $1,257,864/$1,098,836.

* Little-known fact: Coach Larry Krystkowiak played 10 years in the NBA, finishing his career with the Lakers in 1995. He is also Montana’s all-time leader with 2,017 points.

13. PACIFIC

Location: Stockton, Calif.

* Conference: Big West.

* RPI: 88.

* Record: 24-7.

* Record against tournament field: 1-1.

* Away from home: 13-4.

* In last 10 games: 9-1.

* Impressive victories: Dec. 10, at Western Kentucky, 91-75; Jan. 3, home vs. Texas A&M;, 63-56.

* Disturbing losses: Jan. 7, home vs. UC Riverside, 83-71.

* Top players: Christian Maraker, F, Sr., 17.2 ppg, 8.9 rpg; Johnny Gray, G, Sr., 14.8 ppg, 3.0 apg.

* Scouting report: Pacific, the Big West regular-season and tournament champion, is in the NCAA tournament for the third straight year. Maraker, a versatile 6-9 player from Sweden, is the only starter back from last season’s team.

* Revenue/expenses: $1,470,692/ $1,472,240.

* Little-known fact: Gray is the son of four-time Olympian Johnny Gray, the 1992 bronze medalist in the 800 meters.

14. SOUTH ALABAMA

Location: Mobile.

* Conference: Sun Belt.

* RPI: 66.

* Record: 24-6.

* Against tournament field: 0-1.

* Away from home: 12-4.

* In last 10 games: 9-1.

* Impressive victories: Nov. 25, home vs. Alabama State, 82-65; Dec. 17, home vs. Houston, 66-62.

* Disturbing losses: Nov. 22, at Purdue, 85-67; Jan. 21, home vs. Western Kentucky, 74-73.

* Top players: Mario Jointer, G, Sr., 13.5 ppg.; Richard Law, F, Sr., 11.2 ppg.; Chey Christie, G, Sr., 9.1 ppg.

* Scouting report: Christie sat out last season after transferring from Clemson but was MVP of the conference tournament and combines with Jointer for a solid backcourt.

* Revenue/expenses: $1,182,065/$1,144,010.

* Little-known fact: The Jaguars, 14-14, 12-16 and 10-18 in Coach John Pelphrey’s first three seasons, last were in the NCAA tournament in 1998.

15. DAVIDSON

Location: Davidson, N.C.

* Conference: Southern.

* RPI: 94.

* Record: 20-10.

* Against tournament field: 0-3.

* Away from home: 6-9.

* In last 10 games: 7-3.

* Impressive victories: Nov. 26., vs. St. Joseph’s, 100-94; Dec. 7., vs. Missouri, 82-73; Jan. 29., vs. Princeton, 65-50.

* Disturbing losses: Jan. 14., at Furman, 70-66; Feb. 4., vs. Western Carolina, 77-70.

* Top players: Brendan Winters, F/G, Sr., 17.1 ppg., 4.7 rpg; Ian Johnson, F, Sr., 15.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg.

* Scouting report: Winters scored a career-high 33 points in the conference championship game and Davidson will need him to stay hot.

* Revenue/expenses: $83,193/$1,036,838.

* Little-known fact: Fred Hetzel, who later played for the Lakers, had 53 points and 27 rebounds, both school records, in a 113-82 win over Furman on Dec. 8, 1964.

16. PLAY-IN GAME

16a. MONMOUTH

* Location: West Long Branch, N.J.

* RPI: 144.

* Record: 18-14.

* Against tournament field: 1-2.

* Away from home: 10-10.

* In last 10 games: 7-3.

* Impressive victory: Nov. 24, home vs. So. Illinois, 80-68.

* Top players: Dejan Delic, F, Jr., 12.1 ppg.

* Revenue/expenses: $1,070,813/$1,070,813

16b. HAMPTON

* Location: Hampton, Va.

* RPI: 254.

* Record: 16-15.

* Against tournament field: 0-1.

* Away from home: 7-9.

* In last 10 games: 4-6.

* Impressive victory: Feb. 6, at Howard, 75-63.

* Top players: Jaz Cowan, F, Jr., 13.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg.

* Revenue/expenses: $539,505/$811,484.

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REGIONAL BREAKDOWN

BEST FIRST-ROUND GAME

No. 8 Arizona vs. No. 9 Wisconsin

No one should be as eager to atone for recent events as the Wildcats and Badgers, whose once-promising seasons have been in steady decline. Arizona lost its regular-season finale and then flopped in the Pacific 10 Conference tournament without senior guard Hassan Adams, who was suspended after his arrest on suspicion of drunk driving. The Wildcats’ leading scorer will be back to face Wisconsin, loser of four of its last five, including a defeat against Northwestern.

UPSET IN THE MAKING

No. 11 Wisconsin Milwaukee over No. 6 Oklahoma

The Panthers, Sweet 16 participants a year ago, can rely on the experience of senior forward Joah Tucker against a Sooner team that has dropped consecutive games. All Tucker did last season was average 25.3 points in three NCAA tournament games, including upset victories over Alabama and Boston College. Wisconsin Milwaukee also won’t be intimidated by its surroundings, having qualified for the tournament in three of the last four years.

IMPACT PLAYER

Nick Fazekas, Nevada

He may not play for a brand-name school, but arguably no one comes up bigger than the 6-foot-11, 235-pound junior forward. Fazekas averages 21.8 points and 10.3 rebounds and was chosen Western Athletic Conference’s player of the year -- as a sophomore. He backed that up this season with a 35-point performance against Kansas and scored 24 against a tenacious UCLA defense. Fazekas provides an interior presence capable of propelling the Wolf Pack deep into the bracket.

THE FORECAST

Florida

Florida capitalizes on several upsets in the early rounds to reach the regional final, where it topples Villanova. The Gators are perhaps the most balanced team in the regional, with five players averaging in double figures, led by Taurean Green and Joakim Noah. And Florida appears to be hitting its stride, having won five consecutive games, including the Southeastern Conference tournament championship game against South Carolina.

Ben Bolch