Minneapolis Bracket

No. 1 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, home vs. Oklahoma, 85-74; Feb. 13, home vs. Connecticut, 69-64.
Disturbing losses: Jan. 8, home vs. West Virginia, 91-87.
Top players: Sr., Randy Foye, G, 20.1 ppg., 5.6 rpg.; Sr., Allan Ray, G, 18.1 ppg.
Scouting report: Using mostly a four-guard lineup, Jay Wright’s Wildcats understand the importance of the jump shot. And even though they are 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: The Wildcats have excelled this season even without the Big East’s choice as preseason player of the year, forward Curtis Sumpter, who had season-ending knee surgery in October.

No. 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. 16, at St. Joseph’s, 81-74; Dec. 31, home vs. LSU, 78-76; Feb. 12, home vs. Illinois, 69-53.
Disturbing losses: Jan. 7, at Indiana, 81-79; Feb. 15, at Wisconsin, 78-73.
Top players: Sr., Terence Dials, C, 15.0 ppg., 8.0 rpg.; Sr., Je’Kel Foster, G, 12.4 ppg., 40% 3-point shooting; So., Jamar Butler, G, 9.9 ppg., 4.5 apg.
Scouting report: In a conference known for defense, the Buckeyes won with a potent inside-outside offense. They 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: Buckeye Coach Thad Matta has won titles in three different conferences -- with Butler in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference, with Xavier in the Atlantic 10, and now with Ohio State in the Big Ten.

No. 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, home vs. Louisiana State, 71-62; Mar. 5, at Kentucky, 79-64.
Disturbing losses: Feb. 8, home vs. South Carolina, 71-67.
Top players: So., Joakim Noah, F, 13.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg; So., Taurean Green, G, 13.8 ppg, 4.9 apg; So., Al Horford, C, 11.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.5 apg.
Scouting report: The SEC champion Gators have great bloodlines, with the son of former French Open champion Yannick Noah and the sons of former NBA players Sidney Green and Tito Horford on the team. They won their first 17 games before a loss to at Tennessee in January, but had a three-game losing streak in February. Noah, who is 6-11, had a 37-point, 11-rebound game against Georgia. The Gators are among the national leaders in field-goal percentage and assists per game.
Revenue/expenses: $6,522,311/$4,649,529.
Little-known fact: It’s certainly not little-known in Gainesville, but since reaching the Final Four in 2000, the Gators have lost in the first or second round five consecutive years.

No. 4 Boston College
Location: Boston.
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. 26, at North Carolina, 81-74; Feb. 25, at North Carolina State, 74-72 (2OT).
Disturbing losses: Dec. 11, at Maryland, 73-71; Jan. 8, at Georgia Tech, 60-58; Feb. 21, at Virginia, 72-58.
Top players: Sr., Craig Smith, F, 17.3 ppg., 9.0 rpg.; Jr., Jared Dudley, F, 16.5 ppg., 6.8 rpg.; Jr., Sean Marshall, G/F, 11.5 ppg., 4.0 rpg.
Scouting report: This veteran team plays well together because Coach Al Skinner started the same five players in all 30 regular-season games. Smith and Dudley dominate the boards though the Eagles’ shooting touch can disappear for long stretches.
Revenue/expenses: $3,367,548/$2,532,575.
Little-known fact: Craig Smith from Los Angeles is only the second Eagle in school history to score at least 2,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds. The other was Danya Abrams, a senior in 1997.

No. 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, home vs. Georgia, 68-62; March 11, home 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: Jr., Nick Fazekas, F, 21.8 ppg., 10.3 rpg.; So., Marcelus Kemp, G, 14.4 ppg.; Sr., Mo Charlo, F, 10.3 ppg.
Scouting report: Fazekas, the conference MVP, is the focal point, but Kemp and point guard Ramon Sessions give the Wolf Pack a dynamic back court.
Revenue/expenses: $3,251,315/$1,701,425.
Little-known fact: The Wolf Pack has won 14 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in the nation behind Gonzaga’s 18.

No. 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 victories: Jan. 28, home vs. Texas, 82-72.
Disturbing losses: Dec. 22, at Oklahoma City vs. West Virginia, 92-68; Jan. 7, at Nebraska, 59-58; Jan. 10, home vs. Missouri, 71-69.
Top players: Sr., Taj Gray,position, F, 14.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg; Sr., Terrell Everett, G, 12.4 ppg, 6.7 apg; Jr., Michael Neal, G, 12.7 ppg.
Scouting report: The Sooners enter the tournament with a two-game losing streak after a 24-point loss to Texas in the regular-season finale and an upset loss to Nebraska in the Big 12 quarterfinals. Before that, Oklahoma displayed a knack for close games, going 5-2 in one-point games and winning four in a span of 10 days. Potential key performer: Neal, who shot 49.5% from three-point range in Big 12 games and has had at least five in a game six times.
Revenue/expenses: $6,214,495/$4,070,672.
Little-known fact: Kevin Bookout, a senior forward who has played with a broken bone in his left wrist since late January, is a two-time All-American in the shot put.

No. 7 Georgetown
Location: Washington, D.C.
Conference: Big East.
RPI:: 36.
Record: 20-9.
Record Against tournament field: 4-7.
Away from home: 9-7.
In last 10 games: 5-5.
Impressive victories: Dec. 3, at Oregon, 71-57; Jan. 21, home vs. Duke, 87-84.
Disturbing losses: Nov. 26, home vs. Vanderbilt, 68-61.
Top players: So., Roy Hibbert, C, 11.2 ppg., 6.6 rpg.; So., Jeff Green, F, 11.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg.; Sr., Brandon Bowman, F, 11.5 ppg., 5.1 rpg.
Scouting report: Coach John Thompson III is quickly rebuilding the Hoyas into a defensively stifling and offensively aggressive national contender. Hibbert is 7 feet 2 and has blocked 40 shots, which makes him an intimidator on defense.
Revenue/expenses: $3,213,889/$3,712,055.
Little-known fact: Before upsetting then top-ranked Duke last January, Georgetown had lost 11 straight against No. 1-ranked teams since an upset of St. John’s in 1985.

No. 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); Jan. 21, home vs. California, 60-55.
Disturbing losses: Dec. 3, at Houston, 69-65; Jan. 12, at Oregon State, 75-65; Jan. 14, at Oregon, 73-68.
Top players: Sr., Hassan Adams, G, 17.3 ppg., 5.1 rpg.; Fr., Marcus Williams, F, 12.8 ppg., 4.5 rpg.
Scouting report: Adams will be eager to make an impact. He was suspended for the Pac-10 tournament after his arrest on suspicion of drunk driving. This doesn’t appear to be one of Coach Lute Olson’s vintage Arizona 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.

No. 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, home vs. Marquette, 77-63; Jan. 8, home vs. Michigan State, 82-63; Feb. 15, home vs. Ohio State, 78-73.
Disturbing losses: Nov. 29, at Wake Forest, 91-88; Jan. 21, home vs. North Dakota State, 62-55; Feb. 4, at Purdue, 70-62.
Top players: Jr., Alando Tucker, F, 19.0 ppg., 5.8 rpg; Jr., Kamron Taylor, G, 14.2 ppg., So., Brian Butch, C, 10.0 ppg., 6.1 rpg.
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.

No. 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, Iowa, 67-63; Dec. 19, at Louisiana State, 54-50; Jan. 5, at Wichita State, 75-61, Feb. 18., home vs. Bucknell, 65-61(OT).
Disturbing losses: Jan. 11, Creighton, 55-52; Feb. 14, at Indiana State, 61-60; Mar. 4, home vs. Southern Illinois, 55-46 (OT).
Top players: Sr., Ben Jacobson, G, 14.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg.; Jr., Grant Stout, F, 12.1 ppg., 8.9 rpg.; Sr., Eric Coleman, C, 11.7 ppg., 7.1 rpg.
Scouting report: The Panthers held opponents to 55 points or fewer nine times, but they finished fifth in the conference standings and lost five of their last seven games.
Revenues/expenses: $1,198,869/$1,187,403.
Little-known fact: Northern Iowa was founded in 1876 as the Iowa State Normal School. It was also known as the Iowa State Techers College and then the State College of Iowa before adopting its current name in 1967.

No. 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; Mar. 7, at Milwaukee vs. Butler, 87-71.
Disturbing losses: Nov. 28, at Tennessee Tech, 72-67; Feb. 15, home vs. Illinois-Chicago, 94-86; Feb. 18, home vs. Missouri State, 72-63.
Top players: Sr., Joah Tucker, F, 16.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg; Sr., Boo Davis, G, 16.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg; Sr., Adrian Tigert, F, 12.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg.
Scouting report: The defensive-minded Panthers force opponents into an average of 15.5 turnovers a game while limiting them to 31.1% shooting from behind the three-point line. Tucker and Davis are reliable scorers and Tigert is solid on both ends.
Revenue/expenses: $2,270,136/$2,270,136.
Little-known fact: First-year coach Rob Jeter father, Bob, was a former Pro Bowl defensive back with the Green Bay Packers.

No. 12 Montana
Location: Missoula.
Conference: Big Sky.
RPI:: 61.
Record: 23-6.
Against tournament field: 1-1.
Away from home: 9-5.
In last 10 games: 7-3.
Impressive victories: Nov. 21, at Loyola Marymount, 81-75; Dec. 2, home vs. Stanford, 88-69; Mar. 8, at Northern Arizona, 73-60.
Disturbing losses: Nov. 18, at Boise State, 90-69; Feb.4, at Idaho State, 95-70; Feb. 25, at Portland State, 93-92.
Top players: So., Andrew Strait, C/F, 16.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg; Jr., Kevin Criswell, G, 16.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg; Sr., Virgil Mathews, F, 10.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.0 apg.
Scouting report: Thanks to the emergence of freshman Jordan Hasquet, the Grizzlies got hot in the conference tournament and knocked off top-seeded Northern Arizona in the championship game. Hasquet, who averaged 7.6 points and 4.1 rebounds during the regular season, had 20 points and 13 rebounds in the title game.
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. Krystkowiak is also Montana’s all-time leader with 2,017 points and 1,105 rebounds.

No. 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: Sr., Christian Maraker, F, 17.2 ppg, 8.9 rpg; Sr., Johnny Gray, G, 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 consecutive year -- and has won a first-round game each of the last two. The Tigers upset Pittsburgh last season before losing to Washington, and two years ago defeated Providence before losing to Kansas. Maraker, a versatile 6-9 player from Sweden, is the only starter back from last season’s team, but the Tigers withstood a challenge from high-scoring Long Beach in the Big West final.
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.

No. 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; Mar. 7, at Murfreesboro, Tenn. vs. Western Kentucky, 95-70.
Disturbing losses: Nov. 22., at Purdue, 85-67; Jan. 21., home vs. Western Kentucky, 74-73; Jan. 26., at Denver, 69-60; Jan. 4, at Tennessee, 87-69.
Top players: Sr., Mario Jointer, G, 13.5 ppg.; Sr., Richard Law, F, 11.2 ppg.; Sr., Chey Christie, G, 9.1 ppg.
Scouting report: Christie sat out last season after transferring from Clemson, but he was the 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, who were 14-14, 12-16 and 10-18 in Coach John Pelphrey’s first three seasons, are making their first NCAA tournament appearance since 1998.

No. 15 Davidson
Location: Davidson, N.C.
Conference: Southern.
RPI:: 94.
Record: 20-10.
Against tournament field: 0-2.
Away from home: 6-9.
In last 10 games: 7-3.
Impressive victories: Nov. 26., home vs. St. Josephs, 100-94; Dec. 7., home vs. Missouri, 82-73; Jan. 29., home vs. Princeton, 65-50; Mar. 5, at Charleston, S.C. vs. Chattanooga, 80-55.
Disturbing losses: Nov. 19., at Duke, 84-55; Jan. 14., at Furman, 70-66; Feb. 4., home vs. Western Carolina, 77-70.
Top players: Sr., Brendan Winters, F/G, 17.1 ppg., 4.7 rpg; Sr., Ian Johnson, F, 15.7 ppg., 6.2 rpg.; Sr., Jason Morton , G, 10.9 ppg.
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: Former Laker Fred Hetzel scored 53 points and had 27 rebounds -- both school records -- in a 113-82 victory over Furman, Dec. 8, 1964.

Play-in No. 16 Monmouth
Location: West Long Branch, N.J.
Conference: Northeast.
RPI:: 144.
Record: 18-14.
Against tournament field: 0-3.
Away from home: 10-10.
In last 10 games: 7-3.
Impressive victories: Nov. 24, home vs. Southern Illinois, 80-68; Feb. 20, home vs. Farleigh Dickinson, 96-89 (OT), Mar. 8, at Hackensack, N.J. vs. Farleigh Dickinson, 49-48.
Disturbing losses: Jan. 5, home vs. Robert Morris, 87-75; Jan. 26, at Robert Morris, 73-65; Feb. 27, at Farleigh Dickinson, 79-62.
Top players: Jr., Dejan Delic, F, 12.1 ppg.; Jr., Marques Alston, F, 12.0 ppg., ,5.3 rpg,; Sr., Tyler Azzarelli, G, 9.3 ppg.
Scouting report: Monmouth rebounded from a 2-7 start and earned its NCAA tournament bid when Chris Kenny drove the length of the court after a missed free throw to score with two seconds left against Fairleigh Dickinson.
Revenue/expenses: $1,070,813/$1,070,813
Little-known fact: Northeast Conference teams are 0-23 in NCAA first-round games.

Play-in No. 16 Hampton
Location: Hampton, Va.
Conference: Mid-Eastern Athletic.
RPI:: 254.
Record: 16-15.
Against tournament field: 1-2.
Away from home: 7-9.
In last 10 games: 4-6.
Impressive victories: Feb. 6, at Howard, 75-63; Feb. 24, at South Carolina State, 69-64; Mar. 11, at Raleigh, N.C. vs. Delaware State, 60-56.
Disturbing losses: Dec. 18, at Yale, 71-52; Feb. 13, home vs. Coppin State, 79-72; Mar. 1, home vs. Florida A&M, 73-65.
Top players: Jr., Jaz Cowan, F, 13.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg; Sr., Bruce Brown, C, 10.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg; Sr., Jeff Granger, G, 11.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg.
Scouting report: The Pirates lost five of their last six regular season games but got hot in the MEAC tournament, defeating defending champion Delaware State in the championship game. Cowan and Granger are playing their best basketball of the season and Brown is a big man capable of dominating a game.
Revenue/expenses: $539,505/$811,484.
Little-known fact: As a No. 15-seed in 2001, Hampton upset second-seeded Iowa State in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The Pirates have earned the MEAC’s automatic tournament bid three times over the last six seasons.