1. Kansas
Record: 29-5(14-4 Big 12)Coach: Bill Self (505-163, 20 seasons; 298-58, 10 at Kansas)Tournament record: 93-40Last tournament appearance: 2012Bid: Automatic RPI: 5Key players:G Ben McLemore (16.7 ppg); C Jeff Withey (4.0 bpg)Best win: 74-66 at Ohio StateWorst loss: 66-55 at TCUScouting the Jayhawks: KU is coming off a ninth consecutive regular-season Big 12 championship and its ninth conference tournament championship in 16 years. The Jayhawks lead the nation with 13 wins over the RPI top 50 but also have one of the country's most curious losses, a 62-55 loss Feb. 6 to TCU, ranked 237 in the RPI.2. GeorgetownRecord: 25-6 (14-4 in the Big East)Coach: John Thompson III (275-120, 209-88 in nine at Georgetown)Tournament record: 7-7Last tournament appearance: 2012Bid: At-large. RPI; 10Key players: SF Otto Porter, Jr. (16.4 ppg); G Markel Starks(12.5 ppg.)Best win: 53-51 vs. LouisvilleWorst loss: 61-58 at South FloridaScouting the Hoyas: Porter might be the most complete player this season in college basketball. The Hoyas' deliberate, Princeton-style offense is effective in the NCAA tournament, when games slow and there are fewer transition baskets. Holding Syracuse to 47 points shows how stifling Georgetown's defense can be.3. FloridaRecord: 26-7 (20-2 in the SEC)Coach: Billy Donovan (447-185 in 19 seasons; 412-165 in 17 seasons at Florida)Tournament record: 32-13, 2NCAA championships (2006, 2007)Last tournament appearance: 2012Bid: At-large RPI: 6Key players: G Kenny Boynton(12.5 ppg); F Erik Murphy (53.4 pct from the field, 46.6 pct. 3-pt.)Best win: 82-49 vs. MarquetteWorst loss: 80-69 at ArkansasScouting the Gators: Good defense (No. 4 field goal percentage defense, a plus for March) and extremely balanced scoring (not as big a plus as you'd think without a superstar). Billy Donovan been worried about rebounding recently and we're not talking about bouncing back from losses.4. MichiganRecord: 26-7(12-6 Big Ten)Coach: John Beilein (668-402, 35 seasons; 117-84 six at Michigan)Tournament record: 43-22Last tournament appearance: 2012Bid: At-large RPI: 19Key players:G Trey Burke (19.2 ppg); F Glenn Robinson III (5.5 rpg)Best win: 58-57 vs. Michigan StateWorst loss: 84-78 at Penn StateScouting the Wolverines: Burke was the Big Ten player of the year and is averaging career-bests in points, assists, field-goal percentage, free-throw percentage and steals. He's the seventh Michigan sophomore to reach 1,000 career points.Michigan has won 20 games in three straight seasons. The Wolverines lost in the second round to Ohio as a No. 4 seed last year.5. Virginia CommonwealthRecord: 26-7 (12-4 in Atlantic 10)Coach: Shaka Smart (110-35 in four seasons at VCU)Tournament record: 11-11.Last tournament appearance: 2012Bid: At-large RPI: 24Key players: G Treveon Graham(15.7 ppg); G Briante Weber (2.77 steals per game), Darius Theus (2.6 steals per game)Best win: 84-52 vs. ButlerWorst loss: 86-74 at RichmondScouting the Rams: They loveHavoc at VCU. Executing Havoc, the name for the Rams' full-court pressure style of play, made the Rams national leaders in steals and turnover margin. But they're 249th in field goal percentage defense, suggesting a well-drilled team that keeps its head can pick up some easy buckets.6. UCLARecord: 25-9 (13-5, Pac-12)Coach: Ben Howland (398-205 overall, 19 seasons; 230-105 at UCLA, 10 at UCLA)Tournament record: 99-37Last tournament appearance:2011Bid: At-large RPI: 26Key players: SF ShabazzMuhammad (18.3 ppg); Larry Drew II (7.7 apg)Best win: 84-73 at ArizonaWorst loss: 70-68 vs. Cal PolyScouting the Bruins: UCLA lost freshman Jordan Adams in the semifinals of the Pac-12 Tournament when he broke his foot on the last play of the game. It's a huge blow for the Bruins.Not only can he score, but he also led the conference in steals. Lefty freshman Shabazz Muhammad is expected to be a lottery pick. The Bruins are susceptible in the middle, however, rarely playing with a true center.7. San Diego StateRecord: 22-10 (9-7 Mountain West)Coach: Steve Fisher (464-265, 22 seasons, 280-170 in 14 at San Diego State)Tournament record: 2-8Last tournament appearance: 2012Bid: At-large RPI: 32Key players:G Jamaal Franklin (16.7 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 3.2 apg), Chase Tapley (13.5 ppg)Best win: 55-34 vs. New MexicoWorst loss: 58-45 at WyomingScouting the Aztecs: Perhaps no better finishers: The Aztecs have won 91 consecutive games after leading with five minutes remaining. San Diego State is battle-tested, too, having faced seven top 25s, though going only 2-5.8. North CarolinaRecord: 24-10 (12-6 ACC)Coach: Roy Williams (699-179 in 25 seasons, 281-78 in 10 at UNC)Tournament record: 108-41Last tournament appearance: 2012Bid: at-largeRPI: 18Key players: F Reggie Bullock (14.2 ppg), G P.J. Hairston (14.3 ppg), FJames Michael McAdoo (14.4 ppg)Best win: 79-73 vs. UNLVWorst loss: 85-67 at TexasScouting the Tar Heels: Opposing teams might as well throw out what UNC did until mid-February, when the Tar Heels began using a smaller, quicker four-guard starting lineup. Going small is a decision that saved UNC's season, and led to a six-game winning streak towards the end of the season.When the Tar Heels are making their outside shots, they can play with anybody in the country. Hairston and Bullock are as capable as any shooters in the nation, and McAdoo can be formidable on the interior. Still, even after the lineup change, the Heels failed to beat their strongest competition and they enter the tournament without a real signature victory.9. VillanovaRecord: 20-12(10-8 in the Big East)Coach: Jay Wright (379-228 in 19 seasons, (257-143 in 12 at Villanova)Tournament record: 12-9Last tournament appearance: 2011Bid: At-Large. RPI: 52Key players:G JaVaughn Pinkston (13.1 ppg.) and G Ryan Arcidiacono (12.0 ppg.)Best win: 67-57 versus GeorgetownWorst loss: 75-57 versus ColumbiaScouting the Wildcats: Villanova has a knack for getting to the foul line. The Wildcats are first in Division I in both free throws attempted (26 per game) and made (19 per game). Pinkston has taken 235 free throws (7.1 per game) all by himself and three teammates have taken at least 100 this season. With that in mind, it's surprising they rank only 223rd in offensive efficiency (99 points for every 100 possessions).10. OklahomaRecord: 20-11 (11-7 Big 12)Coach: Lon Kruger (514-331, 27 seasons, 35-27, in two at OU)Tournament record: 35-26Last tournament appearance: 2009Bid: At-large RPI: 39Key players:F Romero Osby (15.8 ppg, 7 rpg), F Amath M'Baye (10.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg)Best win:77-68 vs. Oklahoma State.Worst loss:70-67 at TCUScouting the Sooners: Oklahoma struggles rebounding the basketball, settling in the middle of the pack of the Big 12 in defensive rebounds and the bottom half as an offensive rebounding team. Osby, an all-conference performer who ranked third in points-per-game in the Big 12, led the Sooners in rebounding with seven per game.11. MinnesotaRecord: 20-12 (8-10 Big Ten)Coach: Tubby Smith (510-225 in 22 seasons; 123-80 in six at Minnesota)Tournament record: 12-11Last tournament appearance: 2010Bid: At-large RPI: 34Key players: G Andre Hollins (13.9 ppg); F Trevor Mbakwe (8.7 rpg)Best win: 77-73 vs. IndianaWorst loss: 89-73 at PurdueScouting the Golden Gophers: Smith has won 20 games five times in six seasons in Minneapolis. The Gophers haven't gotten past their opening game of the NCAA Tournament since reaching the Final Four in 1997. Hollins is the best free-throw shooter in Minnesota history at 84.5 percent.12. AkronRecord: 26-6 (16-2 Mid-American)Coach: Keith Dambrot (316-160 in 15 seasons, 210-93 in nine at Akron)Tournament record: 0-3Last tournament appearance: 2011Bid: Automatic. RPI: 43Key players: C Zeke Marshall (13.1ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.7 blocks/gm), F Demetrius Treadwell (11.3 ppg, 7.9 ppg).Best win: 82-77 vs. Middle Tennessee St.Worst loss: 81-67 at Buffalo; 74-70 at Coastal CarolinaScouting the Zips: Marshall gives Akron presence in the paint as a legit 7-footer. But talk about bad timing — point guard and team leader Alex Abreu (10.3 ppg, 6.0 apg) is under indefinite suspension after being arrested this month on a charge of marijuana trafficking. That literally leaves the ball in the hands of freshman Carmelo Betancourt. The Zips, who are still seeking their first NCAA win in three tries, grabbed the auto-bid by beating Ohio for the MAC title.13. South Dakota StateRecord: 25-9 (13-3 Summit League)Coach: Scott Nagy (318-197 in 18 seasons)Tournament record: 0-1Last tournament appearance: 2012Bid: Automatic. RPI: 62Key players: G Nate Wolters (22.5ppg, 5.6 rpg, 5.8 apg); F Jordan Dykstra (12.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg).Best win: 70-65 at New MexicoWorst loss: 66-63 at HofstraScouting the Jackrabbits: The SummitLeague champ, SDSU is led by Minnesota native Wolters. A 6-5 guard well-suited to Nagy's offensive philosophy (spread the floor and get the ball to the shooters), Wolters is capable of having big games, as evidenced by the 53 he scored against IPFW this season. He's also been really good over time: through the last three seasons combined, he's the NCAA's second-leading scorer behind only Creighton's Doug McDermott.14. Northwestern StateRecord: 23-8(15-3 Southland)Coach: Mike McConathy (575-357, 29 seasons, 223-212 in 14 at Northwestern State)Tournament record: 2-2Last tournament appearance: 2006Bid: Automatic RPI: 78Key players: DeQuan Hicks (14.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg), James Hulbin (12.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg), ShamirDavis (12.3 ppg)Best win: 61-57 vs. Stephen F. AustinWorst loss: 93-78 vs. Nicholls StateScouting the Demons: Northwestern State leads the nation in offense, scoring 82 points a game, yet upset Stephen F. Austin with only 68 in the SLC championship game.15. Florida Gulf CoastRecord: 24-10 (13-5 in the Atlantic Sun)Coach: Andy Enfield (39-27 in two seasons at FGCU)Tournament record: 0-0Last tournament appearance: NeverBid: Automatic. RPI: 94Key players: G Sherwood Brown(15.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg); G Brett Comer (6.3 assists per game)Best win: 63-51 vs. Miami (FL) Worst loss: Swept by Lipscomb, 87-78 and 84-74Scouting the Eagles: Led by Bernard Thompson, fifth in the nation in steals, Gulf Coast is 18th in the nation in steals. But, the Eagles might descend in the second half or the weekend game if they get out of the first round. They've outscored opponents by 162 in the first half, 72 in the second and been outscored by 15 in overtime.16. Western KentuckyRecord: 20-15 (11-10 Sun Belt)Coach: Ray Harper (373-98, 14 seasons; 31-23 in 2 at Western Kentucky)Tournament record: 1923Last tournament appearance: 2012Bid: Automatic RPI: 150Key players:G T.J. Price (15.3 ppg); F George Fant (12.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg).Best win: 65-63 vs. Florida InternationalWorst loss: 65-52 vs. Florida AtlanticScouting the Hilltoppers: The Hilltoppers make the tournament for a second consecutive season. As they did in 2012, they had to win four consecutive games in the Sun Belt tournament to get in. Fant had 17 points and 13 rebounds in conference tournament final against Florida International.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
