ATS Sports Blog

Here is a preview of the NCAA Tournament, taking a look at the first-round games and some key matchups.

#1 Seeds: Kansas, Syracuse, Duke, Kentucky Midwest (St. Louis):

Midwest (St. Louis)
In Oklahoma City, Kansas (32-2) wins the Big 12 tournament and gets a number one seed but in a tough bracket. They do have it all in terms of experience, size and depth. They have two points guards in Sherron Collins and Tyshawn Taylor and a big in junior Cole Aldrich (6-11, 245). They also have a terrific freshman in Xavier Henry (6-6, 220), who averages around 14ppg. They face Lehigh (22-10), a high scoring team from the Patriot League. Lehigh averages 75ppg, but they allow 70ppg. Senior PG Marquis Hall (6-0, 190) will need to control the tempo and slow it down some against Jayhawks. He averages 11ppg and 5.7apg. Their biggest player is freshman Gabe Knutson (6-9, 215), who will need help stopping Aldrich. #8 UNLV (25-8) will face #9 Northern Iowa (28-4), with the winner facing Kansas. Both schools are tough as Northern Iowa tries to spread out the defense and relies on the three-point shot (43%). They have a huge senior center in Jordan Eglseder (7-0, 280), who averages 12ppg and 7.3rpg and he can play. Freshman PG Kwadzo Ahelegbe (10.7ppg) is a quick penetrator and loves to drive and kick. Senior Adam Koch (6-8, 255) provides more muscle inside. UNLV is an excellent defensive team, that allows just 63.6pg. Junior Tre’Von Willis (6-4, 195) leads the team in scoring at 17.7ppg, but shoots just 29.8% from beyond the arc. Senior Darris Santee (6-8, 225) is a little undersized as a center and is just a role player.

#13 New Mexico State (22-11) will face #5 Michigan State (23-8) in Spokane, Washington. New Mexico State could be a sleeper here if they can play defense (77.8ppg allowed). They want to push it up the floor use their 2-3 zone and press to make it a full court game. Sophomore Hamidu Rahman (6-11, 255) gives them size and rebounding (10.5ppg, and 8.1rpg). Junior Jahmar Young (6-5, 180) is an explosive scorer who averages 20.5ppg and 3.2apg. They don’t want to get into a halfcourt game against Michigan State (63.7ppg), a physical team that is usually well-coached. Soph. Delvon Roe (6-8, 230) and senior Raymar Morgan (6-8, 240) provide the muscle inside. Junior Kalin Lucas (14.8ppg, 3.9apg) sets the tempo and has got great quick quickness. This is not a deep MSU team so they may not be in for a long run if they got by NM State, which is not a given. The other game should be a high-scoring one as #4 Maryland (23-8) takes on #13 Houston (19-15). Houston averages 78 ppg but allows 74.6ppg. Tom Pender’s squad did win the C-USA Tournament and his small, but quick team can do some damage. They also have the nation’s leading scorer in Aubrey Coleman (6-4, 200), who averages 26ppg and 7.3rpg. He’ll likely be matched up against Maryland’s Sean Mosley (6-4, 210), the team’s best defender, who also averages 10.8ppg and 5.3rpg. But the biggest edge Maryland has is inside with freshman Jordan Williams (6-10, 260), who averages 9.5ppg and 8.3rpg and has great hands. Senior Greivis Vasquez (19.6ppg, 6.3apg) is a Wooden Award nominee who can take this team far if he’s on his game.

In Providence, #6 Tennessee (25-8) takes on #11 San Diego State (25-8). The Aztecs allow just 61.8ppg led by head coach Steve Fisher, who knows how to win tournament games back from his days at Michigan. They have a balanced team with some decent size led by junior small forward Billy White (6-8, 235), who averages 10.6ppg, while freshman Kawhi Leonard (6-7, 225) adds 12.6pp and 9.6rpg. He has great hands and plays bigger than his size. The Vols could be in trouble here if they don’t rebound. The Vols can beat anybody on a given night (Kansas and Kentucky), but can also lose. Bobby Maze (6-3, 195) is a solid point guard, who averages 9.5ppg. Up front, senior Wayne Chism (6-9, 246) adds 12.4ppg and 6.8rpg, while junior Brian Williams (6-10, 278) adds size. They lack great depth and that could be their undoing. The other game here features #3 Georgetown (23-10) vs. #14 Ohio U. (21-14). Ohio averages 74ppg and shocked everybody by winning the MAC Tournament with a 7-9 conference record. They did win 21 overall games and are led by guard Armon Bassett (16.9ppg, 3.5apg). The Bobcats don’t have a lot of size and that’s not a good sign going up against a big Georgetown team. The Hoyas feature solid guards and two bigs in Julian Vaughn (6-9, 247) and sophomore Greg Monroe (6-11, 247). Monroe averages 16ppg, 9.6rpg and 3.6apg. He’s one of the best passing big men in the country, while junior point guard Chris Wright (6-1, 208) adds 14.2ppg and 4apg. Junior Austin Freeman (6-3, 227) leads the team in scoring at 17.3ppg and just found he had diabetes, which slowed him down earlier, but now is under control.

In Milwaukee, #7 Oklahoma State (22-10) and #10 Georgia Tech (22-12) face off in a very interesting contest. Georgia Tech underachieved most of the season, but got to the ACC Final, which helped them slide in the tournament. Freshman Derrick Favors (6-10, 246) is a developing big man who averages 11.9ppg and 8.4rpg. They have great size and solid depth, but their guard play can be iffy and they are turnover-prone. Sophomore Iman Shumpert (6-5, 209) leads the way with 10ppg and 4apg. They are a pretty good defensive team, that allows just 65.6ppg. They face a smaller Oklahoma State team led by strong guard play. Junior James Anderson (6-6, 210) is one of the best wings in the country, who averages 22.9ppg and 6rpg. But up front, they lack size as junior Matt Pilgrim (6-8, 235), who averages 8.1ppg and 6.9rpg, will need help against Favors. They’ll need to pressure GT into turning the ball over. The other game features #2 Ohio State (27-7) vs. #15 UC Santa Barbara (20-9). The Gauchos want to slow this game down and make it a halfcourt game. They are small up front, with soph. Jamie Serna (6-7, 235) starting at center and averaging 7.9ppg. Soph. Orlando Johnson (6-5, 205) leads in scoring at 17.9, while soph. James Nunnally (6-5, 205) adds 14.9ppg and 5.7rpg from the power forward spot. Johnson was Big West Player of the Year, but can he stop Evan Turner (6-7, 210)? Turner plays the point for Ohio State, averaging 19.5ppg and 9.4rpg with 5.8apg. The only thing Turner doesn’t do is shoot the three well (29%). Junior Jon Diebler (6-6, 210) is a dead-eye three-point shooter (42%), while they have some size up front with junior Dallas Lauderdale (6-8, 260, 7.2ppg, 5.2rpg). The bench is pretty deep but this is not a tall team when junior David Light (6-5, 225) is your power forward, who averages just 4.6prg. But he does get into opponents’ grill with his defense.

West (Salt Lake City):
In Buffalo, #1 Syracuse (28-4) is close to home, playing #16 Vermont (25-9). There is some concern for the Orange, who average 81ppg and allow just 66.9ppg. Senior C Arinze Onuaku (6-9, 261, 10.7ppg) is coming off a left knee strain and may not play the opener. If they don’t have him against Gonzaga or especially a big Florida State team, that could hurt. Fortunately Syracuse is loaded and can move junior Rick Jackson (6-9, 240, 7rpg) to center. They also have a great player in junior Wes Johnson (6-7, 205), who averages 15.7ppg and 8.5rpg, and was Big East Player of the Year. Senior guard Andy Rautins (6-4, 195) runs the show, averaging 11.6ppg and 4.8apg., while shooting 39% from the 3-point arc. Vermont is back in the tournament after winning the America East at home. This is one of the smallest teams in the field, with senior Marqus Blakely (6-5, 225) basically playing center. He’s incredibly effective, averaging 17.2ppg and 9.1rpg and is a great athlete. The rest of the team lacks athleticism, though senior Maurice Joseph (6-4, 190, 14.1ppg), a Michigan State transfer, can flat-out play. The other game features #8 Gonzaga (26-6) against #9 Florida State (22-9). Not many teams can match up with FSU’s size, but Gonzaga can. Soph. Robert Sacre (7-0, 247) is a big defensive presence averaging 10.2ppg and 5.3rpg. They can also bring off freshman Kelly Olynyk (6-11, 215) off the bench. But the key for the Zags is senior guard Matt Bouldin (6-5, 224), who averages 16ppg and is the WCC Player of the Year. Junior guard Steven Gray (6-5, 208) is another quality player, who averages 13.5ppg. FSU is an outstanding defenisve team, that allows just 60.2ppg, yet they are very young and guard play can be a problem. Soph. Soloman Alabi (7-1, 251) blocks everything in his size, averaging 11.6ppg, 6.1rpg and 2.3bpg. Even their backcourt is big, averaging 8.3ppg and 3.9apg. The key is soph. Chris Singleton (6-9, 227), who averages 10.4ppg and 7.2rpg, but needs more consistency.

In San Jose, #5 Butler (28-4) takes on #12 UTEP is another mid-major matchup. They are led by soph. Gordon Hayward (15.4ppg, 8.5rpg), one of the best players in the country. They struggle with athletic teams, especially those who can rebound. Soph. guard Shelvin Mack (6-3, 215) is an athletic defender, who can also score at the rim. UTEP allows just 64.2ppg and has the size to keep up with most high-major teams. But they tend to blow games late. Junior Randy Culpepper (6-0, 165) leads the way in the backcourt with 18ppg and 1.8spg. Up front, junior Derrick Caracter (6-9, 275) is a Louisville transfer who averages 13.8ppg and 8rpg. He should be even more dominant than he is. This is a very dangerous at-large team. The other game features #4 Vanderbilt (24-8) vs. #13 Murray State (30-4). The Racers allow just 60.5ppg and use their quickness to beat teams. However, they are small, led by senior center Tony Easley (6-9, 200), who averages 2.7bpg, along with 10.4ppg. Junior Isaac Miles (6-2, 205) runs the show, averaging 9.5ppg and 3.8apg. They play three guards who can penetrate at any given moment. Vandy has the big size advantage here led by junior center A.J. Oglivy (6-11, 255), who averages 13.9ppg and 6.2rpg. Senior guard Jermaine Beal (6-3, 205) leads the team in scoring at 14.7ppg and is a very heady player. This is a well-balanced team that will have problems against teams that can run and rebound.

In Milwaukee, #11 Minnesota (21-13) faces #6 Xavier (24-8). Minnesota has to be the most dangerous #11 seed. They got tired against Ohio State in the final, but making it there put them in. Up front, sophomores Colten Iveron (6-10, 258) and Ralph Sampson III (6-11, 241) add size and rebounding. However, this team lacks can’t consistently stop people. They want to make it a halfcourt affair. Senior Lawrence Westbrook (6-0, 193) leads the way with 12.9ppg, while shooting 42.5% from beyond the arc. Xavier is a high-scoring team, who averaged 80ppg and shot 37% from beyond the arc. They have an outstanding young player in soph. Jordan Crawford (6-4, 195), who averaged 19.7ppg and once dunked over LeBron in a camp. Senior Jason Love (6-9, 265) is huge, who averages 11.9ppg and 8.6rpg and shoots 58% from the field. This is a good team, but not as deep as in year’s past. #3 Pittsburgh (24-8) takes on #14 Oakland (26-8) in the other matchup. Pitt is another balanced, half-court team led by soph. guard Ashton Gibbs (6-2, 190), who averages 16.2ppg and is the go-to-guy. Up front, junior Gary McGhee (6-10, 250) is a solid role player, who averages 7.2ppg and 7rpg. Their best defender is senior Jermaine Dixon (6-3, 200), who averages 10.7ppg and is the younger brother of Juan. Oakland is out of the Summit League and this is the second trip to the dance. They love to run and will attempt to push it against bigger and slower Pitt team. Junior center Keith Benson (6-11, 221) averages 17ppg and 10.5rpg and is a good shot blocker. Senior guard Jonathan Jones (5-11, 160) is the facilitator who averages 12.4ppg and leads in assists with 6.4apg. The backcourt is outstanding and they could surprise if they make their treys.

In Oklahoma City, #7 BYU (29-5) takes on #10 Florida (21-12), while #2 Kansas State (26-7) faces #15 North Texas (24-8). BYU averages 82ppg and have one of the best guards in the nation in junior Jimmer Fredette (6-2, 195). He leads with 20.6ppg and 4.7apg, while shooting 47% from beyond the arc. He has been battling mono and at one point strep. Up front, senior Chris Miles (6-11, 235) and senior forward Noah Nartsock (6-8, 215) are solid bigs who run the floor and set screens. This is a deeper and more athletic BYU team than in recent years. Florida barely made the tournament, but they do have an exciting team led by soph. guard Erving Walker (5-8, 171), who averages 12.6ppg and 5apg. They have an excellent backcourt and junior Vernon Macklin (6-10, 240), a Georgetown transfer who averages 10.6ppg and 5.6rpg, but doesn’t play as big as his size. Their bench is weak and their three-point shooting is erratic. North Texas had a strong year with 24 wins and this is a talented team that people shouldn’t take for granted. Junior guard Josh White (5-10, 170) is small but quick and has no fear (14.9ppg, 3.6apg). Up front, junior George Odufuwa (6-8, 240) is a great athlete and rebounder (11.5ppg, 10.4rpg), while junior Tristan Thompson (6-4, 190, 14pg) is a deadly shooter. Kansas State could have their hands full here. But they have an excellent guard in senior Denis Clemente (6-1, 175) who averages 16ppg and is very fast in the open court. Up front, senior Luis Colon (6-10, 265) adds size, as does junior Curtis Kelly (6-8, 250, 11.4ppg). This team loves to go to the boards and leads the nation in free throws attempted.

East (Syracuse):
In New Orleans, #1 Kentucky (32-2) faces #16 East Tennessee State, while #8 Texas (24-9) takes on #9 Wake Forest (19-10). ETSU averages just 69ppg and will need their matchup zone to help against Kentucky. Murry Bartow, son of Gene, is a solid coach. Last year, they scare Pitt as #16. They are small, with a 6-8, 210-pound center in Isiah Brown (7.7ppg, 5.6rpg). Junior power forward Tommy Hubbard (6-4, 210) leads in scoring at 14.1ppg and 8.3rpg. Kentucky is loaded with talent and superstars led by freshman PG John Wall (6-4, 195), who averages 16.8ppg and 6.apg. The team plays great defense and has great size, led by freshman DeMarcus Cousins (6-11, 270, 15.6ppg, 10.1rpg). The only thing they lack is experience and they could struggle against zone defenses, because they aren’t a great jumpshooting team. Texas averages 81ppg, but they have struggled with consistency. They lack at the point guard spot where freshman Avery Bradley (11.7ppg) takes over for Dogus Balbay (knee), who is out for the year. Up front, senior Damion James (6-7, 225) is one of the best in the Big 12, averaging 17.7ppg and 10.2rpg. Senior Dexter Pittman (6-10, 290) is a beast in the middle. Speaking of consistency, some felt Wake Forest is better suited to the NIT. Wake has underachieved on league play, yet they are very talented. Senior guard Ishmael Smith (6-0, 175) is the quickest player in the ACC, and averages 13.3ppg and 6apg, but can’t shoot past 15 feet. F Al-Farouq Aminu (6-9, 215) is an NBA lottery pick, who averages 15.9ppg and 10.8rpg, but is a turnover machine. Senior C Chris McFarland (7-0, 245) is a battler, but this team won’t go anywhere if they can’t find some perimeter shooting.

At Jacksonville, #5 Temple (29-5) takes on #12 Cornell (27-4), while #4 Wisconsin (23-8) faces #13 Wofford (26-8). Cornell is a scary team to play because they have four seniors who start and a legit big man in Jeff Foote (7-0, 265), who averages 12.3ppg, 8.2rpg, and 1.9bpg. Senior wing Ryan Wittman (6-7, 215) leads the way with 17.5ppg and makes 42% of his treys. This is a great shooting team from the perimeter, so Temple, who is now a man-to-man team, better get out on the shooters. Fran Dunphy knows about Ivy League basketball, having coached at Penn. His Temple team has won 10 straight and is 12-3 away from Philadelphia. Soph. point guard Juan Fernandez (6-4, 180), is a tremendous player, who averages 12.2ppg who can dish it our drill it from deep (45% 3pt). Up front, soph. Michael Erc (6-11, 240) is improving, while junior Lavoy Allen (6-9, 225) is a rebounding machine (11.7ppg, 10.8rpg). They also have a great bench led by soph. Ramon Moore (6-4, 180, 7.6ppg), the A10’s Sixth Man of the Year. #13 Wofford is out of the Southern Conference and they run a solid halfcourt offense, averaging 69ppg and they allow just 61.2ppg. But they are very small with two 6-6 post players going up against a huge team. They’ll need junior Noah Dahlman (6-6, 215, 16.8ppg) to create matchup problems and outquick his opponents. Wisconsin plays tough defense, allowing just 56.2ppg, but at times, Wisky can’t score (67ppg) and that hurts them in postseason tournaments. When they go into droughts, they can’t get out of it. The key is junior Jon Leuer (6-10, 240), coming back from an injury, who averages 14.9ppg and 5.7rpg. The backcourt is strong, led by senior Trevon Hughes (6-0, 193, 15.4ppg).

In San Jose, #6 Marquette (22-11) takes on #11 Washington (24-9), while #3 New Mexico (29-4) faces #14 Montana (22-9). Washington won the Pac-10 tournament, by playing fast and averaging 79ppg. Soph. Isaiah Thomas (5-8, 185) is a dynamic scorer despite the lack of height, averaging 17.1ppg, but is playing with a broken bone in his left shooting hand. Up front, junior Matthew Bryan-Amaning (6-9, 240) is tough and gives the team physical play, while senior Quincy Poindexter (6-6, 215, 19.8ppg), makes up for his lack of size with great leaping ability. Marquette has great guards as usual and they lack size, with senior Lazar Haywood (6-6, 225, 18ppg), their biggest and best player. Soph guard Darius Johnson-Odom (6-2, 200) adds 12.9ppg and shoots 48% from beyond the arc. This is a difficult team to play, but Washington is one of the few squads that can match their quickness. Montana loves to heave the trey, as they make 40% of them this year. They can hang with big teams because they have two quality big men in junior Brian Ovale (6-11, 265, 9.7ppg, 6.9rpg) and soph. Derek Selvig (7-0, 250, 5.9ppg, 5rpg). Senior guard Anthony Johnson (6-3, 210) leads the Grizz in scoring with 19.6ppg and scored 42 in the Big Sky Championship game. New Mexico, led by head coach Steve Alford, plays an aggressive man-to-man defense. They also play up-tempo led by junior guard Dairese Gary (6-1, 205), who averages 12.4ppg and 4apg. Up front, soph. A.J. Hardeman (6-8, 225) sets good screens and is quick for a big man. Junior Darington Hobson (6-7, 250) leads in scoring with 15.8ppg, assists (4.6apg) and rebounds with 9.1rpg.

#7 Clemson (21-10) faces #10 Missouri (22-10) and #2 West Virginia (27-6) takes on #15 Morgan State (27-9) in Buffalo. Missouri was shocked by Nebraska in the Big 12 Tournament by 16, but did win 10 games in the conference. This team wants to get out and run (77.6ppg) and they have the balanced scoring to do led by Kim English, who averages 13.9ppg. Keith Ramsey (6-9, 217) gives them some size, but they want to outquick their opponents and not stay in a halfcourt game. Clemson is a halfcourt team that wants to dominate people inside. Senior Trevor Booker (6-7, 240) leads the way with 15.3ppg and 8.3rpg. The guard player is average at best. Junior Demontez Stitt (6-2, 175, 11.2ppg) is key. It’s all about defense for Clemson in a battle of Tigers. Morgan State is back in the tournament led by a solid inside-out combination. Reggie Holmes (6-4, 180) is Mr. Outside, who averages 21.8ppg and shoots 37% from 3-point range. Soph. Kevin Thompson (6-9, 240) is a beast inside, who averages 12.8ppg and 11.9rpg and has low post moves. But the Bears will have their hands full against West Virginia. Soph Kevin Jones (6-8, 250, 13.5ppg, 7.4rpg) has the size to counter Thompson, while senior Da’Sean Butler (6-7, 230) is the star, averaging 17.2ppg and 6.3rpg. He’s a tough matchup because of his size for a two-guard.

South (Houston):
#1 Duke (29-5) takes on the winner of Ark-Pine Bluff/Winthrop in Jacksonville. APB averages 64ppg and allows 64.7ppg. Their point guard Terrance Calvin (6-2, 170, 10.4ppg, 4apg) will have his hands full if they get by Winthrop. The Eagles are offensively inept, averaging just 62ppg and they shoot just 38% from the field. They win with defense, allowing just 61.4ppg. They have just one double digit scorer in soph. point guard Reggie Middleton (6-1, 190), who averages 10.3ppg. Duke gets the first seed and the easiest draw. Hard to believe, though Duke did win a watered down ACC (with North Carolina down). Duke defends and rebounds, but they really can stroke it led by senior Jon Scheyer (6-5, 190, 18.9ppg, 5.2apg) and junior guard Nolan Smith (17.6ppg, 3apg). The big issue is lack of athleticism, especially up front where senior Brian Zoubek (7-1, 260, 5.4ppg, 7.3rpg) is very productive, but slow. #8 California (23-10) takes on #9 Louisville (20-12) in the other game in Jacksonville. Cal made it as the only at-large team from the Pac-10. It all starts with senior guard Jerome Randle (5-10, 172), who averages 18.7ppg and 4.5apg. They have decent size, led by senior center Jamal Boykin (6-8, 240), who averages 11.7ppg and 6.7rpg. But they can be overpowered by big teams. Louisville has some size, led by soph. Samardo Samuels (6-9, 260), who averages 15.3ppg and 7rpg. On any given night, they can beat a Syracuse at home and on the road. They can also lose at St. John’s. The big issue for Louisville is a go-to perimeter scorer and if they can’t get teams to turn the ball over with their pressure defense.

In Spokane, Wash., #5 Texas A&M (23-9) takes on #12 Utah State (27-7), while #4 Purdue (27-5) faces #13 Siena (27-6). Utah State allowed just 59.6ppg and has a very efficient offense, that shoots 49% from the floor. Junior Nate Bendall (6-9, 245) is a solid big man, who can face-up and score (10.4ppg). Junior power forward Taj Wesley (6-7, 240) leads in scoring with 13.6ppg and rebounds at 6.6rpg. Their patient offense isn’t built to come back from a big deficit. Texas A&M is another steady halfcourt team, who shoots 44% from the field and allows just 64.9ppg. Senior guard Donald Sloan (6-3, 205, 17.9ppg) leads the way from the backcourt. Up front, senior big man Bryan Davis (6-9, 250) adds 10ppg and 8rpg. They are just one of six teams who have won at least one tournament game the last four years. Siena is a very scary #13 seed, who averages 75ppg and allows 65.3ppg. This isn’t new for the Saints as they’ve made three straight NCAA appearances. They have three seniors in the starting lineup led by Alex Franklin (6-5, 226), who is the MAAC Player of the Year. He averaged 16.3ppg and 8rpg, but the key is junior center Ryan Rossiter (6-9, 234), who averages 13.9pp and 11.1rpg. He’s tough to handle because he can shoot the jumper and face. Purdue comes into this tournament without second-leading scorer Robbie Hummel (15.7ppg, 6.9rpg), who is out with a knee injury. Senior Keaton Grant (6-4, 201) will have to look for his offense in place of Hummel. Junior E’Twaun Moore (6-4, 184) leads the team in scoring with 16.7ppg, but is lacking on the defensive end. In New Orleans, #6 Notre Dame (23-11) faces #11 Old Dominion (26-8), while #3 Baylor (25-7) takes on #14 Sam Houston State (25-7). Notre Dame was awfully feisty in making the Big Dance, when they were on the proverbial bubble. They need to win without Luke Harangody (6-8, 246, 23.3ppg, 9.7rpg), who was out with a knee injury and they did. Harangody is back now, but the team has gone to a very deliberate style of offense. That benefits players like junior Tim Abromaitis (6-8, 235), a great shooter, who makes 45% of his treys. Senior Troy Jackson (5-11, 195) runs the point and has done a nice job slowing the tempo down. Senior Ben Hansbrough (6-3, 206) is a pure shooter (12ppg, 4.5apg) and is nothing like his brother Tyler, the inside bruiser. Old Dominion has the size up front and speedy guards to compete with anybody. They allowed just 57.1ppg and win with defense. Senior F Gerald Lee (6-9, 250) leads the team in scoring with 14.6ppg, though he is more of a face-the basket four. Junior Frank Hassell (6-8, 245, 8.9ppg) might be forced to defend Harangody in a matchup of physical players. Junior Darius James (6-1, 170) runs the show, averaging 7.1ppg and 3.4apg. Soph. Kent Bazemore (6-5, 190) is a powerful two guard and excellent defender. Sam Houston averages 79ppg and they want to turn every game into a track meet. Their lack of size will hurt them against Baylor, who has quickness and size. Senior guard Corey Allmond (6-1, 180) leads the backcourt with 15.9ppg, while junior center Gilberto Clavell (6-6, 210) averaged 16.9ppg and 6.3rpg. They are not a half-court team. Baylor won four of their last five games led by guard LaceDarius Dunn (6-4, 205), who averages 19.4ppg. Senior guard Tweety Carwter (5-11, 185) adds 15.7ppg and 6.1apg. The key is big man Ekpe Udoh (6-10, 240), who averages 13.9ppg, 9.8rpg and 3.9bpg, but will have trouble staying with Clavell. In Providence, #7 Richmond (26-8) takes on #10 St. Mary’s (26-5), while #2 Villanova (24-7) faces #15 Robert Morris (23-11). Richmond is a very scary team because they play a Princeton-style offense and spread the floor. Senior guard David Gonzalvez (6-4, 205, 14.3ppg) is their best defender, while they have size inside with junior Dan Geriot (6-9, 255), 7ppg). Junior guard Kevin Anderson (6-0, 170, 17.8ppg) knows how to get to the line and converts. St. Mary’s wants to run in this game. They allow 66ppg and put up 79. Senior Omar Samhan (6-11, 265) leads the team in scoring at 20.9ppg and rebounds at 11rpg. They have a huge front line as Ben Allen (6-11, 250) plays alongside Samhan. The key is junior Mikey McConnell (6-0, 175) at the point who averages 13.7ppg and 5.3apg. The team does rely on the 3-ball and when that doesn’t fall, they are in trouble. Robert Morris won the Northeast Conference and they rely on a solid defense, which allows 65.7ppg. They definitely want to slow it down against Villanova and hope that freshman point guard Karon Abraham (5-9, 150) can slow the tempo down. He averages 13.4ppg, but will have issues against Nova’s quick guards. Senior Dallas Green (6-8, 210) is a lanky center who defends and rebounds. Villanova averages 82ppg, but they allow 72.9ppg. Their guards are great, but when they don’t defend, they can lose in the early on. Senior guard Scottie Reynolds leads the way with 18.8ppg and 3.4apg. Junior Corey Fisher (6-1, 185, 13.6ppg, 4apg) can drive, dish or score. They need some production from freshman Mouphtaou Yarou (6-10, 250), who averages just 14.3mpg. They do have a great bench, led by Corey Stokes (9ppg) and Duke transfer Taylor King (7.7ppg, 5.8rpg), who could meet up with his old team in the Elite Eight.

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