ShareThisCapsule previews of the 16 NCAA East regional teams.
No.1 PITTSBURGH
Nickname: Panthers.
Location: Pittsburgh
Coach: Jamie Dixon.
Record: 28-4.
NCAA Record: 18-21.
Entry to tournament: At-large.
Best regular-season win: 76-68 at Connecticut on Feb. 16.
Key players (regular-season averages): F Sam Young (18.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg), F DeJuan Blair (15.6 ppg, fourth in nation with 12.4 rpg), G LeVance Fields (10.7 ppg, second in nation with 7.1 apg).
Did you know?: Young has a brother, Michael Spriggs, who is blind but nonetheless competes in wrestling and judo competitions and is Young's inspiration.
Outlook: Deep, talented and tough, the time is now for the Panthers to make their first Final Four appearance in 20 NCAA trips. But no team that has lost opener in its conference tourney, as Pitt did to West Virginia last week, has won an NCAA title.
No. 2 DUKE
Nickname: Blue Devils.
Location: Durham, N.C.
Coach: Mike Krzyzewski.
Record: 28-6.
NCAA record: 86-29, three championships (1991, 1992, 2001).
Entry to tournament: ACC tournament champs.
Best regular-season win: 101-91 over Wake Forest on Feb. 22.
Key players (regular-season averages): G Gerald Henderson (16.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg), F Kyle Singler (16.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg), G Jon Scheyer (14.5 ppg, 2.8 apg, 68 3-pointers).
Did you know?: Since making its 14th Final Four appearance in 2004, Blue Devils are only 5-4 in NCAA games, while losing to lower seeds (Michigan State, LSU, Virginia Commonwealth and West Virginia) in each defeat.
Outlook: Too dependent on 3-pointers falling, it's hard to see Blue Devils getting much past Sweet 16.
No. 3 VILLANOVA
Nickname: Wildcats.
Location: Villanova, Pa.
Coach: Jay Wright.
Record: 26-7
NCAA Record: 44-29, one championship (1985).
Entry to tournament: At-large.
Best regular-season win: 102-84 over Marquette on Feb. 10.
Key players (regular-season averages): G Scottie Reynolds (15.5 ppg, 3.6 apg), F Dante Cunningham (16 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.2 blocks per game), G Corey Stokes (10.8 ppg, 2.8 apg).
Did you know?: Wright is first coach to take Wildcats to five consecutive NCAA appearances since Rollie Massimino took 'Nova to seven straight from 1980-86.
Outlook: Reynolds-Cunningham is among best outside-inside combos in the field. To go far, Wright must get defense (151st in nation in scoring defense, 66.9 ppg) to tighten up.
No. 4 XAVIER
Nickname: Musketeers.
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Coach: Sean Miller.
Record: 25-7.
NCAA record: 15-19.
Entry to tournament: At-large.
Best regular-season win: 75-71 over Missouri on Nov. 29.
Key players (regular-season averages): F Derrick Brown (14.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg), G-F B.J. Raymond (13.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg), G-F C.J. Anderson (10 ppg, 5.4 rpg).
Did you know?: The Musketeers have reached the Elite Eight twice in last five years, the only A-10 team to do so over that span.
Outlook: Never wise to take Musketeers lightly, but this group does have some holes, including taking care of the ball (250th in nation with 15 turnovers per game).
No.5 FLORIDA STATE
Nickname: Seminoles.
Location: Tallahassee
Coach: Leonard Hamilton.
Record: 25-9.
NCAA record: 12-10.
Entry to tournament: At-large.
Best regular-season win: 65-61 at Clemson on Feb. 7.
Key players (regular-season averages): G Toney Douglas (21.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg), F Uche Echefu (8.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg), C Solomon Alabi (8.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.2 blocks per game).
Did you know?: This is only Seminoles' second NCAA appearance since reaching Elite Eight in 1993.
Outlook: Tenacious defenders with size (7th in nation in FG pct. defense, 38.6 pct.), the Seminoles are a tough draw. But FSU often depends too much on Douglas for scoring.
No.6 UCLA
Nickname: Bruins.
Location: Los Angeles.
Coach: Ben Howland.
Record: 25-8
NCAA record: 98-35, 11 championships (1964, 1965, 1967-73, 1975, 1995).
Entry to tournament: At-large.
Best regular-season win: 85-76 over Washington on Feb. 19.
Key players (regular-season averages): G Darren Collison (14.5 ppg, 4.9 apg), G-F Josh Shipp (14.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg), C-F Alfred Aboya (9.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg).
Did you know?: The Bruins' 11 national titles are most in the nation. Last year's third consecutive Final Four trip was UCLA's 17th, tied with North Carolina for the most in Final Four appearances.
Outlook: The Bruins (who lead nation with 50.3 FG pct.) aim for fourth consecutive Final Four trip, which would be longest run since Duke's five from 1988-92. But quality opponents are suddenly scoring against the usually-stingy UCLA defense (230th in FG pct. defense, 44.4 pct., after finishing 74th last year) -- and that's not a good sign in March.
No.7 TEXAS
Nickname: Longhorns.
Location: Austin
Coach: Rick Barnes.
Record: 22-11
NCAA record: 32-29.
Entry to tournament: At-large
Best regular-season win: 73-68 over Oklahoma on Feb. 21.
Key players (regular-season averages): G A.J. Abrams (16.3 ppg, 95 3-pointers), G-F Damion Jones (15.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg), F Gary Johnson (10.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg).
Did you know?: Barnes has taken Longhorns to 11 consecutive NCAA Tournaments, a streak 7 years longer than any other coach in UT history.
Outlook: Abrams, Jones are superb talents, but they can only carry the 'Horns so far.
No.8 OKLAHOMA STATE
Nickname: Cowboys.
Location: Stillwater.
Coach: Travis Ford.
Record: 22-11
NCAA record: 37-21 two championships (1945, 1946).
Entry to tournament: At-large.
Best regular-season win: 68-59 over Texas on Feb. 28.
Key players (regular-season averages): G-F James Anderson (18.6 ppg, 80 3-pointers), G Byron Eaton (14.1 ppg), G Obi Muonelo (12.6).
Did you know?: A fine guard who played in Final Four for Kentucky in 1993, Ford had a role in the 1997 movie "The Sixth Man'' before getting into coaching.
Outlook: With wins in eight out of their last 10 games, Oklahoma State enters the NCAA tournament riding a wave of positive momentum. Unless Anderson pulls off some heroics, don't expect it to last.
No. 9 TENNESSEE
Nickname: Volunteers.
Location: Knoxville
Coach: Bruce Pearl
Record: 21-12.
NCAA record: 13-17.
Entry to tournament: At-large.
Best regular-season win: 80-68 over Marquette on Dec. 16.
Key players (regular-season averages): F Tyler Smith (17.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.4 apg), C Wayne Chism (13.8 ppg, 8.1 rpg), G-F J.P. Prince (10.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.2 apg).
Did you know?: Vols' second straight trip to Sweet 16 last year is closest UT has ever come to getting past regional semifinals in 16 NCAA trips.
Outlook: Having played the second-toughest schedule in the nation, the Vols should be ready. Yet inconsistent guard play means UT is likely gone by end of first weekend.
No. 10 MINNESOTA
Nickname: Golden Gophers.
Location: Minneapolis
Coach: Tubby Smith.
Record: 22-10
NCAA record: 12-9.
Entry to tournament: At-large.
Best regular-season win: 70-64 over Louisville on Dec. 20.
Key players (regular-season averages): G Lawrence Westbrook (12.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg), F Damian Johnson (7.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg), G Al Nolen (6.8 ppg, 4.3 apg).
Did you know?: After previously taking Tulsa, Georgia and Kentucky to the NCAA tournament, Smith joins Rick Pitino as the only active coaches to take four schools to the NCAA Tournament.
Outlook: Golden Gophers can't score (183rd in nation at 66.8 ppg) or take care of ball (243rd with 14.8 turnovers per game). That won't take you very far in NCAAs.
No. 11 VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH
Nickname: Rams.
Location: Richmond
Coach: Anthony Grant.
Record: 24-9.
NCAA record: 5-7.
Entry to tournament: Colonial tournament champs.
Best regular-season win: 71-50 over George Mason in CAA Championship Game on March 9.
Key players (regular-season averages): G Eric Maynor (22.4 ppg, 6.2 apg, 3.5 rpg), F Larry Sanders (11.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.7 blocks), G Joey Rodriguez (9.4 ppg).
Did you know?: Two years ago, Maynor hit a jumper with 1.8 seconds left to beat Duke, giving Rams their first NCAA win in 22 years.
Outlook: Maynor is one of nation's best-kept secrets, while Sanders is an emerging force inside. That makes Rams a team nobody wants to face in first round.
No.12 WISCONSIN
Nickname: Badgers.
Location: Madison
Coach: Bo Ryan.
Record: 19-12.
NCAA record: 19-13.
Entry to tournament: At-large.
Best regular-season win: 55-50 over Ohio State on Feb. 14.
Key players (regular-season averages): G Trevon Hughes (11.9 ppg, 2.9 apg), F Marcus Landry (12.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg), G Jason Bohannon (10.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg).
Did you know?: The Badgers' 11 consecutive NCAA trips is the fourth longest streak in nation.
Outlook: A nice 7-3 finish helped UW extend its impressive NCAA streak. But its popgun offense (241st in nation at 64.6 ppg) will make this stay a brief one.
No.13 PORTLAND STATE
Nickname: Vikings.
Location: Portland, Ore.
Coach: Ken Bone.
Record: 23-9.
NCAA record: 0-1.
Entry to tournament: Big Sky tournament champs.
Best regular-season win: 77-70 at Gonzaga on Dec. 23.
Key players (regular-season averages): G Jeremiah Dominguez (12.9 ppg, 3.2 apg), G Dominic Waters (11.5 ppg, 46.2 pct. on 3-pointers), F Phil Nelson (11.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg).
Did you know?: The Vikings rank fourth in nation with 9.7 3-pointers made per game as Dominguez and Waters have combined to go 147-of-329 from beyond the arc.
Outlook: Fine 3-point shooting means the Vikes shouldn't be taken lightly. But shoddy defense (187th in nation, 68.5 ppg) makes first-round exit likely.
No. 14 AMERICAN
Nickname: Eagles.
Location: Washington, D.C.
Coach: Jeff Jones.
Record: 24-7.
NCAA record: 0-1.
Entry to tournament: Patriot tournament champs.
Best regular-season win: 68-67 at Navy on Jan. 28.
Key players (regular-season averages): G Garrison Carr (17.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg), F Brian Gilmore (12.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg), G Derrick Mercer (11.5 ppg, 4.4 apg).
Did you know?: Carr had game-high 26 points in Eagles' NCAA debut last year, a 72-57 loss to No. 2 seed Tennessee in Birmingham, Ala. on March 21.
Outlook: Gritty Eagles just don't appear to have athleticism or firepower to pull an upset.
No. 15 BINGHAMPTON
Nickname: Bearcats.
Location: Vestal, N.Y.
Coach: Kevin Broadus.
Record: 23-8.
NCAA record: First appearance.
Entry to tournament: America East tournament champs.
Best regular-season win: 66-56 at Rutgers on Dec. 6.
Key players (regular-season averages): G D.J. Rivera (America East player of the year, 20.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg), G Dwayne Jackson (11.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg), F Emanuel Mayben (11.7 ppg, 4 rpg).
Did you know?: Among notable Binghampton alums are ESPN Monday Night Football analyst Tony Kornheiser.
Outlook: Considering Bearcats had never even had a home game nationally televised before beating UMBC in the Atlantic East title game on Saturday, this is a huge achievement for the program. But a sound beating likely awaits.
No.16 EAST TENNESSEE STATE
Nickname: Buccaneers.
Location: Johnson City, Tenn.
Coach: Murry Bartow.
Record: 23-10.
NCAA record: 2-8.
Entry to tournament: Atlantic Sun tournament champs.
Best regular-season win: 87-57 over Belmont on Jan. 19.
Key players (regular-season averages): F Kevin Tiggs (21.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg), G Courtney Pigram (17.6 ppg, 4.2 apg, 74 3-pointers made), G Mike Smith (15.5 ppg, leads team with 7.7 rpg).
Did you know?: Bartow is son of legendary coach Gene Bartow, who guided UCLA and Memphis to Final Four appearances in the 1970s.
Outlook: Buccaneers can shoot the ball and score (27th in nation in scoring, 78.1 ppg). But Smith, a 6-6 guard, is leading them in rebounding. And that means a quick exit against bigger foes.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
