West Region preview

Syracuse

Nickname: Orange.

Location: Syracuse, N.Y.

Record: 28-4, 15-3. Bid: Big East at-large.

NCAA history: 50-32 in 32 appearances. Last: 2009, lost to Oklahoma in regional semifinals.

Coach: Jim Boeheim, 42-25 in 26 appearances.

Overview: The Orange won 24 of their first 25 for the best start in program history and took the Big East regular-season title. This is one of the best shooting (51.5 percent) and highest-scoring (81.4 ppg) teams in the nation, but it is not particularly deep and foul shooting (67 percent) can be an issue.

Best wins: West Virginia, Villanova, Georgetown.

Starters: F Wes Johnson, 6-7, Jr. (15.7 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 48.7 FG pct.); F Rick Jackson, 6-9, Jr. (10.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 60.4 FG pct.); C Arinze Onuaku, 6-9, Sr. (10.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 67.0 FG pct.); G Andy Rautins, 6-4, Sr. (11.6 ppg, 4.9 apg, 39.4 3FG pct.); G Brandon Triche, 6-4, Fr. (8.3 ppg. 3.0 apg, 50.6 FG pct.).

Kansas State

Nickname: Wildcats.

Location: Manhat- tan, Kan.

Record: 26-7, 11-5. Bid: Big 12 at-large.

NCAA history: 28-27 in 23 appearances. Last: 2008, lost to Wisconsin in second round.

Coach: Frank Martin, 1-1 in one appearance.

Overview: All revolves around the guards, Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente. The Wildcats can be turnover-prone. They're below average at the line (66.5 percent), but they're long and athletic and, when they come in with a chip on their shoulder, they're a handful.

Best wins: Dayton, Xavier, UNLV, Texas A&M, Baylor.

Starters: F Dominique Sutton, 6-5, Jr. (7.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg); F Curtis Kelly, 6-8, Jr. (11.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 58.9 FG pct.); C Luis Colon, 6-10, Sr. (3.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 45.5 FT pct.); G Denis Clemente, 6-1, Sr. (16.0 ppg, 3.9 apg); G Jacob Pullen, 6-0, Jr. (18.9 ppg, 3.6 apg, 82.1 FT pct.).

Pittsburgh

Nickname: Panthers.

Location: Pittsburgh.

Record: 24-8, 13-5. Bid: Big East at-large.

NCAA history: 21-22 in 21 appearances. Last: 2009, lost to Villanova in the regional final.

Coach: Jamie Dixon, 9-6 in six appearances.

Overview: The Panthers were picked ninth in the league in the preseason, but Dixon has cemented his status as one of the game's top coaches by preaching the tough, physical style of defense and opportunistic offense first brought to the program by ex-coach Ben Howland.

Best wins: Villanova, Syracuse, West Virginia.

Starters: G Ashton Gibbs, 6-2, So. (16.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 40.4 3FG pct.); G Brad Wanamaker, 6-4, Jr. (12.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.8 apg ); G Jermaine Dixon, 6-3, Sr. (10.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 39.5 FG pct.); C Gary McGhee, 6-10 Jr. (7.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 62.7 FG pct.); F Nasir Robinson, 6-5, So. (6.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 48.0 FG pct.).

Vanderbilt

Nickname: Commodores.

Location: Nashville, Tenn.

Record: 24-8, 12-4. Bid: Southeastern at-large.

NCAA history: 9-11 in 10 appearances. Last: 2008, lost to Siena in the first round.

Coach: Kevin Stallings, 5-5 in five appearances.

Overview: Vanderbilt shoots 48 percent from the field and nearly 73 percent from the free-throw line, helping the Commodores to rank in the top 25 in the nation in scoring offense at 78 points a game. Senior guard Jermaine Beal is the most consistent scorer.

Best wins: Tennessee, Missouri, Saint Mary's.

Starters: G Jermaine Beal, 6-3, Sr. (14.7 ppg, 3.1 apg, 2.5 rpg, 79.6 FT pct.); C A.J. Ogilvy, 6-11, Jr. (13.9 pgg, 6.2 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 51.5 FG pct.); G-F Jeffery Taylor, 6-7, So. (13.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.2 spg, 51.1 FG pct.); G Brad Tinsley, 6-3, So. (7.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.9 apg, 86.0 FT pct.); F Andre Walker, 6-7, So. (6.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.4 apg, 59.5 FG pct.).

Butler

Nickname: Bulldogs.

Location: Indian- apolis.

Record: 28-4, 18-0. Bid: Horizon champ.

NCAA history: 8-9 in nine appearances. Last: 2009, lost to LSU in first round.

Coach: Brad Stevens, 1-2 in two appearances.

Overview: The Bulldogs have won 20 in a row, the nation's longest active streak, and went unbeaten in January and February for the first time. Four starters shoot 46 percent or better from the field, but the Bulldogs shoot just 34.2 percent on 3-pointers - 164th in Division I.

Best wins: Xavier, Ohio State, Siena.

Starters: F Willie Veasley, 6-3, Sr. (10.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 50.9 FG pct.), F Matt Howard, 6-8, Jr. (12.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 49.1 FG pct., 80.6 FT pct.); G Gordon Hayward, 6-9, So. (15.6 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 82.8 FT pct.); G Shelvin Mack, 6-3, So. (13.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.1 apg); G Ronald Nored, 6-0, So. (5.8 ppg, 3.6 apg).

Xavier

Nickname: Musketeers.

Location: Cincinnati.

Record: 24-8, 14-2. Bid: Atlantic 10 at-large.

NCAA history: 17-20 in 20 appearances. Last: 2009, lost to Pittsburgh in regional semifinal.

Coach: Chris Mack, first appearance

Overview: Xavier picked up right where it left off after last year's Sweet 16 run, thanks in part to the addition of Indiana transfer Jordan Crawford to the rotation. Xavier ranks 12th nationally in scoring average (79.9 ppg) and holds opponents to just 29 percent from 3-point range.

Best wins: Richmond, Rhode Island, Kent State.

Starters: F Jamel McLean, 6-8, Jr. (8.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 55.0 FG pct.); F Dante' Jackson, 6-5, Jr. (6.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.3 apg, 39.7 3FG pct., 81.3 FT pct.); C Jason Love, 6-9, Sr. (11.9 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 58.1 FG pct.); G Terrell Holloway, 6-4, So. (11.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.2 spg, 84.9 FT pct.); G Jordan Crawford, 6-4, So. (19.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.3 spg).

Brigham Young

Nickname: Cougars.

Location: Provo, Utah.

Record: 29-5, 13-3. Bid: Mountain West at-large.

NCAA history: 11-27 in 24 appearances. Last: 2009, lost to Texas A&M in the first round.

Coach: Dave Rose, 0-3 in three appearances.

Overview: Second-place finishers in the Mountain West regular season, the Cougars lead the nation in scoring margin (18.5) and free-throw shooting (78.4 pct.) and are second in scoring (83.5) and third in 3-point percentage (42.1).

Best wins: UNLV, Texas-El Paso, San Diego State.

Starters: G Jimmer Fredette, 6-2, Jr. (20.6 ppg, 4.7 apg, 88.1 FT pct., 47.2 3FG pct.); G Jackson Emery, 6-3, Jr. (12.6 ppg, 2.7 spg, 42.0 3FG pct.); G Tyler Haws, 6-5, Fr. (11.4 ppg, 90.4 FT pct.); F Noah Hartsock, 6-8, So. (6.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 56.5 FG pct.); F-C Chris Miles, 6-11, Sr. (4.7 ppg. 3.4 rpg, 52.1 FG pct.).

Gonzaga

Nickname: Bulldogs.

Location: Spokane, Wash.

Record: 26-6, 12-2. Bid: West Coast at-large.

NCAA history: 14-12 in 12 appearances. Last: 2009, lost to North Carolina in the Sweet 16.

Coach: Mark Few, 10-10 in 10 appearances.

Overview: Gonzaga is one of the best shooting teams in the country at nearly 50 percent. Its 3-point shooting can be sketchy.

Best wins: Wisconsin, Memphis, Saint Mary's.

Starters: G Matt Bouldin, 6-5, Sr. (16.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg. 4.1 apg, 86.9 FT pct.); F Elias Harris, 6-8, Fr. (14.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg); G Steven Gray, 6-5, Jr. (13.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg); C Robert Sacre, 7-0, So. (10.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 52.8 FG pct.); G Demetri Goodson, 5-11, So. (6.5 ppg).

Florida State

Nickname: Seminoles.

Location: Tallahassee, Fla.

Record: 22-9, 10-6. Bid: Atlantic Coast at-large.

NCAA history: 12-11 in 11 appearances. Last: 2009, lost to Wisconsin in the first round.

Coach: Leonard Hamilton, 3-4 in four appearances.

Overview: The Seminoles won six of their last eight regular-season games. Nobody averaged more than center Solomon Alabi's 11.6 points, but six others averaged at least 5.6 as Hamilton relied on his bench.

Best wins: Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech.

Starters: C Solomon Alabi, 7-1, So. (11.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 54.6 FG pct.); F Chris Singleton, 6-9, So. (10.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 41.3 FG pct.); G Derwin Kitchen, 6-4, Jr. (8.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.9 apg); F Ryan Reid, 6-8, Sr. (6.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 52.6 FG pct.); G Michael Snaer, 6-5, Fr. (8.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 43.3 FG pct.).

Florida

Nickname: Gators.

Location: Gainesville, Fla.

Record: 21-12, 9-7. Bid: Southeastern at-large.

NCAA history: 29-12 in 14 appearances. Last: 2007, won the national championship.

Coach: Billy Donovan, 22-7 in nine appearances.

Overview: All five starters average more than 10 points a game. But the team is not deep, meaning any type of foul trouble among the first six in the rotation could spell doom.

Best wins: Tennessee, Michigan State, Florida State.

Starters: G Erving Walker, 5-8, So. (12.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.5 spg, 80.3 FT pct.); G Kenny Boynton, 6-2, Fr. (13.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.1 spg); F Chandler Parsons, 6-9, Jr. (11.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.5 apg, 50.2 FG pct.); F Alex Tyus, 6-8, Jr. (11.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 50.3 FG pct., 42.9 3FG pct.); C Vernon Macklin, 6-10, Jr. (10.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 60.8 FG pct.).

Minnesota

Nickname: Golden Gophers.

Location: Minneapolis.

Record: 21-13, 9-9. Bid: Big Ten at-large.

NCAA history: 7-6 in six appearances (1994, 1995, 1997 appearances vacated). Last: 2005, lost against Syracuse in

first round.

Coach: Tubby Smith, 29-13 in 14 NCAA appearances.

Overview: Players such as Lawrence Westbrook, Blake Hoffarber, Devoe Joseph and Ralph Sampson III (son of former NBA all-star Ralph Sampson) are getting their due, thanks to an overtime upset of Michigan State in the Big Ten tourney quarterfinals and a crushing 69-42 defeat of Purdue in the semifinals.

Best wins: Butler, Michigan State, Purdue.

Starters: G Devoe Joseph, 6-3, So. (9.4 ppg, 3.0 apg, 39.8 FG pct., 38.7 3FG pct.); G Lawrence Westbrook, 6-0, Sr. (12.5 ppg, 47.7 FG pct., 41.7 3FG pct., 84.4FT pct.); G Blake Hoffarber, 6-4, Jr. (10.5 ppg, 50.9 FG pct., 47.7 3FG pct., 84.8 FT pct.); C/F Ralph Sampson III, 6-11, So. (8.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 51.6 FG pct., 63.9 FT pct.); F Damian Johnson, 6-7, Sr. (10.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.9 bpg, 53.4 FG pct.).

Texas-El Paso

Nickname: Miners.

Location: El Paso, Texas.

Record: 26-6, 15-1. Bid: Conference USA at-large.

NCAA history: 14-15 in 16 appearances. Last: 2005, lost to Utah in the first round.

Coach: Tony Barbee, first appearance.

Overview: The Miners were on a 16-game winning streak before falling to Houston in the Conference USA final. UTEP can play defense, too, as the Miners hold opponents to 38.8 percent shooting from the field.

Best wins: Alabama-Birming-ham, Memphis.

Starters: F Arnett Moultrie, 6-11, So. (9.9 ppg, 6.9 rpg); F Jeremy Williams, 6-7, Jr. (10.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 51.1 FG pct.); F Derrick Caracter, 6-9, Jr. (14.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 55.2 FG pct.); G Randy Culpepper, 6-0, Jr. (18.1 ppg); G Julyan Stone, 6-6, Jr. (6.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 5.5 apg).

Murray State

Nickname: Racers.

Location: Murray, Ky.

Record: 30-4, 17-1. Bid: Ohio Valley champ.

NCAA history: 1-13 in 13 appearances. Last: 2006, lost to North Carolina in the first round.

Coach: Billy Kennedy, 0-1 in one appearance.

Overview: Freshman Isaiah Canaan was the OVC tournament MVP off the bench. The Racers are the nation's third-best shooting team (50.3 percent), one of the best on the glass (plus-6 a game), and they can bring defensive heat (10 steals a game).

Best wins: Morgan State, Morehead State.

Starters: F Danero Thomas, 6-4, Sr. (10.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg); F Ivan Aska, 6-7, So. (10.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 59.2 FG pct.); C Tony Easley, 6-9, Sr. (10.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.7 blocks, 66.8 FG pct.); G Isacc Miles, 6-2, Jr. (9.5 ppg, 3.8 apg); G B.J. Jenkins, 6-0, Jr. (10.5 ppg, 3.2 apg).

Oakland

Nickname: Golden Grizzlies.

Location: Rochester, Mich.

Record: 24-8, 17-1. Bid: Summit League champ.

NCAA history: 1-1 in one appearance. Last: 2005, lost to North Carolina in the first round.

Coach: Greg Kampe, 1-1 in one NCAA appearance.

Overview: The Golden Grizzlies are experienced, starting two seniors and three juniors. Keith Benson, a terror in the paint, averages a double-double. Oakland's offense also benefits from the play of senior Johnathon Jones from Okemos, who averages 12.7 points and 6.5 assists. Former Everett star Derick Nelson shoots 40.3 percent from 3-point range and averages 11.7 points a game.

Best win: IUPUI.

Starters: C Keith Benson, 6-11, Jr. (17.4 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 3.3 bpg, 54.5 FG pct.); G Johnathon Jones, 5-11, Sr. (12.7 ppg, 6.5 apg, 84.3 FT pct.); F Derick Nelson, 6-5, Sr. (11.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 40.4 3FG pct.); G Larry Wright, 6-2, Jr. (10.8 ppg, 92.3 FT pct.); F Will Hudson, 6-9, Jr. (6.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 64.5 FG pct.).

North Texas

Nickname: Mean Green.

Location: Denton, Texas.

Record: 24-8, 13-5. Bid: Sun Belt champ.

NCAA history: 0-2 in two appearances. Last: 2007, lost to Memphis in the first round.

Coach: Johnny Jones, 0-1 in one NCAA appearance.

Overview: The Mean Green are a scrappy bunch that has won a couple of overtime contests and finds a way to win most close games.

Best wins: W. Kentucky, Troy.

Starters: G Josh White, 5-10, Jr. (14.9 ppg, 3.6 apg); G Tristan Thompson, 6-5, Jr. (14.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 41.9 3FG pct.); G Shannon Shorter, 6-4, Jr. (6.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg); F Eric Tramiel, 6-7, Sr. (12.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 55.3 FG pct.); F George Odufuwa, 6-8, Jr. (11.5 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 61.3 FG pct.).

Vermont

Nickname: Catamounts.

Location: Burlington, Vt.

Record: 25-9, 12-4. Bid: America East champion.

NCAA history: 1-3 in three appearances. Last: 2005, lost to Michigan State in the second round.

Coach: Mike Lonergan, first appearance.

Overview: The Catamounts knocked off Boston University in the America East tournament final and have won 10 of their last 11 games. Marqus Blakely is a two-time conference player of the year and three-time defensive player of the year. Maurice Joseph, a Michigan State transfer, needs to get a hot hand.

Best wins: Fairfield, Rutgers, Buffalo.

Starters: G Nick Vier, 6-1, Sr. (5.1 ppg, 2.5 apg); G Maurice Joseph, 6-4, Sr. (14.3 ppg, 83.7 FT pct.); G Garvey Young, 6-4, So. (7.3 ppg); F Evan Fjeld, 6-8, Jr. (10.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg); F Marqus Blakely, 6-5, Sr. (17.4 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 1.9 bpg).

- Capsules compiled by Gannett