2009 March Madness Previews and Team Records

Cornell Big Red (21-9): Cornell earned an automatic NCAA bid as the regular-season champion of the Ivy League, which is the only conference without a post-season tournament. The Big Red finished three games ahead of second-place Yale in the conference race. Cornell was 6-6 outside the Ivy League against D-1 teams, but its strength of schedule ranking is #284 in a down year for the Ivy League. The Big Red did not defeat a team in the Top 100 of the RPI. Ryan Wittman, a 6-foot-6 junior forward, leads the Big Red in scoring at 18.7 points per game, and he shoots 42.2% from 3-point range. Cornell was 0-4 against the top schools on its schedule, losing 71-67 at St. Joseph's, 74-56 at Siena, 88-78 at Syracuse, and 71-54 at Minnesota. Cornell's longest win streak is nine games this season. BEST WINS: 79-70 vs. LaSalle; 89-59 vs. Boston U. WORST LOSSES: 61-41 at Princeton; 71-70 at Harvard

Kansas Jayhawks (25-6): Kansas, the defending national champion, earned its fifth straight Big 12 Conference regular-season championship, finishing one game ahead of Oklahoma. Kansas beat Oklahoma 87-78 late in the season, but the Sooners played without Blake Griffin. With a young team after losing several key performers from 2008, Kansas has improved steadily all season, led by 5-foot-11 junior guard Sherron Collins, and his 18.2 points per game. Sophomore Cole Aldrich, a 6-foot-11 center, averages 14.9 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. The Jayhawks suffered four losses outside the Big 12. Kansas owns nine wins against teams in the Top 50 of the RPI, which is one of the best marks in the country, and 14 wins against Top 100 RPI teams. However, Kansas has suffered a couple of unexpected upsets, too, losing twice to teams outside the Top 100 in the RPI, including an early-season loss against Massachusetts in Kansas City and a late-season loss at Texas Tech. Kansas' longest win streak this season is eight. BEST WINS: 87-78 at Oklahoma; 90-65 vs. Missouri; 73-54 vs. Washington. WORST LOSSES: 61-60 vs. Massachusetts; 84-65 at Texas Tech

Northern Iowa Panthers (23-10): Northern Iowa earned an automatic NCAA bid after winning the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship game in overtime against Illinois State. Northern Iowa and Creighton tied for the league regular-season title. Northern Iowa played the 84th toughest schedule in the country, and they posted an impressive 10-3 record against Top 100 RPI teams. No Northern Iowa player averages more than 12.5 points per game. The Panthers own a neutral site win against Auburn, 67-61, they split two games with Creighton, and they won all three meetings with Illinois State. Northern Iowa lost to Marquette, 73-43, and at Siena, 81-75. The Panthers had a strong middle portion of the season, winning 11 straight games. After losing four of their next five after the long win streak, the Panthers will enter the NCAAs on a five-game winning streak. BEST WINS: 69-66 at Creighton; 67-61 vs. Auburn; 69-67 at Illinois State. WORST LOSSES: 85-84 vs. Indiana State; 47-46 vs. Drake

Virginia Commonwealth Rams (24-9): Virginia Commonwealth won the Colonial Athletic Association post-season tournament and regular-season championships. VCU dominated George Mason, 71-50, to claim the CAA Tournament title after finishing one game ahead of GMU in the regular-season conference race. Virginia Commonwealth opened the season 3-3, but it put together a seven-game win streak in midseason to surge to the top of the league. Senior 6-2 guard Eric Maynor leads VCU at 22.3 points and 6.1 assists per game, and he scored 30-plus points six times. The Rams own three wins against Top 100 RPI teams, including two wins against George Mason and one win against New Mexico, 67-55. VCU played only two games against major-conference teams, losing 71-66 against Vanderbilt and 81-70 against Oklahoma. The Rams will carry a five-game win streak into the NCAA Tournament. BEST WINS: 67-55 vs. New Mexico; 76-71 vs. George Mason; 71-50 vs. George Mason. WORST LOSSES: 81-72 at UNC-Wilmington; 81-79 at Delaware; 93-90 at East Carolina

Siena Saints (26-7): Siena claimed the automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with a 77-70 victory against Niagara in the MAAC Tournament championship game. For the Saints, who won the MAAC regular-season title by two games over Niagara, it was their second win against Niagara in three tries this season. Edwin Ubiles, a 6-6 junior, Kenny Hasbrouck, a 6-3 senior, and Alex Franklin, a 6-5 junior, combine to average 43 points per game for the Saints. Siena, which upset #4-seed Vanderbilt in last year's NCAA Tournament, posted an 0-4 record against the Top 50 of the RPI and a 5-5 record against the Top 100 of the RPI this season. Siena failed to beat any of the four major-conference teams it faced this season, losing 78-64 against Tennessee, 77-68 against Oklahoma State, 79-66 at Pittsburgh, and 91-84 at Kansas. The Saints did defeat Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament champion Northern Iowa, 81-75, late in the season in a "Bracket Buster" game. Siena will enter the NCAA Tournament having won eight of its last nine games and 16 of its last 18. BEST WINS: 81-75 vs. Northern Iowa; 82-65 vs. Niagara; 77-70 vs. Niagara. WORST LOSSES: 72-70 vs. Wichita State; 90-88 at Rider

Marquette Golden Eagles (23-8): Although several NCAA Tournament teams have to overcome key injuries to have success in the post-season, Marquette might have the most difficult task to overcome after 5-foot-11 senior Dominic James was injured in late February. Prior to the Big East Tournament, Marquette failed to win after losing James. The Golden Eagles must not only replace James' 11.4 points per game and 5.1 assists per game, but they also have to find a way to replace the nearly 32 minutes per game he averaged. Marquette lost its last four regular-season games and finished fifth in the powerful Big East Conference at 12-6, four games out of first place in the regular-season race. Senior Jerel McNeal, senior Wesley Matthews, and junior Lazar Hayward combine for almost 55 points per game, and Marquette will need even more production from them to make up for James' injury. To be fair, the Golden Eagles played the top three teams in the league over their final four games, losing 93-82 to Connecticut (the game in which James was injured), 62-58 at Louisville, 90-75 at Pittsburgh, and 86-79 against Syracuse in overtime. Overall, the Golden Eagles were 5-7 against the RPI Top 50. Marquette was only 3-6 over its final nine regular-season games, with the poor stretch following a 12-game win streak. BEST WINS: 79-72 vs. Villanova; 61-58 vs. Wisconsin; 75-53 vs. West Virginia. WORST LOSSES: 57-56 at South Florida; 89-75 vs. Dayton

Syracuse Orange (23-8): Syracuse has coupled a strong start to the regular season with a strong finish, allowing the Orange to overcome a dismal mid-January to mid-February stretch en route to an NCAA Tournament berth. Syracuse placed sixth in the Big East Conference, finishing five games out of first place in the regular-season title chase. Syracuse opened the season 16-1, including an eight-point win against Kansas at Kansas City and a seven-point win at Memphis. The Orange then lost seven of 10 games, although only one loss occurred against a team outside the Top 50 of the RPI. Syracuse bounced back with a four-game win streak to close the regular season, highlighted by an 86-79 overtime win at Marquette. Five Orange players average in double figures in scoring, led by 6-0 sophomore Jonny Flynn's 17.3 points and 6.4 assists. Eric Devendorf, a 6-4 junior, has overcome some off-the-court issues to score 15.2 points per game. Syracuse is 6-6 against the Top 50 of the RPI and 9-8 against the Top 100 of the RPI. BEST WINS: 89-81 at Kansas; 72-65 at Memphis; 86-79 at Marquette. WORST LOSSES: 72-69 vs. Cleveland State; 100-94 at Providence; 88-74 at Georgetown

Clemson Tigers (23-7): After a 16-0 start to the season, tying for fifth in the ACC regular-season race probably was a major disappointment for Clemson fans and players. However, the Tigers will have a chance in the NCAA Tournament to show their 7-7 finish to the regular season was the aberration. Clemson posted an 8-6 record against teams in the Top 100 of the RPI, which included a blowout home win against Duke, 74-47, and road wins against Miami, South Carolina, Boston College, Virginia Tech, and Illinois. On the other hand, Clemson suffered a couple of surprising home losses late in the year, including an 80-77 setback against Virginia Tech. Three Tigers players average more than 13 points per game, as most of Clemson's scoring comes from its frontcourt. Trevor Booker, a 6-7 junior, leads Clemson in both scoring (15.2 points per game) and rebounding (9.7 boards per game). K.C. Rivers, a 6-6 senior, scores 14.3 points and pulls down 6.0 rebounds per game. With an RPI ranking in the Top 25, Clemson should have a good seed, as the Tigers will be seeking their first NCAA Tournament win since 1997. BEST WINS: 74-47 vs. Duke; 76-72 vs. Temple; 76-74 at Illinois. WORST LOSSES: 80-77 vs. Virginia Tech; 85-81 at Virginia

Florida State Seminoles (23-8): Behind a strong fourth-place finish in the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season race, Florida State will make its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998. The Seminoles have shown steady improvement all season long, finally cracking the Top 25 rankings in late February. Florida State features a very balanced team. Toney Douglas, a 6-2 senior, is the only Seminoles player averaging double figures at 20.8 points per game. Florida State has no player averaging more than 6 rebounds per game. After opening the season 11-1, Florida State struggled through a 5-4 stretch. In the final five weeks of the regular season, though, the Seminoles posted a 7-3 record, with five of those wins coming against teams in the Top 70 of the RPI. Outside the ACC, Florida State posted wins against California, Florida, and Western Kentucky, while losing 56-48 against Pittsburgh and 73-59 at Northwestern. Florida State was 0-4 against the top three teams in the ACC (North Carolina, Duke, and Wake Forest), but they did beat Clemson and Virginia Tech twice each. BEST WINS: 65-61 at Clemson; 73-66 vs. Clemson; 80-77 vs. California; 57-55 vs. Florida. WORST LOSSES: 73-59 at Northwestern; 72-67 at Boston College

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (24-5): Wake Forest will enter the NCAA Tournament as one of the nation's top-scoring teams, averaging 82 points per game. The Demon Deacons have spent time as the nation's top-ranked team this season, and they've been ranked in the Top 10 most of the season. Wake Forest tied for second in the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season standings, finishing two games behind North Carolina. Young players lead Wake Forest. Jeff Teague, a 6-2 sophomore, scores 19.4 points per game, while James Johnson, a 6-9 sophomore, and Al-Farouq Aminu, a 6-9 freshman, combine for 27.6 points and 16.7 rebounds per game. Wake Forest owns an impressive 6-1 record against the RPI Top 50 and a 12-3 record against the RPI Top 100, including wins against North Carolina, Duke, and BYU. Wake Forest opened the season with 16 straight wins before losing a home game to Virginia Tech, 78-71. That is one of four Wake Forest losses that have come against teams outside the Top 50 of the RPI. The Demon Deacons have shown the ability to defeat some of the nation's best teams, as well as the ability to lose games to some big underdogs. BEST WINS: 92-89 vs. North Carolina; 70-68 vs. Duke; 96-88 vs. Clemson; 94-87 at BYU. WORST LOSSES: 76-74 at Georgia Tech; 78-71 vs. Virginia Tech; 82-76 at North Carolina State; 79-52 at Miami

Cleveland State Vikings (25-10): Cleveland State earned an automatic NCAA Tournament berth after winning the Horizon League Tournament championship game, upsetting Butler on its home floor, 57-54. That win gave Cleveland State its second victory against Top 50 RPI teams, as the Vikings won in mid-December at Syracuse, 72-69. Cleveland State also lost three games against major-conference teams, falling 78-63 at Washington, 69-59 against Kansas State, and 53-43 at West Virginia. Cleveland State now has five wins against Top 100 RPI teams, but the victory against Butler was its first against the Bulldogs in three tries this season. In the regular season, Cleveland State finished three games behind Butler, tying for third place in the Horizon standings. J'Nathan Bullock, a 6-foot-5 senior, leads Cleveland State in scoring (15.3) and rebounding (7.0) per game. After losing two of its last three regular-season games, Cleveland State swept through the Horizon Tournament with four straight wins. BEST WINS: 72-69 at Syracuse; 57-54 at Butler; 73-67 vs. Wisconsin-Green Bay. WORST LOSSES: 70-59 at Wichita State; 64-60 at Youngstown State; 77-75 at Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (24-8): Western Kentucky defeated South Alabama, 64-56, in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship game to claim the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. WKU tied with Arkansas-Little Rock for the best record in the Sun Belt regular-season race. Four Hilltoppers players average in double figures in scoring, led by A.J. Slaughter, a 6-3 junior who averages 15.8 points and 3.6 assists per game. Western Kentucky has just one win against the RPI Top 50, but it was a huge upset, as the Hilltoppers defeated Big East regular-season champion Louisville, 68-54, on a neutral court in late November. WKU also owns a win against Georgia of the SEC, 67-63. Western Kentucky lost two games against major-conference foes, falling 82-69 against Florida State and 95-67 at Mississippi State. The Hilltoppers, who were a Sweet 16 qualifier a year ago, will carry a seven-game win streak into the NCAA Tournament. They have won 15 of their last 17 games, but none of those games came against opponents in the Top 75 of the RPI. BEST WINS: 68-54 vs. Louisville; 78-69 at Arkansas-Little Rock; 79-47 vs. Arkansas-Little Rock. WORST LOSSES: 78-74 at Denver; 81-79 at Florida International; 89-61 at Murray State

North Dakota State Bison (26-6): North Dakota State earned its first NCAA Tournament appearance by winning the Summit League. The Bison, who jumped from Division II to Division I a few years ago, qualified in just their first year of eligibility for the NCAA Tournament. (All teams that jump to Division I must undergo a 3-to-4-year provisional period, during which they're ineligible for an NCAA Tournament berth.) North Dakota State used a shot with 3 seconds left to defeat Oakland (Mich.) and win the Summit League Tournament championship game, 66-64. North Dakota State also won the regular-season league championship, finishing two games ahead of Oral Roberts. Ben Woodside, a 5-11 senior, leads the Bison with 22.8 points and 6.3 assists per game. North Dakota State, which ranks #293 in schedule strength, played only three games against Top 100 RPI teams this season, losing all three (90-76 at Minnesota, 61-57 at USC, and 112-111 against Stephen F. Austin in triple overtime). The Bison will enter the NCAA Tournament on a hot streak, having won seven straight games and 18 of their last 19. BEST WINS: 75-72 at Oral Roberts; 81-71 vs. Oakland; 66-64 vs. Oakland; 77-69 at Wisconsin-Milwaukee. WORST LOSSES: 74-69 at Southern Utah; 78-69 at Idaho

Xavier Musketeers (25-6): Gonzaga garners much of the media attention as the best example of a small-conference team that has a lot of national success, but Xavier should be in the middle of that discussion, too. The Musketeers, who reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament in both 2004 and 2008 and who have qualified for the NCAAs in seven of the past eight seasons, are poised for another NCAA Tournament run this season after winning the regular-season title in the Atlantic 10 Conference by one game over Dayton, Rhode Island, and Temple. B.J. Raymond, a 6-foot-6 senior, and Derrick Brown, a 6-foot-8 junior, each score 13.8 points per game. Xavier opened the season with nine straight wins, including impressive neutral-site victories against Missouri, 75-71, and Memphis, 63-58. After losses to Duke, 82-64, and Butler, 74-65, Xavier rattled off 11 more wins to reach a 20-2 record. Late in the season, however, the Musketeers stumbled on the road, losing four of their final five games away from home, including a loss to a team outside the RPI Top 200 (Charlotte) and a team outside the RPI Top 125 (Richmond). Such losses undoubtedly will cost Xavier some seeding lines in the NCAA Tournament. Overall, Xavier has been good against the best teams on its schedule, posting a 5-3 record against Top 50 RPI teams and an 11-4 mark against teams in the Top 100 of the RPI. BEST WINS: 75-71 vs. Missouri; 63-58 vs. Memphis; 76-59 vs. Dayton; 80-70 at LSU. WORST LOSSES: 65-60 at Charlotte; 80-75 at Richmond; 72-68 at Duquesne.

Portland State Vikings (23-9): Portland State earned its second straight bid to the NCAA Tournament, and its second bid in school history, by defeating Montana State, 79-77, in the championship game of the Big Sky Conference Tournament. Portland State lost 85-61 against eventual national champion Kansas in last year's NCAA Tournament. This year's NCAA berth is a bit of a surprise for the Vikings, however, who finished a distant second by four games to Weber State in the Big Sky regular-season race. Four different players average at least 11 points per game for Portland State, which relies on its perimeter players. At 5-foot-6, senior Jeremiah Dominguez will be one of the smallest players in the NCAA Tournament. Dominguez leads the Vikings in scoring at 12.6 points per game and in assists with 3.2 per game. Dominic Waters, a 6-1 junior, adds 11.7 points and 2.9 assists per game. Portland State played an extremely weak schedule, ranking #271 nationally in schedule strength and playing three non-Division I teams this season. However, Portland State also pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season and just missed a second one. Portland State won at Gonzaga, 77-70, in late December. A week earlier, the Vikings lost 84-83 at eventual Pac-10 regular-season champion Washington. Portland State was only 1-2 against teams in the Top 100 of the RPI, and the Vikings lost seven games to teams outside the Top 100 RPI. Portland State will enter the NCAA Tournament on a six-game win streak. BEST WINS: 77-70 at Gonzaga; 93-81 vs. Boise State; 81-76 vs. Portland. WORST LOSSES: 77-71 vs. Hampton; 65-62 at Cal-Poly; 85-82 at Montana State; 78-69 at Idaho State.

Arizona State Sun Devils (22-8): With a few key returning starters entering this season, Arizona State fans were expecting a big year. Tying for third place in the Pac-10 regular-season race, three games behind surprising champion Washington, doesn't qualify as a big season, however. The Sun Devils will have a chance to make things right with a big run in the NCAA Tournament. James Harden, a 6-5 sophomore, is one of the nation's top all-around players, averaging 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. Jeff Pendergraph, a 6-9 senior, provides the inside punch for the Sun Devils, averaging 14.4 points and 8.5 rebounds. One of Arizona State's weaknesses may be a lack of depth, as four Sun Devils players average at least 32 minutes per game. Arizona State has not been to the NCAA Tournament since 2003. The Sun Devils should have a good seed in the tournament, after posting a 5-3 record against Top 50 RPI teams. However, Arizona State has lost five games to teams ranked outside the Top 60 of the RPI. The Sun Devils opened the season 12-1, including non-conference wins against San Diego State, BYU, and Nebraska. Arizona State was streaky in Pac-10 play, posting a win streak of five games that was sandwiched by losing streaks of two and three games. The Sun Devils really struggled late in the year, losing three straight games before winning their regular-season finale at home against California, 83-66, allowing Arizona State to tie the Golden Bears for third place. BEST WINS: 61-58 at UCLA; 74-67 vs. UCLA; 83-66 vs. California; 76-75 vs. BYU. WORST LOSSES: 74-64 vs. Stanford; 65-55 vs. Washington State; 51-49 at Washington State; 87-78 vs. Baylor

UCLA Bruins (24-7): UCLA has qualified for three consecutive Final Fours in the NCAA Tournament, but, to make it four in a row, the Bruins will have to prove a late-season slump was an aberration. After opening Pac-10 Conference play at 8-2, UCLA lost three of its next four games, allowing Washington to surge past the Bruins into first place. UCLA won its final four games, but it wasn't enough as Washington claimed the Pac-10 regular-season title by one game over UCLA. Seniors lead the way for the Bruins. Darren Collison, a 6-foot-0 senior, leads UCLA in scoring at 14.8 points per game and in assists with 5.0 per game, and he shoots 41.9% on 3-point attempts. Josh Shipp, a 6-5 senior, pours in 14.4 points per game, and he shoots 44.1% from 3-point range. UCLA is only 8-5 this season playing away from home, including losses to Michigan, Texas, Washington, Arizona, and Arizona State. The good news for UCLA is it picked up its most impressive road win of the season in late February, winning at California, 72-68. The Bruins have a weak 3-5 record against teams in the Top 50 of the RPI, but UCLA has lost only one game to a team outside the RPI Top 60, a surprising home loss to Washington State, 82-81, in late February. UCLA played a weak schedule outside the Pac-10, managing only two wins in non-conference play against teams currently in the Top 100 of the RPI (a 64-59 win against Miami-Ohio and an 89-63 win against Notre Dame). BEST WINS: 72-68 at California; 81-66 vs. California; 85-76 vs. Washington. WORST LOSSES: 82-81 vs. Washington State; 84-72 at Arizona

Washington Huskies (24-7): By putting together a late surge in the season, Washington clinched the Pac-10 Conference regular-season championship, a national Top 25 ranking, and a good seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies won their final five regular-season games and eight of their last nine to claim the Pac-10 title by one game over UCLA. Washington clinched the outright league title with a 67-60 win against cross-state rival, Washington State. Isaiah Thomas, a 5-8 freshman, and Justin Dentmon, a 5-11 senior, combine for 30.7 points and 5.1 assists per game. Jon Brockman, a 6-7 senior, provides the inside punch for the Huskies, averaging 14.8 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. Washington owns a 4-5 record against the RPI Top 50, but the Huskies lost only two games to teams outside the RPI Top 50 (an 80-74 loss at Portland and 106-97 loss at Arizona). In non-conference play, the Huskies best wins were 78-63 against Cleveland State and 83-65 against Oklahoma State. They loss twice in a neutral-site tournament in Kansas City early in the season (73-54 against Kansas and 86-84 against Florida). Washington has overcome slow starts to the non-conference and conference portions of the season. Washington opened the season 2-3 before putting together a nine-game win streak. At one point this season, the Huskies were 5-3 in Pac-10 play before the strong finish. BEST WINS: 83-65 vs. Oklahoma State; 86-75 vs. UCLA; 84-71 at Arizona State; 73-70 vs. Arizona State. WORST LOSSES: 86-84 vs. Florida; 80-74 at Portland; 106-97 at Arizona.

Purdue Boilermakers (22-9): Purdue managed to tie for second in a very even Big Ten Conference regular-season race, but had they put together a stronger finish, the Boilermakers might have a stronger case for an improved NCAA Tournament seed. After blowing out league champion Michigan State, 72-54, the Boilermakers closed the Big Ten regular season with three losses in four games. Purdue seemed to follow every good stretch this season with a mini-slump. Purdue had three different stretches this season where it won at least five straight games, but it had four different stretches where it lost two straight games. Three young Boilermakers players lead the team statistically, as E-Twaun Moore (6-4 sophomore), JaJuan Johnson (6-10 sophomore), and Robbie Hummel (6-8 sophomore) combine for 39.5 points and 17.3 rebounds per game. Such reliance on youth might explain Purdue's up-and-down season results. Purdue only has a 6-7 record against the Top 50 RPI teams, but the Boilermakers also are 12-0 against teams outside the Top 70 of the RPI. In non-conference play, Purdue lost 76-60 against Duke and 87-82 in the NIT Tipoff title game against Oklahoma. The Boilermakers picked up non-league wins against Boston College (71-64) and Davidson (76-58) on neutral courts. BEST WINS: 72-54 vs. Michigan State; 64-63 at Wisconsin; 71-64 vs. Boston College; 75-50 vs. Ohio State. WORST LOSSES: 64-61 vs. Northwestern; 67-64 at Penn State; 71-67 vs. Illinois

Illinois Fighting Illini (23-8): Illinois may have been offensively challenged at times this season, but, despite scoring 33 points in one Big Ten Conference game and 36 in another, the Fighting Illini have played strong enough defensively this season to place themselves in the NCAA Tournament. Illinois only surpassed the 68-point mark twice in league play, both on the road. Still, Illinois tied with Purdue for second in the Big Ten regular-season race, finishing four games behind Michigan State. Four different Illini players score at least 9.9 points per game, led by 6-3 sophomore Demetri McCamey (11.9 points per game) and 6-9 sophomore Mike Davis (11.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game). Illinois played 14 games against Top 50 RPI competition, winning eight of them. The Fighting Illini lost only one game outside of Big Ten play, falling 76-74 against Clemson. Illinois defeated Missouri (75-59), Tulsa (48-44), and Vanderbilt (69-63) outside the league. League champion Michigan State handed Illinois two losses, 63-57 and 74-66. Illinois avoided upset losses until the final few weeks of the season, when it lost twice to Penn State, including an embarrassing home loss of 38-33. Illinois ended the regular season losing three of its last five games. BEST WINS: 71-67 at Purdue; 66-48 vs. Purdue; 70-68 at Ohio State; 75-59 vs. Missouri. WORST LOSSES: 38-33 vs. Penn State; 64-63 at Penn State; 59-36 at Minnesota

Texas Longhorns (21-10): If Texas could have just avoided playing teams from the Big 12 North, the Longhorns might have posted yet another highly successful season. Instead, Texas finished in a four-way tie for fourth in the Big 12 Conference, five games behind league-champion Kansas, resulting in the worst league finish for Texas since 2005. Texas was only 2-4 against the Big 12 North during the regular season, while going 7-3 against the Big 12 South. It was that kind of erratic season for Texas, which had some huge wins (such as against Oklahoma, UCLA, Wisconsin, and Villanova), and some odd losses (such as against Arkansas, Nebraska, Notre Dame, and Kansas State). A.J. Abrams, a 5-foot-11 senior, is the go-to offensive player for Texas, scoring 16.7 points per game. Damion James, a 6-7 junior, scores 15.9 points and pulls down 9.4 rebounds per contest for the Longhorns. Texas was 6-6 against the RPI Top 50 and 9-9 against the RPI Top 100 this season. After opening the season 9-1 and being ranked in the Top 10, Texas began stumbling after a loss against Michigan State in Houston in late December, and the Longhorns were unable to put together a win streak of more than three games after Christmas. BEST WINS: 73-68 vs. Oklahoma; 99-74 vs. Oklahoma State; 67-58 vs. Villanova; 68-64 vs. UCLA. WORST LOSSES: 81-80 vs. Notre Dame; 67-61 at Arkansas; 85-81 vs. Kansas State; 58-55 at Nebraska

Missouri Tigers (25-6): Missouri's surprisingly successful season might have been even better had the Tigers figured out how to win more key games away from home. Missouri was a perfect 18-0 at home this season, but only 7-6 away from home. (Unfortunately for the Tigers, the NCAA Tournament will not be played in Columbia, Mo.) Missouri's frenetic style of defense seems to feed off energy of the home crowd, and it will be interesting to see whether the Tigers can figure out a way to transfer that energy to neutral sites in the NCAA Tournament. Missouri finished third in the Big 12 Conference regular-season race, but the Tigers were 2-1 against the top two teams in the league, Kansas and Oklahoma. However, road losses to Nebraska, Kansas State, and Texas A&M cost Missouri a shot at the league title. Because of its high-paced style, Missouri distributes its minutes: Ten players average at least 9 1/2 minutes per game, and no one averages more than 27 1/2 minutes. Senior forward DeMarre Carroll (6-foot-8) leads the Tigers in both scoring (17.1) and rebounding (7.3). Missouri was 5-4 against teams in the RPI Top 50. During the non-conference schedule, Missouri lost neutral site games to Illinois and Xavier. Missouri's two best wins away from home were 69-65 at Texas and 97-95 at Oklahoma State. BEST WINS: 73-64 vs. Oklahoma; 62-60 vs. Kansas; 97-95 at Oklahoma State; 93-66 vs. California.  WORST LOSSES: 56-51 at Nebraska; 88-72 at Kansas State

American Eagles (24-7): American University earned its second straight NCAA Tournament berth by winning the Patriot League Tournament championship game over Holy Cross, 73-57. The Eagles added the tournament championship to their regular-season league title, which they won by two games over second-place Holy Cross. Garrison Carr, a 5-foot-11 senior, leads the Eagles at 17.6 points per game, while Brian Gilmore, a 6-8 senior, adds 12.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. American opened the season 4-1, but the Eagles then lost five of their next six games, all of which were losses to teams outside the RPI Top 50. After a loss at Maryland, though, the Eagles won six straight games before losing 71-62 at Holy Cross. American then won its final 10 regular-season games. After sweeping the league tournament, American will carry a 13-game win streak into the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles posted an 11-6 record in true road games this season. However, they do not have any wins against Top 100 RPI teams, going 0-4. American lost all three of its games against major-conference teams, falling 67-51 at Maryland, 83-54 at Oklahoma, and 73-49 at Georgetown. Sixteen of American's 24 wins were against teams outside the Top 200 of the RPI, versus only one loss outside the Top 200, 63-50 at George Washington. --BEST WINS: 75-67 at Jacksonville; 60-48 at Manhattan; 73-57 vs. Holy Cross. WORST LOSSES: 63-50 at George Washington; 82-73 at Fairfield; 57-52 vs. Mount St. Mary's.

Michigan Wolverines (20-12): By tying for seventh in the Big Ten Conference with a .500 league record, Michigan's NCAA Tournament resume was a little shaky, but the Wolverines had enough big wins during the season against a strong schedule to solidify their spot among the 65-team field. Michigan played one of the 15 toughest schedules in the country this season, going 6-9 against RPI Top 50 teams. Michigan picked up a key early season neutral-site win against UCLA (55-52), and the Wolverines split two games with Duke (a 71-56 neutral-site loss and an 81-73 home court win). Michigan also lost at Connecticut in February, 69-61. One knock on the Wolverines NCAA resume was three losses to teams outside the RPI Top 60, including a late-February 70-60 setback at Iowa. But the Wolverines made up for that slip, following it with a home win against Purdue (87-78), a road win against Minnesota (67-64), and a Big Ten Tournament opening-round blowout win against Iowa (73-45). Michigan's longest win streak this season is five games, but it occurred before Big Ten play. Michigan had both a win streak and a losing streak of three games each once Big Ten play began. Two young players lead the Wolverines. Manny Harris, a 6-5 sophomore, averages 17.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists, leading the team in all three categories. DeShawn Sims, a 6-8 junior, averages 15.7 points and 6.9 rebounds for Michigan. BEST WINS: 81-73 vs. Duke; 55-52 vs. UCLA; 67-64 at Minnesota; 74-64 vs. Illinois. WORST LOSSES: 70-60 at Iowa; 73-58 at Penn State; 75-70 at Maryland

Ohio State Buckeyes (21-9): After opening the season 9-0, Ohio State had an up-and-down remainder of the regular season, resulting in the Buckeyes finishing in a three-way tie for fourth place in the Big Ten regular-season race with Wisconsin and Penn State. The Buckeyes had three different losing streaks of at least two games after Jan. 1, along with win streaks of two, three, and four games after Jan. 1. Ohio State solidified its spot in the NCAA field by defeating other Big Ten NCAA contenders late in the year, including a 73-59 win against Penn State, a 52-47 win against Northwestern, and a 61-57 win against Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals. Ohio State went 0-4 against Big Ten champ Michigan State and Illinois during the regular season, but the Buckeyes did pick up some quality non-conference wins, including consecutive victories against Miami, Notre Dame, and Butler. West Virginia drilled the Buckeyes on their home floor, however, 76-48, in late December. Ohio State was 6-8 against Top 50 RPI teams, and the Buckeyes lost only one game to a team outside the RPI Top 40, a 72-69 loss at Northwestern. Evan Turner, a 6-7 sophomore, keys the Buckeyes, leading them in points (16.8 per game), assists (3.9), steals (1.7), and rebounds (6.9). Ohio State did lose a key contributor, 6-5 junior David Lighty, before conference play because of injury. BEST WINS: 54-51 vs. Butler; 65-58 at Michigan; 61-57 vs. Wisconsin; 80-72 vs. Purdue. WORST LOSSES: 72-69 at Northwestern; 75-50 at Purdue; 76-48 vs. West Virginia

Wisconsin Badgers (19-12): Despite tying for fourth place in the Big Ten regular-season race, Wisconsin's spot in the NCAA Tournament was solidified, thanks to playing one of the nation's toughest non-conference schedules. Wisconsin's overall strength of schedule is on the cusp of being one of the 10 toughest in all of college basketball, as the Badgers faced 14 teams in the Top 50 of the RPI, posting a 4-10 record. Wisconsin lost only one game to a team outside the Top 75 of the RPI, a 73-69 loss at Iowa, which came in the middle of a six-game January losing streak for the Badgers. However, Wisconsin rallied in February, going 7-2 over its final nine regular-season games to put itself in position for an NCAA berth. In non-conference play, Wisconsin lost 76-57 against Connecticut, 61-58 at Marquette, and 74-69 against Texas. Wisconsin's best non-conference win was a 74-72 victory at Virginia Tech. Five different Badgers players average at least 8.8 points per game, led by 6-foot-7 senior Marcus Landry's 12.7 points per game. Trevon Hughes, a 6-0 junior, scores 11.9 points per game, and he leads Wisconsin in assists at 2.9 per game. BEST WINS: 63-50 vs. Illinois; 73-61 at Michigan; 55-50 vs. Ohio State; 74-72 at Virginia Tech. WORST LOSSES: 73-69 at Iowa; 66-63 at Northwestern; 78-74 vs. Minnesota.

Cal State Northridge Matadors (17-13): It took overtime, but when you've waited eight years for an NCAA Tournament berth, what's another 5 minutes? Cal State Northridge clinched only its second NCAA Tournament berth in school history after a 71-66 overtime win against Pacific in the Big West Conference Tournament championship game. The Matadors are an improbable NCAA Tournament team after losing their first six games of the season against Division I competition and after sporting a 6-10 record in late January. Cal State Northridge, however, surged late, winning 11 of its final 14 games. Northridge was 0-2 against Pacific during the regular season, but it avenged those setbacks in the conference tournament. Despite the losses to Pacific, the Matadors still managed to win the Big West regular-season title by one game over Pacific and Long Beach State. Northridge did not defeat a team the entire season with an RPI of better than #140, and the Matadors lost 10 games against teams outside the Top 100 of the RPI. Against major-conference teams, Cal State Northridge was 0-2, losing 103-85 at Stanford and 85-67 at UCLA. The Matadors also lost to two NCAA Tournament at-large contenders, falling 85-74 at New Mexico and 72-56 at San Diego State. Deon Tresvant, a 6-foot-0 senior, leads Northridge at 13.3 points per game. Tremaine Townsend, a 6-9 senior, adds 10.9 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. BIG WINS: 71-66 vs. Pacific; 95-74 vs. Long Beach State; 72-70 at UC Santa Barbara. WORST LOSSES: 67-65 at Cal State Bakersfield; 73-51 at UC Irvine; 91-87 vs. Cal State Fullerton

Utah State Aggies (30-4): Utah State posted one of the nation's best records, winning its 30th game in the final of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament with a win at Nevada, 72-62. Utah State, which won the WAC regular-season title by three games over Nevada, earned the league's automatic NCAA Tournament bid with the championship in the league tournament. Gary Wilkinson, a 6-foot-9 senior, leads the Aggies in both scoring (17.0) and rebounding (6.9). Jared Quayle, a 6-1 junior, adds 12.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. Utah State did not play a strong non-conference schedule, and the Aggies posted only a 3-3 record against teams in the RPI Top 100. On the other hand, Utah State lost only one game to a team outside the RPI Top 100, 66-56 at Boise State. During non-conference play, Utah State lost against BYU, 68-63, and at St. Mary's, 75-64, in a "Bracket Buster" game. Utah State's best win of the season came against cross-state rival Utah, when the Aggies won at home in late December, 66-64. At one point in the middle of the season, Utah State won 18 games in a row. However, the Aggies hit a rough patch in the second half of February, losing three of five games. With its strong play in the WAC Tournament, however, the Aggies will carry a four-game win streak into the NCAA Tournament. BEST WINS: 66-64 vs. Utah; 72-61 vs. Nevada; 72-62 at Nevada; 75-49 vs. Weber State. WORST LOSSES: 66-56 at Boise State; 75-64 at St. Mary's

Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (24-7): Stephen F. Austin put together a strong regular-season and tournament campaign in the Southland Conference, earning the Lumberjacks their first NCAA Tournament bid in school history. Stephen F. Austin defeated Texas-San Antonio, 68-57, to win the Southland Tournament. The Lumberjacks won the regular-season crown by one game over Sam Houston State and Nicholls State. Matt Kingsley, a 6-9 senior, leads Stephen F. Austin in both scoring (16.1) and rebounding (7.8). Eric Bell, a 5-foot-3 guard, doesn't score much (3.6 points per game), but he averages 3.4 assists. Stephen F. Austin played a weak schedule this season, only facing two teams inside the RPI Top 100. The Lumberjacks lost at Texas A&M, 55-48, and defeated North Dakota State, 112-111 in triple overtime on a neutral court. They lost two other games against major-conference opponents, falling 69-55 at Texas Tech and 67-51 at Arkansas. Both of those teams finished below .500 this season. Stephen F. Austin had two losses to teams outside the Top 275 of the RPI, falling 59-56 at McNeese State in mid-February and 60-58 at Louisiana-Monroe in late November. Stephen F. Austin has had two long win streaks this season, including a six-game streak in December. Going into the NCAA Tournament, the Lumberjacks will carry an eight-game win streak, which includes two of their best RPI wins, victories against RPI #136 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. BEST WINS: 71-66 at TAM-Corpus Christi; 63-60 vs. TAM-Corpus Christi; 112-111 vs. North Dakota State; 75-73 vs. Sam Houston State. WORST LOSSES: 60-58 at Louisiana-Monroe; 59-56 at McNeese State; 67-52 at Texas-Arlington

Mississippi State Bulldogs (23-12): Mississippi State played the role of "bubble buster" by unexpectedly winning the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship and stealing an NCAA Tournament berth from a team on the bubble. Mississippi State, just as Georgia did a year ago, won four consecutive games in four days at the SEC Tournament. Without the league's automatic berth, Mississippi State likely would not have made the NCAA Tournament. After tying for fifth in the regular-season SEC race, the Bulldogs defeated the SEC's two best teams en route to the tournament title, defeating regular-season champ LSU, 67-57, in the semifinals and defeating Tennessee, 64-61, in the final, easily Mississippi State's best wins of the season. MSU was 0-3 against Tennessee and LSU during the regular season. Four different Bulldogs players average between 11.2 and 13.1 points per game in a balanced attack. Jarvis Varnado, a 6-foot-9 junior, leads Mississippi State in both scoring (13.1) and rebounding (9.0). The Bulldogs were 3-3 against RPI Top 50 teams this season and 10-8 against RPI Top 100 teams. However, they have some bad losses, including a 64-61 home loss against RPI #192 San Diego U. and a 70-64 home loss against RPI #209 Charlotte. In non-conference play, the Bulldogs defeated Top 50 RPI team Western Kentucky, 95-67, but they lost neutral-site games to Washington State, 63-52, and Texas Tech, 77-73. They also lost at Cincinnati, 75-63. After its successful run through the SEC Tournament, Mississippi State will carry a season-high six-game win streak into the NCAA Tournament. BEST WINS: 95-67 vs. Western Kentucky; 64-61 vs. Tennessee; 67-57 vs. LSU; 82-68 vs. South Carolina. WORST LOSSES: 70-64 vs. Charlotte; 64-61 vs. San Diego U.; 77-73 vs. Texas Tech; 87-85 at Alabama.

Temple Owls (22-11): Temple surprised its Atlantic-10 Conference foes by winning the league's automatic berth with a 69-64 win against Duquesne in the A-10 Tournament championship game. The two favorites in the A-10 Tournament, Xavier and Dayton, were beaten in the semifinals by Temple and Duquesne, respectively. Temple finished the regular season in a three-way tie with Dayton and Rhode Island for second in the A-10, one game behind Xavier. However, Temple was 1-3 against Dayton, URI, and Xavier before beating Xavier in the semifinals of the league tournament, 55-53, for Temple's most impressive win of the season. The Owls had only one other win against a team inside the Top 60 of the RPI, an 88-72 win against Tennessee in mid-December. Temple was 2-5 against RPI Top 50 teams and 6-8 against RPI Top 100 teams. The Owls lost two games to teams outside the Top 150 of the RPI, a 79-75 loss at Massachusetts and a 76-71 loss at Long Beach State. Temple played a strong non-conference schedule, losing 76-72 against Clemson, 70-59 at Kansas, and 62-45 at Villanova. Dionte Christmas, a 6-5 senior, leads the Owls by averaging 18.9 points, along with 5.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists. Temple opened the season 5-6, but it then posted a four-game win streak en route to winning 17 of its last 22 games heading into the NCAA Tournament. Temple had a five-game win streak in February, and the Owls will carry another five-game win streak into the NCAA Tournament. BEST WINS: 55-53 vs. Xavier; 88-72 vs. Tennessee; 68-62 vs. Rhode Island; 65-59 at Penn State. WORST LOSSES: 76-71 at Long Beach State; 79-75 at Massachusetts; 70-63 vs. LaSalle

USC Trojans (21-12): USC earned its first Pacific 10 Conference Tournament championship with a 66-63 win against Arizona State, stealing an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament from a bubble team in the process. Southern Cal, which finished in a fifth-place tie in the Pac-10 regular season, probably needed to win the Pac-10 Tournament to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, and the Trojans did just that, winning three games over three days against NCAA at-large teams Cal, UCLA, and Arizona State to clinch the league's automatic berth. Southern Cal had won two games against Top 50 RPI teams before the Pac-10 Tournament, where the Trojans picked up three wins against Top 50 RPI teams. USC had three losses against teams outside the Top 90 of the RPI: 63-61 against Seton Hall, 62-58 at Oregon State, and 75-63 at Stanford. Outside the Pac-10, USC had two losses to Big 12 Conference powerhouse teams, an 83-72 loss against Missouri and a 73-72 loss at Oklahoma. The Trojans best non-conference win was a 61-57 win against NCAA qualifier North Dakota State. USC will enter the NCAA Tournament on a five-game win streak, which matches the Trojans best streak of the season. Prior to its latest five-game win streak, USC had lost six of seven games. Taj Gibson, a 6-9 junior, leads four Trojans players in double-figure scoring with 14.6 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game. Daniel Hackett, a 6-5 junior, adds 12.3 points and 4.8 assists per game. The Trojans had only a 2-8 record in true road games. BEST WINS: 61-49 vs. Arizona State; 66-63 vs. Arizona State; 65-55 vs. UCLA; 79-75 vs. California. WORST LOSSES: 75-63 at Stanford; 62-58 at Oregon State; 63-61 vs. Seton Hall

Boston College Eagles (22-11): Despite a few bad losses, Boston College picked up enough Top 50 RPI wins to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team. Boston College's bad losses included an early January home setback against Harvard, which is outside the Top 200 of RPI. A loss at North Carolina State in the final week of the regular season was costly for the Eagles, too, but they sandwiched that loss with victories against Florida State, Georgia Tech, and Virginia. A 66-65 loss to powerful Duke in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament cemented Boston College's spot in the NCAAs. Boston College also defeated Duke, 80-74, in mid-February, and won at North Carolina, 85-78, in early January. Senior guard Tyrese Rice (6-foot-1) leads Boston College with 17.1 points and 5.4 assists per game. Joe Trapani, a 6-8 sophomore, adds 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. The Eagles finished in a tie for fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference during the regular-season. Boston College will enter the NCAA Tournament having lost five of its last nine games. The Eagles, however, did have a five-game win streak in ACC play, and a 10-game win streak just before ACC play started that included wins against teams that just missed an NCAA at-large bid (Providence, 81-76, and UAB, 83-77). BEST WINS: 85-78 at North Carolina; 80-74 vs. Duke; 72-67 vs. Florida State; 76-67 at Maryland. WORST LOSSES: 53-50 at St. Louis; 82-70 vs. Harvard; 74-69 at North Carolina State.

Dayton Flyers (26-7): Dayton had to sweat out an NCAA Tournament at-large bid after being upset in the semifinals of the Atlantic-10 Conference Tournament by Duquesne, 77-66. However, the Flyers were rewarded for winning several key games in a strong non-conference schedule, and they'll play in the 65-team field. Dayton posted a 3-2 record against teams in the RPI Top 50 and a 9-4 mark against Top 100 RPI teams. Outside the A-10, the Flyers picked up wins against Auburn, 60-59; Marquette, 89-75; Akron, 54-50; and George Mason, 66-62. The Flyers lost only one game in non-conference play, a 77-59 loss at Creighton. Inside league play during the regular season, Dayton split two games with regular-season champion Xavier, and the Flyers defeated league tournament champion Temple, 70-65. Dayton had two regular-season wins against Duquesne before losing to the Dukes in the A-10 Tournament. Dayton's big wins offset three losses to teams outside the RPI Top 125 (at Massachusetts, at Charlotte, and at St. Louis). Chris Wright, a 6-8 sophomore, leads Dayton in scoring at 12.9 points per game and in rebounding at 6.5 boards per game. The Flyers opened the season with records of 8-0, 14-1, and 21-2. However they finished poorly, losing five of their last 10 games, which put their NCAA Tournament at-large hopes in jeopardy. --BEST WINS: 71-58 vs. Xavier; 89-75 vs. Marquette; 70-65 vs. Temple; 60-59 vs. Auburn --WORST LOSSES: 79-66 at Charlotte; 57-49 at St. Louis; 75-62 at Massachusetts

Akron Zips (23-12): Akron tied for third in the regular-season race in the Mid-American Conference, but the Zips proved to be the league's best team in the postseason, winning the MAC Tournament championship by winning four games in five days and claiming the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament from the MAC. The Zips only played the 193rd strongest schedule in the nation this season, but they did post a 4-6 record against Top 100 RPI teams. Akron's best win was a 63-59 victory at Niagara, the #50 RPI team. Outside the MAC, Akron lost at Pittsburgh, 86-67; against Dayton, 54-50; at Rhode Island, 79-50; and at Virginia Commonwealth, 73-69. In MAC play, the Zips opened 1-3, including a 70-65 loss at Ohio. However Akron bounced back with seven straight wins. Akron then had an up-and-down stretch, in which it lost at RPI #329 Northern Illinois, defeated RPI #82 Miami-Ohio, lost at RPI #259 Valparaiso, and won at RPI #88 Buffalo. Akron finished the regular season with a whimper, splitting four games, with losses against two teams outside the Top 125 (Kent State and Bowling Green). After edging RPI #317 Toledo, 93-92, in the first round of the MAC Tournament, however, Akron found its groove, beating Miami-Ohio, Bowling Green, and Buffalo on consecutive days. Five different Zips players average 8 or more points per game. Nate Linhart, a 6-8 senior, scores 10.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. BEST WINS: 63-59 at Niagara; 62-57 at Buffalo; 65-53 vs. Buffalo; 73-63 vs. Miami-Ohio. WORST LOSSES: 74-66 at Valparaiso; 83-79 at Northern Illinois; 70-65 at Ohio.

Minnesota Golden Gophers (22-10): After tying for seventh place in the Big Ten Conference regular-season race and being ousted in the quarterfinal round of the Big Ten Tournament, Minnesota had a nerve-wracking wait for an NCAA Tournament at-large berth. Thanks to some impressive wins, however, the Golden Gophers wait was rewarded. Minnesota's big wins included a neutral-site victory against powerful Louisville, 70-64, and home wins against Ohio State (68-59) and Illinois (59-36). Although Minnesota lost road games against Northwestern and Penn State, the Golden Gophers avoided any losses outside the RPI Top 100. Eight of Minnesota's 10 losses this season came against teams in the Top 50 of the RPI. Minnesota was 0-3 against Big Ten regular-season champion Michigan State this season, losing by eight, 12, and 29 points. The Golden Gophers were 0-2 against Michigan, but 2-0 against Wisconsin, both of which qualified for the NCAAs. Minnesota was undefeated in non-conference play, including a 90-76 home win against NCAA Tournament qualifier North Dakota State and a 66-56 home win against Virginia. Lawrence Westbrook, a 6-foot-0 junior, leads the Gophers with 12.4 points per game. Ralph Sampson III, a 6-11 freshman, contributes 6.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game off the bench. BEST WINS: 70-64 vs. Louisville; 68-59 vs. Ohio State; 59-36 vs. Illinois; 78-74 at Wisconsin. WORST LOSSES: 74-65 at Northwestern; 68-63 at Penn State

West Virginia Mountaineers (23-11): Most basketball fans already knew it, but the NCAA Tournament selection committee verified it: Finishing in a seventh-place tie in the Big East Conference, when coupled with a strong non-conference schedule, is nothing to be ashamed of, and it actually deserves a reward. West Virginia parlayed those factors into a #6 seed in the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team. West Virginia struggled against Top 50 RPI teams, going only 3-8, but the Mountaineers excelled against the remainder of their schedule, losing to no teams with an RPI over 90. West Virginia was 11-11 against Top 100 RPI teams. The Mountaineers cemented their good NCAA seed with a 74-60 win against Pittsburgh in the Big East Tournament, West Virginia's first win in six tries against the Big East's three best teams (Louisville, Pittsburgh, and Connecticut). West Virginia also picked up key wins against Villanova, 93-72, and at Ohio State, 76-48. Outside the Big East, the Mountaineers had a couple of costly losses, 54-43 against Kentucky and 68-65 against Davidson. Da'Sean Butler, a 6-7 junior, leads West Virginia with 17.3 points per game, and he's second in rebounding at 6.0. BEST WINS: 74-60 vs. Pittsburgh; 93-72 vs. Villanova; 76-48 at Ohio State; 53-43 vs. Cleveland State. WORST LOSSES: 54-43 vs. Kentucky; 68-65 vs. Davidson; 65-61 at Cincinnati.