East Region

#1 Kentucky Overall Record: 32-2 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 7-1 Tournament Criteria: SEC regular season champions, SEC Tournament champions Best Player: John Wall, Guard / DeMarcus Cousins, Forward Biggest Strength: Athleticism and transition offense Biggest Weakness: Inexperience and taking care of the basketball Notes: John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins lead one of the top seeds, but credit must also be given to Patrick Patterson and Eric Bledsoe as well. Despite how well the Wildcats have performed to date, we must point out that aside from Coach Callipari, no one on the team has NCAA Tournament experience. Kentucky has thrived in big games throughout the season, but could the Tournament bring new pressures? In their two losses this season, Wall and Bledsoe have shot 17-for-49 (34%) and committed 17 turnovers.	#16 East Tennessee State Overall Record: 20-14 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 0-3 Tournament Criteria: Atlantic Sun Tournament champions Best Player: Tommy Hubbard, Forward Biggest Strength: Backcourt depth Biggest Weakness: Frontcourt depth Notes: ETSU surprised some in their run through the A-Sun Tournament and were rewarded with a ticket to the NCAA Tournament and an opening round matchup with the nation's #2 team. Tommy Hubbard, an undersized forward has incredible toughness and competitiveness giving him an edge against conference bigs on the boards and in the low post. Justin Tubbs, a transfer from Alabama, is an excellent, but he has been wildly inconsistent all season long.
#8 Texas Overall Record: 24-9 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 5-6 Tournament Criteria: At-large berth, Big 12 Best Player: Damion James, Forward Biggest Strength: Defensive rebounding Biggest Weakness: Extreme inconsistencies and point guard play Notes: Texas has fallen a long way since reaching the nation's apex after a 17-0 start and the Longhorns are just 7-9 since. But the NCAA Tournament is an entirely fresh start for the team. They have a frontcourt that could be one of the best in the nation, when everyone shows up to play, featuring Damion James, Dexter Pittman, Jordan Hamitlon and Gary Johnson. The lack of a point guard will hurt them down the stretch as they will be relying on a freshman in J'Covan Brown or a defensive specialist, Justin Mason.	# 9 Wake Forest Overall Record: 19-10 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 6-4 Tournament Criteria: At-large berth, ACC Best Player: Al-Farouq Aminu Biggest Strength: Frontcourt depth Biggest Weakness: Perimeter shooting Notes: Wake Forest and Texas should provide one of the Tournament's more entertaining matchups in the opening round. Al-Farouq Aminu is the team's leading scorer and rebounder, but undersized guard, Ish Smith could be their biggest offensive threat. The senior guard can weave his way through traffic and man-to-man defense, creating a one-man fast break, but he struggles shooting the ball from the perimeter. Smith, along with C.J. Harris and L.D. Williams will need to step up their outside shooting for Wake Forest to advance.
#5 Temple Overall Record: 29-5 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 4-3 Tournament Criteria: A-10 co-regular season champions, A-10 Tournament champions Best Player: Lavoy Allen Biggest Strength: Perimeter shooting Biggest Weakness: Getting to the foul line Notes: The Temple Owls are led by two free-shooting guards, Ryan Brooks and Juan Fernandez, both of which have the ability to get hot from the outside and scorch teams. Inside, Temple possesses one of the more underrated frontcourt players in the nation in Lavoy Allen, a 6'9" junior who is averaging a double-double on the season.	#12 Cornell Overall Record: 27-4 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 1-2 Tournament Criteria: Ivy League regular season champions Best Player: Ryan Wittman Biggest Strength: Perimeter shooting and senior leadership Biggest Weakness: Getting to the foul line Notes: Cornell is the nation's top 3-point shooting team, knocking down 43% of their perimeter shots, with five serious threats on the outside, but they also boast a true 7-footer inside in senior Jeff Foote. Despite Foote being a force in the Ivy League, he and his teammates went to the foul line at the nation's worst rates. It's a trade-off, but if their perimeter shots are going down, will the Big Red be able to then get to the line?
#4 Wisconsin Overall Record: 23-8 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 7-5 Tournament Criteria: At-large berth, Big Ten Best Player: Jon Leuer, Forward Biggest Strength: Versatility Biggest Weakness: Overall team depth Notes: Wisconsin is always a threat under Head Coach Bo Ryan, especially this year with their offensive style and unique personnel. They have several guards who will sit on the low blocks and post up, as well as several big men, who will step outside and knock down some 3s. Their personnel's versatility going to be difficult to matchup against, with all five starters being able to shoot from outside as well as go inside. But their weaknesses could revolve around keeping their starters on the court; the Badgers struggle with their lack of depth.	#13 Wofford Overall Record: 26-8 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 0-2 Tournament Criteria: Southern Conference regular season champions, Souther Conference Tournament champions Best Player: Noah Dalman, Forward Biggest Strength: Frontcourt depth Biggest Weakness: Experience Notes: Wofford has an undersized power forward, Noah Dalman that may not be a household name, but Dalman has been a consistent threat all season long; he has scored in double-figures every game. But how will Dalman and the Terriers react to playing a high-profile team such as Wisconsin in their first-ever Tournament?
#6 Marquette Overall Record: 22-11 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 4-9 Tournament Criteria: At-large berth, Big East Best Player: Lazar Hayward, Forward Biggest Strength: Frontcourt versatility Biggest Weakness: Post play and clutch play Notes: Lazar Hayward and Jimmy Butler can create matchup problems due to their shear size, strength and skill-set; both stand 6'6" with good perimeter shooting abilities and very good slashing abilities and good overall scoring instincts. Marquette also plays about four or five additional guards, and limited minutes for any big man outside of Hayward. One stat to note is their tendency to let their level of play gravitate towards their opponent. The Golden Eagles have played in 16 games decided by 5 points or less, sporting an 8-8 record this season.	#11 Washington Overall Record: 24-9 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 3-2 Tournament Criteria: Pac-10 Tournament champions Best Player: Quincy Pondexter, Forward Biggest Strength: Getting to the foul line Biggest Weakness: Life outside of Pondexter and Isaiah Thomas Notes: After beginning the season ranked in the nation's Top 25, Washington began its wild roller coaster ride called Pac-10 play. No one team could establish itself, winning big games and then losing bad ones. But the Huskies got hot in Pac-10 play and punched their ticket to the NCAAs by winning the Pac-10. Senior forward, Quincy Pondexter, the team's best player and most gifted athlete, is teamed up with undersized scoring guard, Isaiah Thomas. Both players make a living slashing through opposing defenses and getting the foul line. Which Washington team will show up this week?
#3 New Mexico Overall Record: 29-4 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 8-3 Tournament Criteria: Mountain West Conference regular season champions, At-large berth Best Player: Darington Hobson, Forward Biggest Strength: Overall team play on both end Biggest Weakness: Post defense Notes: Darington Hobson is in consideration as an All-American and deservedly so. His exceptional all-around play has led the Lobos to a #3 seed in the Tournament, but its more than just Hobson. Roman Martinez and Dairese Gary as both All-League performers. Martinez is a potent perimeter threat, while Gary has a knack for getting to the foul line. He has almost attempted an equal number of field goals as he has free throws. The Lobos do lack a true post defender, which could hurt them in the long run.	#14 Montana Overall Record: 22-9 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 0-1 Tournament Criteria: Big Sky Tournament champions Best Player: Anthony Johnson, Guard Biggest Strength: Balanced offensive attack Biggest Weakness: Quality 2nd offensive option Notes: Anthony Johnson, Montana's star, is one of the greatest stories of the season. He went from dishwasher at a restaurant and playing his ball at a local YMCA to marrying his wife, who requested Johnson get a tryout at a community college. He made the team and then more. He transferred, with his wife, so the both of them could play basketball at Montana. Now a senior, Johnson is making the most of his career, leading a 22-point comeback against Weber State in the Big Sky Tournament championship game to keep his career going. He scored 42 points in the win.
#7 Clemson Overall Record: 21-10 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 5-6 Tournament Criteria: At-large berth, ACC Best Player: Trevor Booker, Forward Biggest Strength: Overall depth Biggest Weakness: Perimeter shooting Notes: Trevor Booker, an undersized forward, is Clemson's do-it-all player as he leads the team in scoring and rebounding, but Clemson is very sub-par after Booker. Fortunately for the Tigers, Booker is agile, versatile and skilled enough to remain a threat despite double-teams and scheming against him. Demontez Stitt, the team's point guard does a decent job picking his spots and setting up teammates, but he will need to be at his best this Tournament.	#10 Missouri Overall Record: 22-10 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 5-7 Tournament Criteria: At-large berth, Big 12 Best Player: Kim English, Guard Biggest Strength: Transition offense and pesky perimeter defense Biggest Weakness: Consistent frontcourt play Notes: Missouri has above-average guard play, led by 6'6" sophomore Kim English, the team's leading scoring, Marcus Denmon, Zaire Taylor and defensive stopper, J.T. Tiller. Tiller has been a destructive force on the defensive end, blowing up plays before they get started and pressure opposing guards into turnovers. Missouri will need more consistent play out of sophomore forward, Laurence Bowers to advance.
#2 West Virginia Overall Record: 27-6 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 9-5 Tournament Criteria: Big East Tournament champions Best Player: Da'Sean Butler, Guard/Forward Biggest Strength: Frontcourt depth and versatility Biggest Weakness: Inconsistent point guard play Notes: West Virginia may very well have the nation's top front court, beginning with All-Big East performers Da'Sean Butler and Kevin Jones. Uber-athletic Devin Ebanks is a guard in a 6'9" frame, while Wellington Smith can shoot from outside as well. The only problem with this formular is that WVU's point guard play has been so inconsistency poor at times that one of these forward will be asked to bring up the ball and initiate the offense. The Mountaineers are a jump-shooting team, so they can either kill you with their outside shooting or die by it.	#15 Morgan State Overall Record: 27-9 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 0-5 Tournament Criteria: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular season champions, MEAC Tournament champions Best Player: Reggie Holmes Biggest Strength: Quality starting 5 Biggest Weakness: Depth Notes: The Bears have two star players in guard, Reggie Holmes and forward, Kevin Thompson, but the two can't do it by themselves. Morgan State has several contributors filling out their starting lineup, but almost no production off of their bench. Holmes' 21.8 scoring average was good for Top 10 in the nation, while Thompson's rebounding rate (11.9) ranked 4th in the nation