West Region

#1 Syracuse Overall Record: 28-4 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 11-4 Tournament Criteria: Big East regular season champions, At-large berth Best Player: Wes Johnson, Forward/ Andy Rautins, Guard Biggest Strength: Shot selection and interior toughness Biggest Weakness: Depth Notes: Wesley Johnson and Andy Rautins make this team go. It's Rautins' aggressiveness at the top of the 2-3 zone and Johnson's quickness and length that aid Syracuse's transition game and make them one of the nation's highest scoring teams (5th in the nation), but also the most efficient- their 51.6% from the floor leads the nation. But it's not just Rautins and Johnson that make this team. It's the physical frontcourt of Arinze Onuaku and Rick Jackson who grab rebounds in traffic and clean the defensive glass. While the Orange also have two players, Kris Joseph and Scoop Jardine who could start for most teams, Syracuse does not usually go beyond their 7th man off their bench.	#16 Vermont Overall Record: 25-9 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 0-1 Tournament Criteria: America East Tournament champions Best Player: Marqus Blakely, Forward Biggest Strength: Getting to the foul line Biggest Weakness: 3-point shooting Notes: Vermont boasts two-time America East Player of the Year, Marqus Blakely, who narrowly missed his third straight selection this year. However, Blakely was awarded his third straight Defensive Player of the Year award after leading the league in blocks and steals. He is a poor mid-range and perimeter shooter, so he will have to go against Syracuse's frontline of 6'9", 6'9" and 6'7" down low. Maurice Joseph, a former Michigan State Spartans, is the Catamounts' second-leading scorer and also the brother of Syracuse player, Kris Joseph. He is their leading 3-point shooter, but Vermont still ranks 258th in the nation in 3-point percentage.
#8 Gonzaga Overall Record: 26-6 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 3-4 Tournament Criteria: West Coast Conference regular season champions, At-large berth Best Player: Matt Bouldin, Guard Biggest Strength: Versatility Biggest Weakness: Free-throw shooting Notes: Gonzaga boasts three All-WCC picks, including the Player of the Year in senior guard, Matt Bouldin. He leads the team in scoring and assists per game and also serves as their best perimeter shooter and clutch performer. The Zags will rely on Elias Harris, the WCC's Newcomer of the Year, in the opening round against Florida State to battle with the Seminole's lengthy frontcourt; Harris is the team's second-leading scorer and leading rebounder. Bouldin, Harris and Steven Gray can all play inside and out, creating mismatch problems for opponents.	#9 Florida State Overall Record: 22-9 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 4-7 Tournament Criteria: At-large berth, ACC Best Player: Solomon Alabi, Center Biggest Strength: Post play Biggest Weakness: Consistency and perimeter shooting Notes: No team has a bigger rotation of frontcourt contributors than that of Florida State: 7'1" Alabi, 6'11" Xavier Gibson and 6'9" Chris Singleton. Alabi is a difference-maker and a game-changer. He has improved his post play on offense, making defenses scheme against his 7'1" body, while defensively, he can be a terror for slashers and post players. He ranks near the top of the nation in blocked shots per game, but he can be taken out defensively with foul trouble. Singleton tends to float on the perimeter, despite shooting just 30% from 3-point range, helping the Seminole become one of the nation's worst 3-point shooting teams in college basketball this season.
#5 Butler Overall Record: 28-4 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 3-3 Tournament Criteria: Horizon League regular season champions, Horizon League Tournament champions Best Player: Gordon Hayward, Guard/Forward Biggest Strength: Getting to the foul-line and connecting Biggest Weakness: Post defense Notes: Butler has a star, Gordon Hayward, who is the type of player that you can ride deep into the NCAA Tournament. He has the ability to take over a game, both offensively or defensively. Combined with Shelvin Mack and Ronald Nored, Butler has one of the best starting backcourts in the nation. However, last season's greatest strength, Matt Howard, the 2009 Horizon League Player of the Year, has become one of the team's biggest weaknesses. He has picked up his offensive play as of late, but defensively, Howard, a 6'8" junior, struggles to stay in front of most big men and resorts to fouling. He has been in foul trouble in more than half his team's games, limiting his effectiveness on the court.	#12 UTEP Overall Record: 26-6 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: Tournament Criteria: C-USA regular season champions, At-large berth Best Player: Derrick Caracter, Forward Biggest Strength: Frontcourt play Biggest Weakness: Perimeter defense Notes: Unbeknownst to many, UTEP was behind Butler during the regular season for possessing the nation's longest win streak until the Miners lost in the C-USA Tournament finals. But don't take them lightly, UTEP has the offensive firepower and defensive post play to start another win streak, this time in the NCAA Tournament. They have three complementary big men, starting with Derrick Caracter, who is a load to handle in the low post because of his strength, but he can also step out to the perimeter. Arnett Moultrie, a 6'11" sophomore, plays the high post and mid-range game well, while 6'7", Jeremy Williams can light a team up from the perimeter or score in the low blocks. All the while, UTEP still has Randy Culpepper, one of the most athletic and explosive guards in the nation.
#4 Vanderbilt Overall Record: 24-8 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 6-2 Tournament Criteria: At-large berth Best Player: Jermaine Beal, Guard Biggest Strength: Perimeter play Biggest Weakness: Frontcourt depth Notes: Vanderbilt boasts a trio of guards that are difficult to match up with because of their athleticism, strength and ability to score from anywhere on the court. Jermaine Beal and John Jenkins lead the attack from the perimeter, while Jeff Taylor is more of a slasher than an outside shooter. Inside, the Commodores have A.J. Ogilvy, an All-SEC pick, but if he gets into foul trouble, Vanderbilt has limited options.	#13 Murray State Overall Record: 30-4 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 0-1 Tournament Criteria: Ohio Valley Conference regular season champions, Ohio Valley Conference Tournament champions Best Player: Isacc Miles, Guard Biggest Strength: Offensive balance and depth Biggest Weakness: Experience Notes: The Racers have one of the most balanced offensive attacks in the nation with six players averaging at least 9.5 points per game, but none more than 11. These six share minutes and share the ball, especially combo guard, Isacc Miles. He leads the team in assists and is one of their better outside shooters as well. He is Murray State's go-to player in crunch time and will run the team throughout the course of the game.
#6 Xavier Overall Record: 24-8 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 2-7 Tournament Criteria: At-large berth, A-10 Best Player: Jordan Crawford, Guard Biggest Strength: Post defense Biggest Weakness: Tournament inexperience Notes: Despite losing the Head Coach and the three leading scorers from last season's squad that made it to the Sweet 16, Xavier is back in the Tournament, this year, led by Indiana transfer, Jordan Crawford; he ranked second in the entire conference in scoring, averaging just under 20 per game. Joining him on the offensive end are backcourt mate Terrell Holloway and forward/center Jason Love, who doubles as the team's leading rebounder.	#11 Minnesota Overall Record: 21-13 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 6-8 Tournament Criteria: At-large berth, Big Ten Best Player: Lawrence Westbrook, Guard Biggest Strength: Backcourt depth and perimeter defense Biggest Weakness: Consistent post presence Notes: Minnesota launches themselves into the NCAA Tournament by way of making the Big Ten Tournament finals and defeating Michigan State and Purdue along the way. Under the reigns of Tubby Smith, the Golden Gophers use hounding defensive pressure to force turnovers and create on the offensive end. The less time Minnesota has to spent running their half-court offense, the better.
#3 Pittsburgh Overall Record: 24-8 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 7-5 Tournament Criteria: At-large berth, Big East Best Player: Ashton Gibbs, Guard Biggest Strength: Backcourt depth Biggest Weakness: Consistent offensive post presence Notes: The Panthers feature a four guard attack of Ashton Gibbs, Brad Wanamaker, Jermaine Dixon and Gilbert Brown in their top six rotational players. All four have the ability score from the perimeter, but more effectively score via slashing through the lane. Gibbs is the biggest outside threat, but the Panthers lack a true post presence on offense. Junior forward, Gary McGhee is an excellent post defender, using his physicality and strength to keep offensive opponents off the boards and out of the paint.	#14 Oakland Overall Record: 26-8 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 0-4 Tournament Criteria: Summit League regular season champions, Summit League Tournament champions Best Player: Keith Benson, Center Biggest Strength: Post play Biggest Weakness: Winning against high caliber teams Notes: Oakland features one of the best big men in all of the nation, Keith Benson, a 6'11" junior who can fill up the stat sheet. Even though Benson performed well in Oakland's four games against NCAA caliber teams, the Golden Grizzlies were unable to win one of those contests. Pittsburgh will prove to be a difficult matchup with their guard oriented attack and post defense.
#7 BYU Overall Record: 29-5 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 4-5 Tournament Criteria: At-large berth, Mountain West Conference Best Player: Jimmer Fredette, Guard Biggest Strength: Backcourt depth Biggest Weakness: Post presence, both offensively and defensively Notes: BYU has one of the best guards in all of college basketball in Jimmer Fredette, an absolute scoring machine. He is shooting 45% from behind the arc, but possesses the ability to get to the foul line at a high rate (over 7 times a game), where Fredette is one of the better free-throw shooters in the nation, hitting 90% from the charity stripe. He teams up with Jackson Emery and Tyler Haws to form an underrated, but extremely skilled backcourt.	#10 Florida Overall Record: 21-12 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 3-8 Tournament Criteria: At-large berth, SEC Best Player: Chandler Parsons, Guard/Forward Biggest Strength: Frontcourt depth Biggest Weakness: Backcourt size and toughness Notes: Florida got off to a hot start this season, knocking off Florida State and Michigan State. Since then, they have struggled mightily, beating only one tournament team in 9 chances. Their frontcourt featuring Chandler Parsons, Alex Tyus and Vernon Macklin can give opposing teams fits with their versatility. Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker, the team's starting backcourt, are both undersized and will struggle with guard-oriented attacks.
#2 Kansas State Overall Record: 26-7 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 9-5 Tournament Criteria: At-large berth, Big 12 Best Player: Jacob Pullen, Guard Biggest Strength: Getting to the foul line Biggest Weakness: Backcourt depth Notes: Kansas State earned a #2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, its highest seeding since 1979. Standout guard, Jacob Pullen, not only lead the team in 3-pointers made, but also free-throws made and attempted. He had nearly one-quarter of Kansas State's nation-leading 1005 foul shot attempts. Pullen, in combination with Denis Clemente, gives the Wildcat a talented and quick backcourt, but K-State also has a skilled and deep rotation of big men.	#15 North Texas Overall Record: 24-8 Record against NCAA Tournament Teams: 0-2 Tournament Criteria: Sun Belt Conference co-regular season champions, Sun Belt Conference Tournament champions Best Player: George Odufuwa, Forward Biggest Strength: Balanced offensive attack and getting to the foul line Biggest Weakness: Overall depth, especially in the frontcourt Notes: Four North Texas players were named All-Conference this season, two guards and two forwards. This demonstrates the Mean Green's well-roundedness on the court. UNT used this four-headed offense to attack opponents and get to the foul line, which they did at one of the nation's highest rate, making 20 of 28 a game.