THE BRACKETS
[This articleconsists of a complex diagram. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]
EAST
MIDWEST
SOUTH
WEST
1 NORTHCAROLINA
16 MT. ST.MARY'S/COPPIN
8 INDIANA
9 ARKANSAS
5 NOTRE DAME
12 GEORGEMASON
4 WASHINGTONSTATE
13 WINTHROP
6 OKLAHOMA
11 SAINTJOSEPH'S
3 LOUISVILLE
14 BOISESTATE
7 BUTLER
10 SOUTHALABAMA
2 TENNESSEE
15 AMERICAN
1 KANSAS
16 PORTLANDST.
8 UNLV
9 KENT ST.
5 CLEMSON
12 VILLANOVA
4 VANDERBILT
13 SIENA
6 USC
11 KANSAS ST.
3 WISCONSIN
14 CAL ST.FULLERTON
7 GONZAGA
10 DAVIDSON
2 GEORGETOWN
15 UMBC
NORTH CAROLINA
Only question here: Can Heels break 100?
ARKANSAS
Hoosiers sunk in post-Sampson funk
NOTRE DAME
'Gody's grit turns Mason Magic into misery
WASHINGTONSTATE
Cougs' backcourt too savvy for early exit
SAINT JOSEPH'S
Beastly Nivins counters OU's interior power
LOUISVILLE
Williams, Clark matchup nightmares for Boise
BUTLER
NCAA-tested Dogs survive 'Bama "road" game
TENNESSEE
Vols' full-court pressure is downright unpatriotic
KANSAS
Big Sky's Vikings are no Bradley or Bucknell
KENT STATE
Fisher, Flashes have enough firepower to light up Vegas
CLEMSON
Tigers unfazed by 'Nova's perimeter athletes
SIENA
Stanford-stunners still have upset magic left
USC
Beasley State's one-man show has one-show run
WISCONSIN
Flowers Power keeps Fullerton's Akognon under wraps
DAVIDSON
Hot Cats use home cooking to win 23rd straight
GEORGETOWN
B'more boys too tiny to bother Big Roy
NORTH CAROLINA
Jumbo Hogs go 6'8", 6'10", 7-foot on front line, but length alone can'tstop Psycho-T from 25 and 10
WASHINGTONSTATE
Senior star Low has one last field day from beyond the arc, exploiting Irish'sperimeter problems
LOUISVILLE
Padgett stages offensive clinic, sets up Pitino-Pearl sideline duel
TENNESSEE
Vols' army of perimeter weapons slashes through Bulldogs, who don't have speedto match
KANSAS
Jayhawk Nation caravans north on I-29 to Phog up Qwest Center, see talentoverwhelm Kent State
CLEMSON
Tigers serve up K.C. barbecue as Rivers leads long-distance barrage to endSaints' Cinderella march
USC
Healthy Hackett, Trojans emerge from defensive derby with proof of theirdark-horse potential
GEORGETOWN
Nation's third-best field goal defense turns cold-blooded Curry just plaincold
NORTH CAROLINA
Battle of nation's seventh-fastest-paced team (UNC) versus the eighth slowest(Wazzu) does not go to the tortoise
LOUISVILLE
After blowing chance to meet UNC in Vegas Invitational, Cards earn a secondshot by grinding Vols into submission
KANSAS
"Shady" Arthur hits real Slim Shady's hometown, has career game atexpense of Tigers' weak interior defense
USC
Hoyas can't repeat '07's Elite Eight miracle as Trojans' slippery big men getHibbert in early foul trouble
LOUISVILLE
Pack the white suit for San Antonio: Pitino and the 'Ville prolong Hansbrough'sElite Eight curse, claw out OT win
KANSAS
Matchup of exquisitely balanced teams goes Jayhawks' way when Rush catches firefrom three-point range and Arthur owns both offensive and defensive glass
KANSAS
Breakthrough! Self, Jayhawks finally shed tournament-bust label by topplingTrojans for second time in '07--08
UCLA
Bruins' Love recovers from his lowest moment (December loss to Longhorns) bypiling up boards, inside buckets and 50-foot outlet passes for paybackvictory
TEXAS
Home cookin': Tigers have a beef after Longhorns ride Houston crowd,three-point barrage to Final Four berth
UCLA
Bruins use backcourt edge to wear down valiant Musketeers at both ends inlow-scoring slugfest
MEMPHIS
Douglas-Roberts goes wild, lights up Golden Eagles with dribble-driveexhibition to send Tigers back to Elite Eight
TEXAS
Augustin reigns supreme in little-versus-big battle, pulling all the rightstrings to drive and kick to Abrams for threes
UCLA
Love shows Thabeet he's not ready for NBA while Shipp rediscovers three-pointstroke to bury Huskies
XAVIER
Duncan goes to work down low against Devils' soft underbelly as Muskies exactrevenge for '04
MEMPHIS
Gordon comes up huge for Bulldogs, but Tigers defense makes difference indown-to-the-wire finish
ORAL ROBERTS
Upset! Cold Spartans succumb to Eagles' defensive gem, toss up brick afterbrick from three-point range
STANFORD
Undervalued Card guards limit mistakes and feed ball to B. Lopez, who feasts onEagles' weak inside D
TEXAS
Longhorns repeat January victory over Gaels the same way, putting Johnson towork down low
UCLA
Bruins lock up Cougars with trademark defense, unleash Love for a 20-and-10tour de force
CONNECTICUT
Price steals Hilltoppers' mojo and leads Huskies' perimeter assault in ablowout
XAVIER
Musketeers' Stanley Burrell declares Hammertime on Jerrells as X shuts downBears' attack
DUKE
Singler lights up Mountaineers with inside-outside domination as Devils cruiseto Phoenix
MEMPHIS
Mavericks can't stop Rose's rapid drives to rim
MISSISSIPPISTATE
Varnado's block party shuts down Ducks
MICHIGAN STATE
Morgan makes like Grinch, stops Christmas
ORAL ROBERTS
Eagles' taller front line smothers Young, Blair
MARQUETTE
James goes off, wins guard battle with Bradley
STANFORD
Lopezes' size matters in battle of brainiacs
ST. MARY'S
McClinton shoots'Canes into early elimination
TEXAS
OVC doesn't have guards like Augustin, Abrams
UCLA
Collison, Westbrook race past Delta Devils
BRIGHAM YOUNG
Plaisted trumps Jones, Jordan in battle of bigs
W. KENTUCKY
'Toppers shooters zing Bulldogs' diminishing D
CONNECTICUT
Toreros don't face shot blockers like Thabeet in WCC
BAYLOR
Boilermakers aren't used to Bears' wide-open style
XAVIER
Lavender punishes exhausted Dawgs from deep
WEST VIRGINIA
Hot Alexander exposes 'Zona's slow defenders
DUKE
Nelson penetrates Bruins' Swiss-cheese defense
1 MEMPHIS
16UT-ARLINGTON
8 MISSISSIPPISTATE
9 OREGON
5 MICHIGANSTATE
12 TEMPLE
4 PITTSBURGH
13 ORALROBERTS
6 MARQUETTE
11 KENTUCKY
3 STANFORD
14 CORNELL
7 MIAMI
10 ST. MARY'S
2 TEXAS
15 AUSTINPEAY
1 UCLA
16 MISS. VALLEYSTATE
8 BRIGHAMYOUNG
9 TEXASA&M
5 DRAKE
12 W.KENTUCKY
4 CONNECTICUT
13 SAN DIEGO
6 PURDUE
11 BAYLOR
3 XAVIER
14 GEORGIA
7 WESTVIRGINIA
10 ARIZONA
2 DUKE
15 BELMONT
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
ILLUSTRATIONS BY STEPHEN SKALOCKY, DAMIAN DEMARTING, EVAN SCHMIDT
ILLUSTRATION
BLACK BOARD BY BRUCE LONNGREN/WWW.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM