THE BRACKETS
Power struggle: The top two conferences—the Big 12 and the Big East—stand tall on the season's last night. And with its superior low-post game, Kansas edges West Virginia
MIDWEST
1 KANSAS
16 LEHIGH
8 UNLV
9 NORTHERN IOWA
5 MICHIGAN STATE
12 NEW MEXICO ST.
4 MARYLAND
13 HOUSTON
6 TENNESSEE
11 SAN DIEGO STATE
3 GEORGETOWN
14 OHIO
7 OKLAHOMA STATE
10 GEORGIA TECH
2 OHIO STATE
15 UCSB
KANSAS
Freshman guard C.J. McCollum keeps Mountain Hawks close—briefly
NORTHERN IOWA
Panthers nearly took out Purdue in '09. This time they'll finish the job
MICHIGAN ST.
Up-and-down Spartans will be steadier come tourney time
MARYLAND
Terps withstand huge game from guard Aubrey Coleman to take a close one
SAN DIEGO ST.
Aztecs were left out of last year's field; they refuse to make an early exit this year
GEORGETOWN
Midnight strikes early for MAC Cinderella, despite efforts of guard Armon Bassett
OKLAHOMA ST.
Big 12 player of the year James Anderson carries Cowboys past a young Tech team
OHIO STATE
David Lighty is only big contributor left from '07 Oden-Conley finals squad
KANSAS
UNI senior forward Adam Koch goes down fighting against jayhawks' front line
MICHIGAN ST.
Junior point guard Kalin Lucas evokes memories of last season's run to the Final Four
GEORGETOWN
Guard Chris Wright and his Hoyas will make sure it's one upset and done for SDSU
OHIO STATE
Oklahoma State is undone by the hot hand of Buckeyes 6'6" junior guard Jon Diebler
KANSAS
Freshman sensation Xavier Henry helps the Jayhawks win matchup of top-flight backcourts
OHIO STATE
Hoyas have no answer for silky 6'7" Evan Turner, the most complete player in the field
KANSAS
The 2008 champs return to the Final Four by smothering a valiant Turner. Undersized Buckeyes just don't have enough other scorers
WEST
1 SYRACUSE
16 VERMONT
8 GONZAGA
9 FLORIDA STATE
5 BUTLER
12 UTEP
4 VANDERBILT
13 MURRAY STATE
6 XAVIER
11 MINNESOTA
3 PITTSBURGH
14 OAKLAND
7 BYU
10 FLORIDA
2 KANSAS STATE
15 NORTH TEXAS
SYRACUSE
Catamounts upset Orange in first round of 2005. Not going to happen again
FLORIDA STATE
Zags are Dance veterans but played two ACC teams this year and lost to both
BUTLER
Miners are the fashionable pick, but nation's longest win streak reaches 21
VANDERBILT
Last Ohio Valley tournament win was by Middle Tennessee State in '89
XAVIER
Jordan Crawford has another YouTube moment to add to dunk on LeBron
PITTSBURGH
Against power teams, Summit champs lost five games by combined 140 points
BYU
Slick passing and experience help BYU end seven-game NCAA losing streak
KANSAS STATE
Wildcats survive an early test from quick, experienced Mean Green
SYRACUSE
Orange faithful buzz down the N.Y. State Thruway and make Buffalo feel like home
BUTLER
Behind forwards Matt Howard and Gordon Hayward, Bulldogs reach third Sweet 16
PITTSBURGH
Rematch of 2009 Sweet 16 game. Another hard-fought battle, another X-cruciating loss
BYU
Hot-shooting Cougars pull off upset and earn the right to play their regional in Utah
SYRACUSE
The cream rises: Big East player of the year Wes Johnson makes sure Butler doesn't do it
BYU
Junior point guard Jimmer Fredette shoots BYU into the Elite Eight for first time since 1981
SYRACUSE
On the same Salt Lake City floor where Magic first beat Larry in 1979 title game, another Johnson shows his all-around game. Cougars dream run comes to an end
KANSAS
The winningest Jayhawk, senior point guard Sherron Collins (above), solves Orange's 2--3 zone
WEST VIRGINIA
Mountaineers pound Duke inside, and Da'Sean Butler (below) wins it with a buzzer-beater
EAST
1 KENTUCKY
16 EAST TENNESSEE ST.
8 TEXAS
9 WAKE FOREST
5 TEMPLE
12 CORNELL
4 WISCONSIN
13 WOFFORD
6 MARQUETTE
11 WASHINGTON
3 NEW MEXICO
14 MONTANA
7 CLEMSON
10 MISSOURI
2 WEST VIRGINIA
15 MORGAN STATE
KENTUCKY
Buccaneers shiver Wildcats' timbers before fading at the end
TEXAS
Longhorns save face in matchup of reeling heavyweights
TEMPLE
Owls coach Fran Dunphy takes out former pupil Steve Donahue
WOFFORD
Hardworking post player Noah Dahlman leads Terriers to upset
MARQUETTE
A quick out for tourney champs of Pac-10, worst of the power conferences
NEW MEXICO
Grizzlies are out of miracles after their Big Sky title game victory
MISSOURI
In battle of pressing Tigers, Mizzou's veteran backcourt prevails
WEST VIRGINIA
Farewell to guard Reggie Holmes, Bears' alltime leading scorer
KENTUCKY
Damion James keeps Texas close, but Kentucky's frontcourt depth proves decisive
TEMPLE
Both teams like to win ugly with half-court defense. Owls' D is just a little uglier—er, better
MARQUETTE
Proof of Big East power: 11-loss Golden Eagles KO Mountain West regular-season titlist
WEST VIRGINIA
Missouri lacks inside power and the Mountaineers are relentless in the paint. Mismatch
KENTUCKY
Freshman point guard John Wall came to Lexington to take over a tight game like this
WEST VIRGINIA
A rematch of WVU's one-point victory in December. Forward Kevin Jones & Co. squeak by again
WEST VIRGINIA
A Big East team flexes its Big East muscle on a Big East floor (the Carrier Dome). Wildcats' youth—three freshman starters—finally catches up to them
SOUTH
1 DUKE
16 ARKANSAS--PINE BLUFF/WINTHROP
8 CALIFORNIA
9 LOUISVILLE
5 TEXAS A&M
12 UTAH STATE
4 PURDUE
13 SIENA
6 NOTRE DAME
11 OLD DOMINION
3 BAYLOR
14 SAM HOUSTON ST.
7 RICHMOND
10 ST. MARY'S (CALIF.)
2 VILLANOVA
15 ROBERT MORRIS
DUKE
Lessons learned from tough schedule won't help Arkansas--Pine Bluff against Duke
LOUISVILLE
Golden Bears save Pac-10 from total humiliation by keeping it close
UTAH STATE
Both Aggies like a slow tempo, but Utah State has superior long-range shooters
SIENA
With forward Robbie Hummel injured, Boilermakers are a very beatable No. 4
NOTRE DAME
Fighting Irish built momentum over the last seven games to make the NCAA field
BAYLOR
This is not a gimme. Sam Houston lost to Kentucky 102--92 in Rupp Arena
ST. MARY'S
No worries, mate. Gaels have five Australians on their roster
VILLANOVA
Pittsburgh-area Colonials' solid defense will make 'Nova sweat
DUKE
A long, embarrassing year for Cardinals coach Rick Pitino ends decisively in Jacksonville
UTAH STATE
In battle of long shots Siena can't win twice with guard Clarence Jackson hobbled by a bad ankle
BAYLOR
With power forward Luke Harangody playing on one knee, Notre Dame won't prevail
ST. MARY'S
The Wildcats have been playing on borrowed time throughout a shaky 4--6 finish
DUKE
Guard Nolan Smith and the Blue Devils were blown out in last year's Sweet 16. Not this time
BAYLOR
A great name—Tweety Carter—has a great game to lift Baylor to its first Elite Eight appearance
DUKE
Thanks to forward Kyle Singler, ACC champion Duke and coach Mike Krzyzewski reach Final Four for the first time since 2004
TEN PHOTOS
JOHN W. MCDONOUGH (HENRY, COLLINS); AL TIELEMANS (JOHNSON); MITCHELL LAYTON (FREDETTE); JOHN F. GRIESHOP/SCHWARTZMAN SPORTS (TURNER); GREG NELSON (WALL); LOU CAPOZZOLA (SMITH); DENNY MEDLEY/US PRESSWIRE (CARTER); CHRIS SZAGOLA/CAL SPORT MEDIA (BUTLER); ANDREW HANCOCK (JONES); BOB ROSATO (BACKGROUND FLOOR)
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
GREG NELSON (BASKETBALL). PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SI IMAGING