THE BRACKET
EAST
1 OHIO STATE
16 TEX.-SAN ANTONIO/ALA. ST.
8 GEORGE MASON
9 VILLANOVA
5 WEST VIRGINIA
12 UAB/CLEMSON
4 KENTUCKY
13 PRINCETON
6 XAVIER
11 MARQUETTE
3 SYRACUSE
14 INDIANA STATE
7 WASHINGTON
10 GEORGIA
2 NORTH CAROLINA
15 LONG ISLAND
OHIO STATE
You never want to call a game a foregone conclusion, but this is a foregone conclusion
GEORGE MASON
The cream of the CAA delivers as the Patriots hand slumping 'Nova its sixth straight loss
WEST VIRGINIA
The Big East was preparation enough for either of the two weakest at-large teams
KENTUCKY
Calipari stopped Cornell's run in the Sweet 16 last year; now, a second Ivy victim in a row
MARQUETTE
Reliable Xavier succumbs to the Golden Eagles and senior wing Jimmy Butler (16.0 ppg)
SYRACUSE
Larry Bird's alma mater has no player averaging more than 11 points, and no chance
WASHINGTON
Big man Matthew Bryan-Amaning (15.5 ppg, 8. 1 rpg) overwhelms the Bulldogs inside
NORTH CAROLINA
The Heels' Harrison Barnes shows why he was the first freshman preseason All-America
OHIO STATE
No Mason magic against a deep, balanced team whose last NCAA memory is a bitter upset
KENTUCKY
The Wildcats avenge last year's Elite Eight loss to WVU behind superfrosh Terrence Jones
SYRACUSE
'Cuse lost to Marquette 76--70 in January, but now freshman center Fab Melo is a factor
WASHINGTON
Huskies 5'9" playmaker Isaiah Thomas takes over in a battle between teams that love to run
OHIO STATE
UK has talent, sure, but OSU's lineup boasts experience and the best freshman in the land (forward Jared Sullinger). The Buckeyes roll, inside and out
SYRACUSE
Washington runs out of gas; the Huskies don't have enough backcourt depth to counter Orange guards Brandon Triche and Scoop Jardine
OHIO STATE
There may not be a better zone-buster than Buckeyes guard Jon (Threebler) Diebler. He and fellow sharpshooter William Buford will puncture the Orange defense
WEST
1 DUKE
16 HAMPTON
8 MICHIGAN
9 TENNESSEE
5 ARIZONA
12 MEMPHIS
4 TEXAS
13 OAKLAND
6 CINCINNATI
11 MISSOURI
3 CONNECTICUT
14 BUCKNELL
7 TEMPLE
10 PENN STATE
2 SAN DIEGO STATE
15 NORTHERN COLORADO
DUKE
A 16 seed has never won a tournament game. The first won't come against Coach K
MICHIGAN
The Wolverines may lack athleticism, but not discipline. Turnovers doom Tennessee
ARIZONA
Josh Pastner gets a shot at his alma mater, but it doesn't end happily for Memphis
OAKLAND
Grizzlies big man Keith Benson (18.0 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 3.6 bpg) is too much for Texas's D
MISSOURI
The Tigers dropped four of their last five, but their backcourt catches fire to down Cincy
CONNECTICUT
UConn won five games in five days last week, but it's not too tired to bounce Bucknell
PENN STATE
The Big Ten's surprise entry denies coach Fran Dunphy his first victory in last 12 tourney tries
SAN DIEGO STATE
The Bears do pose one challenge: Just how will SDSU's famously creative fans taunt them?
DUKE
Michigan faces a disconcerting reality: None of its players would crack the Blue Devils' rotation
ARIZONA
NBA scouts salivate as Benson takes on, and is schooled by, Wildcats forward Derrick Williams
CONNECTICUT
One of these days Huskies star Kemba Walker will slow down. This is not one of those days
SAN DIEGO STATE
Aztecs forward Kawhi Leonard overpowers PSU; viewers at last learn how to pronounce his name
DUKE
Too deep, too experienced, too good (even without a miracle recovery from point guard Kyrie Irving). The Cats are a cut below the defending national champs
SAN DIEGO STATE
The team that figured out how to solve Jimmer Fredette applies the same treatment to Walker, whose supporting cast fails to provide much support
S.D. STATE
It's no contest down low: The Aztecs are both better and tougher than Duke. Leonard, Malcolm Thomas and Billy White take Steve Fisher back to the Final Four
SOUTHWEST
KANSAS 1
BOSTON UNIVERSITY 16
UNLV 8
ILLINOIS 9
VANDERBILT 5
RICHMOND 12
LOUISVILLE 4
MOREHEAD STATE 13
GEORGETOWN 6
USC/VCU 11
PURDUE 3
ST. PETER'S 14
TEXAS A&M 7
FLORIDA STATE 10
NOTRE DAME 2
AKRON 15
KANSAS
The Terriers led just once in America East final. Won't do that against the Jayhawks
UNLV
Behind senior Chace Stanback, coach Lon Kruger takes out his former employer
VANDERBILT
The Commodores' top-end talent keeps the Spiders from spinning an upset
LOUISVILLE
Kenneth Faried, the nation's leading rebounder, will get his, but the Cardinals prevail
VCU
The Rams validate their at-large selection by beating first the Trojans and then the Hoyas
PURDUE
The Peacocks are proud to be back in the bracket, but the fun will end early
TEXAS A&M
In a low-scoring slog, take the team that executes better offensively: the Aggies
NOTRE DAME
Akron would have the edge if this were soccer. But it's not. Irish eyes will smile
KANSAS
UNLV went 0--5 against BYU and San Diego State, and Kansas is better than both
LOUISVILLE
In a fun contrast of styles, the Cards' dogged D shuts down high-flying John Jenkins & Co.
PURDUE
Boilers seniors JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore are the difference in a taut game
NOTRE DAME
A&M defends the three well, but few teams shoot it better than Notre Dame (39.2%)
KANSAS
The size and skill of the Morris twins give the Jayhawks a decisive advantage in the paint, and that's all they need to make a coup de 'Ville
NOTRE DAME
Purdue will bring the ball pressure, but guard Ben Hansbrough will find enough open looks for the Irish to shoot down their intrastate rival
KANSAS
The Jayhawks top the nation in two-point shooting (57.5%) and can defend the three (29.4%). That's double trouble for the Irish, who live and die on the perimeter
SOUTHEAST
PITT 1
UNC-ASHEVILLE/ARK-LR 16
BUTLER 8
OLD DOMINION 9
KANSAS STATE 5
UTAH STATE 12
WISCONSIN 4
BELMONT 13
ST. JOHN'S 6
GONZAGA 11
BYU 3
WOFFORD 14
UCLA 7
MICHIGAN STATE 10
FLORIDA 2
UC SANTA BARBARA 15
PITT
This game serves as a warmup for the Panthers, who face a stiffer foe in Round 3
OLD DOMINION
Stronger on the boards, ODU ends the Bulldogs' hopes of another Cinderella run
KANSAS STATE
The Wildcats will have to be careful with underseeded, fundamentally sound Aggies
WISCONSIN
The Bruins will be the chic upset pick, but Bo Ryan doesn't lose games he shouldn't
ST. JOHN'S
Losing 6'5" D.J. Kennedy to injury was tough, but the Johnnies still have enough to win
BYU
Memo to the upset-minded Terriers: Greater teams than yours have been Jimmered
MICHIGAN STATE
Despite ample in-season evidence, it's not wise to go against the Spartans in March
FLORIDA
The Gauchos have a couple of quality scorers, but their stay in Tampa will be brief
PITT
After a grueling Big East season, Pitt has the edge in a sure-to-be physical matchup
WISCONSIN
Jordan Taylor (4.2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio) is the ideal player to dissect K State's D
BYU
The Red Storm plays with attitude, but the altitude in Denver gives BYU the edge
MICHIGAN STATE
A rematch of the 2000 title game has the same result, but this one's an upset
PITT
While Wisconsin will fight to diminish some of the Panthers' rebounding prowess, the Badgers' porous three-point defense will be their undoing
BYU
The Spartans have been torched from the three-point line all season; sweet music for Cougars shooters Jimmer Fredette and Jackson Emery
PITT
The Pitt backcourt has multiple sizes and speeds to throw at Fredette & Co., who finally feel the absence of suspended sophomore big man Brandon Davies
OHIO STATE
The Aztecs' bigs give Sullinger his toughest task to date, and still he prevails. Why? OSU's supporting cast, including Aaron Craft and David Lighty, take care of business
KANSAS
The Morrises allow KU to handle the Panthers' punishing offensive style and counter with points inside. Add depth that won't crack under pressure and the Jayhawks advance
OHIO STATE
OHIO STATE ISN'T A BASKETBALL SCHOOL—YET. THE MOST EFFICIENT AND BALANCED OFFENSE IN THE COUNTRY PICKS APART KANSAS 76--71 FOR THE BUCKEYES' FIRST TITLE SINCE 1960
PLAY-IN GAME
UNC-ASHEVILLE
ARKANSAS--LITTLE ROCK
PLAY-IN GAME
ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM
CLEMSON
PLAY-IN GAME
TEXAS--SAN ANTONIO
ALABAMA STATE
PLAY-IN GAME
USC
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH
For Seth Davis's video analysis of each regional throughout the tournament, go toSI.COM
TWO PHOTOS
BONUS COVERAGE
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