IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO PREDICT WHO WILL BE DANCING IN MARCH. SI FILLS OUT THE BRACKET—AND DETERMINES WHICH TEAM WILL WIN IT ALL
INDIANAPOLIS REGION
LOUISVILLE
Russ Smith (2) and the defending champs use their depth and speed to roll through the field. And what's even more satisfying than winning a second straight title? Beating rival Kentucky to do it.
1 LOUISVILLE
16 NW STATE/TEXAS SO.
8 VIRGINIA
9 ARIZONA STATE
4 MARQUETTE
13 NEW MEXICO STATE
5 WICHITA STATE
12 BYU/LSU
6 TENNESSEE
11 STANFORD
3 NORTH CAROLINA
14 GREEN BAY
7 BAYLOR
10 LA SALLE
2 MICHIGAN
15 TOLEDO
NEW YORK CITY REGION
MICHIGAN STATE
Finally free of the nagging shoulder injuries that slowed him last season, sophomore Gary Harris (14) carries the Spartans on offense and defense to their first Final Four in four seasons.
1 MICHIGAN STATE
16 UC IRVINE
8 SAINT LOUIS
9 GEORGETOWN
4 MEMPHIS
13 DAVIDSON
5 HARVARD
12 MARYLAND/ALABAMA
6 UCLA
11 CINCINNATI
3 FLORIDA
14 BOSTON UNIVERSITY
7 INDIANA
10 UNLV
2 SYRACUSE
15 IONA
MEMPHIS REGION
KENTUCKY
Julius Randle (30) and the Wildcats reach the Sweet 16 easily, where they wreak Havoc of their own on the Rams—and then punch their ticket to Texas by trumping the Jayhawks' trio of NBA-ready freshmen.
1 KENTUCKY
16 NORFOLK ST./HIGH PT.
8 IOWA
9 BOISE STATE
4 VCU
13 FLORIDA GULF COAST
5 CREIGHTON
12 TOWSON
6 NOTRE DAME
11 SAN DIEGO STATE
3 OHIO STATE
14 STONY BROOK
7 COLORADO
10 VILLANOVA
2 KANSAS
15 EASTERN KENTUCKY
ANAHEIM REGION
DUKE
The Blue Devils have the toughest road of any No. 1 seed, but the experience gained by playing in the nation's toughest conference gets Jabari Parker (1) & Co. past the Ducks, Tigers and Wildcats.
1 DUKE
16 WAGNER
8 OREGON
9 PURDUE
4 UCONN
13 NORTH DAKOTA STATE
5 GONZAGA
12 LOUISIANA TECH
6 NEW MEXICO
11 IOWA STATE
3 OKLAHOMA STATE
14 WEBER STATE
7 WISCONSIN
10 PITTSBURGH
2 ARIZONA
15 GEORGIA STATE
FOUR PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS
Illustrations by STEPHEN SKALOCKY AND NICOLE ZIGMONT
ANDREW HANCOCK FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (RANDLE); DAVID E. KLUTHO/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (HARRIS); BILL FRAKES/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (SMITH); SIMON BRUTY/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (PARKER)
