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Scouting Reports

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)