NCAA Tournament team capsules: Midwest

1. Louisville
Record: 28-5
Best win: Pittsburgh
Player to watch: Terrence Williams, a 6-6 senior guard, is as versatile as any player in the country. He's a good ballhandler and passer (a team-leading 5.0 apg), he can take smaller players inside, he can hit threes (36.8 percent), is dangerous in the open court, and a great dunker. He averages 12.3 ppg and 8.5 rpg. and fits perfectly in Rick Pitino's uptempo offense.
Notable: You'll recognize the pressing and running; Pitino hasn't changed. Earl Clark, a 6-9 senior forward with a smooth, understated game, leads the Cardinals at 14.0 ppg and 8.8 rpg. Samardo Samuels, a 6-8 forward, has had an outstanding freshman season, averaging 11.9 ppg and 4.7 rpg. Guard Edgar Sosa sometimes finds himself in Pitino's doghouse but can be spectacular at times. He averages an inconsistent 7.2 ppg. Junior guard Jerry Smith is the team's best three-point threat (7.6 ppg, 40 percent). The Cardinals will be the answer to a great trivia question. In arguably the best season of the Big East (1985 is the other year to argue about), in a league billed as incredibly well-balanced, what team won both the regular-season and tournament titles?

2. Michigan State
Record: 26-6
Best win: Kansas
Player to watch: Kalin Lewis, a lightning-quick 6-0 guard, emerged as a star as a sophomore, taking over control of the Spartans' disciplined offense, scoring 14.8 ppg and handing out 4.4 apg. The Spartans are patient but will run on occasion and that's when Lewis's talent really emerges.
Notable: It's a given, Tom Izzo's teams will be well-coached, crash the boards (9.9 rebounding margin, tops in the country), and play defense (holding opponents to 41 percent shooting). He uses up to 10 players, keeping everyone fresh. The Spartans also played a tough schedule with games vs. North Carolina (L), Texas (W), and Kansas (W). Raymar Morgan, a 6-8 junior, should have a big season but he was slowed by mono. He still averages 10.8 ppg and 5.7 rpg and can suddenly change the course of a game with a highlight-reel play. Goran Suton used his bulk (6-10, 245 pounds) effectively at both ends of the court. He averages 9.8 ppg and 7.9 rpg.

3. Kansas
Record: 25-7
Best win: at Oklahoma
Player to watch: Sherron Collins was a sub on the Jayhawks' national championship team last season. This season, he emerged as a great player, averaging 18.3 ppg and 5.0 apg. The 5-11 junior is a rocket who will score or find the open teammate when the Jayhawks get the fast break going.
Notable: Coach Bill Self had a complete rebuilding job to do when all five starters graduated. Collins became a star and 6-11 sophomore center Cole Aldrich became a force inside (14.6 ppg, 10.6 rpg). Add to those two a batch of talented freshmen, most notably guard Tyshawn Taylor (10.0 ppg, 3.0 apg) and 6-11 forward Marcus Morris (7.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg). Morris's twin, Markieff (4.9 ppg), comes off the bench. Brady Morningstar has improved dramatically in his sophomore year and is the top outside threat (6.7 ppg, 43 percent on threes).

4. Wake Forest
Record: 24-6
Best win: Duke
Player to watch: Jeff Teague, a 6-2 sophomore guard, exploded onto the college basketball scene, going from bench-warmer to one of the best guards in America. He leads the team in scoring (19.1) and assists (3.5) plus he's an outstanding ball-handler and a good defender. His strength is playing off the dribble where can take it to the hoop or pull up for a jumper. He shoots 48.4 percent overall and 44.6 on threes, plus he converts 82.3 percent of his free throws.
Notable: The Demon Deacons were an unknown quantity before the season but they came together quickly behind Teague and freshman Al-Farouq Aminu (12.8 ppg, 8.2 rpg). James Johnson, a 6-9 sophomore forward from Cheyenne, Wyo., of all places, is an athletic scorer who can get to the hoop (14.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg) quickly. Chas McFarland (8.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg) is a serviceable big man at 7-0. The Deacs are deep, with super quick guard Ish Smith (6.2 ppg) a game changer when he comes into the game. The Deacs are an outstanding shooting team, making 48.9 percent, which is third in the nation.

5. Utah
Record: 24-9
Best win: LSU
Player to watch: Luke Neville is a mammoth 7-2, 265-pound center from Australia. He played high school ball in Georgia. Defending Neville is key to beating the Utes. He averages 16.9 ppg while hitting 60 percent of his shots from the field and 79 percent from the free throw line. He averages 9.1 rebounds.
Notable: Coach Jim Boylen, who graduated from Maine in 1987, has a great coaching pedigree as he spent time as an assistant with Jud Heathcote and Tom Izzo at Michigan State and also spent time in the NBA. In his second year, he got Utah back to the NCAAs. On the back of the team's uniform, where the players' last names would normally be, is the team's nickname, Utes. Nice touch. The team's second leading scorer is 6-3 senior guard Lawrence Borha, who came to Salt Lake City from Staten Island via prep school in Los Angeles. He averages 11.7 ppg while hitting 45.8 percent of his shots. Carlon Brown, a 6-5 sophomore guard, is a fascinating player. He averages 9.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, and 3.2 apg.

6. West Virginia
Record: 23-11
Best win: Pittsburgh
Player to watch: Da'Sean Butler, the Mountaineers' sleek 6-7 junior forward, is a glider of the first order, moving smoothly past defenders to find openings and score. He leads the team, scoring 17.3 ppg while also snatching 6.0 rpg. He's a decent three-point shooter, too (36.3 percent).
Notable: In his second season, the Mountaineers are being shaped in the image of their head coach, Bob Huggins. It's a tough-minded, defense-first group (holding opponents to 42 percent shooting). For the most part, West Virginia beat the teams they were supposed to and lost to the ones they were supposed to . . . until they upset Pitt in the Big East tournament. Alex Ruoff, a 6-6 senior guard, is the leading three-point shooter in school history. He averages 15.9 ppg, making 37.5 percent of his threes. He leads the team is assists (3.5). Huggins's recruiting touch has started to work early as two freshman, 6-9 Devin Ebanks (10.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg) and guard Darryl Bryant (9.5 ppg, 2.7 apg) have improved tremendously as the season progressed.

7. Boston College
Record: 22-11
Best win: at North Carolina
Player to watch: Tyrese Rice, the Eagles' indefatigable point guard, who has the knack for the big play at the right time. He averages 17.1 points per game but he's a streaky shooter (41.5 percentage overall and 35.3 on threes) but he's an outstanding ballhandler who will find open teammates (5.3 apg), both on the fast break and in half-court offense.
Notable: The Eagles are an interesting group of athletes, many of whom don't fit into the traditional guard/forward/center slots. Start with 6-7 sophomore forward Joe Trapani (13.5 ppg, 6.6rpg), a transfer from Vermont who's got good inside moves and hits 43.8 percent of his shots. Rakim Sanders, 6-5, and Corey Raji, 6-6, are similar: not forwards, not guards, but good basketball players who can score in a variety of ways. Raji is also a good defender. Sanders averages 13.0 ppg and can be outstanding one moment and disappear the next. Raji (9.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg) is an outstanding offensive rebounder. Josh Southern (6.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg) does his best in the paint. Reggie Jackson, a 6-3 freshman who's either a guard or a small forward, also is tough to define except his athletic ability can be eye-popping at times.

8. Ohio State
Record: 22-10
Best win: Butler
Player to watch: Evan Turner went from obscurity to stardom this season. He's a mobile, athletic 6-7 forward who has a great all-around game. He leads the Buckeyes in scoring (17.1 ppg), rebounding (7.0) and assists (3.8) while hitting 50 percent of his shots.
Notable: Coach Thad Matta did a great job with a young team. Probably the most important thing was scheduling; the Buckeyes played 18 home games and won 15 of them. They had a losing record on the road. The other downside of this is rebounding, since opponents beat them on the boards all year. On the positive side, it's an excellent shooting team, hitting 48.4 percent, which is in the top 15 in the nation. The most interesting shooter is 6-6 sophomore Jon Diebler (11.4 ppg), who hits 42 percent of his threes but is also capable of some incredible hot streaks. Freshman B.J. Mullens is a heralded 7-footer who had an inconsistent season, averaging 8.8 ppg and only 4.7 rpg.

9. Siena
Record: 26-7
Best win: Northern Iowa
Player to watch: Kenny Hasbrouck is the gas in Siena's engine. The Saints like to play fast, and Hasbrouck leads the way with breakneck dashes to the rim. He's 6-3 and strong enough to tangle with big guys. He averages 14.8 points per game. He's not a great shooter (41 percent) but more of a determined scorer.
Notable: This team is battle-tested, playing Ivy champ Cornell (W), Tennessee (L), Wichita State (L), Oklahoma State (L), Pitt (L), Saint Joseph's (W), Northern Iowa (W), and Kansas (L). Plus, most of the players played in the NCAA Tournament two seasons ago. Edwin Ubiles (6-6, 14.6 ppg) and Alex Franklin (6-5, 13.6 ppg) are mobile forwards who score on quickness and run the fast break. Point guard Ronald Moore averages 6.3 apg, and center Ryan Rossiter (10 ppg, 7.8 rpg) is a battler down low.

10. Southern Cal
Record: 21-12
Best win: UCLA
Player to watch: Taj Gibson is a long-armed 6-9 junior forward who's a traditional low-post player. Although he is capable of facing the basket and making some short jumpers he did not attempt a three-pointer. He averages 14.3 ppg while shooting 59 percent, 9.4 rpg, and blocks 2.7 per game.
Notable: The Trojans lost six of seven in February but coach Tim Floyd was able to re-establish the situation and they won the Pac-10 tournament. What really helped was the development of 6-7 freshman forward DeMar DeRozan, who averages 13.6 ppg and 5.7 rpg. He was named MVP of the Pac-10 tournament. Mostly because of Gibson and DeRozan, the Trojans make 47 percent of their shots. Point guard Daniel Hackett, son of assistant coach Rudy Hackett, used his 6-5 height to good advantage when facing smaller guards. He averages 12.5 ppg and 4.6 apg.

11. Dayton
Record: 26-7
Best win: Marquette
Player to watch: Chris Wright is an athletic 6-8 sophomore forward who scores on the move. He averages 12.9 ppg and leads the team with 6.5 rpg. The Flyers' best games are when Wright is scoring near the basket and getting to the foul line.
Notable: The Flyers' foundation is defense; they hold opponents to 39.6 percent shooting and they hit the boards (5.3 rebound margin). Offensively, they can be challenged at times. They connect on only 42 percent of their shots. When things are going right, Wright is the inside threat and Marcus Johnson, a 6-3 junior guard, is the outside threat (12.2 ppg). Coach Brian Gregory, a Tom Izzo disciple, has enough depth to keep the defensive pressure on. Dayton did not have a high-flying finish, going 5-5 in its last 10 games.

12. Arizona
Record: 19-13
Best win: Kansas
Player to watch: Chase Budinger, the 6-7 junior forward (also an excellent volleyball player), can make highlight-reel plays but has a reputation as being soft. He certainly can fill out a stat sheet, averaging 17.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg, and 3.4 apg.
Notable: It's amazing the Wildcats are even in the tournament after their chaotic offseason. Lute Olson returned to coach after a leave of absence and Kevin O'Neill, who had been named Olson's successor whenever he retired, left the program. Recruits reneged on commitments, players transferred, then Olson retired in October after it was discovered that he had suffered a stroke. Somehow, interim coach Russ Pennell held things together. It helped to have a strong junior class with Budinger, 6-10 center Jordan Hill, and 5-10 point guard Nic Wise. Hill blossomed, becoming a reliable low-post presence and leading the Wildcats in scoring (18.5) and rebounding (11.0). Wise is a creative guard who can score (15.1 ppg) but is still a pass-first player (4.5 apg).

13. Cleveland State
Record: 25-10
Best win: at Syracuse
Player to watch: J'Nathan Bullock is a 6-5 forward who strategically uses his 240 pounds to score near the basket. He leads the team in both scoring (15.3) and rebounding (7.0).
Notable: Coach Gary Waters had a lot of success at Kent State, which led to a job at Rutgers, where he did not fare well, which led him back to Ohio and Cleveland State. Once again, he's successful, emphasizing defense with an athletic group that plays offense patiently. The Vikings hold opponents to 40.6 percent shooting and force 15.9 turnovers per game. It's not a great shooting group (43.2 percent) but they rely on 3-point shooting for offense that doesn't revolve around Bullock. The other offensive threats are guards Norris Cole (12.9 ppg) and Cedric Jackson (10.5 ppg, 5.4 apg).

14. North Dakota State
Record: 26-6
Best win: at Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Player to watch: Ben Woodside, a 5-11 guard, will remind some people of Drew Neitzel of Michigan State in both looks and style of play. Woodside averages 22.8 ppg and leads the team in assists (6.3). He makes most of his plays off the dribble, either with quick jumpers, step-back threes, or mad dashes to the rim.
Notable: The Bison are an excellent shooting team (48.9 percent), ranked in the nation's top 10, and they are second in 3-point percentage (41.2). Woodside controls things but there are other threats, most notably 6-6 Brett Winkelman (18.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg) and 6-3 Mike Nelson (11.9 ppg). Michael Tveidt is a 6-7 forward who averages 9.7 ppg but hits 46 percent of his threes; he showed a clutch side by hitting a big three in the Summit League final.

15. Robert Morris
Record: 24-10
Best win: at Mount St. Mary's
Player to watch: Jeremy Chappell is the man. Not only is he the leading scorer (16.9), he has taken 158 more shots than second-leading scorer Rob Robinson. Chappell is a 6-3 guard who plays taller and can score in a variety of ways (he makes 40 percent of his threes). He also leads the team in rebounding (6.3) and assists (3.2).
Notable: If the game isn't that interesting, coach Mike Rice is fun to watch. To say he's emotional is an understatement. He's constantly in motion on the sidelines, throwing in an occasional tantrum either at the officials or his players. Robinson, a 6-8 forward (11.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg), complements Chappell as an inside player, and guard Jimmy Langhurst (10 ppg) is the best outside threat (42.6 percent on threes).

Play-in/16. Alabama State
Record: 22-9
Best win: Jackson State
Player to watch: Brandon Brooks, the Hornets' 6-2 senior point guard, is the SWAC player of the year. He leads the Hornets in both scoring (13.8 ppg) and assists (6.8 apg) while hitting 50 percent of his shots.
Notable: This is the third NCAA berth for Alabama State, which has become a perennial favorite in the SWAC under coach Lewis Jackson. Andrew Hayles, a 6-5 senior, is the second-leading scorer at 13.6 ppg. Wesley Jones, a 6-7 junior, is the best inside player. He averages 9.4 ppg and 6.8 rpg. The most intriguing player is 7-1 senior center Chief Kickingstallionsims, who's of Navajo heritage, and averages 8.8 ppg and 4.1 rpg.

Play-in/16. Morehead State
Record: 19-15
Best win: Tennessee-Martin (twice)
Player to watch: Kenneth Faried, the 6-8 sophomore center who had a basket to remember when he dunked a lob at the end of regulation that appeared to give the Eagles a victory over Austin Peay. Victory was delayed - two overtimes' worth - but the Eagles eventually got it, mostly because of Faried's tenacious play. He averages 13.9 points on 56 percent shooting and 12.8 rebounds. Only 215 pounds, he uses great positioning and leaping ability to score and rebound. He also averages 1.9 blocks per game.
Notable: This team started 0-6 with losses to Vanderbilt, Drake, and Louisville. They were in first place in the Ohio Valley for most of the season but blew it by losing their last four regular-season games. They were resurrected in the OVC tournament, knocking off top seed Tennessee-Martin in the semifinals and the league's traditional power, Austin Peay, in the final. The leading scorer is 6-5 forward Leon Buchanan, who averages 15.1 ppg on 52 percent shooting. The Eagles win with defense (holding teams to 42 percent shooting), rebounding (8.0-per-game advantage), and getting the ball inside to Faried and Buchanan.