Now that we know who’s in, here’s a game-by-game chart of who advances in the NCAA tournament:
(Winners capitalized)
ATLANTA REGIONAL First round (Seeds in parentheses)
-DUKE (1) vs. Southern U. (16) – The Blue Devils start their road to the Final Four with a bus ride to Greensboro. Enough said.
-George Washington (8) vs. NORTH CAROLINA-WILMINGTON (9) – The Colonials have the fewest losses in the field with two, but it goes to three here without injured forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu.
-SYRACUSE (5) vs. Texas A&M (12) – Gerry McNamara carried the Orange through a remarkable run to the Big East tournament title and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t continue for one more game.
-LSU (4) vs. Iona (13) – The Tigers’ frontcourt is their strength and it should get better with the return of freshman Tyrus Thomas from a sprained ankle. Iona is a senior-laden team, but its best players are in the backcourt.
-WEST VIRGINIA (6) vs. Southern Illinois (11) – The Mountaineers lost five of their last seven games, but that was against Big East teams who exploited them inside. Southern Illinois doesn’t have that kind of size.
-IOWA (3) vs. Northwestern State (14) – The Hawkeyes won three games in the Big Ten tournament and didn’t allow more than 60 points. Northwestern State won’t come near the 95 it scored in the Southland Conference title game.
-CALIFORNIA (7) vs. North Carolina State (10) – Leon Powe of California is good enough to win a game by himself and State has struggled enough down the stretch to lose to a one-man team.
-TEXAS (2) vs. Penn (15) – The Longhorns can dominate with defense. The Quakers scored 60 points or less 10 times this season.
Second round
-DUKE vs. North Carolina-Wilmington – The Blue Devils will get riled up just seeing the first half of their opponent’s name.
-Syracuse vs. LSU – The Tigers almost beat the Big East’s best (Connecticut) during the regular season and their inside game should end the Orange’s run.
-West Virginia vs. IOWA – The athletic Hawkeyes shouldn’t be bothered by West Virginia’s spread offense. Farewell to Mountaineer’s versatile Kevin Pittsnogle.
-California vs. TEXAS – The Longhorns are too strong inside and on the perimeter.
Semifinals
-DUKE vs. LSU – Duke’s Shelden Williams will have his hands full inside with Glen “Big Baby” Davis, but the Tigers’ concern will be on the perimeter. LSU allowed almost seven 3-pointers a game, and Duke has the NCAA’s all-time 3-point shooter in J.J. Redick.
-Iowa vs. TEXAS – The Longhorns won the regular season meeting in November and they are still the better team inside.
Regional final
-DUKE vs. Texas – When they met in December as the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the country, Duke won by 29. The Longhorns might make it closer, but not enough as long as Duke still has Redick, who went for 41 points and nine 3-pointers in the first meeting.
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OAKLAND REGIONAL First round
-MEMPHIS (1) vs. Oral Roberts (16) – There’s usually a first-round scare by one of the No. 16 seeds. This won’t be it.
-Arkansas (8) vs. BUCKNELL (9) – The Bison stunned everyone last year by knocking out third-seeded Kansas in the first round. They are a year older so it won’t be nearly as big a surprise when they patiently beat Arkansas.
-PITTSBURGH (5) vs. Kent State (12) – The Panthers have picked up their offense late in the season and 7-foot center Aaron Gray should have his way inside.
-KANSAS (4) vs. Bradley (13) – The Jayhawks have grown up since starting the season 3-4. It’s usually a concern when a freshman-dominated team makes its NCAA debut. Not this bunch.
-INDIANA (6) vs. San Diego State (11) – The Hoosiers are on a mission for lame duck coach Mike Davis, and the Aztecs have no answer inside for Marco Killingsworth.
-GONZAGA (3) vs. Xavier (14) – All eyes will be on Adam Morrison, and the nation’s leading scorer should hang up a big number even on the Musketeers’ solid defense.
-MARQUETTE (7) vs. Alabama (10) – The Golden Eagles shoot 45 percent from the field and should do even better against the Crimson Tide, who allow opponents to shoot 42 percent.
-UCLA (2) vs. Belmont (15) – There’s a big difference between the two Bruins. UCLA is making its 40th NCAA appearance, Belmont its first.
Second round
-MEMPHIS vs. Bucknell – The Tigers are just too athletic and end the Bison’s run where it stopped last year.
-PITTSBURGH vs. Kansas – This could be one of the best games of the second round with two deep, improving teams going at it. Both teams can get out in transition, but Pitt is better inside.
-Indiana vs. GONZAGA – J.P. Batista of Gonzaga should be the difference with his inside defense.
-Marquette vs. UCLA – The Bruins have enough big men to harass 6-11 3-point specialist Steve Novak on the perimeter.
Semifinals
-MEMPHIS vs. Pittsburgh – The Tigers have the ability to lock down even good offensive teams. Joey Dorsey has had some huge games stopping power players and he’ll relish the chance at Gray.
-Gonzaga vs. UCLA – The West Coast championship will go to UCLA, whose backcourt of Jordan Farmar and Arron Afflalo can make life miserable for Bulldogs point guard Derek Raivio.
Regional final
-Memphis vs. UCLA – It was a one-sided UCLA win when these teams met for the 1972 NCAA championship. The Bruins squeak by this time on the strength of their patience and halfcourt defense.
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WASHINGTON REGIONAL
First round
-CONNECTICUT (1) vs. Albany (16) – The Huskies are coming off an overtime loss to Syracuse in the Big East quarterfinals, and the Great Danes will pay for it.
-KENTUCKY (8) vs. UAB (9) – The Wildcats aren’t a great rebounding team, but they are a lot better than the Blazers, who grabbed almost eight a game fewer than their opponents.
-Washington (5) vs. UTAH STATE (12) – There’s a 12 seed upset every year and the Aggies get this one by slowing down a Husky offense that averaged 82.4 points per game.
-ILLINOIS (4) vs. Air Force – The Illini are too big and strong inside.
-MICHIGAN STATE (6) vs. George Mason (11) – The Spartans’ guards will take advantage of the one-game suspension of the Patriots’ Tony Skinn.
-NORTH CAROLINA (3) vs. Murray State (14) – The Tar Heels open defense of their national championship with a young team that averages more than 80 points per game.
-Wichita State (7) vs. SETON HALL (10) – The matchup in the middle between Kelly Whitney of Seton Hall and Paul Miller of the Shockers should be fun, but Pirates point guard Donald Copeland will be the difference.
-TENNESSEE (2) vs. Winthrop (15) – The Volunteers closed the season with four losses in six games, but those were all against tougher Southeastern Conference opponents.
Second round
-CONNECTICUT vs. Kentucky – The Huskies are better in every phase of the game, and this one could be especially dangerous inside for the Wildcats. UConn led the nation in blocked shots for the fifth straight season.
-Utah State vs. ILLINOIS – James Augustine of the Illini should be an imposing task for the Aggies inside.
-Michigan State vs. NORTH CAROLINA – The Spartans haven’t been as physical as some earlier Tom Izzo teams and that’s great news for Tar Heels freshman center Tyler Hansbrough.
-TENNESSEE vs. Seton Hall – The Volunteers shoot 47 percent from the field and the Pirates have had trouble stopping good shooting teams.
Semifinals
CONNECTICUT vs. Illinois – The Huskies’ depth will be a big advantage, especially up front, and Illinois could wear itself out trying to force the tempo.
NORTH CAROLINA vs. Tennessee – Both teams average more than 80 ppg, but Carolina allows almost 5 fewer and Tennessee opponents shoot even better than the Volunteers, 47.2 percent to 46.7 percent. Deja vu: Carolina knocked out Tennessee in the regional semis in 2000.
Regional final
CONNECTICUT vs. North Carolina – Experience is about the only significant difference, and that gives the edge to UConn.
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MINNEAPOLIS REGIONAL
First round
-VILLANOVA (1) vs. Monmouth-Hampton winner – If Monmouth and Hampton merged instead of just meeting in the play-in game, it would still be the Wildcats, even if guard Allan Ray didn’t play because of an eye injury from the Big East tournament.
-Arizona (8) vs. WISCONSIN (9) – The Badgers should be able to take advantage of a porous Wildcats defense that has allowed opponents to shoot 45 percent.
-NEVADA (5) vs. Montana – The Wolf Pack beat Texas in the first round last season and Nick Fazekas is still an inside force.
-BOSTON COLLEGE (4) vs. Pacific – If the Eagles hadn’t moved to the ACC this season, this could have been a sure thing. Pacific has beaten a Big East team in the first round the last two years.
-OKLAHOMA (6) vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee – The Sooners won four straight one-point games late in the season, so a close game shouldn’t scare them.
-FLORIDA (3) vs. South Alabama (14) – The Gators have the advantage on the court and the sideline; Jaguars coach John Pelphrey was an assistant to Florida’s Billy Donovan.
-GEORGETOWN (7) vs. Northern Iowa (10) – The Hoyas are inconsistent offensively but with 7-2 Roy Hibbert leading the way inside, they should be too strong for the Panthers, who ended the season losing three of four.
-Ohio State (2) vs. DAVIDSON (15) – Upset special of the first round. Terence Dials of the Buckeyes has been a force inside, but the Wildcats are one of those teams that can overcome a big disadvantage with a patient perimeter attack.
Second round
-VILLANOVA vs. Wisconsin – Ray is expected to be back, and the Wildcats’ four-guard offense will cause major problems for slower Wisconsin.
-Nevada vs. BOSTON COLLEGE – BC loves the chance to shut down a star and Fazekas should find it tough in the middle against the physical Craig Smith and shot-blocker Sean Williams.
-Oklahoma vs. FLORIDA – The Gators’ frontline is too quick for the Sooners, who will try to slow it down.
-GEORGETOWN vs. Davidson – A size mismatch: The Hoyas’ guards are as big as the Wildcats’ forwards.
Semifinals
-Villanova vs. BOSTON COLLEGE – We saw this matchup a lot over the years in the Big East. As tough as Villanova’s guards are, the Eagles are just too big up front.
-FLORIDA vs. Georgetown – The Gators have had big games from Joakim Noah in big spots all season. He’ll have his hands full with the Hoyas’ frontline, but look for him to make clutch plays at both ends.
Regional final
-BOSTON COLLEGE vs. Florida – The individual matchups are pretty even, but the Eagles are deeper and have the experience for a game this late in the tournament.
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FINAL FOUR
-DUKE vs. UCLA – The Blue Devils have the best guard and the best big man and that will mean another title game appearance in Indianapolis.
-CONNECTICUT vs. Boston College – The Huskies’ familiarity with BC’s frontline is a huge advantage and the Eagles’ familiarity with UConn’s frontline is a huge disadvantage.
Championship
-CONNECTICUT vs. Duke – A fitting end: The only two teams to be ranked No. 1 all season play for the championship. This has been a Final Four matchup twice since 1999, and Connecticut won the title both times. Make it 3-for-3. These Huskies are a lot deeper and more balanced offensively