SOUTH REGION
No. 1 HOUSTON: Cougars field an elite defense and enter Tournament working to rebound from a 69-41Big 12tournament championship game loss to Iowa State. It was the largest margin of defeat for a No. 1team since UCLA beat Houston by 32in the 1968Final Four.
No. 2 MARQUETTE: Coach Shaka Smart is optimistic Big East player of the year Tyler Kolek, who leads the nation in assists per game, will resume play after sitting out the last six games because of an oblique injury.
No. 3 KENTUCKY: Antonio Reeves (20 ppg) leads a Wildcats roster loaded with talent that was slowed by injuries during much of the season. Kentucky enters the NCAA Tournament ranked No. 2nationally, averaging 89.4points.
No. 4 DUKE: Coach Jon Scheyer has led the Blue Devils to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, finding his footing after the retirement of Mike Krzyzewski. Duke features strong guards and is ranked No. 15nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (37.7). Marquette is hopeful Tyler Kolek, right, can return from injury. Center D.J. Burns Jr. earned ACC tournament MVP honors after helping the 10th-seeded Wolfpack win five games during five days to clinch the crown, averaging 15.2points during the stretch.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jamal Shead, guard, Houston: Big 12player of the year and defensive player of the year led the league and ranks in the top 20nationally in assists per game, steals per game and assist-to-turnover ratio.
Terrence Edwards Jr., guard, James Madison: Edwards won Sun
Belt sixth man of the year honors last season and followed that up with league player of the year honors. He is averaging 17.4points and scored 24during a season-opening win over Michigan State.
Reed Sheppard, guard, Kentucky: SEC freshman of the year averages 12.8points, 4.5assists and 2.5steals. Sheppard is a strong 3-point shooter who has worked his way up NBA mock draft projections.
CINDERELLA SEARCH
RIM SHOTS
• Florida is vowing to play for center Micah Handlogten, who broke his lower left leg after landing awkwardly in the opening minutes of the SEC tournament championship game Sunday. He was taken off the court via a stretcher and his mother announced he had surgery.
• Wisconsin has long been known for its defense, but this season the Badgers are averaging 75.1points and field their highest-scoring team since 1994.
• Oakland coach Greg Kampe reportedly weighed retirement before the season, but instead he extended his 40-year run leading the Grizzlies and helped them earn the fourth NCAA Tournament bid of his tenure.