seeding the field

College basketball reporter Eric Prisbell places the 65 teams in the NCAA tournament field, which will be announced March 15.

EAST REGION

1. Duke No imposing big man, no problem		16. Ala. St./N.D. St. Bison has SOS ranking of 306
2. Michigan State Northwestern loss tightened league race		15. Binghamton Won at New Hampshire to remain in first
3. Syracuse Orange has lost two of three		14. VMI Strength of schedule in question
4. Xavier Miller's team has four RPI top 50 wins		13. Buffalo Beat Miami (Ohio) in MAC East play
5. Georgetown Overall profile garners high seed		12. Northeastern No clear favorite in three-team CAA battle
6. Kentucky Wildcats have become SEC's best		11. Florida State Home date vs. Tar Heels up next
7. Washington A different team since Thanksgiving		10. Missouri Earned much-needed win vs. Oklahoma State
8. Minnesota Gophers have dropped two straight games		9. Villanova The most vulnerable Big East tourney team

MIDWEST REGION

1. Connecticut Huskies have five RPI top 50 victories		16. Robert Morris Colonials clear favorite in Northeast
2. North Carolina Still the nation's most talented team		15. American Eagles have an RPI ranking of 91
3. Butler Hayward one of nation's best freshmen		14. Stephen F. Austin Blown out by UT-Arlington
4. Arizona State Sun Devils have two straight road wins		13. Northern Iowa Panthers have won seven straight
5. Purdue Three RPI top 50 wins since Jan. 11		12. Oklahoma State Cowboys have the No. 12-ranked SOS
6. West Virginia Mountaineers too physical for Hoyas		11. Michigan Wolverines have small margin for error
7. Baylor Stronger résumé than last season		10. Saint Mary's Gaels need a quality victory soon
8. Miami FSU win was first RPI top 50 victory		9. Florida Suffered one-point loss at South Carolina

SOUTH REGION

1. Pittsburgh Panthers are No. 2 in the RPI		16. Austin Peay Does not have a top 100 victory
2. Oklahoma B. Griffin the favorite for player of year		15. E. Tenn. St. Main threat is Jacksonville
3. Clemson Tigers on two-game losing skid		14. Cornell Played back-to-back games vs. Columbia
4. UCLA Bruins more vulnerable than last season		13. W. Kentucky Louisville win looks better and better
5. Illinois One of the nation's biggest surprises		12. Siena Has won three straight road games
6. Notre Dame RPI ranking (66) still an issue for Irish		11. Stanford Cal victory puts Cardinal back in mix
7. Kansas Pounded Texas A&M by 20		10. UNLV MWC should get at least two bids
8. Tennessee Played one of nation's toughest schedules		9. Davidson Conference foes provide few tests

WEST REGION

1. Wake Forest Tech loss does not detract from great start		16. Long Beach State Beat Cal State- Northridge by six
2. Louisville Cardinals are team no one wants to play		15. Morgan State Hammered Bethune-Cookman
3. Texas Longhorns looking for consistency		14. Portland State Held Northern Colorado to 43 points
4. Gonzaga Saint Mary's only other threat in WCC		13. Utah State Gaudy record, inferior competition
5. Marquette Tough stretch in schedule still ahead		12. Brigham Young Recent stumbles shouldn't derail hopes
6. Memphis Win over Tennessee might be its best		11. Virginia Tech 9-7 ACC record should be enough
7. Ohio State Suffered 18-point loss at Illinois		10. Dayton Atlantic 10 gets two bids at most
8. California Suffered costly home loss to Oregon State		9. Wisconsin Second-toughest schedule in nation