The Seeds • 1. Oklahoma • 2. Wake Forest • 3. Syracuse • 4. Louisville • 5. Mississippi St. • 6. Oklahoma State • 7. St. Joe's • 8. California • 9. N.C. State • 10. Auburn • 11. Penn • 12. Butler • 13. Austin Peay • 14. Manhattan • 15. East Tenn. St. • 16. S. Carolina St.

The Washington Post
Monday, March 17, 2003; Page F13

FIRST- AND SECOND-ROUND GAMES
FORD CENTER, OKLAHOMA CITY
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1. Oklahoma (Big 12 Champions)
Record: 24-6 (12-4).
Past 10: 8-2.
Coach: Kelvin Sampson (7-9 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Quannas White, 6-1, Sr. (8.8 ppg, 4.1 apg, 3.7 rpg)
G Hollis Price, 6-1, Sr. (19.4 ppg, 2.9 apg, 93.1 FT%)
G De'Angelo Alexander, 6-4, Fr. (6.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.9 apg)
F Kevin Bookout, 6-8, Fr. (9.6 ppg, 6 rpg, 58 FG%)
C Jabahri Brown, 6-10, Jr. (6.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.5 bpg)
Top reserves:
G Ebi Ere, 6-5, Sr. (13.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.9 apg) F Johnnie Gilbert, 6-8, Soph. (3.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 40.9 FT%) G Blake Johnston, 6-1, Soph. (2.4 ppg, 1.6 apg, 0.8 rpg)
Data: Perhaps no player in the nation is more important to his team than Price, and his burden only got heavier last week. Ere, who had already been knocked out of the starting lineup because he made just 30 percent of his shots in league play, broke his wrist in practice Wednesday -- he still scored seven in overtime of Big 12 semifinal win over Texas Tech. Because Bookout is the only member of the thin front court to have scored 15 points in a game, the underrated White might be forced to score more. White has never committed more than four turnovers in a college game, and he led the team in scoring in wins against Kansas and at Texas Tech.

16. South Carolina State (MEAC champion)
Record: 20-10 (15-3).
Past 10: 7-3.
Coach: Cy Alexander (0-5 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Moses Malone Jr., 6-5, Sr. (16.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.2 spg)
G Demeco Heath, 6-2, Soph. (5.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.8 spg)
F Dustin Braddick, 6-5, Sr. (12.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.7 apg)
F Chucky Gilmore, 6-9, Sr. (7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1 bpg)
C Thurman Zimmerman, 6-5, Soph. (16 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.9 apg)
Top reserves:
G Samuel Ramsey, 6-3, Sr. (4.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1 spg)
G Clary Judge, 6-0, Soph. (4.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.7 apg)
F Dakin Braddick, 6-11, Fr. (5.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1 bpg)
Data: South Carolina State tore through the MEAC during the first half of the regular season before losing back-to-back February games against Delaware State and Coppin State. But the Bulldogs, rallying behind Malone and the ever-improving Zimmerman, scraped into the MEAC final before upending Hampton. The veteran Alexander, a former Howard assistant coach, shepherded South Carolina State through the MEAC tournament, with its three victories coming by a total of 13 points. Transfers Malone (Houston) and Gilmore (Clemson) have major-conference experience, but Braddick led the way with 25 points in conference final win over Hampton.

8. California (Pacific-10 at-large)
Record: 21-8 (13-5).
Past 10: 6-4.
Coach: Ben Braun (6-6 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Brian Wethers, 6-5, Sr. (15.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.1 apg)
G Richard Midgley, 6-1, Fr. (9.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3 apg)
F Joe Shipp, 6-5, Sr. (20.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 52 FG%)
F Amit Tamir, 6-11, Soph. (16.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.2 apg)
C Gabriel Hughes, 6-11, Jr. (2.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 49.2 FG%)
Top reserves:
G A.J. Diggs, 5-9, Jr. (3.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.8 spg)
F Conor Famulener, 6-6, Jr. (3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 50.8 FG%)
F Erik Bond, 6-7, Fr. (1.9 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 32.3 FG%)
Data: Shipp is the fifth Bear in 10 years to lead the Pacific-10 in scoring, after Lamond Murray, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Ed Gray and Sean Lampley. Wethers is coming on strong, leading the Bears in scoring (19.8) the last five games of the regular season. Cal, which had its first winning road record (7-4) since 1995, is 15-0 when outrebounding opponents but just 6-8 otherwise and averages only one rebound more than opponents. Tamir looks like a post player but plays like a guard, making 42.8 percent of his three-pointers to lead four starters averaging 35 percent or better from that range. He also leads in assists and free throw shooting (82.1 percent).

9. North Carolina State (ACC at-large)
Record: 18-12 (9-8).
Past 10: 5-5.
Coach: Herb Sendek (2-2 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Scooter Sherrill, 6-3, Jr. (10.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 57 3-pt.)
G Clifford Crawford, 6-3, Sr. (9.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 4.2 apg)
F Julius Hodge, 6-6, Soph. (17.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 44.9 FG%)
F Josh Powell, 6-9, Soph. (11.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 56 FG%)
F Marcus Melvin, 6-8, Jr. (12.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 80.2 FT%)
Top reserves:
F Levi Watkins, 6-7, Soph. (6.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 30 3-pt.)
G Cameron Bennerman, 6-4, Fr. (2.3 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 54.8 FG%)
Data: The Wolfpack, which went 10 years without going to the NCAA tournament, is making a second straight appearance, thanks in large part to ACC tournament wins over Georgia Tech and Wake Forest. This year marks the 20th anniversary of North Carolina State's improbable run to a national championship. North Carolina State gives teams fits with its Princeton-syle offense of constant motion and cuts to the basket. The Wolfpack is a young team with only one senior and two juniors on the roster. They rely heavily on their five starters. The reserves average just more than 10 points per game. North Carolina State is one of the best free throw shooting teams in Division I, making 77.4 percent.

FIRST- AND SECOND-ROUND GAMES
BIRMINGHAM-JEFFERSON CIVIC CENTER
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4. Louisville (Conference USA champion)
Record: 24-6 (11-5).
Past 10: 6-4.
Coach: Rick Pitino (26-7 in NCAAs)
Starters:
G Reece Gaines, 6-6, Sr. (18.6 ppg, 5.2 apg, 2.7 rpg)
G Taquan Dean, 6-3, Fr. (8.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 84 FT%)
F Francisco Garcia, 6-7, Fr. (11 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.8 apg)
F Ellis Myles, 6-8, Jr. (7.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 58 FG%)
C Marvin Stone, 6-10, Sr. (10.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.5 bpg)
Top reserves:
F Luke Whitehead, 6-7, Jr. (7.6 ppg, 4 rpg, 31 3FG%)
F Erik Brown, 6-5, Sr. (6.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 46 FG%)
C Kendall Dartez, 6-10, Jr. (4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 47 FG%)
Data: Louisville appeared to be one of the nation's strongest, deepest teams until dropping five of seven games to close the regular season. But between Pitino's gamesmanship, which pushed the Cardinals through the upset-filled C-USA tournament, and a loaded and (for now) healthy roster, there is enough for the Cardinals to make a run. Kentucky transfer Stone's up-and-down career comes to a close -- provided he is ruled eligible -- and Dean and Garcia, the young guns who have played a critical role in Louisville's dramatic turnaround, appear ready to take the torch. In Gaines, Louisville has a proven leader to turn to in the clutch.

13. Austin Peay (Ohio Valley champion)
Record: 23-7 (13-3).
Past 10: 9-1.
Coach: Dave Loos (0-1 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Corey Gipson, 6-1, Jr. (8.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.6 apg)
G Anthony Davis, 6-2, Soph. (14.1 ppg, 4.8 prg, 2.4 apg)
G Rhet Wierzba, 6-4, Jr. (8.8 rpg, 3.8 rpg, 1.7 apg)
F Adrian Henning, 6-6, Jr. (15.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 57.2 FG%)
C Josh Lewis, 6-8, Jr. (12.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.7 bpg)
Top reserves:
G Maurice Hampton, 6-2, Fr. (4.6 ppg, 1.5 rpg)
G Levi Carmichael, 6-0, Soph. (3.2 ppg, 85.4 FT%)
Data: The Governors rely heavily on their starters, each of whom averages at least 29.4 minutes. No reserve averages more than 14.8 minutes. Austin Peay has not exactly been overwhelming opponents, winning by an average of 4.1 points. The Governors, who won their final two OVC tournament games by three points each, played against schools from the power conferences twice this season, losing soundly both times: 81-46 at Missouri on Nov. 30 and 74-46 at Mississippi on Dec. 4. Loos has served as the school's athletic director since 1997 and made his only other NCAA appearance in 1995-96, when the Governors lost to third-seeded Georgia Tech in the first round.

5. Mississippi State (SEC at-large)
Record: 21-9 (9-7).
Past 10: 6-4.
Coach: Rick Stansbury (1-1 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Derrick Zimmerman, 6-3, Sr. (8.8 ppg, 5.4 apg, 48.9 FG%)
G Timmy Bowers, 6-2, Jr. (14.5 ppg, 3.1 apg, 47.8 FG%)
F Ontario Harper, 6-5, Soph. (7.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.6 apg)
F Michal Ignerski, 6-10, Sr. (9.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 45.9 FG%)
C Mario Austin, 6-9, Jr. (15.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 55.0 FG%)
Top reserves:
G Winsome Frazier, 6-4, Soph. (6.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.1 spg)
F Branden Vincent, 6-8, Jr. (4.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 50.5 FG%)
C Marcus Campbell, 7-0, Soph. (4.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 51.8 FG%)
Data: Don't be too impressed that the Bulldogs won the SEC West division -- the top four teams in the talent-laden East went a combined 22-2 against their West counterparts. In fact, Mississippi State lost three of its last five regular season games, struggling to score. But an unadjusted RPI of 26 and wins against Xavier and Oklahoma deserve respect, as do all the things the Bulldogs do well: defense (No. 1 in the SEC in scoring, field goal percentage and steals) and rebounding (No. 1 in the SEC in margin). The offensive inconsistency has been reflected in an early 10-game winning streak, an 0-3 conference start and a 7-1 stretch after that.

13. Butler (Horizon at-large) Record: 25-5 (14-2).
Past 10: 8-2.
Coach: Todd Lickliter (0-0 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Brandon Miller, 6-0, Sr. (12.6 ppg, 3.4 apg, 44 3 pt. FG%)
G Darnell Archey, 6-1, Sr. (10.3 ppg, 41 3 pt. FG%, 97 FT%)
F Mike Monserez, 6-6, Jr. (9.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 82 FT%)
F Lewis Curry, 6-7, Sr. (4.9 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 71 FT%)
F Joel Cornette, 6-9, Sr. (11.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.0 apg)
Top reserves:
F Duane Lightfoot, 6-5, Jr. (10.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 67 FG%)
G Avery Sheets, 6-0, Fr. (5.3 ppg, 1.0 apg, 40 3 pt. FG%)
Data: Often overlooked because of a weak conference, the Bulldogs have been one of the most consistent programs in the nation recently -- they have won at least 20 games for seven straight seasons. Butler reached this year's tournament with similar consistency: They allowed only about 60 points per game, shot 48 percent from the field (40 percent beyond the arc) and led the nation in fewest turnovers per game (10.4). Focusing the defense on stopping one Bulldog rarely worked this season -- seven players have led the team in scoring. Despite a senior-laden squad, the team often looks to Sheets in clutch situations -- his buzzer-beating three-pointer lifted Butler in the regular season finale with UW-Milwaukee.

FIRST- AND SECOND-ROUND GAMES
FLEETCENTER, BOSTON
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3. Syracuse (Big East at-large)
Record: 24-5 (13-4).
Past 10: 8-2.
Coach: Jim Boeheim (32-21 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Gerry McNamara, 6-2, Fr. (14 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.7 apg)
F Kueth Duany, 6-6, Sr. (11.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 67% FT)
F Carmelo Anthony, 6-8, Fr. (22.5 ppg, 10 rpg, 36.4 mpg)
F Hakim Warrick, 6-8, Soph. (15.4 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 67% FT)
C Craig Forth, 7-0, Soph. (4.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 17.9 mpg)
Top reserves:
G Billy Edelin, 6-4, Fr. (8.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 22.7 mpg)
G Josh Pace, 6-5, Soph. (3.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 14.4 mpg)
F Jeremy McNeil, 6-8, Jr. (3.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3 bpg)
Data: Fans have gotten their money's worth out of Anthony even if he leaves for the NBA. He led the team in scoring in 10 of its final 11 regular season games and averaged more points this season than he did at Oak Hill Academy last year. Such numbers are why more than 33,000 fans attended the regular season finale and chanted, "One more year!" McNamara has attracted a crowd as well -- more than 2,000 fans from his native Scranton, Pa., attended a February win over Notre Dame. Since Mount St. Mary's coach Jim Phelan retired last month, Boeheim has the longest tenure of a current coach. He has been at Syracuse 27 seasons.

14. Manhattan (MAAC champion)
Record: 23-6 (14-4).
Past 10: 7-3.
Coach: Bobby Gonzalez (0-0 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Luis Flores, 6-2, Jr. (24.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.8 apg)
G Jason Wingate, 6-0, Fr. (4.7 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 2.3 apg)
F Jared Johnson, 6-7, Sr. (12.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 51.2 FG%)
F Mike Konovelchick, 6-5, Fr. (8.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 38.2 3-pt. FG%)
C-F Jason Benton, 6-6, Jr. (5.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 60.4 FG%)
Top reserves:
G Justin Jackette, 6-2, Sr. (5.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 36.7 3FG%)
G Kenny Minor, 5-8, Fr. (3.7 ppg, 2.9 apg, 28.3 FG%)
F Dave Holmes, 6-7, Jr. (12.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 47.5 FG%)
Data: With victories at Seton Hall and St. John's -- part of a 15-game winning streak -- the Jaspers can claim to be the best team in the New York area. Flores, the MAAC player of the year, set the school's season scoring record and finished seventh in the nation. Led by Flores's 91.2 percent free throw shooting, Manhattan finished first overall in that category, but that did not help it in a loss to lowly Yale or a rout by Louisville, the best team it faced. Gonzalez used his experience in this region to procure Holmes (Coolidge, Oak Hill), the MAAC sixth man of the year, and Minor, the 2002 Baltimore city player of the year.

6. Oklahoma State (Big 12 at-large)
Record: 21-9 (9-6).
Past 10: 4-6.
Coach: Eddie Sutton (32-23 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Victor Williams, 5-10, Sr. (15.3 ppg, 3.2 apg, 2.1 spg)
G Tony Allen, 6-4, Jr. (14.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.7 apg)
G-F Melvin Sanders, 6-5, Sr. (13.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.7 spg)
F Ivan McFarlin, 6-8, Jr. (10.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 55.0 FG%)
F Andre Williams, 6-8, Sr. (4.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.8 bpg)
Top reserves:
G Cheyne Gadson, 6-3, Sr. (5.7 ppg, 3.2 apg, 2.1 rpg)
F Jason Miller, 6-9, Jr. (2.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
G Janavor Weatherspoon, 6-1, Jr. (2.7 ppg, 1.1 rpg)
Data: Laden with four Division I transfers and four more junior college transfers, everyone was asking, "Who are these guys?" when the Cowboys rode a 15-game winning streak to a 17-1 start. But a rough closing schedule -- including a sweep by Texas, losses at Cincinnati, Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado, plus an embarrassing home loss to Baylor -- brought them to earth in a hurry. The Cowboys defend well, ranking first in the Big 12 in shooting percentage defense and second in scoring defense. But OSU, which scored less than 60 points six times, was ninth in the conference in points per game and eighth in free throw percentage and rebounding margin.

11. Pennsylvania (Ivy champion)
Record: 22-5 (14-0).
Past 10: 10-0.
Coach: Fran Dunphy (1-6 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Jeff Schiffner, 6-6, Jr. (11.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 49.3 3-pt FG%)
G Tim Begley, 6-5, Soph. (7.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.8 apg)
G Andrew Toole, 6-4, Sr. (10.6 ppg, 2.8 apg, 38.8 3-pt. FG%)
F Ugonna Onyekwe, 6-8, Sr. (15.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 49.4 FG%)
F Koko Archibong, 6-9, Sr. (10.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 49.1 FG%)
Top reserves:
G David Klatsky, 5-11, Sr. (5.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.7 apg)
F Jan Fikiel, 6-10, Soph. (2.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 73.1 FT%)
C Adam Chubb, 6-9, Jr. (3.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 50.7 FG%)
Data: After a shaky start to their season -- lost to Drexel at the Palestra, lost at Delaware -- the Quakers hit their stride in early January, winning 99-61 at Southern California, then went undefeated in the Ivy League for the seventh time in school history. Penn is among the best three-point shooting teams in Division I , making 40.6 percent of its attempts. Schiffner is the most consistent from beyond the arc, but Toole and Begley also are threats from the perimeter. Onyekwe and Archibong present a formidable presence inside. They are a big reason the Quakers rank No. 12 in Division I in scoring defense, holding opponents to 60.3 points per game.

FIRST- AND SECOND-ROUND GAMES
ST. PETE TIMES FORUM, TAMPA
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2. Wake Forest (ACC at-large)
Record: 24-5 (13-3).
Past 10: 8-2.
Coach: Skip Prosser (2-6 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Taron Downey, 6-2, Soph. (9.7 ppg, 4.4 apg, 85.6 FT%)
F Josh Howard, 6-6, Sr. (20.1 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 49.3 FG%)
F Jamaal Levy, 6-9, Soph. (7.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 47.9 FG%)
F Vytas Danelius, 6-8, Soph. (13 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 53.3 FG%)
C Eric Williams, 6-9, Fr. (8.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 53.0 FG%)
Top reserves:
G Justin Gray, 6-2, Fr. (11.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.2 apg)
G Trent Strickland, 6-5, Fr. (4.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 78.0 FT%)
F Chris Ellis, 6-8, Fr. (3.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 50.0 FG%)
Data: The Demon Deacons are one of the youngest teams in Division I with nine freshmen and sophomores on the roster. Wake Forest has three wins over teams ranked in the top 25: Wisconsin, Maryland and Duke. The keys to the Demon Deacons' success are their rebounding and free throw shooting. Wake Forest leads Division I in rebounding margin (9.8 per game) and ranks 15th in free throw percentage (74.9 percent). The return of Gray, who missed a month because of a broken jaw, has given the Demon Deacons a boost. He has scored in double figures in five of his last seven games.

15. East Tennessee State (Southern champion)
Record: 20-10 (11-5).
Past 10: 8-2.
Coach: Ed DeChellis (0-0 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Tim Smith, 5-9, Fr. (15 ppg, 2.3 spg, 42 3FG%)
G Ben Rhoda, 6-4, Fr. (8 ppg, 3 rpg, 51 FG%)
G Ryan Lawson, 6-2, Sr. (7 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2 apg)
F Zakee Wadood, 6-5, Jr. (14 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 50 FG%)
F Jerald Fields, 6-7, Jr. (12 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 55 FT%)
Top reserves:
G James Anthony, 6-2, Soph. (6 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 35 3FG%)
F Brad Nuckles, 6-9 Fr. (5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 50 FG%)
Data: DeChellis's Buccaneers have been one of the SoCon's top teams for several years, winning a share of their division title for three consecutive seasons. ETSU finally broke through this year, beating Chattanooga in the conference tournament final. Sophomore guard Tiras Wade was the team's leading scorer, but hasn't played since January because of personal reasons, leaving the Bucs with a seven-player rotation. Wadood is a force -- just ask Virginia, which he bruised for 18 points and nine rebounds in a November loss. Smith, the conference rookie of the year and the most valuable player of its tournament after scoring 65 points over three games, is the engine in the Bucs' three-guard back court.

7. Saint Joseph's (Atlantic 10 at-large)
Record: 23-6 (12-4).
Past 10: 7-3.
Coach: Phil Martelli (3-2 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Jameer Nelson, 6-0, Jr. (18.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.9 apg)
G Delonte West, 6-3, Soph. (18.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.5 apg)
G Pat Carroll, 6-5, Soph. (12 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 72 3-pt.)
F Dave Mallon, 6-10, Fr. (1.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 32.1 FG%)
C Alexandre Sazonov, 7-1, Sr. (3.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.2 bpg)
Top reserves:
G Tyrone Barley, 6-1, Jr. (6.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 82.7 FT%)
C Dwayne Jones, 6-11, Fr. (3.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.9 bpg)
F John Bryant, 6-7, Soph. (2.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 51.1 FG%)
Data: The Hawks are a guard-oriented team. Nelson and West are among the top scoring backcourt tandems in Division I. West (Eleanor Roosevelt) scored in double figures in every game but one this season. Carroll, younger brother of Notre Dame's Matt Carroll, is one of the nation's best three-point shooters. Saint Joseph's ranks among the best defensive teams in Division I, holding opponents to 59.1 points per game. Only five players have scored more than 20 points in a game against the Hawks this season. Saint Joseph's picked up a couple big road wins early in the season -- at Boston College, 85-58, and at Gonzaga, 79-78, in overtime.

10. Auburn (SEC at-large)
Record: 20-11 (8-8).
Past 10: 4-6.
Coach: Cliff Ellis (6-7 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Lewis Monroe, 6-5, Soph. (5.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.3 apg)
G Derrick Bird, 6-4, Sr. (9.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 79.7 FT%)
F Marquis Daniels, 6-6, Sr. (18.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.3 apg)
F Marc Killingsworth, 6-7, Soph. (13.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 56.8 FG%)
C Kyle Davis, 6-10, Jr. (6.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.7 bpg)
Top reserves:
G Nathan Watson, 6-3, Soph. (5.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.3 spg)
G Troy Gaines, 5-11, Soph. (4.9 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 34.8 3FG%)
F Brandon Robinson, 6-8, Soph. (7.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 57.0 FG%)
Data: Auburn's selection to the tournament can be credited to the trump card of a .500 record in a power conference (the SEC was No. 1 in RPI) because this team had plenty of drawbacks. It compounded a weak nonconference schedule with double-digit losses to two of the three non-creampuffs it faced (Western Kentucky and Western Michigan), had no good road wins and lost eight of its final 12 regular season games, the last five by an average of 17.8 points. So what's to like? Well, they were a preseason last-place pick in the SEC West, so they can be considered overachievers. And for all the losses, none were to teams below 79 in unadjusted RPI.