The Seeds • 1. Kentucky • 2. Pittsburgh • 3. Marquette • 4. Dayton • 5. Wisconsin • 6. Missouri • 7. Indiana • 8. Oregon • 9. Utah • 10. Alabama • 11. So. Illinois • 12. Weber State • 13. Tulsa • 14. Holy Cross • 15. Wagner • 16. IUPUI

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

FIRST- AND SECOND-ROUND GAMES
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1. Kentucky (SEC champion)
Record: 29-3 (16-0).
Past 10: 10-0.
Coach: Tubby Smith (20-8 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Keith Bogans, 6-5, Sr. (15.9 ppg, 2.9 apg, 38.1 3-pt. FG%)
G Gerald Fitch, 6-3, Jr. (12.6 ppg, 46.4 FG%, 41.3 3-pt. FG%)
F Marquis Estill, 6-9, Sr. (11.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 57.7 FG%)
F Erik Daniels, 6-8, Jr. (9.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 56.1 FG%)
F Chuck Hayes, 6-6, Soph. (8.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.5 apg)
Top reserves:
F-C Jules Camara, 6-11, Sr. (6.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 51.6 FG%)
G Cliff Hawkins, 6-1, Jr. (5.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.7 apg)
G-F Antwain Barbour, 6-5, Jr. (3.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 41.7 FG%)
Data: On Dec. 28, the Wildcats lost -- soundly -- for the second time in three games, to none other than Louisville, coached by none other than demigod-turned-traitor Rick Pitino. In an astounding turnaround, Kentucky then proceeded to become only the second team to run the SEC table since 1956, following its 1996 championship team. The recurrent theme of the Wildcats' epic run has been simply that of a very well-coached team, one that plays hard-nosed defense, makes smart passes and gives everyone a chance to contribute. Most remarkably, UK's success has come -- with apologies to Keith Bogans (DeMatha) -- without a transcendent performer.

16. IUPUI (Mid-Continent champion)
Record: 20-13 (10-4).
Past 10: 8-2.
Coach: Ron Hunter (first NCAAs).
Starters:
G Matt Crenshaw, 6-3, Jr. (8.2 ppg, 4.2 apg)
G Odell Bradley, 6-4, Jr. (14.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.6 apg)
F Josh Mullins, 6-5, Sr. (12.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 44.7 3-pt. FG%)
F Chris Sanders, 6-5, Sr. (11. 5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 84 FT%)
F Josh Murray, 6-7, Sr. (12.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 57.7 FG%)
Top reserves:
F Antoine Lewis, 6-7, Sr. (6.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.9 apg)
G Marcus May, 5-11, Sr. (5.4 ppg, 2.2 apg, 1.4 spg)
G Brandon Cole, 6-6, Fr. (4.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 29 FG%)
Data: The Jaguars provided one of the highlights of the run-up to the NCAAs when Crenshaw, a 26-year-old Navy veteran, hit a last-second 18-footer for a 66-64 win over top-seeded Valparaiso in the Mid-Continent tournament final, followed by Hunter celebrating as if he had seen the light. Hunter can't be blamed for his ecstasy -- in nine seasons at Indiana-Purdue-Indianapolis, he has guided the program from a poor Division II team (9-18 in 1993-94) to the NCAAs in just its third season of full Division I eligibility. Befitting a team their size, the Jaguars are quick (8.5 steals per game) but not imposing inside (57 blocked shots).

8. Oregon (Pacific-10 champion)
Record: 23-9 (10-8).
Past 10: 7-3.
Coach: Ernie Kent (3-3 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Luke Ridnour, 6-2, Jr. (20 ppg, 6.5 apg)
G James Davis, 5-10, Jr. (10.3 ppg, 2.4 apg, 89.5 FT%)
G Luke Jackson, 6-7, Jr. (16.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 3.7 apg)
F Robert Johnson, 6-8, Sr. (7.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 59 FG%)
C Brian Helquist, 6-9, Sr. (3.3 ppg, 3 rpg, 52.1 FG%)
Top reserves:
G Andre Joseph, 6-3, Jr. (9.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 35.5 3-pt. FG%)
F Ian Crosswhite, 6-11, Fr. (9.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 52.3 FG%)
C Jay Anderson, 6-9, Jr. (2.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 37.8 FG%)
Data: In the closing moments of the season's final home game, a 79-48 drubbing of UCLA, Ridnour was reinserted just long enough to be pulled for an ovation he deserves even if he decides not to turn pro. Although five major contributors return from last year's region finalist, the point guard has carried the team, especially since fast-break partner Jackson has been hindered by a midseason hand injury. Ridnour is second in the Pac-10 in scoring and steals (1.8) and first in free throws and assists. Three starters average at least 37 percent on three-point attempts. The Ducks were 5-6 on the road but won the conference tournament in Los Angeles.

9. Utah (Mountain West at-large)
Record: 24-7 (11-3).
Past 10: 8-2.
Coach: Rick Majerus (17-10 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Tim Drisdom, 6-3, Fr. (5.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.2 apg)
G Trace Caton, 6-4, Sr. (4.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 76.9 FT%)
F Britton Johnsen, 6-10, Sr. (11.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 47.7 FG%)
F Nick Jacobson, 6-4, Jr. (13.1 ppg, 42 3-pt. FG%, 86 FT%)
C Tim Frost, 6-10, Jr. (13.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 51.8 FG%)
Top reserves:
G Marc Jackson, 6-1, Soph. (9.1 ppg, 2.9 apg, 50 FG%)
G Richard Chaney, 6-4, Fr. (5.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 44.9 FG%)
C Cameron Koford, 7-0, Sr. (3.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.2 bpg)
Data: Frost, a transfer from Portland, has established himself as a strong and much-needed inside-outside threat, hitting 46.2 percent of his three-point attempts, 12th-best nationally. He leads three other Utes -- Jacobson, Jackson and Drisdom -- who shoot 40 percent or better from beyond the arc. Utah, 7-3 on the road, won a conference-record nine straight games en route to the eighth regular season title it has at least shared in nine years. The Utes stumbled near the end, however, losing at New Mexico and at home to Colorado State and just edging Air Force. Their stingy half-court defense is ranked 15th nationally, giving up just 60.6 points per game.

FIRST- AND SECOND-ROUND GAMES
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4. Dayton (Atlantic 10 champion)
Record: 25-5 (14-2).
Past 10: 9-1.
Coach: Oliver Purnell (0-2 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Mark Jones, 6-1, Soph. (7.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.4 apg)
G Ramod Marshall, 6-2, Jr. (11.8 ppg, 4.7 apg, 2.2 rpg)
G Brooks Hall, 6-6, Sr. (13.3 ppg, 7 rpg, 67 3-pt.)
F Keith Waleskowski, 6-9, Jr. (12.9 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 54.6 FG%)
C Sean Finn, 6-11, Jr. (9.5 ppg, 5 rpg, 70.0 FG%)
Top reserves:
F Nate Green, 6-6, Sr. (6.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 41.7 FG%)
F D.J. Stelly, 6-4, Sr. (7.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 71.4 FT%)
G Warren Williams, 6-0, Fr. (2 ppg, 1.1 apg, 69.6 FT%)
Data: Purnell is on his way to bringing the Flyers back to the level of success they enjoyed during the 1950s and '60s. This is Dayton's fourth consecutive 20-win season. The Flyers went 2-3 against ranked teams with wins against Marquette and Saint Joseph's and losses to Duke and Xavier (twice). They are a balanced, unselfish team that has solid guards and strong post players. Dayton, which led the Atlantic 10 in field goal percentage (44.8 percent), is not a great free throw shooting team. The Flyers make only 68 percent of their foul shots. They are a strong rebounding team. Dayton grabbed an average of 8.2 more rebounds than its opponents.

5. Wisconsin (Big Ten at-large)
Record: 22-7 (12-4).
Past 10: 7-3.
Coach: Bo Ryan (1-1 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Devin Harris, 6-3, Soph. (12.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 40.2% 3-pt. FG)
G Freddie Owens, 6-2, Jr. (10.9 ppg, 83% FT, 1.9 rpg)
F Kirk Penney, 6-5, Sr. (16.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.0 apg)
F Mike Wilkinson, 6-8, Soph. (9.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.0 bpg)
F Alando Tucker, 6-9, Fr. (12.4 ppg, 53% FG, 5.9 rpg)
Top reserves:
C Dave Mader, 6-11, Jr. (2.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 46% FG)
G Boo Wade, 6-3, Fr. (3.3 ppg, 2.0 apg, 1.9 rpg)
F Andreas Helmigk, 6-9, Fr. (1.9 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 56% FG)
Data: Wisconsin's trademark under Ryan remains fundamental basketball -- the Badgers ranked in the nation's top five in scoring defense (59 ppg), fewest turnovers (10.5) and fewest fouls (14.5) per game. Not many coaches have Ryan's track record -- he owns the nation's best winning percentage among active coaches with 15 seasons of experience and four Division III titles. A victory against Illinois in the regular season finale gave the second-year coach consecutive Big Ten titles, a first at Wisconsin since 1923-24. Before that win, the Badgers lost by double digits to three of their toughest foes (vs. Wake Forest, at Marquette, at Purdue).

12. Weber State (Big Sky champion)
Record: 26-5 (14-0).
Past 10: 10-0.
Coach: Joe Cravens (first NCAAs).
Starters:
G Jermaine Boyette, 6-2, Sr. (20.1 ppg, 3.4 apg, 1.8 spg)
G John Hamilton, 6-3, Jr. (11.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.6 apg)
F Nic Sparrow, 6-4, Jr. (10 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.7 apg)
F Slobodan Ocokoljic, 6-8, Jr. (15.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.9 apg)
C Stephan Bachman, 6-10, Sr. (7.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 55 FG%)
Top reserves:
G Brad Barton, 6-3, Sr. (3.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.8 apg)
G Stevie Morrison, 6-0, Sr. (4.1 ppg, 2 rpg, 1.1 apg)
F Pat Danley, 6-8, Sr. (5.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
Data: With a 17-game win streak (second-longest in the country), and by being one of just three teams with a spotless conference record, the Wildcats would have made an intriguing case to become the first Big Sky team to earn an at-large bid -- if the selection committee could forgive a loss to Division II Alaska-Fairbanks. The Wildcats removed any doubt, however, by winning their conference tournament. Boyette led the team in scoring 18 times, including a 37-point outburst in a victory over BYU, and has Wildcats fans reminiscing about Harold "the Sheaux" Arceneaux, who led Weber past North Carolina and nearly Florida in the 1999 NCAAs.

6. Missouri (Big 12 at-large)
Record: 21-10 (9-7).
Past 10: 6-4.
Coach: Quin Snyder (4-3 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Ricky Clemons, 5-11, Jr. (15.5 ppg, 3.9 apg)
G Jimmy McKinney, 6-3, Fr. (8.9 ppg, 4 rpg, 3.4 apg)
G Ricky Paulding, 6-5, Jr. (16.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.2 apg)
F Arthur Johnson, 6-9, Jr. (15.4 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 1.8 bpg)
C Kenny Young, 6-9, Fr. (2.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 37.5 FT%)
Top reserves:
F Travon Bryant, 6-9, Jr. (8.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.2 bpg)
G Josh Kroenke, 6-4, Jr. (3.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.8 apg)
F-C Jeffrey Ferguson, 6-10, Soph. (1.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg)
Data: The Tigers were forced by injuries, transfers and suspensions to play with as few as eight scholarship players at times this season. Snyder has come under heavy criticism for his handling of Clemons, who was suspended for one game after being charged with felony domestic assault in January. Like several teams this season, Missouri owes its NCAA appearance to home-court supremacy: Its only wins away from Columbia have been against USC (10-15), Nebraska (11-17), Kansas State (12-16) and Iowa (14-12), all of those by seven points or fewer. An upset of Kansas in the Big 12 tournament semifinals didn't hurt either.

11. Southern Illinois (Missouri Valley at-large)
Record: 24-6 (16-2).
Past 10: 8-2.
Coach: Bruce Weber (2-1 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Kent Williams, 6-2, Sr. (15.3 ppg, 47 3-pt. FG%)
G Darren Brooks, 6-3, Soph. (12.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 47 FG%)
G Stetson Hairston, 6-3, Soph. (10.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 45 FG%)
F Jermaine Dearman, 6-8, Sr. (14.4 ppg, 53.5 FG%, 6.5 rpg)
C Sylvester Willis, 6-7 Jr. (4.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 46 FG%)
Top reserves:
F Brad Korn, 6-9, Jr. (5.6 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 33 3-pt. FG%)
C Josh Warren, 6-8, Soph. (5.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 71 FT%)
G Bryan Turner, 6-1, Jr. (3.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.3 apg)
Data: Southern Illinois lost Rolan Roberts, the mainstay of last year's round-of-16 team, but returned enough to win the Missouri Valley regular season race before losing to Creighton in the MVC tournament final. The Salukis' balanced scoring and good shooting -- 47 percent from the field, 38 percent from three-point range -- are pluses, but their weak rebounding could prove costly. Southern Illinois had mixed results in big games, splitting with Creighton during the regular season but winning the critical second game to secure the MVC regular season title, only to get blown out by the Bluejays in the first half of an 80-56 loss in the MVC final.

FIRST- AND SECOND-ROUND GAMES
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2. Pittsburgh (Big East champion)
Record: 26-4 (13-3).
Past 10: 9-1.
Coach: Ben Howland (2-2 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Julius Page, 6-3, Jr. (12.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 37 3-pt%)
G Brandin Knight, 6-0, Sr. (10.8 ppg, 7.2 apg, 53 FT%)
G Jaron Brown, 6-4, Jr. (10.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 51 FG%)
F Ontario Lett, 6-6, Sr. (10.2 ppg, 5 rpg, 64 FG%)
F Dontas Zavackas, 6-8, Sr. (10 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 79 FT%)
Top reserves:
G Carl Krauser, 6-2, Fr. (6 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 35 3-pt. FG%)
F Chevon Troutman, 6-7, Soph. (11.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 59 FT%)
C Toree Morris, 6-10, Jr. (3.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 44 FT%)
Data: The school's official sports Web site has information on the exact time and dates of the Final Four games; those dates also were added to Pittsburgh's schedule in the media notes. Not that tournament success would be anything new for the players: All but two of the 15 won postseason titles while in high school. Knight led his team to three state titles in New Jersey; he and older brother Brevin, a standout at Stanford, are among the highest-scoring sibling tandems in college basketball history. They combined for 3,056 points entering the Big East tournament last week. Pittsburgh wins with defense -- it held 13 opponents to 60 or fewer points this season.

15. Wagner (Northeast champion)
Record: 21-10 (14-4).
Past 10: 8-2.
Coach: Dereck Whittenburg (first NCAAs).
Starters:
G Courtney Pritchard, 6-0, Jr. (10.3 ppg, 5.1 apg, 3.3 rpg)
G Teione Carroll, 6-2, Jr. (9.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.6 apg)
G Dedrick Dye, 6-0, Sr. (12.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.3 apg)
F Jermaine Hall, 6-5, Sr. (21.6 pp, 7.2 rpg, 57.8 FG%)
F Nigel Wyatte, 6-9, Jr. (11.5 ppg, 8.6 rpg)
Top reserves:
F Sean Munson, 6-8, Soph. (6.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 63.5 FG%)
G DeEarnest McLemore, 6-1, Fr. (2.1 ppg, 1.8 rpg)
Data: The Seahawks, who last season made their first NIT appearance in 23 years, are in the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. Whittenburg, who played high school basketball at DeMatha, is best remembered for his desperation shot that teammate Lorenzo Charles grabbed and slammed to give North Carolina State the victory over heavily favored Houston in the 1983 NCAA championship game. Wagner limped into the NEC tournament with two straight losses, including one by 16 points to Long Island on Feb. 27. During the regular season, the Seahawks played two teams from the Washington area -- beating American, 69-55, and losing to Maryland, 79-57.

7. Indiana (Big Ten at-large)
Record: 20-12 (8-8).
Past 10: 6-4.
Coach: Mike Davis (5-2 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Tom Coverdale, 6-2, Sr. (11.3 ppg, 4.4 apg, 3.6 rpg)
G Marshall Strickland, 6-2, Fr. (6.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.0 apg)
G Bracey Wright, 6-3, Fr. (17.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 39% 3-pt. FG)
F Jeff Newton, 6-9, Sr. (14. 9 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.6 bpg)
C George Leach, 6-11, Jr. (6.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.6 bpg)
Top reserves:
G A.J. Moye, 6-3, Jr. (5.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 52% FG)
F Kyle Hornsby, 6-5, Sr. (7.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 38% 3-pt. FG)
F Sean Kline, 6-8, Fr. (3.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 44% FG)
Data: Indiana started with 10 straight wins, including a victory in the rematch of last year's title game with Maryland. As impressive as they looked in 2002, that's how bad the Hoosiers played in the new year, when they suffered through a 2-7 stretch and lost to the Big Ten's two worst teams. Led by the gritty Coverdale, whom Davis calls "the ultimate Indiana basketball player," the Hoosiers have the talent to make another improbable run. Strickland's emergence at point guard moved Coverdale to shooting guard and gives Indiana two solid distributors. The one constant for Indiana has been perimeter defense -- opponents shot only 28 percent beyond the arc.

10. Alabama (SEC at-large)
Record: 17-11 (7-9).
Past 10: 4-6.
Coach: Mark Gottfried (1-3 in NCAAs).
Starters:
G Maurice Williams, 6-1, Soph. (15.7 ppg, 4.0 apg, 83.9 FT%)
G Antoine Pettway, 6-0, Jr. (6.1 ppg, 2.4 apg, 41.7 3-pt. FG%)
F Kennedy Winston, 6-7, Fr. (11.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 21.3 3-pt. FG%)
F Kenny Walker, 6-9, Sr. (9. 4 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.7 bpg)
C Erwin Dudley, 6-8, Sr. (15.0 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 52.4 FG%)
Top reserves:
G Terrance Meade, 6-2, Sr. (4.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 33.3 FG%)
G Earnest Shelton, 6-2, Soph. (4.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 45.0 FT%)
F Emmett Thomas, 6-4, Jr. (6.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 40.3 FG%)
Data: Getting into the tournament represents another upturn in a wildly fluctuating season. Alabama attained its first No.1 ranking ever just in time for Christmas. Shortly thereafter came victories over Xavier and Mississippi State, but then the Crimson Tide started to get rolled in conference play, losing five of its next six games. While Williams added scoring to his point guard duties, others, particularly Meade, did not adequately come to the fore. Eventually, sixth-man sparkplug Pettway was moved into the starting lineup, and he helped the team to a 4-3 regular season finish that -- along with an RPI rating of 33 -- rescued the Tide's postseason hopes.