The Seeds • 1. Connecticut • 2. Tennessee • 3. North Carolina • 4. Illinois • 5. Washington • 6. Michigan State • 7. Wichita State • 8. Kentucky • 9. Alabama-Birmingham • 10. Seton Hall • 11. George Mason • 12. Utah State • 13. Air Force • 14. Murray State • 15. Winthrop • 16. Albany

The Washington Post
Monday, March 13, 2006; Page F14

FIRST- AND SECOND-ROUND GAMES
At Wachovia Center, Philadelphia
FRIDAY & SUNDAY   |   TICKETS: SOLD OUT

Record: 27-3, 14-2. Past 10: 8-2.

Coach: Jim Calhoun (36-15 in NCAAs).

Starters
G Marcus Williams, 6-3, Jr. (10.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 8.4 apg)
F Denham Brown, 6-6, Sr. (10 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 83.6% FT)
F Rudy Gay, 6-8, Soph. (15.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.8 spg)
F Josh Boone, 6-10, Jr. (10.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 59% FG)
C Hilton Armstrong, 6-11, Sr. (9.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 3.5 bpg)
Top Reserves
G Craig Austrie, 6-3, Fr. (3.6 ppg, 2.8 apg, 1.6 rpg)
G-F Rashad Anderson, 6-5, Sr. (13.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 42.6% 3-pt.)
F Jeff Adrien, 6-6, Fr. (6.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 60.7% FG)

Data: The Huskies placed five players on the three all-Big East teams, more than any other school -- just another sign of their unmatched talent and depth. Consider the players U-Conn. can bring off its bench: Anderson (the school's career leader in three-pointers made), Adrien (Big East all-rookie team) and Ed Nelson (former ACC rookie of the year at Georgia Tech). Eight players average at least 15 minutes per game, and seven players have led the team in scoring this season. The front court is loaded, with the athletic Gay and the much-improved Armstrong. The Huskies have 13 victories over teams ranked in the RPI's top 50.

Record: 21-10, 13-3. Past 10: 8-2.

Coach: Will Brown (first NCAAs).

Starters
G Jamar Wilson, 6-1, Jr. (17.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.8 apg)
G Lucious Jordan, 6-2, Sr. (8.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.6 apg)
G-F Brian Lillis, 6-5, Soph. (4.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.5 spg)
F Brent Wilson, 6-8, Soph. (10.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.5 apg)
C Kirsten Zoellner, 7-1, Sr. (7.4 ppg, 56% FG, 1.2 bpg)
Top Reserves
F Levi Levine, 6-6, Sr. (7.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.7 apg)
G-F Jason Siggers, 6-4, Jr. (5.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.7 apg)
G Jon Iati, 5-9, Soph. (6.8 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 85% FT)

Data: The Great Danes have enjoyed their finest season since joining Division I in 1999. They will play in their first NCAA tournament after posting a winning record for the first time in six seasons and setting a new team Division I record for single-season victories. Jamar Wilson, the conference player of the year, has scored 30 or more points in five games this season. Zoellner, a transfer from Boston College, is the tallest player in school history. Albany lost six of seven games early in the season but finished the year having won 19 of 23. It avenged two regular season losses to New Hampshire with a 67-54 win in the conference semifinals.

Record: 21-12, 9-7. Past 10: 6-4.

Coach: Tubby Smith (27-11 in NCAAs).

Starters
G Rajon Rondo, 6-1, Soph. (11.9 ppg, 6 rpg, 4.7 apg)
F Sheray Thomas, 6-7, Jr. (4.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 46% FG)
G Joe Crawford, 6-4, Soph. (10.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 23.8 mpg)
C Randolph Morris, 6-10, Soph. (13.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 62% FG)
Top Reserves
G Brandon Stockton, 5-9, Sr. (3 ppg, 40% FG, 11.5 mpg)
G Patrick Sparks, 6-0, Sr. (9 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 3.4 apg)
G Ravi Moss, 6-2, Sr. (6.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.1 apg)
F Bobby Perry, 6-6, Jr. (6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 42% FG)
C Lukasz Obrzut, 7-0, Jr. (2.1 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 9 mpg)

Data: Smith has been searching for consistency all season and has yet to find it. It didn't help that leading scorer Morris sat out the first 14 games of the season after the NCAA ruled him ineligible. (The decision was later modified.) Or that sophomore point guard Ramel Bradley broke his hand a month ago. Smith has used 10 starting lineups trying to find the right combination. Kentucky's last win over a ranked team -- then-No. 4 Louisville -- came in mid-December. Its only two wins against the top teams in the SEC -- vs. Arkansas and at Tennessee -- were by a total of four points.

Record: 24-6, 12-2. Past 10: 8-2.

Coach: Mike Anderson (3-2 in NCAAs).

Starters
G Carldell Johnson, 5-10, Sr. (7.7 ppg, 6.2 apg, 52% 3-pt.)
G Derrick Broom, 6-5, Sr. (3.7 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 38% FG)
G Marvett McDonald, 6-2, Sr. (15.4 ppg, 2.5 apg, 2.1 rpg)
F Frank Holmes, 6-9, Soph. (7.3 ppg, 57% FG, 52% FT)
F Lawrence Kinnard, 6-8, Fr. (6.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 17.7 mpg)
Top Reserves
G Paul Delaney III, 6-2, Soph. (8.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.2 spg)
G Richard Jones, 6-5, Sr. (5.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.7 apg)
G-F Wen Mukubu, 6-6, Jr. (10.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 22.1 mpg)

Data: The Blazers have won 10 of 12 games, including an 80-74 upset of then-No. 3 Memphis, since Broom entered the starting lineup Jan. 28. Anderson settled on Broom as a replacement for senior forward Demario Eddins (13.1 ppg), the team's second-leading scorer who suffered a season-ending right Achilles' tendon tear Jan. 2. Junior college transfer McDonald has assumed scoring responsibilities in his absence. C-USA's fourth-leading scorer has scored in double figures in 23 of 26 games this season, including a 39-point performance against Southern Methodist on Feb. 25.

FIRST- AND SECOND-ROUND GAMES
At Cox Arena, San Diego
THURSDAY & SATURDAY   |   TICKETS: SOLD OUT

Record: 25-6, 11-5. Past 10: 6-4.

Coach: Bruce Weber (9-4 in NCAAs).

Starters
G Dee Brown, 6-0, Sr. (14.7 ppg, 5.6 apg, 2.9 rpg)
G Rich McBride, 6-3, Jr. (9.9 ppg, 2.1 apg, 87% FT)
C Shaun Pruitt, 6-10, Soph. (6.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 53.2% FG)
F Brian Randle, 6-8, Soph. (8.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.4 apg)
F James Augustine, 6-10, Sr. (13.4 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 61.9% FG)
Top Reserves
G Jamar Smith, 6-3, Fr. (7.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.4 apg)
F Warren Carter, 6-9, Jr. (4.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 43.8% FG)
F Marcus Arnold, 6-8, Jr. (3.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 46.3% FG)

Data: Weber has used the same five starters in all but one game, so this is a team that knows how to play together. Brown and Augustine, who are the only players on the team to average in double digits, have won more games than any other players in Illinois history, and Augustine, the school's career leading rebounder, is the only Illini player to record 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in his career. Free throws are crucial in NCAA tournament play, and Illinois' troubles at the line could hurt. The Illini shot just 63.6 percent from the line, worst in the Big Ten. However, Illinois is tied for the conference lead in scoring margin.

Record: 24-6, 12-4. Past 10: 7-3.

Coach: Jeff Bzdelik (first NCAAs).

Starters
G Antoine Hood, 6-4, Sr. (14.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 53.7% FG)
G Dan Nwaelele, 6-5, Jr. (11.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 90% FT)
G Matt McCraw, 6-2, Jr. (10.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 78% FT)
F Jacob Burtschi, 6-6, Jr. (12.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.7 apg)
C John Frye, 6-10, Jr. (5.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 58% FG)
Top Reserves
G Tim Anderson, 6-3, Soph. (4.5 ppg, 2 rpg, 84.5% FT)
G Andrew Henke, 6-6, Fr. (2.4 ppg, 1 rpg, 84.2% FT)
F Keith Maren, 6-8, Soph. (1.7 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 45.5% 3-pt.)

Data: Bzdelik, who coached the NBA's Denver Nuggets for 261/27 seasons and is the Falcons' third coach in three seasons, led Air Force to a school-record 24 wins and the school's fourth NCAA tournament bid in his first season. Now he hopes to lead the Falcons to their first tournament win. Air Force led the nation in scoring defense, allowing 53.8 points per game, and were fourth in fewest turnovers committed per game at 10.8. However, the Falcons aren't very deep, relying mostly on their five starters (who each average at least 22 minutes per game) and Anderson (who averages 20). No one else averages more than 10.

Record: 24-6, 13-5. Past 10: 8-2.

Coach: Lorenzo Romar (2-3 in NCAAs).

Starters
G Brandon Roy, 6-6, Sr. (19.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 4.1 apg)
G Justin Dentmon, 5-11, Fr. (8.1 ppg, 3.9 apg, 83.3% FT)
F Jamal Williams, 6-6, Sr. (13.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 49.9% FG)
F Bobby Jones, 6-7, Sr. (10.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.3 spg)
F Jon Brockman, 6-7, Fr. (9.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 52.4% FG)
Top Reserves
G Ryan Appleby, 6-1, Soph. (8.3 ppg, 81.8% FT, 43.3% 3-pt.)
G Joel Smith, 6-4, Soph. (4.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 42.3% FG)
F Mike Jensen, 6-8, Sr. (5.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 41.4% 3-pt.)

Data: While 5-foot-9 guard Nate Robinson has moved onto bigger things, like jumping over Spud Webb, the Huskies shook off a three-game losing streak that began in late January to finish with exactly the same regular season record as last year when the team earned the top seed in the Albuquerque Region. This year's star guard is Roy, whose primary similarity to Robinson is that he leads the Huskies in just about every statistical category. He's picked it up recently, averaging 21.3 points during the team's eight-game winning streak to end the regular season and earned three conference player of the week honors in the process.

Record: 23-8, 11-5. Past 10: 7-3.

Coach: Stew Morrill (1-5 in NCAAs).

Starters
G David Pak, 6-2, Sr. (7.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 4.6 apg)
G Jaycee Carroll, 6-2, Soph. (16.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 45.3% 3-pt.)
G Durrall Peterson, 6-3, Jr. (7.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.0 apg)
F Nate Harris, 6-7, Sr. (17.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.1 apg)
C Cass Matheus, 6-10, Sr. (9.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 59.6% FG)
Top Reserves
F Chaz Spicer, 6-7, Jr. (7.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 55.9% FG)
F Chris Session, 6-6, Jr. (2.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 47.1% FG)

Data: Two years ago, Utah State had the best record of any school ever excluded from the NCAA tournament. This year, after losing to Nevada in overtime in the WAC final, Utah State found a way to earn one of the final at-large bids. The Aggies nearly knocked off Nevada on the Wolf Pack's home court in Saturday's WAC tournament final. They also beat Nevada in Reno on Jan. 23 in a victory that surely impressed the selection committee. Harris showed why he is among the nation's most underrated players by engaging in an entertaining duel with Nevada's Nick Fazekas. The Aggies rank fourth in the country in field goal percentage, making 49.8 percent of their shots, and fourth in three-point shooting percentage.

FIRST- AND SECOND-ROUND GAMES
At University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio
FRIDAY & SUNDAY    |   TICKETS: SOLD OUT

Record: 22-7, 12-4. Past 10: 8-2.

Coach: Roy Williams (41-15 in NCAAs).

Starters
G Bobby Frasor, 6-3, Fr. (6.6 ppg, 4.6 apg, 38% FG)
G Wes Miller, 5-11, Jr. (6.9 ppg, 2.1 apg, 44% 3-pt.)
F David Noel, 6-6, Sr. (12.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.4 apg)
F Reyshawn Terry, 6-8, Jr. (14.2 ppg, 6 rpg, 40% 3-pt.)
F Tyler Hansbrough, 6-9, Fr. (19 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 58% FG)
Top Reserves
G Marcus Ginyard, 6-5, Fr. (6.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 41% FG)
G Danny Green, 6-5, Fr. (7.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 43% FG)
F Byron Sanders, 6-9, Sr. (2.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 53% FG)

Data: Two weeks ago, one ACC coach said the Tar Heels were the conference's best team. They also have been one of the ACC's biggest surprises, returning to the NCAA tournament after losing their top seven scorers from last season's national championship team. Hansbrough, who finished second in the ACC in scoring and sixth in rebounding, has become arguably the nation's best freshman. Noel and Terry, two holdovers from last season, have helped the Tar Heels become the best rebounding team in the ACC. They have guarded the three-point line better than any conference team, but the Tar Heels rank last in the ACC in turnover margin.

Record: 24-6, 17-3. Past 10: 9-1.

Coach: Mick Cronin (0-1 in NCAAs).

Starters
G Darnell Hopkins, 6-2, Sr. (9.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.5 apg)
G Keith Jenifer, 6-2, Sr. (5.0 ppg, 3.4 apg, 2.4 rpg)
F Justin Orr, 6-6, Soph. (8.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.9 apg)
F Shawn Witherspoon, 6-5, Jr. (10.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 53% FG)
C Pearson Griffith, 6-10, Sr. (7.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.6 bpg)
Top Reserves
G Trey Pearson, 6-2, Jr. (10.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.9 apg)
G Tyler Holloway, 6-2, Fr. (6.1 ppg, 42% 3-pt., 85% FT)
F Issian Redding, 6-6, Sr. (8.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 0.8 apg)

Data: Without a player who averages more than 11 points per game, the Racers are here because of their defense: They held opponents to a conference-best 39.7-percent shooting. They even switched to a rarely used 1-3-1 zone to get by Jacksonville State in the conference semis. Griffith leads the league in blocks and has blocked four or more shots in nine games this season. Jenifer, who transferred from Virginia after the 2003 season, and Hopkins attended Towson Catholic High. Murray State, which returned all five starters from a team that missed the tournament, lost to Cincinnati, Tennessee and Southern Illinois by an average of 6.3 points.

Record: 22-11, 8-8. Past 10: 4-6.

Coach: Tom Izzo (23-7 in NCAAs).

Starters
G Maurice Ager, 6-5, Sr. (19.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.6 apg)
G Shannon Brown, 6-4, Jr. (18.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 83.8% FT)
G Drew Neitzel, 6-0, Soph. (8.5 ppg, 5.5 apg, 94.5% FT)
F Marquise Gray, 6-8, Fr. (3 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 52.1% FG)
C Paul Davis, 6-11, Sr. (18.2 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 88.3% FT)
Top Reserves
G Travis Walton, 6-2, Fr. (1.8 ppg, 2.5 apg, 1.9 rpg)
F Delco Rowley, 6-8, Jr. (1.2 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 57% FG)
C Goran Suton, 6-10, Fr. (2.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 45.7% FG)

Data: The Spartans lost five of seven to end the regular season, but they could benefit from the return of forward Matt Trannon, who played in only 18 games in the regular season before suffering a broken jaw. Late-game collapses haunted Michigan State down the stretch. Against Minnesota on Feb. 11, the Spartans led by one with 6:22 left but ended up losing by 14. Down one to Ohio State with 3:36 left on Feb. 22, Michigan State ended up losing by 11. And after leading Indiana by two on Feb. 26, the Spartans lost by seven. Part of those collapses can be attributed to Trannon's absence, as Michigan State's starters have looked fatigued late in games.

Record: 23-7, 15-3. Past 10: 8-2.

Coach: Jim Larranaga (0-2 in NCAAs).

Starters
G-F Folarin Campbell, 6-4, Soph. (10.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.6 apg)
G Lamar Butler, 6-2, Sr. (11.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 38% 3-pt.)
G Tony Skinn, 6-1, Sr. (13.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 80% FT)
F Will Thomas, 6-7, Soph. (11.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 59% FG)
F-C Jai Lewis, 6-7, Sr. (14.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 57 FG%)
Top Reserves
G-F Gabe Norwood, 6-5, Jr. (3.6 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 2.0 apg)
F Sammy Hernandez, 6-5, Fr. (2.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 56% FG)
G Tim Burns, 6-3, Jr. (2.1 ppg, 44% 3-pt.)

Data: Larranaga's greatest source of pride was not the close losses to Wake Forest and Mississippi State or the win at Wichita State; it was how his team performed in the vastly improved CAA, which had four 20-win teams. The Patriots won 15 of 18, thanks to six- and eight-game winning streaks, and finished tied atop the standings with UNC Wilmington. They did it with their defense (.363 field goal percentage defense, sixth in the nation) and their shooting (.491, eighth) but faltered in the CAA tournament. Mason is looking for its first NCAA tournament victory after first-round losses to Indiana (1989), Cincinnati (1999) and Maryland (2001).

FIRST- AND SECOND-ROUND GAMES
At Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, N.C.
THURSDAY & SATURDAY   |   TICKETS: SOLD OUT

Record: 21-7, 12-4. Past 10: 6-4.

Coach: Bruce Pearl (2-2 in NCAAs).

Starters
G C.J. Watson, 6-2, Sr. (15 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.1 apg)
G Chris Lofton, 6-2, Soph. (17.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.1 spg)
F Andre Patterson, 6-7, Sr. (9.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.1 bpg)
F Dane Bradshaw, 6-4, Jr. (7.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4 apg)
C Major Wingate, 6-10, Jr. (10.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 55.2% FG)
Top Reserves
F Stanley Asumnu, 6-5, Sr. (8.3 ppg, 3 rpg, 50.5% FG)
F JaJuan Smith, 6-4, Soph. (9.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 54% 3-pt.)

Data: Tennessee hasn't been this much fun to watch since the late '70s "Ernie & Bernie" era of Washington Wizards GM Ernie Grunfeld and former Washington Bullet Bernard King. Credit Pearl, who sweats through his suits on the sideline and has enough elan to wear orange blazers and suspenders. He has the Volunteers playing an energetic offense (81.7 points per game, tops in the SEC) and a pesky defense (10.3 steals per game, forcing 18.6 turnovers per game). Led by the aptly named Lofton, who lofts a ton of three-pointers (making nearly four per game), Tennessee has averaged 10 three-pointers over its past eight games. The Volunteers can struggle against bigger teams (see their 14-point loss to LSU).

Record: 23-7, 13-3. Past 10: 9-1.

Coach: Gregg Marshall (0-5 in NCAAs).

Starters
G Chris Gaynor, 5-10, Soph. (6.4 ppg, 4.4 apg, 41.7% 3-pt.)
G Torrell Martin, 6-5, Jr. (13.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 41.3% 3-pt.)
F James Shuler, 6-6, Sr. (13.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.6 apg)
F Phillip Williams, 6-8, Jr. (5.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 44% FG)
C Craig Bradshaw, 6-10, Jr. (12.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 55% FG)
Top Reserves
G Michael Jenkins, 6-3, Soph. (6.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1 apg)
F Otis Daniels, 6-5, Sr. (5.2 ppg, 3 rpg, 44% FG)
F Taj McCullough, 6-7, Soph. (4.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 56% FG)

Data: The Eagles, who beat Marquette early in the season and stayed within 10 points in losses to Alabama, Auburn and Memphis, were expected to run away with the Big South title. But they ran into a few stumbling blocks, getting swept by Coastal Carolina in the regular season (the first loss ended a 24-game conference winning streak) and falling late in the season to a Liberty team that finished 7-23. Still, the Eagles led the Big South in scoring defense, scoring margin and field goal percentage defense. Billy Houston, the school's career leading shot blocker, left the team in early February to concentrate on academics.

Record: 24-8, 14-4. Past 10: 7-3.

Coach: Mark Turgeon (first NCAAs).

Starters
G Sean Ogirri, 6-2, Soph. (11.9 ppg, 45% 3-pt., 84% FT)
G Matt Braueuer, 5-11, Soph. (5.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.7 apg)
F P.J. Couisnard, 6-4, Soph. (10.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.5 tpg)
F Kyle Wilson, 6-8, Jr. (11.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 82% FT)
C Paul Miller, 6-10, Sr. (13 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 52% FG)
Top Reserves
G Karon Bradley, 5-11, Jr. (7.9 ppg, 22.6 mpg, 13 starts)
G Ryan Martin, 6-5, Jr. (5.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 20.7 mpg)
G-F Jared Young, 6-6, Jr. (4.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 16 mpg)

Data: The school certainly seems confident, considering it began marketing a DVD of season highlights a couple of weeks ago, i.e. before it lost to Bradley in the MVC tournament semifinals. Though the Shockers are in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1988, two of their players are transfers who have made tournament appearances -- Wilson with Illinois and Bradley with Marquette. Really, though, Miller is the key. He led the Shockers to their first MVC regular season title in 23 years and was named conference player of the year, the program's first player to receive the honor since Xavier McDaniel in 1985.

Record: 18-11, 9-7. Past 10: 5-5.

Coach: Louis Orr (1-1 in NCAAs).

Starters
G Donald Copeland, 5-10, Sr. (15.7 ppg, 3 rpg, 4.6 apg)
G Jamar Nutter, 6-2, Jr. (12.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 39.6% 3-pt.)
F Brian Laing, 6-5, Soph. (6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 39.5% FG)
F Kelly Whitney, 6-8, Sr. (15.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 46.7% FG)
C Grant Billmeier, 6-10, Jr. (3.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 56.1% FG)
Top Reserves
G Paul Gause, 5-11, Fr. (6.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 40.3% FG)
F Stan Gaines, 6-7, Jr. (5.1 ppg, 4 rpg, 41.3% FG)
F-C Marcus Cousin, 6-10, Soph. (2.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 38.8% FG)

Data: Little was expected from the Pirates, who lost nine of their final 11 games last season and opened this season with uncertainty regarding Orr's job security. Seton Hall overcame two horrific losses -- by 53 to Duke and by 42 to Connecticut -- with impressive wins at N.C. State, against West Virginia, and at Pittsburgh. The Pirates relied on Copeland and Whitney all year, but never more than in the final week; the two seniors accounted for more than half of Seton Hall's points in important wins over Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. Copeland doubled his scoring average from a year ago and ranked third in the Big East in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.65).