sports

DIFFERENCE MAKER

Doug McDermott, Creighton

The Ames, Iowa, native committed to play for his father, Greg, at Iowa State and then joined his dad at Creighton. The kid blossomed into an All-America last year and is a Player of the Year candidate this year.

Most eye-catching stat: Averaging 23.1 points per game.

THREE STORY LINES

[ 1 ] Louisville is the overall top seed after coming back from 15 points down to defeat Syracuse for the Big East title. The Cardinals have an easy road back to Final Four.

[ 2 ] St. Louis is an easy team to pull for, as coach Rick Majerus died Dec. 1, and the Billikens won the Atlantic 10 tournament for interim coach Jim Crews.

[ 3 ] Former Gophers center Colton Iverson transferred to Colorado State, sat out last year, and enters the tournament averaging 14.7 points and 9.8 rebounds for the Rams.