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[1] N. CAROLINA VS. [16] LAMAR/VERMONT

March 12, 2012 at 9:00PM
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[1] N. CAROLINA VS. [16] LAMAR/VERMONT3:10 p.m. Friday in Greensboro, N.C. • TBS

TAR HEELS (29-5)

Coach: Roy Williams.

Entry: ACC at-large.

Key players: Harrison Barnes (17.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg), Tyler Zeller (16.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg), John Henson (13.8 ppg, 10.1 rpg).

Last 10: 9-1.

• Which version of the Tar Heels will show up?

CARDINALS (23-11)

Coach: Pat Knight.

Entry: Southland champion.

Last 10: 7-3.

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• On an incredible run.

CATAMOUNTS (23-11)

Coach: John Becker.

Entry: America East champion.

Last 10: 9-1.

• Becker is in his first season.

[8] CREIGHTON VS. [9] ALABAMA12:40 p.m. Friday in Greensboro, N.C. • TBS

BLUEJAYS (28-5)

Coach: Greg McDermott.

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Entry: Mo. Valley champion.

Key players: Doug McDermott (23.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg), Antoine Young (12.5 ppg, 4.5 apg); Gregory Echenique (9.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg).

Last 10: 7-3.

• Doug McDermott wasn't recruited by dad Greg.

CRIMSON TIDE (21-11)

Coach: Anthony Grant.

Entry: SEC at-large.

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Key players: JaMychal Green (14.0 ppg, 7.4 rpg), Trevor Releford (11.9 ppg), Trevor Lacey (7.1 ppg).

Last 10: 6-4.

• Grant suspended four players, and Tony Mitchell (13.1 ppg) remains out.

[5] TEMPLE VS. [12] CAL/SOUTH FLORIDA8:50 p.m. Friday in Nashville • TNT

OWLS (24-7)

Coach: Fran Dunphy.

Entry: Atlantic 10 at-large.

Key players: Ramone Moore (17.7 ppg, 3.5 apg), Khalif Wyatt (17.1 ppg, 3.4 apg), Juan Fernandez (11.4 ppg, 3.9 apg).

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Last 10: 8-2.

• Won at least 21 games the past five years under Dunphy.

GOLDEN BEARS (24-9)

Coach: Mike Montgomery.

Entry: Pacific-12 at-large.

Last 10: 7-3.

• Jorge Gutierrez is their star.

BULLS (20-13)

Coach: Stan Heath.

Entry: Big East at-large.

Last 10: 7-3.

• No player averaged 10 ppg.

[4] MICHIGAN VS. [13] OHIO6:20 p.m. Friday in Nashville • TNT

WOLVERINES (24-9)

Coach: John Beilein.

Entry: Big Ten at-large.

Key players: Trey Burke (14.8 ppg, 4.6 apg), Tim Hardaway Jr. (14.6 ppg, 2.1 apg), Zack Novak (9.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg).

Last 10: 7-3.

• Michigan won a share of its first Big Ten championship since 1986.

BOBCATS (27-7)

Coach: John Groce.

Entry: MAC champion.

Key players: D.J. Cooper (14.6 ppg, 5.7 apg), Walter Offutt (11.7 ppg), Reggie Keely (9.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg).

Last 10: 8-2.

• The Bobcats set a school record for victories in a season.

[2] KANSAS VS. [15] DETROIT8:57 p.m. Friday in Omaha • truTV

JAYHAWKS (27-6)

Coach: Bill Self.

Entry: Big 12 at-large.

Key players: Thomas Robinson (17.9 ppg, 11.8 rpg), Tyshawn Taylor (17.3 ppg, 4.8 apg), Elijah Johnson (9.6 ppg, 3.8 apg).

Last 10: 9-1.

• This is just the kind of scrappy team Self loves.

TITANS (22-13)

Coach: Ray McCallum.

Entry: Horizon champion.

Key players: Ray McCallum (15.6 ppg, 3.9 apg), Chase Simon (13.5 ppg), Eli Holman (10.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg).

Last 10: 9-1.

• Maybe the surprising Horizon champs are hitting their stride at the right time.

[7] ST. MARY'S VS. [10] PURDUE6:27 p.m. Friday in Omaha • truTV

GAELS (27-5)

Coach: Randy Bennett.

Entry: West Coast champion.

Key players: Matthew Dellavedova (15.6 ppg, 6.4 apg), Rob Jones (14.8 ppg, 10.7 rpg), Stephen Holt (10.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg).

Last 10: 7-3.

• Dellavedova is an Aussie who could play in the Olympics.

BOILERMAKERS (21-12)

Coach: Matt Painter.

Entry: Big Ten at-large.

Key players: Robbie Hummel (16.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg), Lewis Jackson (10.3 ppg, 4.3 apg), Ryne Smith (9.5 ppg).

Last 10: 6-4.

• Won five of six to solidify their spot in the NCAA tournament.

[6] SAN DIEGO STATE VS. [11] N.C. STATE11:40 a.m. Friday in Columbus, Ohio • truTV

AZTECS (26-7)

Coach: Steve Fisher.

Entry: Mountain West at-large.

Key players: Jamaal Franklin (17.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg), Chase Tapley (15.7 ppg, 2.2 apg), Xavier Thames (10.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg).

Last 10: 6-4.

• If healthy, Tim Shelton could be a difference-maker.

WOLFPACK (22-12)

Coach: Mark Gottfried.

Entry: ACC at-large.

Key players: C.J. Leslie (14.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg), Lorenzo Brown (12.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg), Richard Howell (10.7 ppg, 9.3 rpg).

Last 10: 5-5.

• North Carolina State wouldn't be here if it weren't for the play of Leslie.

[3] GEORGETOWN VS. [14] BELMONT2:10 p.m. Friday in Columbus, Ohio • truTV

HOYAS (23-8)

Coach: John Thompson III.

Entry: Big East at-large.

Key players: Jason Clark (13.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg), Hollis Thompson (12.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg), Henry Sims (11.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.5 apg).

Last 10: 6-4.

• They were picked to finish 10th in the Big East.

BRUINS (27-7)

Coach: Rick Byrd.

Entry: Atlantic Sun champion.

Key players: Kerron Johnson (14.1 ppg, 5.2 apg), Ian Clark (12.7 ppg, 2.3 apg), Drew Hanlen (10.9 ppg).

Last 10: 10-0.

• Scrappy 6-1 star Johnson had 11 rebounds in the Atlantic Sun final.

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