South regional at a glance

No. 1 Duke

Overall: 29-5 Conf: 14-3 ACC RPI: 3 Last 10: 9-1

Players to watch: Jon Scheyer, 6-4, G, Sr., 18.6 ppg, 5.0 apg; Kyle Singler, 6-8, F, Jr., 17.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg.

Trouble spot: The ACC was down this year, and the Blue Devils have gotten past the Sweet 16 just once since 2001.

Lowdown: Duke has been a disappointment many times in recent years, but this well-rounded and experienced team should reverse that trend. Great shot to reach the Elite Eight, and perhaps more.

No. 16 Play-in winner

Winthrop: 19-13 Arkansas-Pine Bluff: 17-15

Players to watch: Winthrop: Reggie Middleton, 6-1, G, So., 10.2 ppg, 2.9 apg. Arkansas-Pine Bluff: Terrance Calvin, 6-2, G, 10.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg.

Trouble spot: For the team that wins Tuesday (4:30 p.m. ESPN), a long couple of hours against Duke.

Lowdown: These teams have the spotlight for a night, and one will celebrate before getting creamed by the Blue Devils.

4:25 p.m. Friday in Jacksonville, Fla.

No. 2 Villanova

Overall: 24-7 Conf: 13-5 Big East RPI: 11 Last 10: 4-6

Players to watch: Scottie Reynolds, 6-2, G, Sr., 18.5 ppg, 3.3 apg; Corey Fisher, 6-1, G, Jr., 13.7 ppg, 4.0 apg.

Trouble spot: What happened at the end of the season? The 2-5 finish is cause for concern.

Lowdown: A Final Four team last year, Wildcats lost to eventual champ North Carolina in the semis. They are deep, experienced and shoot well. Despite late-season slump, a good chance to be back in Final Four.

No. 15 Robert Morris

Overall: 23-11 Conf: 15-3 NEC RPI: 129 Last 10: 7-3

Players to watch: Karon Abraham, 5-9, G, Fr., 13.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg; Rob Robinson, 6-8, F, Sr., 9.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg.

Trouble spot: Team defends well, but has trouble shooting from field (43.7 percent) and foul line (66.1 percent).

Lowdown: The Colonials' defense propelled them in conference play, but they were blown out by Syracuse and Penn State in nonconference play. Would be surprised if they were competitive.

9:30 a.m. Thursday in Providence, R.I.

No. 3 Baylor

Overall: 25-7 Conf: 11-5 Big 12 RPI: 9 Last 10: 8-2

Players to watch: LaceDarius Dunn, 6-4, G, Jr., 19.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg; Tweety Carter, 5-11, G, Sr., 15.7 ppg, 6.1 apg.

Trouble spot: The Bears had 57 more turnovers than their opponents.

Lowdown: Baylor plays an entertaining, high-pace style, and it was tested often in a tough conference. A win or two is likely for a team that is headed in the right direction.

No. 14 Sam Houston St.

Over.: 25-7 Conf: 14-2 Southland RPI: 70 Last 10: 8-2

Players to watch: Gilberto Clavell, 6-6, F, Jr., 16.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg; Corey Allmond, 6-1, G, Sr., 15.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg.

Trouble spot: Just the BearKats' second tournament appearance, and their first since 2003.

Lowdown: Won by 18 points at Auburn and lost by just 10 at Kentucky. Unlike many low seeds, the BearKats are not without hope.

Approx. 11:55 a.m. Thursday in New Orleans

No. 4 Purdue

Overall: 27-5 Conf: 14-4 Big Ten RPI: 16 Last 10: 8-2

Players to watch: E'Twaun Moore, 6-4, G, Jr., 16.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg; JaJuan Johnson, 6-10, C, Jr., 15.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg.

Trouble spot: Lost forward Robbie Hummel to a knee injury. No outside shooting presence without him.

Lowdown: When Hummel was healthy, the Boilermakers' top three players could match well with any team in the country. Without him, they struggle to score. Two wins at the most.

No. 13 Siena

Overall: 27-6 Conf: 17-1 MAAC RPI: 31 Last 10: 8-2

Players to watch: Alex Franklin, 6-5, F, Sr., 16.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg; Edwin Ubiles, 6-6, G/F, Sr., 15.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg.

Trouble spot: Beaten soundly by four tournament teams (Temple, Georgia Tech, Northern Iowa and Butler) by a combined 51 points.

Lowdown: The Saints have pulled off first-round upsets the past two years (Vanderbilt and Ohio State). Another win is possible.

11:30 a.m. Friday in Spokane

No. 5 Texas A&M

Overall: 23-9 Conf: 11-5 Big 12 RPI: 13 Last 10: 7-3

Players to watch: Donald Sloan, 6-3, G, Sr., 18.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg; Bryan Davis, 6-9, F, Sr; 9.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg.

Trouble spot: Aggies shoot 44.2 percent from the field and 65.7 percent from the foul line.

Lowdown: Nice job of overcoming loss of Derrick Roland, who suffered season-ending injury in a loss to Washington. Aggies are likely to be upset in the first round.

No. 12 Utah State

Overall: 27-7 Conf: 14-2 WAC RPI: 30 Last 10: 8-2

Players to watch: Tai Wesley, 6-7, F, Jr., 13.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg; Jared Quayle, 6-1, G, Sr., 12.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg.

Trouble spot: The Aggies are 1-12 in the tournament since 1971.

Lowdown: Had won 17 in a row before losing in conference tournament title game. Would be a mistake to overlook this well-coached team that can really shoot. Good chance for a couple of upsets.

Approx. 2 p.m. Friday in Spokane

No. 6 Notre Dame

Over.: 23-11 Conf: 10-8 Big East RPI: 49 Last 10: 6-4

Players to watch: Luke Harangody, 6-8, F, Sr., 22.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg; Tim Abromaitis, 6-8, F, Jr., 16.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg.

Trouble spot: Harangody misssed five games late in the season with an injured knee.

Lowdown: With Harangody apparently healthy again, the Irish are capabale of winning a couple of games if their star can stay out of foul trouble.

No. 11 Old Dominion

Overall: 26-8 Conf: 15-3 Colonial RPI: 27 Last 10: 8-2

Players to watch: Gerald Lee, 6-10, F, Sr., 14.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg; Frank Hassell, 6-8, F, Fr., 8.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg.

Trouble spot: The Monarchs shoot just 64.5 percent from foul line and average 67.5 points.

Lowdown: Old Dominion hasn't allowed more than 72 points in a game. It won't get blown out, but expect a first-round loss.

9:25 a.m. Thursday in New Orleans

No. 7 Richmond

Overall: 26-8 Conf: 13-3 A-10 RPI: 24 Last 10: 8-2

Players to watch: Kevin Anderson, 6-0, G, Jr., 17.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg; David Gonzalvez, 6-4, G, Sr., 14.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg.

Trouble spot: Opponents outrebounded the Spiders 37.9 to 33.0.

Lowdown: The Atlantic 10 is a better conference than most think. Richmond's great defense (allowing 39.2 percent from field) will keep it in games. A tough call in the opener.

No. 10 St. Mary's

Overall: 26-5 Conf: 11-3 WCC RPI: 35 Last 10: 8-2

Players to watch: Omar Samhan, 6-11, C, Sr., 20.9 ppg, 11.0 rpg; Mickey McConnell, 6-0, G, Jr., 13.7 ppg, 5.3 apg.

Trouble spot: The Gaels' only tournament victories came in 1959.

Lowdown: Was impressive in WCC title win over Gonzaga. Potent inside with Samhan, and outside with several good shooters. The Gaels won't go down easily.

Approx noon. Thursday in Providence, R.I.

No. 8 California

Overall: 23-10 Conf: 13-5 Pac-10 RPI: 20 Last 10: 8-2

Players to watch: Jerome Randle, 5-10, G, Sr., 18.7 ppg, 4.5 apg; Patrick Christopher, 6-5, G, Sr., 16.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg.

Trouble spot: Struggled against top teams in nonconference play, and this wasn't the Pac-10 of recent years.

Lowdown: If the Golden Bears' senior guards (Randle, Christopher and Theo Robertson) are hot, they are capable of beating anyone. A shot at making it through the first weekend.

No. 9 Louisville

Over.: 20-12 Conf: 11-7 Big East RPI: 37 Last 10: 6-4

Players to watch: Samardo Samuels, 6-9, F, So., 15.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg; Edgar Sosa, 6-2, G, Sr., 13.3 ppg, 4.5 apg.

Trouble spot: Lost by 22 at home to Charlotte, and by eight to Western Carolina. Yes, Western Carolina.

Lowdown: After a third straight loss in mid-January sent Louisville to 12-9, its tournament hopes looked dim. Cardinals rebounded, but still expecting an early exit.

Approx. 6:55 p.m. Friday in Jacksonville, Fla.