TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

PROJECTED REGIONAL SEEDS BY THE NUMBERS 2 12-1 15 38 43 1,475

ADVERTISEMENT

By JOEY JOHNSTON

jjohnston@tampatrib.com

Published: January 10, 2009

Staff writer Joey Johnston takes an early look at the landscape for this season's NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament:

EAST (Boston)

1. Duke (13-1)

2. Notre Dame (11-3)

3. Michigan State (12-2)

4. Louisville (10-3)

SOUTH (Memphis, Tenn.)

1. North Carolina (14-1)

2. Georgetown (10-3)

3. UCLA (12-2)

4. Xavier (12-2)

MIDWEST (Indianapolis)

1. Pittsburgh (14-0)

2. Wake Forest (13-0)

3. Connecticut (13-1)

4. Memphis (11-3)

WEST (Glendale, Ariz.)

1. Oklahoma (14-1)

2. Syracuse (15-1)

3. Texas (11-3)

4. Clemson (15-0)

THEY SAID IT

"We had a total disrespect for the opponent."

- Boston College coach Al Skinner, explaining how his Eagles could lose against Harvard, just three days after toppling No. 1-ranked North Carolina

"I'd rather win ugly than lose pretty."

- Minnesota's Lawrence Westbrook, after Tubby Smith's Golden Gophers (14-1) won at Iowa 52-49 despite shooting just 33.9 percent from the field

"He's the MVP of our league."

Georgetown coach John Thompson III on Notre Dame's Luke Harangody, who had 31 points against the Hoyas. Harangody has scored at least 20 points in seven straight games, the longest single-season streak by a Notre Dame player since Kelly Tripucka had eight consecutive 20-point games in 1980

"We've been consistently good. But at the same time, we haven't won a national championship, so nothing changes."

- Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon, pledging that the program's work ethic won't waver after the Panthers earned the first No. 1 ranking in school history

"I don't think I'm going with the green or red or black hair like him."

- Kansas' Cole Aldrich, who has been compared to Dennis Rodman, after leading the Big 12 in offensive rebounds

WHO'S HOT

Wake Forest (13-0) is two victories off the best start in school history (1926-27 season) after a 94-87 victory at BYU, ending the Cougars' 53-game homecourt winning streak. Wake Forest hosts North Carolina on Sunday night.

WHO'S NOT

Georgetown (10-3, 1-2) was humbled in Big East play with a home loss against Pittsburgh (70-54) and a road defeat at Notre Dame (73-67). The Hoyas host Providence today.

Consecutive victories at Wake Forest by the North Carolina Tar Heels, who visit Winston-Salem on Sunday night. It's UNC's longest winning streak at Wake since four straight from 1989-92.

Record of Arkansas, the surprise of the SEC, after downing Big 12 powerhouses Oklahoma and Texas.

Consecutive games won in the Horizon League by Butler (13-1), which downed nemesis Wright State 64-48.

Points scored by Oregon State in a 69-38 loss to Arizona State, which allowed the fewest points to a Pac-10 member during its 31 seasons as a league member.

Consecutive Conference USA games won by Memphis (including league tournament games). The Tigers are at UCF today.

Career points for Clemson's K.C. Rivers, who just passed Tree Rollins for 10th place on the school's all-time list.

PROJECTED REGIONAL SEEDS

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT