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BY THE NUMBERS 22 0 4-0 17 26-25 2,465

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By JOEY JOHNSTON

jjohnston@tampatrib.com

Published: January 17, 2009

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

EAST (Boston)

1. Duke (15-1)

2. Syracuse (16-2)

3. UCLA (14-2)

4. Marquette (15-2)

SOUTH (Memphis, Tenn.)

1. Wake Forest (15-0)

2. Connecticut (15-1)

3. Michigan State (14-2)

4. Notre Dame (12-4)

MIDWEST (Indianapolis)

1. Pittsburgh (16-0)

2. Clemson (16-0)

3. Georgetown (12-3)

4. Texas (12-4)

WEST (Glendale, Ariz.)

1. Oklahoma (16-1)

2. North Carolina (15-2)

3. Louisville (12-3)

4. Xavier (14-2)

THEY SAID IT

"He's more than a scorer. He's a basketball player. He works hard at both ends of the court. I'm glad, if somebody broke it, it was a nice kid like him."

- Former Kentucky All-American Dan Issel, whose 39-year-old UK single-game scoring record (53) was eclipsed by Jodie Meeks' 54-point effort against Tennessee.

"Blake can go get a bunch if you don't shrink the court on him. You almost feel like he can score anytime."

- Texas coach Rick Barnes, on Oklahoma sophomore Blake Griffin, who had 20 points and 10 rebounds against the Longhorns for his 14th double-double this season.

"We're a little surprised as to where we were to where we are now."

- Arkansas coach John Pelphery, whose Razorbacks fell to 0-2 in the SEC with a 74-65 loss at Ole Miss.

"When I saw he had a lane to the rim, I just closed my eyes and said, 'Please go in.' We were fortunate."

- Memphis coach John Calipari, whose Tigers won at Tulsa 55-54 on Antonio Anderson's buzzer-beating runner, clinching their 45th consecutive victory against a Conference USA foe.

"I'm a big fan of what Tubby is doing there."

- Minnesota Timberwolves coach Kevin McHale, on University of Minnesota coach Tubby Smith, whose 16-1 Gophers rallied past Wisconsin 78-74 in overtime Thursday night for the program's first victory at Wisconsin since 1994.

WHO'S HOT

The Louisville Cardinals (12-3, 3-0), winners of four straight games and off to their best start since joining the Big East in 2005-06. The Cardinals host top-ranked Pittsburgh tonight.

WHO'S NOT

The rebuilding Indiana Hoosiers (5-11, 0-4), who have dropped their first four Big Ten games for the first time since 1972, Bobby Knight's first season as IU's coach.

Number of SEC teams ranked in this week's USA Today coaches poll, the first time the league has been shut out since the 1991-92 season.

The Big Ten record of Michigan State (14-2 overall), which won its first four league games for the first time since 1977-78 (Magic Johnson's freshman season).

Miami's second-half deficit Wednesday against Maryland. The Hurricanes (13-3) came from 17 points down to defeat Maryland 62-60 on Jack McClinton's 3-pointer. The Canes are at North Carolina tonight.

Syracuse's record against Georgetown since 1979. The Hoyas pulled within one in the recent series with a victory against the Orange on Tuesday night.

Career points for North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough, who had 28 points against Virginia to pass Duke's Christian Laettner for fifth on the all-time ACC scoring list. Ex-Duke guard J.J. Redick is the ACC's all-time leading scorer (2,769 points).

Shots taken by Kentucky's Jodie Meeks, who had a school-record 54 points Tuesday in a 90-72 win at Tennessee. Meeks was 15 of 22 from

the field (and 10 of 15 from 3-point range).

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