NCAA MEN

HOW IT SHOULD SHAPE UP

Staff writer Robyn Norwood provides comments for the schools that have automatic bids and those expected to receive at-large bids to the NCAA men’s tournament.

RPI rankings are through games of March 7.

AUTOMATIC BIDS (31)

*--* RPI School Rec. Comment Conference

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*--* 1 *DUKE 27-4 No. 1 seeding Blue Devils might earn today would be their sixth in seven seasons. ATLANTIC COAST

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*--* 3 *KENTUCKY 25-4 Once again, no stars, just a tough, veteran group that understands how to win. SOUTHEASTERN

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*--* 6 STANFORD 29-1 One-loss record and Pac-10 regular-season and tournament titles rate a No. 1 seeding. PACIFIC 10

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*--* 7 CONNECTICUT 27-6 Impressive Big East final win, but Okafor’s back, Villanueva’s ankle are concerns. BIG EAST

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*--* 9 GONZAGA 27-2 The Zags, with Stepp, Turiaf and their most talented team yet, are underdogs no more. WEST COAST

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*--* 10 *OKLAHOMA STATE 26-3 Cowboys -- a group of transfers that melded exceptionally well -- probably will be a No. 2. BIG 12

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*--* 19 CINCINNATI 24-6 Crazy five-way tie for regular-season C-USA title, but Bearcats won the tournament. CONFERENCE USA

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*--* 24 *ILLINOIS 24-5 The Illini take a 12-game winning streak into today’s Big Ten final against Wisconsin. BIG TEN

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*--* 38 NEVADA 23-8 The Wolf Pack upset Kansas early in the season -- but also lost to Portland and SMU. WESTERN ATHLETIC

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*--* 43 UTAH 24-8 It’s hard to imagine the Utes in the NCAA tournament without Rick Majerus as coach. MOUNTAIN WEST

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*--* 45 MANHATTAN 24-5 Guard Luis Flores’ 24-point average makes him one of leading scorers in NCAA field. METRO ATLANTIC ATHLETIC

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*--* 52 XAVIER 23-10 Only team to beat Saint Joseph’s made sure there was no debate by winning A-10 bid. ATLANTIC 10

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*--* 55 WESTERN MICHIGAN 26-4 Team that opened season with upset of USC took itself off bubble by winning MAC title. MID-AMERICAN

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*--* 57 MURRAY STATE 28-5 Racers lost to Top 25 teams Pittsburgh and Louisville by 20-plus points. OHIO VALLEY

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*--* 58 E. TENNESSEE STATE 27-5 Buccaneer Coach Murry Bartow is the son of onetime UCLA coach Gene Bartow. SOUTHERN

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*--* 61 CENTRAL FLORIDA 25-5 School has more than 40,000 students but doesn’t fill its 5,100-seat arena. ATLANTIC SUN

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*--* 62 VA. COMMONWEALTH 23-7 Coach Jeff Capel, 29, played for Duke team that lost to Arkansas in 1994 NCAA title game. COLONIAL ATHLETIC ASSN.

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*--* 68 NORTHERN IOWA 20-9 Panthers upset Iowa, Southern Illinois during season, won MVC tourney in double-overtime. MISSOURI VALLEY

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*--* 70 PACIFIC 24-7 Tigers almost let one get away against Northridge in Big West final. BIG WEST

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*--* 87 LA. LAFAYETTE 20-8 Former Arizona assistant Jessie Evans’ Ragin’ Cajuns almost upset Wildcats in Dec. SUN BELT

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*--* 96 ILLINOIS CHICAGO 24-7 Here’s a yardstick: Illinois beat undersized UIC by 15 early in the season. HORIZON

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*--* 119 MONMOUTH 21-11 Tyler Azzarelli had a 4.0 GPA last semester and a career-high 19 points in the NEC title game. NORTHEAST

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*--* 125 VERMONT 22-8 Surprise return of Taylor Coppenrath (43 points in final) makes Catamounts upset threat. AMERICA EAST

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*--* 132 PRINCETON 20-7 Guard Will Venable is son of former major leaguer Max Venable, an Angel from 1989-91. IVY LEAGUE

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*--* 145 E. WASHINGTON 17-12 Red paint stained home jerseys in celebration, but Eagles will be wearing road uniforms. BIG SKY

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*--* 157 VALPARAISO 17-12 Tiny Valpo saved basketball-mad state of Indiana from not having a team in tournament. MID-CONTINENT

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*--* 166 LIBERTY 18-14 School founded by evangelist Jerry Falwell lost to Duke by 29 in November. BIG SOUTH

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*--* 205 *LEHIGH 19-10 Only the winner of today’s Patriot final between Lehigh and American will be dancing. PATRIOT LEAGUE

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*--* 236 TEXAS SAN ANTONIO 19-13 Roadrunners will be in San Antonio for Final Four -- but only because they live there. SOUTHLAND

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*--* 253 ALABAMA STATE 16-14 Once 4-12, Hornets were hot down stretch but SWAC qualifiers are ultimate longshots. SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC

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*--* 291 FLORIDA A&M; 14-16 Team that lost 10 of its first 11 will either draw a No. 1-seeded team or a trip to play-in game. MID-EASTERN ATHLETIC

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*--* * PROJECTED to win conference tournament final and gain automatic bid.

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*--* AT-LARGE BIDS (34)

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*--* 2 SAINT JOSEPH’S 27-1 The Hawks still deserve a No. 1 seeding, but the committee’s logic can be unpredictable. ATLANTIC 10

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*--* 4 MISSISSIPPI STATE 25-3 Overtime loss to Vanderbilt in SEC tourney cost the Bulldogs their chance at a No. 1. SOUTHEASTERN

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*--* 5 PITTSBURGH 29-4 At least UCLA Coach Ben Howland can watch team he left behind in the NCAA tournament. BIG EAST

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*--* 8 SYRACUSE 21-7 2003 NCAA champions sure could use fellow named Carmelo again. (Anthony, that is.) BIG EAST

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*--* 11 TEXAS 23-6 Longhorns reached today’s Big 12 title game behind the hot hand of Brandon Mouton. BIG 12

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*--* 12 KANSAS 21-8 Ranked No. 1 early in the season, Jayhawks were later upset by Nevada and Richmond. BIG 12

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*--* 13 N. CAROLINA STATE 20-9 Wolfpack’s 79% free-throw shooting (best in nation) should be advantage in close games. ATLANTIC COAST

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*--* 14 PROVIDENCE 20-8 The Friars stumbled to the finish with three consecutive losses to Pitt, BC and Villanova. BIG EAST

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*--* 15 NORTH CAROLINA 18-10 Close losses marred record, but UNC has talent -- and a coach -- capable of going far. ATLANTIC COAST

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*--* 16 WAKE FOREST 19-9 Deacons beat Duke and Cincinnati but enter tournament with three consecutive losses. ATLANTIC COAST

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*--* 17 GEORGIA TECH 23-9 Yellow Jackets’ victims this season include Connecticut, Wake Forest, Duke and Carolina. ATLANTIC COAST

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*--* 18 FLORIDA 20-9 Prospects looked bleak when Christian Drejer left for Europe, but Gators surged to SEC final. SOUTHEASTERN

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*--* 20 WISCONSIN 23-6 Badgers would claim automatic instead of at-large by winning Big Ten final today. BIG TEN

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*--* 21 SETON HALL 20-9 Point guard Andre Barrett, only 5 feet 10, averages 17.6 points and almost six assists. BIG EAST

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*--* 22 LOUISVILLE 20-9 Team looked like a Final Four gang in January, but has lost eight of its last 12 games. CONFERENCE USA

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*--* 23 ALABAMA 17-12 Tide one of only three teams to beat Mississippi State; three of its losses in OT. SOUTHEASTERN

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*--* 25 BOSTON COLLEGE 23-9 Sophomore forward Craig Smith from Fairfax High averages 17 points and eight rebounds. BIG EAST

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*--* 26 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 25-4 Salukis were upset in MVC tourney but their RPI is easily high enough for an at-large bid. MISSOURI VALLEY

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*--* 27 MEMPHIS 21-7 The Tigers lost three of their last four games, to Louisville, Cincinnati and St. Louis. CONFERENCE USA

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*--* 28 BRIGHAM YOUNG 21-8 Rafael Araujo, the Cougars’ 6-11 senior center, averages 18 points and 10 rebounds. MOUNTAIN WEST

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*--* 29 MARYLAND 18-11 Terrapins stormed into the ACC final with a 19-point comeback against N.C. State. ATLANTIC COAST

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*--* 30 VANDERBILT 21-9 Vandy upset Mississippi State in OT but was smoked by Florida in SEC semifinals. SOUTHEASTERN

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*--* 31 CHARLOTTE 21-8 Brendan Plavich made 10 three-pointers against Syracuse, and seven in his last game. CONFERENCE USA

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*--* 33 TEXAS TECH 22-10 Bob Knight back after a year’s absence, but can he put trouble with first round behind? BIG 12

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*--* 34 ALA. BIRMINGHAM 20-9 The Blazers were one of those five teams to tie for the Conference USA title. CONFERENCE USA

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*--* 35 UTAH STATE 25-3 Top-25 ranking, down-to-wire loss to Northridge keep Aggies from being left out. BIG WEST

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*--* 36 ARIZONA 20-9 20 victories and Hall of Fame coach should save Wildcats, who came close to the bubble. PACIFIC 10

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*--* 37 MICHIGAN STATE 18-11 Tough schedule exposed team’s limitations, and Spartans were 0-8 vs. the Top 25. BIG TEN

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*--* 40 DEPAUL 21-9 Blue Demons won 11 of 12 before losing to Cincinnati in the C-USA title game. CONFERENCE USA

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*--* 41 DAYTON 24-8 Flyers won A-10 division with 12-4 record, lost in tournament final to Xavier. ATLANTIC 10

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*--* 44 SOUTH CAROLINA 23-10 Gamecocks’ 3-7 record in last 10 raises a red flag, even against tough SEC. SOUTHEASTERN

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*--* 46 TEXAS EL PASO 24-7 Call them the Miracle Miners: They won only six games last season. WESTERN ATHLETIC

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*--* 51 GEORGIA 16-13 The Bulldogs, who have sneaked in with a poor record before, beat Kentucky twice. SOUTHEASTERN

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*--* 77 WASHINGTON 19-11 If Huskies didn’t exhaust themselves earning bid, they’re capable of going far. PACIFIC 10

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