The brackets are set, and The University of Memphis has earned the first No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed in school history. The Tigers will be heading west to play in a difficult Oakland region, but a breakdown of the bracket offers a glimpse of some familiar opponents from this season and years past. Here is a peek at the top eight seeds, with the remaining eight analyzed Thursday.
1. Memphis (30-3, 13-1 Conference USA)
After winning their first outright regular season C-USA title, Memphis followed with the first conference tournament title since the 1987 Metro Conference championship. To be successful in the NCAA Tournament, Memphis must continue to be consistent from beyond the arc, Darius Washington must continue to maintain a low turnover ratio and Joey Dorsey needs to remain a strong inside presence. The Tigers last reached the Tournament in 2004, where they reached the second round.
2. UCLA (27-6, 14-4 Pac-10)
The Bruins are coming off their first Pac-10 tournament title since 1987. They rely heavily on guards Jordan Farmar and Arron Afflalo for scoring, so shutting down this tandem is the key for any opponent. They also faced Memphis earlier in the season, losing to the Tigers 88-80. UCLA is no stranger to the NCAA Tournament, having won 11 titles. This is the second straight tourney appearance for the Bruins. They lost in the first round last year.
3. Gonzaga (27-3, 14-0 West Coast)
While Adam Morrison is usually the only player talked about because of his 28.6 scoring average, he isn't the only player who can score on the team. Forward J.P. Batista is averaging 19.6 points a game, and he provides a threat when Morrison is having an off night. Like UCLA, the Zags lost to Memphis earlier in the season 83-72. Gonzaga is making their eighth straight appearance in the tournament. They lost in the second round in 2005.
4. Kansas (25-7, 14-3 Big XII)
The Jayhawks started the season 10-6 but then proceeded to win 12 of their next 13 games en route to a share of the regular season title and a Big 12 tournament championship. They are one of the hottest teams in the nation right now with one of the nation's youngest starting lineups, which includes three freshmen and two sophomores. They are eager to avenge last year's embarrassing NCAA Tournament loss to then-No. 14 seed Bucknell. This is the Jayhawks' 17th straight appearance in the tournament.
5. Pittsburgh (24-7, 10-6 Big East)
The Panthers were one of the hottest teams in the nation after starting 15-0, but they stumbled at the start of conference play. They finished the season strong, and made it to the Big East tournament final before losing to Syracuse. The Panthers have a very potent offense, but they have a tendency to turn the ball over, causing close games. However, Pitt is playing strongly at the right time of year, and should prove to be a formidable force. This is their fifth straight appearance in the tournament. Last year they lost in the first round.
6. Indiana (18-11, 9-7 Big Ten)
After Mike Davis announced his resignation last month, the Hoosiers have rallied to finish the season on an impressive Big Ten tournament run, but lost to Ohio State by one point in the championship game. The team is playing focused and wants to send Davis out on a high note, but with rumors about the next coach and an uncertain future plaguing the team, it is going to be hard to maintain their late success through the tournament. This is the Hoosiers first appearance since 2003 when they lost in the second round.
7. Marquette (20-10, 10-6 Big East)
The Golden Eagles are the only former C-USA member to make the tournament this year. Senior forward Steve Novak leads the team with 17.5 points a game, but aside from him, the team is young and inexperienced. However, Marquette still finished sixth in the talented Big East, so the pressures of tournament play are not intimidating. This is their first appearance since their Final Four run in 2003 when they lost to Kansas in the national semifinals.
8. Arkansas (22-9, 10-6 SEC)
The Razorbacks finished the season on a five-game win streak, including wins over Tennessee, Alabama and Florida. Wingmen Ronnie Brewer and Jonathan Modica lead the team in scoring, so shutting down this tandem is essential for any team to have a chance at beating Arkansas. With one of the most talented rosters in the SEC, Arkansas has the ability to make some noise in the Tournament. This is the team's first appearance since 2001 when they lost in the first round.
