NCAA Tournament South Region capsules

BAYLOR

Waco, Texas, 22-2.

Nickname: Bears. Coach: Scott Drew.

Conference: Big 12. Bid: At-Large.

Region: South. Seed: No. 1.

Tournament History: 14-12, 2 Final Fours in 12 appearances.

Last appearance: 2019, lost to Gonzaga in the Second Round.

Season Stats

Team Scoring: 84.4 points per game; 49.3 fg pct; 41.8 3-pt pct; 69.7 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Jared Butler 17.1; MaCio Teague 16.2; Davion Mitchell 14.1.

Rebounds: Mark Vital 6.8; Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua 5.3; Avg team margin (plus-4.4).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.37): Mitchell (5.4/2.6), 130 assists.

Last 10 Games: 8-2.

Best Win: 82-69 vs. Illinois on Dec. 2.

Worst Loss: 74-83 vs. Oklahoma St. on Mar. 12.

The Skinny: Second-ranked Baylor won its first regular-season league championship since 1950, but the Bears have never won a conference tournament title. They’ll remain 0-3 in the Big 12 title game after losing in the semifinals to Oklahoma State and star freshman Cade Cunningham. Baylor has been through a tough late-season stretch after its COVID-19 pause as it tried to squeeze in as many makeup games as possible. The Cowboys were their sixth ranked opponent in the last six games.

HARTFORD

Hartford, Conn., 15-8.

Nickname: Hawks. Coach: John Gallagher.

Conference: America East. Bid: Automatic.

Region: South. Seed: No. 16.

Tournament History: N/A.

Last appearance: N/A.

Season Stats

Scoring: 65.9 points per game; 43.4 fg pct; 32.6 3-pt pct; 71.2 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Austin Williams 13.7; Traci Carter 11.8; Moses Flowers 11.6.

Rebounds: Williams 6.2; Hunter Marks 5.9; Avg team margin (minus-1.5).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (0.87): Carter (3.4/2.4), 79 assists.

Last 10 Games: 7-3.

Best Win: 71-65 at Vermont on Mar. 6.

Worst Loss: 57-67 at home to NJIT on Feb. 13.

The Skinny: One year after a first-ever appearance in the America East Conference championship was canceled by the coronavirus pandemic, Hartford not only barged into the title game, but kept going by defeating UMass 64-50 for the AEC title and earning a first appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Hartford rolls into the NCAAs with a season-best five-game win streak and the AEC’s Most Outstanding Player in Austin Williams. Williams has scored in double figures in 15 of the last 16 games with highs of 29 and 25 in the playoffs. Hartford has played 27 seasons in Division I before winning a conference championship.

NORTH CAROLINA

Chapel Hill, N.C., 18-10.

Nickname: Tar Heels. Coach: Roy Williams.

Conference: Atlantic Coast. Bid: At-Large.

Region: South. Seed: No. 8.

Tournament History: 125-46, 20 Final Fours, and 6 national championships in 50 appearances.

Last appearance: 2019, lost to Auburn in the Sweet Sixteen.

Season Stats

Scoring: 75.7 points per game; 44.1 fg pct; 31.7 3-pt pct; 66.8 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Armando Bacot 12.2; Caleb Love 10.5; Garrison Brooks 10.2.

Rebounds: Bacot 8.0; Day<

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.05): Love (3.6/3.2), 101 assists.

Last 10 Games: 6-4.

Best Win: 78-70 at home to Florida St. on Feb. 27.

Worst Loss: 70-83 at Marquette on Feb. 24.

The Skinny: The Tar Heels lost back-to-back road games at NC State and Georgia Tech to open conference play and fall to 5-4 overall. UNC got its first win over a Top-25 team this season when it beat then-No. 11 Florida State 78-70 on Feb. 27 and knocked off then-No. 22 Virginia Tech 81-73 in the ACC Tournament before losing to FSU in semifinals. North Carolina is led by its talented front line, including 6-foot-10 senior Garrison Brooks, 6-10 sophomore Armando Bacot, 7-1 freshman Walker Kessler and 6-10 freshman Day’Ron Sharpe. The Tar Heel lead the nation in rebound margin (plus-10.9) and offensive rebounds per game (15.89), and are No. 3 nationally in total rebounds per game (43.18).

WISCONSIN

Madison, Wis., 17-12.

Nickname: Badgers. Coach: Greg Gard.

Conference: Big Ten. Bid: At-Large.

Region: South. Seed: No. 9.

Tournament History: 38-23, 4 Final Fours, and 1 National Championship in 24 appearances.

Last appearance: 2019, lost to Oregon in the First Round.

Season Stats

Team Scoring: 69.6 points per game; 42.1 fg pct; 35.9 3-pt pct; 76.7 ft pct.

Top Scorers: D<

Rebounds: Potter 5.9; Tyler Wahl 4.5; Avg team margin (minus-1.7).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.49): Trice (4.0/1.7), 116 assists.

Last 10 Games: 3-7.

Best Win: 77-63 at home to Loyola-Chicago on Dec. 15.

Worst Loss: 65-67 at Marquette on Dec. 4.

The Skinny: The Badgers are going to be an interesting watch. In calendar 2021, Wisconsin is 0-9 against the conference’s Top 25 gauntlet (Iowa 0-3, Illinois and Michigan 0-2, Ohio State and Purdue 0-1). Their average margin of defeat in the first five games was 14.6, but in the last four they shaved 10-full points off that figure. Absent the Big Ten’s beasts Wisconsin went 8-1. They’ve spent all season sharpening their blades against the nation’s best so don’t be shocked if the Badgers find themselves in the Sweet 16.

VILLANOVA

Villanova, Pa., 16-6.

Nickname: Wildcats. Coach: Jay Wright.

Conference: Big East. Bid: At-Large.

Region: South. Seed: No. 5.

Tournament History: 61-36, 5 Final Fours, and 3 National Championships in 38 appearances.

Last appearance: 2019, lost to Purdue in the Second Round.

Season Stats

Scoring: 75.5 points per game; 45.0 fg pct; 35.2 3-pt pct; 76.5 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Jeremiah Robinson-Earl 15.7; Collin Gillepsie 14.0; Justin Moore 12.6.

Rebounds: Robinson-Earl 8.3; Jermaine Samuels 6.3; Avg team margin (plus-1.5).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.69): Gillespie (4.6/1.6), 92 assists.

Last 10 Games: 5-5.

Best Win: 72-60 at home to Creighton on Mar. 3.

Worst Loss: 61-73 at Butler on Feb. 28.

The Skinny: Absent senior guard Collin Gillespie due to a torn MCL, the Wildcats have lost back-to-back contests. Undoubtedly a loss, but in the first game they lost by just 54-52 against Providence adjusting without him. Nova then upped its point total by 19 but ran into a Georgetown buzzsaw losing 72-71 in the Big East tourney. Still, the Wildcats shot 43.6% against the Hoyas with 13 assists on 24-made baskets. The Wildcats are the only team to shoot above 40% against the Hoyas during their current run. Head coach Jay Wright and his staff have more than a week to adjust. Be careful writing them off early in the office pool.

WINTHROP

Rock Hill, S.C., 23-1.

Nickname: Eagles. Coach: Pat Kelsey.

Conference: Big South. Bid: Automatic.

Region: South. Seed: No. 12.

Tournament History: 1-10 in 10 appearances.

Last appearance: 2017, lost to Butler in the First Round.

Season Stats

Scoring: 79.5 points per game; 46.1 fg pct; 35.3 3-pt pct; 68.6 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Chandler Vaudrin 12.2; Adonis Arms 10.5; Charles Falden 10.1.

Rebounds: Vaudrin 7.2; Arms 4.8; Avg team margin (plus-9.0).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.06): Vaudrin (6.9/3.4), 166 assists.

Last 10 Games: 9-1.

Best Win: 87-71 at home to Furman on Dec. 19.

Worst Loss: 55-57 at home to UNC-Asheville on Jan 29.

The Skinny: The Eagles have been soaring of late, winning the Big South six straight times and back-to-back conference tournaments after drubbing Campbell 80-53. Winthrop’s won 43 of its last 47 games, went 23-1 this season after a 16-0 start. The roster is deep with shooters as four average in double figures led by Chandler Vaudrin’s 12.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game. Along with Vaudrin, Adonis Arms, Charles Falden, D.J. Burns Jr. and Josh Corbin have all scored 15 points or better in a game this season.

PURDUE

West Lafayette, Ind., 18-9.

Nickname: Boilermakers. Coach: Matt Painter.

Conference: Big Ten. Bid: At-Large.

Region: South. Seed: No. 4.

Tournament History: 41-30, 2 Final Fours in 30 appearances.

Last appearance: 2019, lost to Virginia in the Elite Eight.

Season Stats

Scoring: 71.1 points per game; 45.1 fg pct; 33.5 3-pt pct; 71.1 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Trevion Williams 15.6; Jaden Ivey 10.5; Sasha Stefanovic 9.3.

Rebounds: Williams 9.0; Aaron Wheeler 4.6; Avg team margin (plus-6.2).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.14): Eric Hunter Jr. (2.8/1.7), 64 assists.

Last 10 Games: 7-3.

Best Win: 67-65 at Ohio St. on Jan. 19.

Worst Loss: 54-58 at Miami on Dec. 8.

The Skinny: Under the radar in the loaded Big Ten, the Boilermakers joined the Top 25 in February and promptly lost two of three. Then they didn’t lose again until falling to Ohio State in OT in the quarterfinals of the league tournament. With no seniors, but with 6-10 Trevion Williams and 7-4 Zach Edey on the front line, this could be just the beginning of good things for Purdue.

NORTH TEXAS

Denton, Texas, 17-9.

Nickname: Mean Green. Coach: Grant McCasland.

Conference: Conference USA. Bid: Automatic.

Region: South. Seed: No. 13.

Tournament History: 0-3 in 3 appearances.

Last appearance: 2010, lost to Kansas St. in the First Round.

Season Stats

Scoring: 69.8 points per game; 47.5 fg pct; 37.6 3-pt pct; 73.1 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Javion Hamlet 15.0; James Reese 10.8; Thomas Bell 10.3.

Rebounds: Zachary Simmons 6.2; Bell 5.7; Avg team margin (plus-2.5).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.02): Hamlet (4.5/2.5), 118 assists.

Last 10 Games: 7-3.

Best Win: 54-48 vs. Louisiana Tech on Mar. 12.

Worst Loss: 69-77 at UTSA on Jan. 9.

The Skinny: UNT limped into the Conference USA Tournament on the heels of a three-game losing streak but the No. 10 scoring defense in the nation (61.2 per game) returned to form as the Mean Green won four games in as many days to claim their first conference tournament title since winning the Sun Belt tourney in 2010, upsetting 21-win Louisiana Tech in the semifinals and 20-win Western Kentucky in the title game. North Texas allowed just 54 points on 36% shooting over that span while senior guard Javion Hamlet averaged 18.5 points, seven assists and 6.5 rebounds.

TEXAS TECH

Lubbock, Texas, 17-10.

Nickname: Red Raiders. Coach: Chris Beard.

Conference: Big 12. Bid: At-Large.

Region: South. Seed: No. 6.

Tournament History: 14-17, 1 Final Four in 16 appearances.

Last appearance: 2019, lost to Virginia in the National Championship.

Season Stats

Scoring: 73.0 points per game; 44.3 fg pct; 34.6 3-pt pct; 71.1 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Mac McClung 15.7; Terrence Shannon Jr. 12.7; Kevin McCullar 10.1.

Rebounds: Marcus Santos-Silva 6.5; McCullar 6.1; Avg team margin (plus-2.1).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.19): Kyler Edwards (2.7/1.2), 72 assists.

Last 10 Games: 5-5.

Best Win: 79-77 at Texas on Jan 13.

Worst Loss: 77-82 at home to Oklahoma St. on Jan 2.

The Skinny: The skinny: A one-point loss to eventual champion Texas in the Big 12 quarterfinals shows the Red Raiders are battle tested. Of their 10 losses, eight were to ranked teams, three by one point, and the other two were to Oklahoma State before the Cowboys got ranked. With just one senior, the fifth-leading scorer, on the roster, Tech beat three ranked teams, including Texas twice in the regular season.

UTAH STATE

Logan, Utah, 20-8.

Nickname: Aggies. Coach: Craig Smith.

Conference: Mountain West. Bid: At-Large.

Region: South. Seed: No. 11.

Tournament History: 6-23 in 21 appearances.

Last appearance: 2019, lost to Washington in the First Round.

Season Stats

Team Scoring: 73.3 points per game; 44.6 fg pct; 33.6 3-pt pct; 72.6 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Neemias Queta 15.1; Justin Bean 11.3; Marco Anthony 10.0.

Rebounds: Quetta 10.0; Bean 7.7; Avg team margin (plus-10.3).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.20): Rollie Worster (3.6/2.4), 91 assists.

Last 10 Games: 7-3.

Best Win: 64-59 at home to San Diego St. on Jan. 16.

Worst Loss: 56-59 at UNLV on Jan. 25.

The Skinny: Expected to be a First Four team, if in the tournament at all, the Aggies landed on the main bracket following a loss to San Diego State in the Mountain West Tournament finale, after having beaten the Aztecs twice in the regular season. USU’s leading scorer, 7-footer Neemias Queta, had a streak of eight straight double-doubles snapped in the loss but had three blocks to break his own single-season school record with 90. The Aggies have played in 21 NCAA Tournaments and would have qualified last year as the MWC champions.

ARKANSAS

Fayetteville, Ark., 22-6.

Nickname: Razorbacks. Coach: Eric Musselman.

Conference: Southeastern. Bid: At-Large.

Region: South. Seed: No. 3.

Tournament History: 42-32, 6 Final Fours, and 1 National Championship in 32 appearances.

Last appearance: 2018, lost to Butler in the First Round.

Season Stats

Team Scoring: 82.4 points per game; 45.5 fg pct; 33.9 3-pt pct; 73.7 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Moses Moody 17.4; JD Notae 13.3; Justin Smith 13.0.

Rebounds: Smith 6.9; Moody 5.9; Avg team margin (plus-4.2).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.14): Jalen Tate (3.9/2.6), 109 assists.

Last 10 Games: 9-1.

Best Win: 81-66 at home to Alabama on Feb. 24.

Worst Loss: 68-81 at home to Missouri on Jan 2.

The Skinny: Eric Musselman leads the Razorbacks into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in his short coaching tenure at Arkansas after taking Nevada to the tourney in his final three years in Reno. Arkansas lost to LSU in the SEC semifinals, snapping a program-tying 12-game league winning streak. The Razorbacks have the nation’s seventh-ranked offense at 82.4 points a game with Moses Moody leading four Razorbacks who score in double figures.

COLGATE

Hamilton, N.Y., 14-1.

Nickname: Raiders. Coach: Matt Langel.

Conference: Patriot League. Bid: Automatic.

Region: South. Seed: No. 14.

Tournament History: 0-3 in 3 appearances.

Last appearance: 2019, lost to Tennessee in the first round.

Season Stats

Team Scoring: 86.4 points per game; 49.7 fg pct; 38.5 3-pt pct; 73.6 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Jordan Burns 17.1; Nelly Cummings 12.4; Jack Ferguson 12.4.

Rebounds: Keegan Records 7.1; Tucker Richardson 6.0; Avg team margin (plus-5.6).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.73): Burns (5.5/2.7), 77 assists.

Last 10 Games: 10-0.

Best Win: 92-83 at Army on Feb. 14.

Worst Loss: 73-75 at home to Army on Jan. 3.

The Skinny: The Raiders come into the tournament on a program-record 13-game win streak after easily beating Loyola Maryland in the Patriot League title game. Colgate came into that championship game tied with Baylor and behind only top-ranked Gonzaga for scoring offense at 86.4 points per game. Five Raiders, including conference player of the year Jordan Burns, made multiple 3-pointers against Loyola.

FLORIDA

Gainesville, Fla., 14-9.

Nickname: Gators. Coach: Mike White.

Conference: Southeastern. Bid: At-Large.

Region: South. Seed: No. 10.

Tournament History: 44-18, 5 Final Fours, and 2 National Championships in 20 appearances.

Last appearance: 2019, lost to Michigan in the Second Round.

Season Stats

Scoring: 74.0 points per game; 46.4 fg pct; 35.7 3-pt pct; 75.7 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Tre Mann 16.0; Keyontae Johnson 16.0; Colin Castleton 12.0.

Rebounds: Castleton 5.9; Mann 5.7; Avg team margin (plus-1.0).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (0.81): Mann (3.4/2.7), 75 assists.

Last 10 Games: 5-5.

Best Win: 75-49 at home to Tennessee on Jan. 19.

Worst Loss: 66-72 at home to South Carolina on Feb. 3.

The Skinny: The Gators became the only team in the SEC to appear in the last four NCAA Tournaments and were the conference’s best 3-point shooting team. But Florida’s ouster from the SEC Tournament not only showed how a physically imposing defensive juggernaut like Tennessee could be problematic for their offense but also revealed the importance of keeping their composure when a game gets chippy. Omar Payne was ejected for an elbow to the head that hospitalized the Volunteers’ John Fulkerson and the Gators picked up another dead-ball technical before the game was over. Florida coach Mike White said after the game that his team lacked “the emotional maturity that you need day in and day out to be a championship-level team.”

VIRGINIA TECH

Blacksburg, Va., 15-6.

Nickname: Hokies. Coach: Mike Young.

Conference: Atlantic Coast. Bid: At-Large.

Region: South. Seed: No. 10.

Tournament History: 8-11 in 11 appearances.

Last appearance: 2019, lost to Duke in the Sweet Sixteen.

Season Stats

Team Scoring: 72.1 points per game; 45.1 fg pct; 35.7 3-pt pct; 69.7 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Keve Aluma 15.6; Tyrece Raford 11.9; Nahiem Alleyne 10.3.

Rebounds: Aluma 8.0; Justyn Mutts 6.5; Avg team margin (plus-3.1).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.24): Wabissa Bebe (3.2/1.3), 68 assists.

Last 10 Games: 6-4.

Best Win: 65-51 at home to Virginia on Jan. 30.

Worst Loss: 72-83 at Pittsburgh on Feb. 3.

The Skinny: The 22nd-ranked Hokies are making their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, a program best, and 12th all-time after losing to North Carolina in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals. Virginia Tech has three double-figure scorers led by 6-foot-9 forward Keve Aluma, a transfer from Wofford. He is also the Hokies’ top rebounder and shot-blocker.

OHIO STATE

Columbus, Ohio, 21-9.

Nickname: Buckeyes. Coach: Chris Holtmann.

Conference: Big Ten. Bid: At-Large.

Region: South. Seed: No. 2.

Tournament History: 51-28, 10 Final Fours, and 1 National Championship in 29 appearances.

Last appearance: 2019, lost to Houston in the Second Round.

Season Stats

Scoring: 77.0 points per game; 46.0 fg pct; 36.7 3-pt pct; 76.5 ft pct.

Top Scorers: E.J. Liddell 16.1; Duane Washington Jr. 15.8; Justice Sueing 10.5.

Rebounds: Liddell 6.4; Sueing 5.7; Avg team margin (plus-2.8).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.25): CJ Walker (4.4/2.1), 109 assists.

Last 10 Games: 5-5.

Best Win: 87-81 at Illinois on Jan. 16.

Worst Loss: 70-71 at home to Northwestern on Dec. 26.

The Skinny: Ohio State overperformed their No. 5 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, losing in overtime in the title game to second-seeded Illinois. They won three games in three days, beat regular-season conference champ Michigan along the way and built some momentum heading into postseason play.

ORAL ROBERTS

Tulsa, Okla., 16-10.

Nickname: Golden Eagles. Coach: Paul Mills.

Conference: Summit League. Bid: Automatic.

Region: South. Seed: No. 15.

Tournament History: 2-5 in 5 appearances.

Last appearance: 2008, lost to Pittsburgh in the First Round.

Season Stats

Team Scoring: 81.8 points per game; 45.4 fg pct; 39.0 3-pt pct; 82.4 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Max Abrams 24.2; Kevin Obanor 18.2; RJ Glasper 11.0.

Rebounds: Obanor 9.5; Kareem Thompson 3.7; Avg team margin (minus-3.8).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.10): Abrams (3.8/2.2), 94 assists.

Last 10 Games: 7-3

Best Win: 90-88 vs. S. Dakota St. on Mar. 8.

Worst Loss: 71-72 at home to North Dakota on Jan. 8.

The Skinny: The key to the upstart Summit League champions is in the pocket of 6-foot-1 sophomore point guard Max Abmas. Since his career-high 42-point effort on Feb. 13, ORU is 6-2 and winners of five straight, including a 90-88 upset of league top seed South Dakota State in the tournament semis. ORU, however, has the ability to spread the ball. While posting a 10-7 (.588) record with Abmas as their leading scorer the Golden Eagles are 6-3 (.667) when he’s not.