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Scripps Howard News Service

Published March 17, 2008 at 12:45 a.m.

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EAST REGIONAL

4. Washington State

* Nickname: Cougars.

* Location: Pullman.

* Coach: Tony Bennett.

* Record: 24-8.

* NCAA record: 4-5.

* Entry: At large.

* Best regular-season win: 56-55 at Arizona State on Jan. 26.

* Key players (regular-season averages): G Derrick Low (14.1 points), G Kyle Weaver (12.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists), G Taylor Rochestie (11.0 points, 4.6 assists).

* Did you know?: Win against Oral Roberts in first round in 2007 was first NCAA win since 1983.

* Outlook: Disciplined, hard-nosed Cougars (third in nation in scoring defense) always are a tough out. But offense (217th in nation) is a problem, especially against very good teams.

5. Notre Dame

* Nickname: Fighting Irish.

* Location: South Bend, Ind.

* Coach: Mike Brey.

* Record: 24-7.

* NCAA record: 29-32.

* Entry: At large.

* Best regular-season win: 82-70 against Pittsburgh on Feb. 21.

* Key players (regular-season averages): F Luke Harangody (21 points, 10.3 rebounds), G Kyle McAlarney (15 points, 3.6 assists), F Rob Kurz (12.7 points, 7.5 rebounds).

* Did you know?: Brey began his coaching career in 1982 as an assistant to legendary Morgan Wooten at DeMatha High in Hyattsville, Md.

* Outlook: Harangody has been on a tear inside down the stretch, helping the Irish cut down on their reliance on three-point shooting. Still, Notre Dame mostly flopped against elite opponents.

12. George Mason

* Nickname: Patriots.

* Location: Fairfax, Va.

* Coach: Jim Larranaga.

* Record: 23-10.

* NCAA record: 4-4.

* Entry: Colonial Athletic Association champion.

* Best regular-season win: 87-77 over Kansas State on Nov. 22.

* Key players: F Will Thomas (15.8 points, 10.5 rebounds), F Folarin Campbell (15.9 points), G-F John Vaughan (12.6 points).

* Did you know?: In a win at James Madison on Jan. 19, Patriots G Dre Smith set an NCAA record by making all 10 of his three-point attempts.

* Outlook: After George Mason's stunning run to the Final Four two years ago, who would sell these Patriots short? Larranaga worries about settling for too many three-pointers.

13. Winthrop

* Nickname: Eagles.

* Location: Rock Hill, S.C.

* Coach: Randy Peele.

* Record: 22-11.

* NCAA record: 1-7.

* Entry: Big South champion.

* Best regular-season win: 76-70 at Miami (Fla.) on Dec. 29.

* Key players (regular-season averages): G Michael Jenkins (14.3 points), F Taj McCullough (11.5 points, 5.7 rebounds).

* Did you know?: Eagles G DeAndre Adams died in a car accident May 16, and his teammates dedicated their Big South championship to him.

* Outlook: A year after Winthrop beat Notre Dame last year for its first NCAA win under Gregg Marshall, Peele did a fine job just getting Eagles into field in his first year.

SOUTH REGIONAL

4. Pittsburgh

* Nickname: Panthers.

* Location: Pittsburgh.

* Coach: Jamie Dixon.

* Record: 26-9.

* NCAA record: 17-20.

* Entry: Big East champ.

* Best regular-season win: 65-64 against Duke on Dec. 20.

* Key players (regular-season averages): F Sam Young (19 points, 6.4 rebounds), F DeJuan Blair (12.3 points, 9.5 rebounds), G LeVance Fields (11.1 points, 5.4 assists).

* Did you know? Dixon's sister, Maggie, coached the Army women to their first NCAA berth in 2006, but died weeks later at 28 from complications of an enlarged heart.

* Outlook: Though there's plenty of talent, the Panthers are 3-7 on the road since late December.

5. Michigan State

* Nickname: Spartans.

* Location: East Lansing.

* Coach: Tom Izzo.

* Record: 25-8.

* NCAA record: 41-20, two championships (1979 and 2000).

* Entry to tournament: At large.

* Best regular-season win: 103-74 against Indiana on March 2.

* Key players (regular-season averages): F Raymar Morgan (15.0 points, 6.3 rebounds), G Drew Neitzel (13.4 points, 4.2 assists).

* Did you know? Izzo has led the Spartans to four Final Fours, fourth among active coaches.

* Outlook: The Spartans' ugly play on the road (they're 3-6 since New Year's Day) is an ominous sign. Still, Izzo's 24-9 NCAA mark can't be ignored.

12. Temple

* Nickname: Owls.

* Location: Philadelphia

* Coach: Fran Dunphy.

* Record: 21-12.

* NCAA record: 31-25.

* Entry: Atlantic 10 champion.

* Best regular-season win: 78-59 against Xavier on Jan. 16.

* Key players: G Dionte Christmas (20.2 points, 6.0 rebounds), G Mark Tyndale (15.9 points, 7.2 rebounds), F Lavoy Allen (8.0 points, 5.5 rebounds).

* Did you know? Dunphy coached Penn to nine NCAA tournaments before replacing John Chaney at Temple two years ago.

* Outlook: The Owls' winning streak - it's seven games - could end early.

13. Oral Roberts

* Nickname: Golden Eagles.

* Location: Tulsa, Okla.

* Coach: Scott Sutton.

* Record: 24-8.

* NCAA record: 2-4.

* Entry: Summit League champions.

* Best regular-season win: 74-59 at Oklahoma State on Dec. 20.

* Key players (regular-season averages): G Robert Jarvis (16.1 points), G-F Moses Ehambe (11.6 points), C Shawn King (9.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.9 blocked shots).

* Did you know? Scott Sutton, son of legendary Eddie and brother of Oklahoma State coach Sean, has taken ORU to three straight NCAAs.

* Outlook: ORU, winless in NCAA play since 1974 (0-3), led No. 4 seed Washington State at halftime in the first round last year before losing 70-54.