Location: Ann Arbor, Meeeeechigan

Enrollment: 26,000

Record: 20-13 (9-9)

Leading scorers: Manny Harris (16.8 pog); DeShawn Sims (15.7 ppg)

What to know

• The Wolverines only went 6-10 away from Crisler Arena with their best win coming against UCLA.
• Super Sophomore Manny Harris accounts for 43 percent of the teams free throws.  He knows how to draw contact.
• They've taken the third most three pointers in the country--859--but only shoot 33 percent.
• A horrible rebounding team, Michigan only brings down 33 boards per.

Projected performance: One and done. Breaking away from Big 10 defenses, Michigan will feel liberated and defeat Clemson.

Location: Norman, Oklahoma

Enrollment: 29,931

Record: 27-5 (13-3)

Leading Scorers: Blake Griffin (21.9 ppg), Willie Warren (14.7 ppg), Taylor Griffin (9.6 ppg)

What to know:

• BLAKE GRIFFIN is Oklahoma.  We don't need to say much because Griffin did during the entire regular season, including 26 double-double's.
• Oklahoma went through the 26th hardest schedule and went 10-4 against the Top 50 team's.  Opps almost forgot to mention, THEY DID LOSE 4 OF THEIR LAST 6 GAMES. 
• If Oklahoma can get back on the right track, they will be lead by Sophomore Blake Griffin and Freshman Willie Warren, inexperienced.  They'll need the Carmelo Anthony Factor sprinkled in Blake Griffin's Gatorade, good thing they got older bro, Taylor.
• The Sooners are good for 3rd in the nation in field goal percentage at 48.9.

Projected Performance:  We think Oklahoma won't face any trouble until the second round, but in the second round we might be seeing a potential heavyweight go down.

Clemson student tackles Wake Forest player (via chaztopher)

Location: Clemson, SC

Enrollment: 14,172

Record: 23-8 (9-7)

Leading Scorers: Trevor Booker (15.3 ppg), K.C. Rivers (14.2 ppg), Terrence Oglesby (13.5 ppg)

What to know:

• Clemson became a surprise team when they jumped out to a 16-0 start but was brought back to Earth and actually dropped 4 of their last 5 games in the "L" column.
• Clemson is only 1-4 versus the Top 25 and only 3-5 versus the Top 50.
• Clemson's strength is their manacing full court defense.  they will cause turnovers, so a poised team will be needed to disect the tigers and their defense that ranks 7th in the nation in steals.

Projected Performance:  Clemson is really slumping right now and we don't see any reason that things are looking up.  Michigan has played their way in with some big wins and we see some desire out of their camp.

Jonny Flynn dunks on Mike Rosario (via 513official2)

Location: Upstate NY, good thing the Dome holds enough to keep them warm.

Enrollment: 19,084

Record: 26-9 (11-7)

Leading Scorers: Jonny Flynn (17.5 ppg), Eric Devendorf (15.9 ppg), Paul Harris (12.6 ppg)

What to know:

• The biggest question with the Syracuse Orange is not their talent, it is whether there is enough gas left in the tank.  Syracuse played the equivalent of five games during their four game run to the Big East Championship, including the 6 OT game against #1 seed UCONN.
• Jonny Flynn may be the smallest player on the floor at any given time, but he has the biggest heart.  he will not let this team fall short of excellence.  Despite losing in the championship of the Big East Tournament, Flynn was unanimously chosen as the tournament's MVP.  Flynn averaged 22 points and 10 assists during the Orange's three wins.
• 'Cuse is going to want to get out and "run and gun' on people, as they should.  The Orange were sixth in the nation in points (81.1 ppg) and field goal percentage (48.8).

Projected Performance:  After the Orange get through Stephen F. Austin, they should get a second wind and be able to make it to the Sweet 16 and maybe beyond.  We know they can play with any of the #1 seeds and we're intrigued if they can set up a Jonny Flynn vs. Ty Lawson (UNC) in the Elite Eight.

Location: Champaign, Illinois

Enrollment: 30,895

Record: 24-9 (11-7)

Leading Scorers: Demetri McCamey (11.5 ppg), Mike Davis (11.2 ppg), Mike Tisdale (10.5 ppg)

What to know:

• This team will play together.  With no major standout scorer, this team does it by committee, dishing out the fourth most assists in the country.
• Not only do the Illini play together on offense AND DEFENSE.  Illinois is 3rd best in the nation when it comes to points surrendered at 56.8 ppg.
• Illinois has played 16 games this year against the nation's top 50, logging 9 wins along the way. 
• The Illini are young.  They have eight underclassmen and that does not usually bode well for deep NCAA tournament runs.

Projected Performance: The Illini better be careful of a potential upset in the first round to Western Kentucky, but if they make it past them, Gonzaga and their imminent death await.

Location: Tempe, Arizona

Enrollment: 53,300

Record: 24-9 (11-7)

Leading scorers: James Harden (20.8 ppg); Jeff Pendergraph (14.5 ppg)

What to know:

• Harden is a 76 percent free throw shooter who got to the line 250 this season. That's seventh most in the country.  He will also share, as he's second on the team in assists.
• While they certainly got their dose of competition in the Pac-10, the Devils didn't really challenge out of conference.  Their toughest early season game was a win over Baylor.
• They're out west, but this isn't showtime.  Herb Sendek likes a half court game, with only 61.5 possessions per game.  They really like to run their offense, as their the ninth most efficient team according to StatSheet.com

Projected performance: One and done.  A second round match-up against Syracuse; Jonny Flynn will create havoc for the Devils backcourt.

Location: Chapel Hill, NC

Enrollment: 28,136

Record: 28-4 (13-3)

Leading Scorers: Tyler Hansbrough (21.4 ppg), Ty Lawson (15.9 ppg), Wayne Ellington (15.2 ppg)

What to know:

• UNC looked like the scariest team coming into the season.  Everyone had them tagged as the resounding National Champion before Tyler Hansbrough had transformed into Psycho T form.  Last year's team featured four first round NBA draft picks, and they all came back.
• Five players put up double figures in scoring, leading to the nations second most points per game at 90.2.  They also are first in the nation in rebounding.
• We do know that the Tar Heels are not immortal, collecting four losses.  We're sure Roy Williams has used those four games as life lessons.
• The achilles heel of the North Carolina Tar Heels is their defense.  The Tar Heels give up 72.8 points per game (299th in the nation).  Good thing they put up 90.2 ppg.

Projected Performance: If you want to be boring pick UNC to win the National Championship.  If you are smart you will at least put them in the Final Four.

Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Enrollment: 28,400

Record: 26-7 (13-3)

Leading scorers: Marcus Thornton (20.7 ppg); Tasmin Mitchell (16.3 ppg); Bo Spencer (11.6 ppg)

What to know

• The Tigers played only four games against RPI top 50 teams, going 1-3.
• SEC POY Marcus Thornton is one of the best scorers in the tournament.
• The most pertinent statistic on LSU - 6-0 in games decided by five points or less.

Projected performance: No wins.  Butler will dictate the pace of the game, but it will be interesting to see the dichotmoy of a big bad BCS team versus a calculating mid-major.